East/Northeast Catholic Schools

Catholic Schools Week2 A+ for America Catholic Schools

Catholic Schools Week is a yearly publication organized by the Specialty Publications Department of The Community Press/The Community Recorder.

Questions and comments can be sent to Editor Melissa Hayden c/o The Community Press/394 WardsCorner/Loveland, OH 45140 or e-mail [email protected]. Or call 248-7121.

For advertising call 687-4614.

Contact

Welcome letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

McNicholas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

St. Michael . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Purcell Marian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Immaculate Heart of Mary . . . 6

St. Margaret of York . . . . . . . . . 6

Mount Notre Dame . . . . . . . . . . 7

St. Ursula Villa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

St. Gertrude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Guardian Angels . . . . . . . . . . . 11

‘Virtues in Practice’ . . . . . . . . 13

St. Cecilia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Connecting with elders . . . . . 15

Summit Country Day . . . . . . . . . 16

Roger Bacon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

St. Ursula Academy . . . . . . . . 18

St. Columban . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Inside

January 31 - February 4, 2011 3A+ for America Catholic SchoolsEast

Dear friends of Catholic Schools,Each year, we set aside one week of theyear to celebrate the excellence and her-

itage of our Catholic Schools. In the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, we are

blessed with some of the finest Catholicschools in the country.

Our schools are setting the standard foracademic excellence; through the relentlessdedication of our many talented teachers andadministrators, Catholic school students areembracing our top-notch educational pro-grams and are poised to become leaders in achanging world.

Our schools have established warm, nur-turing communities where students are val-ued and validated every day.

Most importantly, our schools have accept-ed the call to embody the teachings of Christand spread God’s good news to all people.

The theme for Catholic Schools Week thisyear is “A+ for America.”

As superintendent, I give our schools topmarks for their academic superiority, nurtur-

ing communities, and faith-filled educationalprograms.

During Catholic Schools Week, I hope thatyou join me in rejoicing in the strength of ourschools.

In the pages that follow, you will findaccounts of some of the good things happen-ing in our schools.

I invite you to visit your local Catholicschool and witness the excellence of ourschools firsthand.

Many of our schools are hosting openhouses in the coming weeks; if you haveschool-aged children, I encourage you to con-tact a Catholic school, take a tour, and consid-er enrolling.

Our schools are truly a blessing toCincinnati. Happy Catholic Schools Week toall!

Yours in Christ,Dr. Jim Rigg

Director of Educational ServicesSuperintendent of Catholic Schools

Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Director of Educational Services and Superintendent of Catholic Schools Dr. Jim Rigg with students.

WELCOMELETTER


No matter what your academ-ic ability, Archbishop McNicholasHigh School can help youachieve excellence. McNicholasHigh School promotes a co-edu-cational, Christ-centered,Catholic community thatembraces each student – intellec-tually, morally, physically, andspiritually. They provide a safe,nurturing, creative, and challeng-ing campus where individualsgrow in knowledge and faith toattain full stature in Christ.

Each class averages 19 stu-dents, and they offer 13advanced placement courses and25 fine and performing arts elec-tives. The science department hasreceived the Ohio Governor’sAward for Excellence 22 consecu-tive years and in the past decade,McNicholas has had 28 NationalMerit Semifinalists and 67National Merit Commended stu-dents.

The theatre department has

been invited to perform at theOhio Thespian Convention for 15consecutive years and producesnumerous shows throughout theyear. McNicholas is also proud tooffer the S.A.I.L. (Support andAccommodations for IdentifiedLearners) Program, whichaddresses the needs of identifiedstudents, helping them cope withlearning in the high school envi-ronment.

Beginning with the 2011-2012school year, McNicholas will be

implementing a one-to-one TabletPC program with the Class of2015. “It’s going to get studentsmore engaged in learning,”Principal Greg Saelens said. “Wehave students who are digitallearners; they have grown upwith this technology,” Saelensadded.

The one-to-one program putsa Tablet PC in the hands of eachstudent in the program. A TabletPC is a laptop plus much more. ATablet PC allows the student towrite, edit, or draw directly onthe screen with a digital pen.With the digital pen, a tablet usercan jot quick notes, draw dia-grams, or write formulas withoutthe constraints of a keyboard ormouse. Documents, such asteacher handouts, can be annotat-ed quickly, using any color ink orhighlighter-just by using the digi-tal pen. Notes are easier to take,easier to search, and easier toorganize. With a tablet program,

teachers are able to integrate themany software programs avail-able to the various academic dis-ciplines as well as having theability to seize the “teachablemoment” for spontaneous class-room work involving computertechnology.

The Community ServiceProgram is another strong aspectof McNicholas. It is a “servicelearning” program designed tochallenge our students to “attainfull stature in Christ” by buildingthe gospel value of service to the“least of these.” All students arerequired to complete at least 40hours of community service inorder to graduate. Service is donethrough school, parish or anagency that serves those in need.Most students do the vast majori-ty of their service with the under-privileged and average 76 servicehours, going beyond the 40 hour

McNicholas has a place for every student

See MCNICHOLAS on page 9

McNicholas HighSchool promotes a co-educational, Christ-centered,Catholic communitythat embraces eachstudent – intellectually,morally, physically,and spiritually

The school in EastWalnut Hills is whatPurcell Marian officialswant you to visit duringtheir upcoming OpenHouse in November. Butembracing the world ofpotential inside eachPurcell Marian student iswhat they credit for theschool’s recent boom ofsuccess.

