West/Northwest Catholic Schools

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Catholic Schools Week

Dear Neighbors, The National Catholic Education Association has declared Jan. 31 through Feb. 6, 2010, Catholic Schools Week.

This year the theme for the celebration is “Catholic Schools: Dividends for Life.� Each year the National Catholic Education Association has a week dedicated to increasing the awareness of the contribution that Catholic schools make to the neighborhoods in the United States.

Catholic schools are places where the presence of God is paramount, where life in its true meaning is exemplified; where excellence in learning is the norm and where service to your neighbor and community is expected.

The young people in your neighborhood who attend Catholic schools are expected to be examples of good neighbors, to care about their community and to serve it to the best of their ability.

I invite you to visit the Catholic school/s in your neighborhood and share the excitement that exists to see youngsters carry out their faith commitment and to observe where they are taught to care for others.

Catholic schools are faith-filled environments where students are expected to attain their academic

best and contribute positively to their community.

The Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati are proud to be listed among the top in the nation.

Again this year we have two schools that have received Blue Ribbon Awards; St. Veronica Elementary School in Mount Carmel and St. Michael Elementary School in Sharonville. During this week, we salute all of our Catholic schools and those who work within them.

This includes the parents, teachers, administrators and staff of the Catholic schools, their pastors and most of all the students who attend them. Join with us as we celebrate the freedom in this country that allows and encourages parents to choose faith-based education for their children.

In Christ and Mary,

Brother Joseph Kamis, SM Superintendent of Catholic Schools Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Inside Welcome letter . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Roger Bacon . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Catholic schools expand . . 7 Wellness part of mission . . 8 Character-building . . . . . . . . 9 St. Martin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Seton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Our Lady of Lourdes . . . . . 12 Our Lady of Victory . . . . . . . . 14 ESAP provides assistance 15

St. Aloysius in Bridgetown 16 Saints Peter & Paul . . . . . . 14 Nativity students relate . . 17 McAuley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Mother of Mercy . . . . . . . . . . 19 St. Antoninus . . . . . . . . . . . 20 St. Michael . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Elder Spiritual Boosters . 22 St. John Paul II . . . . . . . . . . 23 St. Jude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Contact Catholic Schools Week is a yearly publication organized by the Specialty Publications Department of The Community Press/The Community Recorder.

Questions and comments can be sent to Editor Melissa Hayden c/o The Community Press/394 Wards Corner/Loveland, OH 45140 or e-mail mhayden@communitypress.com. Or call 248-7121.

For advertising call 923-3111.

West/Northwest

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Stand out at Roger Bacon Roger Bacon creates a personal environment that allows young men and women to stand out by offering them the relationships, discipline and opportunities needed to succeed in a changing world.

Roger Bacon students stand out academically. Last year more than 90 percent of our graduates continued their education at colleges and universities around the country.

Additionally, 52 percent of the class earned scholarships valued at $5.6 million. Over the last four years, 70 percent of Advanced Placement students passed the AP tests, and the College Board named 24 students as National Merit Scholars.

Roger Bacon students stand out personally. Because of its size, Roger Bacon encourages its students to participate in multiple extra-curricular activities. More than 95 percent of the students par-

ticipate in one or more of 38 extracurricular, co-curricular or athletic organizations or teams.

From the world-renowned band to the one-of-a-kind underwater hockey team, Roger Bacon students are encouraged to explore and expand their horizons.

Roger Bacon students stand out personally. Roger Bacon offers all students, opportunities to meet students from around the world.

Exchange students from around the world regularly attend Roger Bacon.

In 2010 students from China and Italy will graduate from Roger Bacon. Recently, groups of Roger Bacon students spent a part of their summer holidays visiting England,

France and Italy.

Finally, Roger Bacon students stand out spiritually. Last year’s senior class devoted 4,336 hours to community service, the foundation of Roger Bacon’s Franciscan teachings.

Students enter high school as young boys and girls and graduate as young men and women with a compassionate global vision.

Roger Bacon affords its students outstanding opportunities to achieve success in the traditional college preparatory curriculum.

However, it also offers students opportunities to experience and achieve outstanding levels of personal development throughout their high school years.

Roger Bacon students STAND OUT academically.

CreativeLiving Call 923-3111

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Share what your school has to offer …

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Be a part of the 2011 ‘Catholic Schools Week’ program.

Call 923-3111 for details. This program is published once a year during Catholic Schools Week with support of the Cincinnati Archdiocese.

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Catholic Schools Week

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Jan. 31 - Feb. 6 2010

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Catholic schools expanding

By Patricia A. Scheyer | Contributor Certain Cincinnati Catholic schools are readjusting to better meet the needs of the community and their parishioners.

St. James school in White Oak is currently in the process of constructing a STEM lab, or Science, Technology, Engineering and Math lab. The lab will not be a new, freestanding edifice, but instead transform 1700 square feet of existing classroom space.

“We are currently working very hard to raise the funds that will make this lab a reality,“ said Doug Behr, Science Department Chair for St. James. “With the support of the parish and the families of the students at the school we feel we will be able to achieve our goal.”

The project is in the final design approval, and has a few more steps before the job is shovel ready, but the school has time.

They would like to begin work the day after school dismisses for the summer in June, and plan to have it ready for use when the students come back in August.

To date, the committee has raised $30,000, and has another $10,000 pledged.

They have a line on a Good Neighbor Grant which will provide an additional $15,000 if St. James raises another $15,0000.

Behr said the school is planning a walk-a-thon in the spring called the Panther Prowl, to raise more money.

“We expect this lab to expand the experience of the students in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades especially, so they can better develop the skills for high school and college,” explained Behr. “In addition, the older students can work with the younger students, which will benefit all the age groups.”

