Engaging Latinos to Participate in Catholic Education

1. Engaging Latinos to Participate in Catholic Education

2. 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.

3. 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?

4. 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.

5. A History of Two 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)

6. Latino Enrollment Institute • What is it? • Why is Latino enrollment important? • Purpose of the LEI • Founder of the LEI • Progress of the LEI • Can a school be flipped? • What can each of you do?

7. FLIPPING St. James & Sacred Heart • 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

8. Everyone Has an Important Role • Pastor • Principal • Teachers • Students • Other Families • Parishioners • RE Director • Secretary • Support personnel

9. Pastor • From the ambo, tells benefits of a Catholic education • Always speaks positively about the parish school in all venues • Accompanies new families on school tours with principal • Active participation in school activities • Belief that Catholic Education is an important parish ministry • Engaged, visible, and invites families to come and see

10. 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 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)

11. Principal • 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

12. 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 • 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

13. Professional Development • Command Spanish • Book Studies • ESL for students and parents • Strategies for teaching English Language Learners • Encourage Faculty sharing

14. School Secretary & Parish Staff • 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

15. Challenges • 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

16. Latino Diversity • The Latino community is made up of a diverse variety of people from different: • Countries • Races • Economic backgrounds • Education levels

17. 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 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

18. Tuition Assistance • 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

19. Work Grant • The student in grades sixth, seventh or eighth can work and receive credit • Work hour requirements vary by amount of 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

20. Welcoming New Latino Families to Your School Embracing Cultural Diversity

21. Familiar Religious Symbols

22. Familiar Religious Symbols

23. Familiar Religious Symbols

24. Cultural Celebrations • Las Posadas • Pastorela • May Crowning

25. 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!

26. Why Do We Do This?

27. Catholic Identity • 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.