"One only has to walk the school halls to see the warmth and love."
-- Noelle, St. Greg's Parent and Alum

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I attended both Catholic and public schools as a child. For the most part, I had great experiences in both. But, I do know what I missed when I went to public school, and how little, if anything, I missed when I was in Catholic school.

At Catholic school there were high expectations. It wasn't about overachievement, but about personal responsibility, accountability and respect. When these values are the norm in a school community, not the exception, students have a solid foundation to stand on. It's a great platform to have as a spring board into whatever path a child chooses in the future. In my experience, teachers at Catholic schools offered compassion and encouragement along with high quality academics and held each student to a high standard. That's the teaching style I want for my daughter.

I believe that the combination of these values along with family involvement, parish involvement and community involvement helps children grow into adults who have vision and hope. The Catholic school experience is sown into the fiber of your being; it has a strong, positive and lasting impact on who you become. It influences what you look for in life and what you give to others. With luck and God's graces, attending St. Greg's will give my daughter the powerful tools for living life that she'll always carry with her.

As a life-long member of the St. Gregory the Great Community, I've been fortunate to be a product of both the school and church. My husband Allen and I are fortunate that our children, Alyson (5th grade) and Jacob (2nd grade), are also blessed with that same opportunity.

As a graduate, and now as a parent at St. Greg's, I have experienced both spiritual and educational growth. The teachers, principal and priests created a positive environment. As I have matured, I've realized that the many relationships I've developed, with both family and friends, are those that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

As I look back at the many school and sporting activities I was involved with as a student, I have fond memories. One thing that stands out today as a parent is COMMITMENT! The teachers and staff at St. Gregory the Great go "above and beyond" for the students of the school. They provide a safe and supportive environment. They work as a team. And, they truly love each student. Through this love, the values of a quality Catholic education are instilled in each and every one of the students. One only has to walk the school halls to see the warmth and love.

There was never any question about it -- our kids were going to go to Catholic school. My husband's whole family, all eight kids, went to Catholic school all the way through high school. He really endorses Catholic education because it had such a positive, lasting impact on him and his siblings.

We're glad we chose St. Greg's and don't think you could ask for a better education than our kids are getting here. We chose this school because it's in our neighborhood and because it's a big school. We thought the kids would have opportunities to make a wide variety of friends, not just a select smaller group.

We appreciate what Sr. Marianne has brought to St. Greg's and like having a nun in charge of the school. She puts a lot of emphasis on being positive and getting along with others and bullying isn't tolerated here. I like that it's strict and structured. Parents are notified if there's a problem. Kids are encouraged to be positive about each other and discipline problems are resolved in the earlier grades so that problems don't continue and get worse into the upper grades.

I talk to the teachers on a regular basis and they let me know what's going on with my children. Teachers notice and encourage caring behavior. They'll send little notes home saying that my daughter helped another student who was having problems writing her name or my son made a special effort to include kids who sometimes get left out. I'm not sure whether or not those interactions would have been noticed in a public school, but in a Catholic school they're really valued.

Our family has three kids at St. Greg's in the 7th, 4th, and 3rd grades. Three years ago in November of 2001, my wife Sue found out she had a form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer of the blood and lymph system. Her treatments included spending every third week in the hospital for six months to receive high-dose chemotherapy, and her course of treatment ultimately led to a bone marrow transplant in June of 2002.

I can not begin to tell you the support we felt at St.Greg's. School families, friends, families of our kids' classmates and people we didn't even know at the time showered us with offers of help. The practical support they offered ranged from driving our kids to various activities, making sure that a hot meal arrived for dinner every night those weeks my wife was in the hospital to making Christmas cookies for our family, and most of all praying for us. The school teachers were also very in tune with what was going on with our kids, communicating with us constantly about what was going on. They made sure our kids were doing well emotionally and academically.

