Every year St. Leonard School's Student Council votes on a charity that they will spend the year supporting through collections, such as out-of-uniform pass fundraisers. This year students chose Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Wisconsin , a non-profit organization that provides no-cost lodging to families whose children are hospitalized nearby. Their mission is, "To provide essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families and promote healing when children need healthcare." The House is located in Wauwatosa, WI and provides comfortable guest rooms, healthy meals, therapy programs and every day essentials to guest families. Students put their intellect and creativity to work to improve their out-of-uniform fundraiser. Instead of collecting $0.50 from students on each out-of-uniform fundraiser, families may pay a $5 donation at the beginning of the year for their children to participate throughout the whole year. Families will no longer have to keep track of quarters and paper passes/coupons. Teachers will have a simplified system to verify that a student has made their donation by maintaining a list. Most importantly, Student Council will have the funds available right away, allowing them to make their first charitable donation early in the school year and begin putting our faith into action from day one. " As Catholics, we are called to love our neighbors, care for those in need, and be good stewards of the gifts God has given us ," said Laura Bisher, St. Leonard School Principal, " While $5 may seem like a small amount, when our school community comes together, those small gifts become a powerful way to share Christ's love with others. "

St. Leonard Catholic Church and School is grateful to be the recipient of a filtered double water fountain with a bottle filler donated by Zurn-Elkay Water Solutions . It will be installed in the Holy Family Lobby outside of the gym. The donation is a result of a competition among Zurn-Elkay employees to win the opportunity to donate a filtered water fountain to a school or charitable organization of their choice. Nicole Welsh, Assistant Corporate Controller at Zurn-Elkay and St. Leonard School alumna, won the competition and chose St. Leonard as the recipient. “It is very rewarding and humbling to be able to give back to a school where I spent 9 years of my life,” said Welsh, a 2008 graduate. Her parents, Bob and Chris, have been St. Leonard parishioners for almost 40 years. St. Leonard staff followed up with Nicole Welsh on what her elementary school experience means to her today. Welsh shared the following reflection, “The lessons and beliefs taught by a Catholic education at St. Leonard have been invaluable. The community that a Catholic education provides still impacts my life all these years later through shared experiences and values.” She notes that her best friend from Kindergarten is still her best friend today. After graduating from St. Leonard, Welsh pursued her interest in accounting through coursework in high school and college, and eventually her career. She is able to integrate the values she learned at St. Leonard into her work. Welsh explains that her career at Zurn-Elkay offers her the opportunity to do what she is passionate about for a company with a sustainable mission and products that help people and the environment. Zurn-Elkay Water Solutions strives to provide environmentally sustainable water management solutions and advocates for increased access to clean water, with schools being one of their priorities. The company shares that water contaminants create a greater risk of growth disruptions and learning delays in children (according to a 2024 study at the Harvard University Center for Developing the Child). They also point out that there are no regulations- at the federal level and in 66% of states- mandating that water in schools be tested (according to the National Association of State Boards of Education and ABC News research ). Zurn-Elkay’s donation supports St. Leonard’s efforts to continuously enhance health and safety features on campus by adding to the number of filtered water stations accessible to students and visitors. Thank you to Nicole Welsh for choosing St. Leonard for this opportunity and for offering her reflections. Thank you to Zurn-Elkay Water Solutions for donating the filtered water cooler.

St. Leonard School’s Early Childhood Education program was recognized as a top finalist in the Preschool category of the “ Milwaukee Top Choice Community's Choice Awards! ” We’re incredibly grateful for this recognition. According to yourchoiceawards.com/milwaukee, nominations and votes are driven by public participation. Enrollment continues for St. Leonard School for the 2026-2027 school year. Schedule a tour at stleonards.org/contactschool or call the School Office at 262-679-0451. See how we’re forming hearts, minds and lives rooted in faith.