Just this past schoolyear, Purcell Marian pro-duced three divisionchampionships inwrestling, swimming and

boys’ volleyball, andplaced in the Final Fourstatewide for boys’ volley-ball.

Three Cavalier coachesearned Coach of the Year,and the school ranked inthe top 10 in Ohio andNo. 1 in Cincinnati forschools its size in theOhio MathematicsCompetition. In addition,the Academic Teambrought home multiplewins against much larger

Founded in 1927, St.Michael School hasevolved into an academi-cally superior Catholiccommunity by relying onthe support of parish-ioners and staff.

It earned the BlueRibbon Schools Award in2009 and consistently grad-uate students that go on tobe very successful at localCatholic high schools suchas St. Xavier, Moeller,Mount Notre Dame,Fenwick and UrsulineAcademy.

St. Michael has been acornerstone in Sharonvillefor decades and has pro-gressed along with thecity’s growth.

St. Michael Schoolteaches kindergartenthrough eighth grade andhas two classes for eachgrade with a maximumclass size of 28.

Its dedicated, caringfaculty is comprised ofrecently degreed teachersas well as those with over30 years of experience.

St. Michael strives toprovide a safe and nurtur-ing environment in whicheach child can fully devel-op his/her potential: spir-itually, academically andsocially.

Teachers and staff at St.Michael make a consciouseffort to integrate faithinto the daily lives of theirstudents.

Catholic Schools Week isa great opportunity for theschool and community toshare in the teachings andtraditions of the Church.

This year St. MichaelSchool is taking theopportunity to celebrateCatholic Schools Weekwith an internationaltheme to recognize thecultural diversity in theirown community.

The School is planningan International Day onWednesday of Catholic

Schools Week where eachhomeroom will make apresentation on a foreigncountry. Each class will beassigned a country of ori-gin that they will researchto learn more about theirparticular culture.

There are many studentsat St. Michael with parentsfrom other countries and St.Michael is approved by theImmigration andNaturalization Departmentto accept foreign exchangestudents and this year theyare lucky enough to havetwo exchange students.

These cultures will be

celebrated and recognizedas part of their diversecommunity.

St. Michael School has along tradition of providinga solid Catholic education.

It is a major part oftheir mission to assist theirstudents in acquiring asense of responsibility forthemselves, the communi-ty in which they live andthe world community.

For more informationabout St. Michael, visit thewebsite at www.stmichaelsharonville.org or call theschool office for tourinformation at 554-3555.


St. Michael offers superior education Purcell Marian: ‘Discoverthe World Inside’

See PURCELL MARIAN on page 15

For the first time in its55-year history,Immaculate Heart ofMary is providing kinder-garten. They have threefull-day kindergartensthat are housed in theannex behind the church.The rooms are beautifuland encourage hands-onlearning and social inter-action. Upon arrival inAugust, each kinder-gartener was given abackpack, supplies, and aspecial kindergarten t-shirt that can be worn onFabulous Fridays during

the school year. IHM par-ent, Stephanie Kastner haspainted a beautiful gardenmural on the walls. Therooms are colorful, invit-ing, and very kid-friendly.The kindergarten is agreat addition to the IHMfamily.

The EnrichmentProgram for students hasbeen moved to a newmodular classroom. Thisprogram services studentsin the primary gradesthrough grade eight. IHM

St. Margaret of York(SMOY) Catholic School isa pre-eminent Catholiclearning and developmentenvironment for childrenfrom kindergartenthrough eighth grade with700 students enrolled.

Located convenientlyin the midst of theLoveland, Mason andMaineville areas, St.Margaret of York School isdedicated not only to edu-cating children but tomaking a difference in theworld through an activeexpression of Jesus’ loveand gospel message

through Christian service.St. Margaret of York

School’s learning environ-ment is holy. Students areguided by this year’sschool theme of “WithChrist as my model, letpeace begin with me” andare encouraged to praytogether on a school, class-room, and individual basis.

The Catholic faith is avery important part of thefaith-based curriculumwhere Christian valuesare encouraged daily andstudents attend schoolmasses weekly.

Students also prepare

for the Sacraments ofReconciliation, FirstCommunion, andConfirmation as well aspractice their faiththrough outreach projectsthat make a positiveimpact on the communityand the world.

St. Margaret of YorkSchool’s learning environ-ment is dynamic.Students’ lessons arebased on the Archdioceseof Cincinnati gradedcourses of study.

Also, students inkindergarten througheighth grade learnSpanish, benefit from tech-nology which is integratedinto all curricular areas,and extend their learningthrough after-school pro-grams which include MathCounts, Power of the Pen,Drama, TaeKwonDo,Young Rembrandts, BetterBabysitting, Chess, andHigh School Entrance TestExam Prep.

St. Margaret of YorkSchool’s learning environ-ment is nurturing.Students enjoy a “familyatmosphere” with teach-ers and parents workingtogether on their behalfwith a strong and sup-portive PTO group.

Additionally, St.Margaret of York Schoolalso provides a latchkeyprogram for students whoneed to stay at school afternormal classroom hours.

The school also offersan opportunity to achievescholarships to areaCatholic High Schools byoffering eight scholarships“in house.”

To learn more about St.Margaret of York School,you are invited to a visitororientation session sched-uled for Thursday, Feb.10, beginning at 9 a.m.Please call Mrs.McNamara at 683-9793,ext. 222, to reserve a spot.


