familytimes2014–2015 ANNUAL REPORT FALL 2015 WAHLERT CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL A HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC SCHOOL Achieve. Lead. Soar IN THIS ISSUE SOARING Capital Campaign...............3 Enrollment & Staff Figures.....................4 Academic Highlights...........5 Preserving our Future.....................6 & 7 PAGE 4 Dear friends, Using Data: Standardized tests such as Iowa Tests of Educational “How has education changed Development used to be something since you began your career?” that we administered as required, took a quick look at when they were returned That question was one of and shelved permanently. In today’s several a colleague posed to education world, our teachers are Class of 2015: Where me as part of an interview for Are They Now...................8-9 an administrative class, and it’s constantly using that and other data to the one that I’ve continued to determine what students are ready to Statement of Financial ponder long after our meeting learn and what concepts they may have Position........................10-11 ended. After all, it seems as missed as they plan their instruction. though it was just yesterday when I was a rookie high school Creativity is Power: The adage used English teacher, but the truth to be “knowledge is power,” with is I’m starting my 33rd year education rewarding students who in Catholic education and my memorized well. Because information is PAGE 7 17th as an administrator. instantly available today, we work hard to challenge students to create with, As I reflect, I realize I have seen a lot of change in that evaluate and analyze the information time. Most of it has been for presented. It’s a big shift, but one that the better, especially since I’ve will better prepare students to make come to Holy Family Catholic positive contributions to our world. Ways to Give......................12 Schools, where we rely on research-based best practices My list of what is different about 2014-2015 Fiscal Year DonorON THE COVER:Gifts.................13-21 Current view of for enhancing student learning. today’s educational system could Wahlert Catholic High School from the In addition to the rich new go on and on, yet what makes this ClassWalkway Notes......................21 of Gratitude entrance. faith experiences we provide an exciting profession is that even COVER, INSET PHOTOS: Both photos in our system, consider these greater change lies immediately ahead are from the Wahlert Catholic SOARING improvements over education of us as we harness the resources Capital Campaign kickoff event. Top photo: from years ago: that are increasingly available. With Jim Kuhl excites the crowd prior to the event. Bottom photo: Archbishop Jackels Meeting Student Needs: We your continued support and our determination to provide the best addresses the crowd. do a much better job today Photo Credit: Telegraph Herald of meeting student needs in education possible to our students, I assure you we will continue to be a PAGE 2: (L TO R) Chief Administrator the classroom, whether the Carol Trueg spends time with Wahlert student is advanced, needs leader in the field. Catholic students John Klauer (‘14) and extra help or falls somewhere Maria Ambrosy (‘16). in between. Gone are the Sincerely, ABOVE (TOP): Resurrection early days when education used childhood student Laurence Smith works on a one-size-fits-all approach. an iPad in his pre–K classroom. Holy Family’s teachers do a ABOVE (BOTTOM): Holy Ghost fourth fabulous job of differentiating grade student Camron Owens visits with A Message From the Chief Administrator Administrator Chief the From Message A instruction, often with our Alverno Apartment residents during Catholic vast technology resources, to Schools Week 2014-2015. provide appropriate challenges Carol Schmidt Trueg (‘79) to students. Chief Administrator IN THIS ISSUE SOARING TO TRANSFORM WAHLERT CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Conceptual rendering of the central staircase Holy Family Catholic Schools is long-term financial stability and the • Upgrading the heating system and excited to announce that the five- appearance and functionality of the adding air conditioning year SOARING Capital Campaign campus that promotes our Catholic • Upgrading interior electrical has raised more than $14 million identity. service, adding fire sprinklers, to renovate Wahlert Catholic High modernizing plumbing and removing School. Holy Family’s leadership adopted a hazardous materials phased approach in structuring the • Full-scale renovations to the chapel, Since the public kickoff of the campaign goals. Having surpassed classrooms, science labs, restrooms SOARING Capital Campaign on May the $10 million Celebration Goal and kitchen 27 when Holy Family celebrated and the $14 million Challenge Goal, • Improving natural lighting raising $11.1 million, dozens of leadership is now focused on reaching • Adding a three-story central volunteers have been working hard theTRANSFORMATIONAL $17 million Transformational GOAL: staircase. to visit with fellow parents, alumni Goal.