Ignatian Sponsorship

Ignatian Sponsorship

During the 2021-22 school year, Nativity Jesuit Academy underwent the Ignatian Review process which traditionally occurs every six years as a way to affirm our Ignatian identity and provide feedback for the future. As an educational ministry of the Society of Jesus, this provides our sponsorship as a Jesuit institution which is in addition to the traditional Catholic school accreditation process through the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

 

Nativity’s last Ignatian Review occurred during the 2014-15 school year when Nativity began a period of remarkable growth as we opened our doors to our first co-ed K4 class. Since then, we have become a full K4-8th grade school, are almost entirely co-ed with the exception of our last all-boy class that will be graduating in June 2023 and an impressive capital renovation to modernize both our 29th St. and Northwoods campuses.

 

The Ignatian Review process includes a self-study year complete with stakeholder surveys, analysis and a formal write up to submit to the Midwest Province of the Society of Jesus. Based on a foundational Jesuit educational document titled “Our Way of Proceeding: Standards and Benchmarks for Jesuit Schools in the 21st Century,” the review is focused on five main domains: Jesuit and Catholic mission and identity, governance and leadership, spiritual formation, educational excellence and faith that does justice.

 

Schools undergoing the Ignatian Review host a visiting team for two days of in-person interviews. This team is composed of a representative from our province as well as teachers and leaders from other Jesuit schools, including other Nativity-model schools. Shortly after the visit, we are provided a formal report which ideally includes a recommendation to the Provincial for continuation of our sponsorship as a Jesuit school.

 

Nativity Jesuit Academy received its recommendation for continued sponsorship as a Jesuit school which will be formalized on November 16, 2022. The final report serves a a guide for the next six years, with commendations on accomplishments and recommendations for Nativity’s future:

 

The final report offered the following commendations on Nativity’s efforts since our last Ignatian Review:

 

• The mission is alive and felt in all that Nativity does.
• There is a unified appreciation of excellence in the service of students. High standards are held collectively by the Nativity community.
• There is a healthy organizational culture for all stakeholders with a cohesive and positive sense of community.
• Throughout the pandemic, the needs of students and families were kept at the center of decision making.
• Nativity has implemented greater professional social emotional resources to bolster support for students.
• As Nativity has grown to be a full K4-8th grade school, a cohesive academic and social emotional program has been achieved.
• There has been increased cultivation of Latino leadership and alumni are highly engaged.
• Faculty, staff and the Board of Trustees are provided ongoing formation in our Catholic, Jesuit faith.
• Board and finance leadership support the mission with resources instead of relying on a scarcity model. The board wants to support growth and excellence for the long haul.
• Camp Thunderhead remains the ‘moral center’ of the Nativity experience.
• Nativity ‘gets the right people on the bus’ and thinks creatively about how people can best serve the mission.
• Diversity, equity and inclusion work is rooted in a faith-filled context of our Catholic mission and identity.

 

The final report offered the following five recommendations which Nativity is tasked to work on for the next six years. These recommendations are woven into Nativity’s current strategic plan.

 

• Implement a full faculty and staff Ignatian faith formation plan to further enhance the Jesuit, Catholic character of Nativity.
• Continue to build a practice and culture to retain high caliber employees, considering supports to move with employees through their life cycle (i.e. marriage, children, elder care etc.)
• Continue to grow social emotional student resources strategically, informed by a rigorous needs assessment.
• Review the extended school day model and assess the best use of this time for students’ highest benefit.
• Continue to recruit teachers and staff of Latino heritage and proficient Spanish speakers.