The Frances Xavier Warde School (FXW) was founded in 1989 with a vision to develop a rigorous academic Catholic school that would embrace all religions and build on the multi-layered diversity of Chicago—ethnic, racial, religious, and socioeconomic. As FXW has evolved, these ideals solidified into our Charisms.
Our Charisms FAITH A Community of faith that welcomes and embraces all faith traditions DIVERSITY & INCLUSION A Community that is purposefully diverse and intentionally inclusive
ACADEMICS A Community that is preparing thinkers and leaders in an academically enriched environment SERVICE A Community motivated by faith to serve others
PURPOSEFULLY DIVERSE, INTENTIONALLY INCLUSIVE FXW holds the pillars of diversity and inclusion as central to our School’s mission and the overall value of an FXW education. Situated in the heart of the Chicago metro area, we strive to maintain a community of belonging where diversity, equity, and inclusion thrive and all voices are heard and valued.
935 Students 170 Dedicated Faculty & Staff 56 Zip Codes Represented
10:1 Student : Teacher Ratio in Preschool 12:1 Student : Teacher Ratio Kindergarten and Primary School 24:1 Student : Teacher Ratio in Middle School
Geographic Information HISPANIC/ LATINX 11%
Northwest Chicago 35 Wrigleyville/Ravenswood 41 Lakeview/Roscoe Village 82 Logan Square/Wicker Park 71 Lincoln Park 57
MULTIRACIAL
Near North 68
14%
Garfield Park/Little Village 21 Near West/West Town 140
Student Diversity
BLACK/ AFRICAN AMERICAN
Downtown 155
CAUCASIAN 50%
South Loop/Chinatown 130 Bronzeville/Hyde Park 56 Bridgeport/Pilsen 28 Beverly/Southwest 15
13%
South Shore/Jackson Park 18 Suburbs 13 Indiana 4
ASIAN
Michigan 1
12%
High School Acceptance FXW Classes 2019 and 2020
Scholarship We empower children and families to reach for and achieve their dreams by providing over $1.96 million in scholarships each year. 35%
27%
20%
Over $12,100
$9,100–$12,000
$6,100–$9,000
$1,000– $3,000
6%
$3,100–$6,000
12%
Awards range from $1,000 to more than 13K. *This scholarship graph includes the School’s one-time COVID-19 Relief Fund effort. Annually, the scholarship effort is intentionally reflective of a bell curve.
British International School of Chicago Cate School (CA) Chicago Hope Academy Choate Rosemary Hall (CT) De LaSalle Institute DePaul College Prep Fenwick High School Hotchkiss School (CT) Foxcroft School (VA) Francis W. Parker School GCE Lab School Jones College Prep Kent School (CT) Kenwood Academy La Lumiere School (IN) Lake Forest Academy (IL) Lane Tech College Prep High School Laurenceville School (NJ) Lincoln Park High School (IB/DH) Lindblom Math and Science Academy Loyola Academy
Lycée Français de Chicago Marist High School Milton Academy (MA) Morgan Park Academy Mount Carmel High School Oak Park-River Forest High School Ogden International School of Chicago Resurrection College Prep High School Roycemore School Saint Ignatius College Prep Senn High School Thatcher School (CA) The Latin School of Chicago Trinity High School University of Chicago Laboratory School Walter Payton College Prep Western Reserve Academy (OH) Westinghouse College Prep Whitney M. Young Magnet High School Wolcott High School
THE VALUE OF AN FAITH FORMATION 10 faith traditions represented at FXW 2 religion curriculums offered (Catholic and Multifaith) FXW is an independent, Catholic school where all students experience and gain an understanding of religious diversity. The goals of FXW’s religion program are to:
Partner with families to enrich the understanding and appreciation of the student’s faith and spirituality. Develop respect and understanding of world religions. stablish a foundation for service work that is an E expression of faith in action.
