June 26, 2025 • 8 mins
COMAPNY'S COMING! Our neighbors from Nativity Academy at Saint Boniface dropped by to visit. Their highly acclaimed Catholic middle school has an amazing story to tell.
Thanks to Lauren Alderman, Andrea Peavler, and Megan Weyland for throwing the spotlight on their academic superstars!
Thanks to Lauren Alderman, Andrea Peavler, and Megan Weyland for throwing the spotlight on their academic superstars!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Neighbors from Nativity Academy at Saint Boniface. We have several
nice people here in the studio. I got all kinds
of guests coming in today. This is kind of fun,
kind of a nice little change of pace here. Megan
Whalen is the president over at Nativity Academy at Saint Boniface.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Hi, Megan, Hi, Terry, thanks for having us.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Oh, you're so welcome. It's going to be. I drive
right by there all the time.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
When i'm going, so many people say that, well.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Your signage is good. That's what that means. Andrea Peebler's
the principal high there.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Great to see you see.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
And also Lauren Alderman is with us. And you're a
fundraiser for those school.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
I do the advancement and events.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Yep, all right, so let's start with uh. I guess
we'll start with you, Megan. This is a middle school,
but this is a magical middle school. Tell me about it.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
That's exactly right. So we are a just on from
the outside looking in. We're a traditional Catholic middle school.
But the differences is that we're non tuition driven, so
we're full scholarship intentionally for families that would want a
private Catholic education for their families. But we're for whom
tuition is a barrier nice and so we take out
(01:10):
that barrier and offer them what all of us in
Louisville know well, which is an excellent Catholic education. And
then what we add that isn't always easy to see
from the outside looking in.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Is required after school programming.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
So we keep our kids late every day study halls,
enrichment activities, and also in the summer for summer programming.
And then really our touchstone piece is our graduate support programming.
So we say Nativity for life. When a kid comes
in as a sixth grader, we are going to follow
with that student and family to and through high school
(01:47):
and college and even after into post secondary.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
That's pretty phenomenal. That's at Saint Boniface, that's correct.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Yeah, we're in the old Saint Boniface Catholic School building
on what street is that? That's on Liberty East Liberty
yep to nine et Liberty.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Because I know I've got to go bolting home that
way after all, the big infrance to I sixty four,
and let's say use the innerstate of going through the
neighbor the neighbor.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
And that's because Father Tim Hogan, at the time God
rests his soul, was the pastor at Saint Boniface and
he was a social worker. And so what he was
doing with that old Saint Boniface Catholic School building before
he met Sister Paula was housing teenagers who needed a
place to stay basically overnight, and so he had kind
(02:33):
of a dorm thing going on there, but also some
after school programming. And when he and Sister Paula cross
paths and realized that instead of just after school and overnight,
let's really get them at that fork in the road
age adolescence and.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
And do the whole shebang.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
You're talking about my girlfriend, Sister Paula playing allowed to date.
She She's been on my show multiple times over here.
She's just been a phenomenal person for me to engage
with and practice my Catholic ping ponging. How many students
are we talking about at school?
Speaker 4 (03:11):
We so far this past year had forty three, but
right now enrollments up to forty seven, and we're still
accepting applications and we have people still picking up packets
and calling in about interest. So we usually see that
really close up to the beginning of the school year too.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Yeah, and they extend the day Megan's referencing too. That
means you have some really dedicated people who obviously are
working longer hours than just school.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
Yes, we have very dedicated educators, faculty, and staff. We
definitely look at Nativity as a family in a community
and partnerships. We have so many amazing community partnerships, so
many that work with us and places where our students
go and they come in and do things as well.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
So, Lauren, how in the world is all this getting
paid for? It sounds like we're on a game show.
This is a magical Yeah, dedicated parents, dedicated teachers, and
no one has to pay for it. So I'm thinking
there's more to this story.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Yes, we have some amazing relationships.
Speaker 5 (04:09):
We've been around us since over twenty years now, so
we have we do it golf Scramble.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
We do a auction coming up October. Second.
Speaker 5 (04:17):
We do give for Good a lot of those programs grants,
but our lifeblood is our student sponsorship programs. So we
pair donors they can sponsor student for a whole year.
They meet, they get the opportunity to meet that student,
get letters from that student and really get plugged into
them for their entire middle school education. And that's a
common thread with all of the Nativity Miguel, we're part
(04:40):
of a nationwide coalition, and that's you get that individual
connection where you see the proof of where your money's
going to educate these kids.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Yeah, and obviously you're helping somebody springboard intto becoming their
best self.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Yes.
Speaker 5 (04:55):
And with the Catholic school high schools we have here
in the city, they partner so well with us. We
get to go into those schools, have regular meetings with them,
keep them on track, get them exposed to as much
as we possibly can. So we're very lucky here in
Louisville with the Catholic education we can offer.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
So like, Andrew, are you a feeder school for various
Catholic schools or basically high schools?