In another part of the city, Our

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“What we wanted

Lady of Grace school is eighth to do … was to be in their second year of grade existence, a regional started proactive in offering school that originated to school, students a well-rounded finding incorporate the talents and resources of four other Catholic education.” that they parish schools which closed. had not only a “St. Ann, Assumption, and new facility, but Little Flower schools closed after two outside modulars, the 2008 school year, and St. one housing a music classroom Margaret Mary closed two years and a music lab, and the other before the other three,” said home to speech and language, Michael Johnson, Principal of the school psychologist, and the Our Lady of Grace. “Everybody instruction specialist. who worked in all those schools “When we drew from all the had to reapply to work at this other schools, we found we had regional school, so no one school enough resources to create a realhad an advantage.” ly nice music department, and In looking around for where to add to a lot of other departlocate this school, St. Ann’s cam- ments,” explained Johnson. pus on West Galbraith seemed to “What we wanted to do in creathave more space, so the old ing Our Lady of Grace was to be school was transformed, as well proactive in offering students a as part of a friary, and a new well-rounded Catholic education. wing that the church had added.

The parish schools wanted to That first year, 718 students ensure that they maintained their from kindergarten through

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Catholic Schools Week

Wellness - part of Corryville Catholic’s educational, spiritual mission

By Neva Martin | Contributor Wellness has been an increasing concern for schools in recent years.

Problems of obesity, abundance of junk food and lack of exercise have been covered extensively in the news. A

school in Corryville has been striving over the past year to recognize the importance of student health by forming a Wellness Council.

Shirley Gaede Speakes, director of development at Corryville

The Wellness Council was formed last year during the initial phases of a research study.

Catholic School, said a committee of faculty, students, parents and community members first completed the School Health Index, which is a self-assessment and planning guide developed by the Centers for Disease Control.

“The School Health Index helped the Wellness Council take a broad view of the entire school, to assess where Corryville is currently in regard to

health education, nutrition, physical activity, health and safety, and family and psychosocial supports,” Speaks said.

The Wellness Council was formed last year during the initial phases of a research study, conducted with Catherine Ramstetter, who is working on her Ph.D. in health education at the University of Cincinnati.

She walked by the school every day during

the first year of her doctoral course work at UC in 2007 and felt drawn to it.

“There it sits, this beautiful old school, landlocked and surrounded by UC and urban activity, and I just wanted to go inside and see what I could do to volunteer there,” said Ramstetter.

“I had volunteered at my kids' elementary school in the early ’90s and I missed elementary kids.”

She checked in with Sister Marie Smith, CCS principal, initially to find out if the school needed anything related to health and, ultimately, if it needed volunteers.

After passing a background check, Ramstetter was assigned to volunteer one day a week in the school's library reading program.

“I simply fell in love with the students, the school, the mission,” Ramstetter added.

In the spring of 2008, she approached the principal about her need to do a dissertation and she wanted to focus on school health.

“Sister Marie was, and continues to be, open, supportive and agreeable to my offering my assistance to the school's overall mission, in the form of being the champion for the school health initiative.”

In October of 2008, Ramstetter proposed her Participatory Action Research Study at the faculty meeting, and the teachers unanimously agreed to embark on the study together.

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Character-building programs develop students, one grade at a time

By Neva Martin | Contributor Collecting needed items for the poor, leading by example, putting virtues into practice – these actions can all lead to character building for students from prekindergarten through high school and pay dividends for life.

St. James School in White Oak has an Eighth Grade Leadership Council in which 26 students help lead the school.

Jeff Fulmer, teacher and marketing coordinator, said these eighth-graders applied or were nominated for the council for this school year. They gave up a weekend of their summer to spend a night at the school to learn about leadership.

“We talked about servant leadership… and they set goals,” said Fulmer.

They hold monthly collections, bake sales and other fundraisers. They've sent more than 300 pounds of candy to troops overseas and, during Advent, collected 2,900 toiletry items for area families and a women's shelter.

“They also held a coat drive and collected more than 1,150 coats to donate to St. Vincent de Paul,” Fulmer added.

St. Vincent Ferrer's School in Kenwood also collected canned and boxed foods for needy families. For Advent, the school con-

ducted a toy drive, said Principal Douglas L. Alpiger.

“This year we had the largest collection of toys the school has seen,” said Alpiger. “We delivered those toys, too.”

This year's school theme is taken from Mother Teresa: “Do small things for one another with great love.”

When a student is witnessed carrying out this theme, teachers reward him or her with a cutout of a heart with that student's name, displaying it on the school's Loving Heart Wall.

“For example, this morning, a kindergartner came to school a little bit late and was crying in the parking lot because she was lost,” Alpiger said. “A fifthgrader took her hand and walked her to her class.”

Compassion can be shown on a global as well as local basis.

At Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Anderson Township, students have helped a graduate of that school, Danny Burridge, now a missionary in El Salvador.

IHM Co-principal Nancy Goebel explained that Burridge came and talked to the IHM community last August, explaining the violence in the community and his desire to lift up the students at one of the parishes he

We strive to make our students lifelong learners, but more importantly... lifelong givers.

St. Xavier students help with the school’s annual Canned Food Drive.

serves. The school has sent money down to help with afterschool programs.

“We strive to make our students lifelong learners, but more importantly, we want them to be lifelong givers,” Goebel added.

“Contributing to the efforts of a missionary like Danny helps to nurture the character of the giver.”

Giving is a big part of the oldest high school in Cincinnati. St. Xavier, founded in 1831, has held an annual Canned Food Drive for more than 80 years.

