Marquette Catholic High School

Message from the Principal                                                       

Greetings and welcome to Marquette Catholic High School. It is with utmost enthusiasm that I address you as I represent the first Catholic High School in Northwest Indiana.

Reflecting on my prior 15 years of service in the public sector of education and contrasting it to my current calling, I can only tell you how blessed and fortunate we are to have Marquette Catholic High School and its 123 years of tradition and excellence as our choice for high school.

First and foremost, we are a Catholic School family. Our mission is to nurture and develop gospel values in all our endeavors. In the 25th Chapter of Matthew's Gospel, Jesus reminds us, "Whatever you do for one of the least of my people, you do for me." At Marquette Catholic, we invite our students, teachers, and school community to participate in the teachings of our Roman Catholic faith and to generously and wisely become good stewards who donate our time, talent and treasure to improve the world in which we live. There are service hours required of all students at our school, but, beyond these hours are building-wide opportunities to give of one’s self. Already this year, we have volunteered as a school at the Michigan City Triathlon, raised over $1500 for our community partner St. Anthony memorial in our Dig for A Cure volleyball fundraiser, collected $800 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, created a program entitled Feed the Spirit that provides weekly student and adult support at the Sacred Heart Men’s Shelter, continue to support Catholic Charities food drives and the adoption of needy families and have student and administrative participation in our local Rotary. We are also currently involved in staffing and directing the Samaritan Skedaddle that raises funds for the Samaritan Counseling Center to support services to those in need. These partnerships and efforts are our opportunities to be more “Christ-Like.”

As practicing Catholics, weekly mass, daily chapel, prayer before classes, retreats, and a very all-encompassing Catholic Theology curriculum are continued expectations. We coordinate with our local diocesan clergy and partner schools to celebrate the many sacraments and holy obligations we practice. In addition to our routines, this year, with the assistance of our local Birth-Right organization, we brought in Pro-Life advocate and speaker, Shawn Carney, to address the entire Marquette Catholic Community on a topic so dear to our hearts as Catholics. At Marquette Catholic, we talk the talk and walk the walk of our Catholic Faith.

Academically, we rank in the top 7% of all Indiana schools. Our state test results in 2007 which exceeded 90% passing on all high school assessments outscored our local public high school by over 40%. 100% of the class of 2008 was accepted to college. Last year, we awarded $1,230,000 in scholarships averaging an estimated $23,000 per graduate. The parents of those graduates invested a little over $21,000 I their child during their four years at Marquette Catholic by the way of tuition. On average, that is more than a 100% return on their investment. Our goal academically is to prepare all students for college and open doors to lifelong learning. Our expectations are high and studies rigorous. We currently schedule six Advanced College Project Courses, in several content areas including History, English and Speech, enabling students to receive dual high school and college credit while at Marquette Catholic. Realistically, a student can complete and earn credit for more than ½ of their first year of college. ACP is the next generation of Advance Placement. ACP guarantees college credit while Advanced Placement courses only offer hope of actually receiving the credits. ACP is rigorously monitored and its teachers mandated to attend continued training and development. We do continue to offer Advanced Placement courses like Calculus in addition to our expanding ACP curriculum. For the 2009 school year, our vision includes opening a language learning lab allowing all students to take a “third” language if desired. These language opportunities would include Latin, Greek, Chinese, and the like. Our distance learning lab will reopen next semester with the promises of offering additional college course opportunities.

Marquette Catholic is not simply a school, it is a family rooted in faith and moral values. In an effort for all students to reach high expectations, our family-like structure is a scaffolding of support systems. We offer individualized tutoring scheduled into students’ academic day and a supported special needs program in partnership with the Michigan City Schools. This year, we created a Late Start Friday program targeted at enriching and supporting academics and student life, and in 2009, we are launching a nine period schedule allowing for 43 minute periods including lunch. All students will be afforded the opportunity to take an extra class, schedule resource time, study, meet with teachers, work on projects, personal fitness, and/or utilize our technology which includes a 2-1 student to computer ratio-a wireless campus-and teacher/student Promethean Boards and work stations. Our small class sizes, averaging 10 students per class, allow us to differentiate and individualize instruction. Student schedules and grades are reviewed by the administration and Office of Academic Advisement to maximize student success. For example, it was noted in 2007/2008 14% of our Algebra 1 students did not successfully complete the course. In fall 2008, we implemented an Algebra lab class for all students needing academic support and the result has been that 100% of our current Algebra 1 students are on track after the first quarter to successfully complete the course. Those freshmen who entered school this year with an aptitude for mathematics were placed into Geometry. All of these students boasted impressive grades at quarter 1. Meeting and exceeding the needs of our students is a priority. Making decisions that are based on the needs of our students, not their schedule, not the adults, not lunch, is the direction in which we travel.

When it comes to student life, activities, and sports there is no other school I have ever attended, worked at, or visited that has so much to offer its students. Almost daily, I mention to a secretary or teacher, that although Marquette is a relatively small school in comparison to the many mega schools currently in operation in Indiana, there is more going on here than one can imagine. From the minute the bell rings after school, students can be seen walking to the Scholl Center to prepare for their extra-curricular activities. Students leave with back packs, go to study at the Center, then attend their practices and club functions. Over 80% of our students are involved in multi-sport and club activities. We have clubs that are based on student interest and include, but are not limited to: World Language club, Environmental Club, Sprit Club, Long Board Club, and even a Tailgating Club that meats Friday’s at 6:30 a.m. Many students can be found on campus working late into the evening in our drama and arts programs. Athletically, we boast competitive sports programs that include conference championships, sectional championships, Regional awards, and 7 State Titles. Our volleyball team has made it to the State Final Four every year for the past decade under three separate coaches. We have won 7 of these opportunities. As many of you know, we will be defending our legacy this weekend in Muncie, Indiana. Our students are involved and time management, study skills, and priorities are a few of life’s lessons the students learn through these opportunities at Marquette Catholic.

We are a Catholic School. We are a school with a history and tradition of academic excellence. We are a school strong in athletics and student extra-curricular activities. We are a family of learners who embrace similar morals, values and academic expectations in the hopes that our students will be the best they can be. We are Marquette Catholic, the pinnacle of faith, excellence and achievement in our community and beyond.

With Faith In Our Future,

James G. White
Principal