School News

Meet the Marian Scholars

Fall Semester 2021 of The Word Magazine
In the 2020-2021 school year, DSHA introduced the Marian Scholars Program, an inclusive education program for young women with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Students in the program are aided both academically and socially by peer mentors and faculty members. They also participate in all aspects of the DSHA experience. In the 2021-22 school year, the program has expanded to offer this college-prep, Catholic, and all-girls education to multiple young women, with hopes of providing additional girls this unique experience in the coming years.
MAGGIE SWEENEY, DSHA ’23
 
Previous school: Wauwatosa East High School
 
Peer mentors: Carys Abbott, DSHA ’22; Maggie Caraher, DSHA ’22; Sarah Daniels, DSHA ’23; Carolina Ewig, DSHA ’22; Katelyn Kohloff, DSHA ’22; Leah Laeuger, DSHA ’23; Jane Martin, DSHA ’23; Yesenia Morales, DSHA ’23; Izzie Nielsen, DSHA ’23; Sofia Spano, DSHA ’23; Molly Reardon, DSHA ’23
 
DSHA favorites:
  • Class | Applied Wellness and Acting I: Intro to Theatre
  • Faith-based offering | Singing We Are One Body at Mass
  • Non-academic activity | Participating in the DSHA Dance Team
Co-curriculars/activities: Best Buddies co-curricular; Yearbook co-curricular; ensemble member in DSHA’s fall musical Disney’s Freaky Friday

What she loves most about DSHA and the all-girls atmosphere: “I love the girls here. I’ve made good friends who know me pretty well. The teachers here on staff are great, especially (Marian Scholars Faculty) Gretchen Caraher and (Director of Marian Scholars) Mary Anderson who bring us kindness and joy. Some of my relatives are Dashers too, and I just love being a Dasher.”

MIA RUGE, DSHA ’24

Grade school: St. Robert Catholic School

Peer mentors: Stephanie Arenal-Copto, DSHA ’22; Ella Bressanelli, DSHA ’22; Maggie Caraher, DSHA ’22; Mary Czarnecki, DSHA ’23; Rachel Gauthier, DSHA ’22; Danielle Hart, DSHA ’22; Ava Jenkins, DSHA ’22; Maeve Pickart, DSHA ’23; Maura Walsh, DSHA ’22

DSHA favorites:
  • Class | U.S. History and Art Foundations
  • Faith-based offering | Leading all-school afternoon prayer
  • Non-academic activity | Immaculate Conception/Our Lady of Guadalupe All-School Mass
Co-curriculars/activities: Best Buddies co-curricular; member of Campus Ministry service collections team

What she loves most about DSHA and the all-girls atmosphere: “I’m a foodie so I like to visit Connie and Angelica in the cafeteria and ask what they are serving. I like saying good morning to everyone in the hallways. I like to giggle with the girls in my carpool. And of course, I love (Retired Social Studies Faculty) Sue Goulee.”

LILI GOMEZ, DSHA ’25

Grade school: St. Sebastian Catholic School and St. Coletta Day School of Milwaukee

Peer mentors: Bridget Barry, DSHA ’23; Andrea Cardenas, DSHA ’24; Zanyla Comer, DSHA ’22; Nora Quesnell, DSHA ’22; Sophia Rifelj-Hammernik, DSHA ’22; Fernanda Sandoval, DSHA ’23; Sophia Simon, DSHA ’23; Kayla Vanderhoef, DSHA ’23

DSHA favorites:
  • Class | Algebra I, College Prep English I, Spanish I
  • Faith-based offering | Listening to all-school prayer twice a day to connect to God and reading all-school prayer
  • Non-academic activity | Attending assemblies
Co-curriculars/activities: Best Buddies co-curricular; running concessions at a past DSHA Varsity Basketball game

What she loves most about DSHA and the all-girls atmosphere: “I like that there are no distractions from boys and that I’m starting to make good friends. I like that I get good grades on homework and tests, as well as the good education I am getting here.”

A GROWING PROGRAM 

DSHA has welcomed Macy Damon, DSHA ’26, to the Marian Scholars Program for the spring semester. In the 2022-23 school year, DSHA will have six Marian Scholars.

MARIAN SCHOLARS PROGRAM CURRICULUM

Each scholar’s schedule is carefully designed with input from parents/ guardians, teachers, and the girls themselves. Every girl in the Marian Scholars Program has a schedule that includes a combination of general education academic and elective classes, as well as special education classes in reading, writing, and math that are specifically designed for students in the program.

