St. Anthony's School Brochure
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Transcript of St. Anthony's School Brochure
HOPEA B E A c o noF
At St. Anthony School, we
don’t listen to doubts. We know there are obstacles to achieving academic excellence in urban, minority schools. And we know they can
be overcome. Our students are
living proof.
For the last four years, we’ve concentrated on finding a way to success. We are guided by our strong beliefs that a small urban school can become a leader in
excellence and that exceptional,
private education should be available to all students.
2
997 students enrolled in 2008
almost all of whom come from the
Hispanic heart of Milwaukee’s South
Side. They carry big dreams for the
future, the support of their parents
and a genuine desire to learn.
who are the backbone of all we do at St.
Anthony. They are committed each and
every day to helping students succeed in
our classrooms and in life.
– excellence in academics, excellence in
character and excellence in faith. Our
environment at St. Anthony supports
and strengthens our students’ learning
and values, helping them achieve their
fullest potential.
Others are beginning to believe, too. In
fact, so many parents are choosing St.
Anthony that our enrollment has more
than doubled in the past four years.
Our performance has established St.
Anthony School as a premier example of
how a school of choice can work. Parents
and students see us as a beacon of hope.
Walk our halls with us and find out why.
In fact, so many parents are choosing St. Anthony that our enrollemnt has more than doubled in the past four years. We are now the largest Catholic grade school in the nation.
t h E WAy
3
406 students enrolled in 2003
558 students enrolled in 2004
708 students enrolled in 2005
851 students enrolled in 2006
967 students enrolled in 2007
We believe in our students,
We believe in our teachers,
We believe in excellence
l I G h t I n G
“I love America,” says Rocio
Monreal, who moved to Milwaukee
from Mexico with her family.
“It’s nice and big.” Thanks
to St. Anthony’s rigorous reading
program, students like Rocio, who
have a
predominantly
non-English
speaking
background,
are now
reading at
or above
the national
standard.
U n c o m m o n Expectations, Uncommon Results
4
22%
35%
55%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
New Student One Year More Than OneYear
Number of Years at St. Anthony
3rd Grade 2006 WKCE* Reading Proficient & Advanced
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
New Student One Year More Than OneYear
Number of Years at St. Anthony
8th Grade 2006 WKCE Reading Proficient & Advanced
28 27 2834
27 28
45 46
35
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Grade 1
Nat
iona
l Per
cent
ile a
tth
e M
ean
NC
E
Grade 2 Grade 3
2005
2006
2007
20%
31%
68%
When comparing new third grade students with those who have been at St. Anthony School since first grade, the percentage of students scoring in proficient and advanced categories on the state exam improves from approximately 2 in 10 students (20 percent) to nearly 6 in 10 (60 percent).
The percentage of eighth grade students who have attended St. Anthony more than one year and who score in proficient and advanced categories is more than triple that of new eighth graders.
When Francisco and Maria Orozco
started at St. Anthony School five
years ago, they both struggled in
math and reading. Their mother,
Eva, was concerned that they were
behind. After a short time at St.
Anthony, she noticed a dramatic
improvement. “Francisco
suddenly started reading,”
she said. “Things are done
correctly here.”
St. Anthony seeks out the top experts in the country to design and implement research-based, proven instructional methodologies. We use many of the same materials and programs as elite and
nationally-recognized academic powerhouses. We also have in-house expertise to constantly monitor achievement. Our philosophy of process improvement guides all our academic decisions.
*Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam
These are just some of the
qualities we give our stu-
dents. What we’re really giving
them is a future. Our goal is to pre-pare students for the next phase in their lives. The knowledge and character that our students carry with them will equip them to meet tomorrow’s chal-lenges and take hold of tomorrow’s opportunities. We know we’ve done our job when our students are academically qualified to attend the high school of their choice and mature enough to step out into life. We give them
the founda-tion they need to chase their dreams.
When reading out loud, our students use a “Tracking and Tapping” method. We ask them to trace their fingers under each word as they read. Two finger taps indicate a period, one tap indicates a comma. Whether our students are in kindergarten or eighth grade, they continue to employ this method. It builds their confidence and skills, and lets teachers know who’s engaged and who isn’t.
EXCELLENCEA B E A c o noF
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22%
35%
55%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
New Student One Year More Than OneYear
Number of Years at St. Anthony
3rd Grade 2006 WKCE* Reading Proficient & Advanced
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
New Student One Year More Than OneYear
Number of Years at St. Anthony
8th Grade 2006 WKCE Reading Proficient & Advanced
28 27 2834
27 28
45 46
35
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Grade 1
Natio
nal Pe
rcen
tile
at
the
Mea
n N
CE
Grade 2 Grade 3
2005
2006
2007
20%
31%
68%
Reading comprehension for grade 1 improved from only 28 percent to nearly the national average, 50 percent, in one academic year based on federal testing scores.
Reading vocabulary also improved from 30 percent to almost the national average in one year.