I will never forget the kindness and the support we felt. I may be wrong, but I don't think you see this same kind of closeness in every school. There is something special about being connected to a parish, and especially a community like St. Greg's. I will never in a million years be able to thank these people for their kindness, and I've come to understand that a thank you is not what is expected, but rather to pass on the kindness to others in times of crisis in their lives. My wife survived cancer and today we both feel truly blessed to be connected to St. Greg's Parish School.

I have been involved with St. Greg's in many ways throughout my life. It began when I attended first through eighth grade here and continued throughout high school and college. I have seen the school through many different eyes: as a student, as a coach, as a "Bookends" employee, and now as a teacher.

My greatest memories up until this point come from my years as a student here. My best friend and I are always talking about how great grade school was and that we would love to just go back to that time. We had the most inventive and committed teachers that you could find. Some of these teachers are still around the school and I see their levels of commitment on even a higher level now that I am a teacher. I also see these levels of dedication within the teachers that have entered the school since I graduated. Every teacher now and then had/has a level of care and concern for the students that you might not find at many other schools. These teachers did everything that they could for their students and I believe that they still will do anything for their students.

The teachers at St. Greg's give more than a curricular education; they try their hardest to prepare you for life and are there for you when life throws you surprises. I remember a time in eighth grade when there was a major incident with our basketball team. We spent a lot of time talking with the teachers and principal about the incident; to them our emotional and physical safety came before anything else. This incident happened on a weekend outside of school, but they took time out of school days to help us get through this problem and become stronger people as a result.

During college, I worked in the "Bookends" program for four years. As my graduation date became closer, I heard from Mrs. Scheels that there were going to be some openings within the school. I did not hesitate to apply; I could not have imagined a better school to teach at my first year out of college. I waited to hear from St. Greg's before looking into any other districts. When parents of children from Bookends heard that I was applying for certain positions within the school they were so supportive and consistently wished me the best of luck. When I received the job, I met with the school commission and Mrs. Erlandson (my sixth-grade teacher and now a parent in the school) gave me the biggest hug and told me that she could not be happier for the school and for me. This helped to settle my nerves, knowing that I had a wonderful level of support even before the school year began.

Everyone tells you that your first year as a teacher is one of the most challenging years of your life. I have had my share of trials and tribulations this year, but I receive only support from parents and teachers every way that I turn. The families in my classroom are amazing. They have been there to help me in every way that is possible. The students in my classroom are a direct result of their parents. At times I feel that they are my own children because I am so proud of everything they accomplish and I feel joy every time they smile.

St. Greg's is an exceptional school. I loved it as a student and I continue to love it even more as a teacher. I hope to help the children in school have their St. Greg's experiences be as wonderful as mine have been.

I received a phone call on Tuesday letting me know that my daughter was not feeling well. I came right over and came up to check in at the office. I didn't see my daughter in the office, so I went down to the room. When I walked in I saw Miss Chris with my daughter on her lap, rocking her in the rocking chair with her blanket. The minute I saw this I knew that we chose the right school for our daughter's preschool.

What impressed me most was not only Miss Chris' care and compassion, but the fact that she had the rest of the class so under control, playing and working quietly, so she could spend time with my daughter. I think a parent's fear when their child is sick at school, is that they will be sitting in some cold, dark room waiting to be picked up. I also think that another concern parents have when looking into preschools, especially full day, is the kind of care that they will receive, being so young and away from home. It is evident that Miss Chris is a mother herself, as she treats the children as she'd want her own to be treated.

We have a great teacher in the K-4 classroom. And, an added bonus is the K-4 classroom itself. That room is so bright and cheery, what child wouldn't be excited to go to school. It is so clean and organized too. All of the hard work that went into that room really shows! We are very happy that our daughter is one of the first to experience it.

Mark and I moved to the Milwaukee area from Michigan when he started law school in 1984. We moved to a flat near Jackson Park the next year and soon began looking for a parish to call our own. After trying several, we found St. Greg's. We enjoyed the "feel" at Mass; the 11:00 contemporary ensemble could really sing! We became parish members in 1987. Soon after that, I heard there was going to be a job opening at St. Greg's Parish School. I set up an interview, and was subsequently hired to start the next fall.

