Congresswoman Susan W. Brooks (R-IN5) will visit Our Lady of Mount Carmel (OLMC) School to recognize OLMC School on being named a National Blue Ribbon School.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recognized OLMC School in September as one of 335 National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2015, and one of only 50 private schools, based on their overall academic excellence. During her visit, the Congresswoman will meet with the newly elected members of the OLMC student council, tour the school, and take questions from the student body.
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students either achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap. OLMC School was named an ‘Exemplary High Performing School,’ meaning that it is among Indiana’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests and student performance and high school graduation rates are among the highest levels. OLMC School is one of only ten schools in the state of Indiana to receive the National Blue Ribbon designation this year, and was recognized in a ceremony in early November in Washington, D.C. The OLMC School application for the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program is available online here: http://nationalblueribbonschools.ed.gov/awardwinners/winning/15in145pv_our_lady_of_mount_carmel_school.html
Our Lady of Mount Carmel School strives to be “a Christ-Centered community that provides excellence in education to meet the needs of the whole child.” Located just north of Indianapolis in Carmel, Indiana, this K-8 Catholic school serves 665 students. Begun in 1956, the school sees its mission as one of the ministries of the parish community. The relationships that thrive among families, faculty, religious sisters, students, and alumni exemplify the school’s strength. The common vision of the school as a family united in Christ can be seen as students, parents, and faculty move purposefully together in faith toward the goal of union with Christ. Combined with the mutual support between faculty and parents, the spirit of a strong family atmosphere prevails at the school.
OLMC’s strong Catholic identity is seen in common prayer at Mass, daily school-wide morning and afternoon prayers, and prayer in classrooms throughout the day. Priests and parishioners assist in catechesis for the students. Since its founding, religious orders have taught and administered in the school; the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation from Nashville, Tennessee, began serving here in 2003. The parish’s tithing model provides a tuition-free education to children of all registered parishioners.
A strong academic curriculum is enhanced by a wide variety of extracurricular activities such as band, choir, and athletics. In order to adequately serve the students’ academic needs in the 21st century, the school encourages and supports both students and teachers to work with a variety of technological tools for education. To learn more about OLMC School, please visit its website at: http://www.olmc1.org/school/.