http://192.168.2.105/ocs RSS feed for the Catholic School NewsWire 60 http://schools.archchicago.org/news/?ArticleID=4556 Selecting an elementary school for your children is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make. Deciding to enroll your child at a tuition-based institution requires even more thoughtful decision making and planning. One of the key questions you may ask is, "Can we afford to pay tuition?" We're confident in our reply. Yes! For generations, Catholic education has served families from all financial backgrounds -- from first generation Americans just starting to find their way to middle and upper income families. At the heart of our mission, Catholic schools serve families seeking a school where a strong foundation in Catholic identity is matched with rigorous academics, innovative and inclusive student life programming, and a welcoming and engaged community. Our schools are gratified to partner with families in bringing alive the Catholic values of excellence, human dignity, social justice and leadership in our children -- regardless of how much money they have. The goal is to work with you so that choosing Catholic education feels like an investment in your child's future...not a burden. Today, well over half of our students enrolled in Catholic elementary schools receive some level of financial assistance. Families are asked to work with the individual schools to be considered for aid much like the process in high schools and colleges. Every institution has its own pool of of available resources and scholarship funds. These scholarship awards do not have to be paid back. The financial aid process is confidential and a family's financial background has no bearing on the admissions process. Thank you for investing your time in your children and finding the right school for them -- they are lucky to have you! You may also be interested in reading: Searching for the Right School for Your Family: Tips for School Tours & More Partnering with You for Your Child's Future rblackburn Fri, 22 Mar 2013 03:53:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:4556 http://schools.archchicago.org/news/?ArticleID=4547 After months of intense study and analysis, the Archdiocese of Chicago Board of Catholic Schools is pleased to present its Strategic Plan for Catholic Schools for 2013-2016 . Its overall goal is to increase Catholic school enrollment and provide every student desiring Catholic education with excellent academics and strong faith formation in an economically sustainable way. This plan addresses six core goals for the Catholic school system: Catholicity, Academics, Leadership, Operations, Office of Catholic Schools (OCS) Reorganization, and Funding. The School Board is confident that focused, proactive attention to all six areas will increase the number of students benefiting from an excellent Catholic education. "I am grateful to the Archdiocesan School Board who, with the cooperation of the Archdiocesan Superintendent of Schools, Sr. M. Paul McCaughey, O.P., worked long and hard on this strategic plan," remarked Cardinal Francis George. "It took effort to research and write; it will take more effort to implement. But the determination for the task is strong. I am confident that this plan will be successfully brought to completion in our schools, with the help of God’s grace, by all those who have contributed to it." The plan’s action steps to achieve the six goals include measures to (1) insure the continuing strength of the schools’ Catholic identity; (2) make sure that academics stay strong and in pace with the highest norms; and (3) find, foster and reward excellent principals and teachers. Implementation of the plan also requires (4) an immediate hands-on assistance program, which has already begun to stabilize struggling schools by helping them institute best practices. (5) In addition, the OCS management structure will be reorganized and staffed to make sure these efforts are effective. (6) Finally, the Plan proposes a substantial fundraising campaign to create a sufficient endowment going forward. In the next few months the School Board will produce a more detailed list of specific tasks tied to a timeline to implement the Plan. The Board believes that targeted funding and strategic use of both old and new infrastructure will help ensure the overall goal: to provide a great Catholic education to every child who wants to enter our school doors. -Read the full Strategic Plan for Catholic Schools - Strategic Plan Summary -See the list of School Board Members -Follow Sr. Mary Paul's tweets about the plan and its progress. rblackburn Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:09:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:4547 http://schools.archchicago.org/news/?ArticleID=4464 Choosing a school for your child is a very important, though sometimes confusing, and even stressful decision for your family. There are many great options the throughout the Archdiocese and it can be