Our Lady of the Angels Catholic School

In the summer of 2005, the U.S. Bishops issued a letter reaffirming their commitment to Catholic schools and challenged institutions within the church to support that commitment. Notre Dame University in South Bend, Ind., responded by forming a task force to investigate and design strategies and initiatives. The Magnificat Initiative, an interactive partnership between the university and a Catholic elementary school, was born.

Within two years, the initiative had grown and a report was sent to school offices in dioceses across the country. When it was received by the Kansas City-St. Joseph Catholic Schools Office, it was read with interest by then-associate superintendents Dave Woolwine and Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet Patty Clune.

At about the same time, Sister Patty attended the inaugural of the president of Avila University, Ron Slepitza, who, when he heard about the report, expressed interest in having Avila participate in an initiative here in Kansas City.

There are 46 Catholic schools supported by the 27-county Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. The majority of these schools are in Kansas City, of which four are in the urban core. Our Lady of the Angels School, located in the old Westport area, had recently relocated to another building. School leaders and parents had decided that the time had come to revitalize the spirit and viability of Our Lady of Angels to keep it strong despite shifts in the urban population and the increase in families living in poverty.

When the Diocese began forming a steering committee to study the Magnificat Initiative and develop one of their own, Our Lady of Angels was selected as the pilot school to enter into a three-way partnership with Avila and the Diocese to achieve improved academics, finances and Catholic identity over a five-year period. In recognition of the role of Our Lady of Angels School and the patroness of the Kansas City-St. Joseph diocese, the new partnership was named the Angelus Initiative after the prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Angelus Initiative, drawn on the Magnificat Initiative, brings together Avila University, Our Lady of the Angels School and the diocese to share resources - academic, human and monetary -a win-win situation all around.

Each partner has needs and assets to share.

Our Lady of Angels identified needs in technology and technology training; professional development, tutoring and enrichment activities for students; access to the arts; access to services for students with special behavioral needs; career and education goal setting for middle school students; mentors; development of a marketing and financial plan; improvement of the physical plant of the school and the development of a long-range plan - creating an inviting atmosphere, a playground area and maintenance issues.

In the asset column, Our Lady of Angels brings a diverse student population of 171 - 74 percent Hispanic, 1 percent Asian, 7 percent African-American, 9 percent white and 9 percent multi-racial; a site for hands-on and real world experiences for Avila students; a bilingual environment; a community with a strong sense of faith and family, a place of hope for families who are trying to overcome barriers of dysfunction, language, finances or education.

Mary Delac, principal of Our Lady of Angels School, said the school would provide Avila students a place to get real world experience. Different departments, not just education, will participate in the partnership, exchanging knowledge and experiences and breaking down the stereotypes of urban schools by learning the names and faces of the students.

Our Lady of Angels students will have opportunities to interact with college students, which might motivate them to pursue higher education. Delac said that many of her students would be the first generation to attend college; a good start was that 19 of the 20 eighth graders took the Catholic high school placement test a few weeks ago.

She noted that the students had contributed some ideas on how to make the school more kid-friendly.

"One thing Avila and Our Lady of Angels have in common is that we're both the Eagles. Art and graphics students are going to come in and help us design and paint the eagle logo and our motto, 'God is Good all the Time,' on the entry walls," Delac said.

Avila needs a culturally diverse site for students to practice teaching, nursing and nutrition, and counseling skills, hone marketing skills and observe students through General Method education courses. The university also desires to develop a relationship with a local Catholic school to benefit Avila students, faculty and staff, and serve as a service project site for campus ministry.

Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet Marie Joan Harris, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Avila, said that the university will use its resources to interact with Our Lady of Angels faculty and students. For example, Our Lady of Angels' teachers participated in a "Teaching the Holocaust" workshop on Jan. 15, offered in conjunction with the upcoming Blessings for One Another, the interactive exhibit about Pope John Paul II opening Feb. 3 at Union Station.

Avila also has a diverse student body with more than 200 international students and a growing percentage of African American students. "Breaking down the stereotypes by interaction will enrich students from both Avila and Our Lady of Angels," Sister Marie Joan said. "That's what education is all about."

Avila's assets include professional development on site for Our Lady of Angels faculty. Avila also can offer low cost graduate credit, advanced certificates in English as a Second Language and Special Reading and Master's programs. The university also plans to collaborate on the Teaching Excellence Team (TEXT) by choosing mentors. They also offer children's theater performances and help with public relations and advertising campaigns to boost enrollment.

Sister Marie Joan said the partnership will open a lot of people's eyes that there is quality education in Kansas City's urban core.

She also mentioned that funds on hand when Avila closed its Montessori school were donated, with approval of the parents, to Our Lady of Angels School.

Mary Delac said the funds, more than $10,000, were used to purchase desks and chairs for five classrooms and illustrated rugs for the Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten classrooms. The remaining money will be saved for playground equipment, she said.

The Diocese identified its needs as the development of a model that can be replicated in other diocesan schools, to have Our Lady of Angels become more financially viable, a site where parents as teachers can learn how to approach other cultures, expanded professional development offerings from Avila to other Central City schools when appropriate and a relationship with a Catholic University that will benefit Catholic education in the diocese.

The Diocese can offer the initiative marketing and grant writing experience, services for students with special needs through the Special Needs coordinator, Math and science staff development and programs through the Kauffman Grant, public relations through The Catholic Key and other publications, continuing professional development for teachers and underwriting the cost of Curriculum Mapper.

Some of the initiative's goals include strengthening the Catholic character and spiritual formation of both Our Lady of Angels and Avila, fostering academic growth, and strengthening community vitality.

Marlon De La Torre, Diocesan Superintendent of Catholic Schools, said he is extremely excited about the Angelus Initiative and its promise.

"The initiative offers the opportunity for Our Lady of Angels and the Diocese to work with Avila to strengthen the viability of Our Lady of Angels," he said. "The partnership will work well for all. I see my role as ensuring the authenticity of Catholicity at Our Lady of Angels."

De La Torre said that as goals of the initiative are met, other Catholic schools in need can be identified. "The Angelus Initiative will be in place to help strengthen those schools, too. And not just urban schools. It will be a nice handy tool to have."

About 50 percent of the students from Our Lady of Guadalupe School enroll at Our Lady of Angels after 5th grade. De La Torre said in the future he sees the benefits of the Angelus Initiative spilling over into Our Lady of Guadalupe to strengthen and enrich both schools.

The Angelus Initiative will celebrate its kick off some time this spring. Our Lady of Angels plans an open house with Diocesan and city dignitaries, and people interested in Our Lady of Angels School, a pep rally and a visit by the Avila Eagle mascot. De La Torre said the spring kickoff will enable the university, the grade school and the diocese to have everything in place and ready to go when school starts again in the fall.