Beverly-Mt. Greenwood Schools Celebrate 2023 Catholic Schools Week

CHICAGO — South Side Catholic elementary schools are spiffing up their halls and classrooms in anticipation of the 49th annual National Catholic Schools Week, which begins Jan. 29 and runs through Feb. 4.

Each year, the last week of January is set aside where Catholic schools observe the week with Masses, open houses and other activities for students, families, parishioners, and community members. Families can register current and new students for the 2023-2024 school year. The theme for National Catholic Schools Week 2023 is “Faith. Excellence. Service.”

Students in Archdiocese of Chicago schools achieve higher than national average scores on standardized tests like the ACT and ACT Aspire. Seniors are purported to graduate at a rate of 98 percent, with 95 percent going on to college. The Chicago Archdiocese also boasts more U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Award schools than any other school system – public or private – in the nation.

Financial aid is also available to help children grades K-12 from low-income homes attend an archdiocesan Catholic school through the Illinois Invest in Kids Act, Tax Credit Scholarship Program. Donors fund the scholarship and in return receive a 75% credit on their donation when filing their Illinois state income taxes.

Families can apply for Tax Credit Scholarships through a scholarship granting organization, which distributes the scholarships. The Archdiocese of Chicago works with two SGOs: Empower Illinois and Big Shoulders Fund.

St. Barnabas, Christ the King, St. Christina, St. John Fisher and Queen of Martyrs will hold special Masses and open houses on Sunday, Jan. 29. If you're looking for a Catholic school experience for your kiddos, take a look at what they have to offer. Most schools offer private school tours by appointment if you can't make the open house.

All open houses take place on Sunday, Jan. 29:

St. Barnabas, 10121 S. Longwood Drive, Chicago, 773-445-7711

St. Barnabas School will kick off Catholic Schools Week with a 10 a.m. Mass, followed by schools tours from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, but pre-registration is strongly encouraged. Home of the Buckeyes, St. Barnabas weaves technology in educational experiences that foster success, promote unity, and respect the individuality of each student. Through a variety of programs and services, St. Barnabas successfully prepares students for the endless challenges that lie ahead. Rooted in faith, tradition, and friendship, St Barnabas empowers students to develop their unique capabilities to live, lead, and serve in an ever-changing global society.

• 3 & 4 year-old full & half-day pre-school options
• Full-day Kindergarten
• Before & After Care
• Growing number of 21st Century Classrooms with flexible seating
• Service Learning focus including All-School Service Days and grade-level service projects
• Project MATCH program, offering differentiated curriculum in Math & ELA (Reading)
• "Buckeye Block" during which students learn about rotating topics such as Executive Functioning, School Counseling Topics, Service, etc.
• Spanish, Music, Art, Physical Education and Technology Instruction for all students from pre-school through 8th grade
• 1:1 iPad program for junior high, interactive white boards and media center with technology-driven instruction
• Diverse offerings in our After School Enrichment program, including yoga, STEM engineering, chess, young entrepreneurs and more
• Robust after school athletics and theater programs

Queen of Martyrs School, 3550 W. 103rd St., Evergreen Park, 708-422-1540
Queen of Martyrs marks Catholic Schools week with a 10:30 a.m. Mass, followed by an open house until 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29. Celebrating 70 years of academic excellence, Queen of Martyrs offers:

• Education 3-year-old preschool through eighth grade
• New Science/STEM Lab and curriculum
• Enhanced learning with Chromebooks and iPads
• iReady differentiated instruction for grades K-8
• Catholic-based education
• Service opportunities throughout the year
• Educating the whole child mentally, physically and spiritually
• Dedicated faculty and staff
• Offering technology, Spanish, music, band, physical education, school counselor, resource teacher, speech services
• After school enrichment, including art class, school choir, church choir, film lab, chess class, theater club, silly STEM and more.

Christ the King School, 9240 S. Hoyne Ave., Chicago, 773-779-3329

Christ the King will celebrate the start of Catholic Schools Week with a 9 a.m. Mass for current and prospective families followed by an open house from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A Blue Ribbon Award winning school, Christ the King boasts 86 years of academic excellence. Major renovations have taken place, with a STEAM Lab slated to open in 2023. The school offers:

• Newly renovated art and music rooms, media center, and kindergarten and pre-school rooms.
• Elevator for wheelchair access and special needs
• 1:1 iPades, grades K-3
• 1:1 Chromebooks, grades 4-8
• Viewsonic boards, grades K-8
• Guidance counselor offering 1:1 and group sessions
• 17:1 student-teacher ratio
• Football, basketball, volleyball, soccer, golf and running
• Specials, including PE, visual arts, music
• Spanish grades 4-8

Watch last year’s video

St. Christina School, 11005 S. Homan Ave., Chicago, 773-445-2969

New and prospective families are invited to a 10:30 a.m. family Mass, with an open house following until 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29. Home of the Cardinals, St. Christina is a community of faith, achievement, and service. (Learn more about registration.) St. Christina strives to promote the spiritual, academic, physical and social development of each child in a safe and positive environment, offering:

• Faith Formation
• Academic Excellence
• ASPIRE Score Above National Norm
• Dedicated Staff
• Supportive Community
• Strong Alumni Population
• Individualized Attention
• Steady Enrollment
• PreK3 and PreK full and half day options
• Weekly Mass
• SMART Boards in all Rooms
• FOSS Hands-on Science Program
• Library, Computer, Music, Art and PE Programs
• Junior High Spanish Program
• Athletics Program K-8
• Before and After School Care
• Extracurricular Activities
• After School Enrichment
• Support Staff: Nurse, Counselor, Resource Person

Watch the 2021 video.

St. John Fisher, 10200 S. Washtenaw Ave., Chicago, 773-445-4737

St. John Fisher will host an open house for new pre-school families from 9:15 t0 9:45 a.m, and all-school open house from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m., culminating in an 11 a.m. family Mass, Sunday, Jan. 29. The curriculum at St. John Fisher is comprehensive and centered on providing a rigorous program that meets individual learning styles and prepares the St John Fisher graduate to do well in high school, college and beyond.

In addition to the regular course of study, the school provides an excellent educational technology program, fine arts program, and an extensive athletic program that involves more than four hundred children in intramural and extramural activities. Watch the video.

Related:

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