A n n u a l R e p o r t

Transcription

1 A n n u a l R e p o r t

2 Letter from the President Dear Friends, While I have been in and out of the hospital the last few months, Mr. Kwas has brought me reflections prepared by his 8th grade history students on particular artifacts. One wrote on French painter Jacques-Louis David s The Death of Marat; several discussed musical works; one explained the origin and use of the palm; and one illustrated the workings of the Newcomen engine, an early steam engine. Through classical education, students learn to be attentive and take careful note of the great works of civilization, especially in a time when many of our present culture s works are not so great. Students need to be fortified by the teachings of the Church to discern the good from the eminently not good that they encounter daily. Our 71 St. Ambrose Academy (SAA) graduates are already sharing the fruits of their studies with the wider community. Many are still studying at colleges, universities, and seminaries, including some pursuing graduate studies in physics, theology, or chemistry. Others have served in the armed forces. Our alumni include a firefighter, a Dane County sheriff s deputy, an accomplished welder, a talented graphic designer, and a budget analyst for the U.S. Congress, to name a few. I am grateful to you who have made it possible for these young men and women to study at SAA. Although these 71 students have directly benefited, I am also grateful to you for making it possible for these graduates to take their skills and understanding into the world to share their gifts with those who are hurting, seeking or lost. Announcing the Ambrose Advantage "Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth." St. John Paul II Since the beginning, SAA has always rested on the strong foundation of faith and reason solid Catholic formation and rigorous classical education to root young people in Truth and, therefore, prepare them to flourish. We have always striven to be: CATHOLIC Encountering Jesus Christ in every moment; CLASSICAL Using best methods to reach higher in school, work and life; and CLOSE-KNIT Welcoming every student into the St. Ambrose family. This has always meant that faith and reason are NOT at odds, as if a person has to nurture one to the detriment of the other. We say that you can have it ALL at St. Ambrose religion, academics and community. Now, we call having it all the Ambrose Advantage. It s unique to St. Ambrose because we are south central Wisconsin s only Catholic classical school. We offer students a priceless edge because they learn to pursue greatness in this life and in the next. The best news is this: the Ambrose Advantage is available not just to some select few but to all, regardless of financial need. Omnia Christus est nobis! David R. J. Stiennon President On the cover: 4 SAA athletes helped lead the 8th grade girls basketball team, a co-op with Abundant Life Christian School, to a championship win after a great season! 3

3 The Ambrose Advantage: A History Spotlight on Sam Galvin: Student, Football Player and TOMMY Award-Winning Actor Although we have only recently coined the phrase The Ambrose Advantage, the leg-up our students have in both understanding the Catholic faith and developing academically is a reality as old as the school. It s our history. 2003: A group of Madison families incorporated St. Ambrose Academy, a new Catholic classical school for grades : SAA found a home at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish at the invitation of thenpastor Msgr. Terry Connors. 2005: The middle school was extended down to grade 6. Sam Galvin plays 8-man football in the fall before rehearsals begin for the spring musical. He acted alongside seniors as a 7th grader and now, as a junior, mentors middle school student actors. Sam uses the same methods he developed through Socratic dialogue with teachers Dr. Nielsen and Miss Klinkhammer to delve into literary plots and characters when he dives into characters on stage. Sam manages his time during study halls and with an evening routine so that he can balance his schoolwork and extracurricular activities. We could marvel at Sam he is responsible, athletic, creative, thoughtful and mature, wrapped into one but Sam would probably shrug his shoulders. Sam is accustomed to the St. Ambrose way. 2006: Our first full-time student graduated from the high school program. 2007: The high school girls basketball team became the first team sport. 2008: The first high school boys basketball team expanded St. Ambrose s extracurricular offerings. 2009: We received accreditation from the National Association of Private Catholic and Independent Schools. 2010: Bishop Morlino began teaching high school classes. But, the panel of judges for the TOMMY Awards for achievement in high school musicals are not familiar with classically-trained students with diverse talents like football and acting who bring maturity to the stage, not ego. And, they were floored by St. Ambrose s production of The Sound of Music and, particularly, with Sam in his role as Rolf. Sam received the nomination and eventually the award for Outstanding Lead Performer. Sam then sang in a special medley with TOMMY winners from other musicals, and his parts of the medley were televised for Wisconsin Public Television. 2011: The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association welcomed St. Ambrose s sports programs. 2012: The 8-man football team qualified for post-season play. 2013: Beauty and the Beast became St. Ambrose s first full-length musical production. 2014: The Guadalupe Scholarship Fund debuted to help Spanish-speaking students as part of the tuition aid program. 2015: We added the first alumnus to our full-time faculty. St. Ambrose Academy is an accredited Catholic school that assists parents in the formation of their children in grades 6 through 12. We carry out this important mission through a rigorous academic and religious program. 4 When Sam thinks about the impact of the show, however, he doesn t have his accolades in mind. He is remembering his mentor and friend relationships with older students and how he is becoming one of those older students now for the junior high cast members. I have the opportunity to give back. Most shows have high school casts whereas our choruses are junior high students. There is a sense of unity, even with a younger cast. Sam Galvin is giving back and preparing for a musical theater career in college. 5

