ST. MICHAEL CAPITAL CAMPAIGN Fifty years ago, St. Michael Special School opened its doors to 275 students from throughout the Greater New Orleans area. These students were placed regardless of race or creed, but instead on the individual needs of each child. The mission of Archbishop John P. Cody and Sr. M. Lillian McCormack, SSND, continues to fill the halls with joyful learning. As the campus grows and expands, St. Michael cherishes its benefactors by remembering the words of Sr. Lillian... Friends abound. We are blessed!
ST. MICHAEL CAPITAL CAMPAIGN Dear Friend: As we continue to celebrate our 50th year of educating students, we focus on what makes St. Michael Special School a truly exceptional place. We are the only school in the metro New Orleans area with a student population made up entirely of children with a broad range of special needs. This unique setting provides an environment where instruction is based on individual student needs rather than predetermined standards. Students are challenged to reach their full potential in a safe environment, while growing in faith and participating in a variety of inclusion activities through the Community Integration program. One needs to look no further than the school itself to see, first hand, that this model works. Your support makes St. Michael possible. For the past 50 years, generous donors like you have been the key to the school s success making it possible to provide special needs children the education they deserve. This year, we are asking for your help once again. We are excited to announce plans to renovate the historic convent on our main campus. Plans include a chapel where mass can be celebrated daily, a state of the art music room, and an updated technology lab. Join us in making this historic convent, chosen by Blessed Teresa of Calcutta in 1976 as her place of lodging, a continued blessing for the children of St. Michael Special School. Enclosed you will find additional information. We would be honored to speak with you in person about our special school and the opportunity to invest in this New Orleans treasure. We will be in touch, and together we can make this worthwhile dream a reality. Thank you for your consideration. Honorary Chairpersons The Most Rev. Gregory M. Aymond Emeril Lagasse Mrs. Maurice J. Hartson III Chairpersons Maureen and Whit Huguley Gary N. Solomon Campaign Committee Lori Babin Shari and Gregg Barrios Mark Barrios Georgine and Hank Bienert Fr. Clayton Beau Charbonnet Patricia and Ralph Cox Karen and Quinn Eagan Mary Lucy and David Lane Delery Rice Lori and Mike Rodrigue Gail and Damien Serauskas Dianne and C. Taylor Walet, Jr. Kathy and Joe Wink III Principal Tish Sauerhoff Advisory Board Jackie Cutrone Raymonda Dennis Joseph Exnicios Randy King Ferd Lorio Bryan Reuter Paul Reuter Glenn Scorsone Sincerely, Tish Sauerhoff Principal Gary Solomon Campaign Chair Maureen Huguley Campaign Chair St. Michael Special School 1522 Chippewa Street New Orleans, LA 70130 504.524.7285 FAX 504.524.5883
BLESSED TERESA The Blessed Teresa Connection Taken from The Clarion Herald In the summer of 1976, when Mother Teresa of Calcutta was looking for a place to spend the night in New Orleans during her Bicentennial trip to the United States, she requested lodging that would offer not only a room in which to sleep, but that had an adoration chapel where she could spend time in prayer. Sr. Lillian McCormack of the School Sisters of Notre Dame told Mother Teresa she had just the place at St. Michael on the Chippewa Street campus, and she gratefully accepted her offer. Pictured: Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Sister Lillian in 1976 Now bearing the name of its special visitor from 1976, the chapel - a large space dominated by statues of St. Michael the Archangel and the Blessed Mother - is visited by every St. Michael student for 10 to 15 minutes every school day for prayer and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. They re very devout children. There s not a lot that we have to teach them, in terms of prayers, said Becky Francioni, school administrator. They have their own sincere relationship with the Blessed Mother, Jesus and God, and they actually teach us. They re dear, dear. Sr. Lillian bought a sweater to give Mother Teresa as a gift to commemorate her visit to New Orleans. When she opened it, Mother thanked Sr. Lillian, and handed the sweater back to her, telling Sister that she already had one and to please give it to someone who doesn t have a sweater. The beatification of Mother Teresa was conducted October 19, 2003 by Pope John Paul II, thereby adding Blessed to her title. Beatification is a necessary step on the path to sainthood in the Catholic Church.
MISSION & FAQs MISSION STATEMENT The primary mission of St. Michael Special School is to provide students with special educational needs opportunities to develop their Catholic faith and to receive a high quality education including religious, academic, social, vocational, and physical training. FAQs How long has St. Michael been educating the children of New Orleans? St. Michael is currently celebrating its 50th year of providing an ungraded individualized academic curriculum to the special children of Greater New Orleans. St. Michael is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Louisiana Department of Education. Who founded the school? The Archdiocese of New Orleans, under the leadership of the Most Reverend John P. Cody, saw the need to bring special education to the forefront of the city of New Orleans. Archbishop Cody called upon Sr. M. Lillian McCormack, SSND, to work towards this goal. When St. Michael opened its doors to students in 1965, it was the first fully integrated school (both students and staff) in the Greater New Orleans area. How many students have attended St. Michael? Since opening its doors, St. Michael has educated over 6,000 special needs students. Today, the school serves children as early as age 6. What disabilities are served at St. Michael? St. Michael serves children with mild to moderate special educational needs. The school does not focus on any one disability, but rather the needs of each individual student. What geographical regions are the students from? Families from throughout the Greater New Orleans area send their children to St. Michael, including 50 zip codes and 9 civil parishes.
NAMING RIGHTS Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Chapel $500,000 Stained Glass Window 2 Available $50,000 each Confessional $20,000 Sacristy $20,000 Bottom Gallery $20,000 CHAPEL Baptismal Font $15,000 Prayer Garden $12,500 Top Gallery/Balcony $10,000 Stations of the Cross 14 Available $7,500 each Pews 10 Available $5,000 Entry to be named for Deacon Maurice J. Bubby Hartson III Music Classroom $150,000 Technology Center $100,000 Conference Room $150,000 BUILDING Business Center $10,000 Business Office $10,000 Historic Grand Stairwell $10,000
DONATIONS DONATION PAYMENTS Checks made payable to St. Michael Special School may be mailed directly to the school. Please make a notation of Capital Campaign on the check. STOCK INFORMATION St. Michael Special School does accept donations of stock towards our capital campaign. Donations are to be made through: Catholic Foundation 1000 Howard Avenue New Orleans, LA 70113 Stock is sold through Schwab & Company Account Number: 87663705 DTC: 0164 Tax ID: #72-0840256 Please contact St. Michael with the following information: Name of person making the donation, number of shares and the name of the stock. St. Michael Special School 1522 Chippewa Street New Orleans, LA 70130 PHONE 504.524.7285 FAX 504.524.5883 stmichspecial@archdiocese-no.org
FIRST FLOOR TECHNOLOGY LAB ST. MICHAEL CAPITAL CAMPAIGN HOLLY & SMITH ARCHITECTS, APAC 2 0 8 N O R T H C A T E S T R E E T HAMMOND, LOUISIANA 70401 TEL 985.345.5210 / FAX 985.342.5297
HOLLY & SMITH ARCHITECTS, APAC 2 0 8 N O R T H C A T E S T R E E T HAMMOND, LOUISIANA 70401 TEL 985.345.5210 / FAX 985.342.5297 ST. MICHAEL SECOND FLOOR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN