Catholic Schools AN EDUCATION YOU CAN HAVE FAITH IN

Archdiocese of 2015 - 2016 Annual Report Catholic school students regularly attend Mass together. Contents

04 Centered in Christ

07 Evangelization

10 Distinguished by Excellence

15 Education Doesn’t End in the Classroom

18 Steeped in a Catholic Worldview

21 Sustained by Gospel Witness

24 Shaped by Communion and Community

27 Accessible to All Students

30 Rooted in History and Catholic Identity

31 Catholic Schools Statistics

33 Centered in Christ

Catholic education is centered in Jesus Christ and rooted in the Gospel. In light of Christ’s instruction, “Love one another as I have loved you,” our Catholic schools focus on more than academics. They CATHOLIC concentrate on forming all aspects of SCHOOLS IN students’ lives, including their relationships THE ARCHDIOCESE with their families and classmates, with the local and global community, and, especially, OF MILWAUKEE with Jesus Christ. Students are impelled to embrace a Gospel-driven lifestyle of BEGAN 175 service, sacrifice and respect. It is this YEARS AGO emphasis on teaching the whole student – mind, body and spirit – that sets our schools apart and lays the foundation for all students to become the complete and holy persons God intends them to be.

Many schools in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee have been remarkable examples of Christ-centered student development, including St. Monica School in Whitefish Bay, which has implemented a Discipleship Development Program, and St. Thomas More High School in Milwaukee, which has developed a Servant Leadership Program. 4 It is our emphasis on Christ-centered student development that sets our schools apart. 7 Students take an active role in parish life. Evangelization

In teaching the learners of today and the the Catholic community, such as at Eden’s leaders of tomorrow, Catholic schools play Shepherd of the Hills School, where 5 a vital role in spreading the mission of students and 3 parents of students were the Church. As communities where faith, baptized during the 2015-16 academic culture and daily life are harmoniously year. Catholic school students are also integrated, Catholic schools welcome more likely to join religious orders*, enter students who are not Catholic and are the seminary, or otherwise become committed to enthusiastically sharing the actively involved in Church leadership traditions and teachings of Catholicism than students who do not attend Catholic with all. schools. Milwaukee’s St. Anthony School and Catholic East Elementary School have In the Catholic schools of the Archdiocese been particularly strong in their efforts to of Milwaukee, non-Catholics comprise promote religious vocations among their 18 percent of the total archdiocesan students. elementary and secondary school enrollment. In many cases, non-Catholic *Source: CARA report students have chosen to become part of

7 We welcome non-Catholics into our schools and our spiritual community. Students of all faiths participate in spiritual activities. (St. Sebastian Parish and School, Milwaukee) Distinguished by Excellence

Academic excellence is a major hallmark Educating the Whole Student, Mission of a Catholic school. This tradition of and Catholic Identity, or Technology intellectual formation and scholarship Integration. For 2015-16, three schools dates back centuries. For more than 170 won Academic Excellence awards: St. years, Catholic schools in the Archdiocese Robert in Shorewood; St. John Vianney in of Milwaukee have been known for their Brookfield, and St. Eugene in Fox Point. high academic quality. This tradition of excellence continues to be manifested in Students from the Archdiocese the standardized test scores and post- of Milwaukee are also typically graduate success of today’s Catholic well represented in the Herb Kohl school students, 97 percent of whom go Foundation Awards, a grant program on to . These outcomes are no that encompasses the entire state. This accident. Catholic school leaders and year, four of our students won Student teachers are steadfast in their efforts to Excellence Scholarships: Maureen Burke meet the learning needs of all students of Waukesha Catholic Memorial, Brian and ensure their success. Coe and Madeline Shea of St. Catherine School in Racine and Luke Holzman of St. Biannually, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Mary’s Springs Academy in Fond du Lac. highlights its commitment to excellence Candelario Tellez of St. Catherine School through its Exemplary Recognition in Racine received a Student Initiative Program. Based on guidelines from the Scholarship. Additionally, two principals National Standards and Benchmarks won Excellence in School Leadership for Effective Catholic Schools, these Awards: Mr. Jeff Monday of Marquette awards honor schools that apply and High School and Mrs. Donna merit recognition in: Academic Excellence, Schmidt of Messmer St. Rose and St Mary.

