Risen Christ Catholic School is a K-8, bilingual, multicultural and financially accessible school of excellence, educating children in mind, body, and spirit to live and lead in the example of Jesus Christ. We began transitioning to a unique and innovative dual immersion model in 2014 in order to provide an educational program that is equitable for our predominantly Latino population. In 2020-2021, our dual immersion program is in its seventh year of expansion, serving students in grades K-6. These students receive 50% of their instruction in English and 50% in Spanish daily. We provide students with a broad range of programs and services to provide stability and growth in the classroom, at home and in the community. Through our City Connects program – a systematic, high-impact approach addressing out-of-school factors that limit learning – each student receives a support plan tailored to his or her needs. We also provide a full-time social worker, weekend food backpack program and a before-school program that provides targeted literacy support and enrichment activities. These programs and other services help ensure all students have the opportunity to reach their full God-given potential.
Risen Christ Catholic School serves more Latinos (91%) and children in poverty (87%) than any other Catholic school in the diocese. Many of our families have been disproportionately impacted economically by the COVID-19 pandemic, as many work hourly jobs that were the first to be cut or eliminated, or work in industries devastated by the pandemic. As such, the need for tuition assistance has incresed dramatically so we can help families offset any tuition they are unable to pay, to keep their children enrolled at Risen Christ. Also, numerous investments in technology and health and safety (COVID-19 mitigation) were made at Risen Christ in order to offer in-person learning in addition to a distance learning option for families. Teachers have been heroic in their dedication to students, teaching children in their classrooms while also instructing those learning remotely. Like many teachers nationwide, this has been very exhausting physically and mentally for teachers and staff, especially as we notice many students struggling to keep up academically during the pandemic -- we are seeing the achievement gap widen as the pandemic persists. Finally, the lack of transportation (due to Minneapolis Public Schools not teaching in person) has negatively impacted our families who rely on transportation. This has posed many logistical challenges for families and Risen Christ, but we have implemented creative temporary solutions and hope the public schools will return to in-person learning as soon as possible.
Our main needs are in two areas:
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Risen Christ Catholic School is currently accepting new volunteers! Please contact Regina Mancilla, Director of Volunteers and Student Recruitment, at rmacilla@risenchristschool.org or 612-822-5329, ext. 106.
Below are several testimonials from Risen Christ parents expressing their gratitude to those who have supported their children at the school over the past several months: "My family and I are so thankful to God for putting you in our lives. Thank you for not letting go of our hands in these difficult times, but rather giving us help for the essential things of life. May God give you and your families good health, prosperity and many blessings."“I didn't know what I was going to do to pay the rent. I have always been able to somehow make it, but now with my reduced hours of work, I have to choose between paying the rent or feeding the kids. Please thank the people, whoever they are, who are donating money to help us. I think about them helping me and I don't even know who they are! May God bless them richly.""First, thank you Lord and to the Virgin of Guadalupe for having given us a lovely school for our children and an excellent staff that God has placed in the lives of each student. They are concerned about their education and their families. How beautiful it would be if the whole world and every school had teachers like there are in my child's school. Thanks to all the staff, leaders and all the teachers. May God bless you and protect you under His mantle – and many blessings to your families. Amen."