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Engaging Latinos to Participate in Catholic Education
To Nurture the Soul of a Nation:Latino Families, Catholic Schools, and Educational Opportunities
A Report of the Notre Dame Task Force on the Participation of Latino Children and Families in Catholic Schools.
Since 2000, more that 1,400 Catholic Schools have closed and nearly half a million students are no longer in Catholic schools.
Yet in many of the areas where schools have closed, there are school age Latino children within walking distance of the schools.
Areas that were once largely populated by another culture, such as Italian or German, now have an area population made up primarily of Latinos.
Why Catholic Schools?
The Notre Dame study indicates that Latino children who attend Catholic schools are 42% more likely to graduate high school and two and a half times more likely to graduate from college.
Even with that evidence, nationally, only 3% of school age Latino children attend Catholic Schools.
Why?
Some Statistics Currently in the United States, Latinos now comprise 35% of all Catholics.
67% of practicing Catholics ages 18-34 are Latino.
The Census Bureau predicts that this will grow and by 2050 more than 30% of Americans will identify themselves as Hispanic.
And yet, they are still under-represented in our schools.
St. James the Less and Sacred Heart
Booming enrollment in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. THEN ~ the perfect storm
Declining numbers of Catholics living in the neighborhood Families moving to the suburbs Worsening economy for the residents of our
neighborhood, our city, and our state Declining outside financial resources Declining numbers of school-age children generally HOPE comes in the form of Fr. Joe and Latino Enrollment
Institute (LEI)
A History of Two Schools
What is it?Why is Latino enrollment important?Purpose of the LEIFounder of the LEIProgress of the LEICan a school be flipped?What can each of you do?
Latino Enrollment Institute
A connection to the Latino community – pastor starting the Spanish Ministry and the continued support of the entire St. James parish.
Personally invite them! Recruit from you parish religion program Go to other churches and preschools, head starts Go to local businesses where they shop Hold informational meetings when they can attend Be visible in their community- Mass, grocery store, shops etc. Know some Spanish---word ring Build relationships! Work to overcome language barriers Embrace diversity – incorporate cultural icons into décor Make school affordable, accessible, and available
FLIPPING St. James & Sacred Heart
Pastor
Principal
Teachers
Students
Other Families
Parishioners
RE Director
Secretary
Support personnel
Everyone Has an Important Role
Belief that Catholic Education is an important parish ministry
Engaged, visible, and invites families to come and see
Pastor
Accompanies new families on school tours with principal
Active participation in school activities
From the ambo, tells benefits of a Catholic education
Always speaks positively about the parish school in all venues
Be personable, inviting and friendly – SMILE!
Belief and understanding that Catholic education is an important ministry of the parish
Understanding of the alternative school systems (public, charter)
Principal
Make the most of every opportunity or event to promote the school
Express expectation that all members of faculty and staff share the responsibility of creating a welcoming environment to all families
Build relationships with DRE, other pastors, and parishioners
Be sure others know what to do/say when they are approached
Provide materials in Spanish
Always have business card with you
Become involved and visible in parish activities
Speak often at Masses championing the school (not just at Catholic Schools Week), advertise availability of tuition assistance
Attend Masses other than your usual Mass
Be willing to fill out required school forms for parents if necessary
Keep immigration status confidential
Principal
Learn a few phrases in Spanish, then add a few more
Help recruit volunteers to translate
during P/T/S conferences
Learn the Latino culture particular to their school
Teachers
Use Google translator for notes to parents (be sure to have it proofread!) Don’t assume or make generalizations that parents are not interested in their child’s education
Command SpanishBook StudiesESL for students and parentsStrategies for teaching English Language
LearnersEncourage Faculty sharing
Professional Development
Be personable, inviting, and friendly – SMILE!
Learn a few words in Spanish to speak, and develop a listening Spanish vocabulary
Don’t talk louder
Be resourceful
When new families register, give them school information packet
Provide name and contact information to Principal
Have available information about the school: business card, tuition information, and tuition assistance application
Recommend students in the RE program who would be good students for the school
School Secretary & Parish Staff
Different culture/value system
Different language
Belief that Catholic education is for the rich (or extreme poor)
Potential for greater financial sacrifice
Potential difference in appreciation of education
Lack of Spanish speaking personnel
Time demands and constraints
Prejudices and biases
Challenges
The Latino community is made up of a diverse variety of people from different:
Countries
Races
Economic backgrounds
Education levels
Latino Diversity
Consider accepting payments in time frames that work for them, i.e., ad hoc, daily, weekly, twice a month, on their payday
Divide tuition into 12 monthly payments as an option
Tuition Challenges
Accept cash payments for tuition, even large amounts
Enrollment –for those who can’t come up with the entire required enrollment fee, consider:
They pay a portion of enrollment fee to reserve their space
Roll the rest of the enrollment fee into tuition
Consider opening tuition assistance to all students who apply and not limiting to parishioners.
Offer tuition assistance as a means of filling classrooms to capacity
An empty seat = zero income with the same overhead costs. Therefore, a student paying $1,500 is better than an empty seat
More students receive a Catholic education
More operating revenue for school, less parish subsidy
Potential Sources of additional funding Private Donors Religious orders Diocese
Tuition Assistance
Work grants – require helping school with time and talent
Need someone to coordinate
Any adult can come to work the hours for the family
Work Grant
The student in grades sixth, seventh or eighth can work and receive credit
Work hour requirements vary by amount of assistance
Embracing Cultural Diversity
Welcoming New Latino Families to Your School
Familiar Religious Symbols
Familiar Religious Symbols
Familiar Religious Symbols
Cultural Celebrations
Las Posadas
Pastorela
May Crowning
We Are Family
We have fun at school! Every idea has value and we will try anything Community homerooms Saint Families Service learning Mime Stations of the Cross Christmas shop, coat and hat drive, food baskets Legal advice, medical and dental information,
immunizations ESL for adults Double dutch, drama, chess, bison boot camp We ask, “what do you need?” we will find a way to get it. Our Kids are Worth Whatever It Takes!
Why Do We Do This?
Do we teach them because they are Catholic?
Do we teach them because we are Catholic?
Our faith calls us to do this because truly all are welcome.
Catholic Identity