Spring 2017

A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT PRIDE IN THE PACK NATIVITY JESUIT

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COVER PHOTO BY JIM MOY – Art teacher Mary Fran Murray instructs first grade scholars. Thank you to Mrs. Murray for her 14 amazing years of service to Nativity Jesuit!

“We believe in the strength and power of our Latino community to help create the strongest future for Milwaukee.”

This school year has brought many opportunities to demonstrate our theme for 2016-2017 at Nativity Jesuit Academy – L.I.F.T. – Love-Inspire-Forgive-Teach. Loving, inspiring, forgiving, and teaching are the bedrocks of a Jesuit, Catholic education and Nativity Jesuit experience. With one eye on the present and another on the future, our plans for growth are backed by the extraordinary need for more quality education in Milwaukee. Consider the most recent research on Milwaukee’s Latinos conducted by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and UW-Milwaukee Center for Economic Development:

• Metro Milwaukee’s Latino population increased by more than 213 percent between 1990 and 2014. • Growth in the number of Latino schoolchildren in the metro area accounts for all of the net growth in K-12 enrollment in the region. • At the same time, metro Milwaukee Latino students, to a greater

extent than Latino students in any of the 50 largest metro areas, attend private schools. With those numbers in mind, we remain committed to what defines and sets Nativity Jesuit Academy apart as our school’s growth continues:

• Strong, mutually-beneficial partnerships with families; • Challenging academic environment and extended school day; • Rigorous five-week residential academic summer program at the school’s Mercer campus, which is our third semester of the school year that helps to eliminate the summer slide in learning that is common for urban students; and • Comprehensive Graduate Support Program that offers extended support through high school graduation and beyond. We believe in the strength and power of our Latino community to help create the strongest future for Milwaukee. Your involvement makes a measurable, lasting impact by preparing our city’s future leaders who give back to their community and create a new cycle of hope and opportunity. The best way to see the direct impact of your support is to experience our community first-hand! We invite you to take a tour of the school and meet

our loving, joyful scholars in person.

SUSAN M. SMITH PRESIDENT

NATIVITY JESUIT’S NEWEST BOARD MEMBERS • Andres E. Gonzalez – Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer, Froedtert Health • Edward G. Kitz – Retired, Group Vice President, Legal, Risk, & Treasury, and Corp. Secretary, Roundy’s, Inc. • Stephanie Laudon – Regional Vice President, National Insurance Services • Rev. Mike Marco, S.J. – President, Marquette University High School • Andrea Scrobel – Vice President of Operations and Client Delivery, M|GROUP Holdings, Inc. • Andrew Stith – President, Cristo Rey High School Milwaukee

OUTGOING BOARD MEMBER – THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE • Thank you to Eric Fors for his great leadership on the Nativity Jesuit board.

Nativity Jesuit scholars completed their second round of Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) tests this winter. Students in K5-8th grade took adapted assessments in reading and math, 4th-8th graders were also assessed in science. This assessment is used as an interim benchmark for teachers to identify areas of growth for our scholars and create small group and individual academic intervention plans. Students will also be assessed using the MAP test in spring.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

CHAIR: John A. Mehan – Managing Director, Public Finance, Robert W. Baird & Co.

BOARD MEMBERS:Joaquin Altoro – Vice President of Commercial Banking, Town Bank Sandra Chavez – College Instructor, MATC Sandi Esquivel – Technology Research Analyst, Northwestern Mutual Andres E. Gonzalez – Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer, Froedtert HealthEdward G. Kitz – Retired, Group Vice President, Legal, Risk, & Treasury, and Corp. Secretary, Roundy’s, Inc.Stephanie Laudon – Regional Vice President, National Insurance ServicesRev. Doug Leonhardt, S.J. – Superior, Jesuits of St. CamillusFran Maloney – Assistant Principal, Marquette University High School Rev. Mike Marco, S.J. – President, Marquette University High SchoolRev. Dan McDonald, S.J. – Wisconsin Province of the Society of JesusChad Neumann – Senior Manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers Jeffrey Ruidl – Real Estate Department, Northwestern Mutual Jay Schwister – Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager, Baird Advisors Andrea Scrobel – Vice President of Operations and Client Delivery, M|GROUP Holdings, Inc.Sue Smith – President, Nativity Jesuit Academy Andrew Stith – President, Cristo Rey High School Milwaukee

