JHN_Catholic Schools Week_012523

Catholic Schools Week 2023

January 29 - February 4

Herald-News/ShawLocal.com • Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Catholic Schools Directory

See what’s inside...

Cathedral of St. Raymond School ................................ page 11

ADDRESS: 608 North Raynor Ave., Joliet, IL 60435 PHONE: 815-722-6626

WEB SITE: www.straymondgradeschool.org PRINCIPAL: Ms. Marjorie Hill CHURCH PASTOR: Fr. Bill Dewan

Holy Family School ......................................................... page 9

ADDRESS: 600 Brook Forest Ave., Shorewood, IL 60404 PHONE: 815-725-8149

WEB SITE: www.holyfamilyshorewood.org/school PRINCIPAL: Mr. Anthony Wilkinson CHURCH PASTOR: Fr. John Phan

Joliet Catholic Academy ..................................... pages 15 & 16

ADDRESS: 1200 N. Larkin Ave., Joliet, IL 60435 PHONE: 815-741-0500

WEB SITE: www.jca-online.org PRINCIPAL: Dr. Jeffrey Budz

Providence Catholic Children’s Academy ..................... page 8

ADDRESS: 1800 W Lincoln Hwy., New Lenox, IL 60451 PHONE: 815-485-7129

WEB SITE: www.wearepc.org PRINCIPAL: Mrs. Laura McErlean PRESIDENT: Fr. John Merkelis

Providence Catholic High School .................................. page 7

ADDRESS: 1800 W Lincoln Hwy., New Lenox, IL 60451 PHONE: 815-485-2136

WEB SITE: www.providencecatholic.org PRINCIPAL: Mr. Paul Houston PRESIDENT: Fr. John Merkelis

Saints Dennis and Joseph Catholic Academy ................................................. pages 4 & 5

ADDRESS: South Campus (PreK-3rd Grade): 1201 S. Washington Street, Lockport North Campus (4th-8th Grade): 529 Madison Street, Lockport PHONE: South Campus (PreK-3rd Grade): 815-838-4494 North Campus (4th-8th Grade): 815-838-8173

St. Joseph Academy ........................................................ page 7 ADDRESS: 403 N. Hickory St., Joliet, IL 60435 PHONE: 815-723-4567

WEB SITE: www.sjajoliet.org PRINCIPAL: Mrs. Jan Novotny

St. Jude Catholic School (New Lenox) ......................... page 10 ADDRESS: 241 W. 2nd Ave., New Lenox, IL 60451 PHONE: 815-485-2549

WEB SITE: www.stjudes.org/school PRINCIPAL: Mrs. Kathleen Winters CHURCH PASTOR: Fr. Ray Flores

St. Mary Catholic School of Mokena ........................... page 13 ADDRESS: 11409 195th St., Mokena, IL 60448 PHONE: 708-326-9300

WEB SITE: www.stmaryschoolmokena.org PRINCIPAL: Mrs. Michele Engelman CHURCH PASTOR: Rev. Dindo Billote

St. Mary Immaculate Parish School ............................... page 3 ADDRESS: 15629 S. Rt. 59, Plainfield IL 60544 PHONE: 815-436-3953 WEB SITE: www.smischool.org PRINCIPAL: Mrs. Jennifer Errthum CHURCH PASTOR: Fr. Pat Mulcahy

St. Mary Nativity Catholic School

................................ page 14 ADDRESS: 702 N. Broadway St., Joliet, IL 60435 PHONE: 815-722-8518

WEB SITE: www. stmarynativity.org PRINCIPAL: Mr. Thomas Chinske CHURCH PASTOR: Fr. Jerome Kish

St. Paul the Apostle ...................................................... page 14 ADDRESS: 1130 Woodlawn Ave., Joliet IL 60435 PHONE: 815-725-3390

WEB SITE: thestpaulschool.org PRINCIPAL: Mrs. Kelly Kramerich CHURCH PASTOR: Fr. Mark Cote

St. Mary Immaculate Parish School

Celebrating 65 Years of Educating Tomorrow’s Leaders Today

Sixty Five years ago in the quiet village of Plainfield, St. Mary Immaculate Parish School was founded to serve the needs of educating Catholic youth in the growing community. Built on the teachings of Jesus Christ, the school incorporates three pillars of success: a focus on faith, a pursuit of academic excellence and an abundance of opportunities beyond the classroom. St. Mary Immaculate Parish School provides this solid foundation in a safe and secure family environment. We are also the first school in the area to have so many “Master Teacher” positions to enhance the learning culture in special needs, technology, and reading, and religion, faith, and spirituality: in other words, a campus minister position.

