English as a New Language

Looking at a map on your computer screen, it seems like a pretty straight shot from Washington, DC, to San Jose, California. Hop on I-80 West and a mere 42 hours and 2,842 miles later you’ll arrive at your destination. 

Join our Catholic School Advantage team as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th-October 15th. Check back often, as we'll continue to add  resources to help you honor this special month in your homes and classrooms. 

Catholic schools in America have an impressive history of serving immigrant and marginalized communities in a Gospel-centered environment that honors the inherent God-given dignity, gifts, and culture of each child. Linguistically and culturally diverse students deserve to benefit fully from this legacy of Catholic education, which is uniquely positioned to serve their needs.

“Never underestimate the power of the Notre Dame family.”

That’s how Reagan Mulqueen '20 began to describe the capstone project for her sustainability minor at Denver’s Assumption Catholic School, an elementary school located 1,076 miles from campus.

As people who believe that we are all made in the image and likeness of God, we affirm the inherent dignity of all human life, and we stand—as disciples of Christ—against any form of bias, discrimination, hatred, and violence. The discriminatory and violent killings of George Floyd and so many others serve as a grim reminder of the racism that has plagued our nation for centuries. This reminder functions simultaneously as a sobering reality check with respect to the depth and breadth of the challenges confronting educational institutions. And this reminder is especially important for Catholic schools and educators, given our charge to teach as Jesus did and to form students who will use their gifts to serve others and work toward a more just society.