WEEKLY NEWS

August 28, 2008

Jr. Legion of Mary Helps Jubilee Schools

Members of the Junior Legion of Mary recently presented 25 first aid kits for the Jubilee Schools to Dr. Mary McDonald, superintendent of Catholic Schools, and Sister Rose Martin Glenn, director of health services for Jubilee Schools. Sister Rose Martin says that the contents of each kit also included a prayer for the sick or a picture of the Sacred Heart. The seeds for the gifts were planted last year when Sister Rose Martin attended a Blue Streak Foundation Fundraiser for the Jubilee Schools at St. Agnes and St. Dominic School. "One of the parents, Beth O'Neill, approached me and asked how they could be of assistance. I then explained the need for first aid kits." Mrs. O'Neill and the Junior Legion of Mary representatives were all smiles at the presentation. "This is another example of how a single act of caring will help so many of our Jubilee School students," says Dr. McDonald.

Catholic Schools: Bearing Witness to Hope

By Dr. Mary C. McDonald

Secretary of Education, Superintendent of Catholic Schools

On Thursday, April 17, 2008, during his trip to the United States, Pope Benedict XVI met in Washington with a group of Catholic educators from across the country. I represented the Diocese of Memphis in that group. I was transfixed by his presence, trying to absorb his every word. He spoke to the ministry of Catholic education when he referred to it as "an apostolate of hope, seeking to address the material, intellectual, and spiritual needs of children."

Since 1851 Catholic schools have been that `Apostolate of Hope' in the Diocese of Memphis. The schools, which once numbered as many as 34, were home to a recorded high of more than 9,000 students in 1973. Over the years, the schools went through many changes in leadership, personnel and configurations. Once staffed by mostly priests, and Religious sisters and brothers, the schools experienced a decline in the Religious staff, and student enrollment, in the 1960s and 1970s. Due to financial constraints and a shift in the demographics, schools in the urban areas of the city began to close as the Catholic population shifted to the suburbs. This began to happen in dioceses all across the country. The schools in the inner city of Memphis that had become more dependent on outside sources of funding, like bingo, suffered further setbacks when that source was outlawed. Without endowments in place to support the schools, and decreasing parish enrollment, closing the failing inner city Catholic schools was viewed as the only option. This downward cycle continued until the late 1990's when a new era was ushered in and a new direction for Catholic schools was set in the Diocese of Memphis.

In 1998 the Catholic schools in the Diocese of Memphis entered what can be called an entrepreneurial period. The seeds of this rebirth of Catholic schools were planted by Bishop J. Terry Steib, S.V.D., who was appointed the fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Memphis in 1993. His vision for education signaled a renewed emphasis on education in our Diocese and the vision of making Catholic schools more accessible and affordable to all children. When Bishop Steib appointed me as the Superintendent of Catholic Schools in 1998, he shared his vision with me. I accepted the challenge of giving life to this new paradigm, and together with the Catholic Schools Office leadership, principals, and teachers, we embraced this new direction with determination, commitment and prayer. The next several years for those involved were marked by long hours, hard work and optimism. Failure in this goal was never an option. The approach to the implementation of this new vision was multidimensional.

The need to expand Catholic education was evidenced in the inner-city, the urban areas, the suburban areas, and in the Jackson Deanery. Additionally, the infrastructure and the professional management systems needed in the Catholic Schools Office to support and enhance this new structure had to be put into place. Within ten years the system of schools grew from 16 to 29, and the highest student enrollment since 1976. Our Catholic schools have a graduation rate of 99.9%, with 95% of Catholic high school students going on to college. In addition, the 2007 graduates from our Catholic schools earned more than 30 million dollars in college scholarships.

Some of the accomplishments during this time were:

• Eight Jubilee Schools have re-opened since 1999.

• Two urban initiative schools have been started: The St. James Initiative at St. Michael School, and The St. William Initiative at OLS School.

• Incarnation Elementary School opened in 2000 and completed a new school building in 2006 with increased enrollment.