Our focus on faith enables teachers to help students connect with and embody the Catholic faith through daily Bible readings, prayer and classroom instruction. We nurture strong faith in the students and foster integration into their family faith life. In addition, our caring, enthusiastic teachers consistently guide our students to achieve their fullest academic potential, preparing them well for high school and college. Graduates of St. Mary Immaculate Parish School

achieve academic excellence at both public and private high schools, and the names of our graduates are regularly seen on the honor roll of all the local high schools. Our state of the art STEM lab and 1:1 program sets our school apart from many others.

Finally, we provide a wide variety of extra-curricular activities and encourage students to discover, develop and share their talents. Outside the classroom, our students participate in athletics including baseball, basketball, football and volleyball. Students perform in the Band, the Annual School Musical, and the Choir. We also offer Student Council, Ecology Club, Creative Writing Club, Chess Club, Battle of the Books, a Junior High Academic Team and more.

The children who attend St. Mary Immaculate Parish School are successful because of the dedication of their teachers, involvement of their parents, and their own hard work and accountability combined with the loving atmosphere that fills our school. St. Mary’s is also Recipient of “The Best Pre-School in Will County” award three years in a row from the Herald News. For more information contact the school at 815-436-3953 or visit our website at www.smischool.org.

Saints Dennis and Joseph Catholic Academy

Saints Dennis and Joseph Catholic Academy is a transformative change, creating a dual-campus academy, serving students preschool through third grade (south campus) and fourth through eighth grade (north campus).

The new school, built upon a foundation of the original St. Dennis and St. Joseph Catholic schools and using the strengths of each campus, will provide more opportunities for Catholic elementary education to thrive in Lockport and surrounding communities.

This new academic model improves teaching and learning by focusing on collaborative grade-level development. School administrators, pastors, school board presidents, parents and diocesan staff are collaboratively preparing for the 2023-24 school year.

The school’s mission is to be a Catholic community providing students in preschool through eighth grade an education rooted in a tradition of academic excellence, respect and faith, where they are inspired to achieve their potential, know, love and serve God, and become disciples of Christ.

The south campus at 1201 S. Washington Street will serve younger students. It features a separate Early Learning Center building with an enclosed playground for preschool students. Kindergarten through third grade students will learn in the main campus building in a nurturing, faith-filled environment, enhanced by the use of iPads.

The north campus at 529 Madison Street is perfect for transitioning middle schoolers into high school. Fourth through eighth grade students will also learn in a faith-filled nurturing environment, featuring a building with a new science lab, computer lab space and a gymnasium with a stage. Middle school students will further develop their academic skills using new laptops, interactive boards and advanced technology.

Extended care, athletics and specials classes – such as fine arts, foreign language and physical education – will be available at both campuses. Sacraments and Mass will also be celebrated on both campuses, allowing students to experience a unified Catholic curriculum and continue their spiritual growth.

The public is invited to an open house on Sunday, January 29 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at both campuses in Lockport. For more information, call the south campus at (815) 838-4494 and the north campus at (815) 838-8173.

Saints Dennis and Joseph Catholic Academy is a transformative change, creating a dual -campus academy, serving students preschool through third grade (South campus) and fourth through eighth grade (North campus), and providing more opportunities for Catholic elementary education to thrive in Lockport and surrounding communities.

Academic Excellence

Students are inspired to achieve their academic potential through a curriculum enriched with arts, music, foreign language, technology and athletics. arts,

Service Students are nurtured to build community and reach out to others with respect as disciples of Christ.

Faith Students are taught to know, love and serve God in a community rich in Catholic values.

