JOIN THE FRANCES XAVIER WARDE TEAM
ABOUT Established in 1989 under the visionary leadership of the late Maggie Daley, Mary Ellen Caron, and Fr. Jack Wall, The Frances Xavier Warde School (FXW) is a Catholic elementary school in downtown Chicago that provides an academically excellent, values-oriented education to students of all ethnic, religious, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds in a child-centered urban environment. The School serves nearly 1000 students on two campuses. Preschool through Grade 3 students learn and grow at our Old St. Patrick’s location in the West Loop, and Grades 4 through 8 students attend our Holy Name Cathedral campus in River North. FXW enjoys a strong partnership with both parishes, and we utilize all aspects of the city in our learning. In all ways, we seek to establish and promote a community of faith, service, inclusion, and leadership. Since its inception, FXW has reflected the diversity of Chicago’s many neighborhoods; currently, our students come from more than 56 different zip codes and nearly 30 percent receive financial assistance. Demand for openings is strong and each grade has a healthy waiting list. As part of our admissions process, we seek to enrich our community by improving the academic achievement, self-esteem, and life opportunities of eager and capable children from across Chicago. FXW is governed by an engaged and active Board of Trustees; almost 90 percent of our current families support our philanthropic efforts each year; our graduates go on to attend many of the top high schools and universities across the city and country; and our alumni remain remarkably attached to their grade school.
OUR CHARISMS FAITH
ACADEMICS
A Community of faith that welcomes and
A Community that is preparing thinkers and leaders in an academically enriched environment
embraces all faith traditions
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION A Community that is purposefully diverse and intentionally inclusive
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SERVICE A Community motivated by faith to serve others
OUR MISSION The Frances Xavier Warde School is a Catholic elementary school in downtown Chicago that provides an academically excellent, values-oriented education to students of all ethnic, religious, cultural and socio-economic 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.
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STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIO
10:1 Student Teacher Ratio in Preschool
12:1
22:1
Student Teacher Ratio in Kindergarten and Primary School
Student Teacher Ratio in Middle School
Benchmarks The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) recommends a 1:10 adult-child ratio in Pre-K, and a 1:12 ratio in Kindergarten, while the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) quality benchmarks for Pre-K specify a 1:10 adult/ child ratio and a maximum class size of 20. NAEYC, state policies, and general education consensus recommend a maximum class size of 24 for young children. n
Average Illinois elementary student/ teacher ratios are 19:1 statewide, 24:1 in Chicago
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Average K–2 class size is 20–22 statewide, and 23–26 in Chicago
Illinois K-2 Workgroup Indicator Discussion Guide Teacher/Student Ratio and Class Size (August 2017). By Bonnie O’Keefe, Bellwether Education Partners, on behalf of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes (CEELO).
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ACADEMICS Math FXW math classrooms have policies and classroom cultures that foster a perpetual growth mindset. Students know that their talents can be developed through hard work, good strategies, and input from others. Students with a growth mindset tend to achieve more than those with a more fixed mindset, those who believe their talents are innate gifts. Classroom culture and design are “mistake friendly.� Students engage in high-level collaborative conversations, which provide them opportunities to exchange ideas, ask questions freely, verbalize their thoughts, justify their answers, and debate processes. Students engage in an active learning processes from the concrete to pictorial to abstract, and they grow in their ability to persevere in problem-solving. The focus is not so much about imparting knowledge, but instead facilitating a student’s thinking and problem-solving skills, which can then be transferred to a range of situations. Finally, FXW works to teach math in an authentic manner, using an interdisciplinary approach when possible, so that students can apply what they have learned to enrich their experiences in the world around them.
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Reading n
I n the Preschool and Kindergarten years, our philosophy individualizes the curriculum to suit the learning styles and needs of each child. In preschool, we cultivate a print rich environment for our emergent readers. As students progress on to kindergarten, we continue to enhance foundational literacy through a variety of teaching strategies.
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In the Grades 1–4 years, our students develop their critical thinking and literacy skills. Through the curriculum, each student reads a variety of genres and text formats, including digital and visual literacy. Students will also use meta-cognition in conjunction with self-monitoring in order to think critically.
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Grades 5-8 are departmentalized and have a separate class for literature. In Grades 5 and 6, students begin genre studies that will carry on into the middle school. Students receive choice in text and often work in book clubs or guided reading groups based on theme, genre, and/or text complexity. Teachers use anchor texts or smaller mentor texts to facilitate mini-lessons to teach individual skills in isolation in which students are asked to apply, analyze, and synthesize their own text.
