ARCHDIOCESE HIGHLIGHTS INNOVATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK
January 29, 2018  |  By:   |  Press Releases  |  

Expanded Dual Language Immersion Program, State of Schools Report, and Community Survey Launch this Week

This week, nearly 80,000 students, from transitional kindergarten (TK) to 12th grade, in 266 schools across the tri-county Archdiocese (Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties) will celebrate National Catholic Schools Week. Established more than 100 years ago, Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles provide faith-based education where students receive tools for success in college and in their future careers focused on a commitment to service to their local and global communities.

“Catholic schools are transforming student lives on a daily basis in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Our vision of growth compels us to ensure that we educate each student to his or her full potential in all areas of human development,” said Dr. Kevin Baxter, Senior Director and Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese. “We are extremely proud of our academic success with students, but we are equally proud of the quality adults that our students become as they live lives of faith and service.”

The first Catholic schools in the United States were innovative responses to the growing diversity of a new country.

Today, the Archdiocese is announcing that St. Patrick School in North Hollywood and St. Joseph School in Pomona are joining the growing number of established dual language immersion (DLI) schools in the Archdiocese.

Archbishop José H. Gomez visited St. Paul School in Mid-City Los Angeles today for Mass and activities with the TK and kindergarten classes. Last year, St. Paul joined the growing roster of DLI schools in the Archdiocese, which aims to educate children to become biliterate, mastering core academic content and skills in two languages, and develop strong moral character based in Catholic faith.

DLI is an additive response to the needs of diverse, multilingual communities from across the Archdiocese, where 224 languages and dialects are spoken. All Souls in Alhambra, St. Sebastian in West Los Angeles and St. Matthias in Huntington Park, St. Alphonsus in East Los Angeles and St. Paul in Los Angeles have established Spanish/English DLI programs. All Souls is the only Catholic school in the Country offering two language tracts in Mandarin and Spanish. This video illustrates All Souls innovative approach to DLI, youtube.com/watch?v=podvps-g0pc.

“We are thrilled to have both St. Patrick and St. Joseph join our ADLA Dual Language Immersion Network of schools and excited for the families and students in North Hollywood and Pomona who will be served by these two schools,” said Dr. Susan Abelein, Associate Superintendent Leadership, Innovation & Growth for the Archdiocese.

The State of Our Schools report, released today by the Archdiocese Department of Catholic Schools, found that TK programs have nearly tripled since 2012 growing from 46 TK programs to 157 TK programs today serving 2,928 students. The report also found that the cost to educate each student in Archdiocesan schools is half the cost compared to Los Angeles public schools. Eighty-five percent of students enroll into college immediately after graduation of an Archdiocesan high school. For the complete report visit limitless.lacatholicschools.org/.

The State of Our Schools website limitless.lacatholicschools.org also features a new online survey launching on Wednesday to collect feedback from the community about what is most important in Catholic education for their families.

The State of Our Schools reported that the Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) is providing $11,570,000 in tuition assistance to 6,506 elementary school students and 2,462 high school students for the 2017-2018 school year. The Archdiocese established CEF 31 years ago to make Catholic education a possibility for all families by providing tuition assistance to the most financially deserving students. Students receiving CEF assistance have a graduation rate of 98 percent and a college attendance rate of 98 percent. Fulbright scholar and former CEF recipient Albert Lopez, credits his Catholic education in helping him achieve his goals. He shares his story this video, https://www.facebook.com/catholicedla/videos/10155697118311998/.

In celebration of Catholic Schools Week, Archdiocesan schools are hosting special events and service projects throughout the week (media are invited to cover the following events). For a list of all events, visit http://lacatholicschools.org/catholicschoolsweek

• St. Joseph School will be joined by Pomona Catholic Middle School and St. Madeleine School to host a Mass on Monday, January 29 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Parish in Pomona (1150 W. Holt Ave. 91768)
• St. Joseph the Worker School (19812 Cantlay St., Winnetka, CA 91306) – will celebrate Community Appreciation Day on Wednesday, January 31. A boys’ basketball tournament will be held from February 8-11.
• St. Louis de Montfort (5095 Harp Road, Santa Maria 93455) will hold a school assembly with first responders on Thursday, February 1. At 8:00 a.m., school officials and students will present first responders with Thank You cards and posters, followed by a question and answer session with students at 8:30 a.m. at the school’s parking lot where first responders’ vehicles will be on display.
• Junípero Serra High School (14830 Van Ness Ave. Gardena, CA 90249-3799) will hold a special Adoration from 11a.m. to noon in the school’s gymnasium on Thursday, February 1.
• St. Catherine of Siena School (18125 Sherman Way, Reseda 91335) – Family picnic at the school on Friday, February 2 from noon (12:00 p.m.) to 1:00 p.m.
• St. Anthony High School (620 Olive Avenue Long Beach, CA 90802) students will volunteer with Habitat for Humanity on Friday, February 2 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Catholic schools in the Archdiocese are communities of faith in which the Christian message — with its fellowship, worship, and life of service — is integrated into a comprehensive experience for students, their parents and the members of the school staff. The system began in 1903 with 19 parochial schools, five academies, and a total enrollment of 2,895. Currently, nearly 80,000 students, from TK to 12th grade, are enrolled at 266 schools across the tri-county Archdiocese (Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara) – making it the largest Catholic school system in the country.

For more information about Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, visit lacatholicschools.org.

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