For the past 12 years, St. Nicholas of Tolentine School, 3741 W. 62nd St., has continuously increased its enrollment. In 2004, they had 240 students and now have 375. How did they do it? They got to know their community. “We became more culturally sensitive. A lot of our practices in school were more geared toward the European culture. With the many Hispanic families who were coming through our doors we started to become more culturally sensitive and really getting to know our Hispanic families and their needs,” said Principal Mariagnes Menden. They also made most things bilingual, such as the library collection and materials for parents. “We value their language,” Menden said. The school also introduced more Mexican traditions like devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe. In most Catholic schools, families are part of the community, but St. Nicholas of Tolentine has really made them welcome with events like regular taco dinners and dances. “We always invite the families for anything,” she said. They also accommodate their needs like providing child care during parent meetings. “We allow parents to bring their children with them. Then we have something for the children to do while the parents are attending our parents’ focus group,” Menden said. They’ve also opened up the school as a center for the community and allowed parents to come in on certain evenings to use the computer lab. The school offers English as a second language classes for parents three days a week in both the mornings and evenings. Staff works with each family individually to find financial assistance to make a Catholic education possible for their children. In St. Nicholas of Tolentine’s case, it’s more of a question of what they aren’t doing. It’s also a fine-arts school and offer music and dance classes, including ballroom dance and ballet and guitar, violin and piano classes. Grants cover most of the cost of instruments. This year they are starting a mariachi band. “We’re a very welcoming community,” Menden said. “I think that’s what Catholic schools do best. They build that family atmosphere in the school. That’s really what a parent wants when they send their child to a Catholic school. We’re almost an extension of their home.”
Cardinal Cupich visits school that held mock conclave On the morning of June 2, Cardinal Cupich, dressed in a red cassock and wearing a red zucchetto, joined the student “cardinals” at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy to see a reenactment of their now-viral mock conclave and to answer their questions about the real conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV.
Local school’s mock conclave goes viral around the globe Two days before Pope Leo XIV, a native Chicagoan who is a member of the Augustinian religious community, was elected the 267th pope by the College of Cardinals, students at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy elected their own native Chicagoan in a mock conclave, and the student elected took the name “Augustine” when he accepted his election.
St. Ann School receives $97,000 from Big Shoulders Fund St. Ann School Principal Kathleen Fox credits a school culture that emphasizes ongoing learning and making sure each students feels that they are known and valued for its growth in test scores and other academic measures.