Chicago, IL ( September 2, 2008 ) – Over 100,000 students and teachers from 258 Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic elementary and high schools have resumed classes for the 2008-2009 school year. The number of Catholic schools has increased in Cook and Lake counties for the first time in 42 years with the addition of Christ the King College Preparatory High School in Chicago. The upcoming months will see the continued rollout of Genesis, the Archdiocese’s strategic management process for schools that focuses on the key areas of Catholic Identity and Mission, Academic Excellence, and School Vitality.

"All the work our teachers and administrators put in over the summer comes to fruition once the school doors are open,” said Sister Mary Paul McCaughey, O.P., Superintendent, Office of Catholic Schools, Archdiocese of Chicago. “This preparation, as well as the tremendous love of God and community, is evident time and again on the first day of school." Sr. McCaughey began her new position as Catholic Schools Superintendent on July 1.

In early September, Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago, will be the principal celebrant at 50th anniversary Masses for two Archdiocesan high schools:

• Marian Catholic High School, 700 Ashland Ave., in south suburban Chicago Heights, on Saturday, September 6 at 5 p.m.
• Regina Dominican High School , 701 Locust Rd., in north suburban Wilmette, on Friday September 12 at 9:30 a.m.

For complete information about back to school activities, visit schools.archchicago.org or contact the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office of Catholic Schools at 312-751-5250.

The following is a sample of Archdiocesan Catholic schools’ activities for the new school year:

CHICAGO

Saint Agatha Catholic Academy, with two campuses in Chicago's North Lawndale neighborhood, has announced a number of improvements for the 2008-09 school year. Students will experience a new Internet cafe at the Academy’s main campus, 3151 W. Douglas Blvd., where 3-year-old pre-K to 5th grade classes are held. Over the summer, new carpeting was installed at the Academy’s 4th to 8th grade Campus at 3900 W. Lexington St. Both campuses now have libraries with updated collections Additionally, a counselor and four teachers with backgrounds as reading specialists have been added to the staff. For more information, contact the Academy’s principal, Charlemeine Zemelko, at 773-762-1809.

St. Agnes of Bohemia School, 2643 S. Central Park Ave., in the city's South Lawndale neighborhood, is extending its gifted program to meet the needs of the school’s primary grade students. In addition, the school is intensifying efforts to become the leading center in the Archdiocese for bilingual counselors, diagnosticians and learning specialists. To improve the school’s vitality, St. Agnes of Bohemia has hired two new administrators to focus on capital improvements, alumni relations, communications and an annual fundraising appeal. For more information, contact the school’s principal, Matthew Banach, at 773-522-0143.

St. Barnabas School, 10121 S. Longwood Dr., in the city's Beverly neighborhood, has implemented Project Match, a new program that aligns student needs with instruction methods in reading and math. "Our goal is to better meet the needs of all students while challenging them at their own level," explained the school’s principal Lenore Barnes. For more information, Barnes can be reached at 773-445-7711.

The students and teachers at St. Benedict School, 3920 N. Leavitt St., in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood, have new learning opportunities that were made possible through a state grant from the Technology Immersion Pilot Project. All middle school students at St. Benedict will have access to laptop computers. For more information, contact the school’s principal, Rachel Gemo, at 773-463-6797.

Children of Peace School, 1900 W. Taylor St., on the city's near west side, is adding a third preschool classroom to accommodate growing student enrollment. The school’s junior high classrooms have new laptop computers and interactive boards, and the gym building has been newly painted and carpeted. In addition, the Proud to Read Aloud program, where community members read to students every third Wednesday of the month, continues this school year. According to Arlene Redmond, Principal of Children of Peace School, “Our board members came up with the idea to get the community more involved in the school and the result was the Proud to Read Aloud program.” For more information, contact Arlene Redmond at 312-243-8186.

St. Ferdinand School , 3131 N. Mason Ave., in the city's Belmont-Cragin neighborhood, has opened a second kindergarten classroom accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The gymnasium, which includes a regulation-size basketball court, was remodeled and the school has joined the Northwest Catholic Conference. For more information, contact the school’s principal, Dr. Lucine Mastalerz, at 773-622-3022.

