4 • Call 1.800.348.4732 In 1984, during her freshman year at Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School, Judi MacLeod remembers seeing a family who had a child with Down syndrome. They’d show up at football games and school events, but the child never was allowed to attend CJ. “I remember thinking, ‘why not?’” says Judi. It was a question the CJ community began asking itself, too. In 1999, Judi, who by now was a math teacher at the school, was asked to launch a special education program that became known as Cuvilly (pronounced Coo-villy), named in honor of St. Julie Billiart, one of the school’s namesakes. St. Julie was born in Cuvilly, France, and had experienced paralysis in her youth. Cuvilly started out in a small room, away from other students. “The first day, we had three kids,” recalls Judi. Within 24 hours, they had 10. Today, Cuvilly is widely hailed as one of the most comprehensive Catholic high school special education programs in Southwest Ohio. Currently, 108 kids out of a student body of 680, receive special support services. That’s one in every seven students. What’s more, the program now occupies a location in the center of the school, and Cuvilly students are main- streamed into academics, extracurricular programs, retreats — “all of our school functions, as much as possible,” says John Marshall, principal. “The students in the Cuvilly program fit seamlessly into the fabric of our school.” The success of the program mirrors the school’s willingness to regard Cuvilly students as having special gifts and abilities, just as it would any student. The numbers bear this out. “Fifty percent of our students in the Cuvilly program attend four-year colleges,” says Marshall. “The other 50 percent is enrolled in two-year college programs. We looked at the data recently, and I was shocked. They are earning college degrees in keeping with — or even higher — than our traditional students.” Part of these students’ successes can be attributed to the school’s staff. “I am blown away by the resiliency of our staff and our leadership to stand by this unique program,” says Marshall. ALL PHOTOS: ANDY SNOW Almost 20 years ago, a Marianist-sponsored school in Dayton, Ohio, introduced a program for students with special needs — and has never been the same. By Jan D. Dixon “THE STUDENTS IN THE CUVILLY PROGRAM FIT SEAMLESSLY INTO THE FABRIC OF OUR SCHOOL.” — John Marshall, principal WHERE GOD HANGS OUT Judi MacLeod, director of Cuvilly, teaches sign language, the foreign language requirement for Cuvilly participants. Opposite page: “Jayla has never missed a day of school. She loves it,” says her mom, Pam Glover. Jayla, a Cuvilly student, displays a recent art project.