• Our Lady of Perpetual Help Elementary School expanded to grades PK2 through eighth grade and built a new school building.

• Sister Ruth Ann Center for Special Education at the high school level opened in 2004.

• Holy Cross Preschool in Paris opened in 2004.

• Resurrection School, the eighth Jubilee School, opened in 2006.

• Jr. High classes were reinstated at St. Anne, St. Michael, and Our Lady of Sorrows Schools.

• All Catholic schools were accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

• The Catholic Schools Office was accredited as a School District by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS/CASI)

• The Cornerstone Newsletter and the Annual Report are published regularly.

• Teacher incentive, recruitment and retention programs were started.

• New state-of-the-art St. Benedict High School built to accommodate 1,000 students opened in 2004.

• Founding of St. Francis Catholic school at the site of the former St. Benedict at Auburndale School.

• "Education That Works" program was started at Memphis Catholic High School in 2006. All students work one day a week to gain corporate work experience and earn tuition assistance.

• The Catholic Schools Office developed a Diocesan Curriculum Guide in all areas for all Catholic schools.

• Bishop Byrne High School restructured to enhanced Dominican education and programs for performing arts and athletics.

• Immaculate Conception Cathedral School was restructured to enhance the Mercy charism, and to unite the campus schools.

• The Catholic Schools Office partnered with The University of Notre Dame ACE Program to provide six teachers every two years to teach in our schools while they earn a Masters Degree from the University.

• The Catholic Schools Office partnered with Christian Brothers University LANCE Program to provide twelve teachers every two years to teach in our schools while they earn a Masters Degree from the University.

• Diocesan Schools and Jubilee Schools recognized nationally for their excellence.

• The Catholic Education Endowment Fund provides financial assistance for students at all schools.

• Professional development programs for teachers and staff were implemented.

• More than $60 million dollars in educational funds were raised through the Catholic Schools Office from the community to ensure the reopening, renovation, construction, and continued operation of the Jubilee Catholic Schools.

• Catholic Schools Advisory Board established in 2007.

• Catholic Memphis Urban Schools Trust (CMUST) was established in 2003 for the purpose of raising and managing money for the Jubilee/Urban Schools.

• Catholic Schools web site: www.cdom.org/schools was constructed.

• The Leadership Academy/Mentor Teachers Academy began

• The Master Teacher Professional Development Program in partnership with the University of Notre Dame.

• The All Schools Mass was started to celebrate our unity in our diversity.

• On-going State-of-the-art technological enhancements.

• System-wide programs for food service, maintenance, housekeeping, social work and counseling started.

• The Catholic Schools Office represents the Diocese at local, regional and national events and is acclaimed as setting a new standard in growth and excellence of Catholic Schools.

Accreditation

"It comes as no surprise, then, that not just our own ecclesial communities but society in general has high expectations of Catholic educators. More and more people, parents in particular, recognize the need for excellence in the human formation of their children," said Pope Benedict XVI.

During the past seven years all Catholic schools in the Diocese were accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In October of 2007 the Catholic Schools Office was accredited as a School District by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools/Council on Accreditation and Schools. Memphis is one of only two dioceses in the country to receive this status.

The Catholic Schools Office provides leadership through a System Leadership Committee under the direction of the Superintendent of Schools that has a designated Chair, the Associate Superintendent, and is dedicated to providing leadership for planning and ensuring broad based participation and alignment throughout the district.

Catholic Identity

"Education is integral to the mission of the Church to proclaim the Good News. First and foremost, every Catholic educational institution is a place to encounter the living God who in Jesus Christ reveals His transforming love and truth," said Pope Benedict XVI.

The schools are authentically Catholic and the Catholic Religion is taught at all schools. Students, regardless of religion, participate in religious services and activities at the schools such as Mass, Stations of the Cross, The Rosary, March for Life, May Procession, etc. Additionally, all teachers of Religion are certified through the Diocesan Adult Faith Formation programs by the Office of Religious Education at the Diocese. There are also spiritually enriching opportunities for all students, faculty and administrators through retreats, seminars, classes, and ongoing education offerings sponsored by the Diocese or Parishes. Catholic spirituality is infused throughout the curriculum and is the cornerstone of the life of the school. Our faith traditions are evident throughout the schools in pictures, statues, and religious art and artifacts.