South Campus ~ PreK — rd Grade 1201 S Washington Street • 815-838-4494

North Campus ~ 4th — th Grade 529 Madison Street • 815-838-8173

How students can better manage their time

METRO CREATIVE

Many people have a lot of dema nds on their time. There are only so many hours in a day, which means that the sooner a person can develop strategies for managing his or her time efficiently and effectively, the more successful that person can be.

It can be especially important for students to explore ways to improve their time management skills early in their academic careers. Time management involves planning, and that includes allotting time for specific tasks. The following strategies can be useful for anyone looking to manage their time more effectively.

Establish a daily schedule

Staying the course may require a guideline detailing how you will spend your time. A good part of the day may be taken up by classes and assignments, but focusing on the other parts of the day also is key. Set up a plan for how you will treat each day. Block off specific times for exercise, meals, school, study, and any other responsibilities you have. Time blocking is a format by which you go through the moments of the day. You can block

out by the hour or any amount of time you need.

Figure out where you’re losing time

You need to know how you’re currently spending your time before you can improve on time management strategies. Spend a few days jotting down a time log. This will help you determine if you’re working efficiently or

where you are losing time.

Make time for breaks

Burnout can occur when you work yourself too hard. That makes breaks an important part of time management. Breaks allow for time to call loved ones, text with friends, meditate, or engage in other activities unrelated to school. According to sleep

researcher Nathaniel Kleitman, people’s minds naturally crave breaks after 90 minutes of intense work. You may need breaks at different intervals. Learn to read your body’s cues.

Break projects down

Many students avoid projects they feel are huge tasks. Breaking down the larger job into smaller ones can help students stay focused and reward progress. For example, if you need to write a 50-page research paper, make the first task finding source material, the next citing quotes and studies, and then resolve to write a set number of pages per day.

Schedule classes wisely

Some people are night owls while others thrive in the morning. Set up schedules so you’re in class when you are at your most productive; otherwise, you could lag and waste time. This may not be possible for high school students, but colleges allow for more flexibility in scheduling.

Time management is an important skill for students to develop. It will help in the classroom and later on when entering the workforce.

What students can do to block out distractions in the classroom

METRO CREATIVE

An ability to focus in the classroom can go a long way toward helping students achieve their academic goals. But distractions lurk in every corner, making it easier than ever to succumb to a lack of focus.

Maintaining focus in the classroom can be difficult in the digital age, but students can try various strategies to block out distractions once class begins.

• Disconnect your devices. A 2020 report from the nonprofit association Educause found that the majority of students report connecting two or more devices to campus Wi-Fi each day. Devices often serve as useful tools that augment classroom lessons, but they also can distract students. Students can turn off notifications on their phones and tablets before class begins so that familiar ping does not sound during lectures and lessons. In addition, unless devices are necessary during a class, students can store them in places where they won’t be tempt-

ed to check for messages or other alerts when they should be learning. Storing devices in a separate pocket in a backpack or even in a locker outside the classroom can remove the temptation to log on during class.

• Prepare for class in advance. Organizing before class can help stu-

dents stay focused when a teacher is lecturing, explaining classroom material or engaging students in a discussion. Students who can’t readily access their notes, books or assignments may be forced to spend valuable class time looking for such materials, thus distracting them from the lesson.

• Bring questions to class. Students who jot down questions about a subject prior to class are more likely to be engaged once class begins. Students can ask their questions during the lesson and listen intently to hear if their teacher or professor is answering their questions during their lecture. Either way, bringing questions to class and going over them before class begins can help students narrow their focus to the subject at hand, reducing the likelihood that they’ll succumb to distractions.

• Sit in the front of class. Students who are having trouble focusing can try sitting in the front of class. Sitting in the front ensures students can hear their teachers or professors, and sitting so close might subconsciously compel students to perk up so they’re not caught wandering.

Devices and other distractions can easily compromise students’ focus in the classroom. But various strategies can help students focus so they can perform better academically.