This year they set a record for the drive, conducted for six weeks between November and Christmas, said Matt Kemper, Community Service director at St. X. “We delivered 147,000 pounds (of food) to about 450 families and three Appalachian communities,” said Kemper, adding, “About 20 social services agencies or food pantries come to St. X and we fill up their trucks with food.”

He calls the drive “a great opportunity” for St. X students to meet people in need and understand they can help them. “I think they learn a great deal by collecting food but also by entering into relationship with people in need.”

St. Gertrude School in Madeira also has a tradition of reaching out. Celebrating its 75th anniversary, and helped by parents as well as the presence of Dominican friars and sisters since 1934, St. Gertrude developed a Virtue Education program. It incorporates virtues of the saints into the children's daily lives.

This past summer, St. Gertrude revamped the program, renaming it “Virtues in Practice,” said Sister Mary Sheila Maksim, principal, based on the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity. This year is the year of charity.

The principal explained it as “a Catholic version of the bullyprevention program that doesn't label students as bullies” and it has a parent guide. “It's a draft but it gives them a list of things they can do at home, by grade.”

A weekly Golden Cross is awarded to students and adults that practice a virtue.

Maksim explained that Virtues in Practice means doing a good deed, practicing it over and over until it becomes a habit. “Most of the work behind it is the role plays they're doing in class and doing at home.”

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Expanding From page 7 record of excellence, and the regional school positioned them to do so. We have two science labs, a music lab and classroom, a large library, and an excellent art and physical education department.”

One Juridical Pastor takes care of the school, and though Father Bob Goebel from Little Flower holds the title now, every year that title can move to another pastor.

Bus service is provided for all but St. Margaret Mary parish, since North college Hill is a commu-

nity school which does not provide bussing, and the students come from a large demographic area.

“We have wonderful Catholic schools here in Cincinnati, and our families have a variety of options available to them,” said Johnson.

“With the regionalization of our schools, some families chose to leave, while at the same time we gained other students because of the commitment our covenant parishes have made to ensuing quality Catholic education for our communities.”

Catholic Schools Week

St. Martin students reap dividends The Catholic education students receive at St. Martin’s will surely reap dividends for their future.

We provide a firm foundation in academics, faith formation, self-discipline, and morals.

Academics are very strong at Saint Martin School. Their junior high students receive excellent preparation for high school in a very wellequipped science lab.

Advanced math classes are provided to students in grades six, seven, and eight.

Spanish has been introduced in fourth and fifth grades. In addition to their highly qualified and experienced classroom teachers, physical education and music teachers, the school staff includes a speech therapist, reading and math intervention specialists, technology coordinator, and coordinator of religious education.

Saint Martin of Tours has been in the forefront of integrating technology into elementary education. They were the first school on the west side to equip every classroom with SMART boards, projectors, laptops and

VCR/DVD players. Smart Airliner slates provide the mobility for students and teachers to access the SMART board from any place in the classroom.

They have a wireless network to allow Internet access from laptops anywhere in the building, and a computer lab which seats up to 33 students.

The TurningPoint audience response clickers allow students to participate more actively in class and give teachers immediate feedback from the students during lessons.

Several of their classes are beginning to explore distance learning by videoconferencing with classrooms in other parts of the country via SKYPE. The Edline homepage allows parents to view their children's grades, keep in touch with teachers via email, and receive communications weekly from the school office.

Parents are able to schedule teacher conferences online using Pickatime.

The latest educational software is also integrated into the educational programs of the school.

Special needs students have access to Kurzweil

assistive technology and Dragonfly voice activated typing programs. The Accelerated Reader program has been upgraded to provide online testing and access to the entire AR library. They subscribe to the netTrekker search engine to provide students with access to safe, age appropriate research materials.

Students learn early what it means to share their faith by participating in many service projects throughout the year.

They hold a yearly Mission Fair to raise money for St. Julie School in Uganda.

This year they also purchased books for St. Julie's through the generosity of our students.

Student Council is currently involved in a project to collect soccer balls for children in Iraq. The children in all grades send cards and letters to parish shut-ins and visit nearby nursing homes.

For more information, contact St. Martin School, 3729 Harding Ave. at 6617609 or visit them at https://www.edline.net/ pages/St_Martin_of_Tour s_Elementary.

Speaks said the study will take place over one full school year, but the work of the Wellness Council will continue as an ongoing project.

“We have also formed a Student Wellness Council composed of two students from each grade, fifth through eighth,” Speaks added.

“Junior high students now take a yoga class once a week as part of this approach to wellness.”

The Student Wellness Council meets each Friday during lunch to evaluate and make recommendations for healthy snack alternatives for Corryville's Cougar Credits. Students can earn Cougar Credits for good behavior and/or academic performance.

“While my dissertation will be completed this spring, 2010, our work, my involvement, my commitment to CCS will remain,” Ramstetter said.

Wellness From page 8 “We began the study in May 2009 with a ‘Call to Action,' inviting all parents, students, teachers, staff board members and volunteers to participate,” said Speaks.

More than 80 people responded to the “Call” and, after they started planning meetings for the study last summer, they officially began calling themselves a Wellness Council in August 2009.

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Considering Seton? A Novel Idea!

Explore the Seton story and you'll be intrigued by every chapter! Strong characters, rich history, exceptional setting and powerful faith and values are the backbone of Seton.

Enriched with exceptional academics in a faith-based education, Seton's offerings include a college-prep comprehensive curriculum with 15 advanced placement classes and volumes of course electives.

This year, Seton is the only Catholic high school to be included in C-STEP, (Science, Technology, Engineering Program) funded by the National Science Foundation and based at the University of Cincinnati.