I was impressed with everything about the school. The faculty was extremely friendly and helpful. The families were involved and supportive. There was beautiful art work and many examples of class work displayed. One thing that particularly struck me was the teachers' level of commitment. They spent hours of time preparing lessons and working with students in need. They were very interested in pursuing advanced education and used their knowledge to provide the students with the best teaching techniques available. It was obvious they loved their students, their work, and each other. Teaching at St. Greg's was a vocation to them, not just a job.

Because my own family was so far away, St. Greg's School Community became my home away from home. I knew I could depend on the staff and families for support whenever I was in need. When Mark and I were blessed with being pregnant, I needed to spend some time on bed rest. Families volunteered meals, and one mom even said she would come and clean my house. Everyone seemed to share in the joy of my pregnancy and when Madison was finally born it seemed like the whole parish celebrated with us.

Madison was brought up at St. Greg's. She attended all sorts of school functions and wandered the halls like she owned the place. So, when it came time to choose a school, the decision was easy. I knew first hand that not only would my daughter be in a place that felt like home, but she would also be in the hands of the best and the most dedicated teachers available. I knew that they would be willing to take whatever time was necessary to work with Mark and myself to ensure that Madison would be challenged and successful.

As a teacher, I felt that St. Greg's was an excellent educational institution. As a parent I am thrilled with all of the opportunities for Madison and the rest of our family to become involved. Maddie loves soccer, scouts, and JMJ. She is participating in Stations of the Cross once again and is looking forward to Children's Choir next year. I enjoy all of the opportunities to work (and play) with the wonderful parents of St. Greg's. There are so many different (and fun!) ways for everyone to be involved. What a great opportunity to make new friends, help our school, and teach our children the value of service! I have been so exceptionally blessed to have met SO MANY wonderful people at St. Greg's over the past 17 years. I can't think of any place I'd rather be!

I am an alum of St. Gregory the Great School and a a proud past and present parent of two St. Greg's students as well. My oldest son Tom graduated from St. Greg's in June 1997.

Sending Tom to St. Greg's was one of the better choices we made for him during his life. We no longer make those choices for him because he is grown and on his own. His academic roots at St. Greg's were the beginnings of a successful future. Tom graduated from St. Greg's with high honors. He went on to Pius where he graduated 4th in the class of 2001. Tom was accepted and excelled at UW-Madison. He graduated in three and one/half years with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He just completed his first year as a mechanical design engineer at the Kohler Company.

Tom was able to develop and expand his skills because of the challenges and support he received from his teachers from day one. He would not have been able to do what he has done without the wonderful start he had here at St. Greg's.

I feel the same about my son Jeff who is currently in sixth grade. The names and faces of the teachers are different (except for Ms. Lucey and Ms. Schroeder) but the challenges and support are still there. My sons' styles are different from each other but yet both styles have been nurtured and developed accordingly. I look forward to Jeff's future because I know how far he can go because of where he started.

My name is Steve Scaglione and I'm a parent of two St. Greg's students. I'm also a part-time maintenance worker for the parish. I'm in the school everyday and I see a lot of very positive actions everyday by students, teachers, Bookends personnel, the office staff and the hot lunch program workers that make me know that I made the right decision to send my children to St. Greg's.

Everyday I see positive behavior from students than can be attributed to wholesome Catholic school values that I know are carried home each day -- even if we don't recognize them right away. As I work at school I see the comfort that other students give each other if somebody is having a bad day. There are hugs of comfort to let each other know that everything will be alright. Laughter fills the air each and everyday -- sometimes not at the right time; but I'll take that over yelling any day.