Providence Catholic Children’s Academy

Open House scheduled for Sunday, January 29

Providence Catholic Children’s Academy (PCCA) was opened in 1992. Under the director of the Joliet Diocese it served the religious and educational needs of children who are members of the New Lenox and surrounding communities. It is located on the campus of Providence Catholic High School at 1800 W. Lincoln Hwy. in New Lenox. Preschool children, ages 3-4 have the choice of full or half-day classes. Kindergarten children, ages 5-6, attend school 5 full days a week. Before and after school care is also available to students on a full time or as needed basis.

All teachers at PCCA possess a bachelor’s degree or greater. They provide a nurturing environment that emphasizes on academic, social, emotional, physical and spiritual growth. This environment encourages children to develop a positive self-concept, while allowing them to grow on many levels.

Tuition includes books and in school field trips. There are no required parent volunteer hours and all fundraising is optional. Free and optional speech and developmental screenings are offered to all PCCA students in the fall.

Our open house and registration for the 2023-2024 school year is on Sunday, January 29th from 10:00-12:30.

Please call or email Mrs. Laura McErlean at lmcerlean@providencecatholic.org with any questions or visit the school’s website at www.wearepc.org

St. Jude School

St. Jude School in New Lenox is holding an open house on Sunday, Jan. 29. Those interested in attending the open house must schedule an appointment by emailing atraven@ stjudes.org. In the email, it is asked to include the grades interested and preferred appointment time.

Tours last 15 minutes and St. Jude will send a confirmation email with your tour time.

St. Jude School is located at 241 West Second Avenue. The school’s open house will allow families to talk to current families and students to get a feel for what St. Jude has to offer.

Registration for new students also opens on Jan. 29.

Students K-8 are welcome at St. Jude where they will receive a faithbased curriculum, a strong academic program, before and after school

care, competitive and recreational athletic programs and extracurricular activities and enrichment programs.

St. Jude offers preschool for children ages 2 to 4.

St. Jude’s small class size also allows for 1:1 iPads for grades 1 through 8, state-of-the-art technology for all students, Spanish/sign language instruction for all students.

St. Jude also has above national average and local test scores in reading, math, social studies and science. Students also have testing in AimsWeb and Iowa Test.

Tuition assistance is also available for St. Jude students and their families. The St. Monica Gift of Faith Scholarship can provide students with up to 50% off tuition. St. Jude also offers Catholic Education Foundation Grants, a Tuition Transfer Grant and an Empower Illinois Tuition Scholar-

Twenty five percent of graduating eighth grade students receive high school academic scholarships.

Be sure to also keep up with St. Jude on Facebook by following its page, “St. Jude School of New Lenox” where different news of events and fundraisers are posted.

Competitive and recreational athletic programs

Extracurricular activities and enrichment programs 2, 3, & 4 year old preschool

“Come join the St. Jude Family.”

Cathedral of St. Raymond School to hold open house on January 28th

The Cathedral of St. Raymond School has been a pillar in the community for over 100 years and continues to be a school of choice for over 200 families. Our mission is to provide an education of unsurpassed quality to the students we serve. We dedicate ourselves to helping our students reach their fullest potential in an environment that focuses on faith and values. St. Ray’s believes in teaching the whole child–which means we partner with parents to nurture in each child a desire to achieve at their personal best—academically, socially, emotionally, physically and spiritually.

Located in the historic Cathedral area of Joliet, St. Raymond School educates over 300 students in 3-yearold PreSchool through 8th grade. The challenging curriculum is taught by a team of experienced, faithfilled and certified teachers with an average of 11 years teaching experience, many who have been recognized with accolades and awards. In addition to core subjects, students are taught art, music, physical education and computer technology. Our 6th-8th grade students participate in a 1:1 Chromebook initiative.

“St. Rays has been an integral

part of our family’s life for 8 years. We searched out a good preschool and quickly realized we had found a warm and welcoming community we were excited to join. We are active in our faith as Lutherans and have found this Catholic community to emphasize our shared values of loving God and loving neighbors. Being connected to St. Ray’s has enriched our whole family.” ~St. Raymond School parents of a 3rd and 5th grader St. Raymond School also offers a top-notch athletic program, starting with intramural basketball in 1st grade, and then cross country, baseball, flag football, basketball, volleyball and track and field in 5th – 8th grade. The focus of our program is on teamwork, responsibility, resiliency, discipline and, of course, fun -- like how we celebrated our baseball team’s bid for the championship title with a school-wide pep rally!

