CHICAGO (January 22, 2004) – Archdiocese of Chicago elementary schools throughout Cook and Lake counties will celebrate Catholic Schools Week beginning Sunday, Jan. 25. The annual celebration of Catholic schools is sponsored by the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA), which this year marks the 100th anniversary of its founding.

“This year’s theme, ‘A Faith-Filled Future,’ underscores the commitment by all the dedicated teachers, administrators, staff, volunteers and families across the country who believe in Catholic education for America’s young people,” said Nicholas M. Wolsonovich, Ph.D., superintendent of schools. “Catholic school students not only receive preparation for college, but preparation for life,” he added.

As the nation’s largest non-public school system, the Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Chicago develop the minds and spirits of more than 111,000 students of all races, faiths and backgrounds in the 283 elementary and secondary schools in Cook and Lake counties.

Here are some highlights of hundreds of celebrations, programs and projects scheduled throughout Catholic Schools Week in the Archdiocese of Chicago:

Sunday, January 25

St. Anastasia School, 629 Glen Flora Ave., Waukegan, Ill.

A special awards ceremony will follow an 11:00 a.m. Mass. School officials will announce award winners in several categories, including awards for “Walk For Seniors” event participants; Junior National Young Leadership Council conference participants; recognition of alumni who have recently joined the faculty; and an award for support staff and faculty who have dedicated themselves to Catholic education for more than two decades.

St. Edward School, 4343 W. Sunnyside Ave., Chicago

Matthew Voegtle, a graduate of the class of 1936, will receive the NCEA Distinguished Graduate Award at a special morning Mass. Voegtle has been the school’s master plumber for more than six decades and an active member of the parish for more than 70 years. All five of his sons, Mark, Gregory, Wayne, Douglas and Neil, followed in his footsteps as graduates of St. Edward.

“Mr. Voegtle believes that a Catholic education prepares you for life and he believed so strongly in this that he and his wife sent all five of their sons to St. Edward School. He wanted to expose them to the important values that were instilled in him. To this day, we consider him a pillar of this parish,” said Sr. Marie Michelle Hackett, O.P., principal.

The National Catholic Education Association’s Distinguished Graduate Award honors graduates of Catholic schools who have made a contribution to American life and/or the Catholic church.

The school will also announce the formation of the Rev. John J. Donohue Endowment Fund. Named after the pastor emeritus of St. Edward parish, the endowment will fund scholarships for current students through the retired pastor’s gift.

St. Juliana School, 7400 W. Touhy Ave., Chicago

The school will host an open house, inviting the community to view various projects in each classroom. They include: a new preschool program for three-year-olds; artwork by the four-year-old preschool and kindergarten classes; first-grade and fourth-grade science projects; slide show presentations created by second- and third-grade classes; original poetry by the fifth-grade classes; artwork by the sixth-grade class titled, “Seven Ancient Wonders of the World;” and innovative technology projects by junior high school students.

Santa Maria Del Popolo School, 126 N. Lake St., Mundelein, Ill.

Results of a new research study on the academic performance of graduates from the classes of 1998, 1999, and 2000 will be highlighted during an open house, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The study found that the average cumulative high school grade point average of a student from Santa Maria was 3.14. Also, Santa Maria graduates’ average ACT scores were well above the state average. One out of four graduates scored in the 90th percentile.

“These results show what our parents already know: in addition to a faith-based education, Santa Maria provides its students with an outstanding primary education that prepares graduates for success in high school and beyond,” said Paul Maloney, principal.

St. William School, 2559 N. Sayre Ave., Chicago

In recognition of the school’s 80th anniversary, students will illustrate various aspects of each decade during open house from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Each grade was assigned a different decade to research and portray in the form of their choice. Dating back to the 1920s and leading into present day, students will wear costumes and classrooms will be decorated according to traditions of the time. Decorations will include significant inventions, important leaders, music and pop culture.

Monday, January 26

Queen of All Saints School, 6230 N. Lemont Ave., Chicago

Throughout Catholic Schools Week, Queen of All Saints’ student council is sponsoring a food drive to replenish the Albany Park Food Pantry.

“This is the second consecutive year our students have participated in this successful initiative,” said assistant principal Evelyn Daly. “This year, they also placed an advertisement in the local paper thanking businesses for their support. The students realized that many people donate food for the holidays and then forget about donating once the season is over. But those in need have to eat year-round.”

On Tuesday, Jan. 27 at noon, students and faculty will host a luncheon honoring the volunteers who helped the school with various activities throughout the year in classrooms, offices and the library as well as on the playground. Students will decorate the cafeteria and faculty members will prepare the meal.

St. Maria Goretti School, 10050 W. Ivanhoe Ave., Schiller Park, Ill.

The school’s 35-member chapter of the National Junior Beta Club will serve a spaghetti lunch to approximately 100 senior parishioners and the surrounding senior community 12 to 1:30 p.m. in the school’s cafeteria. During the luncheon, students in grades K-4 will perform short plays and recite poems related to this year’s Catholic Schools Week theme, “A Faith-Filled Future.”

St. Barbara School, 8900 Windemere Ave., Brookfield, Ill.

From 9 to 11:30 a.m., the school will hold a multi-cultural fair, entitled “We’ve got the whole world in our hands.” Earlier in the academic year, eighth-grade students were assigned a research report on a country of their choice. They were encouraged to include board illustrations for display, learn native languages and wear appropriate costumes to help illustrate their projects. Seventh-grade students were assigned similar projects that involved other illustrations. Students will represent regions from Africa to France. Projects include a model of an African hut and a student portraying a painter from Paris who will work at a face-painting booth.

“We wanted our students to get a small glimpse of different cultures around the world and to also realize that there are many different ethnic groups right here in our own community,” said Cathy Miller, who teaches history and literature classes.

St. Walter School, 11741 S. Western Ave., Chicago

During a school-wide assembly, the student council will conduct a canned food drive to support local food pantries. Students from all grade levels will complete statements related to school pride and this year’s Catholic Schools Week theme, “A Faith-Filled Future.” For example, “St. Walter School is helping me build a faith-filled future by encouraging prayer in my daily life.”

Wednesday, January 28

Northside Catholic Academy, 6216 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago

Students from each of the school’s three campuses – St. Henry, St. Ita and St. Gertrude – helped organize a school-wide carnival that will be held at 10:45 a.m. at the St. Gertrude Campus, 6216 N. Glenwood, Chicago. Students from all three campuses who wish to attend will pay a $3.00 admission fee. All proceeds will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation in honor of a student at the school who was diagnosed with a brain tumor last year.

Santa Maria Addolorata School, 1337 W. Ohio St., Chicago

From 6:30 to 8 p.m., the school will host an open house featuring completed literary projects by students from grades 5-8. Many students wrote original fables and fairytales and will illustrate their stories on posterboard.

The second grade classes will lead off the stage show with an opening prayer. Students in grades 1-4 will perform short plays and sing songs relating to this year’s theme, “A Faith-Filled Future.”

Thursday, January 29

St. Helen School, 2347 W. Augusta Blvd., Chicago

Through a Target Corporation-sponsored arts and education grant, St. Helen students will be visited by noted children’s book author W. Nikola-Lisa, who will talk with students about his writing experiences. After visiting pre-K through sixth-grade students in the morning, the author will have a conversational lunch with students in grades 7-8.

“We’re delighted to have an author who writes from a multicultural perspective,” said Marianne Johnson, principal.

Nikola-Lisa has written 16 books for children and articles about the writing process. He teaches full-time at National-Louis University in Evanston, Ill. Recent publications include, “Bein’ With You This Way” and “The Year With Grandma Moses.”

“As my writing and teaching have developed over the last decade, so too have the opportunities to visit schools as a published author. I enjoy talking about my writing experiences, and sharing with children, teachers, and parents the special world of children's picture books,” said Nikola-Lisa.

Friday, January 30

St. Beatrice School, 4141 Atlantic Ave., Schiller Park, Ill.

In honor of Catholic Schools Week, teachers chose an exercise to reinforce the importance of reading and life-long learning. Earlier in the month, the entire student body wrote letters to their parents and various public figures, including Dr. Nicholas Wolsonovich, Francis Cardinal George, Jerry Taft of WLS-TV, Peter Wilt, general manager of the Chicago Fire, actor Jennifer Aniston and singer Clay Aiken, asking them about the latest books they’ve read. A postcard was mailed with each letter to encourage responses.

“We’re reading our way into the future,” said Marianna Jennings, principal. “Parents have responded with enthusiasm and that says a lot about our community. They’re really setting the right tone for our students,” she added.

The project will culminate with a school-wide ‘parade of books’ mid-morning. Students have made mini-parade floats out of lunch bags or shoeboxes based on one book that they read outside of class. Students will also carry a colorful banner proclaiming “A Faith-Filled Future” with received postcards attached.

Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools
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 approximately 111,000 students of many races, faiths and backgrounds in the 283 elementary and secondary schools in Cook and Lake counties. There are more than 6,400 teachers in the Catholic school system who instill values, teach discipline and achieve strong, consistent academic results in the Archdiocese of Chicago's 242 elementary and 41 secondary schools. Visit the Archdiocese of Chicago Web site at www.archchicago.org/schools