Diocese of Memphis Sister Mary Martha, OP, Principal 1425 E. Shelby Drive Memphis, TN 38116 Document Generated On October 11, 2013
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 1 Description of the School 2 School's Purpose 4 Notable Achievements and Areas of Improvement 6 Additional Information 7
Introduction Every school has its own story to tell. The context in which teaching and learning takes place influences the processes and procedures by which the school makes decisions around curriculum, instruction, and assessment. The context also impacts the way a school stays faithful to its vision. Many factors contribute to the overall narrative such as an identification of stakeholders, a description of stakeholder engagement, the trends and issues affecting the school, and the kinds of programs and services that a school implements to support student learning. <br><br> The purpose of the Executive Summary (ES) is to provide a school with an opportunity to describe in narrative form the strengths and challenges it encounters. By doing so, the public and members of the school community will have a more complete picture of how the school perceives itself and the process of self-reflection for continuous improvement. This summary is structured for the school to reflect on how it provides teaching and learning on a day to day basis. Page 1
Description of the School Describe the school's size, community/communities, location, and changes it has experienced in the last three years. Include demographic information about the students, staff, and community at large. What unique features and challenges are associated with the community/communities the school serves? St. Paul Catholic School, located near the heart of Graceland in southern Memphis, TN, takes pride in cherishing the dignity of every student and fostering academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment. Founded in 1948, St. Paul Catholic School is a part of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church and the Catholic Diocese of Memphis. Presently we have 203 students in grades Pre-K3 through 6th grade. There are 30 faculty and staff members, a number of whom went to Saint Paul's themselves as children, and who offer academic, cultural, and spiritual formation for the youth of today and the leaders of tomorrow. Today, St. Paul students continue to excel in academics, the fine arts, athletics, and Christian service. Daily the students are challenged to use their God-given gifts and talents to positively impact their families, their school, and the world. All special classes (PE, computer, art, music, and Spanish) are scheduled once per week. Encouraged by the example of our patron, St. Paul, we strive to preach the Gospel with joy and impart this knowledge to others. It is the mission of St. Paul Catholic School to encourage the development of the whole child in an academically challenging environment based on Catholic doctrine and values, empowering children to make a positive difference in the world now and in the future. Since its founding in 1948, St. Paul School has remained open and true to its mission despite the economic and historical factors that have impacted it. The mission to provide quality Catholic Education to children of any background and ability has remained steadfast. We are committed to continue this mission into the future. Because of this, is working to meet the needs of all its incoming students. Statistics show that between 1980 and 1989, there were only 146 students who were foreign-born in this area. From 1990 to 1999, this number rose to 518 and from 2000 to the present, that number reached 835 ("City-Data," 2012). Saint Paul's is now in a very impoverished area of Memphis. A recent study (DeSapio & Stackhouse, 2012) showed that 23% of the families with children living within a one mile radius of Saint Paul's are below the poverty line. That number decreases slightly to 18% for families living within 5 miles. Saint Paul Catholic School is a microcosm of the greater Memphis community. Approximately one-third of the school children (54) in the K-6th grades qualify for free or reduced lunches. Over 78 (36%) of our students receive some form of financial aid. Of all the students attending Saint Paul's, over 25% would normally qualify for Title I services. They come from many different zip codes in Memphis proper but also frequently from northern Mississippi. Saint Paul Catholic Parish began in 1945 with 68 families. A school with students in Kindergarten to the eighth grade soon followed on the property in 1949 staffed by three Mercy Sisters. By 1954, Saint Paul parish was the largest parish in the state of Tennessee with over 1,044 registered families. In 1963 a new school building was erected and two years later the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia from Nashville came to staff the school. That year there was a faculty of 25 teachers and a student population of 900 (McGraw, Guthrie, & King, 1996). Almost all of these students were Caucasian and members of St. Paul the Apostle Parish. When laws began to change as a result of the Civil Rights legislation in the late 60's and early 70's, the neighborhoods surrounding the St. Paul Catholic School became integrated by minority citizens from the inner cities. As the population changed and became more diverse, white families began to move from the Whitehaven area to other areas of the city with predominately white populations. This large-scale movement of Catholics out of the area surrounding St. Paul Catholic School had serious consequences for the school and parish alike. In the school year 2005-2006, the student population at St. Paul was approximately 79% African American, 18% Caucasian (Irish Traveler) and only about 2% Hispanic. Five years later, these demographics had changed slightly: 71% African American, 19% Caucasian, and 5% Hispanic. The students at Saint Paul today come from many different backgrounds. The majority, about 60%, is African American and Page 2
typically of middle socio-economic status. They are very supportive of the school and its religious values even though the majority are not Catholic. The Irish Travelers currently make up about 30% of the school children and are all Catholic. These families are migrant workers who live together as a community in the winter. The families move north, to states such as Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, during the summer and fall, where the fathers work at manual jobs. They move back to Memphis typically after Thanksgiving. The last major population within the school, about 10%, consists of Hispanic students and those of other multicultural groups. They too are typically Catholic but poor. Many come to the school not speaking English at all or to a very limited degree. Geographically, families come to from at least 20 different zip codes in both Tennessee, Mississippi and even Arkansas. Along with the diversity present at the school, the characteristic that makes St. Paul unique is the presence of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia. They help to staff and administer the school, giving it a distinctive Dominican charism with a focus on truth, love of learning, and Marian devotion. Page 3
