Faith Forward Findings

 

Faith Forward is the result of a strategic planning process to strengthen Catholic education and address trends affecting our schools.

 

-- The Aurora-area schools have not been immune to the declining enrollments affecting schools throughout the Diocese and nation.

 

-- The schools are not within the minimum ranges for school enrollment, parish subsidy and tuition to sustain long-term viability and provide the world-class education the students deserve.

 

-- The Faith Forward Strategic Plan has provided the information we need to reevaluate our schools and develop a plan to address the immediate and long-term needs for the future of Catholic education in Aurora.

 

Structure and Support

 

-- Seven parishes are supporting Pope St. John Paul II Catholic Academy including Our Lady of Good Counsel, St. Joseph, St. Therese of Jesus, St. Peter, Sacred Heart, St. Nicholas and St. Mary.

 

-- Both the north and south campuses will offer pre-kindergarten through eighth grade classes, allowing families to keep their children in the same building.

 

-- Parents can choose to send their children to either campus.

 

-- Both campuses will share a curriculum, ensuring consistency across both locations.

 

-- Both campuses will share the school’s colors, mascot and uniforms, which will be decided with involvement from students and families.

 

-- Campuses will come together for all major school events such as Mass and Catholic Schools Week activities. (Schools will begin to identify opportunities for collaboration this year to make the transition easier for students).

 

Tuition and Financial Aid

 

Tuition for the new school will be:

 

-- Single student: $3,600 tuition fee, $100 non-refundable registration fee and a $150 books and materials fee;

 

-- Two students: $6,200 tuition fee, $200 non-refundable registration fee and a $300 books and materials fee; or

 

-- Three or more students: $7,800 tuition fee, $300 non-refundable registration fee and a $450 books and materials fee.

 

-- Scholarships and financial aid programs will be available and information on how to apply will be available soon.

 

-- Students in the new school will be eligible to apply for the new “Invest in Kids Act” Illinois tax credit scholarship. The application process was scheduled  to open Jan. 31, 2018 at 12 noon and can be completed online at www.empowerillinois.org.

 

Curriculum

 

There will be a new curriculum for the new school, including:

 

-- Enhanced spiritual growth and guidance to build a strong Catholic foundation for our students.

 

-- Support for English Language Learners (ELL)

 

-- Personalized learning plans to customize the experience for each student.

 

-- Global curriculum with a focus on social justice, environmental concerns, traditions, customs, religions and economic structures.

 

-- An expansion into new world languages (including Spanish), guest speakers and travel opportunities.

 

-- Specialized classrooms such as a Discovery Lab, which provides opportunities for Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts and Math (STREAM) learning and hands on experiences, and a Resource Lab staffed with teachers to challenge and support academic growth for both the advanced and struggling learner.

 

-- Leveraging technologies for learning, including 24/7 resources like MyOn, an electronic library providing reading measurement and assessment, and MobyMax, an electronic platform for math and language development.

 

In addition to the new curriculum, the new school will offer enhanced extra-curricular options and opportunities for parental involvement.

 

School Administration

 

-- Pope St. John Paul II Catholic Academy will have two administrators — a Head of School and a Principal — who will rotate between the two campuses and share responsibilities. Each campus will also have a lead teacher to support the administration.

 

-- The diocese is in the hiring process for the administrative and lead teacher positions.