Reading First Outcome Measures Grade Level Analysis Reading Comprehension
Parents have recognized St. Anthony’s outstanding improvement in academic performance over the past few years, and have rewarded us by entrusting more and more of their children to our school. That these academic improvements are being achieved with a student population which has a significant number of households headed by parents for whom English is a second language, makes St. Anthony’s success that much more noteworthy.
Our teachers fondly refer to our Core
Knowledge curriculum as a “back-
to-basics, no fluff” approach to
learning. It is:
Solid – Our core learning includes history,
geography, science, and literature.
Sequenced – We follow an established
sequence for all subjects. As students prog-
ress through the curriculum, teachers create
in-depth lessons that build upon the accumu-
lated knowledge of previous grade levels.
Specific – The curriculum focuses on
content and facts. We teach our students the
big picture—not only what happened, but
why it happened.
Shared – Our curriculum is intentionally
designed to help increase cultural awareness.
As early as first grade, students begin study-
ing topics like ancient Egypt—topics that
expand their worlds.
For reading, math, spelling and writing, St.
Anthony uses Direct Instruction, a structured
approach that relies on teachers to engage
students in highly-interactive learning.
The primary focus of our curriculum is reading.
Without the ability to read our students will
struggle in every area. So we are committed to
help them achieve standard reading levels. Our
intensive program involves more than 90 min-
utes of reading a day. Teachers coach students
at their individual reading levels.
t h e M e r i t s o f h a r d W o r k
6
English in a FlashSt. Anthony is an English Immersion environment. We don’t teach English as a language class. Instead, our approach immerses students in the language. Everything from lessons to lunchroom conversation is conducted in English. Our “English in a Flash” program teaches students the language by showing words paired with images. Using this visual method 15 minutes a day, students quickly learn phrases and meanings
A Day in the Life…
Students learn about art history first-
hand by studying classical paintings
in our halls.
Library and classroom books are labeled by
reading level so students can choose appro-
priately. Math is another important focus
at St. Anthony. As in reading, students are
grouped by ability, not by age or grade. From
beginning math facts to advanced algebra,
our students learn content and computation.
We help our students succeed through
frequent testing. For math and reading,
our faculty record the number of students
who score below 85% on any given test. The
teacher reviews specific course material with
those students. If a majority of the class is
below 85%, our teachers repeat the lesson
until students reach the
85% standard.
This approach means
our students succeed
at their own ability
level and make constant
progress at their
own pace.
“The kids are so excited about this program. One of my students quizzed on five books in one day.”
Mary Budiac, third grade teacher“I love school,” says Alejandro
LaBoy, a third grader at St. Anthony.
“I really like tests. They’re
pretty easy for me.” He also
doesn’t mind
doing his
homework
each night.
In fact, his
favorite as-
signment was
to name a
bird for every letter of the alphabet.
Alejandro dug out his grandmother’s
dictionary and went to work. The only
letter he missed was “Z.”
SCHOLARSHIP
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Books Our Students Read
4th Grade Gullivers’ TravelsRobinson Crusoe
6th GradeThe OdysseyJulius Caesar
8th GradeThe Good EarthTwelfth Night
A B E A c o noF
“St. Anthony is an excellent
school. There’s a lot of
feedback, involvement and
charity,” says Blanca Ojeda,
whose daughters attend St. Anthony.
She originally chose the school
because of its Catholic curriculum
and is proud that her daughters both
act as servers at weekly Mass.
A c u l t u r e t i e d t o c h a r a c t e r
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At St. Anthony, we don’t just teach students about faith, we help them
live it. Christian morals and values are woven into the actions of our teachers, students and staff. It’s part of who we are.
“At St. Anthony, I know that
the high expectations and
structure we have at home are
shared at the school.”
St. Anthony Parent
Every classroom, every subject provides an opportunity to demonstrate Christian belief. We challenge students to apply ethics when analyzing history. We set the foundation for them to exercise their best judgment of right and wrong based on the faith.
We approach our catechism classes the way we approach the rest of our learning – no fluff. Our students gain authentic knowledge of the people and places that have shaped the Catholic faith. This common faith builds a sense of commu-nity at St. Anthony. Students and faculty celebrate Mass and say the Rosary to-gether several times each week. We pray together at least three times a day, and we rejoice together in celebrating the great feasts of the universal Church.
Our students also strengthen their virtue through classroom activities and interac-tion. We create a safe, orderly environ-ment that complements excellence and builds character by encouraging fairness, respect and personal responsibility. Our classrooms are organized and disci-plined. We promote active participation to keep students involved in their work.
Teachers have high-expectations of students and play an active role in their character formation. They really get to know their students and seek to un-derstand their life circumstances. As a community we strive to support each student’s academic, spiritual and emo-tional growth.
INTEGRITY
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“…Kids need presence and consistency. They appreciate the routine. I took a room of students and just clicked with them. They felt secure with me, and we developed trust.”
Jeanne Barbatti, fourth grade
A B E A c o noF
“This is an amazing school to
see and be a part of. A teacher
wouldn’t get this type of support
elsewhere. The teaching coaches are
unbelievable. They offer professional
guidance and personal support.”
