Calendar

MAX Throws Out the Welcome Mat for Returning Students

Clarion Herald
January 28, 2006

Photo by Frank J. Methe

By BETH DONZE

The yellow bracelets worn by students at the MAX High School are much more than fashion statements. Imprinted with the slogan "Taking it to the MAX," the wristbands symbolize the temporary union of four traditionally African-American Catholic high schools on
the Uptown campus of Xavier Prep, an educational collaboration that was forced
when Katrina socked the campuses of St. Augustine, St. Mary's Academy and
Redeemer-Seton.
Yellow - the school color common to all four schools - was chosen to represent
the blended MAX.
"I'm just glad to have normalcy back, to see old friends from all the schools
and teachers that you recognize. There's a sense of routine that's coming back
into our lives," said St. Augustine/MAX senior Darin James of the blended
school, whose name is an acronym for St. Mary's Academy, St. Augustine and
Xavier Prep. "They've done everything to make us feel welcome. If you need
something, let them know. They're here to support you."
MAX, which opened Jan. 3, enrolls 608 students in grades seven through 12, and
has a waiting list of about 100. While students from the individual schools
continue to wear their own school uniforms, they take classes together and are
taught by a blended faculty from the four schools and elsewhere.
"I thought it would be a disaster," said Markeisha Bray, a Redeemer-Seton
senior who evacuated to Houston and attended a large public school before
returning to her Westbank home. "I thought there would be a lot of confusion
between the girls from the various schools, but we all get along. We all
converse. We all ask questions. Everyone laughs. It's wonderful.
"I missed the teachers, the principal, and people saying 'Hi, Marty!'"
Markeisha added. "I just missed New Orleans, period. At MAX, they're making it
happen!"
In addition to the feeder schools' presidents - Sister of the Blessed
Sacrament Eileen Sullivan of Xavier Prep, Sister of the Holy Family Greta
Jupiter of St. Mary's Academy, Josephite Father Joseph Doyle of St. Augustine,
and Arthur Schmitt of Redeemer-Seton - MAX is led co-led by a seven-member
administrative team composed of Sister of the Blessed Sacrament Gilda Bell;
Carolyn Oubre; Jacob Owens; Josephite Father John Raphael; Father Tony Ricard; Cheryl Ross-Brown and Eric Smith.

One of the initial concerns - how the formerly single-sex student bodies would
adjust to a co-ed environment - was put to rest almost immediately.
"The boys haven't really distracted us," said senior Romere Jones, a St.
Mary's Academy senior. "If anything, they've added to our education by bringing
in different views and insights."

Eric Smith, assistant principal at St. Augustine, concurred. "We really don't
have any girls' issues versus boys' issues going on right now," he said. "Our
students are just happy to be back at school together in New Orleans. Some of
our former students have come up to us and said, 'Why did MAX have to happen
after we graduated?' It was their dream to be in classes with the girls."

A precedent for collaboration
While the school is a post-Katrina reality, its roots predate the
life-altering hurricane. MAX's three namesake schools formalized their
relationship in 2003, when administrators sat down to discuss activities that
the schools could do jointly. Realizing that they each had a 5-K run/walk that
drew on the same sponsors and vendors, the schools organized an annual "Tri-5-K
Walk-Run," which became an instant hit with students, alumni and supporters.
"It was just like a family day," said Sister Greta, who noted that the bands
and cheerleading squads from each school performed together at the event. "It
ended up being a picnic in City Park. We just enjoyed everyone's company."
At around the same time, New Orleans philanthropist E.J. Ourso announced a
desire to do something for Catholic high schools that was patterned after the
United Negro College Fund. Ourso established the United Negro Catholic High
School Fund, committing $100,000 in scholarship support to each of the schools.
Ourso had previously purchased new band uniforms for the Purple Knight Marching
Band and helped establish an entrepreneurial class between St. Augustine and
LSU. He also pledged to match money that was raised by the schools.
"One of the contingencies was that we would have to do activities and raise
funds together," Sister Eileen said. "Since we had already begun that with the
Tri-5-K Run-Walk, it was just a natural that we would continue that on."
With a working relationship in place, school leaders didn't have to "reinvent
the wheel" when they gathered in Baton Rouge last September to discuss how they
could best meet the needs of displaced students and faculty. Xavier Prep, whose
campus was relatively unscathed by Katrina, was chosen as the site for MAX.
Co-ed until 1971, Xavier Prep was already equipped with boys' restrooms.
"We wanted to do this right," Sister Greta said. "We started advertising on
the Internet, and students and teachers started to apply. The staff was
assembled by the three principals."
School Sister of Notre Dame Margaret Mary Friesenhahn, a former principal of
Redeemer-Seton, took on the daunting challenge of scheduling classes at the
combined school in a way that satisfied each grade's curricular requirements.
That effort, however, was overshadowed by MAX's major hurdle: housing for
faculty and students.
"Many of our faculty are really sacrificing because they care so much about
the kids," said Sister Eileen, noting that teachers are driving in from places
as far away as Denham Springs, Gonzales and Pearl River. Other faculty living
arrangements include staying in the city during the week and returning to their
homes on weekends, and living in hotels while awaiting the delivery of a FEMA
trailer.
"We have a phenomenal group of teachers from each of the schools," Sister
Eileen said. "It's wonderful to see the combination of teachers in operation, on
lunch duty, teaching and visiting in the teachers' lounge together."

