Reach for the
heights
“The higher we climb, the better we shall hear the voice of Christ.”
An Authentic Hero Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati —the patron of our academy — wasn’t a famous person or the founder of a religious order. He was simply a young man who was in love with his family and friends, in love with the mountains and the natural world and, especially, in love with God. Born into a wealthy family in Turin, Italy, in 1901, Pier Giorgio Frassati was blessed with good looks, charm, a great zest for life, athleticism and good health — all qualities that he could have parlayed into worldly success. But Pier Giorgio didn’t follow that path. Instead, he heeded the call of Christ, dedicating himself to serving the sick, caring for orphans and helping people in need. Pier Giorgio’s life was cut tragically short when he contracted polio and died at the age of 24. Many believe that he became ill while selflessly tending to others who were stricken with the disease. Beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1990, Pier Giorgio is someone you will come to know well at Frassati Catholic Academy. He stands as a shining example of an individual who takes the Gospel to heart and lives life to the fullest.
— B l e s s e d P i e r G i o r g i o F ra s s at i
Our Unique Spiritual Mission Frassati Catholic Academy’s Spiritual Charter highlights five charisms, or qualities, drawn from the life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati:
A spirit of the Beatitudes
A love of God, a love of friends, a love of life and all creation
A love for the Eucharist and a life of prayer Sharing in the mission of Christ Perseverance, or “reaching for the heights”
Always Upward! Pier Giorgio Frassati coined the Italian phrase verso l’alto, which means “reach for the heights.” Today, his words inspire our students to strive for excellence and aim high as they courageously expand their horizons, pursue their dreams and become the people God created them to be.
verso l’alto
WELCOME to Frassati Catholic Academy,
the first Catholic middle school of the Archdiocese of Chicago. A cooperative effort of three Lake County parishes: St. Mary of the Annunciation, Transfiguration and Santa Maria Del Popolo, Frassati Catholic Academy opened its doors in 2010 to serve students in grades six, seven and eight. Frassati Catholic Academy offers middleschool students what a public educational institution cannot: a faith-based learning environment rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition and the spirituality of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, a commitment to strong moral values and a challenging academic curriculum that paves the way for future scholastic success. We inspire our students to lead lives of integrity committed to peace and social justice — and equip them with the faith, knowledge, confidence and courage they will need to serve as Christian leaders in their communities and make the world a better place.
What is Frassati Catholic Academy? A nurturing place to grow and learn. A place to discover the joy of being a Christian. A place where leaders are born and lifelong friendships are formed. Come join our Catholic learning community — and follow in Pier Giorgio’s footsteps as you reach for the stars!
The Frassati At Frassati Catholic Academy, we are committed to nurturing the development of well-rounded young people with a comprehensive curriculum that challenges students intellectually, exposes them to diverse cultural perspectives, fosters the development of leadership skills and cultivates an awareness of and commitment to the Church’s teachings on social justice. We place a special emphasis on math, science, technology, foreign language, music, art and religious studies — but our ultimate goal is the formation of the whole person.
FOCUS ON LEARNING
A rigorous academic curriculum based on Illinois State standards, Archdiocesan guidelines and 21st century learning principles
A dynamic learning environment designed to meet the developmental and social-emotional needs of middle-school students
Instructional techniques that foster the development of critical thinking skills
MacBook laptop computers for every student
Conference-sanctioned athletic programs for boys and girls, including basketball, cross-country, track and field and volleyball Extracurricular activities such as the Band, Cheerleading, Choir, Creative Writing Club, Drama Club, Einstein Math Club, Environmental Club, Frassati Junior Honor Society, Journalism Club and Student Council
FAITH IN ACTION
Daily prayer and worship
Reflections on the virtues of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati as an inspiring Christian model
A three-year Faith Formation program that introduces students to the mission of Jesus and a life of discipleship that encourages them to put their faith into action
Service opportunities ranging from food drives to feeding the homeless
Youth ministry programs
Christian leadership opportunities for eighth-grade students
Experience FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE SUCCESS The academic and spiritual programming at Frassati Catholic Academy is designed to foster the development of graduates who exhibit the following characteristics:
A sense of self-worth, belonging and purpose
Problem solving and critical-thinking skills
Self-confidence and leadership skills The skills needed to function in a technologically advanced society The knowledge, awareness and skills needed to maintain physical, emotional and mental health, as well as physical fitness Skills that foster creativity and an appreciation of the fine arts
A genuine sense of Catholic identity and tradition
A gospel-centered value system
An uncompromising formation in Christian morality
A mature spirituality that reflects the virtues of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati
Respect and responsibility for self, family, church, local community and global community
A warm and welcoming faith
community for the entire family Life at Frassati isn’t just about our students.