FXW’s speech-language pathologist and resource teachers work with individual students who need extra support or remediation. Remediation begins for students in kindergarten who are not meeting benchmarks.
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Writing In writing instruction, our goal is to provide its students with the skills necessary to write clearly, passionately, and convincingly for their targeted audience in various genres. We are committed to differentiating our instruction so that writing skills can be mastered by every student. n
reschool uses the Already Ready writing program developed by Matt Glover and P incorporates bookmaking to lay the foundation for future authors.
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or Kindergarten to Grade 5, we rely on the research-based writers’ workshop model F developed by Lucy Calkins, the founding director of the Teachers’ College Reading and Writing Project at Columbia University’s Teachers College.
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I n the middle school years, our “writers’ workshop” closely follows the recommendations of Lucy Calkins and Nancie Atwell, a master middle school practitioner and National Council of Teachers of English award recipient for her research in middle school student writing instruction.
In the Preschool years, students are assessed on writing samples including book-making and drawing samples. During the Kindergarten through Grade 3 years, we assess student ability to write a complete sentence; to develop a focused piece of writing that has a beginning, middle, and an end; to revise and edit; and to use proper grammar and syntax. By the time our writers reach Grades 4 and 5, students are assessed on the ability to demonstrate genre-specific writing skills and scored using a specific rubric. Traditionally, we have focused on writer’s purpose and audience. Students are expected to produce multi-sentence paragraphs and multi-paragraph products. We strive for an awareness of varied sentence structure and sophisticated diction. In Grades 6 through 8, our rigorous curriculum prepares students for the demanding writing tasks on standardized tests, highschool applications and for the real world. Students are expected to master the six traits of writing which include ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions, and they should be able to cycle comfortably through the writing process (prewriting, writing, revising, editing, and publishing).
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Religion Unique from the very beginning, a great deal of intentionality has been put into the interfaith curriculum in the last few years, providing more structure and depth. While the Moonbeams study the Catholic faith and traditions, the Shooting Stars focus on several different religions during their years at FXW, including Judaism and Islam. Whenever possible, though, the same general themes—based on values and morals—are explored by both the Moonbeams and Shooting Stars, which provides an important connection between the two programs. All students are together for religious education in the Preschool and Kindergarten programs, and they follow the same general themes as the older children. Both Preschool and Kindergarten also have their own prayer services; these are normally led by the students’ teachers, which provides a sense of familiarity and comfort to the services. Prayer and meditation are present at all grade levels, so even the youngest students quickly learn these fundamental practices. Beginning in Grade 1, students are grouped into Moonbeams and Shooting Stars—typically there are three sections of Moonbeams and two sections of Shooting Stars. The initial division is itself educational, as the students realize, often for the first time, that there are many different ways of expressing faith, and understand further that no faith tradition is superior or inferior to any other. Being exposed to a variety of religious traditions in a variety of ways is of critical importance for living in the world today. It also fuels the children’s compassion and curiosity in positive ways. Much of the curriculum is designed to deepen the students’ interest in their own faith, and then provide both guidance and space to allow them to explore and answer many of their questions on their own. This is further enhanced by numerous conversations among the students, both structured and informal, about what it means to live a life of faith.
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While much is gained through their classroom studies, the students also learn a great deal through Catholic masses and interfaith prayer services. In addition to the substantive message, there is also a focus on the component pieces of these services, including the physical space, the overall structure, and the music. Students also benefit from the very open and safe environment that is created both in the religion curriculums and throughout the day. Each morning begins with the Prayer of St. Francis—chosen for its Catholic roots and ecumenical message—and with any special intentions that the students or teachers would like to offer. Perhaps the best illustration of the success of the program, as well as the environment that is engendered, is the fact that the children quickly become very comfortable with and dependent on this communal prayer. One of the great ecumenical events of the school year occurs on the last day before Winter break. The Season of Light Prayer Service celebrates the central image that light plays in numerous faith traditions, including Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Advent. Students sing, read poems, reflections, and scripture passages, and present original research on the many ways that “hope in darkness” is expressed through all faiths. In form, function, and message, the Season of Light Prayer Service epitomizes the religious education experience at The Frances Xavier Warde School.
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CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES & ATHLETICS Co-Curriculars FXW’s Co-Curricular Programs are designed to provide students with a safe and stimulating environment in which to learn, play, be active and join clubs. From athletics to fine arts, students compete and participate in activities that nurture and expand their personal interests. Our commitment to each child’s well-being is fulfilled when their mind, body and spirit work together.
