Pope Newsletter
Updates from the Pius XI Office of Admissions
Dear Future Popes and Parents,
I am grateful to Jeanna and our wonderful Admissions team for the opportunity to welcome you to the Pius XI Catholic High School community. My name is Mark Backe, and I graduated from Pius XI in 1982, but my connection to this school runs deeper than that. I currently serve as the chair of Pius XI’s board of directors, and not too long ago, both of my children attended Pius XI, one graduating in 2014 and the other in 2016. Like many of you are doing, we strongly considered other schools along with Pius XI. It’s a significant decision, and there are a lot of good schools to choose from. I encourage you to weigh what’s most important to you. For our family, strong academics, a wide range of extracurricular activities, supportive faculty and coaches, the TAC structure, the diversity of the student body, the Catholic faith environment, the strong performing and visual arts programs, and a proven ability to place graduates at strong universities like UW, Marquette, and many others were enough to persuade us to look at the school. But what convinced us that Pius XI was the right school was the vibe that we first glimpsed when we attended an open house – a sense of authentic community shared by so many of the students. The kind of community that seemed to embrace each person as an individual and to help each student discover their own talents and gifts. Unlike some other schools, Pius XI was in the business of helping students become who they are uniquely called to be.
I am proud to be associated with Pius XI and I am excited about the work that the Administration, Faculty, Coaches, and the Board are doing to make our school even stronger. Parents, if you have a question you’d like to ask me, please email me at mjbacke@sbcglobal.net. In any event, I wish you all the best as you make your selection.
Go Popes!
Mark Backe
Pius XI Winter Preview Event
Did you miss Open House? Have you been meaning to schedule a tour? Or do you just need one last look? We invite you to join us for an evening of tours at the Pius XI Winter Preview Event on Tuesday, March 1. This event is best for 7th and 8th grade students and parents, and will feature tours led by a current Pius XI student. The Admissions team as well as our President, Mr. Jack Herbert, will be available to answer questions as well. Pre-registration is required by filling out the registration form found HERE. We hope you can join us!
Scholarship Competition Winners
We thank all of the students who took time out of their schedules to compete for merit based scholarships! And the winners are:
Math
1st Place: Michael - Mother of Good Counsel
2nd Place: Michael - Catholic East
3rd Place (tie): Gabe - St. Marcus
3rd Place (tie): Julia - St. Jude
Science
1st Place: Michael - Mother of Good Counsel
2nd Place: Gabby - St. Dominic
3rd Place: Julia - St. Jude
English
1st Place: Julia - St. Jude
2nd Place: Alice - Woodlands
3rd Place: Brigid - St. Dominic
Honorable Mention: Nicholas - Woodlands
Performing Arts - Dance
1st Place: Zofia - AE Burdick
2nd Place: Alice - Woodlands
3rd Place: Ayanna - Golda Meir
Performing Arts - Theater
1st Place: Alice - Woodlands
2nd Place: Paxton - Woodlands
3rd Place: Dannyka - St. Agnes
Honorable Mention: Maya - St. Agnes
Honorable Mention: Rachel - Indian Community School
Performing Arts - Vocal Music
1st Place: Alice - Woodlands
2nd Place: Paxton - Woodlands
3rd Place: Kennedy - Mary Queen of Saints Catholic Academy
Performing Arts - Band
1st Place: Cassandra - Mary Queen of Saints Catholic Academy
Performing Arts - Piano
1st Place: Orion - Our Lady Queen of Peace
2nd Place: Michael - Mother of Good Counsel
Performing Arts - Guitar
1st Place: Hannah - Christ King
Performing Arts - Orchestra
1st Place: Julia - St. Jude
2nd Place: Jacob - Lane Intermediate
Visual Arts
1st Place: Ellie - Frank Lloyd Wright Middle School
2nd Place: Brigid - St. Dominic
3rd Place: Paxton - Woodlands
Advanced Drawing Achievement: Ginger - North Middle School
Exemplary Sculpture: Nicholas - Woodlands
A huge congratulations to all of our winners!
Class of 2026 Course Selection Night
If you still need to schedule a course selection appointment, please email amullooly@piusxi.org and we will reach out to you next week with an alternate date.
World Language Survey
If you did not complete the survey at Course Selection Night, had a virtual appointment, or have an upcoming course selection appointment, please complete the survey HERE.
The World Language Department will offer a placement test in French and Spanish during the week of May 23-27. A link to the placement test will be emailed, and your student will be able to complete the test virtually. More details to come!