Parents are often surprised to discover that they get a lot out of the Frassati experience as well. Some parent activities are just for fun, offering a chance to expand your social circle and meet other parents with similar values and interests. Others are spiritual, like our Frassati Parent Retreats, which provide a welcome opportunity to step out of your everyday life and deepen your relationship with God. Parents also volunteer in various ways to support our mission of Catholic education, from coaching and chaperoning to helping out at fundraising events. Many parents relish these opportunities to participate in their children’s school lives and become a part of the Frassati family.
Faith. Friendship. Frassati. A Parent’s Guide to Getting Involved
Athletic Board
Classroom Volunteer Opportunities Event Committees
Parent Spiritual Retreats
how to get to frassati catholic academy Admissions information | Tuition and fees | Financial Aid facts academic curriculum A Welcome Message from Frassati’s Leadership Dear Prospective Parents and Guardians: Thank you for your interest in Frassati Catholic Academy, an exciting new model for Catholic education. Frassati Catholic Academy is the first middle school in the Chicago Archdiocese.
At Frassati Catholic Academy, we place a strong emphasis on math and science and a thorough
Christian formation in the Catholic tradition. Working as a team with parents and guardians, and with the support of our parish communities, we encourage our students to achieve their full potential as disciples of Jesus and responsible citizens of the world. Our pioneering venture began as a dream in 2008, when three priests in neighboring parishes, three schools and a determined group of teachers and parents pooled their ideas and resources to create a new paradigm for
Fr. Ron Lewinski, M. Div., S.T.L. President, Frassati Catholic Academy
Catholic education: a school that focuses solely on the academic, developmental, social-emotional and spiritual needs of middle-school students. With the support and counsel of the Chicago Archdiocese, this unique partnership for Catholic
education became a reality in August 2010, when Frassati Catholic Academy opened its doors to middle-school students from three Lake County parishes: Transfiguration in Wauconda and St. Mary of the Annunciation and Santa Maria Del Popolo in Mundelein. Today, Frassati is a vibrant educational and spiritual community dedicated to academic excellence and intensive faith formation in the spirit of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, the school’s patron. Our middle school is open to all students. Our Spiritual Charter, which is at the heart of the Frassati mission, draws from the charisms, or virtues, of
Dr. Diana Vida Principal, Frassati Catholic Academy
Pier Giorgio, who spent his brief life serving those who were poor, sick, hungry or without shelter. He stands as a shining example for today’s youth of a layperson who lived his Christian faith unabashedly.
Just as Pier Giorgio encouraged those around him with the Italian phrase verso l’alto, which means “reach
for the heights,” he now inspires our students to aim high as we call them to live by the spirit of the Gospel. We invite you to stop by for a visit and experience Frassati Catholic Academy for yourself. You will find that it is a joyful place where curiosity, creativity and diversity are celebrated and every student is treated with dignity and respect. To arrange your private tour, simply contact our Admissions Office at 847.487.5600. We have exciting news to share with you about Frassati’s singular mission and look forward to seeing you soon.
Verso l’alto!
Fr. Ron Lewinski, M. Div., S.T.L.
President, Frassati Catholic Academy
Dr. Diana Vida
316 West Street Wauconda, Illinois 60084 Principal, FrassatiMill Catholic Academy 847.487.5600
www.frassaticatholicacademy.org
Raves & Reviews “My favorite thing about Frassati is that we all feel like family.”
“I learned to follow my dreams by reaching for the heights!”
— A.J.
“What do I love about Frassati? Cool laptops, awesome teachers and tons of new friends!”
— Chris
“I have formed friendships here that will last forever.”
— Barbara
“Frassati Catholic Academy changed my life. I learned how to work harder, be myself, not let anything get in my way and just keep climbing.”
— Mary
“This new school offers a nurturing atmosphere for middle-school students and a strong foundation for high school. My children have their own community now.” — Frassati parents Katie and Kevin T.
“Frassati’s mission of faith and academic excellence is a gift to the Archdiocese of Chicago.” — Sr. Mary Paul McCaughey, O.P. Superintendent of Catholic Schools Archdiocese of Chicago
— Allie
A Catholic middle school inspired by the virtues of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati