St. Ignatius School

St. Ignatius School Annual Report 2O15 2O years of inspiring students to become their best selves. JOINT LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD CHAIR Dear Friends, St. Ignatius School (SIS) is excited to celebrate 20 years emotional development of each student. The joy and of empowering students in the South Bronx to be- zest for learning that characterize the atmosphere at come their best selves by creating a safe and nurturing St. Ignatius are a testament to our incredible faculty and community that fosters intellectual, spiritual, and social staff. They emulate the SIS mission, devoting enthusi- growth. What a milestone! We have made incredible asm, expertise, and energy to ensuring collectively that strides in the South Bronx community since the school’s all students strive to become their best selves. humble beginnings in 1995, educating boys in the Jesuit Our past success, as well as our expectations for the tradition in a storefront building on Hunts Point Avenue. future, are only possible through the generosity of our In 2004, we added a program for girls and moved to a supporters, for which we are extremely grateful. We hope beautiful new school building. Thus began the “Miracle we can count on your commitment to SIS as we pursue on Manida Street.” our ambitious but attainable goals: to become an ac- St. Ignatius School is a co-educational, indepen- credited school, to add a fifth grade, and to expand our dent, and tuition-free middle school in the Hunts Point Graduate Support Program through college and beyond. section of the South Bronx. The SIS vision is that all of Your partnership in our mission – through prayer, finan- its students excel in high school, college, and beyond. cial support, and/or volunteering your valuable time and We are proud to note that in the past three years, 100% talent – has opened a window of grace and opportunity of SIS alumni graduated from high school, twice the rate to many children and their families not just for a year, but of their peers in Hunts Point public schools. This year for a lifetime. we welcomed 73 eager middle school students, and are We invite you to visit St. Ignatius School to see first- offering support to 92 alumni in high school through our hand our mission in action. Graduate Support Program. In a recent address during the Congregation for Gratefully, Catholic Education, Pope Francis said, “Catholic educational institutions offer to all an approach to education that has as its aim the full development of the person, which responds to the right of every person to access to knowledge.” SIS captures the spirit of our Holy Father’s Eavan O’Driscoll Douglas W. Killip message with a philosophy based upon the Jesuit idea President Board Chair of cura personalis – care for the whole person — which includes the academic, social, physical, spiritual, and 3 OUR MISSION Our mission is simple, but bold: to empower students in the South Bronx to become their best selves by creating a safe and nurturing community that fosters intellectual, spiritual, and social growth. Transforming Learners into Leaders: Creating an atmosphere where learning is exciting and valued; Developing an appreciation for how learning is the result of eff ort and commitment; Fostering intellectual, social, moral, and spiritual growth in each student; and Instilling a belief in using one’s Go forth and talents in service for others. “set the world on fi re. — St. Ignatius” The fi ve pillars of a Jesuit education are the foundation of who God calls us to be: St. Ignatius School lights a fi re in its students that will never be women and men who are open to “quenched: they dream big dreams and are given the educational growth, and who are intellectually competent, religious, loving, background that enables them to turn their dreams into reality. and committed to Rev. Joseph P. Parkes, S.J., President of Cristo Rey New York High School — ” doing justice. 4 AN OASIS IN THE SOUTH BRONX Living less than 3 miles from Manhattan, families in the Hunts Point neighborhood of the South Bronx are faced with the third-highest crime rate among the city’s 69 neighborhoods. In early 2015, the Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York reported Hunts Point as the most at-risk community in New York City for children, with over 59% of children living in poverty, the highest childhood poverty rate in the country. The incidence of teenage pregnancy is 41.3%, and single parent families account for 75% of households. St. Ignatius School is a safe haven in this neighborhood and offers hope to an underserved community of parents seeking to break a relentless cycle of poverty and to secure a quality high school-prep and college-prep education for their children within a safe and nurturing environment. Kids in middle school are as likely to be “initiated into a gang as they are to attend school. Gang warfare, drug trafficking and prostitution are the realities that all the students at SIS have to struggle with while trying to get an education. But St. Ignatius is a beacon of light. —Rich Darrell, Principal ” 5 2O YEARS OF GROWTH 1971 1998 Nativity Mission 1995 The fi rst middle school Center opens in the St. Ignatius School is class graduates. Summer 2OO2 Lower East Side to founded in a storefront Leadership Program in Lake educate and serve on Hunts Point Avenue Placid, NY and the Graduate Alumni of the SIS students in the with 3 teachers and Support Program are class of ‘98 graduate 8 students. high school. neighborhood. established. 2OO6 2OO4 SIS opens its doors to Alumni of the SIS 2OO8 girls and moves into class of ‘98 graduate The fi rst class of a new building on college. girls graduates. Manida Street. 2O1O 2O14 Smart boards are Play Rugby USA installed in all begins coaching SIS classrooms. student-athletes. 6 WHO WE SERVE Deserving but underserved students For the 2015-2016 academic year, 73 students (35 girls and 38 boys) are enrolled. Additionally, SIS supports 92 graduates in high school through the Graduate Support Program. Students are ST. IGNATIUS SCHOOL AT A GLANCE enrolled regardless of race, religion, or ethnicity. We accept students from financially disadvantaged families who are committed Students to their child’s education and future. 73 $26,626 Average Family Income St. Ignatius School’s success is evident “not only through test scores and the high schools and colleges that its students attend, but also through the 1OO% of students receive 85% of students are 1O% of students’ parents federally assisted free lunches from first generation have completed their character and quality of the young immigrant families high school education. men and women who walk through its doors on Graduation Day. —Conor Troy, Former Teacher” 34% of students ETHNICITY: RELIGION: come from single-parent 96% Families are Hispanic 86% Catholic family homes 4% Families are 14% Other Faiths African American 7 CRISTAL LOPEZ 7 th GRADE, ST. IGNATIUS SCHOOL Favorite subjects: Math and science Career goal: To study forensic science, forensic anthropology or medicine Cristal Lopez is a bright, enthusiastic student with impressive aspirations. She lives in Hunts Point with her mother, father, and older sister, Adriana, who graduated from SIS in 2010 and is currently a student at Manhattanville College. Through the SIS aft er-school programs, Cristal plays rugby and the violin, and is a member of the photography club and anime club. Q: Did you enjoy the Summer Leadership Program before school started? What did you like most? A: Yes. I enjoyed it a lot because I learned to be open to growth. I tried out new things and it was really fun! The things I liked most about camp were getting to know more people, mak- ing new friends, just enjoying the SIS community, hiking, and watching movies together. Q: What are some of the new things that you tried? A: I carried a bug, and I usually don’t like bugs. I loathe them. Q: How is SIS diff erent from your previous school? A: In my old school there were so many kids in the class that the teacher rarely paid attention to some of us. And here at SIS it’s a small group, so we get more attention. If we have questions, we can always ask. Q: How would your mom describe St. Ignatius? A: My mom would describe it as very helpful. She’d say I’ve grown more, I have learned more vocabulary, and have higher grades. Q: What is the coolest thing you have learned at SIS? A: In science class we had fi sh in a tank. We grew plants on top of the fi sh tank to provide them with food and nutrients. It was our aquaponics project. Also, we have a rugby team here, and I love to play sports. Our coaches taught us how to play a new sport. That was really fun because we got to go to tournaments. Once we won a trophy! 8 WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE A lifetime of learning, inside and outside the classroom St. Ignatius School accomplishes its goals with community involvement. The program begins three integrated program components: with two weeks at the school in Hunts Point, and then the students enjoy three weeks at a The Extended Day Middle School Program is 92= residential camp in Lake Placid, New York. This notable for small single-gender classes with a the number of students opportunity is unique for low-income students rigorous curriculum staff ed by talented, ener- who do not have access to summer experiences the Graduate Support getic teachers who provide structure and the outside of New York City.

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