A leader in Catholic education, Seton's incredible state-ofthe-art campus offers students everything they need to learn and excel.

All freshmen, sophomores and juniors have their own personal Tablet PC. Students take notes on

their tablets, receive worksheets and turn in assignments electronically, and have immediate access to the best software which is integrated into the curriculum.

The wireless campus literally offers the world to students and the possibilities are endless.

Combined with an experienced staff knowledgeable not only in their field but in the world of technology, curriculum is presented by incorporating the best practices in education.

Seton’s facilities include five state-of-the-art science labs with lecture areas.

Seton has a renowned perty to practice and perform with All students participate in forming arts tradition. This year the CMO. community service. With over 30 the Seton-Elder Performance Through the leadership of the co-curricular activities, 12 varsity Series celebrates 40 years of exceptional entertainment, unlike Sisters of Charity, Seton instructs sports and an exceptional fine and challenges their students to arts program, Seton offers someany other program in the city. thrive in an environment that thing for everyone.

The setting at Seton includes The welcoming atmosphere an on-campus 900 seat air-condi- promotes exceptional growth academically, spiritually and per- and spirit at Seton is legendary, tioned Performance Theatre that was renovated over the summer. sonally, preparing young women they even have a national school for their future. spirit title to prove it!

Seton is home to the From the class of 2009, 99 perOnce you begin your story at Cincinnati Metropolitan cent are continuing with post-sec- Seton, you'll see why it is a bestOrchestra and advanced orchesseller! tral students have the opportuni- ondary education.

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Catholic Schools Week

Our Lady of Lourdes prepares students for life A Catholic education at Our Lady of Lourdes prepares a child for life.

The Catholic elementary school serves to lay the foundation of the basic beliefs and traditions of the church and strives to be a model of a christian community in today’s world.

They prepare their students to become productive members of society and to assume their responsibilities of discipleship.

“We instill in our students a gentle spirit,” said Principal Aimee Ellmaker.

“This is revealed through the little things our students do like smiling, saying hello, holding open a door.”

The big things count for something too.

Our Lady of Lourdes participates in a number of service projects that are not only meaningfully but truly get the students involved.

The students are making a daily difference in the community and world.

“Our mission is to provide service,” Ellmaker explained.

“We embody that using it in our daily vocabulary, our actions and service projects. We want to teach children to strengthen and share their gifts with others.”

The faculty, staff, and alumni together with the parents and students make a daily effort to live the gospel message in word, attitude, and action.

Our Lady of Lourdes School strives to educate the whole person by promoting the spiritual, moral, intellectual, emotional, and physical development of each student in a value-centered environment of mutual respect.

“Everyone is here working for

“Our mission is to provide service. We embody that using it in our daily vocabulary, our actions and service projects.”

Principal Aimee Ellmaker

the same purpose, the students,” Ellmaker said. “We invested with our time, energy and hearts.”

Academic excellence is achieved by a strong curriculum and development of students’ individual talents.

SMART Board technology is available in every classroom and Our Lady of Lourdes has one of the largest tech classrooms in the area and their own technology coordinator.

With a fully automated library and two gymnasiums, students have an array of educational and extra curricular activities to expand their dreams and help them grow.

“We have an awesome group of educators,” Ellmaker said.

This is a group committed to quality Catholic education by providing opportunities for spiritual, academic, and personal growth.

The curriculum of Our Lady of Lourdes espouses Christian principles in all our endeavors.

This year Our Lady of Lourdes celebrates 83 years of excellence and openly invite your family to join in a partnership for better education, better life – a better world.

Our Lady of Lourdes will host an open house 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 31. For more visit www.lourdes.org or call 347-2660.

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Programs

From page 9 St. Veronica School in Mount Carmel has another character-developing program, Everybody Counts.

Gina Code., St. Veronica principal, explains that the November program focuses on a particular disability at each grade level in the K-8 school.

Trained parent volunteers present information and the students participate in activities that help them understand the topic at their grade level.

A guest speaker visits most classrooms, adding additional insight. The fifth-graders then sponsor a bake sale, with all proceeds contributed to St. Joseph Children's Home.

“Our students (also) contribute to a monthly mission with our seventhgraders (as) mission leaders. The fourth-grade students adopt grandparents in the community,” said Becky Vontsolos, technology coordinator.

The Special Friends Program pairs students as buddies from first and eighth grades to build

community and provide opportunities for growth.

The school also recognizes students each month who demonstrate good character traits in their actions and in writing in their Kindness Journals, which they carry with them throughout their school years.

“The students develop a variety of strong character traits that will benefit them personally and the people they come into contact with at St. Veronica and throughout their lifetime,” said Vontsolos.

Catholic Schools Week

Our Lady of Victory: Technology in action Our Lady of Victory School prepares students for success by providing an education infused with technology.

OLV teachers and students utilize the latest learning tools on the school's wireless campus, including desktop computers, smart boards, laptops, wireless slates, digital cameras, and iPods.

Students of all ages are interacting with technology daily, using the laptops

Students of all ages are interacting with technology daily to compose music and manipulate digital photography, SMART Boards to transform instruction, and computers to analyze research and plan multimedia presentations.

First-grade students look forward to music class as they use interactive notes and melodies on the SMART Board while learning to play dulcimer.

Kindergarten students sing along with their Spanish teacher as they use the SMART Board to learn Spanish vocabulary.

Eighth-grade students will be breaking in their new laptop computers as they prepare for the history fair this spring.

The social studies and language arts teachers are collaborating to provide this opportunity for students to learn more about the impact and change of innovations in history.