In addition to sports, we offer a vast array of extracurricular activities from band, choir, a variety show and Spring Musical to Academic Bowls, Student Council, Battle of the Books, and Boy Scouts – St. Ray’s truly has something for everyone! There are also many incredible opportunities for students to connect with the commu-

nity through volunteer and outreach programs.

“Thank you for providing our Jr. High students with the wonderful opportunity to serve lunch to the people at Daybreak Shelter. It was so rewarding and beautiful to see our students humbly serve others.” ~St. Raymond School family since 2013 Mass is celebrated every week and a class leads the mass as lectors, gift bearers, musicians and altar servers. Each month our students meet with

their assigned Faith Buddy to work on building a faithbased relationship with one another. Our 1st and 8th grade students participate in our Big Friend/ Little Friend program which offers them special sharing and friendship opportunities throughout the school year and lasts even long after they have graduated.

We invite prospective families with students in preschool, kindergarten and 1st grade to our Open House on Saturday, January 28th from 4:00pm-6:00pm to tour our school and classrooms, meet our faculty, staff, and current parents and receive application information. Advanced registration is required.

Students interested in transferring into 2nd-8th grade should contact the school office to arrange a tour during the school week.

More information about our school can be found at www.straymondgradeschool org and Facebook and Instagram at @CathedralofStRaymond.

Come discover what makes St. Raymond School a school of choice for families in Joliet, Plainfield, Shorewood and beyond!

St. Mary Catholic School

St. Mary Catholic School of Mokena cordially invites you and any prospective families to join us for an Open House on Sunday, January 29, 2023 from 10:45 AM through 2:00 PM. Catholic Schools Week will kick off with a family mass at 9:30 AM, followed by the Open House. Visitors will experience a welcoming community, view our exceptional facilities, and meet dedicated faculty, staff, students, and families from the school

St. Mary Catholic School was students with a rigorous education rooted in the Catholic faith. With a schedule that supports weekly school mass, Christ is at the center of all we do. St. Mary also has established “faith families” that cross through the traditional barriers of academic life by bringing together students of all ages for small group, faith centered discussions and lessons. These lessons are led by non-homeroom faculty and staff while also incorporating leadership opportunities for our middle school students as they interact with

families. “My children were instantly welcomed and made fast friends after moving from another state,” said one school parent whose family moved to St. Mary in 2020. Another family made the switch locally: “Changing schools was not an easy decision but proved to be right for us. Our children were welcomed immediately… St. Mary is now our home, and we couldn’t be happier!”

Student Focused

St. Mary has a dedicated professional school faculty that combines community resources, excellent facilities, evolving curriculum, technology and individual initiative to bring the very best to all students. Facilities such as our Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) lab; 1:1 iPads for Kindergarten and up starting in 2022; a spacious gymnasium; dedicated music room, library, and computer lab all aid in the growth of our students. Principal Michele Engelman: “Our teachers are very invested in the success of each student. They go above and beyond to achieve success.”

It’s Not All Work

St. Mary takes academics seriously. But what is life without a little bit of fun? Extracurriculars include scout programs, art programs, music and band programs, a robust drama club. St. Mary joined the Tri-County Catholic Conference in 2022 and features an excellent gym and a growing athletic program.

Accommodating Families

corporates Catholic values into its daily instruction. The 2022-23 school year’s theme is to “Change the World with Kindness.” More than just a friendly slogan, Changing the World with Kindness is embedded into daily instruction at all levels, teaching students to have a positive, Christ-like effect on those portions of the world

Further, St. Mary has an established, profound sense of community. Some families have been part of the community for decades; yet St. Mary is also incredibly welcoming to new

St. Mary recognizes that all families have different circumstances. Before and after-care is available for a fee. Bus services are available for those families that reside within the Mokena Public School District 159. Tuition assistance is available through multiple avenues, to include Empower Illinois, Catholic Education Foundation (CEF), and parish/school scholarships. Do not allow tuition to be a barrier to your joining the St. Mary Community! Ask for details!