$17 MILLION TOTAL and friends about their support of In the coming months, Holy Family Catholic education in our community will rely on the dedication and and their investment in our vision for financial assistance of our entire the future. Nearly 400 donors have Achieving the Transformational community to complete our vision responded to the challenge to allow Goal will allow us to complete the for the future. When contacted about us to top the $14 million mark. renovation plan, including: the campaign, please join us! With • Resurfacing the building’s siding your continued generosity, Wahlert We are tremendously grateful for with brick and block and replacing Catholic High School will continue to these extraordinary investments in the roof soar for decades to come. our future. Early donors to the effort have really set the stage to fully fund the real and urgent need to renovate Wahlert Catholic High School. While the academic reputation of Wahlert Catholic High School has remained strong for the last 55 years, the building’s infrastructure and core academic areas are much the same as they were in 1959. The SOARING Capital Campaign will complete our vision for the future by improving the overall learning environment, our Conceptual rendering of new science labs 3 ENROLLMENT & STAFF FIGURES THANK YOU SUPPORTING PARISHES Enrollment 2014–2015 These 11 parishesChurch are theof pillarsthe ofNativity a faith community that Church provides ofvital the support Resurrection for our schools. Wahlert Catholic High School.......................523 Holy Family New Melleray Mazzuchelli Catholic Middle School..........396 Holy Spirit Holy Ghost Elementary School.......................82 St. Anthony Resurrection Elementary School.................224 St. Catherine St. Anthony Elementary School....................101 St. Columbkille OurTotal Lady of Guadalupe Spanish 1,726 St. Joseph Key West Immersion Program.............................................151 St. Joseph the Worker St.Staff Columbkille 2014–2015 Elementary School..............249 St. Patrick ..................................................................... St. Raphael Cathedral Administrators...................................................12 THANK YOU Food Service...........................................................43 RETIRING TEACHERS Maintenance...................................................17 Support Staff...........................................................27 TotalTeachers........................................................144381 These six teachersConnie served a combined Cosgrove 172 years at Holy Family Classroom Associates...........................................24 Catholic Schools. The location from which they retired is listed. EarlyA Look Childhood at Tuition Associates..............................114 Barb Ross ......................................................................... 42 years, St. Anthony Marty Weydert 41 years, St. Anthony Elementary...............................................$2,775 Betsy Horton Middle School................................................$3,165 Tuition Assistance Break Down 32 years, Resurrection High School...................................................$5,700 Mary Alice Walsh 26 years, Mazzuchelli HOLY FAMILY Jack Wolfe GRANTS WAHLERT FOUNDATION GRANT 21 years, Wahlert Catholic SCHOOL TUITION $315,619 10 years, Wahlert Catholic PARISH ORGANIZATION $60,000 GRANTS In 2014–2015 school year, 42.6 percent of our families received tuition assistance. $917,619 $232,403 HOLY FAMILY RECONSIDERATION Background Photo: St. Columbkille student Christopher Schmitt (‘24) works with first grade teacher Heather Weig. $229,407 ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHTS Mazzuchelli Catholic Middle School Principal Phillip Bormann spends time with students Peyton Bockenstedt (‘19), Mary Rose Jones (‘19) and Martha Ward (‘19). MAP: AP: 2014–2015 seniors earned a total of 836 COLLEGE CREDITS The top academic systems in Wahlert Catholic was ranked 7th upon graduation, the country see 65 percent of their in Iowa on the Belin-Blank 2015 AP not including AP credits. students achieve their projected Index. Wahlert Catholic is the only growth each year (above the 50 percent Dubuque school to be ranked in the SPANISH COMPETENCY CREDITS: that indicates expected growth). At top 10 for the past three years. The Holy Family last year, 66 percent of AP Index is used to determine the students met their reading growth and extent of AP opportunities students 74 percent of students met their math can access.