The laptop computers will be a valuable tool for the students as they refine research techniques and presentation skills.

“Students are learning and developing critical skills essential in today's digital age.

And, this is just the beginning. In 2010, the school is adding technology tools to the newly renovated science lab,” states Principal Kathy Kan. Visit www.olv.org or call 513-347-2072 to learn more about the educational opportunities available to students at Our Lady of Victory.

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ESAP provides assistance to Catholic elementary school families In August, 2009, 47 scholarship winners of the Educational Scholarship Assistance Program, formerly the Elder Scholars Assistance Program, were recognized at a reception at Elder High School. Recipients were selected based on essays submitted.

The Educational Scholarship Assistance Program or ESAP was founded in 2005 to provide scholarships and financial aid to families at ten Catholic grade schools within what was then the Elder High School district.

Today ESAP has grown to include 20 west-side grade schools that feed into several area Catholic high schools. Over the past five years, ESAP has awarded over $580,000 to 1500 students.

ESAP was started by George “Butch” Hubert, Jr., Elder alum of the class of 1959. Butch grew up in Fairmont and was the son of a poor family with a struggling butcher supply company.

From these humble beginnings,

Mr. Hubert began the legacy of working hard and giving back.

The lessons he learned from his family, the nuns at St. Leo's grade school, and the priests at Elder were never far from his mind, nor was Elder's motto, “What I had I gave. What I saved I lost.”

ESAP began with a brief conversation with a waitress at White Castle.

Elder was playing Winton Woods in the 2003 Skyline Crosstown Showdown when Mr. Hubert entered White Castle for a quick burger before the game.

Seeing him in his Elder T-shirt Butch Hubert (second from left) with ESAP Scholarship winner, JT Williams, and his parents, Sheri and the waitress said, “Hey, my kid Bob Williams. wants to go to your school!” and her struggles, however, rescreation a scholarship fund to Knowing the value of a onated with him and his humble help families afford Catholic Catholic education, the waitress beginnings. school tuition. The result was the was working three jobs to earn How could he help her and establishment of the Elder the money necessary to send her others like her, people who are Scholarship Assistance Program. children to Catholic schools, but Until recently, Mr. Hubert it was still not enough. Her story working hard and doing their remained the anonymous donor. stayed with Mr. Hubert. He tried best and trying to raise children with values? to find her again to personally A plan began to form – the aid her but could not. Her story ESPA | Continued Page 16

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Catholic Schools Week

Academics, extra-curriculars, welcoming atmosphere all set St. Al’s apart With math and reading scores among the top 10 percent in the nation, fully-integrated technology, multiple extra-curricular options, and Catholic values underlying everything, it's not difficult to to understand why dozens of families drive past other schools so their children can attend St. Aloysius Gonzaga in Bridgetown.

The individualized student attention, challenging curriculum, dedicated teachers, and a cafeteria that serves hot lunches daily are

among the things that attract families to St. Al's. In addition, parents say it's the school's small size and family-friendly atmosphere that keep them there.

“My children could attend four, closer, public or private elementary schools, yet I can't imagine sending them anywhere but St. Al's,” says Jenny Rhein, who has two children enrolled. “St. Al's small size means they get individual attention and aren't lost in a crowd, while our family feels comfortable and wel-

...they get individual attention and aren’t lost in a crowd...

come in school and church. I'm thrilled our children are able to practice their faith every day.”

“I've heard people suggest that a small school doesn't offer as many extra-curricular options, but because it's small, I think St. Al's students actually get to do more. My children take dance lessons, act in the school play, participate in the spelling bee, play on sports teams, traveled to Columbus for state Science Olympiad competition, and sang in the choir that recorded a Christmas CD. They have many opportunities to discover and pursue new interests,” she says.

Jenny also knows firsthand how well St. Al's prepared her

older daughter for life after grade school. “I don't think you can find a school anywhere with teachers as knowledgeable and devoted as the ones at St. Al's.

My daughter was well-prepared academically and socially for high school.”

Come see for yourself why St. Al's is the small school that offers your child big possibilities. An open house is planned from 11:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31, and a kindergarten information night for Tuesday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m.

Families are also welcome to call the school at 574-4035 to schedule a personal tour, meet faculty and staff, or visit a classroom.

ESPA From page 15 Daughter, Kathy Hubert Smith, explains, “My dad did not want attention drawn to himself. He was just glad to be helping others, but it was brought to his attention that if he announced himself, his example could spur more generosity. His giving could be a light drawing others to follow and give. And in this light, it is our hope that others will follow.”

In 2009, ESAP awarded close to $140,000 to over 350 families. Mrs. Hubert Smith shared these final thoughts with the scholarships recipients and their families, “You have shown the ESAP spirit.

You are the parent modeling – you are the student giving freely. Remember this award and how it was earned. Continue to be an example of generosity and continue to make our world a better and brighter place.”

Applications for the 2010 ESAP scholarships and financial aid are available at www.elderhs. org. Applications are due March 1.

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Nativity School students can relate to Islamic communities

By Neva Martin | Contributor

Ann Buchino, Nativity School psychologist, acted as liaison.

“When it first started, the Students often wade through principal and I met with Karen a sea of knowledge to learn Dabdoub, who is coordinator for about people of other cultures. At all the community activities for Nativity School in Pleasant the Muslim community,” said Ridge, students are building Buchino. “She came out and genbridges of understanding with erated a list of people from the Muslim community, both in Islamic nations (living in the Cincinnati and abroad, said Bob Cincinnati area).”

Herring Nativity principal.

Dabdoub, executive director “We have Islamic visitors who of the Cincinnati office for the come here to work with the Council on American-Islamic sixth-graders,” said Herring.

