This year the University of Notre Dame has formed an alliance with St. Adalbert’s School, South Bend, and St. Ann School, Chicago. These newly established relationships are a developing initiative to keep at-risk Catholic schools open. Both St. Adalbert’s and St. Ann have been given the title of “ND Magnificat School”, and for the next five years will be assisted by the University’s Educational Outreach, a branch of the Alliance for Catholic Education. As Magnificat schools they will be provided with resources to help increase enrollment and student achievement, and to decrease faculty turnover.
To be considered a Magnificat school there must be a high risk of closure and fluctuation of enrollment. St. Adalbert’s and St. Ann also have principals who were trained through the ACE Leadership Program and have several teachers at their schools that are ACE-trained or received their training through a partner program of ACE. With these criteria in mind, Notre Dame has plans to add two more schools to this program.
Joyce Johnstone and a team of dedicated individuals have been developing the Magnificat program through the Institute of Educational Initiatives and Ed. Outreach. Nancy Masters, who is a teacher in residence at Notre Dame, is observing classes at St. Adalbert’s and helping teachers set professional development goals. All of these efforts are to improve curriculum, increase enrollment and help to develop a stronger Catholic identity at the schools.