10 Students are academically prepared for their future. Every student can succeed in a Catholic school. Over 97 percent of Catholic school students go on to college. 15 Catholic school students learn to give back to the community. Education Doesn’t End in the Classroom

Catholic school education is rooted Our Catholic schools have also invested in the conviction that human beings in professional development programs have a transcendent destiny and that designed to help teachers and staff meet education should be about the whole students’ needs in all aspects of their lives. person. Therefore, Catholic schools Through the Greater Milwaukee Catholic form the spiritual, intellectual, physical, Education Consortium (GMCEC), we have psychological, social, moral, aesthetic been able to offer seminars and workshops and religious aspects of each student. To sponsored by area Catholic and accomplish this, the Catholic schools of the on such topics as trauma Archdiocese of Milwaukee have developed response, early childhood education, a wide variety of co-curricular, faith- special education, English language formation and service/ministry initiatives at learning and technology integration for both the elementary and secondary Catholic school personnel. school levels.

15 Our schools educate the whole person. The arts are important in Catholic education. Steeped in a Catholic Worldview

Catholic education aims at the example of this. Rather than teaching organizations, such as the Tablesetters formation of the complete person. This the four disciplines (science, technology, Catholic School Teaching Program at includes preparation for professional engineering and mathematics) as St. Francis Borgia in Cedarburg, as well life, development of ethical and social separate and discrete subjects, our STEM as the St. Hyancinth Food Pantry and awareness, and religious formation. Every programs integrate them into a cohesive the House of Peace student mission aspect of a Catholic school spurs students learning paradigm based on real-world program at Pius XI Catholic High School. to grow in the discipline to become a applications and grounded in Catholic Additionally, there are three International self-learner, the ability to recognize moral social teachings. By presenting the subject Baccalaureate schools in the Archdiocese behavior and the responsibility to transform matter in this way, we give students the of Milwaukee: Catholic Memorial High the world with Gospel values. A Catholic skills to understand global issues, such School, St. Joan Antida High School and school teaches students to view both as environmental impact and medical Wauwatosa Catholic. In all of our schools, secular and religious topics from a Catholic research, and respond in ways that reflect the curriculum focuses on helping students perspective. a Catholic worldview. develop the intellectual and emotional skills necessary to thrive in a global The STEM curriculum in the schools of the We also encourage the cultivation of a community. Archdiocese of Milwaukee is a relevant Catholic worldview through student service

APPROXIMATELY 150 NEW TEACHERS WERE HIRED IN 2016

18 Curriculum focuses on helping students develop the skills necessary for success in a global community. Teachers are role models of faith for their students. Sustained by Gospel Witness

Catholic schools recruit teachers who Literacy Day for all teachers, as well as are practicing Catholics, who understand regular curricular update sessions, most and accept the teachings of the Catholic recently in English / Language Arts Church and the moral demands of the and the revised Science and Family Life Gospel and who can contribute to the curriculum. Learning Support Teams and school’s Catholic identity and apostolic Early Childhood programs, sponsored goals, including its commitment to social in collaboration with the GMCEC, justice and evangelization. guide teachers in their efforts to assist students in their personal goals and The Archdiocese of Milwaukee fosters its overall development. Other innovative teachers’ faith through the Sustaining the programs, grounded in our commitment Mission religious education certification to expand the personal and professional program provided through the Saint Clare capacity of both students and teachers, Center at Cardinal Stritch University. Every include the Discovery Project, online year, more than 2,000 of our elementary and face-to-face blended courses for and secondary school educators are high achieving eighth graders, and the formed in the faith through the systematic, Future Leaders Seminar, sponsored by coherent curriculum of this program, the Institute for Catholic Leadership at which is delivered during scheduled , aimed at developing teacher in-service days. Other professional the interests and skills of potential future development programs include an annual leaders for our Catholic schools.

