Highlighting Catholic schools

In honor of Catholic Schools Week, which runs Jan. 25-31, the Catholic New World is highlighting various programs and good news going on in our archdiocesan schools. Please enjoy our annual schools section. The text below is a round up of news in some of our schools:

According to the Southwest News Herald, St. Albert the Great School in Burbank, created a marketing campaign around teddy bear mascots Albert and Allie that is helping to draw attention, and perhaps some new students, to the school.

Principal Terrence O’Rourke created the promotion, which offers a year of free tuition to two new students.

“My philosophy is (as a community) you want strong schools, both public and private, and strong businesses as well,” O’Rourke told the Southwest News Herald. O’Rourke was a teacher and owned and sold several businesses before taking over as principal of St. Albert in 2013.

He said advertising can be prohibitively expensive, so he is making use of social media. Albert, wearing a school polo shirt, and Allie, in an authentic-looking uniform, are currently making the rounds in Burbank, dropping into various local businesses to have their photos taken. Their continuing travels are chronicled on the school’s Facebook page.

Following the tour, families with children from kindergarten and seventh grade interested in attending St. Albert will then be invited to find the bears hidden in local businesses. The first girl in that age group who spots Allie, and points her out, will win a year of free tuition to the school. Likewise, the first boy who finds Albert will win a year of tuition as well. Together, the prizes are worth $10,000, the newspaper reported.

Every year St. Andrew School, 1710 W. Addison St., is visited by alumni who say one of their fondest memories of the school was being part of Al Prislinger’s gym class, gym show or athletic team. To honor the teacher the school will host an Al Prislinger Appreciation Day on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14.

The day will begin with Mass at 4 p.m. in St. Andrew Church, located across the street from the school, followed by tours of the school.

The seventh-grade girls basketball team will play a game against neighboring St. Benedict at 6 p.m. in the school gym. A ceremony to commemorate Prislinger’s dedication to St. Andrew will be held following the game.

Archbishop Cupich visited De La Salle Institute, 3434 S. Michigan Ave., for its Jan. 16 boys’ basketball game against St. Francis de Sales High School. De La Salle’s Meteors came out on top over the visiting Pioneers, 71-51.

The archbishop was expected to watch a girls’ basketball game Jan. 20, when the Resurrection Bandits traveled to Mother McAuley, 3737 W. 99th St., to take on the Mighty Macs.

Archbishop Cupich maintains a practice of sitting with supporters of each team for half the game when he watches two Catholic schools compete.

Students at Sts. Cyril and Methodius School in Lemont have been busy with service projects this year.

Before Christmas, grades pre-k through four participated in a Giving Tree, and grades five through eight participated in the Morning Star Mission — both of which collected toys, clothing and other items for families in need.

The school conducts an ongoing food drive to benefit the Lemont Food Pantry.

First graders make seasonal visits to their “best buddies” at Alvernia Manor and Franciscan Village, both local retirement homes.

Mount Carmel High School students collected 3,500 cans of food and more than 1,100 new toys during the school’s annual Advent Action program, a school tradition to help those less fortunate by collecting canned foods, donating toys and giving extra to the mission collection during the holiday season.

“Men of Carmel have been participating in Advent Action for more than 15 years,” said Mount Carmel President Carmelite Father Tony Mazurkiewicz. “Every year students go above and beyond the call by donating more than is asked; a great example of their giving and generous spirit.”

The canned food was delivered to the Maple-Morgan Park Food Pantry, run by Mount Carmel alumnus Matt Taylor (’57).

The students exceeded their goal of collecting one new toy per student with their grand total reaching over 1,100. The toys were distributed to the Kevin Dowling Foundation, St. Bernard Hospital’s annual community Christmas party and the St. Martin De Porres House of Hope.

“I asked Mount Carmel to include St. Martin De Porres House of Hope because of all the opportunities they offer to those in need,” said senior Robert Rajic. “We were able to provide children with toys from their own Christmas wish list and money to buy musical instruments used for rehabilitation services. Working with this organization has helped the students appreciate all that we have, especially during Christmas.”

The St. Leo Residence for Veterans at 7750 S. Emerald Ave., was chosen to be the recipient of the Brother Rice Mothers’ Club coordinated holiday gift giving program. This program gives students and their families an opportunity to participate in giving to others during the holiday season. St. Leo’s houses approximately 140 homeless veterans.

Brother Rice senior and volunteer Spencer Scott said, “It’s really a great event to have the privilege of working. I learned this year that we are the only agency outside of St. Vincent de Paul that comes and holds events. The excitement on the veterans’ faces as they receive really simple gifts of underclothes or a jacket really humbles you. Here are people who have sacrificed everything for our country, yet have nothing. It really gives you a new appreciation of what you have.”

Mother McAuley High School, 3737 W. 99th St., will host its annual “Celebration” scholarship gala on Feb. 7 at Beverly Country Club. Father Jack Wall of Catholic Extension will receive the school’s Catherine McAuley Leadership Award.

The Catholic School Spirit Radio Show will be broadcast beginning Jan. 25 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on WSBC-AM 1240 and WCFJ-AM 1470.

The show will offer an in-depth view of exceptional Catholic schools throughout the Chicago-metro area. Listeners will meet the people responsible for creating and running each school we feature, including the pastor, principal and teachers. Parents, students and graduates share their views on their school. Parents and students square off in the “Are you Smarter Than a Catholic Grade Schooler” segment. Families share their money-saving ideas and lifestyle adjustments that they use to help them afford Catholic school.

Bill McNamee, the host and show’s creator, is a supporter of Catholic schools, having attended St. Hubert Grade School and St. Viator High School.

Regina Dominican High School’s Gateway to Leadership Capital Campaign is breaking ground in its second phase of development. Construction begins in January 2015 on the school’s cafeteria that will become the hub of the school.

The Gateway to Leadership Capital Campaign launched in fall 2013 has a campaign fundraising goal of $4 million. The financial goal is 75 percent complete.

The renovation will result in a modern dining facility, an area to showcase projects and performances, a collaborative class work environment and a social space where students can gather and meet. The new space will also be a venue for educational events, lectures and student life activities.