Stritch’s Alumni Board kicked off
an exciting new service initiative Sept. 18 called the “Adopt-a-School” program, which
partners alumni with students and teachers from a school with demonstrated
need. Schools chosen must meet certain selection requirements, including
demonstrated financial need for volunteer and program support. The chosen
school for the 2012-13 academic year is St. Joseph Academy, a K4 – 2nd
grade school on Milwaukee’s south side that is sponsored
by the Felician Sisters.
St. Joseph Academy is an authorized
Milwaukee Parent Choice Program school that serves about 200 students from K4 -
2nd grade. In addition to the elementary school, St. Joseph offers a nationally
accredited early education facility for children aged six weeks to four years.
School administrator and Stritch Alumni Board member Todd Beadle ’04 helped to
make this connection a reality.
“We are so pleased to be partnering with Cardinal Stritch
University on this service project,” said Beadle. “Having Stritch alumni
involved at St. Joseph Academy will make a big difference in the lives of these
students and their families. This partnership also exemplifies Stritch’s strong
values of service and dedication to the Milwaukee community.”
This service project marks an important step toward
achieving the board’s strategic plan goal of developing an alumni-led volunteer
program that incorporates service to Stritch and service to the community.
Most importantly, the project will allow Stritch alumni to help
address the needs of a school and build relationships
with students, teachers, and parents alike.
Stritch Alumni Board members took part in the first
volunteer opportunity on Sept. 18 for the school’s Curriculum Night. At this
event, parents got to meet their child’s teacher and learn about the curriculum
for the year in addition to socializing with other families. Stritch alumni
helped out by leading art projects with families, assisting with a raffle of
family-friendly board games, and distributing backpacks with books, school
supplies, and games to play at home.
Curriculum Night offered a glimpse into
the quality of the school, the passion of the teachers and staff, the eagerness
of the parents to be involved in their child’s education, and the enormous
opportunity for Stritch alumni to make a difference in the lives of these
students.
The Alumni Board has coordinated three additional volunteer events at St.
Joseph’s this school year and welcomes volunteer assistance. If you are
interested in helping with any of the scheduled events below or volunteering
your time at the school, contact alumni@stritch.edu.
The school especially needs help with cataloging and coding its library.
2012-13 Adopt-a-School volunteer opportunities:
- Santa’s Workshop & Supply Drive: Tuesday, Dec. 18, 5-7 p.m.
The “Santa's
Workshop” supply drive will take place from Nov. 1 – Dec. 14. We will be
collecting items to help students and families meet basic needs during the
winter months, including winter wear (hats, mittens, coats, boots, etc.),
school supplies (notebooks, folders, pens, pencils, glue, etc.), Kleenex and
hand sanitizer. Volunteers will be delivering and distributing these items
to St. Joseph’s on Dec. 18 and helping with their Santa’s Workshop
activities. - Movie Night: Thursday, Feb. 15, 2013, 6-8 p.m.
Volunteers
will be distributing popcorn, candy and soda to families (more details to
come) - Family Picnic: Tuesday, June 18, 2013, 3-7 p.m.
Volunteers
will be staffing carnival games and concessions (more details to come)
Photo: Alumni Board member Meaghan Morrissey ’06 and a St. Joseph’s student during Curriculum Night