Relations, a nonprofit advocacy “The fourth-graders connect group, said this area has about through the Internet (with 30,000 Muslims and nine Islamic nations).” mosques. She expressed delight The project to learn about about the enthusiasm from the other countries and cultures has school and the parents toward traditionally been known as the the International Fair.

International Fair, said sixth“I see this as broadening not grade teacher Sue Daniel, now in One of last year's presentations at the International Fair at Nativity featured a Parade of Nations in the only the kids' horizons but also her fourth year at Nativity. attire of their respective countries. From left, Matthew Lewis, Darcy Murphy, Erin Magner, Caroline Cusick the parents',” said Dabdoub.

“When I came to Nativity, we and Joe Krzeski.

In light of disturbing events shifted the emphasis of a former occurring in the Middle East, as sixth-grade activity to focus on Starting in 2006, Nativity Cincinnati to arrange for sixthnations with a significant Muslim School started working with the graders to meet immigrants or citpopulation,” said Daniel.

Islamic Center of Greater izens from Muslim nations. Mary Nativity school | Continued Page 21

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Catholic Schools Week

McAuley family homeroom program One of the many unique and advantageous programs at McAuley High School is the Family Homeroom.

Students come from more than 60 different elementary schools, so they often enter McAuley not knowing anyone. Solution? The Family Homeroom program.

Traditional homerooms comprise 25 or so students on the same grade level, but Family Homerooms are made up of students from every grade level.

This facilitates all students meeting and developing friendships with other students, often girls with whom they are not likely to share academic classes. Senior

“Family Homeroom brings McAuley students together...”

members of Family Homerooms, those with the most McAuley experience, share their McAuley wisdom and insights with the younger girls, helping them avoid the pitfalls of high school life, such as learning to properly prepare for tests as well which cafeteria lines are shortest and which side of the stairs to use.

Students change traditional homerooms each year, but their families, like yours, never change.

According to junior Kaylyn von Korff: “Rather

than just a community, we're now a true family.”

Homerooms were invited to create family names, all Irish in keeping with the Celtic ancestry of Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy.

Each homeroom then designed a T-shirt with a family rest and motto to create unity among their McAuley “sisters.” These tshirts are worn each time the Family Homeroom meets, usually once a week.

Homerooms also create family prayers, special

words to communicate with God and each other in the family setting.

Family prayers are enhanced by a family candle, decorated with symbols particular to each family. These candles are used at school liturgies.

Like any family, their’s take photos of each other and create cherished memories that will last a lifetime, thanks to family scrapbooks.

Every family is working on a scrapbook of pictures, thoughts, and mementoes to pass on to the next year. These priceless albums will provide enjoyable continuity for McAuley students for many years.

As junior Nikki Williams says: “Family Homeroom brings McAuley students together with a new bond and a way to make lots of new friends.”

Family activities throughout the year, such as family picnics and service projects, have come to be new traditions at the school.

In its second year, the Family Homeroom program is yet another way McAuley High School strives to be both welcoming to its student population and innovative in its practices.

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Mother of Mercy High School – a Catholic school that definitely pays ‘Dividends for Life!’

Mercy’s long tradition of excellence in the education of women makes it the ideal choice for a young woman seeking not only a school that will give her cherished memories, but one that will also give her the very best preparation for her future.

How does an investment in Mercy bring your daughter the future she deserves?

• Mercy’s faith – Our Catholic identity is seamlessly woven into every school day, building for each student an incredible foundation of strength for the challenges she’ll face in her future;

To advertise in the 2011 Catholic Schools Week call 248-7685.

• Mercy’s values – Our students come to personify Mercy’s founding values of faith, service, compassion, leadership and excellence, giving our girls the confidence needed to become all that God intends for them;

high quality demonstrating stellar academic performance, determined work ethic, moral courage and absolute kindness.

Our girls grow in this amazingly, positive and energized environment;

• Mercy’s faculty – The teachers, staff and administration genuinely care about each student, encouraging her to strive higher while fully supporting her in reaching her goals;

• Mercy’s academics – With an intense college-prep curriculum modeled in the manner of higher education with longer class time through block scheduling and integrated, options-based technology, Mercy students have consistently arrived at college completely and confidently ready to realize

• Mercy’s girls – The student population at Mercy is of very

their dreams.

It is not at all by chance that Mercy remains a leader in women’s education; it is only by our relentless commitment to serve Mercy’s students and their families with the unparalleled educational performance they’ve come to expect and deserve.

Academically, spiritually and morally, there really is no better preparation for the young women of Cincinnati than Mother of Mercy High School it truly pays Dividends for Life.

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Catholic Schools Week

Parish supports St. Antoninus In a time when many parish schools are closing, St. Antoninus in Green Township is strengthening.

With 468 students in grades K through 8, it is certainly competitive, with it’s Terra Nova scores consistently in the top ten percent in the country.

Last year St. Antoninus' eighth-graders amassed $250,000 in scholarship offers to area Catholic high schools.

While offers this year have not been completed,

the students have been notified of $140,000 in scholarships so far.

“I attribute our success as a school to our parents, our students’ primary educators, who are unstinting in their participation; to our faculty and staff, who continue the high standards and strong morals begun by the parents, and to the community, who supports us wholeheartedly,” said Jack Corey, who is in his fourth year as principal of the school.

“It has always been a

collaborative effort, and it pays off. With St. Antoninus school being the biggest ministry of our parish, the parishioners make an incredible investment in the religious formation and education of the next generation.”

The school is also seeing the third generation of families come through its doors, and Corey says the parents like to see some of the teachers that taught them when they were young.