Tuition Assistance

"Indeed, everything must be done, in cooperation with the wider community, to ensure that Catholic schools are accessible to people of all economic and social strata. No child should be denied his or her right to an education in faith, which in turn, nurtures the soul of a nation," said Pope Benedict XVI.

Tuition assistance is granted at the Parish Schools based on financial need and is the decision of the pastor and/or his designee. The amount varies at each parish.

Tuition assistance at Diocesan Schools is awarded by the principal based on financial need of the students and the budgeted amount at each school.

The Diocese of Memphis Catholic Schools Office also has a fund for tuition assistance that is designated for all Catholic schools, with the exception of Jubilee Schools. This fund was established with donations received from the VISION 2000 Capital Campaign. Interest from the endowment is used each year for tuition assistance for all schools, parish, private Catholic, and diocesan.

Leadership

"This aspect of Charity calls the educator to recognize that the profound responsibility to lead the young to truth is nothing less than an act of love. Indeed, the dignity of education lies in fostering the true perfection and happiness of those to be educated," said Pope Benedict XVI.

The leadership at a school is a key component to the success of a school. With that in mind, the Catholic Schools Office inaugurated a program called the Leadership Institute in 1999. This program includes The Leadership Academy and the Mentor Teacher Program, and the Master Teacher Program. The Leadership Academy is a two year program than identifies emerging leaders and prepares them to assume leadership roles in the Catholic school. The Mentor Teacher Program includes training for those teachers identified as master teachers who will then become mentors for teachers who are new to our schools.

Nineteen of the current principals in our Catholic schools are graduates of The Leadership Academy, and several more graduates are in other leadership positions in the Diocese and the schools. Participants in The Leadership Academy are nominated by their principals or pastors and selected for membership by a panel of educators. The preparation for leadership is broad-based and covers the spiritual, academic, operational and financial areas as well as school law, professional development, communication, Catholic identity and personal/professional growth. The fourth leadership class graduated in June 2007.

The Catholic Schools Office also established several Leadership Teams to address all areas needed to support the teaching ministry.

The Catholic Education Advisory Board was established in 2007. The purpose of this Board is to advise the Superintendent of Schools in all areas of the school community and to assist in planning for the future to enhance the mission of Catholic education in the Diocese of Memphis.

In June, 2008, the National Leadership Roundtable, at its meeting at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, awarded the Diocese of Memphis Catholic School System its prestigious Best Practice Award for Outstanding Leadership and Management.

The Jubilee Schools

"The Church's primary mission of evangelization, in which educational institutions play a crucial role, is consistent with a nation's fundamental aspiration to develop a society truly worthy of the human person's dignity," said Pope Benedict XVI.

The long-closed Catholic schools in the inner city and urban areas of Memphis stood as a silent presence of hope that could be offered to the children living in poverty in the neighborhoods that surround the schools. The vision of Bishop Steib for education is that Catholic schools be a vehicle for living out the church's mission of evangelization and of lifting up the less fortunate educationally, socially, and spiritually.

The eight Jubilee Schools included currently serve more than 1,400 students and are located within six Memphis zip codes ranked lowest in per-capita income and highest in crime and gang-related activities. Every family makes a financial commitment to their child's education according to their ability to do so.

The Jubilee schools are funded by private and corporate donations as well as grants from foundations. In 2004, a grass roots organization called the Blue Streak Scholarship Fund was started by a group of young Catholic School Alumni.

The Jubilee Schools are diocesan schools that are part of the Catholic School System. The schools are located at a parish and operated by the Department of Education Catholic Schools Office.

There can be no question that by working together _ faculty, administrators, parents, diocesan leaders, and of course students _ coupled with God's guiding hand we are living out Pope Benedict's final remark at his meeting with the Catholic educators, "To all of you I say: bear witness to hope!"