St. Helen School, 2347 W. Augusta Blvd., in Chicago's West Town neighborhood,is opening classrooms for a second kindergarten and a fourth preschool class for students in and around the Ukrainian Village neighborhood. In addition, the annual St. Helen Festival will be celebrated from Thursday, September 18 through Sunday, September 21. For more information, contact the school’s principal, Marianne Johnson at 773-486-1055.

St. Philip Neri School, 2110 E. 72nd St., in Chicago's South Shore neighborhood,is offering new learning materials and equipment for students in the school’s newly-remodeled Early Childhood Center. Additionally, Spanish classes are now offered as part of the school’s curriculum. For more information, contact the school’s principal, Mary Lou Piazza, at 773-288-1138.

St. Rene Goupil School, 6340 S. New England Ave., in the city's Clearing neighborhood, received a grant to purchase and install solar panels as part of the school’s efforts to be environmentally green. The panels will collect nearly 120 kilowatts of electricity per month for the school, which intends to incorporate a solar energy teaching unit into its curriculum. Additionally, the school recycles its refuse and uses energy efficient lighting. For more information, contact Kathy Borski Tutt at 773-586-4414.

St. Robert Bellarmine School, 6036 W. Eastwood Ave., in Chicago's Jefferson Park neighborhood, added has added a Tiny Tots program for two-year old children who are accompanied by a parent or caregiver. "Our school now provides an excellent educational environment from toddlerhood through eighth grade," said the school’s principal, Carrie Mijal. For more information, contact Joy Panos Stauber at 773-725-5133.

St. Sabina Academy, 7801 S. Throop St., in the city's Auburn-Gresham neighborhood, recently formed a technology partnership with Seton Academy. The partnership enables all teachers to receive a laptop computer, and also provides the school with an LCD projector for classroom use and teacher training. For more information, contact the Academy’s principal, Helen Dumas, at 773-483-5000.

St. Therese School, 247 W. 23rd St., in Chicago's Chinatown community, has added five interactive boards for classroom use and a large interactive board for the computer lab. As a result, all grades now have access to interactive boards. The school will showcase its technology equipment, training and software at Catholic School Tech Night on September 25. For more information, contact the school’s principal, Phyllis Cavallone Jurek, at 312-326-2837.

St. Francis de Sales High School, 10155 S. Ewing Ave. on the city's southeast side, received a grant that has given the school both a wired and WiFi network for the entire building. The school’s technology committee is selecting the hardware and software that will encourage students to reach their full learning potential. For more information, contact the school’s president, Rick Hussmann, at 773-731-7272.

Holy Trinity High School, 1443 W. Division St., on the city's near northwest side, will soon be able to utilize a completely renovated Counseling Center. The center will have new conference rooms, new offices for the high school’s counseling staff, as well as the campus ministry services staff, and the PEAK Scholarship Director. A computer area where students can research colleges will also be part of the Counseling Center. For more information, contact Holy Trinity’s president, Tim Bopp, at 773-278-4212.

Leo Catholic High School, 7901 S. Sangamon St., in the city's West Englewood neighborhood, has enhanced its Catholic identity by welcoming a new campus minister, Deacon George Banks, for the 2008-09 school year. For more information, contact the school’s principal, Milt Kobus, at 773-224-9600.

BURBANK

St. Albert the Great School, 5535 W. State Rd., in southwest suburban Burbank, is implementing a foreign language program beginning this school year. Students in grades six through eight are learning Spanish using the school’s new foreign language lab. Students who need assistance with English also have access to the lab. For more information, contact the school’s principal, Marilyn Kurowski at 708-424-7757.

INVERNESS

On Sunday, September 7, Holy Family Catholic Academy, 2515 Palatine Rd., in northwest suburban Inverness, will join in the parish’s grand opening celebration of the Brennan Center for Youth, Children, and Families. The center will be used extensively by the student body of Holy Family Catholic Academy. For more information, contact the Academy’s principal, Gretchen Ludwig, at 847-907-3452.

LEMONT

Mt. Assisi Academy, 13860 Main St., in southwest suburban Lemont,has installed energy efficient lighting and new furniture in the science rooms. Mt. Assisi teachers will specifically focus on students’ learning styles and how students relate to their teachers’ instructional styles. For more information, contact the school’s principal, Sr. Mary Francis Warner, OSF, at 630-257-7844.