A pre-eminent learning environmentChange is good at ImmaculateHeart of Mary School

See IHM on page 8

Mount Notre Dame offers aunique and complete collegeprep experience. It is an experi-ence that is rooted in Catholictradition and superior academicquality, but MND also offers vastextracurricular opportunities forits students that foster leader-ship, team work and a sense ofresponsibility to share their giftswith others. The result – bright,confident young women who goon to excel in college, career andin life.

The foundation of the MountNotre Dame experience is theimpressive academic program.With 18 Advanced Placementand 22 Honors courses, MND’sHonors/AP opportunities(including an AP course availableto freshmen) are among the bestin the region. MND’s ScholarsProgram exposes qualifying stu-dents to not only the most chal-lenging course of study and earlyexposure to college placement

tests, but also to a vast array ofcareer exploration opportunities.The Tablet PC Program makesthe most of educational technolo-gy and opens doors teachers and

students never even dreamed ofknocking on just a few years ago.

MND’s engineering coursesprepare the scientifically talentedyoung women of today for a

career in this male-dominatedfield. MND also boasts strongprograms in the humanities that


Mount Notre Dame: Positioning young women for success

Walking through the halls, it is evident that Mount Notre Dame’s students support, encourage and challenge each other.

See MOUNT NOTRE DAME on page 20


A record $895,828 in meritscholarships was offered by com-petitive Cincinnati-area highschools to 46 percent of St. UrsulaVilla’s Class of 2011.

These scholarships are a resultof the Villa eighth-graders’impressive scores on the HighSchool Placement Test: 21.5 per-cent achieved highest-possiblescores of 99.9 percentile national-ly and 51percent scored abovethe 90th percentile.

Ninety-eight percent of theclass was accepted into their first-choice high school where Villastudents typically place into hon-ors level courses.

Successful transition into high

school is a hallmark of St. UrsulaVilla’s Junior High program,which emphasizes study skills,time management, and inde-pendence.

The success of St. UrsulaVilla’s Junior High program illus-trates the strong foundation laidin the Villa’s previous grades.

Iowa test scores show thatVilla students performed abovetheir anticipated reading, lan-guage and math totals at everygrade level and significantlyabove the Archdiocesan meanscores.

At the Villa, small classes,dedicated faculty, and resourcesranging from academic supportto enrichment create a cus-tomized educational experience.

Villa students in kindergartenthrough third grade participateweekly in higher-order thinking

skills and small groups receiveextension in math, reading, andwriting.

Enrichment activities – in andout of the classroom – havegrown to include DestinationImagination, iSpace, Power of thePen, and National Junior HonorSociety, offering opportunities forpersonal growth and discovery.

St. Ursula Villa’s strongUrsuline heritage forms the corevalues of this unique school.

Emphasis on the individual,family atmosphere, and theChrist-centered spirit of St.Angela Merici nurture independ-ent learners who inspire, create,lead, engage and serve.

Scholarships, scores prove great results at St. Ursula VillaAt the Villa, smallclasses, dedicatedfaculty, andresources rangingfrom academicsupport to enrich-ment create a cus-tomized education-al experience.

BBee aa ppaarrtt ooff tthhee 22001122““CCaatthhoolliicc SScchhoooollss

WWeeeekk”” pprrooggrraamm.. CCaallll668877--44661144 ffoorr ddeettaaiillss.. TThhiiss

pprrooggrraamm iiss ppuubblliisshheeddoonnccee aa yyeeaarr dduurriinngg

CCaatthhoolliicc SScchhoooollss WWeeeekkwwiitthh ssuuppppoorrtt ooff tthhee

CCiinncciinnnnaattii AArrcchhddiioocceess..

also boasts of an exten-sive IAT Program thataddresses the individualneeds of students.Students are referred bythe parent or teacherexpressing a concernabout the child’sprogress. An InterventionTeam meets to discuss thestudent’s strengths andweaknesses.Interventions are set inplace to enhance thechild’s learning. On-going meetings evaluatetheir progress.

The staff is movinginto its second year ofPLC Training. A PLC is aprofessional learningcommunity that incorpo-rates every aspect of theschool’s operation. Inorder to increase student

learning, educators mustwork together. The goalof the PLC is to create acollaborative culture inorder to increase thechances of successfulschool improvement.

Spanish is taught to allgrades, and an in-housestudio gives older stu-dents experience in inter-nal broadcasting. Theschool houses over 19inter-active whiteboards,several laptop carts, afully equipped computerlab, a piano lab, and aStarlab. IHM also has aband and a strings pro-gram. Students have theopportunity to enjoy ourcompleted outdoor class-room which includesseating for an entire class,a water feature, trees,

flowers, and children’sstatuary. The area pro-vides a peaceful environ-ment to enjoy a goodbook or paint a beautifulpicture.

The Open House willbe held on Sunday, Jan.30. The faculty andadministration are anx-ious to show off theaward-winning school.Registration materialswill be available forkindergarten throughgrade eight.

For information onschool registration, pleasecontact Debbi Hill at 388-3020 or [email protected]. Information isalso available on the web-site www.ihomschool.org.

IHM | From page 6


1. Strong CatholicValues where faith, virtueeducation, and religionare integrated into eachand every school day.

2. Strong Dominicanpresence and identity withfour sisters in residence andseven Dominican friars.

3. Students at St.Gertrude School performat the highest levels inacademics. Last yearalone, six students testedin the top 4 percentnationally on high schoolentrance tests with over$100,000 awarded in highschool scholarships and35 Awards of Distinction.

