Regalo means gift…
Responsibility, Regalo and Respect are three principles guiding the educational process at Notre Dame Schools of Milwaukee — a Catholic school system dedicated to the educational, spiritual and overall well-being of Latino children. Through Catholic faith formation, small class sizes, dual language instruction, fine arts, commitment to justice and leadership, and dedicated parental involvement the Notre Dame Schools offer students a foundation for success in school and a blessed future.
The system consists of Notre Dame Primary School, Milwaukee’s only Catholic, co-educational, dual-language primary school. Opened in 2012 with two K5 classes and two first grade classes, it offers the same quality education and overall spiritual development that has been the cornerstone of the Notre Dame Middle School. During 2013-2014, a second grade will be added for a total of 120 students served at the primary level.
Notre Dame Middle School is Milwaukee’s leading Catholic college preparatory middle school for Latinas. Founded in 1996, NDMS has a bi-literate setting that emphasizes leadership skills, critical thinking, social justice and the overall well-being of each student. The enrollment for 2013-2014 is 150 girls in grades 5-8.
Most students reside within a two-mile radius of the schools and for many, English is their second language. In the surrounding community, more than half of the residents live below the poverty level. Notre Dame Schools offer hope for better lives by providing quality education to Latino children.
This past year, Notre Dame Primary School was selected as one of 12 schools nationally to be part of the prestigious Two-Way Immersion Network for Catholic Schools (TWIN-CS). The network is an initiative of the Innovation Institute at Boston College and the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA).
Principal of Notre Dame Middle School, Sister Jean Ellman, SSND, said: “Being part of the two-way immersion network will enhance the academic quality and improve outcomes for our students.” As a participating TWIN-CS member, Notre Dame Primary School receives support of experienced scholars and practitioners from a number of colleges and universities, including Boston College and Marquette University.
How is your education a gift to you? What is one way you share your gifts?
To learn more about Notre Dame Schools, visit www.NDMSwi.org and www.facebook.com/NotreDameMiddleSchool.
To read about TWIN-CS, visit www.bc.edu/content/bc/schools/lsoe/cce/innovationinstitute/C-TWIN.html.