EMERITI BOARD MEMBERS: Anthea (Tia) L. Bojar, Ph.D. – Dean Emerita/Consultant, Cardinal Stritch University Joseph L. Delgadillo – Consultant George J. Gaspar – Retired Managing Director, Petroleum Research, Robert W. Baird & Co. Rev. William T. Johnson, SJ – Vice President for Strategic Growth, Cristo Rey High School Milwaukee and Nativity Jesuit Co-Founder Donald W. Layden, Jr. – Partner, Quarles & Brady, LLC and Operating Partner, Baird Venture Partners and Baird Capital PartnersBob Monday – Community VolunteerDavid Murphy – Vice President for Marketing and Communication, Marquette UniversityScott A. Roberts – President and CEO, Ziegler Capital Management, LLCJohn L. Stanley – Generosity Gameplan Julie A. Tolan – VP Strategic Initiatives and Owner, LauberCFOsRobert J. Wisniewski – President & CEO, Trade Press Media Group, Inc. Michael W. Zielinski – Assistant General Counsel, Northwestern Mutual

Nativity Accelerated Reader Program (NARP): Total number of books read since the beginning of the 2016-17 school year - 1,148 books (4th through 8th grade). Through NARP, students are motivated to read independently for at least 30 minutes per day, and many go on to sign up for the annual Battle of the Books (BOB) city-wide competition that takes place in the spring.

Nativity Jesuit scholars competed in the Future City Competition at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) in January. The competition includes a computer simulated city, a research essay, a model of a city, and a group presentation. This year, the teams researched “public spaces” and how to effectively design them for the needs of the future.

ADVANCEMENT DEPARTMENT CONTACT INFO: Do you have questions or feedback about supporting Nativity Jesuit Academy? DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK ABOUT SUPPORTING NATIVITY JESUIT ACADEMY? Please contact Nativity Jesuit Advancement Director, Kyle Dlabay, at 414-645-1060 – ext. 151 or by email - dlabayk@njms.org

MEETING OUR SCHOLARS’ NEEDS THROUGH SOCIAL WORK FACULTY AND STAFF UPDATES

achieve more in order to be able to give more to her students. Students admire that she is still in school and they follow her example.”

Mary Fran and Jen will be greatly missed and we wish them good luck in their next endeavors!

STAYING IN HOUSE FOR NEW ART TEACHER

Current fifth grade teacher, Darla Erato, will assume the role of art teacher and will teach art to all of our K4-8th grade scholars, in addition to teaching another academic class during the 2017-18 school year. Darla received a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Alverno College.

NEW OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Earlier in 2017, Steve Berg was hired as full-time Operations Director. Steve was the lead designer/manager for nearly 24 years at David Frank Landscaping. He is a graduate of Marquette University High School and serves on their buildings and grounds committee. Steve brings a wealth of experience and passion for Jesuit education.

society because that is where Jesus stands, with the outcast, the overlooked, and the never-given-a-chance,” Wooters said. “We are called to invite those at the margins into the center, and those in the center go out to the margins until there is no ‘us’ and ‘them’…only ‘us’.”

Being placed at Nativity Jesuit Academy emphasizes how strongly the Jesuits feel about Nativity Jesuit’s mission and vision to educate youth for a life of Christian leadership and service. Having lived in Mexico, been a middle school teacher, and being very familiar with the various challenges that migrant communities face, Br. Matt’s educational, professional, and personal background makes him qualified for this job.

“Due to my background, my Jesuit superiors felt I was the man for the job. Lucky for me, this feels like a dream job! I get to spend all day, every day listening to, advocating for, and loving our scholars and families,” Wooters said.

As a Brother, he is able to connect with the students in a unique way, showing them a different vocation. “I have found that people feel comfortable opening up to me, in part because I am a Brother,” Wooters explained. “I see the Brother’s vocation as someone who walks beside you, and with you.”

