March 2022
Holy Angels Learns to Cultivate Community
Locally and Abroad.
Holy Angels 4th Grade Scholars at Thriving Schools Challenge Award Presentation
From Holy Angels Principal, Justin Armitage
The theme for the 2021-2022 school year at Holy Angels is Cultivating Community. Our 4th grade Unique Roots class has focused on ways we can cultivate our community and other communities throughout our country and world.
In November, the 4th grade organized a “Green Team” to implement several environmental initiatives around the school. Their efforts led Holy Angels to win the Indiana Thriving Schools Challenge Award. Holy Angels is one of only three schools in the state to receive this award four years in a row. On February 10, 2022, the 4th grade was invited to the Indiana State Museum to be recognized for this award by Mayor Joe Hogsett. The efforts of the 4th grade will help the entire Holy Angels community continue our recycling and gardening projects.
In January, the 4th graders learned of a devastating fire at an apartment complex in the Bronx, New York. A close friend of Holy Angels, Mr. Stephen Ritz, founder of the Green Bronx Machine, knew of many individuals impacted by the tragedy. In Unique Roots class, the scholars read about the fire, discussed the tragedy, and brainstormed ways we could help that community. The scholars decided to create cards for those impacted by the fires and sent them to Mr. Ritz. He sent the scholars back a heartfelt, “Thank you,” video.
In February, we had a guest speaker, Fr. Tiago, educate the scholars about a village in Mozambique, Africa, that has no electricity or running water. Fr. Tiago explained how villagers must walk 5-10 miles just to find a water source. He also discussed how he has started a project to supply the village with a water pump. Scholars learned what a valuable resource this water pump would be to the villagers and have decided to help raise money for the implementation of this pump over the season of Lent. If anyone would like more information about the water pump project, please contact Ms. Guynn at 317-926-5211. Thank you for helping our scholars learn about ways to cultivate community here and abroad.
Fr. Tiago presenting to scholars at Holy Angels
Alum Spotlight
Xochitl Murillo is second from the left in the back row.
Congratulations to Xochitl Murillo on being named one of the December Students of the Month at Roncalli High School.
Xochitl is a 2021 Central Catholic grad and the first recipient of the Jack Shockley Peacemaker Scholarship! This scholarship supports Xochitl, the recipient, to attend four years of high school at an Archdiocese of Indianapolis high school.
MTCA NDAA Partnership Update
A commitment to the children and families in the center-city of Indianapolis has been a high priority for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis for decades. As a part of this commitment, the Mother Theodore Catholic Academies (MTCA) was formed in 2007 as a consortium of schools. For the past several months, the MTCA leadership has engaged in a strategic planning process to evaluate the current status of the consortium and plan for future successes.
The Archdiocese of Indianapolis has been grateful the past six years to operate its Mother Theodore Catholic Academies in the heart of Indianapolis in collaboration with the University of Notre Dame Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE). This collaboration led us to operate the schools under the name of the Notre Dame ACE Academies (NDAA). Following a successful partnership in which NDAA helped strengthen academic excellence and operational vitality of the schools, the Archdiocese will return to operating the schools under the umbrella of MTCA within the Archdiocese’s Office of Catholic Schools after this academic year.
“On behalf of the thousands of children who have benefitted from this partnership the past six years I thank NDAA,” said Dr. Brian Disney, Superintendent of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. “This partnership has provided students with increased resources and opportunities as well as leadership development for teachers and administrators. Our Mother Theodore Catholic Academies are in a strong position to build on the successes of the past six years as we continue to transform the lives of children.”
The partnership between the MTCA and NDAA was formed in 2016 with five schools: Central Catholic, Holy Angels, Holy Cross, St. Anthony and St. Philip Neri. In 2020, St. Anthony Catholic School transitioned from the MTCA/NDAA model to a consortium of Indianapolis West Deanery schools. Last year, Holy Cross Catholic School successfully moved to become exclusively a Mother Theodore Catholic Academy. The remaining three schools will become exclusively MTCA on July 1. During the remainder of the school year, Notre Dame ACE will continue to provide support to ensure a smooth transition.
“This has been a natural evolution as these schools have determined through a strategic planning process that they have the operational vitality, internal capacity and resources to operate solely as Mother Theodore Catholic Academy schools,” said Dr. Disney. “These schools will continue to operate on their current campuses and to educate their current student populations. We’re excited to continue the MTCA mission of serving all students in our inner-city proclaiming the joy of the Gospel while striving to meet our overall goal for these children to flourish spiritually and academically.”
School Happenings
Central Catholic
PreK students recently spent time learning about engineers. They worked on creating strong bridges with popsicle sticks!
Holy Angels
As part of Black History Month, Holy Angels scholars learned about African-Americans who are being considered for sainthood and celebrated Mass with their families.
Holy Cross
As part of their Valentine's Day celebration, 8th grade and Kindergarten students collaborated to create symbols of how we can love one another.
St. Philip Neri
4th and 5th grade students from St. Philip Neri recently experienced Junior Achievement BizTown! They learned what it is like to work, earn money, pay off loans, and to purchase items!
Give to IQE Through Qualified Charitable Distribution
Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), though an individual retirement account (IRA), have become a very popular giving vehicle. Donors 70½ and older may use qualified QCDs to donate up to $100,000 per year to the charity of their choice, and receive unique tax benefits. At age 72, these donations count as required minimum distributions. QCD gifts can be made to benefit the Indiana State Tax Credit Program to provide tuition assistance to our Mother Theodore Catholic Academies.
For more information on how you can utilize QCDs in your giving plan, please contact us the Institute for Quality Education (IQE) scholarships@i4qed.org or call (317) 951-8781.
Tax or legal information provided herein is not intended as tax or legal advice. Always consult with your legal, tax or financial advisors before implementing any gift plan.
MTCA and NDAA Logos
When you donate to support the students at Central Catholic*, Holy Angels*, Holy Cross and St. Philip Neri*, we want it to be clear where your dollars go. Over time our branding and logos have changed to reflect our organizational structure and partnerships. The Mother Theodore Catholic Academies continues to be our legal name with the Notre Dame ACE Academies providing support to three (designated with an * above) of the four schools. Both logos will be used to illustrate our organizational structure which is designed to provide students with the best Catholic and academic experience.
Amazon Smile donations resulted in $133 for MTCA/NDAA between July 1 and September 30, 2021
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Central Catholic
Holy Cross
Holy Angels
St. Philip Neri
For more information
- To inquire about admissions or to arrange a tour of one of our schools, contact Rose Springman, at rspringman@archindy.org or call (317) 236-7324.
- To inquire about donating to MTCA/NDAA, please contact Ellen Sanders at esanders@archindy.org or call 317-236-1501.
- To inquire about the strategic direction of our schools, please contact Interim Director, Peggy Elson at pelson@archindy.org or call 317-236-7322.