21 “The first duty of a teacher is to form Christians ... Society needs people of virtue more than people of learning.”

Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C. Students are formed to be leaders in society. Shaped by Communion and Community

Catholic education puts an emphasis on the school as a community: a community of faith, a community of learning, and a community of care. Catholic schools do everything possible to promote trust and collaboration among teachers and parents, always mindful that parents are the primary educators of their children.

OF THE Our schools are also actively engaged with 70 94 their parishes. In fact, 70 of the Milwaukee ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Archdiocese’s 94 elementary schools have HAVE A 1:1 RELATIONSHIP a 1:1 relationship with a single parish, while WITH A SINGLE PARISH the other 24 elementary schools and the 15 high schools develop relationships with local parishes in varied ways. Parish life is integral to our Catholic schools, and Catholic schools are integral to our parishes. Every parish, regardless of whether a Catholic school is on-site or not, has a commitment to Catholic education. Archbishop Listecki has emphasized that every parish has a Catholic school.

24 The end-goal is to build up a community of excellence in faith, learning and care. Students from all backgrounds are invited to receive a quality Catholic school education. Accessible to All Students

Given their mission of evangelization, Catholic and financial need. Similar programs exist schools make themselves available to all throughout the archdiocese. As a system-wide people who want a quality Catholic school fundraiser for tuition support, the archdiocese education for their children. Working within conducts the Soles for Catholic Education the broader Catholic and civic communities, Walk every year. Held at Mount Mary University, Catholic schools maximize their use of available it brings together students, families and resources and find innovative options to make community members for a two-mile fundraising Catholic education accessible and affordable walk, with all proceeds going toward individual for all students. school initiatives and tuition assistance.

In the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, this access is Almost half of our Catholic elementary schools achieved through a variety of scholarships and and almost all of our high schools participate in initiatives. The St. Gerard Scholarship program, one or more of the Parental Choice programs offered at select schools on Milwaukee’s available in the state of . These south side, is one example. Criteria for this programs provide tuition vouchers for parents scholarship include Catholic values, academic who apply and are eligible for this form of performance, service to parish and community tuition assistance.

27 *Based on data collected as of June 30, 2015 from self-reporting parishes operating a non-consolidated elementary school. Catholic schools are communities of faith, learning and care. Catholic schools make themselves available to all who want a Catholic school education for their children. Rooted in History and Catholic Identity

Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki oversees Each year, the elementary schools of the the Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s 92 Archdiocese of Milwaukee participate elementary schools and 15 high schools, in a review process to ensure continued ensuring that each offers a program strength in academics and faith and are of rigorous academics and a broad- accredited by the Wisconsin Religious based, multi-faceted education steeped and Independent Schools Accreditation in Catholic values. Actively putting into Association and the Archdiocese of practice his vision of making Catholic Milwaukee. This rigorous accreditation education sustainable, affordable and process is based on the National Standards accessible, the archbishop dynamically and and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic regularly promotes our Catholic schools. Elementary and Secondary Schools.

Under Archbishop Listecki’s leadership, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s system “Our Catholic schools teach young people of schools has flourished and grown. how to live the Gospel through their actions, The recently-founded Seton Catholic not just their words. These students are Schools, comprised of 26 Milwaukee not only our next generations of Catholic County schools, is a network aimed at disciples, but will also become active strengthening the academic excellence, citizens, business men and women, and evangelization, and organizational leaders in our communities. They will fill efficiencies of its member schools. A our pews and be the example of faith, similar school network is being developed knowledge and service to others.” for the Catholic schools in Racine. Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki

30 31 Life. Lessons.

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