Sample Freshman Schedule
1st period | Academic Reading*
2nd period | Functional Math*
3rd period | College Prep English I
4th period | Applied Wellness Seminar
5th period | Cultures and Civilizations
6th period | The Bible: The Living Word of God
7th period | Camerata Choir
8th period | World Language
*Classes designed and taught specifically
for students in the Marian Scholars Program.

THE MARIAN SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND THE COLLEGE-PREP EXPERIENCE 

The Marian Scholars Program is one of many ways DSHA lives out its Catholic, Salvatorian mission. It fosters a spirit of inclusivity that was modeled by Mary, the Mother Our Savior, as well as Blessed Mary of the Apostles and Blessed Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan, the founders of the Salvatorians. In addition, the program assists DSHA in embracing the great mosaic of all God’s children.

While the link between the Marian Scholars Program and DSHA’s Catholic identity is clear, there is also a connection between the program and the overall college-prep experience that benefits not only the Marian Scholars, but all students inside the classroom and in the community at large as young women prepare for life beyond the walls of DSHA.

“This program prepares me for the world outside of DSHA because I am able to develop skills that allow me to communicate with different people on deeper levels. I have learned it is important to reach out to those who are often left out due to something they cannot control, to make them feel as loved and welcomed as anyone else. I am learning how to create a more connected community.”
— Leah Laeuger, DSHA ’23, peer mentor of Sweeney

“In an inclusive classroom, peer mentors are the ‘secret sauce'; the Marian Scholars learn much more alongside a peer than an adult….The peer mentors also work with the instructor to accommodate and modify concepts for the Marian Scholar if needed. In accommodating and modifying the class material, learning
takes place.”
— Director of Marian Scholars Mary Anderson

Because Mia is fully included, she stays engaged in the classroom. Her peer mentors are models to her. It helps that she learns side-by-side with her peers because it motivates her and helps her stay more focused and engaged."
— Mark and Mary Ruge, Ruge’s parents

“We celebrate different upbringings and backgrounds and make that a part of the classroom, especially when it comes to history. History is not seen through one perspective, and we learn how to look and understand perspectives in a respectful way. In the classroom, it’s about learning and growing through your classmates."
— Social Studies Faculty Dan Demeter, Cultures and Civilizations teacher of Gomez and her freshman classmates

“In class discussions, we take Liliana’s ideas into account and build off of her ideas, which helps all of us understand the material better."
— Maeve Steger, DSHA ’25, classmate of Gomez in Cultures and Civilizations course

“When Mia and I work on note taking and studying, I pick up study tips. My studying has been more effective because of it. I’ve also learned that explaining more difficult information to Mia has helped my own understanding of concepts. I really have to know something to explain it.”
— Ava Jenkins, DSHA ’22, peer mentor of Ruge

MARIAN SCHOLARS PEER MENTORS

DSHA’s Marian Scholars Program relies on a peer mentoring component. Each Marian Scholar attends each class period with a different peer mentor who has previously taken the course. This mentor helps the student engage in class, offers curriculum modifications, and lends support as needed.

Dual-Credit Opportunity
In the 2022-23 school year, peer mentors will have the opportunity to receive dual credit for their participation. Dual-credit courses allow students to take college credit-bearing courses by college-approved high school teachers. Peer mentors will participate in Mount Mary’s dual-credit program and earn college credit for the course EDU 405, titled “Introduction to Exceptional Learners.”

To learn more about the DSHA Marian Scholars, visit dsha.info/MarianScholars or contact Director of Marian Scholars Program Mary Anderson or Marian Scholars Faculty Gretchen Caraher, DSHA ’93. 

Back

    • Maggie Sweeney, DSHA '23

    • Mia Ruge, DSHA '24

    • Lili Gomez, DSHA '25

    • Peer Mentor Ava Jenkins, DSHA ’22 (far right), organized a birthday party for Marian Scholar Mia Ruge, DSHA ’24 (middle, in red DSHA polo) and her favorite teachers.

    • Director of Marian Scholars Mary Anderson

    • Marian Scholars Faculty Gretchen Caraher, DSHA '93

Comments:

Date Posted Arrow down
  • Fran Knoll (Sadowski’72)
    3/22/2022 @ 10:16 AM
    Love that DSHA is doing this. The Marian Scholars are the real gift to the school and to all of us. Kudos

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