The faculty is all lay, but the pastor, the Rev.

Christopher A. Armstrong, likes to lead the morning prayers and teach a religion class weekly. This allows the students to interact and get to know him.

“Catholic schools definitely make a difference in education,” Corey explained.

“We have the benefit of our students coming from similar moral backgrounds. In addition, my own daughter, who was in public school until we moved back to Cincinnati,

“I attribute our success as a school to our parents, our students’ primary educators …” did not get the same sacramental instruction once a week in CCD that my son gets during his daily preparation.

“I believe our children become like the people they associate with. I bring my own children here so they can associate with the students and families of St. Antoninus.

Our students are fantastic.”

Angie Heisel teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math, and eighth-grade reading, and she loves the age group she teaches, finding them well mannered. Her own four children also attend the school.

“I have been extremely pleased with the parish as a whole, and the school is top-notch,” she stated.

“The kids I teach are a great group of adolescents, and they are hard workers. But I find it is more than just academics.

“The students at this school are very well rounded; often they are servers at Mass, and they do community service as well. I can’t say enough good things about St. Antoninus.”

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St. Michael School - Excellence begins with me!

“Excellence Begins with Me” – is the theme for the 2009-10 school year at St. Michael School.

Students, teachers, staff, parents and parish family are all very proud that the Department of Education has named St. Michael School a 2009 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.

From academics, faith development, after-school programs and sports, excellence can be seen everywhere at St. Michael.

The children, under the faith-

ful guidance of the teachers, are encouraged to achieve to their best ability.

This is seen in all the activities in which the children participate.

The pride in accomplishment can be seen in their eyes while they are participating in Mass, academics, sports, band, student council, and many other afterschool activities.

The children at St. Michael's learn more than what is in a book; they learn respect for oth-

ers and how to be a caring and responsible person.

The excellence demonstrated daily at St. Michael is what a Catholic education and Catholic Schools Week is all about.

The elements of Faith, Knowledge, Discipline and Morals that are instilled in the students at St. Michael will carry with them and pay “Dividends for Life.”

To learn more about what St. Michael School can offer your

… excellence can be seen everywhere at St. Michael.

child, please visit their open house on Feb. 4, 2010 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

More information is also at www.stmichaelsharonville.org.

Nativity school From page 17 well as 9-11, there was a lot of hesitation at first on the part of the Islamic community, Buchino said, so the first session included just three women from countries that included South Africa and Iran.

They met with the sixth-graders in the library's comfortable environment and the women brought a prayer rug to show as part of their Muslim faith.

“The kids were very respectful,” said Buchino.

“They had researched their (Muslim) countries and they listened well.”

That first experience left the Islamic women relieved and the project has grown stronger each year, expanding to speakers who include doctors, teachers and other professionals from countries such as Ethiopia, Morocco and Bosnia, said Daniel.

Her students begin working on the International Fair project toward the end of April.

“We assign the working groups as soon as we can get commitments from our partners in the Muslim community for their availability,” said

Daniel, adding that the visitors come to the school and meet with the students for about an hour or so.

They are encouraged to bring items the students can't find themselves – favorite family recipes, nursery rhymes, children's games.

“The guests have been fabulous,” said Daniel.

“They've brought food, family heirlooms. What happens – I never expected this – is a relationship.

They educate in ways I could never do.”

Nativity pupils in the fourth grade have found students and adults from other nations, including Muslim countries, by way of the Internet, said Patti Burwinkel, who teaches two fourth-grade classes.

“Those countries are part of the iEARN network and we belong to a program called ‘One Day in the Life,’ ” said Burwinkel. “It starts in January and goes through May.” Last year Burwinkel's students followed fourthgrade life with a Pakistani class, sharing how they celebrate holidays and what they have for breakfast, among other topics.

“It's different, yet the same,” she added. “It's in the words of fourthgraders. Last year we added digital pictures … worth a thousand words.”

The International Fair itself, attended by parents and others, takes place on a Friday in May, when groups of sixth-graders make a presentation on their selected country bringing in food, doing mini-skits, making their own caftans.

Emma Garry, now an eighth-grader, enjoyed learning about Muslim dress.

“There was this scarf that you wore on top of your head,” said Garry. “I wore it for part of (the presentation).”

Seventh-grader Elena Kyrkos said she enjoyed learning about the Bosnian culture and traditions, the folk tales and games they played as children.

“It was a great experience,” said Kyrkos. “We got to go outside of ourselves and see what other people do in their daily lives – how (people practice other religions besides Catholic, and it can help us practice ours better.”

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Catholic Schools Week

Elder’s Spiritual Boosters connect sons with dads and the community

By Neva Martin | Contributor Boys and men are not well-known for trying to get in touch with their spiritual side. So Roger Auer, campus minister of the all-male Elder High School, was open to suggestion when Tom Aug, class of Elder ‘67, approached him with the idea of forming a Spiritual Boosters group.

“He’s the one who came to me and said ‘We have Band Boosters, Glee Club Boosters, Athletic Boosters, so why can’t we have a Boosters that contributes to the spiritual well-being of our boys?’ ” said Auer.

Now in its seventh year, this group of Elder alumni and friends, focusing on the freshmen, in retreats and in reading books together, wanted to include the dads in their sons’ spiritual growth.

“We came to the conclusion that interacting with the dads is most advantageous,” said Auer.

“Males really experience God through the events of their lives,” adding that it was important for dads to “be there” when the boys are experiencing not just success, but failures and humiliation.

Aug has three sons who attended Elder and said that Elder’s14 Spiritual Boosters recognize that during the teenage years, “emotions are heightened – highs are very high, lows are very low.”