In Preschool and Kindergarten, the experience of faith is rooted in the student’s imagination and filled with stories of awe and wonder of God. In Grades 1–8, students participate in either a Catholic religion class (Moonbeams) or an interfaith religion class (Shooting Stars). Both curricula mirror one another. Throughout the year, students participate in ecumenical prayer services and masses as an expression of their faith experience. As an intentionally inclusive community, FXW School values the opportunity for interfaith dialogue which involves listening, learning, and asking questions to deepen our understanding of world religions. The celebration of Catholic holy days and sacramental preparation are part of the Catholic religion program.
Pillars
SERVICE LEARNING Regardless of a student’s faith or culture, at FXW, all students have the opportunity to put their beliefs into practice. Service learning is an important aspect of FXW students’ experiential education. Projects are closely tied to our mission and allow our students the opportunity to develop their social consciousness. At every grade level, students apply classroom knowledge to service projects for local agencies which effect positive change in the community. It is important for students to realize that they can make a difference in the world around them. Living the Legacy: FXW Community Service Through the Living the Legacy service program, FXW students and their families meaningfully and consistently lend a helping hand to the Chicago community. Service comes in many forms—serving a hot meal on a cold night, cleaning up our parks and streets, spreading holiday cheer, or even something as small as sharing a smile, a hug, or a game of bingo. Annually, through the Living the Legacy service program, the FXW community completes more than 6,500 service hours and once again proves that every person—no matter how big or small—can make a difference.
Tenants of Faith Liturgical Education: Rituals, Traditions, and Worship Morals, Ethics, and Values Prayer and Meditation Life, Community, and History Living the Legacy: Service and Social Justice
FXW EDUCATION Technology at FXW The Frances Xavier Warde School integrates the latest technology resources in relevant and meaningful ways to help students expand and apply their knowledge and skills. Faculty and students use technology intentionally to ask big questions, try new ideas, test and verify hypotheses, produce original and creative work, and demonstrate concept mastery. Teachers utilize technology to engage and inspire students and as tools to prepare students to be creative and critical thinkers.
Grades K-5 students utilize 1:1 classroom iPads
Grades 6–8 students utilize 1:1 Surface Laptops
Communicating Student Progress at FXW Monitoring and communicating student progress involves multiple perspectives and sources of data: checklists, teacher observations, written and oral assessment, self-assessment, and portfolios. Information is formally communicated through standards based reports in conjunction with parent/ teacher conferences. The goal of communicating student progress in a timely and clear manner, while focusing on the “whole child,” is to promote a sense of shared responsibility for supporting student growth and development.
Social Emotional Learning We strive to foster the development of socially and emotionally competent children capable of achieving success in school and life. As partners with parents, our goal is to support children as they grow in self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision making, social awareness, and relationship skills. This collaboration promotes our school culture where children learn and live these skills and attitudes every day.
PRESCHOOL (3 & 4 years old, 140 Students)
In Preschool, we believe in...
Play as the foundation for all learning.
The importance of social and emotional development with an emphasis on relationships, self-regulation, and initiative.
Nurturing growth mindset and sense of belonging in the community of the classroom.
Modeling and fostering the development of empathy and compassion to enhance relationships.
Teaching critical thinking skills through discussing, questioning, and exploring.
KINDERGARTEN, GRADE 1, 2 (Primary School, 264 Students)
In Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2...
Our co-teaching model allows for more individual attention and student support and enrichment in primary grades.
Literacy classes consist of three reading teachers in each room that instruct students from “Learning to Read” to “Reading to Learn.”
Providing choices to foster motivation to learn and to experience the joy of learning.
In math, students learn through collaboration and openended questions which allow them to gain confidence and discover various problem-solving strategies.
Building body awareness by strengthening gross motor and fine motor muscles.
cience focuses on learning skills and building vocabulary S through a hands-on approach.
Students love school at this age, and teachers foster this love of learning through lessons designed to provide relevant connections to the student’s own life experiences.
Supporting the religious and spiritual faith of all children through prayer and music.
