You Can Come Home Again

Over the years graduates of Nativity have remained or returned to the neighborhood to enroll their sons and daughters in their alma mater. Below you will find their story, what it is that drew them back to the “heart of downtown Pleasant Ridge.” If you would like to add your story to this page please email communication@nativity-cincinnati.org.

Rachel Choquette Kemper – Class of 1987

We love Pleasant Ridge – the neighborhood that has access to the city, but has a suburban feeling. It has racial and socio-economic diversity while still being safe. This area has a great sense of community without being pretentious. With these ideas in mind, we chose to purchase our house and I settled back into this neighborhood which I grew up in as well. At times it seems odd that so many things stay the same and yet so much time has marched on, but one of the pillars for me about staying in this neighborhood is the community surrounding Nativity school.

1. Why did you decide to come home and have your children attend your alma mater?
   Global perspective, diversity, and faith; committed staff and people willing to be part of the journey.
    
2. What was the formative experience in your years at Nativity that you’ll always remember?
   Leadership, International Program, Faith, Unique cultural opportunities, Service.
    
3. What do you hope for your children?
   That when they are tested in the future – in their faith, their intellect, with social pressures, and career choices –  that they have a strong foundation to rely on and confidence in who they are and what they believe. I also hope they are people of character who are willing to listen and be open to looking at things critically whether that be the Church or social policies.
    
4. Nativity is what it is because of the volunteers. Where have you shared / where do you see yourself sharing your talents?
   I have enjoyed volunteering once a month in my children’s classrooms. It has enabled me to see how they are growing in all aspects when they are in the classroom. I help out with some of the PTA events as well. I also have been active in the Peace and Justice Committee in the parish.
    
5. What has been the greatest blessing or joy in returning to Nativity?
   The people!  Seeing my kids excited about learning new things and meeting people from across the world. Sharing faith with them and having important discussions about beliefs.

Dan Badinghaus – Class of 1977

I am a second generation Nativity Graduate (Mom, Elizabeth Fairbanks, 1951), and my four children are/will be 3^rd generation graduates. We love Nativity School and Church, it is without a doubt the cornerstone of the great Pleasant Ridge Community.To this day (I am 50 years old), when I see Mr. Ahrens and Mr. Lucas, I thank them for the lessons and discipline they taught me during my formative years. They still teach at Nativity, and the rest of the Staff and the Leadership (Father Paul and Bob Herring) is as accomplished and as strong as it has ever been. I fondly reflect back on my Nativity experiences, the classrooms, the sports teams, the field trips to the Cincinnati Zoo and Natural History Museum, and “Spirit Week”. The “Field Trips” today are even more interesting. Through Bob Herring and Nativity, my two oldest (Alex 2011 and Jessica 2012) have visited Poland and Germany, these experiences providing them with incredible personal growth opportunities and lasting positive impressions. My memories of gym class and basketball in the “old gym” are just as fond, and now my 2 youngest (Bryan 6^th grade and Jake 3^rd grade) are practicing and playing in Nativity’s new state-of-the-art gymnasium, one of the newest and best in the City.The Parish, School and Pleasant Ridge Community thrive because of Nativity and the beautiful blend of diversity (economic, racial, etc.) that is inherent within. I enjoy my role as “Gym Coordinator”, same for coaching 3^rd grade basketball, participating in Sports “Boosters” meetings, and helping out with the Christmas Tree Sale and Mulch Sale. It’s a fun group of folks to work with, and very rewarding to be part of these “group efforts”, especially with the enthusiasm and joy that the young children bring.Just last week, my daughter Jessica (a Freshman at St. Ursula Academy) and I were taking a walk at nearby French Park with our 2 dogs. It was late, 8:30pm, dark, cold and damp. We were discussing her exams (it was exam week), she joining me on the dog walk in order to get some fresh air, unwind from a long night of studying. She was telling me about her classes, her teachers, the grueling exam process. I asked her about her grade expectations, and she responded with “I think I will get straight A’s”. I then told her how proud I am of her for her interest/effort in getting good grades (she really works hard), and she said “I like doing it, it’s fun”. And then, unprovoked, she followed with “Nativity really prepared me well for High School.”

I smiled, knowing that we had made the right choice to send our kids to Nativity School.