WISH LIST
Notre Dame Middle School (NDMS) is dedicated to empowering at-risk, young women to overcome socio-economic obstacles and to pursue lifelong learning, leadership, and services to our community. NDMS is based on a model of intensive academic preparation with small classes, individual and group tutoring, and an extended day with mandatory after-school programming of study and enrichment activities. Our programs works! Defying local and national statistics, 96% of students residing in Milwaukee graduate high school and 76% go on to college.
This accomplishment is made possible by our student’s self-determination, their parent’s commitment to their education; our dedicated teachers and staff; the generous time commitment of our volunteers and community financial support. Below please find NDMS’ wish list.
NDMS GENERAL SUPPORT
Adopt-A-Student
$ 8,384 per student for one year
$33,536 per 5th grader for 4 years
$40,172 per 5th grader for 4 years plus
4 years of graduate support program
services
(Choice reimbursement subtracted)
All NDMS students are required to participate in a full day of school that includes our mandatory after-school program. Students arrive between 7:00-7:50 am and leave at 6:00pm Monday –Thursday and at 3:30 on Fridays. The students receive a comprehensive education that focuses on enhancing their English comprehension so that by the time they graduate 8th grade they are prepared for a college preparatory high school. The students continue their relationship with NDMS through high school and beyond with their participation in our Graduate Support Program. ‘Adopting-a-student’ would underwrite the costs of providing small classes sizes, after-school and related programming for 1 student for a year, through middle school or into college.
Adopt-A-Class
$251,525 per class for one year
$1,006,100 for the 5th grade class for 4 years
$1,205,180 for the 5th grade class for 4
years plus 4 years of graduate support program services
(Choice reimbursement subtracted)
‘Adopting-a-class’ is similar to a student just expanding the scope to include a whole class. You would be assuring our students have the best educational opportunities through 1 year, their middle school years and possibility even into college.
New Reading Initiative
$86,000 for year one
$61,000 going forward
A majority of our students arrive at NDMS below grade level. Principal, Sr. Jean Ellman and the teaching staff are beginning to implement a multi-dimensional initiative to address this critical issue. . All grades are utilizing new reading and spelling programs. New phonics programs are being utilized for the 5th and 6th graders and the 7th and 8th graders. With direct supervision from Sr. Jean, two Urban Fellows were hired to work in small groups with our students most in need of specialize reading and language development support. All of our class (math, arts, sciences included) work on vocabulary development and comprehension. Additionally, this year NDMS tested a 4 week half-day summer school program for 55 students in need. It was a successful venture. Going forward all in coming 5th graders will be required to join current NDMS students in summer school. Other activities include further professional development with a focus on teaching English as a second language, encouraging reading through accelerator reading, participation in Battle of the Books, more library time, and other actions. Initially, the funds will be used for purchasing new supplies related to the curriculum development and the additional staff. Going forward, the costs represent continuing with the additional staff, professional development, summer school and related costs.
Classroom Fund
$7,500 per year
Seed a fund to be used for classroom upgrades. Our teachers would make requests to the Principal for improvements to the classroom that would directly impact their ability to teach. Examples include requesting new microscopes for the science lab, a new typing program for the computer lab, or a new world map for the social studies room. It could also be used for requests to underwrite educational field trips such as the art class visiting the museum or the science class exploring a nature center. All teachers will be able to utilize the fund as needed. Would the $7500 cover all classrooms – Is it allocated per classrooms? How many classrooms?
GRADUATE SUPPORT PROGRAM
Starting in 8th grade, NDMS works with students and parents to identify the high school that would best fit their needs and interests. Seminars are provided on financial aid and information is shared on community scholarships. The Director works with students throughout the application process. Ideally, most students will attend a local Catholic college preparatory high school. While in high school students grades are monitored and many return to NDMS for evening study hall, tutoring and/or mentoring. Other programs include college exploration, social outings, community service and emotional support. The Director is available to help students with any problems they may be having. If needed, transportation form the high school to Notre Dame is provided. The Director will work with the graduates to provide assistance during the college application experience including assisting with financial aid process. NDMS also has a high school scholarship program for students in need.
High School Scholarships Fund
$80,000 for this school year
Future: Grow fund to provide more partial or full scholarships
NDMS provides scholarships to students in need to attend local private Catholic High Schools. The scholarship allocation is based on a matrix that assesses financial need, existing scholarship, GPA, family income, number of family members and special circumstances. All parents contribute toward their children’s education. This is a growing need since many of the private high schools are giving fewer scholarships and other students must rely on a lottery for Choice funds. In 2008-2009, NDMS allocated $80,000 for partial high school scholarships. It is our goals to increase amount of scholarships we can offer our students to assure all students have the ability to attend the private college preparatory high school of their choice.
Study Hall & Academic Support
$10,000 per year
NDMS provides a study hall for our high school students 4 nights a week from 3:30pm-6:30pm. The attendance ranges between 15-25 students nightly. Students can work quietly or together on group projects. Tutoring is also available. We are in need of extra laptop computers for the girls to use ($1,000 per computer w/ software). Healthy snacks are provided. Our Director of Graduate Support and other staff members are available during this time to assist with other high school issues too. This cost includes a portion od the salaries of the two staff members that manage and tutor the girls during the study hall. For $10,000 what else is this spent on?
