Marquette Catholic High School | 306 W. 10th St. Michigan City, Indiana 46360
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President's Message | December 2018
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Our 132nd year of affording students the very best in Catholic education is off to a very productive and positive start. As we at Marquette reflect on this semester’s accomplishments, we are more than proud to serve the school and its mission of providing a college-preparatory curriculum and Catholic faith formation to all of our students who enter our doors on 10th and Wabash.
While preserving our school’s traditions in faith and character, Marquette challenges the traditional way in which we educate our students today. Being at the forefront of student learning strategies, technology, teacher development, global studies, dual-credit offerings, university programming, curriculum development, service, and retreats have been our most recent focus as Ms. Headd, our principal, and myself as president, assumed our new roles for the first full year.
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Our University Program enrolled a record number of students in the fall as the overall program, affording two degree tracks, currently serves 40 students. Nearly 20% of our students are on track to earn an associate degree in either liberal arts or business. Last week, the Office of the President announced that Ms. Tracy Wagner, who has been with the program from its inception - along with Principal Headd - will now officially be named University Program Coordinator in addition to her duties as Academic Advisor.
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On the global front, Marquette sent 20 students from its freshman early University cohort to Barcelona, Spain, on a student exchange. They shadowed classes, spent time with host families, practiced language learning, and immersed themselves in Spain's warm and vibrant culture. This was the second consecutive year our MQTT-U students participated in this cultural immersion experience.
Five students traveled on immersion with Ms. Quinlan and me to Beijing, China to visit our partner school, The Joule School, and experience the sights and sounds of Beijing. Currently, we are hosting 24 students on campus full-time and have several hosted students from over 10 different countries. Marquette had two students attend a full-time study abroad placement at our partner schools, Hamelin Laie and Oak House, both of which are located in Barcelona. This winter, we expect to host over 100 students on campus for winter camps from China and France. The world, its cultures, knowledge, languages, and people are far closer than you think at Marquette. Over 90% of our graduating students have studied or traveled abroad during their Marquette education.
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So far this semester, our Office of Lay Ministry has hosted six student retreats. Five of the retreats, which were held at Marquette’s retreat center located at Saint Mary’s of the Lake in Chicago, were rooted in serving the homeless with the St. Vincent DePaul Society. One retreat was our annual Kairos experience. I have attended all six retreats this past semester and can only praise our teachers, students and those that support our efforts to afford students an opportunity to experience Christ in ourselves and others. These programs have changed Marquette forever. They are impacting the lives of our students daily. Additionally, Marquette students serve Reigns of Life and Sharing Meadows every Friday as a built-in day of service opportunities. A huge thanks to Mrs. Kathleen Beeler, our Lay Minister, for making these programs a reality at Marquette.
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Marquette has embarked on a very professional adventure in curriculum design in a portable platform to enhance its 1:1 student technology platform. Under the direction of Principal Headd and the collaborative work of our teachers, Marquette is designing a first-of-its-kind portable curriculum platform for high school. The development is in conjunction with our partners from Skyepack. The work has proven to enhance our focus on teaching and learning as a faculty at Marquette.
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Athletically, our fall sports have been increasing in participation numbers. Volleyball, boys soccer, and cross country all experienced growth. Furthermore, three student-athletes have earned scholarships at the next level. Colin Kenney will attend Furman University while Sophia and Emma Nolan have signed to play and study at St. John's University in New York.
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We have been hard at work at Marquette this past semester. Our students, teachers, directors, and staff give 100% every day. We have been blessed to have Ms. Headd lead our teachers and school operations this year as principal. Her dedication to our excellence has been paramount in launching Marquette to the next level in exemplary, college-preparatory, Catholic education. (
Read her message here.
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From all of us at Marquette, we wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a 2019 filled with joy and hope.
Yours in Faith & Education,
James G. White
President
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Marquette Catholic High School
306 W. 10th Street | Michigan City, IN 46360
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