For four weeks this spring, eighth graders from St. Mary School in Buffalo Grove walked the mile from their school to the Belmont Village Senior Living facility to create a mural that now hangs on the wall of the residence. Students and residents spent 2 ½ hours each week together creating the piece titled “Garden Party.” Students, residents and staff gathered May 5 for its unveiling. The school has an ongoing relationship with the senior living facility. Over Christmas, third graders made cards for the residents and eighth graders visited and sang Christmas carols. “St. Mary School has been part of the Buffalo Grove community for over 160 years,” Principal John Fuja said. “I think it’s so cool when our school can give back to the community in a way that not only benefits our students but the wider community.” Catholic schools focus on more than academic excellence, he said. “Having an incredible community is also a really big part of what we’re trying to promote at St. Mary,” he said. “Service is really essential to what we are about as a Catholic school.” Each resident worked with one or two students to paint square canvases that were assembled into a larger piece. “Each of us made a separate painting and it’s all been put together,” said Judy Sommerfeld, a resident of Belmont Village. “We had a wonderful time together. They were a great group. Real sweet.” Art teacher Paulina Pawelczyk-Metzger facilitated the project. “It was really nice to see residents and students be open to each other, hearing the conversations, them exchanging ideas, working together, helping each other,” said Pawelczyk-Metzger. “Art connects people.” Students said they enjoyed the project. “We just really engaged with the older people,” said Olivia Metzger, one of the students who participated. “It was a lot of fun because they clearly don’t get a lot of visitors. You could see that when we came, they were always happy, talkative and stuff like that.” “It was really fun,” said student Mia Michuda. “I think it was just really nice just to talk to all of them. I do have grandparents, but I don’t get to see them as often. It was really nice to see everyone and they were always smiling and having fun.” Resident Gladys Hunter painted a butterfly on her canvas with the students. “We worked side-by-side, a student and a resident. And the students were so friendly. We just had a wonderful time,” Hunter said.
St. Frances of Rome School in Cicero to remain open St. Frances of Rome School in Cicero received welcome news March 6 when the Archdiocese of Chicago announced that the school, which was slated to close in June, would remain open.
Marian’s Sister Mary Jo using newfound fame to talk about God Before she was a sister, Sister Mary Jo Sobieck was an athlete. Sister Mary Jo, 50, started playing softball, basketball and volleyball in elementary school, and she was a three-sport athlete all through high school and her first two years of college. She dropped basketball for her final two years, but stuck with softball and volleyball.
Loss of state Invest in Kids scholarship program forces closure of two Catholic Schools The pastors of St. Frances of Rome School in Cicero and St. Odilo School in Berwyn announced Jan. 18 that both schools will close in June of this year, bringing an end to a combined total of 196 years of Catholic education at their locations.