Encouraging self-help skills to build independence and pride.
Child readiness for learning with sensitivity to individual differences and needs.
Partnering with parents to establish goals in order to support and nurture children’s development.
Continuity of Care The FXW Preschool Program follows the Continuity of Care (COC) model. Children remain in the program with many of the same classmates over their two years in preschool. As a classroom comprised of 3, 4, and 5 year olds, mixed-age grouping has something important to offer everyone involved.
Community and Collaboration Highlights* Pre-K—Blessings in a Backpack Service Learning Project K— Blessings in a Backpack Service Learning Project; Beach Clean-Up with Alliance for the Great Lakes Grade 1— Catholic Extension “Change for Change” Service Learning Project Grade 2—Misericordia Candy Days *Due to COVID-19 health and safety regulations, these experiences and those on the following page have been temporarily postponed. They will resume when it is safe to do so.
GRADE 3, 4, 5
GRADE 6, 7, 8
(Lower School, 262 Students)
(Middle School, 269 Students)
In Grades 3, 4, and 5…
In Grades 6, 7, and 8…
Students shift from the co-teaching model to a developmentally appropriate single-teacher model and eventually rotate through a semi-departmentalized schedule starting in Grade 5. This encourages students to build independence, increase their executive functioning capabilities, and further develop their problem-solving skills. As students are still learning patience and perseverance, their schedules provide a variety of academic experiences throughout the day.
tudents use the foundation of concrete and pictorial math S strategies to create abstract methods in problem solving.
iterature includes global themes of equity, social justice, L and empathy.
s students further define their identity, collaborative work A and conversations play a large role in instructional strategies.
Students continue to develop executive functioning skills, specifically in time management, as assignments and projects are given in a larger capacity to develop skills in planning ahead, setting goals, and meeting deadlines.
STEM classes are offered in Grades 7-8 to provide opportunities for students to showcase their creativity and innovative ideas.
Students continue to pursue the “why” behind what they are learning, while moving towards more abstract thinking in their problem-solving mathematical approach.
Students continue using the readers and writers workshop model as they move into informational and argumentative writing, including units on Afrofuturism, resume writing, and an identity project.
Students explore concepts related to climate change and space, what it means to be “living” by delving into cells, genetics, and dissections, as well as physics through performance assessments, projects, and labs.
In Social Studies, students develop an understanding of Ancient History, World Geography through themes related to each continent, as well as units on Chicago History and the U.S. Constitution.
Students further develop communication skills through live debates as well as tech communication such as presentations and podcasts.
cience is designed to nurture curiosity and develop S inquiry-based theories. Experiential Learning Highlights* Grade 3—Chicago Architectural Cruise Grade 4—Springfield, Illinois Grade 5—Mystery Night Grade 6—Outdoor Ed (Wisconsin) Grade 7—Irons Oaks (Illinois) Grade 8—Washington, D.C.
*See previous page.
The Frances Xavier Warde School is a Catholic elementary school in downtown Chicago that provides an academically excellent, valuesoriented education to students of all ethnic, religious, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds in a child-centered urban environment. As a keystone of its diverse community, The School provides need-based scholarships to 30 percent of its students, partners with its families, nurtures faith development for its Catholic students, and engages all students to learn about and respect other faith traditions. FXW follows a rigorous curriculum that enables students to grow, clarify their values, and develop decision-making skills and a sense of responsibility for themselves and the world they will inherit.
HOLY NAME CATHEDRAL CAMPUS
Campuses Preschool–Grade 3 Old St. Patrick’s Campus 120 S. Desplaines St., Chicago IL 60661
Grades 4–8 Holy Name Cathedral Campus 751 N. State St., Chicago IL 60654
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It is the policy of the School not to discriminate in violation of the law on the basis of age, race, sex, gender, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, or physical or mental disability which are unrelated to the ability to work or enjoy the benefits of the School’s programs, facilities, or services. All persons are encouraged to apply.