4. Cutting edge tech-nology integrated into allcourses of study includ-ing smart boards, wire-less, professional devel-opment and a highly

qualified full-time tech-nology coordinator.

5. New facilities withscience and computerlabs, full-service libraryand cafeteria, and beauti-ful religious artwork thatencompasses the wholeschool.

6. Strong parish andcommunity support.

7. St. Gertrude is justthe right size – largeenough for a great learn-ing environment withchildren attending from18 different school dis-tricts, but small enough tobe a part of a family, onethat cares and supportsone another.

8. Great opportunitiesto explore learningthrough varied enrich-ment such as AcademicFair, Power of the Pen,

Musical Theatre, and var-ious elective coursesoffered to the Junior Highstudents throughout theyear.

9. Strong tradition ofexcellence in athleticsincluding programmingfor boys’ and girls’ sportsand numerous league andtournament champi-onships.

10. Tradition – St.Gertrude is a faith-filledcommunity serving itsschool community andembracing the manydiverse gifts each studenthas to offer while embrac-ing the school/parent col-laboration in offeringeach child the bestCatholic education possi-ble while preparing themfor future success and alife of service to others.

Top reasons to check out St. Gertrudeminimum requirement.There are also school-wide service projectsincluding the HungerAwareness Food Drive,Penny Drive, WarmClothing Drive, andChristmas Gifts for Kids.McNicholas students reg-ularly exceed set goalswith these projects andothers when it comes tohelping those outsidetheir community.

Extracurricular activi-ties are also an importantpart of McNicholas life.Every “Rocket” is strong-ly encouraged to becomeinvolved in clubs andactivities that range fromthe exhilaration of musi-cals to the intensity ofAcademic Team tourna-ments, from the activismof the Ecology Club andService Club to the lead-

ership of Student Council.McNicholas’ highly-respected and competi-tive athletic programbrings excitement andspirit to our campus.McNicholas fields 42teams in 23 sports, whichboast of district, regionaland state championships,King of the Hill trophiesand other league honors.We are also now able togive our athletes thehome field advantagewith the installation of anall-weather artificial turffield and eight-lane track.

From freshman orien-tation to senior gradua-tion, students feel athome at McNicholasHigh School. For moreinformation about becom-ing a Rocket, please visitwww.mcnhs.org or call231-3500.

McNicholas | From page 4


Call 687-4614 to advertise in Harvest

Home Fair

Call 687-4614 to advertise in CCrreeaattiivveeLiving

Guardian Angels School hasbeen an integral part of theMount Washington/Andersoncommunity since 1895.

Guardian Angels School fos-ters the development of thewhole child in a value-enrichedenvironment.

Our school program is adynamic blend of current,research-based educational prac-tices, incorporated with proventraditional curricula and meth-ods.

We provide an environmentwhich prepares each student fora culturally diverse world byproclaiming values rooted in theGospel of Jesus Christ.

In October 2007, GuardianAngels School was named a BlueRibbon School of Excellence bythe U.S. Department ofEducation.

While the Blue Ribbon statusrecognizes a school’s efforts todeliver the highest quality educa-

tion it can, it also encourages itscommunity of teachers, staff, stu-dents, and parish to continuesupporting and striving for excel-lence.

Guardian Angels School, incooperation with GuardianAngels Parish, parents and thecommunity-at-large, endeavorsto prepare students to be follow-ers of Christ and productive citi-zens.

We believe …• Every child is a gift from

God and called to be a faithfulservant of God.

• Every child is capable oflearning.

• In guiding and assistingeach student to reach his or herpotential academically, sociallyand spiritually.

• In designing academic andreligious instruction to stimulatea desire for lifelong learning,while fostering self-discipline,responsibility and integrity.

• In having respect permeatethe school environment.

Guardian Angels School estab-lishes an educational environ-ment where students are able tomaximize their spiritual, academ-ic, social and physical potential.

Teachers employ methods andtechniques that meet the learningstyle of each student; there is no“one size fits all” way of teach-ing.

Guardian Angels School inte-grates technology into dailyclassroom instruction accordingto the needs of the students andeducators.

All classrooms plus the sciencelab and Spanish classroom usedinteractive whiteboard technolo-gy, and every grade level has oneset of handheld StudentResponse units for instant assess-ment.

The state-of-the-art science labis equipped with technology andequipment for all grade levels,

and communication to class-rooms comes via the Angels onthe Air broadcast studio.

Guardian Angels School hasan student to teacher ratio of 20to one. Since 2003, GuardianAngels School has provided anafter school care program inresponse to parents’ needs.

Parents are encouraged to be apart of their children’s GA educa-tion as they volunteer to partici-pate in classroom activities orany number of PTA, music boost-er, and athletic booster opportu-nities.

The school’s music programoffers students the opportunity toparticipate in several bands andchoral groups including GABand, jazz band, and chorus.

All students participate eachspring in the art show.Extracurricular activities includeathletics, student council, Angels


Guardian Angels School prepares students for a lifetime of learning

See GUARDIAN ANGELS on page 20


By Patricia A. Scheyer | Contributor

Students at Mercy Montessorischool in East Walnut Hills knowthey have something special tolook forward to when they reachthe fifth and sixth grade.

That is the time when a year-long history project culminates ina field trip to Washington, D.C.

“Anyone will tell you thatthroughout their school career itis the field trips they remember,”said Principal Patty Normilewith a chuckle.

“This field trip is a workingtrip, and really makes historycome alive for the students,” shesaid.

