St Germaine Gets a New “Germainiac”

Throughout the 2022 school year, Philip served as the Assistant Principal while simultaneously teaching Social Emotional Learning classes and coaching the 8th-grade girls' basketball team. Philip is currently pursuing his Educational Doctorate in Administration & Leadership at Loyola University and holds a Master's degree in Education. Born in New Orleans and raised in Lexington Kentucky, he is the son of two educators and the only one of his siblings, all of whom are twins, to follow in his parents’ footsteps.

“Being in education has always felt right. My passion stems from helping students grow and I’m inspired and motivated by our faculty. If I can support our teachers and allow them to better focus on their instruction, I’ve done my job correctly.” When asked about his biggest challenge this past year, Philip talked about the pandemic and the importance of sticking together. “The importance of community has really been highlighted by the challenges we have experienced with Covid-19 over the past few years. Ensuring a sense of belonging and connectedness is more crucial than ever, for our teachers, parents, and students.” - Philip O’Rourke

Using the pandemic as a springboard for growth, and with the help of generous donations from various individuals and school organizations, St. Germaine has made great strides to further invest in the school by developing plans to create a brand new Innovation Lab and a completely refurbished gym floor. The school has also installed a state-of-the-art fire alarm system, brand new roofs over the church and activity center, and has plans for new clubs and extracurricular activities for student participation.
Philip’s excitement and passion for Germaine is palpable, and as he puts it, “St. Germaine is eagerly moving forward as one parish and community.”

St. Germaine School in Oak Lawn, IL provides an outstanding educational experience for students from 3-year-old pre-school to eighth grade. If you would like more information about the programs at St. Germaine Catholic School, please give us a call (708-425-6063) or visit our website www.stgermaineschool.com or follow us on Facebook @StGermaineCatholicSchool. Enrollment is now open for the 2022-2023 school year. Contact us to schedule a tour of the school.