The Beginning

The Church of the Magdalen Catholic School opened in 1951 under the direction of the Sisters of Saint Dominic who shaped a proud tradition of integrating faith and knowledge.

Magdalen Catholic School, Pre-school through Eighth grade, offers a strong curriculum serving the individual and diverse needs of our students. Our safe, Catholic Christian environment fosters the growth of the whole person: physically, mentally, and spiritually.

How We Have Been Strengthened

Every year we implement strategies to improve our school. Below is a listing of which strategies were implemented and when:

’96 Special Needs Interventions for students at risk, especially students with learning differences;

’97 Bully Free School Program;

’98 School wide Behavior Management Plan with highly structured program for praise-reinforcement;

’00-04 Core Knowledge Curriculum gradual implementation

’01 Student lead “Parent/Teacher Conferences;”

’01 Eighth Grade Culminating Project;

’02 “Technology as a Tool” curriculum.

Priorities of the School

It is a priority on all grade levels, to have excellent communication with parents. We offer strong emphasis on serving the diverse needs of our students, including “Extended Learning” for children who benefit from additional learning challenges. Another priority is that all students feel safe at school, physically and emotionally.

While we explore the latest technology, we also emphasize the perennial truths of our faith and our cultural heritage. We believe that education is most effective when there is a balance of innovation and tradition.

Eighth Grade Culminating Project: Reaching the Goal Line

Replacing eighth grade finals, our eighth graders participate in a “Culminating Project.” Through applying the academic disciplines and a related piece of artwork, eighth graders must demonstrate the skills and knowledge gained at our school. Most important, they show how faith guides reason.

The goal of this project is to apply principals of life, through researching a real-life issue; to demonstrate the depth and breadth of academic knowledge and skills; to communicate a thesis with art and technology; and finally to communicate in writing and orally their project.