Normile has been principalfor the last 10 years, but the D.C.trip has been going on for twicethat long.

The founder who developed

the history program knew thatseeing the sights of Washingtonfirst hand would truly cementthe historical facts forever in theimpressionable young minds.

“Each year we hold a lotterybecause so many parents want togo along,” said Lisa Galvin-Sang,director of advancement at theschool. “My two older childrenboth went, and had an amazingexperience.”

The students have to earntheir trip, however.

Beginning in September, theystart compiling enormousbinders which include docu-ments, maps and reports onevery monument.

While they are in Washington,D.C., they continue their workby keeping a journal, and takingphotos, which are added to thebinder.

“When they are finished, theyhave created miniature text-books, which have personalmeaning for each child,” saidNormile.

“It is a showpiece, and we getplenty of feedback from highschools about what they havelearned. The students also haveto keep a budget while they’reon their trip, so they can learnhow to manage money,” shesaid.

Fifty 11- and 12-year-olds outof the total number of 271enrolled students make the tripto Washington, D.C., on a bushired by the school, and a tourguide named Marie quizzes theboys and girls along the way.

Marie has been the tour guidefor the last 10 years.

In Washington, the studentsvisit every monument in the

area, and sometimes the individ-ual parents and grandparentsline up something special, like atour of the Supreme Court, or atour of the capitol, a sought aftertour since 9/11.

After four days, the parents,teachers and students head forhome.

“This is a great age group totravel with,” said Normile.“They are trusting and fun to bewith. They are also little spongeswho soak up everything theycan. That is why it stays in theirmemories.”

Teresa Kennedy O’Farrell, analumna of the school, agrees.

“I’m thrilled that my son gotto participate in such a uniqueand hands-on class trip,” shesaid. “I still have memories frommy visit to D.C. when I was aMercy student in the ’70s”

Mercy Montessori goes to Washington, D.C.

Following a year-long study of U.S. history and the founding of the country, Mercy Montessori fifth- and sixth grade-students traveled to Washington, D.C., on a much-antici-pated class trip. This hands-on learning experience takes place every other year and comprehensive classwork is currently being completed in preparation for the spring2011 visit to our nation’s capital. Pictured here in front of The White House are Mercy students from the class trip in 2009.


By Jill Rooksberry | Contributor

At St. Gertrude School inMadeira exciting things are hap-pening in the form of a new for-mation program that is quicklybecoming in demand all over thecountry.

What began as the “VirtuesEducation Program” has nowbeen revised and broadenedunder the new name “Virtues inPractice.”

The idea behind the Virtues inPractice program is that studentswork each month to grow in avirtue with the example of a sainton a three-year cycle: Faith, hope,and charity.

This is the year of faith with atheme of devotions and servicewhich has led to the implementa-tion of several service projectsthat get the whole school com-munity involved and reachingout.

Sister Mary Sheila Maksim isprincipal of the St. GertrudeSchool and has been enthusiasti-cally working with other sistersaround the country to make thisprogram the success it hasbecome.

Last year was the first year ofthe revised program with thetheme of charity, which had thestudents focusing on loving theirneighbors as they love them-selves.

This topic helped open upconversation about bullying andwhat the Catholic response to theproblem should be.

“Two major improvements tothe school that came out of theyear of Charity were a revision ofthe school discipline code and aCatholic answer to the issue ofbullying,” said Sister MarySheila.

Eighth-grader Annie Bayer is apart of the Sacred Heart

Leadership Program at St.Gertrude’s through which shegets to meet every week with asmall group of seventh-gradegirls to talk about any problemsthey might be having while tyingin aspects of the virtue they arestudying.

At first Annie was afraid hergroup would not open up, buthas found conversation, in partic-ularly about bullying, to flowquite freely.

“The girls have really openedup and are talking to one anotherabout helping other kids to knowhow to stop bullying,” said

Bayer.Jo Ann Bayer, Annie’s mother,

feels that the program has helpednot only the relationships stu-dents have with each other inschool, but also has opened upcommunication between familiesin the home.

“The beautiful thing about theVirtues in Practice program isthat it opens dialogue betweenparents and children,” she said.“It helps parents teach their chil-dren even more about respectingother people and to bring aboutan awareness of other peoplearound them and their feelings.”

‘Virtues in Practice’ “Two major improvements to the schoolthat came out of the year of Charitywere a revision of the school disciplinecode and a Catholic answer to the issueof bullying.”

Sister Mary Sheila


At St. Cecilia School, studentslearn the values of leadership,respect, and empathy on a dailybasis.

As the Catholic K-8 gradeschool of St. Cecilia Parish inOakley, the school partners withparents and students to providean education in a nurturing envi-ronment that is academicallystrong and based on Catholicteachings.

St. Cecilia staff pass on the giftof education as well as theknowledge of and a love forJesus Christ. It firmly believesthat Jesus is the reason for theschool.

This theme is woven through-

out school activities and extracur-riculars including the popularService Club and the long-stand-ing Buddy Program, whereupper- and lower-grade classesare paired together encouragingacceptance across ages.

St. Cecilia is committed to pro-viding a program that enablesthe students to reason independ-ently; to accept responsibility fortheir learning and self-discipline;and to develop a realization oftheir own value, potential, anduniqueness.

Small class sizes ensure chil-dren receive the attention neededto excel. The tenured staff workclosely with students to help

them reach their maximumpotential.

