Office of Catholic Schools

Public Content | News Releases 2003

ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO CATHOLIC SCHOOLS PARTICIPATE
IN SERVICE PROJECTS DURING HOLIDAY SEASON
During this Christmas season, students in Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic elementary and high schools will participate in literally hundreds of programs and projects centered around the spirit of sharing with persons in need. Special attention this year will focus on service men and women stationed in Iraq as well as families, young children, aged and homeless persons who are in need.
“These wonderful local outreach programs inspire our students, faculty and parent groups to celebrate the true message of Christmas – sharing of gifts in the Christ child's name with all who are less fortunate,” said Nicholas Wolsonovich, Ph.D., superintendent of schools.
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CATHOLIC SCHOOLS CELEBRATE FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
Students in Catholic schools throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago will celebrate the annual Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe with special ceremonies and observances memorializing the miracles associated with the appearance of the Virgin Mary near Mexico City in the 16th century (see backgrounder below).
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CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS GIVE THANKS BY HELPING NEEDY MOMS
Approximately 700 students, parents, faculty, staff to process to local charity to provide supplies for young mothers and their new babies as gifts of Thanksgiving
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ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO CATHOLIC SCHOOLS CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING BY HELPING NEEDY
Schools throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago are celebrating Thanksgiving by helping the needy. Following is a list of some of the activities in which Catholic schools in Chicago are participating:
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CHICAGO-AREA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS COMMEMORATE VETERANS’ DAY
Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago will celebrate Veterans’ Day with special ceremonies and observances. Here are some highlights of celebrations scheduled throughout
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SOUTHWEST AREA CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS PILOT NEW PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE VERBAL SENSITIVITY
Eleven schools are first Catholic elementary institutions in U.S. to implement national “Words Can Heal” initiative
CHICAGO, October 21, 2003
Students, teachers and principals from 11 Southwest area Catholic elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago will gather today at St. Bede the Venerable School, 4440 W. 83rd St., Chicago, to celebrate the official Chicago area launch of an initiative to create awareness of the power of words to both hurt and heal.
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CATHOLIC SCHOOL FAMILIES RECEIVE COMPUTERS FOR HOME USE
Approximately 130 families receive refurbished computers donated by local patrons
Families of students attending Our Lady of the Westside School in Chicago’s Lawndale community gathered today to receive a special gift of learning from patrons of the school. Each of approximately 130 families received a refurbished computer for its school families for use in their homes.
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CHICAGO-AREA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS PILOT NEW INITIATIVE TO ENCOURAGE VERBAL SENSITIVITY AMONG STUDENTS
Eleven Southwest area schools are first Catholic elementary institutions in U.S to launch new national character education program
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Schools throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago, the nation’s largest non-public school system, open this week. Click to view the following news items.

