Eager, young, inquisitive and ready to be Eagles, nearly 50 rising seventh and eighth grade students at Our Lady of the Rosary (OLR) will soon join the Chaminade Julienne family as the school’s first middle school students. Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, Chaminade Julienne will expand its academic offerings to include grades seven and eight—a significant milestone in the longstanding partnership between the two schools.
CJ’s request for a charter change was approved in early spring by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, the Ohio Catholic School Accrediting Association (OCSAA), and CJ’s Board of Trustees. This initiative is also fully supported by the school’s owners, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and the Marianists.
“We have been blessed by this partnership over the years which has included the Catholic Schools Office of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati,” said Dan Meixner, president. “This is an exciting next step in that partnership.”
While this marks a formal shift in CJ’s structure, it is far from a new relationship. For the past two years, CJ has hosted OLR’s seventh and eighth grade students on its campus, with OLR renting classroom space in the school’s Founders Center as part of a space-sharing agreement. This agreement allowed OLR to start a preschool program to help serve more families earlier in life. The two schools have collaborated closely for more than a decade, working to strengthen academic preparation and ensure a smooth transition to high school.
Over time, the partnership has yielded meaningful academic results.
“We’ve seen an increase in the number of Our Lady of the Rosary graduates being placed in college prep and honors courses in recent years, which was one of the goals of this collaboration from the beginning,” said Jacki Loffer ‘87, assistant principal at OLR. “OLR graduates are increasingly demonstrating that they are ready for the rigors of high school.”
Students themselves are feeling the impact of that opportunity.
“I feel like it’s a big opportunity to be a part of the first eighth grade class graduating from the CJ Middle School next year,” said Neema Apendeki, a current seventh grade student. “We are making history and have many new experiences ahead of us.”
“The possibility of adding a CJ middle school has been a goal for many years,” said Greg Mueller, principal. “It became more realistic over the last three school years, especially as OLR’s students became a daily part of our campus. While I am grateful to serve as CJ’s principal as the middle school opens,” continued Mueller, “I appreciate all those who have shepherded this idea over the last decade, especially the volunteers on our Board committees who continue to challenge us to envision a bright future for all students.”
Currently, the OLR middle schoolers take a bus each morning from OLR to CJ, where they learn in classroom spaces at the Founders Center and take advantage of additional resources in the high school such as the gym, band room, and STEMM labs. They are supported by a faculty team that includes six teachers — three of whom also teach high school students — an assistant principal, tutors, and other support staff. Meals are provided on campus, and students attend Mass once a week at Our Lady of the Rosary with the younger grades.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to interact more with CJ students and teachers on this great campus,” said Bruke Tefera, seventh grader at OLR. “I am looking forward to using the gym and science labs more.”
Beginning next year, these students will be CJ students — and with that shift comes new opportunities. Without the daily need for transportation from OLR to CJ, there will be more time within the school day to expand enrichment. Social emotional learning (SEL) through the University of Dayton’s ECHO initiative, mentoring from CJ high school students, additional support from EL teachers and math tutors, and weekly art classes at K12 Gallery will help shape a well-rounded experience. Middle school students will also take part in more of CJ’s student life, including Catholic Schools Week, Spirit Week, and the Lenten Mission Drive.
“The benefits for students extend beyond academics,” said Mueller. “By being more fully part of the CJ community, middle schoolers will build strong relationships, grow in faith, and develop the habits and confidence they’ll need to succeed in high school and beyond. Now that these students will officially be part of CJ, we can better align our curriculum and provide the kind of support that prepares them to thrive. They’ll take part in school traditions, grow in their faith life, and benefit from the mentorship of our upperclassmen.”
“I want to have a very positive impact on the younger students next year,” said Johnna Dixon ‘26. “I’m looking forward to being a great role model and safe space for students who may be uncertain about what the future holds. As a senior next year, I plan to be very involved in this change and make it as smooth and welcoming as possible for the middle school students.”
Mentorship has already begun through CJ’s senior capstone program and other student leadership initiatives.
“Our students have seen great examples of leadership from CJ students — whether through Capstone groups working with our students or returning as seniors to present their projects to our seventh and eighth graders,” said Loffer. “Several of our graduates now serve as ambassadors for the school and are involved in clubs like SOMOS, which celebrates different cultures. That kind of leadership development is incredibly powerful.”
Students will continue to attend religion class, prepare for confirmation, and celebrate Mass regularly — both as a small group and with the full student body. CJ’s ministry and service department will also provide opportunities for middle schoolers to engage in service projects and faith-based experiences.
“I am really excited to start my new journey as part of the CJ Middle School,” said seventh grader Kimberly Marquez. “CJ students have been very kind and generous to us this year. I know that new opportunities and experiences are right in front of me.”
For the high school community, the presence of middle school students brings new opportunities as well. Through programs like CJ United, ministry and service, and the senior capstone project, high school students will play an active role in mentoring and welcoming their younger peers.
“Over time, we expect to see other areas of CJ life grow to include the middle school — from performing arts to potentially even athletics,” said Mueller.
“I’m proud of the hard work that has led us to this moment,” said Loffer. “Teachers from both OLR and CJ have worked together for years to make this happen and we wouldn’t be at this point without them. Finding new ways for students to grow in their faith and academics has always been the goal of Catholic schools in Dayton. This is a big change, but both of our schools have always embraced the challenge to build something better for our students.”
The transition continues to facilitate increased enrollment in younger graders at Our Lady of Rosary School, which the school has experienced over the last several years while seventh and eighth graders were on CJ’s campus. Kindergarten through third grade, for example, will have two classes each for the 2025-2026 school year.
“While the transition presents opportunities for growth for both schools, OLR will be making a few adjustments,” said Kara Burkett, OLR principal. “As a community, we will certainly miss the moments that traditionally honored our eighth grade students next year, and so we look to create some new ones with our sixth graders.
“New opportunities for sixth grade students next year will include monthly retreats on how to be leaders for our school,” she said. “Giving sixth graders new responsibilities also plays a part of our accreditation goals for students centered on critical thinking and using time wisely as well as seeing their world through the eyes of Jesus.”
As CJ also prepares to open its doors more widely, it does so with the same spirit that has guided the school for more than 175 years, remaining focused on its mission: to educate students in faith, service, and community. With the addition of a middle school, that mission begins earlier — offering students more time to learn, grow, and discover who they’re called to be.