Speaker 4 (05:17):
I mean, honestly, the majority of our students do go
to the Catholic high schools, so pretty much, yes, I
would say we are a feeder. We do all of them,
a very big variety. I've been in the archdiocese. This
will be my twentieth year, and I spent the past
fifteen before I came to Nativity this year at Mercy Academy.
(05:37):
So I've even taught multiple Nativity students throughout that experience.
So yes, and that's where we also get to stay
very connected because of knowing just how small large Louisville is,
but how small that Catholic community is. So all those
connections I've made throughout the years as well, I'm now
working with those people to help our students get into
those schools.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
How do these students prove that they want to they
really want to come in and work hard at this?
I mean, is there a is there a test that's given?
Is there are there certain keystones have to be met
throughout their academic run.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
So we have a We do have.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
A rigorous application process where we don't just ask the
students and families to submit paperwork, but we also couple
traditional transcript paperwork with financial paperwork. The families have to
demonstrate that they do actually qualify for the tuition assistance
at our school. And then we also conduct family and
student interviews. We have a shadow day, and uh sometimes
(06:38):
some are programming also as a little tryout.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
I'm thinking that no one is pointing at your test
score results and saying we need we need help here? Right,
It's like you're you're you're on top of these kids, right, Yes,
we are various business.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
Yes, we are on top of them. And because of
the amazing teachers and staff that we have, we're in
the relationship that we have. We are really able to
work one on one with the kids. The teachers are
able to provide differentiation in ways that you're not maybe
getting everywhere, and a small just being in that smaller
(07:12):
environment so they really truly get to know the kids.
We have a learning coordinator, so we all work my
learning coordinator, myself and my counselor we work together every
single day to just double check everything in the morning.
And then yes, but with test scores and those materials,
we're on that and then we're using that to help
inform instruction in the classroom for the teachers.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
So where do we need help, Lauren? Is it with
folks who sponsor students?
Speaker 5 (07:38):
I think twofold. We really try to push two things.
One enrollment, getting our name out there. We want to
have a wait list, you know, we are not at
the point where we're anywhere near full capacity. And then yes,
whether it's volunteerism, board relationships, local grants, but we'll take
any donors that do you want to send my way.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Tell me the website. I'll do that.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Okay.
Speaker 5 (08:01):
It's a Nativitylouisville dot org and we're on social media
and uh, we'd love to hear from you.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Lauren Alderman's good to meet you. You too, Andrea the principal,
that's nice. You've got a principal face. You have an approachable,
friendly look. Kids shouldn't be intimidated by the principal, Miss Peeve.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
They call her Miss Peeve.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Sorry forward, Oh yes.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
And Megan Whalen. Great to have all of you in here.
The website again. Nativityleuisville dot org. Back in a minute
on news radio Waight forty w h A. S
Neighbors from Nativity Academy at Saint Boniface. We have several
nice people here in the studio. I got all kinds
of guests coming in today. This is kind of fun,
kind of a nice little change of pace here. Megan
Whalen is the president over at Nativity Academy at Saint Boniface.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Hi, Megan, Hi, Terry, thanks for having us.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Oh, you're so welcome. It's going to be. I drive
right by there all the time.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
When i'm going, so many people say that, well.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Your signage is good. That's what that means. Andrea Peebler's
the principal high there.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Great to see you see.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
And also Lauren Alderman is with us. And you're a
fundraiser for those school.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
I do the advancement and events.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Yep, all right, so let's start with uh. I guess
we'll start with you, Megan. This is a middle school,
but this is a magical middle school. Tell me about it.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
That's exactly right. So we are a just on from
the outside looking in. We're a traditional Catholic middle school.
But the differences is that we're non tuition driven, so
we're full scholarship intentionally for families that would want a
private Catholic education for their families. But we're for whom
tuition is a barrier nice and so we take out
(01:10):
that barrier and offer them what all of us in
Louisville know well, which is an excellent Catholic education. And
then what we add that isn't always easy to see
from the outside looking in.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Is required after school programming.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
So we keep our kids late every day study halls,
enrichment activities, and also in the summer for summer programming.
And then really our touchstone piece is our graduate support programming.
So we say Nativity for life. When a kid comes
in as a sixth grader, we are going to follow
with that student and family to and through high school
(01:47):
and college and even after into post secondary.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
That's pretty phenomenal. That's at Saint Boniface, that's correct.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Yeah, we're in the old Saint Boniface Catholic School building
on what street is that? That's on Liberty East Liberty
yep to nine et Liberty.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Because I know I've got to go bolting home that
way after all, the big infrance to I sixty four,
and let's say use the innerstate of going through the
neighbor the neighbor.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
And that's because Father Tim Hogan, at the time God
rests his soul, was the pastor at Saint Boniface and
he was a social worker. And so what he was
doing with that old Saint Boniface Catholic School building before
he met Sister Paula was housing teenagers who needed a
place to stay basically overnight, and so he had kind
(02:33):
of a dorm thing going on there, but also some
after school programming. And when he and Sister Paula cross
paths and realized that instead of just after school and overnight,
let's really get them at that fork in the road
age adolescence and.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
And do the whole shebang.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
You're talking about my girlfriend, Sister Paula playing allowed to date.