a challenge to find the right fit for your child and your family. A great way to start your search is to create a list of your “top 5” schools. You can develop your “top 5” list in many ways, including talking to other parents, visiting websites and researching schools online. After you create your list, call each school to set up an appointment to visit. Some schools will allow you to visit at any time, but oftentimes schools will have set dates and times for their Open Houses. When you visit the school, be prepared to ask questions and take notes. Here are a few questions to consider when on a school tour: Student teacher ratio - How many students are in each classroom? Will the teacher have time to work with my child and differentiate instruction? Does the school follow state standards ? - Are the teachers certified ? What is the school’s mission and philosophy ? - Does the school have a particular focus - ie Arts, Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM), etc?) Are faith and values (Catholic Identity, in our case) taught and part of the overall school culture? What is the school environment/atmosphere ? - How do you feel as soon as you walk into the building? Does the school encourage continuing education for its staff ? - What professional development opportunities are offered to the faculty? Is the school in good condition ? What technology does the school offer to its students? How does the school communicate with parents and how often? Is the school diverse ? What are the extracurricular activities offered to students? What are the school’s test scores ? - What test do they take and how do the results compare to the national average? Where do students typically attend high school ? - Do they usually receive scholarships? How many are accepted into their first choice school? What are the school deadlines for applications ? If it’s a tuition based school, what is the price and are there extra charges above the tuition? Does the school offer financial assistance ? Also, consider: Don’t forget convenience - where is the school located ? A 30-minute commute might not seem like a big deal, but in the midst of a blizzard a 30-minute drive could turn into a 3-hour drive. Ask to have the chance to speak to a current parent . This is a great way to learn more about what the school offers. What are the school’s hours ? Does the school have options for working parents? What is the school community like? Are family friendly events held every month? Choosing the right school can be tricky, but with this handy form you can keep track of the schools you visited and describe what you liked. To find a Catholic school near you, use our school locator . rblackburn Thu, 10 Jan 2013 02:31:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:4464 http://schools.archchicago.org/news/?ArticleID=4323 September 14th, 2012 Park Ridge, IL –As part of the Field Museum’s Field Ambassador program, St. Paul of the Cross School was invited to bring a group of 30 first graders to the Field Museum on Friday, September 14th. They enjoyed participating in one of the Crown Family PlayLab 5th anniversary events, which were designed to introduce young learners to the four science areas of the Museum: anthropology, geology, zoology, and botany. The students checked out fossils and dinosaur bones from the Museum’s geology collections. Next, they were mesmerized and entertained by nationally known, award-winning speaker and storyteller, Linda Gorham. She inspired the students and the teachers through her movement, humor, and zaniness as she told personal tales and imaginative dinosaur stories. The students then enjoyed time exploring the Crown Family PlayLab where they were free to dress up as a local animal or explore a pueblo home and see how families lived in different times and places. They played scientists examining insects in amber and colorful woven pouches, made music using traditional musical instruments, and even enjoyed a surprise visit from a “live” dinosaur. maryploen Fri, 21 Sep 2012 14:46:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:4323 http://schools.archchicago.org/news/?ArticleID=4228 Saint Patrick High School freshmen represent the first high school class in the Chicago Archdiocese to use iPads as an educational tool during their daily instruction. The aggressive iPad initiative will replace textbooks with iPads for the entire student body and faculty by the 2013-2014 school year. Megan Ivers Wed, 27 Jun 2012 13:29:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:4228 http://schools.archchicago.org/news/?ArticleID=4227 The annual Soldier Field High School Classic will feature Saint Patrick High School versus Mt. Carmel Academy at Soldier Field at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, August 25. The competition will also kick-off a 2012 season for the Shamrocks that will be dedicated to former ESCC All-Conference football player and coach, Nickolas Daniels ’04, with the slogan "Earned. Never Given." Megan