The students are very respectful to me when they see me in the hall -- a 'hi' or a simple smile from them lets me know that the respect is there. I was also fortunate when I lost my checkbook somewhere in the hallway at St. Greg's. I was paged by the office staff and told that a 5th grade student turned my checkbook in to them. I was never so happy to lose something and have it show up again. Like I said, I was very fortunate to lose it at St. Greg's. This also reinforced to me that Catholic education at St. Greg's is well worth the investment.

As for the teachers, I would need to write a novel with 20 chapters on all the positive actions that they possess each and everyday without fail. The teachers at St. Greg's go the extra mile for our students. They come in during Christmas break to do classroom planning for our children. I don't know too many people that go to their job during their vacation time. They stay later at night correcting tests and come in very early in the morning to get everything ready for our children; all without complaints. The teachers at St. Greg's make learning fun. My hat goes off to the teachers at St. Greg's.

The Bookends program, lead by Mrs. Scheels, is one of the greatest features for Before & After School Care. This is a structured program that my children were fortunate to be in when we needed it. As we know, one of the former Bookends teachers is now the K5 teacher.

The office staff is one of the best -- from taking care of everyday business to fielding phone calls, to taking care of sick students. The comfort that they show to the students that come in sick is just incredible. I know that if one of my children were to become sick during school that they would be in good hands until someone could pick them up.

The hot lunch program ladies, lead by Mrs. Stewart, are fantastic in the quality of care they take to make each meal. From the cleanliness (they have never failed a health inspection from the City of Milwaukee Health Department) to the preparing of the meal, to the serving of the food and the most dreaded part -- cleaning all the trays from the students. Imagine preparing a meal for 280+ people everyday and cleaning up.

Then there is the principal, Sister Marianne, who, throughout the day maintains her pleasant smile no matter what kind of day she is having. From fielding issues with parents, students, and teachers she is always there to talk with about anything. Thank you Sister Marianne, teachers, students and all those who make St. Greg's the school that I choose to send my children -- to the best.

After 17 years of being members of the St. Greg's School community, there are so many things that we love about it. These are a few that come to mind:

- We love that our children were given the chance to play sports, make life-long
friends, and feel a part of this place that they called school.

- We appreciate the strong values and excellent education our children received.
The teachers truly go the extra mile to get to know each child.

- We appreciate the extra concern given to a sick or sickly child. We are amazed at how compassionate and thoughtful the children of St. Greg's can be.

- We love that when we walk down the hall, teachers, staff and children alike,
address us by name.

We have been here a long time and we've seen many changes. One thing hasn't changed, however, and that is the love that is evident in this school; love for our Lord Jesus, a love for each child, and a love for each other.

I chose a Catholic education for my daughter because I want her to learn how to "pray and show up". How to pray for peace, and show up to work for justice. Pray for wisdom, and show up as a leader with vision and hope. Pray for... a miracle, and show up to inspire faith that God is working all things for good.

I can't think of an institution that does a better job of producing people who can pray and show up than Catholic schools. And this world needs more people who know that it is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.

When we first toured St. Greg's we were looking for the things that Catholic schools are known for: academic excellence, Catholic values, high expectations, committed parents and a caring community. At St. Greg's, we found that and more.

We found a school that has been honored for 16 years with an Award of Exemplary Recognition by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee for its outstanding achievement in the areas of "Curriculum, Instruction & Resources" and "Special Needs". A school with full-time teachers of Art, Music, Spanish and Physical Education. A school with a full-time Special Learning Needs teacher -- something so unusual in a Catholic school that St. Greg's has served as a model archdiocese-wide. A school with creative and innovative ideas and an exceptionally warm and nurturing atmosphere.

And, we found Sr. Marianne, St. Greg's principal. She is a nun, a School Sister of Notre Dame, who provides not only strong administrative leadership, but strong spiritual leadership as well, and we are so blessed to have her. Sr. Marianne reminds us, in countless ways, of who we are at St. Greg's -- a community of positive people learning, loving and living our faith.

A few months after Cecilia started kindergarten at St. Greg's, I let her eat dinner on a tray in the TV room one night. As I left the room, I heard her begin to pray over her meal, all by herself with no prompting.