Meeting needs "to the MAX"
An active campus ministry headed by Father Tony Ricard and Sister of the
Blessed Sacrament Gilda Bell anchors MAX spiritually. Students in every religion
class are assembling a booklet of student prayers and poems, many of which
comment on Katrina's impact. Economics, social studies, math and science classes
are using Katrina as a case study.
"The teachers have used every possible, teachable moment to really tap into
what has happened with Katrina and to bring the students to another level of
understanding," Sister Greta said.
Parents are also pleased to see their children's excitement about being at MAX,
Sister Eileen said. "They see that they're getting the MAXimum of everything,"
she said. "They're getting all the resources; they're getting teachers who are
the best of the best."
The needs of MAX's 180 seniors received priority when it came to scheduling
and satisfying all the units they needed for a springtime graduation.
"Our focus was on providing seniors with a senior year that they would love,
so they would not feel displaced," said Joyce Whitfield, Xavier Prep's
development director, noting that seniors will take part in a joint MAX
graduation ceremony in May. School-specific ceremonies will follow in June to
accommodate those students who are completing their senior years outside of New
Orleans, she said.

Damage updates; look to the future
As well as the MAX collaboration is going, school leaders are determined to
reopen their individual schools in the fall, whether it means returning to their
home campuses, or operating from a new site. Like area residents, they are
working closely with FEMA, talking to insurance adjusters and awaiting the
verdict of federal flood maps, while attending to gutting and debris removal.
Still, rather than focusing on the devastation, estimated to be in the
multi-millions of dollars, MAX administrators are looking at their blessings:
the donations of instruments from local and out-of-state groups and individuals;
the refurbishment of the trophy collection at St. Mary's Academy by students
from the University of Virginia; and the launching of an instrument drive by
Congregation of Divine Providence Sister Marilyn Bergt, of LaRoche College in
Pittsburgh. Support has also flowed in from MAX's uptown neighbors, Whitfield
said.
"Our neighbors realized that having the school back and active was one of the
best things for the community," Whitfield said. "So they came to our parent
orientation meeting with the biggest cake they could buy. They were just
delighted to see us opening up."
Extra-curricular pursuits have not been forgotten at MAX. Because Katrina
rained into the wind-shattered windows of Xavier Prep's gym, wrecking its wooden
floor, MAX's girls' basketball team plays its home games at the gym of nearby
St. Stephen School . MAX track and tennis teams are being organized, as are chess
and key clubs. The student council, parents' club and executive board have
representatives from each of the feeder schools, and MAX boasts a blended band
of more than 100 members.
A small yearbook and a school dance are also in the works.
"I didn't know how our attitudes would interact - we're taking it day by day -
but it seems like everyone is getting along," said Mia Thornton, a Xavier Prep
senior and future biochemistry major who will be interviewing with Yale and
Cornell universities this spring. "I was kind of skeptical in the beginning, but
now I know that everything's going to be right on track for graduation."
The schools, each with a link to MAX, can be contacted at their individual Web
Sites: www.smaneworleans.com; www.purpleknights.com;
www.xavierprep.com

Posted with permission.