Catholic Schools to Update AIDS Curriculum for All Students
By Lindsey Coulter
Editorial Intern
"Education is the best defense we can give our young people against AIDS," says Sal Guccione, assistant superintendent in the Office of Catholic Schools.
This reality is the motivation for a new AIDS curriculum within the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools entitled, ”Awareness, Prevention, Compassion: An HIV/AIDS Curriculum Guide for Catholic Schools.’"
“We hope to generate awareness and understanding of the HIV/AIDS virus,” explained Guccione, “while at the same time give students the most accurate medical information.”
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CATHOLIC SCHOOL FAMILIES IN CHICAGO’S LAWNDALE COMMUNITY TO RECEIVE REFURBISHED COMPUTERS DONATED BY LOCAL PATRONS
Students, parents, school officials and patrons will gather to celebrate gift of learning to be presented to 130 families
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Three Students at Queen of the Universe Elementary School Win Top Awards in “Dare to Dream” National Scholarship Competition
WHAT: A special awards ceremony to recognize three students of Queen of the Universe School on Chicago’s South Side. The three are the top award winners in the 2003 “Dare to Dream” national scholarship competition.
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ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO CELEBRATES HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
CHICAGO (September 30, 2003)
Archdiocese of Chicago elementary schools are joining students across the country to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month through October 15. This is an annual celebration established to honor and recognize Hispanic heritage, culture and noted achievements of Hispanic-Americans.
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ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO CATHOLIC SCHOOLS REMEMBER VICTIMS OF SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS AND PRAY FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL
Elementary and secondary schools throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago will hold special liturgies and prayer services with participation from local police, fire, emergency and military personnel to honor the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania.
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ST. JAMES CATHOLIC SCHOOL LAUNCHES
NEW SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS
Programs to benefit new students of Hispanic and military families
HIGHWOOD, Ill. (July 15, 2003)
Beginning this fall, St. James Elementary School, 140 North Ave., will offer two new need-based scholarship programs for the 2003-2004 school year. The new scholarships will be incentives for military families of Great Lakes Naval Base and Hispanic families in the community to provide their children with a private, Catholic education, according to Mary Kay Tschanz, principal. Funding for 30 scholarships has been donated to St. James from several Catholic-interest charitable organizations.
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CHICAGO FAMILY HAS FAITH IN CATHOLIC EDUCATION
CHICAGO (July 2, 2003)
After 27 consecutive years of enrollment, Robert and Frances
Dennewitz graduated their 10th child, Mary, from St. Francis Borgia School on 3535 N. Panama Ave.
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LOCAL ARTIST DECORATES CATHOLIC SCHOOL WITH MURALS
CHICAGO (June 30, 2003)
Our Lady of the Snows School, 4810 S. Leamington Ave., is a little prettier thanks to local artist Ernesto Rodriguez, who recently painted colorful murals on windows in five of the school’s classrooms.
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LEO HIGH SCHOOL VALEDICTORIAN HEADS TO WEST POINT
CHICAGO (June 9, 2003)
For years Mario Bullock has had his sights set on being counted among the best of the best when it comes to academic achievement. So it came as no surprise to teachers at Leo High School that the valedictorian of its class of 2003 was accepted to join the illustrious ranks of the U.S. Military Academy.
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Statement by Sr. Kathleen Tait, O.P.
Assistant Superintendent for High Schools
Archdiocese of Chicago
Chicago (May 20, 2003)
The Archdiocese of Chicago's Office of Catholic Schools is very sorry to learn of the alleged incident that occurred yesterday involving students of Gordon Tech High School.
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Catholic Schools Embark Upon A Visioning Process
Recognizing the need to seize the moment and move the Catholic school system of the Archdiocese of Chicago forward in a new and compelling way, Superintendent Dr. Nicholas Wolsonovich has commissioned a visioning process that will create a 20-year roadmap for what the school system should look like.
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New St. Martin de Porres High School, Waukegan
Joins a Network of Cristo Rey Model Schools
When the new St. Martin de Porres High School, Waukegan, opens in August 2004, it will join a network of Cristo Rey Model high schools that have made possible a Catholic education for students who might otherwise not afford it.
Announced by the Archdiocese of Chicago May 1, the new Catholic high school will include rigorous academics and business internships. The internships, in large part, keep the tuition affordable.
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Fact Sheet on St. Martin de Porres High School Plan to Open in Waukegan in August 2004
Corporate Internship Program
Work will be part of the education of each student. As part of the Corporate Internship Program, students will work with firms in a variety of professions, including accounting, financial services, health care and communications and will perform basic entry level clerical or data processing jobs.
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NEW CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL PLANNED FOR WAUKEGAN
Curriculum to include rigorous academics and business internships
WAUKEGAN, Ill. (May 1, 2003)
Plans for a new Catholic college-preparatory high school in Waukegan, Ill., were announced today by Archdiocese of Chicago leaders.
The new St. Martin de Porres High School will be patterned after the national Cristo Rey model of high schools in which students participate in a corporate internship program to help defray the cost of tuition. The school will be located in leased space in a building at the corner of Genesee and Washington Streets in downtown Waukegan. It is scheduled to open in August 2004 with an estimated 160 freshman and sophomores; other classes will be added the following year.
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CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS COLLECT
A MILLION PRAYERS FOR WORLD PEACE
RIVER GROVE, Ill. (May 22, 2003)
Following the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, students from nine Catholic elementary schools on Chicago's northwest side and in the western suburbs gathered together to pray. The schools collaborated on a project to count one million prayers for world peace. On Tuesday, May 27, a service commemorating the culmination of those one million prayers will take place at St. Cyprian School in River Grove at 1:30 p.m.
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FATHER ANDREW GREELEY DONATES $420,000 TO ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
CHICAGO (January 29, 2003)
Office of Catholic Schools officials today announced it will receive a $420,000 gift from Rev. Andrew M. Greeley for a new endowment fund that will aid Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic schools.
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Catholic Schools Celebrate African American Heritage Month with Lively Mass
“When you know your history, you know your greatness. “
This well-known African proverb was one of many wonderful messages given to students gathered Feb. 4 at Holy Name Cathedral in celebration of African American Heritage Month.
These wise words tie into the overall theme of this year's celebration, which is NIA, Swahili for purpose. Being the fifth of seven principles of Kwanza, NIA encourages African Americans to build up and develop their communities in order to restore the African-American people to their traditional greatness.
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OUTSTANDING CATHOLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS TO BE HONORED WITH “HEART OF THE SCHOOL AWARDS”
CHICAGO (January 29, 2003)
Fourteen Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic elementary and high school teachers will be honored for their accomplishments in a 10:30 a.m. ceremony today at
St. Stanislaus Kostka School, 1255 N. Noble St., Chicago.
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ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT HONORS OUTSTANDING CATHOLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS
Major gift to schools to be announced
WHAT: Nicholas M. Wolsonovich, Ph.D., superintendent of schools, will award 14 Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic elementary and secondary school teachers with thefor Teacher Recognition during a special ceremony Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2003.
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ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO CELEBRATES
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK JANUARY 26 – FEBRUARY 1, 2003
CHICAGO (January 24, 2003)
Archdiocese of Chicago elementary schools throughout Cook and Lake counties will celebrate Catholic Schools Week beginning Sunday, Jan. 26. This is an annual celebration of Catholic schools sponsored by the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA).
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ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO OFFICIALS LAUNCH FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR NEW SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
CHICAGO (December 5, 2002)
Officials of the Archdiocese of Chicago today announced the launch of a capital campaign feasibility study to determine the potential to raise funds for a proposed new co-ed Catholic high school in Orland Park, Ill.
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To Participate in the Study Survey, click here