Chicago (April 5, 2006) – The Archdiocese of Chicago and the Office of Catholic Schools have joined the National Association for the Education of Young Children, (NAEYC) in celebrating the Week of the Young Child, April 2-8, 2006, to recognize the needs of young children and thank teachers and other adults who work to build better futures for all children.
“Early learning experiences are crucial to young children’s growth and development,” said Nicholas M. Wolsonovich, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago. “Week of the Young Child is an opportunity for all of us to recognize the importance of the early years, especially with the opportunity Catholic schools provide to begin young children on the path to living their faith all the days of their lives. We applaud all of our pre-school teachers, their principals and parents as they work together to ensure all our children have safe care, quality learning experiences and a grounding in our Catholic faith and traditions.”
According to Julie Ramski, Program Director of Early Childhood Education for the Office of Catholic Schools, out of the 218 elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago, 213 have kindergarten and 199 schools have a preschool program. In addition, 172 elementary schools in Cook and Lake counties offer before school care while 206 have after school care.
Currently 48 Archdiocesan Catholic schools’ preschool and kindergarten programs have successfully achieved NAEYC accreditation, a prestigious benchmark that only seven percent of all early childhood programs nationwide achieve. Another 26 are working towards that goal.
In addition to special Week of the Young Child events being held to bring awareness to the needs of young children, Catholic schools throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago are currently providing registration opportunities for three and four year old preschool and kindergarten enrollment.
Information about individual Catholic schools can be found on the Archdiocesan web site, www.archchicago.org by clicking on “SCHOOLS” and then on “Schools Directory”.
For more information about the Early Childhood Education Program, including the Office of Catholic Schools Early Childhood Newsletter, visit www.archchicago.org, or contact Julie Ramski, Program Director at 312-751-3868 or jramski@archchicago.org. To learn more about NAEYC accreditation please visit www.naeyc.org
The Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Chicago play a critical role in the life of the community by providing academic excellence and faith formation for students of many races, faiths and backgrounds in elementary and secondary schools in Cook and Lake counties. There are 218 elementary and 40 secondary schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago. To locate a Catholic school in your area and learn more about Catholic education in Cook and Lake counties, visit the Office of Catholic Schools web page on the Archdiocese of Chicago web site at www.archchicago.org
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Note: A list of NAEYC accredited Archdiocesan pre-schools follows.
OFFICE OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Accredited Early Childhood Programs
CHICAGO – NORTH SIDE
St. Alphonsus
St. Angela
St. Genevieve
St. Helen
St. Hyacinth
Immaculate Conception (North Park Avenue)
Immaculate Conception (West Talcott Avenue)
St. John Berchmans
St. Josaphat
St. Mary of the Lake
Northside Catholic Academy - St. Gertrude Campus
Northside Catholic Academy - St. Ita Campus
Our Lady of Grace
Our Lady of Lourdes
Queen of Angels
St. Stanislaus Kostka
St. Sylvester
St. Viator
CHICAGO – SOUTH SIDE
Academy of St. Benedict the African - Stewart Street Campus
St. Agnes of Bohemia
St. Ailbe
St. Barbara
Bridgeport Catholic Academy
St. Bruno
St. Elizabeth
Epiphany
St. Ethelreda
St. Florian
Frances Xavier Warde - Holy Name Cathedral Campus
Frances Xavier Warde - Old St. Patrick Campus
St. Gall
St. Helena of the Cross
St. John De La Salle
Santa Lucia
St. Margaret of Scotland
St. Michael
Nativity BVM
St. Nicholas of Tolentine
Our Lady of the Snows
Our Lady of the Westside - St. Agatha Campus
St. Philip Neri
Pope John Paul II
St. Procopius
St. Therese
St. Thomas the Apostle
HIGHWOOD
St. James
OAK LAWN
St. Gerald
WADSWORTH
St. Patrick |