She She's been on my show multiple times over here.
She's just been a phenomenal person for me to engage
with and practice my Catholic ping ponging. How many students
are we talking about at school?
Speaker 4 (03:11):
We so far this past year had forty three, but
right now enrollments up to forty seven, and we're still
accepting applications and we have people still picking up packets
and calling in about interest. So we usually see that
really close up to the beginning of the school year too.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Yeah, and they extend the day Megan's referencing too. That
means you have some really dedicated people who obviously are
working longer hours than just school.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
Yes, we have very dedicated educators, faculty, and staff. We
definitely look at Nativity as a family in a community
and partnerships. We have so many amazing community partnerships, so
many that work with us and places where our students
go and they come in and do things as well.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
So, Lauren, how in the world is all this getting
paid for? It sounds like we're on a game show.
This is a magical Yeah, dedicated parents, dedicated teachers, and
no one has to pay for it. So I'm thinking
there's more to this story.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Yes, we have some amazing relationships.
Speaker 5 (04:09):
We've been around us since over twenty years now, so
we have we do it golf Scramble.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
We do a auction coming up October. Second.
Speaker 5 (04:17):
We do give for Good a lot of those programs grants,
but our lifeblood is our student sponsorship programs. So we
pair donors they can sponsor student for a whole year.
They meet, they get the opportunity to meet that student,
get letters from that student and really get plugged into
them for their entire middle school education. And that's a
common thread with all of the Nativity Miguel, we're part
(04:40):
of a nationwide coalition, and that's you get that individual
connection where you see the proof of where your money's
going to educate these kids.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Yeah, and obviously you're helping somebody springboard intto becoming their
best self.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Yes.
Speaker 5 (04:55):
And with the Catholic school high schools we have here
in the city, they partner so well with us. We
get to go into those schools, have regular meetings with them,
keep them on track, get them exposed to as much
as we possibly can. So we're very lucky here in
Louisville with the Catholic education we can offer.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
So like, Andrew, are you a feeder school for various
Catholic schools or basically high schools?
Speaker 4 (05:17):
I mean, honestly, the majority of our students do go
to the Catholic high schools, so pretty much, yes, I
would say we are a feeder. We do all of them,
a very big variety. I've been in the archdiocese. This
will be my twentieth year, and I spent the past
fifteen before I came to Nativity this year at Mercy Academy.
(05:37):
So I've even taught multiple Nativity students throughout that experience.
So yes, and that's where we also get to stay
very connected because of knowing just how small large Louisville is,
but how small that Catholic community is. So all those
connections I've made throughout the years as well, I'm now
working with those people to help our students get into
those schools.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
How do these students prove that they want to they
really want to come in and work hard at this?
I mean, is there a is there a test that's given?
Is there are there certain keystones have to be met
throughout their academic run.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
So we have a We do have.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
A rigorous application process where we don't just ask the
students and families to submit paperwork, but we also couple
traditional transcript paperwork with financial paperwork. The families have to
demonstrate that they do actually qualify for the tuition assistance
at our school. And then we also conduct family and
student interviews. We have a shadow day, and uh sometimes
(06:38):
some are programming also as a little tryout.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
I'm thinking that no one is pointing at your test
score results and saying we need we need help here? Right,
It's like you're you're you're on top of these kids, right, Yes,
we are various business.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
Yes, we are on top of them. And because of
the amazing teachers and staff that we have, we're in
the relationship that we have. We are really able to
work one on one with the kids. The teachers are
able to provide differentiation in ways that you're not maybe
getting everywhere, and a small just being in that smaller
(07:12):
environment so they really truly get to know the kids.
We have a learning coordinator, so we all work my
learning coordinator, myself and my counselor we work together every
single day to just double check everything in the morning.
And then yes, but with test scores and those materials,
we're on that and then we're using that to help
inform instruction in the classroom for the teachers.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
So where do we need help, Lauren? Is it with
folks who sponsor students?
Speaker 5 (07:38):
I think twofold. We really try to push two things.
One enrollment, getting our name out there. We want to
have a wait list, you know, we are not at
the point where we're anywhere near full capacity. And then yes,
whether it's volunteerism, board relationships, local grants, but we'll take
any donors that do you want to send my way.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Tell me the website. I'll do that.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Okay.
Speaker 5 (08:01):
It's a Nativitylouisville dot org and we're on social media
and uh, we'd love to hear from you.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Lauren Alderman's good to meet you. You too, Andrea the principal,
that's nice. You've got a principal face. You have an approachable,
friendly look. Kids shouldn't be intimidated by the principal, Miss Peeve.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
They call her Miss Peeve.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Sorry forward, Oh yes.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
And Megan Whalen. Great to have all of you in here.
The website again. Nativityleuisville dot org. Back in a minute
on news radio Waight forty w h A. S
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