For more information, please call St. Mary School at (708) 326-9330 or visit www.stmaryschoolmokena.org. Registration opens January 29th!

Joliet Catholic Academy, which recently celebrated 153 years of Catholic education in the Will County area, is built on the belief that Angels and Hilltoppers are champions of their faith in the classroom, after school, and on the playing field. JCA is a family of 600 current students and over 23,500 alumni. JCA is the number one choice for Catholic college preparatory education in the Joliet, Shorewood, and Plainfield communities.

JCA’s alumni are lawyers, doctors, Catholic priests, Catholic nuns, politicians, teachers, coaches, police officers, firefighters, and more. JCA graduates continually thrive in leadership positions in the Joliet com¬munity and beyond; elected officials, leaders on volunteer boards, eight current professional athletes, Olympic medalists, Fortune 500 company CEO’s, Hollywood producers, and box office stars are counted among its graduates.

JCA was founded on the principles that drive the missions of the Carmelites and Franciscans. Students experience opportunities to foster their spiritual awareness through daily prayer, liturgical experiences, Christian service within the community, and retreats. Angels and Hilltoppers are challenged to bring a deeper meaning to all aspects of their lives by fol¬lowing the example and teachings of Jesus Christ.

JCA offers Advanced Placement courses and college dual credit options in addition to three levels of study. Student schedules are built to meet their individual needs. JCA offers 23 Honors and 14 AP classes, with JCA students passing AP exams at a higher rate than the state and national averages. In the Class of 2022 twenty-two students were named Illinois State Scholars and attended 86 different colleges in 24 states. The Class of 2022 earned over $18 million in scholarship dollars.

Students are challenged with technology through JCA’s one-toone program, utilizing the Warning Family Innovation Research Center, which opened in the fall of 2021. This state-of-the-art facility broadens their horizons with exciting new electives in Robotics, Engineering, and Com¬puter Science. JCA was proud to be selected as Microsoft Showcase School, and currently boasts eight Microsoft Innovation in Education Experts on the faculty.

Angels and Hilltoppers are successful in and out of the classroom. JCA

Joliet Catholic Academy

believes extra-curricular involvement plays a significant role in develop¬ing the discipline and competitive spirit required for academic success. Every student at JCA has excellent opportunities to compete at many levels in 24 interscholastic and intramural sports programs and over 40 addition¬al clubs and activities, including an award-winning drama program.

JCA is home to the Angels and Hilltoppers who have a rich athletic tradition with 36 State and National Championships. Just this past school year (2021-2022), the Hilltoppers won a school record of four (Football, Wrestling, Bass Fishing, and Baseball) IHSA State Championships. Our Competitive Dance Team placed third and our Girls’ Volleyball Team placed fourth. We had State Representation from Girls’ and Boys’ Cross-Country, Girls’ Tennis, Cheerleading, Girls’ Wrestling, Girls’, and Boys’ Track, and five individual State placers in Wrestling.

All students have the opportunity to be creative, to be unique, to build confidence, and to be their best self. The award-winning JCA Drama Department annually puts on a Fall Play, Winter Radio Show, and Spring Musical. The annual Fall Play and Spring Musical, hosted at Joliet’s Bicentennial Park Theatre is one of the hottest tickets in town, with all performances expected to sell out. JCA offers a Christmas Concert and Spring Concert, with the opportunity to participate in Marching Band and English Handbells performances as well.

Applications are still being accepted for the incoming Class of 2027 and for current high school students interested in transferring. JCA awarded nearly $2 million dollars in scholarships to current students during the ’22-‘23 school year through the “Leveraged Financial Aid” program. Scholarships range from $500 to $14,000, funded through several sources including the JCA Endowment, the Catholic Education Foundation, and the IL Tax-Credit Scholarship program, Empower Illinois.

Apply online at www.jca-online.org. Contact the JCA Admissions Office for more information at 815.741.0500 or admissions@jca-online.org.

The number one choice for Catholic college preparatory education in the Joliet, Shorewood, and Plainfield communities