Career, Character Building & College Exploration
$6,000 per year
Through the program, NDMS continually encourages our student to develop life-long career and personal goals. This includes exploring various local and regional options for college and other post secondary education. NDMS will
School Supply Fund
$5,000 per year Many of our students and families struggle to pay for necessary school supplies that include books (average $400 per year per student), uniforms (average $150 per year per student), graphing calculators ($90), jump drives and other items. We assist with these necessary items.
AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
All 121 students are required to participate in the After-School Enrichment Program. It is comprised of an enrichment activity and study hall. The enrichment activities are divided into 3 sessions throughout the year and each evening students are divided into approx. 8-10 activities. All students must participate in at least one team sport during the year and have a physical fitness activity each session. Programs include yoga, dance, cooking, sewing, math club, museum exploration, clay works, mentoring, volleyball, soccer, tennis, water aerobics, movie club, sacraments, science club and many more.
Programming Expenses
$5,000 per year
NDMS pays for many of the programs that our students participate in including, but not limited to, First Stage Theater, Pearls for Teen Girls, Red Cross Babysitting Certification, Mad Hot Milwaukee Ballroom, READY, and various recreational sporting league fees.
Healthy Snacks
$1,500 per year
Hunger is an issue for some of our students. As part of the after-school program we provide a nutritious evening snack.
Summer Camps
$100 per student
$12,200 for the whole school
Realizing the need to keep our students active and engaged during the summer months, NDMS helps students and parents with the summer camp application process and will pay for the camp. Additionally, we provide daily transportation.
General After-School Uniforms
$75 per student or$ 9,150 for the whole school
Each student is required to have an after-school uniform that consists of a shirt, shorts, sweatpants and a sweatshirt. Additionally, NDMS would like every child to have a pair of athletic shoes. As the students move into the formalized physical fitness program it will become increasingly important for our students to have the proper athletic shoes to assure a safe experience. Many of our parents cannot afford the athletic shoes.
CAPITAL EXPENSES
New Van
$25,000
NDMS utilizes 3 vans (1 mini and 2 ten-passenger) to drive our students to and from various activities throughout the school day, summer, weekends and in the evening for after-school enrichment and graduate support programs. We need a new mini-van.
Technology Upgrades
$3,500 per year
As our computers and related items continue to age out, there is a constant need to replace several computers per year. The computers are used in the computer lab, classrooms, offices and graduate support area to facilitate the completion of our graduate’s homework.
Updated Kitchen
ongoing
NDMS’s kitchen is in need of modernization. Breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack are served daily. Additionally, the kitchen is used for evening activities. Commercial quality appliances (oven, stoves, freezer, refrigerator, etc) would enable NDMS to cook more food onsite and provide more efficiency in our food service. Also, new appliances would provide great energy savings. Additionally, NDMS welcomes commercial size pots, pans, serving items, warmers, etc.
GENERAL NEED
Operating Support
$10,000
NDMS is in need of general operating support that would assist with the cost of the day-to-day operations that include increasing costs to heat our building, administrative support and special evening programming for parents and students (family connection series, school fair, parent meetings, holiday celebrations, variety show, etc.) and related items.
Emergency Fund
$5,000 per year
To seed a small fund to be used for students’ needs. For example this year 5 students’ families did not have funds to purchase uniforms which include skirts, shirts, a pair of pants, sweater, knee socks and black shoes. This fund could also be used to cover other misc. school/program expenses (field trips, special programming, etc.) for students whose families are struggling.
Physical Fitness
$1,500 per year
NDMS is working hard to instill a sense of enjoyment of physical fitness activities in our students that will last a lifetime. In addition to our new gym, we have added a formal physical fitness curriculum to the school day and are requiring all students to participate in a minimum of 1 team sport per year and a physical fitness activity during each after-school session. We need to increase our supply of basic gym equipment (soccer, volleyball, basketball and baseball items, bike helmets, stop watches, cones, pull-up bars, team jersey, etc.)
Transportation Fund
$10,000 per year
Given the rising costs of gas, NDMS is paying more than ever for bus rentals. Buses are utilized for school day field trips and after-school programming. Though our many community partnerships, NDMS students have the opportunity to visit local museums, theaters, nature centers, businesses for mentoring, churches, and other cultural and educational locations. The dramatic increase in bus rental costs is requiring us to thoroughly assess each opportunity and at times turn down trips. NDMS also utilizes a mini-van and two 9 passenger vans to take small groups to summer camps, academic and sporting competitions, community service activities and related trips. Additionally, the vans are used to pick-up high school students after-school and bring them to NDMS for tutoring and mentoring
Community Projects Fund
$2,500 per year
NDMS is fortunate to have a corps group of parents that are willing to donate their time and expertise to enhance the school. Recently, they built a collapsible stage that can be used for various activities throughout the year. Other projects include adding a backsplash to the art room, building shelves for several classrooms, beautifying the entrance to the school and similar projects. The parents also volunteer to help sew costumes for various plays and the variety show. This fund would be used for the costs of materials.