The balanced curriculumincludes art, music, computers,and Spanish, with religion classheld daily beginning in kinder-garten. Extracurriculars rangefrom athletics to the school news-paper to scouting.

The school recently launched anew website, www.stceciliacinti.

org, where you can learn aboutthe teachers and administration,academics and activities, theschool’s mission and beliefs,admissions information andmore.

Come experience St. Cecilia bycalling the school office at 533-6060 to schedule a tour, or visitduring the open house Sunday,Jan. 30, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

St. Cecilia School: Educating, inspiring children since 1913St. Cecilia is committed to providing a programthat enables the students to reason independently;to accept responsibility for their learning and self-discipline; and to develop a realization of theirown value, potential and uniqueness.

Call 687-4614 to learn how you can be a part of theFebruary 2011 edition of the Private School

Directory, published bi-annually by TheCommunity Press/Recorder.


By Jill Rooksberry | Contributor

This year the students at the NativitySchool in Pleasant Ridge have had theprivilege of taking part in a new pro-gram brought to them by the Council forLife Long Engagement.

The program involves elders cominginto the classroom with presentations ona variety of topics in order to engage thechildren in a very real and unique way.

Laura Lamb is the vice-president ofoperations for the Episcopal RetirementHomes and this new program was herbrainchild, born from the desire to pro-vide elders an opportunity to share theirknowledge with school children and toreverse the negative aspects of ageism.

“The ultimate goal through this pro-gram and others like it is to fully eradi-cate ageism,” Lamb said.

“The hope is that the next generationthat comes along in 30 years does noteven realize we have had this problem,”she said.

Lamb said she has been blessed towork in an environment where she issurrounded by individuals that havemore life experience than she does. Shefeels that this is a point of view that,unfortunately, not enough people in thisday and age share.

“What bothers me is that in our socie-ty, in general, we do not value our eld-ers,” Lamb said

Dr. Corning Benton was one of thefirst elders to volunteer to take part inthe program and brought an informativepresentation to one of the NativitySchool’s fifth-grade science classes thatfocused on the Apollo 8 mission to themoon.

Dr. Benton, who worked at Children’sHospital for 45 years and taught at apost-graduate level, was impressed bythe enthusiasm of the primary schoolchildren.

“I felt blessed to have this new expe-rience,” Benton said. “Never had I beenin a classroom where more than half ofthe children had their hands up to askand answer questions.”

Ann Knellinger is in fifth grade atNativity School and she has enjoyedlearning more about subjects they havebeen discussing in the classroomthrough the presentations brought tothem by the CFLLE.

“I liked when Dr. Benton came to talkabout the Apollo 8 mission because Ilearned more detail about it and it con-nected to our science lesson, “Knellinger said.

The CFLLE presentations have beenso well received at Nativity School thatthere have been requests to expand tofour other schools.

Plans are also in the works for aCareer Fair to take place in January atthe Nativity School that will feature 25elders sharing information with thefourth- through sixth-grade classesabout their various professions.

The program is offering a new per-spective for both the children and eldersinvolved and Dr. Benton is looking for-ward to the opportunity to visit theschool again, each time with a new pres-entation.

“I have enjoyed this new way ofdirecting my energy in my seventies,”Benton said. “I hope to be asked to do itseveral more times over the next severalyears.”

Connecting with elders

GCL and GGCL schools. This past summer,

many Purcell Marian stu-dents took advantage ofopportunities through theschool’s ScholarsProgram.

They took courses atXavier University andMount St. Joseph, andheld leadership roles inthe INTERalliance atMiami University and theUniversity of Cincinnatiwhere they worked with

CIOs, CTOs and CEOsfrom companies like GE,Kroger, Citibank andLexus Nexus.

They taught classes toincoming underclassmenat the LeadershipScholar’s Summer Camp.And many of these samestudents will graduate ascollege sophomores –complete with transcripts– at the cost of a PurcellMarian tuition.

Add to that Purcell

Marian’s uniqueIntersession program, anarray of extracurricularsand sports, and an 80-plush year tradition ofMarianist spiritual educa-tion, and it doesn’t makesense not to find outmore about how to dis-cover the world inside –both Purcell Marian ANDyour student!

For more information,visit www.purcellmarian.org.

Purcell Marian | From page 5

Call 687-4614 to advertise in

CCrreeaattiivveeLiving


Academic excellence has been thehallmark of The Summit Country DaySchool since 1890, but founding Sisters ofNotre Dame de Namur also emphasizedleadership and character development.

As the city’s only independent,Catholic, coed school serving studentsage 2 through grade 12, The Summit hasa nationally recognized character educa-tion program – Credo.

From the time 2-year-olds arrive, tothe day seniors exit, Credo is embeddedinto everything:

• Montessori preschool-k facultyguide children to model good behaviorand learn the values of honesty, trustand respect.

• Community service takes root inthe Lower and Middle Schools throughcurriculum-based service learning. Lastyear, “Hands Across the Water” becamea national model for schools implement-ing P&G’s global “Children’s SafeDrinking Water” project.

• Upper School students explore self-awareness through formal writing, ora-tory, retreats, speakers and special pro-grams. Cincinnati restaurateur and SCDalum David Falk recently talked to stu-dents about finding passion in life, com-mitting to it and making a difference.

The Summit combines the academicexcellence and personal attention of atop-tier independent school with the ser-vant leadership and character building

environment typical of Catholic educa-tion.

The value of a Summit education isevident when you review the outcomesof our graduates who “Aim High.”