School's Purpose Provide the school's purpose statement and ancillary content such as mission, vision, values, and/or beliefs. Describe how the school embodies its purpose through its program offerings and expectations for students. It is the mission and purpose of St. Paul Catholic School to encourage the development of the whole child in an academically challenging environment based on Catholic doctrine and values, empowering children to make a positive difference in the world now and in the future. We believe that: -Every person is created in the image and likeness of God, and we value the uniqueness of each person. -The education of students is a shared responsibility among the parents, school, parish and community. -In assisting students in their lifelong commitment of spiritual, academic, social, emotional, and physical growth. -In accepting, understanding, valuing, and celebrating the diverse cultures within our school community. -In commitment to academic excellence which promotes the intellectual development of faculty and students. -In a God-centered, ethical, and moral environment of education according to the teachings of the Catholic Church. St. Paul Catholic School is committed to the spiritual growth and development of each child. A School Mass with students is normally celebrated in St. Paul Church once per week. We celebrate other liturgical events such as the Stations of the Cross during Lent, May Procession, the Rosary, First Friday devotion and the saints' feast days. Parents are welcome to attend Mass and daily morning prayers held in the gym. As a school, we pray also before meals and at the end of the day. Catholic students in the second grade are prepared for the reception of the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist. Coaches lead their teams in prayer before and after practice as well as at the beginning of games and tournaments. In developing the whole child we also form the children morally and physically. We do this by example and by explicitly teaching a virtue program. A student code of conduct is reviewed yearly and enforced since good behavior is following the example of Jesus Christ and a necessary prerequisite for student learning. Students are also given opportunities to practice virtue through service projects and social interactions with other in school and in various extracurricular activities such as the Games club, Chess Club, Sewing Club, athletic teams, and choir. Students are given opportunities to develop physically through PE which is offered to all students. The children are given a recess time daily. Healthy lunches are offered by the cafeteria and it is school policy that the students do not bring in fast food or soda for lunches. Of great importance to the school community is the involvement of its parents. We offer parent nights (PTO, literacy and math family night, Parents' Night Out) that include guest speakers to help the parents become more involved in their children's education. We actively seek out frequent parent communication by sending home reports weekly, Parent-teacher conferences, bi-weekly school memos, and frequent phone calls and conferences. The parents know that they are welcome to come and visit the classrooms as well as come to eat lunch with their children. Last, we emphasize the academic formation of the children through the lens of the Catholic Faith. Because God has given each person a mind and a free will, we seek to develop His gifts and offer it back to Him for His glory and the betterment of the society. We use a strong phonic program to teach children to read and decode words. We use manipulatives and real life applications to teach math. Technology is interwoven through all the subjects as a tool for better understanding, not as an end in itself. All technology is viewed through the lens of whether it develops the child in the image and likeness of God, foster better human relationships and virtue. Page 4
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Notable Achievements and Areas of Improvement Describe the school's notable achievements and areas of improvement in the last three years. Additionally, describe areas for improvement that the school is striving to achieve in the next three years. Over the past three years, St. Paul Catholic School has advanced in many ways. From staff and parent input, the school knew that the educational technology needed to be updated. Through the 2011-2013 schools years, the school had projectors and document camera placed in all classrooms. The teachers were also all given lap top computers and instructed in the use of technology to better their teaching. Smart Boards were installed in 4 classrooms and all students have regular instruction using technology. The school also created a technology plan to continue the process of better integrating technology as a tool. The school also updated its website on which can be found information about the school, school events, and communication between the school and parents. A second major area of growth for the school is in parish and community involvement. The school is making a concerted effort to involve parishioners, welcoming them into the school building and involving them in school events. The parish has also increased the visibility of the school, inviting students to sing at Sunday Masses and participate in parish events such as the parish picnic or adult faith formation programs. Through events like Readers are Leaders, the school has reached out to the broader Memphis community to bring in speakers such as Dick Hackett and Amy Weirich to talk to the students. During the ACE (Alliance for Catholic Education) visit to St. Paul Catholic School, the visiting ACE team interviewed stakeholders of the school (parishioners as well as representatives of the diverse parent demographics) in focus groups. The input from these groups and the resulting study was very helpful and gave rise to a lot of recommendations by ACE Consulting but also by the subsequent accreditation team visit. A third major accomplishment for the school was its accreditation in 2012 by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The principal and teachers collected data from student scores as well as from the ACE report to create a report that was data-informed and mission-driven. The school continues to collect and analyze student and stakeholder data to make informed decisions for the school community and the better education of its students. We are excited for our future. This year marks the beginning of an Advisory School Board which will provide advice to the pastor and principal for the governance and future of the school. With the help of this Board, the school will be able to create a strategic plan that can prepare for the school's future. The Board will also determine whether it is feasible for the school to open up a 7th and 8th grade in the upcoming years (since Bishop Byrne Middle and High School was closed). Lastly, the Board, with membership reaching out into the broader Memphis community, will be able to help continue the marketing and enrollment plan designed by ACE Consulting. For 65 years, St. Paul Catholic School been offering a strong, Catholic education to students of the southern Memphis and northern Mississippi area. We are looking forward to another 65 years! Page 6
Additional Information Provide any additional information you would like to share with the public and community that were not prompted in the previous sections. Alumni from St. Paul Catholic School can be found in every walk of life where they are spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. They frequently return to visit the school and enjoy memories of learning and playing there as well as inquire about former teachers, Sisters, coaches, and classmates. Today, St. Paul students continue to excel in academics, the fine arts, athletics, and Christian service. Daily they are challenged to use their God-given gifts and talents to positively impact their families, their school, and the world. They are able to participate in a variety of extracurricular activities and sports such as chess, service projects, choir, cheer, gardening, Science Olympiad, games, sewing, baking, fitness, volleyball, basketball, and football. In addition to the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia (the Nashville Dominicans), is unique in the dedication of its teachers, many of whom have dedicated most of their teaching career to the school, as well as the simplicity and joy of its students. We are truly blessed to be able to serve at. Page 7