FALL 2018 NEWSA PUBLICATION FOR THE SAINT MARTIN COMMUNITY 4 Summer Immersion 13 CWSP Highlights: INSIDE Shameka Jones Taylor 8 Athletic Highlights: New President Realizes Falls Sports Recap 18 Alumni Spotlight: Lifelong Dream Indira Samuels ’10 PAGE 14 9 Student Spotlight: Sophomores for Service 20 Donor Roll Message from the Board Chair I am always amazed by how so many aspects of life come full circle. Through my involvement with Saint Martin over the past 12 years, I have seen it over and over again first-hand. Whether it is seeing our alums all over Cleveland transforming our workforce, or their return to campus to mentor our President current students, it is truly special to see how our kids have Chaz Napoli, ext. 363 used their Saint Martin education to serve the greater good in Vice President, our region. Corporate Work Study Program Shameka Jones Taylor, ext. 288 A shining example of this is 2008 graduate Gary Martin. In 2004, as part of Saint Martin’s first class, Gary was taking a Co-Principals Dominic Perry John Fay, ext. 323 chance on this brand new Cristo Rey Network school in the Ryan Hurley, ext. 328 forgotten St. Clair-Superior neighborhood. Upon graduating with Saint Martin’s initial group, Gary left his final words in the 2008 class yearbook: Vice President, Mission Virginia Malloy, ext. 381 I, Gary Martin, leave you the last thing I ever wrote as a student and I must end it Vice President, Advancement on a ‘poetic’ note so my words can be remembered. It’s hard not to choke over Laura Rayburn, (216) 361-0003 my verbs because over the past 4 years, our actions have all been together. We Chief Financial Officer ate, we cried, we laughed. Our school days and work days consumed us and Martha Solarz, ext. 369 unified us as years went by. The memories of those who left our class have been Director of Admissions and the topic of discussion for some time now. No offense to them but they missed Enrollment out on what we were able to grow into, what we strived for and achieved. Our Aundria Hawkins, (216) 881-5406 goals in life may still be similar but their goals are not rooted in a tradition and a legacy we now control. Only we, as the class of ’08, can start to determine what Dean of Students Marcus Prewitt, ext. 211 colleges and the rest of the world think of the education we received here. We are a core of strong men and women with strong minds and as we leave I ask Main Office: that we not forget Saint Martin’s but that we pass the word about all it has. 6202 St. Clair Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44103 Phone: (216) 881-1689 Gary, a graduate of Fairfield University in Connecticut, and now Fax: (216) 881-8303 a Senior Business Development Analyst at Lincoln Electric, has www.saintmartincleveland.org lived true to those words since the day he left our community as a student. He has stayed connected as one of our strongest ambassadors. Gary mentors current students, has emceed our Birthday Bash, and now is the first ever alumnus to be selected to MISSION the school’s Board of Directors! I couldn’t wait for the day to have Inspired by the Gospel, Saint an alumnus on the Board, and I am so proud that Gary is the first Martin de Porres High School is Gary Martin one. He represents so much of the good within the Saint Martin a Catholic college-preparatory family, and as a former student, will bring a historical perspective high school that combines and the real life experience no other Board member has ever had. Gary realizes first- innovative academics with a hand some of the challenges our students have, he lived it, and he knows how to unique work program preparing address those challenges. students of limited economic means to become men and Gary is a trailblazer, but my hope is this is just the beginning. Now in our 15th year as women of faith, purpose and a school community, it is time for the next generation to be involved with the Saint service. Martin movement and transform the lives of future Lions for decades to come. Our 843 alumni and their commitment to Saint Martin are the foundation of our school VISION community. They want what is best for all who walk through our doors. Like me, our Saint Martin de Porres High alums realize that the four years of high school are very formative years, and if we can School prepares students for help in our students’ success, there’s nothing better, it’s what it’s all about. post-secondary success in education and work through a Sincerely, mutually transformative learning experience sustained by 21st Dominic Perry century skills (communication, Board Chair collaboration, creativity and critical thinking), good work habits and a commitment to justice and peace. 