Last year, competitive recruitment ofthe 2010 graduating class of 88 studentsby many selective universities yielded$13.5 million in merit scholarship offers.The Summit is now celebrating theaward of a Rhodes Scholarship to analumnus.

“We make sure our graduates havethe academic skills and ethical frame-work to improve the world they inher-it,” said Rich Wilson, interim head ofschool.

The Summit specializes in developing leaders of character

Boca owner David Falk, a Summit alum who serves on the board of Transitions Global, talked to students about efforts to end human trafficking.

The Summit combinesthe academicexcellence andpersonal attention ofa top-tier independentschool with theservant leadershipand characterbuilding environmenttypical of Catholiceducation.

News of Roger Bacon’s brightfuture is resonating throughoutthe city. Roger Bacon HighSchool is changing and theirfuture is strong.

At RB, we have invested over$3 million dollars in capitalimprovements to our campuswith a new library/media center,new art studios, additions to theguidance department and fieldturf to the stadium. However, thenewest and most substantialchange to date is Roger Bacon’snew selective, benchmark drivenadmission policy.

The Class of 2014 is the firstclass to be admitted under thispolicy, and is the most selectivein RB’s history. The new policystrengthens our core Franciscanvalues and is designed to ensuresuccess for our students andschool. The results are clear andpositive. More than 70 percent ofthe freshmen class come to usfrom a Catholic grade school,

academic levels are well bal-anced, parental involvement ishigh and most of all the studentsare engaging, excited and happyto be here!

This is a change in the way weaccept a Roger Bacon student. Wecontinue to look to our past andhonor our traditions as we plan

for a promising future. RogerBacon High School will alwaysprovide a Franciscan education,we will always challenge ouryoung men and women to reachtheir potential and we willalways maintain that close-knitfamily atmosphere that makes usunique.

Spread the word! Roger Baconis the premier co-ed Catholichigh school in Cincinnati.

For details regarding admis-sion contact Brandon Cowans,director of admission, at 641-1313or [email protected].


Strong future for Roger Bacon High School

Students stand out and succeed at Roger Bacon High School.

There’s a reason studentscome from more than 70 gradeschools in three states to attendSt. Ursula Academy. It’s worth it!

It’s the demand for the entireSUA experience that has enabledthe school to grow from 63 stu-dents in 1910 to nearly 700 today.

St. Ursula Academy is consid-ered a premiere private girls’high school in Greater Cincinnati.For more than 100 years, St.Ursula has committed to academ-ic excellence, relationship andcharacter building and servicerooted in Catholic values.

SUA is known for highachievement in education, butfocuses on the whole person tomake sure every student enjoys awell-rounded high school experi-ence.

St. Ursula is a nurturingCatholic educational communitywhere students thrive inside andoutside of the classroom.Experienced and caring teachers,

coaches and staff unleash thepotential of each student tobecome women of faith, integrityand courage. Our students buildconfidence, knowledge andfriendships as part of their SUAexperience.

Ask an SUA student or parentor come see for yourself whatmakes St. Ursula so extraordi-nary. There are many opportuni-ties to experience firsthand theSUA campus and state-of-the-artfacilities, the talented teachers,the tradition and history and theunforgettable feeling you getwhen you walk in the door.

“When I walked through theschool for the first time, it felt spe-cial and I knew it was like noplace I had ever been. I knew rightaway that this was the school forme,” said Sarah, SUA sophomore.

Students come to St. Ursulafrom every corner of the GreaterCincinnati region. Students andparents seek out St. Ursula

because they know it is some-thing special.

Parents describe a feeling ofpeace and confidence knowingthey have made a great choice forhigh school. They know theirdaughters will graduate fromSUA with the tools they need tobecome tomorrow’s leaders witha strong foundation from SUA.

Students develop friendshipsthat last a lifetime. Class reunionsand strong alumnae programskeep classmates and friends con-nected for life. It doesn’t take longfor new and lasting friendships toform, whether incoming studentsknow other girls on their first dayor not. Our students become partof our family and feel nurtured bytheir caring teachers.

St. Ursula Academy believesbalance is important. Studentsfind they can pursue many inter-ests at SUA beyond the class-room. There are more than 40student clubs and organizations

that include hobbies, fine arts,honor societies, community serv-ice and much more. There arealso several teams in 12 sports.There truly is something foreveryone at SUA.

Many students and graduatessay they love the century-long tra-ditions at St. Ursula Academyfrom the freshman “beanie day” tothe senior tea and graduation inlong white gowns and red roses.

Upon graduation, students tellus they feel prepared for college.St. Ursula students are educatedto be open-minded criticalthinkers and lifelong learnerswho study all aspects of an issueand form opinions based uponinquiry and analysis.

These skills give them self-confidence, high self-esteem andintegrity. SUA graduates areaware of their own unique giftsand the responsibility they have


Be unstoppable at St. Ursula Academy, it’s worth it

See ST. URSULA on page 19

to use these gifts to bene-fit themselves and others.

Whatever a student’shopes and dreams, St.Ursula Academy can helpher achieve them.

The guidance teambegins to work personallywith each student in herfreshman year to helpwith the adjustment tohigh school and to makesure the classes fit thestudent.

Student guidance con-tinues every year to makesure each student is on

track to meet her person-al and education goals. Ina student’s senior year,the guidance team offersmany resources to assistwith the college applica-tion and selectionprocess, and the resultsare impressive.

In the past severalyears, between 85 percentand 89 percent of the sen-iors were offered meritscholarships for college inacademics, athletics, thearts, and service totalingmore than $22 million

each year!The slogan “We are St.