Athletic Survey
Organized sports are a big part of high school for many students. The Pius XI Athletic Department wants to make sure that they have reached out to all of the student athletes in the Class of 2026 with information regarding coaching, registration, and try out dates.
Please take a few moments to fill out this brief survey HERE regarding athletics for the upcoming school year. This is the best way to get your student on the radar of specific coaches.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email Kate Radosevic in the Athletic Office at kradosevic@piusxi.org.
Final MPCP Reminder
We strongly encourage families not to wait until the last day to apply or send in documents as there will be no time to modify applications if something needs to be changed.
For families who are applying for Milwaukee or Wisconsin Parental Choice, the application is available on the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's website: https://dpi.wi.gov/parental-education-options/choice-programs.
After submitting a Choice application the DPI sends an auto generated email confirming receipt of the application. Please make sure to read the email and submit supporting documents such as proof of residency and/or proof of income to piusxichoiceprogram@piusxi.org. Supporting documents may also be dropped off in an envelope with your student's name in the drop box located next to the main office doors.
Choice questions may be directed to Grace Hein at ghein@piusxi.org.
Tuition/Fee Schedule
Tuition, books, and fees will total $13,900 for the 2022-2023 school year. This breaks down as follows: $100 registration fee, $500 book/technology fee, and tuition of $13,300.
2022-2023 Curriculum Guide
What's happening at Pius XI?
Service
Basketball
Our Girls Varsity Basketball team - ranked #1 in the area - beat Woodland East Division champ South Milwaukee Wednesday night! The girls also received a #1 Sectional seed and begin Regional play Friday, February 25 at home. Their next game is Saturday night, 7pm, at Oak Creek. Good Lady Popes!
The Boys Varsity Basketball team takes on West Allis Central tonight and it's Alumni Night! The 1975 and 1976 State Championship Teams will be honored prior to the Varsity warmups, and many of the guys will be in attendance, including our very own Lady Popes Coach, Scott Herrick '75!
Bowling
Powerlifting
Powerlifting competed at Germantown on Saturday. The team had 20 top 3 finishes and medal winners! The JV Girls team of Sherlyn Ramirez, Samantha Franke, Hannah Peters, Noella Weger, Vivian Falk, Stephanie Guarardo, Maisie Nolan, Yaleska Relles and Jayda Kelly took 1st place in the team competition!
A big congratulations to Mia Amador, Francisco Lopez and Drew Peters for qualifying for the State Meet in a few weeks!
Swim/Dive Team
The Swim/Dive team finished 3rd at Sectionals and Murphy Roszak qualified for State as part of the 200 Medley Relay and the 200 Freestyle Relay! The WIAA State Meet is this Saturday. Sam Shelton and George Officer will be alternates for those relays. Good luck Murphy!
Wrestling
Congratulations to Varsity Wrestlers, Netello Cicero-Hardiman and Harris Gegenhuber, who placed 2nd at Regionals! They will advance to the Sectionals this Saturday at Waupun. Good luck Pius XI Wrestlers!
Summer Camps 2022
Please contact Kate Radosevic with questions at kradosevic@piusxi.org.
Athletic and Academic Camp Registration
Strength and Speed Registration
Contact Information
Our office is more than happy to help you with any questions you have! Please find our contact information below. Please note that the quickest way to get ahold of us during this time is email.
- Kelly Sparacino, Admissions Coordinator, ksparacino@piusxi.org (Questions regarding the admissions application process, Ravenna and general admissions questions)
- Angela Mullooly, Admissions Outreach Manager, amullooly@piusxi.org (Questions regarding student visit and personal tour opportunities, general admissions questions)
- Jeanna Bunke, Admissions Director, jbunke@piusxi.org (Questions regarding funding – scholarships and financial aid and general admissions questions)
- Grace Hein, Student Finance Coordinator, ghein@piusxi.org (Questions regarding the Milwaukee and Wisconsin Parental Choice Programs)
Contact Information
- Jeanna Bunke, Admissions Director, jbunke@piusxi.org, ext. 217
- Angela Mullooly, Admissions Outreach Manager, amullooly@piusxi.org, ext. 146
- Kelly Sparacino, Admissions Coordinator, ksparacino@piusxi.org, ext. 157
Tuition, Financial Aid, and Choice
- Grace Hein, Business Manager, ghein@piusxi.org, ext. 135
Email: admissions@piusxi.org
Website: www.piusxi.org
Location: 135 North 76th Street, Milwaukee, WI, USA
Phone: 414-290-7000
Facebook: facebook.com/@piusxihighschool
Twitter: @PiusXIHigh