Grades 4–8
Preschool–Grade 3
Fine Art Activities School of Rock Orchestra Band Chess Club Guitar Drama Troupe Bollywood Dance & Fitness Creative Art Kids Voice Lessons Piano Lessons 4th–5th Grade Chorus 6th–8th Grade Chorus Comic Club Art Jam
Preschool Li’l Buds Theatre Company—Drama Easel Art Studio Kindergarten Li’l Buds Theatre Company—Drama Chess Scholars Easel Art Studio Soccer STEMLab Mission Propelle—Yoga Grade 1 Li’l Buds Theatre Company—Drama Chess Scholars Easel Art Studio Soccer STEMLab Mission Propelle—Yoga Girl Scouts Violin
Academic Offerings Book Club Debate Club Chess Advanced Writing Club 8th Grade Academic Test Preparation
Grades 2 & 3 Li’l Buds Theatre Company—Drama Chess Scholars Soccer STEMLab Mission Propelle—Yoga Robotics Boys and Girls Choir Girl Scouts
STEM Offerings Maker Space Mindstorm Robotics Coding Club Code Slinger Other Activities Cooking Class
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Athletics At The Frances Xavier Warde School, we offer: Boys and Girls Cross Country; Boys and Girls Volleyball; Boys Flag Football; Boys and Girls Basketball; Cheer and Dance; Boys and Girls Track and Field; Boys and Girls Golf; Boys and Girls Soccer. FXW’s athletic program is an integral part of our commitment to nurturing the whole child. We believe that physical activity promotes mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. The mission of FXW’s athletic program is to foster the growth of well-rounded, confident young adults in an age-appropriate manner. Our program emphasizes the importance of four key areas: n
S ocial, Emotional, and Physical development through athletics
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M eeting the individual needs of all students
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M odeling a learning process that includes selfdiscipline, respect, success, and failure
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G iving all students the opportunity to participate in athletics
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S portsmanship
The athletic program offers students the opportunity to explore competitive sports in a safe way. Trained coaches emphasize sportsmanship, teamwork, integrity and self-discipline while commending individual effort and commitment. We also believe that activities on the playing fields and courts are an extension of the classroom.
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TECHNOLOGY Technology Resources The Frances Xavier Warde School integrates technology resources in relevant and meaningful ways to help students expand and apply their knowledge. Faculty and students work together to answer big questions, try out new ideas, test and verify hypotheses, produce original and creative work, and demonstrate concept mastery. Our devices are used in a hybrid environment to provide a foundation that allows students to choose the appropriate tools to accomplish a task or create original work. Supported by technology, our classrooms and lessons engage and inspire students while preparing them to be creative and critical thinkers. Kindergarten–Grade 2 Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2 students use technology in developmentally appropriate ways to expand and demonstrate their understanding of new concepts. The classrooms follow a 2:1 shared iPad model, allowing students to collaborate and extend their experiences through various tablet applications. Students use integrated learning systems in the form of applications, such as Dreambox for math and Lexia for language arts as both remediation and extension activities to meet individual student needs. Students also participate in a digital citizenship curricular component that is interwoven throughout each year.
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Grades 3 & 4 In our Grades 3 and 4 classrooms 1:1 access to a classroom iPad gives students a powerful tool for writing, drawing and project creation. Teachers and students work to create, save, collaborate, revise, and share their projects. Whole class discussions continue to focus on safe and appropriate use in addition to intentional use. Grade 5 As part of our 1:1 iPad program, Grade 5 students create videos, presentations, and written work. Students are encouraged to demonstrate their learning and mastery of concepts and ideas using a hybrid approach that allows them to use the iPad and its Apps as one of many options. At this stage, we help students in navigating online communication with their peers and teachers. We emphasize the importance of being kind and empathetic to classmates both in face-to-face interactions and in the digital realm, and working on intentional use of technology to achieve learning goals. Grades 6–8 Our Middle School students use the Microsoft Surface as a tool in all curricular areas. Students are encouraged to use the device when it meets the needs and learning objectives of their classes or for them individually. More of their workflow occurs on the devices during these junior high years, but continued emphasis is placed on hybrid and intentional use. Navigating relationships both on and off line becomes an additional part of our safe and responsible use conversations.