Dan Garvey, fifth grade
We’re proud of our teachers and their dedication to students.
Our staff invest in our program, and their investment shows in student progress. In return, St. Anthony invests in and supports our teachers through ongoing coaching and training.
New teachers find the support they need to thrive. Before they start in a classroom, we engage them in a two-week training program that
introduces them to St. Anthony’s unique approach and teaching methods.
Once a month, coaches observe our classrooms and provide teachers with constructive criticism. This process helps our teachers continue to grow as they learn and adapt new techniques. We also support teachers by offering merit pay. When students excel, our teachers are rewarded.
I n v e s t m e n t s i n l e a r n i n g
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Tyler Do wants to live life in the fast
lane—as a car designer. The eighth
grader plans to study engineering
in college. He knows St. Anthony is
helping him prepare. “They made
me a better student,” he says.
“Their rules are fair and the
teachers care about students.”
These are just some of the
qualities we give our stu-
dents. What we’re really giving
them is a future. Our goal is to pre-pare students for the next phase in their lives. The knowledge and character that our students carry with them will equip them to meet tomorrow’s chal-lenges and take hold of tomorrow’s opportunities. We know we’ve done our job when our students are academically qualified to attend the high school of their choice and mature enough to step out into life. We give them
the founda-tion they need to chase their dreams.
12
c h a r a c t e r . c o n v i c t i o n . c o n f i d e n c e . . .
At St. Anthony, we rely on each other for support. We have cultivated a culture of
camaraderie. Teachers view one another not just as colleagues, but also as friends. We
are united in our desire to find better ways to help our students succeed, whether it’s
reading a test aloud to a student who recently learned English or forming an after-
school homework club.
LEADERSHIP
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“The teachers listen, and they care about your education and your life. At my old school, the teachers didn’t care as much. Here, the teachers are stuck to you. I have much more respect for my teachers because they respect me.”
Montaha Sarsour, eighth grade student
“I never thought I’d work in the city. Now I
don’t ever see myself leaving.”
Beth Bergan, K5
“I feel like this is what I am supposed to be doing.
I want to come to school each morning. This is the
most rewarding job in the world.”
Mary Budiac, third grade
A B E A c o noF
Miguel Rodriguez dreams in color. At least, he does when he’s drawing
anime, a detailed style of comic-book animation. When he graduates from
St. Anthony, he has his sights set on high school, then a four-year college
where he can study 3D animation, astronomy
and anatomy. Think that’s ambitious? Miguel
also is teaching himself to play piano and speak
Japanese. “St. Anthony is safer than my
old school,” he says. “The teachers here
are more concerned about how you’re
doing. It helps me practice my religion,
too. That’s important to my family.”
Montaha Sarsour loves the spotlight. In eighth grade, she played the narrator
in St. Anthony’s production of the musical “Into the Woods.” “I wanted to show
people what I’m made of,” she says. On top of her love for acting, Montaha is
making plans to attend Harvard after high school. She hopes to study business
and management so she can become a lawyer
or maybe even a judge. “I like the structure
of St. Anthony,” she says. “When I’m in
uniform, I can concentrate on school work,
because everyone is doing the same. The
lessons have made me a better reader,
and I’ve made a lot of friends here.”
FUTURE
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A B E A c o noF thE
t h e Wa y to to m o r r o w
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At St. Anthony, our dedication to excellence guides all we do.
While many schools follow trends, we follow a content-rich, traditional curriculum delivered by instructional methods that keep the focus on learning. Our students’ knowledge-base, understanding and advancement demonstrate the value of our approach.
As we continue to help our students achieve all they can, we continue to enhance our core subjects by constantly evaluating our approach. For example, we instituted a program that increased student interest in reading and resulted in a year-long, school-wide total of 50,000 books read. Students in our English Language Learners program also experience excellent results from our ongoing efforts to help them perfect their speaking fluency.
St. Anthony shines as a beacon of hope, a promise of what tomorrow can be. For every
heart we touch, for every young mind we form, for every soul we nurture, we trust in God’s divine guidance and build on our proven record.
We set before our students a pathway to excellence. It is illuminated by our desire to ignite within them a love for learning and a commitment to character. Along our journey, there are many opportunities for involvement, support, and giving.
PROMISE
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Terry Brown
PresidentDave Tomasiewicz
Director of DevelopmentRamon Cruz
PrincipalHolly Cerveny
Associate Principal
Fr. Anthony Cirignani O.F.M
Pastor
A B E A c o noF
Won’t you help us continue to
light the way?
5th Street Campus1669 S. 5th St.
Milwaukee WI. 53204Phone: (414) 384-1729
Fax: (414) 384-1731
9th Street Campus1747 S. 9th St.
Milwaukee WI. 53204Phone: (414) 384-1730
Fax: (414) 384-1733
Administrative Offices– Francis Hall1727 S. 9th St.
Milwaukee WI 53204Phone: (414) 384-6612
Fax: (414) 384-6613
S t. A n t h o n y S c h o o l