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.”
St. Bede School in Ingleside to close despite massive fundraising Father George Koeune, pastor of Our Lady of the Lakes Parish and St. Bede School in Ingleside, announced on March 21 that St. Bede School would close at the end of this school year because of low registration for next school year.
St. Frances of Rome School in Cicero to remain open St. Frances of Rome School in Cicero received welcome news March 6 when the Archdiocese of Chicago announced that the school, which was slated to close in June, would remain open.
Marian’s Sister Mary Jo using newfound fame to talk about God Before she was a sister, Sister Mary Jo Sobieck was an athlete. Sister Mary Jo, 50, started playing softball, basketball and volleyball in elementary school, and she was a three-sport athlete all through high school and her first two years of college. She dropped basketball for her final two years, but stuck with softball and volleyball.