Social Emotional Development & Technology (SET) Program The Frances Xavier Warde School’s Social Emotional Development and Technology Program (SET), now in its fourth year, is the collaboration among the Academic Technology Coordinators and FXW Psychologists at each campus. This partnership allows for discussions that cover the overlap between the devices we use, the social media we participate in, the multiple forms of media surrounding us in our everyday lives and nurturing healthy families. SET is an outreach program that brings discussions and resources to our FXW families through presentations, grade-level coffee talks, and a resource library. We hope that engagement in these events provides the impetus for ongoing discussions between school and home, between teachers and parents, and between teachers and students.
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SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM In 1989, Chicago’s former first lady, Maggie Daley, approached the pastor of Old St. Patrick’s Church, Father Jack Wall, with a bold vision. She wanted to create a new school where children would receive an academically excellent education along with a foundation to guide them to become hardworking individuals armed with a strong moral compass. The school, which would become known as The Frances Xavier Warde School, would be a place where all families in the school would embrace and accept each other’s faiths, racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. The boldest part of her vision would be that 30 percent of The Frances Xavier Warde School’s students would receive financial assistance. Father Wall embraced her vision and the two began a private search to find a principal for this new endeavor. Sister Mary Ellen Caron came to the table with fresh ideas and an immediate passion for building such a school. At about the same time, the three founded Children at the Crossroads Foundation to support the financial aid portion of the mission. Beginning in 1990, Children at the Crossroads Foundation funded its first scholarships. Now, thirty years later, Children at the Crossroads Foundation (CATC) has changed the lives of over 700 children and has provided over $15 million in financial aid. Ever true to the mission, nearly 30% of the students who attend The Frances Xavier Warde School receive either full- or partial-financial assistance. With an ever-growing school population, meeting the scholarship needs of our students is even more challenging today than it was 30 years ago. Despite this, CATC has not wavered in its commitment to provide opportunity, support and hope to the more than 200 children who receive financial aid annually. AMERICAN INDIAN 2.6% ARAB AMERICAN .1% PACIFIC ISLANDER .1% NONE LISTED .7% ASIAN 5.1% BIRACIAL 7.3%
Ethnic Breakdown of Scholarship Recipients
BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN 38.3% HISPANIC/ LATINX 17.1%
CAUCASIAN/WHITE 28.6%
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SERVICE Community groups with whom FXW has partnered in service include: n
Alliance for the Great Lakes
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Little Brothers—Friends of the Elderly
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Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital
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Madonna House
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Big Shoulders Fund
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Mary and Joseph Homeless Shelter
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Bishop Conway Residence
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Mercy Home for Boys and Girls
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Blessings in a Backpack
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Misericordia
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Catholic Extension
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Mission of our Lady of the Angels
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Catholic Charities
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North Lawndale College Prep
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Chicago Collegiate Charter School
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Operation Gratitude
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Cradles to Crayons
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St. Eulalia
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Fourth Presbyterian Church
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St. Mary’s Little Sisters of the Poor
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Gary Comer Youth Center
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Great Lakes Alliance
he American Red Cross of Chicago and T Northern Illinois
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Green Day
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The Clare
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Heartland Alliance
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The Night Ministry
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Jesse Brown VA Medical Center
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Upcycling Colors
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Lakeview Pantry
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AT THE FRANCES XAVIER WARDE SCHOOL The Frances Xavier Warde School firmly believes that everyone is a life-long learner. The School remains committed to helping faculty and staff grow professionally through post-graduate education, conferences and seminars, and a variety of other learning opportunities.
87%
4%
12%
of our employees took advantage in some form of professional development during the 2019–2020 school year. The School has spent more than $75,000 towards professional development during the 2019–2020 school year.
of our teachers participate in the Loyola University Chicago Master’s Program. Our teachers also participate in learning programs with other universities including Concordia University, Columbia University, and DePaul University.
participate in ISACS various trainings.
Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity (SEED) Training SEED is a national peer-led professional development program that promotes change through self-reflection and interpersonal dialogue and builds capacity for more equitable curriculum, campuses, and communities. A SEED seminar involves participants in a series of monthly threehour seminars during the academic year. Participants explore their own education in relation to race, gender, socioeconomic status, religion, sexual identity, abilities, and age, and how these factors currently impact their school and classrooms. They consider how they can use their classrooms and communities to create a more equitable environment for all learners. Over the past 5 years, 76 faculty and staff members have completed the SEED 1 training.
22 have gone on to participate in SEED 2, SEED 3, and SEED 4.
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Campuses Preschool–Grade 3 Old St. Patrick’s Campus 120 S. Desplaines, Chicago IL 60661
Grades 4–8 Holy Name Cathedral Campus 751 N. State Street, Chicago IL 60654
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