4 Financial Firsts Making a Home at St. Ambrose By God s Providence and prudential management, SAA has always operated in the black financially and avoided assuming new debt in the last ten years even in an era of financial instability! We have always had just enough, but not a penny more. But, in , the story was different it was better! For the first time in school history, we were able to raise more money than our immediate need to secure a healthy cash-positive balance and establish a rainy day fund. With a rainy day fund in place, we are able to sweat the finances less and focus more on investing in our educational programs, faculty and student body. Strategic improvement and growth mean an even brighter future! We thank all of our generous donors who made these firsts possible, including those who contributed matching funds for our July Matching Challenge and those whose gifts were matched dollar-for-dollar. We know that all things work for good for those who love God Rom. 8:28 INCOME Tuition and Fees $526,477 Contributions, events (including gifts in kind) $543,986 Investment returns $987 TOTAL $1,071,450 EXPENSES Wages, payroll taxes and employee benefits $625,518 Rent and Utilities (provided by St. Thomas Aquinas Parish) $101,884 Financial aid and employee tuition discounts $158,917 Fundraising and school events $64,372 Books and educational materials $16,904 Other office supplies, insurance, marketing and communications, development and depreciation $64,532 TOTAL $1,032,127 When Tim and Sue Tansey moved with their family to Madison in 2013, finding a school for their children was their top priority: Before searching for a home, we felt it was important to locate a school in Madison that would support both their academic and spiritual growth. The Tanseys turned to friend Chuck Neff, host of the The Inner Life on Relevant Radio, for help finding a school. Chuck referred them to Fr. Rick Heilman and Fr. Eric Nielsen, spiritual directors on his show. Tim and Sue recalled, Both Fr. Rick and Fr. Eric recommended that our search start, and potentially end, with St. Ambrose Academy. So, the Tanseys researched SAA, visited the school and made a decision: we knew that St. Ambrose was the school that we could trust to provide Lucy and John with an education that would prepare them for the opportunities and challenges they would face in their adult lives. Now, the Tanseys could buy a house in their new city. Since, Lucy (8th grade) and John (6th grade) have found a home at SAA. Sue and Tim explained, The class sizes have allowed them to develop deep, meaningful friendships with their peers and helped them feel part of a larger community. Tim, Sue and their youngest, Annette, feel connected to the school community through volunteering and social events: we have found the school living its mission through encouraging parents to be active participants in our children s education. When St. Ambrose embarked upon a matching challenge in July, the Tanseys joined in, understanding the difficulties of running a school and extending tuition assistance to so many families: As generous donors come forth with offers of matching gifts, we feel it is important to recognize their generosity and devotion to [SAA] through our own monetary pledge and maximize our contribution by helping the school achieve the match. Tim and Sue Tansey have not only found a home for their family at SAA but also made sacrifices so that other families can do the same. Data source: Preliminary audit report for

5 GIVE THE AMBROSE ADVANTAGE! Help more young people have an edge on living well in this life and preparing for the next it s the Ambrose Advantage! St. Ambrose is a 501(c)3, which means that your gifts can be completely tax-deductible. Please consider making: General Gifts: Donations can be programspecific or unrestricted. NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID Madison, WI Permit no. 615 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Monthly Recurring Gifts: Budget your support in an ongoing way. Legacy Gifts: Make a plan to impact students for generations to come! Appreciated Stock Gifts: Help us and benefit from unique tax breaks. Matching Gifts: Double or triple your gift by checking with your company about matching funds. Contact Development Director Joseph Draves for more information: (920) or josephd@ambroseacademy.org 64 students took the National Latin Exams. Most earned honors for their skill in Latin. 6 students garnered the highest award, Summa Cum Laude. All at once, these Latin scholars are building their understanding of English and a foreign language. Grades 6-12 Classical Catholic Education 602 Everglade Drive - Madison WI School Office: (608)