Ivers Wed, 27 Jun 2012 13:23:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:4227 http://schools.archchicago.org/news/?ArticleID=4221 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mandy Moody Director of Development & Communications Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts 773-348-4629 EXT: 151 mmoody@alphonsusacademy.org www.alphonsusacademy.org (Chicago, June 14, 2012) — Alphonsus Academy students of all ages came together as a community to raise nearly $650 in a matter of days for Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, an orphanage in Guatemala. The children collaborated with each other and their teachers to identify educational items - such as colored pencils, paper, and books - to purchase with the contributions. The effort was planned to honor Father James Hurlbert as he prepares to join NPH after serving with the St. Alphonsus Parish for a number of years. Students collected donations for popcorn parties, out-of-uniform days, and other fun events. The mission of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos International is to provide a permanent family and home for orphaned, abandoned and other at-risk children who live in conditions of extreme poverty. Their programs provide quality education, health care and spiritual formation with the goal of raising good Christians and productive members of their respective societies. # # # mholcomb Tue, 19 Jun 2012 17:16:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:4221 http://schools.archchicago.org/news/?ArticleID=4220 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mandy Moody Director of Development & Communications Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts 773-348-4629 EXT: 151 mmoody@alphonsusacademy.org www.alphonsusacademy.org (Chicago, June 14, 2012) — The force was with students from Alphonsus Academy & Center of the Arts (AACA) as they unveiled 149 Darth Vader portraits at the Athenaeum Theatre at an exhibit opening in April. Students earned the Guinness World Records honor for "Most Painted Images in the Style of Pop Art" for their April exhibit where they showcased their works of art in the second floor gallery of the Athenaeum Theatre. These works emulated Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe silkscreen prints, instead utilizing stencils to honor another tragic icon, Darth Vader. As Andy Warhol utilized assistants to “mass-produce” his images, AACA students were the manufacturing engine that drove this historic art installation. “It all started with a project I did with my own children at home. Instead of doing coloring pages we decided to make a stencil of Darth Vader to create works of art in Andy Warhol’s style. Then, I developed the idea with Mrs. Patty Okulinski, an Art Teacher at AACA to bring the project to school,” said Matthew Bauer, AACA Parent and Arts Council Member, he continues, “From our conversations, the idea to go for a world record was born.” Bauer was responsible for spearheading the Darth Vader project. A representative from Guinness World Records set the minimum requirement of 100 works of art as no one has previously attempted a record of this kind. On June 14, Bauer was notified that with the creation of 149 works of art, AACA students had achieved their goal of setting a world record. “Everyone involved with the project is extremely proud of this accomplishment,” shared Bauer, “Our students will never forget setting a world record! We’re thrilled we could participate in such a unique record-breaking event while educating our students on one of the greatest artists of all time.” For additional information, please contact Mandy Moody, Director of Development & Communications at 773-348-4629, extension 151 or at mmoody@alphonsusacademy.org . # # # mholcomb Tue, 19 Jun 2012 17:13:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:4220 http://schools.archchicago.org/news/?ArticleID=4219 The Honors Jazz Band will open for the Pete Ellman Big Band at Fitzgerald’s in Berwyn from 7:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Wednesday, June 20. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids 17 and under with a student ID. Megan Ivers Tue, 19 Jun 2012 12:11:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:4219 http://schools.archchicago.org/news/?ArticleID=4197 What makes a plan fly? Why do LEDs light? How does animation work? Build rockets, make a friendship tester and create your own cartoons in this year's science and engineering camp for grammar school students in grades 6-8! Megan Ivers Tue, 29 May 2012 15:34:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:4197 http://schools.archchicago.org/news/?ArticleID=4188 The Saint Patrick High School and Notre Dame hockey teams will join forces Friday evening to host a charity hockey game benefitting the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. Megan Ivers Thu, 24 May 2012 12:59:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:4188 http://schools.archchicago.org/news/?ArticleID=4174 BULLYING PREVENTION As Catholics we believe in the dignity and respect of each individual created in the image of God. Bullying is contrary to Gospel values and has no place in the Catholic school community. Bullying is:  Any intentional, repeated, hurtful act or conduct (physical, verbal, emotional, or sexual) including communications made in writing or electronically,  Occurring on campus or off campus during non-school time,  Directed toward another student or students, that has or can be reasonably predicted to: o Place the student or students in an unreasonable fear of harm to the student or student’s person or property o Cause a substantially detrimental effect on the student or student’s physical or mental health; o Interfere substantially with the student or student’s academic performance; o Interfere substantially with the student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by the school. Bullying can take many forms, including violence, harassment, threats, intimidation, stalking, cyber stalking, theft, public humiliation and retaliation for asserting or alleging an act of bullying. Cyber bullying can include all of the above as well as the use of electronic tools, devices, social media sites, blogs and websites to harm a student or students with electronic text, photos, or videos. Bullying acts or conduct described above can include the following:  Physical which includes, but is not limited to, punching, poking, stalking, destruction of property, strangling, hair pulling, beating, biting, spitting, stealing, pinching, and excessive tickling;  Verbal which includes, but is not limited to, name-calling, teasing, taunting, gossip, and threats whether in person or through any form of electronic communication and the Internet;.  Emotional which includes, but is not limited to, intimidation , rejecting, terrorizing, extorting, defaming, humiliating, blackmailing, rating/ranking of personal characteristics such as race, disability, ethnicity, perceived sexual orientation, manipulation of friendships, isolating, ostracizing and peer pressure;.  Sexual which includes, but is not limited to many of the emotional acts or conduct described above as well as exhibitionism, voyeurism, sexual propositioning, sexual harassment and abuse involving actual physical contact or sexual assault. No student shall be subjected to bullying:  During any school sponsored education program or activity, while in school, on school property, on school buses or school vehicles, at school bus stops waiting for the school bus, or at school sponsored or school-sanctioned events or activities  Through the transmission of information from a school or home computer network, or other similar electronic school or home equipment. All members of the Catholic school community, parents/guardians, teachers, staff, administrators and others, are expected to work together in preventing bullying and promoting Gospel values in a Christ centered environment. Students are expected to participate in age appropriate educational programs developed by the school that address bullying and teach respect for all. Bullying by a student or students may result in suspension and/or expulsion from the school. ______________________________________________________________________________________ Excerpted from Archdiocese of Chicago Handbook for School Administrators, 2011. rblackburn Tue, 15 May 2012 16:54:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:4174 http://schools.archchicago.org/news/?ArticleID=4170 Resurrection and Guerin Prep alums, Molly Hobbs and Lizzy Petruzzi (respectively), have taken over the Saint Patrick High School Dance Team for the 2012-2013 school year. Hobbs and Petruzzi both danced for former, twenty-year head coach Cheryl Jasinski, and look forward to carrying on the tradition of St. Pat's Dance. Megan Ivers Mon, 07 May 2012 20:11:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:4170 http://schools.archchicago.org/news/?ArticleID=4169 St. Robert Bellarmine alumnus and Saint Patrick High School senior David Karson earned featured Student of the Month honors from St. Pat's English Department. David will attend DePaul University next year. Megan Ivers Mon, 07 May 2012 19:16:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:4169 http://schools.archchicago.org/news/?ArticleID=4168 Saint Patrick High School Summer Theatre will present The Wizard of Oz July 20 through July 29 (Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m./Sundays at 2:00 p.m.). The Stahl Family Theatre is located at 5900 W. Belmont Ave. Theatre is handicap accessible. All tickets are $12. For more information, visit www.stpatrick.org . Megan Ivers Mon, 07 May 2012 19:05:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:4168 http://schools.archchicago.org/news/?ArticleID=4148 Saint Patrick High School senior Charlie Labuz (St. Cornelius) was honored at the 19th Annual IHSA All-State Academic Team “Champions for Life” banquet presented by