This year St. Greg's won the PB & J Challenge for collecting the most peanut butter and jelly per student for donation to Wisconsin's Second Harvest, an organization that feeds the hungry. St. Greg's has been the top fundraising school for Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart for the last two years.

At St. Greg's, my daughter is learning more every day about how to pray and show up. And, as I volunteer for a committee, help with JMJ or attend an all-school liturgy, I am too.

I have been a member of St. Greg's parish and a school parent for the past 13 years. I have found my experience here a very positive one. Through the school and parish I have met so many wonderful people who are a very important part of my and my family's lives. I have chosen a Catholic school for my children's education because our faith is the most important thing for us.

I volunteer in the office occasionally, and what I have experienced there is a kind, loving atmosphere for the children, whether they are sick, need to call a parent because they have forgotten something at home, or even when the children are there for behavioral problems. All of the children are treated with respect and kindness! I have seen the staff and Sr. Marianne go above and beyond their call of duty because they care about the children. I feel fortunate that I am a part of such a wonderful community.

I am a graduate of St. Veronica Elementary School and Thomas More High School. I am extremely thankful for the education that I received, but it is more than knowledge of history, math, or science that I appreciate. The atmosphere in a Catholic school is different. This was a priority for my parents and their action to sacrifice for us made quite an impression. While sending all six of us to Catholic school, my Mom was one of those "yes" moms. You know, the Girl Scout leader, coach, softball coordinator, etc. I cherish her gift of time and realize how important it is that I share that gift as well. The time we give to the school, parish, and our kids is key to keeping the atmosphere in a Catholic education at its best.

I want my kids to feel like the education they receive is a gift as well. I want my children to feel comfortable with prayer and never feel that they cannot speak freely about Easter or Christmas. I want our faith to be a part of each day. I want my children to be with compassionate teachers, possessing the ability to reach out to the student's individual needs. I want my kids to feel important. I feel we have that here at St. Greg's.

When Matisen was about to start school I decided to do some homework to find the best Catholic school for us. I called area high schools to see where the most successful students were coming from. St. Gregory the Great was recommended. I toured a few schools, but it was no question where we would send Mati once I met Stacey Peck. She was the school secretary, had three daughters in the school and loved it. She gave me a tour with such enthusiasm that I was convinced. We immediately joined the parish.

Last year, we found out first hand how fortunate we are to have the staff that we do at St. Greg's. Mati was injured during Gym class and we needed to take her for stitches. Sherry (our school secretary) was so calm and comforting for Mati. She took care of our daughter like she was her own. Sherry is a wonderful asset for our school. Upon returning home, (five stitches later), there was a message from Mrs. Sue Backus (our gym teacher) expressing her concern for Mati. By placing that call, she made Mati feel important and cared for. Mati's response was "Wow, I feel so special that my teacher would call like that, Mom". I believe that the love that our teachers and staff have for our students is something to never be taken for granted.

We are extremely thankful for Mrs. Lepak this year as well. She has been a wonderful teacher. She has taken an active role in addressing the needs of her students. She encourages Mati to grow and mature in her faith. She challenges her to become a better person academically, emotionally, and spiritually. Mati has become an inspiration to me. She came out of her First Reconciliation and said, "I felt God's Grace". The dedication that this parish has to encouraging children to deepen their faith is wonderful. Jo Therese and "Ms. Cindy" have made such an impression on Mati. We are very thankful for the time they give to our kids.

I think that sometimes we tend to focus on the negative things and forget how fortunate we are. There will always be problems, conflicts, and issues wherever you go in life. I believe that because of the community we have at St. Greg's, my daughter will make better choices. She inspires me to be a better Catholic. I am proud to say that because of my daughter and her faith I have chosen to be confirmed this year. It has been such a remarkable experience for me. I have really come to love being involved at this parish and school. I am thankful to all of my friends here at St. Greg's for their involvement and dedication to this school.