For Ava and Kyle Nobbe, Purcell Marian High School is more than just a school. It’s a place where inclusion, community, and family come together.

Kyle Nobbe had been a Math teacher at Purcell Marian for 6 years before his oldest, Ava, began looking at high schools.

"I applied and was accepted to other schools as well, but I was excited about coming to Purcell Marian. I freely chose it. I really was looking forward to the IB program. I liked how diverse this school is. It's not just one type of person," shared Ava.

As a sophomore in the Class of 2027, she has found a home on campus as a member of the trivia, mock trial, and swim teams.

As a father of five, Kyle echoed his eldest's sentiments, recognizing that each of his children has unique strengths and individual needs that must be supported to help them succeed.

"In the Nobbe family, we have five children, all with unique strengths, interests, and support needs, which is one of the reasons I decided to take a job here," said Kyle. "Everybody has a place at the table. At Purcell Marian, all children have the opportunity to pursue their own path in becoming who God calls them to be. As a family, we thought this is a place where all our children could come and share the high school experience as a family."

With the International Baccalaureate program, the Career Initiatives Program, and the Center for Student Support Services, every student who attends Purcell Marian has the tools, support, and resources available to them to ensure their success, regardless of their learning styles, challenges, or goals.

"I love the mission statement here: Cultivate the best in each for the benefit of all. I don't think there's a better one in the city." This mindset—that by bringing out the best in each other, we all benefit—resonates deeply in the Nobbe household. It has not only influenced Kyle's decision to work at Purcell Marian but has also fueled his passion for advocating for his entire family to be a part of the community.

"I always tell the kids the most important thing is to love others and to be kind, and I think Purcell Marian is a great place to learn how to do that while within the context of a really rigorous academic program" said Kyle.

Attending the same school where her Dad teaches has been a positive experience for Ava.

"There's definitely a separation between when I'm in a class with him and when I'm at home, but there are things that happen at school that get unpacked later," adds Ava.

The two of them being in the same school building together has created unique moments that strengthen their bond. As a teacher, Kyle had the opportunity to chaperone a school service trip to Ecuador this past March, which Ava and her classmates were able to participate in as part of the Global Connections Program at Purcell Marian.

A group of Purcell Marian high school students, including Ava, and chaperoned by Mr. Nobbe, traveled to Ecuador, where they bonded with host families, participated in community service, and embraced the local culture in Yambiro, Ecuador. Through shared meals, collaborative work on local infrastructure projects, and efforts to bridge language barriers, they built meaningful connections and gained a deep appreciation for the community's warmth and spirit.

While they stayed with separate host families, they shared learning experiences and were able to process and talk about them afterward, which was a gift. Their experience in the same high school may be rare, but one that both Kyle and Ava clearly value.

"My favorite 20 minutes of the day is the 10-minute ride in every morning and the 10-minute ride home," Kyle shared. "That's a time when we get all the excitement and anticipation for the day that is coming and then all of the raw emotion out at the end of day. It's true both ways. She hears what I'm thinking about as we get to school, and we get to sort that all out on the way home, which is nice to be able to share… Dominic (our second oldest) being a freshman next year, he'll get to join the ride, too."

Purcell Marian welcomes students from over 46 distinct zip codes across the Greater Cincinnati area, each bringing their unique background, family dynamics, life experience, and perspective. For Kyle and Ava Nobbe, this diversity was part of the appeal—a school that emphasized community. Their time at Purcell Marian has embodied what makes the school so unique, an appreciation for the sense of belonging they feel here as a teacher, student, father, and daughter.

As the Nobbe family's legacy at Purcell Marian continues, with Ava and four younger siblings joining over the next few years, and for all who walk through the doors, Purcell Marian continues to be a school that ensures there's a place at the table for them, a place where everyone belongs.

"Although no community is perfect, I've had a great experience with all of my classmates at Purcell Marian," Ava reflected. "Everyone has each other's best interests at heart. Our whole student body is growing up during a time when it's hard to be a teenager, and many people have been through some hard things. In spite of all this, at the end of the day I can say something kind about everyone here."