BLOOMINGTON — Families at St. Mary School in Bloomington recently hosted students and a teacher from Shijiazhuang No. 40 Middle School in China. They learned about American education and culture during their two-week stay.
Tag: students
Helping university students see life in Jesus Christ
MADISON — “Without St. Paul’s,” University of Wisconsin-Madison student Jamie Wheeler reflects, “without the guidance it offers . . . ” She pauses. Then she smiles. “We would be missing the Big Picture.”
Jamie is a chemistry Ph.D. student from Texas. Three years ago, she made the big move north to study at the University of Wisconsin.
The “Big Picture” Jamie refers to is, of course, life in Jesus Christ. Students like Jamie can’t even imagine what their years of formation as young adults would be like without the grounding they receive at St. Paul University Catholic Center.
Young adults coming out of the shelter of home and into a world-class campus like the University of Wisconsin face what too often becomes a subconscious decision to the Big Question: now that my parents aren’t around to drag me to Mass on Sunday, am I going to keep the faith or leave it behind?
Pray for teachers, students as school year begins
Dear Friends, Well already it’s “back to school” time for so many of our young people.
This has always been a time of tremendous hope and of excitement for me, personally.
It may come as no surprise that I always enjoyed going to school myself, and even wanted to make “school” my chief ministry as a university professor and then seminary faculty member.
Lumen House project moves forward
MADISON — Msgr. Kevin Holmes, rector of the Cathedral Parish in Madison, publicly thanked Wisconsin State legislators late in June for acting to ensure the opportunity for faith-based housing for students attending University of Wisconsin-Madison becomes a reality beginning with the 2014 to 2015 school year.
Preserving tax-exemption
In a release dated June 21, Monsignor Holmes noted the Cathedral Parish’s tremendous appreciation for “the efforts of Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester), Rep. Travis Tranel (R-Cuba City), and Rep. Pat Strachota (R-West Bend) and Senate Majority Leader, Senator Scott Fitzgerald (R-Beaver Dam) for their role in including a matter important to the Cathedral Parish in the governor’s budget bill.
Dodgeville students make fine art for school fundraiser
DODGEVILLE — Students in kindergarten through eighth grade from St. Joseph School in Dodgeville recently created art for the third annual Walk/Run that will be held on Saturday, June 8, at 10 a.m., in connection with the St. Joseph Parish picnic.
The projects will be sold at a silent auction, which be held the same day.
Dodgeville students advance to ‘Odyssey’ world finals
DODGEVILLE — Two teams of students in grades three through five from St. Joseph School in Dodgeville will be competing in the World Finals of the Odyssey of the Mind. The competition is set for May 22-25 on the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing, Mich.
The Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. Team members apply their creativity to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics.
“Our school became involved in it just last year because some parents asked about it, and I had always wanted to get it going,” said Principal Sharon Wimer. “It seemed like a great opportunity to promote creative thinking and originality, and showcase some of our talented students.”
St. Ambrose presents Beauty and the Beast
MADISON — It’s a “tale as old as time,” as the song goes.
With an opening night of Thursday, April 25, students at St. Ambrose Academy in Madison will present their production of Beauty and the Beast.
It will be the first time the school will produce a full-length musical production with full orchestra. In past years, the musicals have been so-called “junior” versions, with piano accompaniment only.
St. Paul’s University Catholic Center membership clarified
MADISON — Bishop Robert C. Morlino has issued a decree clarifying the status of the “community of faithful” constituting the “personal parish” at St. Paul’s University Catholic Center in Madison.
Bishop Morlino notes that in 1967, Bishop Cletus F. O’Donnell erected the personal parish of St. Paul, indicating who would be considered members of the parish and further stipulating that registration would be required for parish membership.
Immaculate Heart of Mary School nears record enrollment
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| Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Monona has increased its enrollment by 49 percent, primarily due to recruiting Hispanic and Asian students through its Catholic School Advantage Program. (Contributed photo) |
MONONA — Five years ago, a trend toward decreasing enrollment at Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) School in Monona had become an increasing concern.
To respond to this concern, a five-point strategy was implemented to retain and increase school enrollment.
Five-point plan
The five-point plan included:
- Prayer — putting faith in God to provide opportunities for increasing enrollment
- Public school partnership — becoming a 4K site for the Monona Grove School District
- Retention — commitment to improving student retention between elementary and middle school
- Outreach — implementing the Catholic School Advantage (CSA) Program for Hispanic immigrant families
- Enrollment management — hiring a development director to focus on building and retaining enrollment
Exciting new program
Since implementation of the plan, with God’s help, this five-point strategy is working.
One of the most exciting and rewarding aspects of this strategy is the Catholic School Advantage (CSA) program. This program is a ground-breaking student recruitment effort that reaches out to Hispanic-immigrant students from families who want to send their children to a Catholic school, but are unable to afford tuition.
Beauty and the Mass
A reverent silence is difficult for anyone to achieve, but with more than 3,000 students from middle school and high school filling the seats and stands in the vast Alliant Energy Center’s Exhibition Hall in Madison, it was something extraordinary.