Chaminade Julienne High School (CJHS) in Dayton celebrates two milestone anniversaries this year: their 50th as a co-educational school and the 10th of its Senior

Capstone Project program that celebrates the impact of Catholic social teaching. The program is now integral to the school and a hallmark of the schools’ original founders—the Society of Mary and the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.

The Society of Mary established St. Mary’s School for Boys in 1850 and changed the school’s name to the University of Dayton in 1920. The high school remained on campus until it purchased the building owned by Notre Dame Academy de Julienne in 1927 and became Chaminade High School, Dayton’s first Catholic high school for boys. Notre Dame Academy was founded in 1886 as a private secondary school for girls by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. After selling its building to the Marianists in 1927, the school moved to a 14-acre estate and changed its name to Julienne High School, to honor the Sisters of Notre Dame founder, St. Julie Billiart.

The schools merged to become Chaminade Julienne High School in 1973, returning the girls school to its original building. St. Joseph Commercial High School merged with them in 1974, expanding the student body further.

“At the beginning, there was no guarantee that this was going to work,” said Dan Meixner, Chaminade Julienne president and 1984 alumni. “To be able to look back and honor those people who did the planning and hard work of making this happen is one of the best parts of this.”

Celebration of this 50th anniversary is magnified by the 10th anniversary of CJHS’ Senior Capstone Project. Through it, “students have been empowered to see themselves as agents of change in our world,” said Molly Bardine, capstone coordinator and English teacher. “[They] see themselves as part of the Church and recognize leadership qualities.”

“The seniors form groups and identify an issue of Catholic social teaching that was impactful to them,” said Meixner. “They research the issue and develop a project to directly impact that particular issue.”

One group helped a band program get started in a local Catholic elementary school serving poverty-impacted students. The group reached out to the Chaminade Julienne community requesting instruments no longer in use, then worked with a local music company to restore those instruments.

Each student group presents its research and projects at the Sister Dorothy Stang Symposium in the spring. An alumna of the school, Sister Dorothy Stang, SNDdeN was a missionary in Brazil and martyred there in 2005.

“She embodies what a true servant leader is in our contemporary world,” said Bardine, “The … project honors her life and work and, I believe, is one of the best ways we keep her life and legacy alive.”

“We hope that they take away … the recognition that it doesn’t matter how old you are, you can impact something, and we should all have a heart for trying to bring about a more just world,” said Meixner.

In recognition of the Senior Capstone Project, the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) presented Chaminade Julienne with the Karen M. Ristau Innovation Award on April 1. “[The award recognizes] unique programming that has been impactful in their schools, to hold it up as an example for other Catholic schools to look at,” said Meixner.

“We’re pleased to be recognized,” said Meixner. “It represents a significant effort on behalf of the whole school community.” Each group has a staff member mentor who volunteers to shepherd the students.

This article appeared in the May 2024 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.