“This is the second year we’ve worked with the fathers,” said Aug, “Men like to do things

As part of Elder High School’s Spiritual Booster program, students and their fathers prepared deep-fried turkey for 25 families this past Thanksgiving. From left are Elder curriculum director Patrick Tucker, freshman Drew Conroy and his father, Dennis Conroy.

and several service projects have really resonated with the dads.”

Such projects have included fathers and sons visiting nursing homes together, collecting canned food in their neighborhoods and working with the Western Wildlife Corridor on two different Sundays to clear Rapid Run Park of honeysuckle, an invasive plant that can take over the park’s green space if not controlled.

One especially popular

event involved making Thanksgiving dinners for 25 needy families.

It was organized by Doug Jaeger, who came up with the idea of getting boys and their dads involved in a “manly” way: deep-frying turkeys outdoors in a propane cooker.

Donated by Bridgetown Finer Meats, the turkeys, “11-pound 1 birds, at 3 ⁄2 minutes per pound,” were the main course but one of the men suggested using an oven

to make pumpkin pies, with several of the boys mixing the ingredients, said Jaeger, father of Chris, a senior, and Ben, a freshman.

For each of the 25 families, “We had a large, 24ounce can of green beans, a can of cranberry sauce, a can of turkey gravy and two boxes of stuffing,” Jaeger added. “A woman friend who’s a graphic artist made up a card that we signed, all the boys and their dads.”

These projects help to

form spiritual bonds between sons and fathers, Auer said. “It’s usually the mom who’s the spiritual leader. Getting the dad to take an active part in their son’s spiritual development, that’s something.”

Jaeger agreed, adding that such spiritual experiences are essential.

“We are in a terrible societal state where men don’t walk the talk,” he said. “It’s a time to try to get men to step up to the plate.”

Jan. 31 - Feb. 6 2010

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Students want to learn at St. John Paul “We do fun things that make us want to learn,” shared seventh-graders Ashley DeBurger and Lindsey Ollier.

Engaged learning is best teaching practice and prevalent in all classes at John Paul II Catholic School.

The teachers are passionate about involving and challenging their students to learn.

Activities permeate the classrooms as students collaborate, problem solve, and utilize technology and the arts to enhance learning.

Science Day is bustling with eighth-graders instructing pri-

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mary students on concepts of motion, energy, and chemical reactions.

Talk shows are common in junior high American History classes. Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Paine are among the American heroes who appear to challenge our students to debate historical facts and ethical issues.

Music is composed using handmade instruments. Handson extension activities such as graphing, measuring, experimenting, and creating edible landforms excite our young learners. Student response units (ACTIVotes) enhance class dis-

cussions and activities.

At any time, the school transforms to a one room school house as third-graders experience life as pioneers.

A land of castles are designed and constructed by sixth-graders as they travel to the Middle Ages.

Seventh-grade architects build earthquake proof structures and passports are needed to visit dif-

ferent countries during our International Folk Festival. Toxic waste affords fourthgraders an opportunity to work as teams to use critical thinking strategies to solve environmental issues.

John Paul II Catholic School provides a quality catholic education that prepares students for the 21st century. Their commitment to a challenging and engaging learning experience prepares our children for a lifetime of success.

John Paul II provides a quality catholic education that prepares students for the 21st century.

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Catholic Schools Week

St. Jude School – A blend of both big and small When searching for a school, parents are looking for what's best for their children. They like for the intimacy of a small school, but also the variety of programs a large school can provide. St. Jude strives to attain both.

“Class size was a big concern of mine,” said St. Jude mother, Marianne Dressman.

“I didn't want my first-grader in a class where there would be so many children he wouldn't get the attention I wanted for him.

St. Jude offers three homerooms of not more than 20. That's an inviting size” St. Jude Principal, Bob Huber, explains the St. Jude approach.

“It's essential that the students get off to a good start in their early education. We've capped our homerooms at 20 in grades K-3 to give us the best chance of achieving that goal.

“For example, our current first grade has three homerooms with

59 students. This gives us the best of both worlds. Our primary teachers have small classes where they can interact with the students, but they also have fellow teachers,” said Huber.

“Having colleagues in the same grade allows for collaboration and sharing of ideas that greatly benefits our students,” he said.

“Class size wasn't the only thing we were looking for,” continued Dressman.

“The types and varieties of programs was also a major factor in our decision. This last factor is why we chose St. Jude. Their facilities and programs are fantastic.”

“We've been systematically adding and expanding to our programs over the years,” explained Huber. “We opened our new Parish Center at the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year. This allowed us to both

improve and expand our programs. The added space allowed us to open our kindergarten and extended day kindergarten programs.

“Our half-day kindergarten program has been both popular and successful. The kids are off to a great start.

“The half-day program can also be combined with the extend day program to accommodate our working parents who are looking for a full day program.

We also were able to improve and expand our art, music, computer, and library programs.”

“Over the next two years we invested heavily in our students.

Approximately $150,000 was spent to update our classroom presentations. All classrooms have been equipped with SMART Boards. This allows the teachers to broaden their presentations and allow students better interaction.

“Also, the addition of our fully equipped science lab has allowed a greater opportunity for students to experience hands on science activities. Both are expected to return dividends in the form of increase student learning and performance.”

“The bottom line is 'How are our students doing?'” concluded Huber.

“Our parents are looking for us to provide their children with a superior education. It's our job to take the students entrusted to us and take them to a higher level.

“Last year our eighth grade achieved approximately $200,000 in high school scholarships last year.

“This year our eighth-grade median Terra Nova percentiles were in the upper 70s and into the 80s. It's what our parents are looking for and what we consistently deliver,” said Huber.