Br. Matt’s love for God reflects so clearly in the way he engages with his work. “I feel incredibly blessed for the ways God has been good to me and this joy spills out into my life and work,” Wooters said. “A big part of my life and vocation as a Jesuit has been sharing that joy with others. We are all called to give ourselves in love, that’s what a vocation is - finding the space to give of yourself in love. I have found that place of joyfully giving of myself in love as a Jesuit, and I am delighted to join the Nativity Jesuit family.”

THANK YOU!Mary Fran Murray’s time at Nativity Jesuit dates back to the school being located at St. Patrick’s on 7th Street in 2003. She has decided that 2016-17 will be her final school year as Nativity Jesuit’s art teacher. Her impact can be most easily seen by walking the halls of Nativity Jesuit, but it goes far beyond that.

John Meuler is Nativity Jesuit’s Director of Middle School and has been a co-worker of Mary Fran since 2004. “What really stands out to me about Mary Fran is how she could gather insights about the students based on their artwork,” Meuler said. “She spent one period a week with students, and she could identify the same strengths and struggles for each student as the classroom teachers. She really got to know her students and guided them to push themselves. A Jesuit education prides itself on educating the whole person, and Mary Fran has provided Nativity Jesuit students with a high quality arts education during her time at Nativity Jesuit.”

Chris Banach has been a faculty member at Nativity Jesuit since 2006 and serves as the school’s Dean of Students. “Whenever I walk into Nativity Jesuit I am greeted by permanent art pieces that bring back a flood of memories and emotions about our previous classes,” Banach said. “Mary Fran made it her mission her to have every graduating class leave their mark on our school through her amazing art projects. Not only are they beautiful pieces that add so much to our community, but they also represent the personality of each class, the struggles and triumphs of their families, the

As Nativity Jesuit Academy continues to grow, so do the needs of the pack. To meet these needs, we are excited to welcome Br. Matt Wooters, S.J., the school’s very first social worker! Since the school has never had a full-time social worker, Br. Matt faces some unique challenges as he navigates this path for the first time. Fortunately, he is able to collaborate hand-in-hand with Chris Banach, Dean of Students, to make sure each child is cared for individually.

“As the number of students with social and emotional struggles grew, it put more and more stress on our classroom teachers and school leadership to address the needs of our students, making our need for a social worker more and more pressing,” Banach said.

Together, Banach and Br. Matt have been able to create action plans and steps for students that will hold them accountable for their behaviors and support them in developing strategies to be successful in the classroom and beyond.

Br. Matt grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. where he went to Georgetown Prep, then on to John Carroll

cultures our students come from and our shared values as a school.”

Roy Avila (Nativity Jesuit ’08) fondly remembers the impact that Mary Fran has on his life. “Mrs. Murray was awesome,” Avila recounted. “We did pottery, made huge murals, 3D construction, and made an Aztec-themed table and chairs. I remember when I graduated; she caught me in the parking lot and told me that I am very talented and that I should continue my path in art. That really touched me.”

Jennifer Gaul-Stout will finish her seventh school year at Nativity Jesuit in June and will step aside from her role to focus on pursuing her PhD at Marquette University.

“Two words come to mind when I think about Jen as a teacher: responsible and resilient,” Meuler said. “These are great qualities of a teacher who makes a big impact on her students. A teacher gets pulled in many directions on any given day, and Jen demonstrates responsibility and resiliency through it all. Jen is great at anticipating changes to the schedule and solves logistical challenges. It’s important to note that Jen has embraced the challenge of teaching math after focusing on science for many years. Lastly, Jen cares so much for her students that she became a mentor. Jen is an educator who knows how to challenge and motivate her students.”

Cynthia Camarena is Nativity Jesuit’s Office Manager and a Nativity Jesuit parent. “Jen is a very dedicated teacher,” Camarena stated. “She is always trying to

University in Ohio, where he studied Political Science and History. During his time at John Carroll, he was active in a fraternity, studied abroad in Ghana and Rome, and was even the school mascot – coincidentally also a lobo!

In order to learn how to best advocate for marginalized communities, Br. Matt went on to pursue a Master’s Degree in Social Work at Saint Louis University and graduated this past December. Also in 2016, he spent time in Guadalajara, Mexico, working with migrants. Before joining Nativity Jesuit, Br. Matt taught middle school, worked as a caseworker for people experiencing homelessness, and volunteered in rural villages in Belize for two years, leading retreats for Catholic schools.