2 Saint Martin de Porres High School Fall 2018 News Message from the Co-Principals Fall is a wonderful time on campus as there is always a buzz in the halls of Saint Martin. It marks an important point in the cycle of the school year, when many new changes are occurring. The graduates of 2018 have started their journey towards graduating college, with an outstanding rate of 95% directly enrolling in college. Additionally, we have 135 freshmen beginning their journey towards high school graduation in 2022. The sophomores are participating in a new initiative to This year, in addition to the volunteer at nearby college credit classes we offer, organizations and John Fay the juniors started we added an entrepreneurial weekly college class and a coding class for counseling meetings as college preparation seniors in partnership with the intensifies. Teachers TEALS (Technology Education are busy planning innovative cross- and Literacy in Schools) project. curricular projects and the seniors have started their year-long capstone project. All 400 students are working at their corporate work study job sites with our over 120 incredible partners spread throughout Northeastern Ohio. This year, in addition to the college credit classes we Ryan Hurley offer, we added an entrepreneurial class and a coding class for seniors in partnership with the TEALS (Technology Education and Literacy in Schools) project. In fact, a little later, you will meet one of our graduates, The staff has many new projects Indira Samuels from the class of 2010, who is helping to teach the class before she goes to and programs in development work as a programmer at KeyBank. to strengthen the student All of these academic milestones are essential experience and support for our as we prepare our students for college and young men and women beyond professional success. We are very proud that our students graduate college at double high school. the national average for students of modest economic means. We also take great pride in having over forty graduates working at our corporate work study partners. The staff has many new projects and programs in development to strengthen the student experience and support for our young men and women beyond high school. At Saint Martin de Porres, we are very proud of our student successes and we are truly grateful for the support from the Northeast Ohio community and our stakeholders. Sincerely, John Fay & Ryan Hurley ON THE COVER Co-Principals President Chaz Napoli getting to know his student community. Saint Martin de Porres High School Fall 2018 News 3 SCHOOL NEWS Summer Immersion This past summer, several Saint Martin students used part of their break to learn about and get to know others from all over the globe. EL SALVADOR In early June, recent graduates Enrique Freeman ’18 and Diamond Allen ’18 joined the Saint Dominic Parish High School Youth Group on their annual immersion trip to El Salvador. Saint Dominic Parish (located in Shaker Heights) sends delegations to El Salvador five times each year (including the youth trip in June) to visit and build relationships with their sister parish and community of Santo Domingo church and school in the village of Chiltiupan. This year their pastor, Fr. Tom Fanta, graciously asked theology teacher Erin Conway, who also serves as the High School Youth Minister at Saint Dominic, to invite two Saint Martin students to join the trip. Theology teacher Erin Conway and 2018 graduates The goal of the youth trip was to have the young people Enrique Freeman and Diamond Allen in El Salvador learn about the reality of life in El Salvador (including the history of the civil war) while also getting to know their Salvadoran brothers and sisters. Along with 10 other high school and college students, Diamond and Enrique participated in a variety of activities over the course of the five day trip — visiting two schools, making several home visits, taking a tour of the cooperative farm started in partnership with Saint Dominic, playing in a basketball game against the teenagers of Santo Domingo school, visiting the site of Oscar Romero’s assassination, and putting on a carnival for over 300 local elementary students. Diamond reflected on her experience,“In that moment, I felt God’s presence thanking me for being there in that time and space. In that moment, I felt loved and appreciated because Diamond finds time for volleyball with a new friend I almost didn’t go to El Salvador, but I’m glad that I did and blessed that I had this experience.” Enrique spreading kindness by Enrique exploring the village of Chiltiupan passing out candy and treats 4 Saint Martin de Porres High School Fall 2018 News SCHOOL NEWS The unmistakable Golden Dome of Notre Dame L to R: Iliya Rosser, Demeshia Darmond, Cali Good, and Cherish McNeil NOTRE DAME Then in July, four students joined Vice President of Mission, Virginia Malloy, and headed west to the University of Notre Dame for “ND Vision,” thanks to the generosity of the Cleveland Notre Dame Club.