Caterpillar on Monday, April 16 in Bloomington. Megan Ivers Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:50:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:4148 http://schools.archchicago.org/news/?ArticleID=4125 Jim Ulczak (St. Giles '06, St. Pat's '10) will compete in the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Intercollegiate Team Championships in Lincoln, Nebraska April 19-21. The St. Ambrose junior performed second-best for his team’s sectional qualifier and helped the Bees secure the third qualifying team spot. Megan Ivers Fri, 30 Mar 2012 14:46:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:4125 http://schools.archchicago.org/news/?ArticleID=4123 Our Lady of Victory School would like to congratulate our students who received awards at The Illinois Junior Academy of Science Region 2 Exposition, held on March 10th at the Museum of Science and Industry. Gold Awards were presented to two of our 8th graders and three 7th graders, with one of the 8th graders placing in the top ten of 500 projects at the Exposition. One 8th grader and one 7th grader also earned a spot to represent OLV at the State Science Exposition in May at the University of Illinois - Champaign. Congratulations to our young scientists! abaase Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:10:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:4123 http://schools.archchicago.org/news/?ArticleID=4122 St. Hyacinth grammar school’s Science Club had a special visit to Saint Patrick High School’s pool on March 22. St. Hyacinth teacher Monica Ulanicki and her students used the pool to test their remotely operated vehicle, nicknamed the USS Converse, in preparation for the Shedd Aquarium Midwest MATE ROV Regional on Saturday, April 28 at UIC. Megan Ivers Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:38:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:4122 http://schools.archchicago.org/news/?ArticleID=4101 Thanks to a match by an anonymous donor, the total amount of funds gathered to launch the Lance Cpl. Nickolas Daniels ’04 Memorial Scholarship Fund at Saint Patrick High School has risen to $38,822. A sell-out crowd gathered at the school’s Feb. 17 basketball game to officially inaugurate the scholarship with the help of the Chicago Bulls Very Own Matadors. Megan Ivers Wed, 29 Feb 2012 20:37:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:4101 http://schools.archchicago.org/news/?ArticleID=4087 The Saint Patrick High School Theatre Department will present The Phantom of the Opera March 23 through April 1. Young actresses from eight Chicagoland grammar schools and high schools will join the Shamrocks for the production. Megan Ivers Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:17:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:4087 http://schools.archchicago.org/news/?ArticleID=4046 St. Joseph Parish School in Homewood recently announced first semester results for the Top Ten Readers in the school’s Accelerated Reader Program. The Top Ten Readers are: Jada Houston, 5 th Grade; Sydney Reyes, 7 th Grade; Steven Babick, 6 th Grade; Kyle Johnson, 7 th Grade; Summer Reyes, 7 th Grade; Kenneth Jones, 5 th Grade; Kendal Johnson, 5 th Grade; Micah Vines, 8 th Grade; Aaliyah Korkoyah, 6 th Grade; and Tabita Willis, 6 th Grade. The Accelerated Reader Program focuses on literature-based fiction and non-fiction reading that motivates, manages, and assesses each student’s understanding of the materials they are reading. It is an individualized program geared towards each students reading level that promotes faster growth in reading achievement. sjspc Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:11:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:4046 http://schools.archchicago.org/news/?ArticleID=4037 January 29 - February 4 is Catholic Schools Week and many of our schools will be hosting Open Houses. yquiroz Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:11:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:4037 http://schools.archchicago.org/news/?ArticleID=4036 Saint Patrick High School sophomore John Bjerkness (St. Cornelius) shoots for nothing less than the best in his classes which is why he stands out as one of Bill Frere’s model students. The first honor roll student ranks amongst the top of his class and has every intention of maintaining his exceptional grades for his entire high school career. Megan Ivers Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:51:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:4036 http://schools.archchicago.org/news/?ArticleID=4035 The leadership of the Brothers of the Christian Schools in the USA-Toronto Region has given its full support for the promotion and protection of the rights of children with the signing of a statement advocating and committing themselves to helping children achieve their full human dignity. Megan Ivers Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:33:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:4035