Ursula. We areUnstoppable” applies toeach student and her per-sonal goals. SUA teachesevery girl to have confi-dence, to believe in her-self and to pursue herdreams and goals. St.Ursula is the total pack-age! Learn more today.

For information oropportunities to visitSUA, please visitwww.saintursula.org orcall 961-3410.


The St. Columban story begins whenone enters through the front doors of theschool and encounters the mural ofJesus the Teacher, surrounded by chil-dren in school uniform.

Jesus and His teachings are, andalways have been, at the heart of a St.Columban education.

Opened in September, 1926 to edu-cate 70 students, the school currentlythrives in the vibrant and growingLoveland community and educates 692students in grades K-8.

The spirit and mission of St. Columbanis evident in the ordinary and extraordi-nary moments of the school year.

A snapshot of a normal school daywill show students engaged in lessonsthat are designed to develop their criti-cal thinking skills through high-levelquestioning and discovery learning.

Students write, create multi-mediapresentations, and give oral presenta-tions using strategies they have learnedfor effective communication.

During free times and lunch hours,students participate in leadership andservice projects.

Parent volunteers are a strong dailypresence in the building partnering withteachers and administration to read toclasses, work in the classrooms onenrichment activities, clean the cafeteria,and assist in the library.

At the end of the school day, St.Columban students participate in a wide

range of extracurricular activities,including Scouts, LEGO Robotics,Drama Club, Bell Choir, and StockMarket Club, as well as numeroussports.

Students are held to high standardsof academic excellence.

Academically, St. Columban studentsscore higher than the national average, butmore significantly, higher than anticipated.

A hands-on science curriculum hasled to the school winning theGovernor’s Award for Excellence andthe Harold C. Shaw Outstanding SchoolAward.

Combining a strong core curriculumwith fine arts programs, technologyskills, and visits from foreign studentdelegations, St. Columban weavestogether a well-rounded education.

Be sure to Come and See the greatthings happening at St. Columban at ouropen house, Thursday, Feb. 3, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

In addition to classroom activities, theevening will feature a Student Art Show,Student Talent Showcase with the BellChoir, band, Irish Dancers, and individ-ual performances.

Can’t make it Thursday? Be sure towatch our “Come and See” video postedat www.saintcolumbanschool.org andschedule your personal tour.

St. Columban School: Quality educa-tion, kindergarten through eighth grade,where faith makes the difference.

Come see what sets St. Columban School apart

St. Ursula | From page 18

Call 648-4614 to advertise in

CCrreeaattiivveeLiving

offer leadership opportunities anda greater awareness of the inter-connectedness of our global society.MND is also deeply committed tothe role of women in philanthropy.Its student-run Youth PhilanthropyCouncil is a mini-foundation thathas made an impact regionally,nationally and internationally, andis now a flagship program beingreplicated by 17 other area schools.

Mount Notre Dame’s CollegeCounseling and GuidanceDepartment views the “Road toCollege” as a four-year partnershipbetween the student, her parents,the academic team and her collegecounselor. MND’s systematic, yetcustomized approach to collegecounseling ensures that each youngwoman arrives at the destinationthat is best for her.

MND’s family spirit sets itapart. Walking through the halls, itis evident that Mount NotreDame’s students support, encour-age and challenge each other. This

environment produces youngwomen who think critically tosolve problems, work cooperativelyin group settings, delight in eachother’s successes and push oneanother to maximize their God-given gifts.

To top it all off, MND’s athleticprogram not only consistentlybrings home state championshipsbut also produces players soughtafter by the most competitive col-leges. Georgetown, Northwesternand Vanderbilt are just a few of theuniversities that have MNDCougars wearing their colors. Inthe last two years, 35 seniors havesigned to continue their athleticcareers at the collegiate level.

In addition, MND meets variousstudent interests and develops lead-ership through the nearly 50 clubsand organizations it offers. TheMount Notre Dame experience isone that nurtures the mind, bodyand soul. That commitment to the“whole person” is extremely evident

in the MND’s Student ActivitiesProgram. From academic to adven-ture; the environment to equestrian;from minority interests to ModelUN, whatever a student’s interestsmay be, chances are “MND has aclub for that.”

Many of MND’s clubs receivelocal, regional and national atten-tion. MND’s Cougar Dance Teamconsistently places in the top 10 atthe national level, and MND’s the-atre company was recently nomi-nated for 10 CAPPIE awards andbrought home four trophies,including “Best Play.”

Mount Notre Dame definitelypositions its students for success. Itprovides the young women ofMND with the values and tools tosucceed in high school, college andin their careers.

Beyond that, the encouragementand support from faculty andfriends instills a solid sense of selfin the young women of MND,allowing them to succeed in life.


on the Air, drama club,robotics and engineeringclub, and chess club.

An education atGuardian Angels intro-duces and prepares stu-dents for the spiritual,intellectual, and emotion-al journey they will con-tinue to travel long afterthey walk the halls of thisBlue Ribbon school.

High school scholar-ships offered to last year’sgraduating class totaled$220,000.

Guardian AngelsSchool will host an openhouse Sunday, Jan. 30,from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. 6539Beechmont Ave.

If you are unable toattend the open houseand would like to arrangea tour, please call 624-3143.

Guardian Angels |From page 11

Mount Notre Dame | From page 7

East/Northeast Catholic Schools

Documents

Transcript of East/Northeast Catholic Schools