“We Jesuits make a special emphasis to stand with those at the margins of our

NATIVITY JESUIT ALUMNI FEATURE – LUIS JIMENEZ (NAVITIY JESUIT ’10)2016-17 SCHOOL YEAR IN PICTURES

CATCHING UP WITH LUIS JIMENEZ, NATIVITY JESUIT ’10, MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL ’14, AND MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY ’18 (MAJOR - BIOELECTRICAL ENGINEERING)

Q: WHAT ARE YOU UP TO NOW?A: I am studying Bioelectrical Engineering at Marquette University on a full scholarship called the Opus Scholarship. The Opus Scholarship is for first-generation college students with high academic achievement and high community involvement. I am hoping to find an internship within my field for this summer to get some experience. Last summer I did an internship with a civil engineering geotechnical company doing construction material testing. This semester I started a new job on campus as a Research Assistant with the Engineering department and have also been a Resident Advisor in Carpenter Hall. I currently teach a confirmation program at my parish and it is something that I really enjoy, and one day I can see myself teaching. I was formed by Jesuits all over the place, from my schools to my parish, where my pastor has been a very important person in my life. The Jesuit tradition is something that I am proud of and it is a part of who I am today.

Q: WHAT IS AN IMPORTANT LESSON YOU TOOK AWAY FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE AT NATIVITY JESUIT?A: The importance of community and how to live with other people. We spent the majority of our day here. We spent so much

RELIGIOUSNativity Jesuit scholars enjoyed Catholic Schools Week especially “Dress like a Saint Day” where Saint Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) made an appearance.

OPEN TO GROWTHMarquette Basketball legend (MU ’77) Bo Ellis visited Nativity Jesuit in January and gave our students some important words of wisdom to prepare for high school, college, and beyond. He told the elementary school scholars, “If you feel confident, go for it. Don’t be afraid of being wrong.”

K4 scholars along with the Nativity Jesuit K5 and first grade classes visited Swan’s Pumpkin Farm in Franksville back in November.

SEEKING INTELLECTUAL EXCELLENCE Nativity Jesuit eighth graders competed at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) in the Future City competition in January.

Baron von Screech, a gray-phase Eastern Screech Owl from the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, visited Nativity Jesuit’s K4 scholars in November.

COMMITTED TO JUSTICE In the month of November, Nativity Jesuit Academy students came together and donated 782 pounds of food to Hunger Task Force, Inc. Hunger Task Force is a community organization that works to feed families in need during the holiday season, but also year round, serving nearly 35,000 people!

LOVINGNativity Jesuit scholars, parents, faculty, and staff came together in December to celebrate the Christmas season with a Posada. Posadas commemorate the journey that Joseph and Mary made from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of safe refuge where Mary could give birth to the baby Jesus.

time with our classmates and teachers. Coming back is always a thrill because this is my home. Moving here from Mexico with my family, we didn’t have any cousins or any family except an aunt, so establishing a community here is very important to me and to this day I still get together with my Nativity Jesuit classmates who are my best friends. We often sit down and discuss memories that are so important to us. Nativity Jesuit took community very seriously and for that I am very, very grateful. It isn’t just us, but our parents and our siblings who are embedded in this community, and the school pushes for that involvement from the parents, which is so important.

Q: WHAT DO YOU VALUE MOST?A: : Love. Caring for other people. This has been exemplified through my faith at Nativity Jesuit, in high school, and my

college experience. I try to be an example. In no way has my situation ever been easy, but knowing that there are opportunities out there and keeping your head up, knowing that there are always people who want to help you, and taking advantage of that. I try to be hope for other people. You don’t have to look very far to see the connections that this school has formed and the interconnected web of people across the city who are doing different things now, but who are always keeping Nativity Jesuit at the heart of what we remember and value the most. It is always important to have something to come back to and community does that, community here does that.

GRADUATE AT GRADUATION VALUES IN ACTION:

SAVE THE DATE: 2017 SCHOLARSHIP DINNER – OCT. 26 AT ALVERNO COLLEGE

• The 2016 Nativity Jesuit Scholarship Dinner took place October 27 at Nativity Jesuit Academy.

• Thanks to all the sponsors and attendees who helped make the event a great success.

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