NEWS & EVENTS
SCSL Welcomes New Assistant Principal & Early Learning Academy Director for the 2024-2025 School Year
August 1, 2024
We are excited to welcome two additions to the St. Catherine-St. Lucy School team! Ms. Leticia Bush has joined us as the new Early Learning Academy Director. Coming from Holy Family and completing her Masters in Early Education at the Erikson Institute, she will be a perfect fit for our early learners. We're also excited to welcome Mrs. Kelly Archambault as our new Assistant Principal through the Big Shoulders Schreiber Program. Ms. Archambault brings experience from CPS and other Big Shoulders schools; she is also a member of the St. Giles Parish - with high praise from Fr. Carl. Welcome Mrs. Bush and Mrs. Archambault!
Remembering Bob Newhart, A Cherished SCSL Alum
July 18, 2024
St. Catherine-St. Lucy is saddened to share the news of the passing of comedy legend Bob Newhart, a beloved alum of St. Catherine-St. Lucy School. Newhart, who grew up on North Mason Street in Austin and attended St. Catherine of Siena, now St. Catherine-St. Lucy School, passed away at the age of 94. After completing his early education at SCSL, he went on to St. Ignatius College Prep and Loyola University Chicago. His career skyrocketed in 1960 with the release of his first comedy album, "The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart," which earned him two Grammy awards. He became a household name through his iconic television shows in the 1970s and '80s, bringing laughter and joy to millions. The SCSL School community extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and celebrate the life of a truly remarkable alumnus. Click here to learn about the extraordinary life of Bob Newhart.
Congratulations to the Class of 2024!
June 5, 2024
Congratulations to the St. Catherine-St. Lucy School Class of 2024! Our graduates now join a prestigious group of alumni who look back on their academic foundation at SCSL with pride. God bless them for their contributions to the Wildcat family. From helping start up the Student Ambassador Program to taking the girls AND boys basketball teams to the championships, they made a lasting impact on SCSL. Our graduates will be heading to Fenwick High School, Trinity High School, Christ the King Jesuit College Prep, Josephinum Academy of the Sacred Heart, the Chicago High School for the Arts, Hope Academy, St. Patrick High School, Morton West High School DePaul College Prep, and Charles A. Prosser Career Academy. Best of luck in the next chapter of their lives. Remember, St. Catherine-St. Lucy will always be home!
SCSL Honors Assembly 2024
June 5, 2024
At the St. Catherine-St. Lucy Honors Assembly we recognized academics, compassion, and leadership across 1st grade through 7th grade. We are so proud of ALL of our scholars! Their hard work and dedication truly embody the spirit of our school!
Our Very Own 7th & 8th Grade Teacher, Mr. Kennedy, Recognized for Prestigious Obama Library Fund Award!
January 11, 2024
Mr. Kennedy, SCSL's seventh and eighth-grade history and English/Language Arts teacher, was recognized by the Illinois Reading Council for his dedication to promoting literacy and he received the 2024 Barack Obama Library Award. He will be awarded a classroom library, valued at $1,000, which will consist of "carefully selected literature that is culturally relevant for African American readers" in the middle school grade range. Mrs. Leamy, Principal of St. Catherine-St. Lucy said, "Mike believes in turning children into lifelong readers. He searches out books by African-American authors with African-American protagonists. Last year, his 7th grade class grew 342% in their final standardized assessment in April. [He] is a humble man, dedicated to the mission here at St. Catherine-St. Lucy. He is so proud of his students and what they have accomplished- but it would not have happened without [his] guidance and commitment."
Click HERE for more details.
Lady Wildcats hope to bring championship trophy to
St. Catherine-St. Lucy
January 5, 2024
The Lady Wildcats, under Coach Funches' guidance, are well-positioned for another playoff run following their smooth transition to the Classic League, emphasizing skill enhancement and teamwork. With a landmark championship last season and a revitalized determination for success, the team is set to prolong their winning streak, growing confidence both within the team and throughout the community. Click here to read an article from the Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest written by Amaris E. Rodriguez.
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Cardinal Cupich Visits SCSL
December 19, 2023
Cardinal Cupich visited our students at St. Catherine-St. Lucy School on December 19th. He was greeted by our seventh- and eighth-grade students and principal Sharon Leamy during his visit. He visited each of the classrooms and visited with students.
Click HERE for more details.
Chicagoland Alumni Raise Over $340,000 to honor Coach Bob Driscoll
December 14, 2022
Alumni of St. Catherine-St. Lucy School raised over $340,000 to honor the legacy of Coach Bob Driscoll. Known for his dedication and care for students, Driscoll taught and coached at St. Catherine from 1963 to 1973. The funds will support a scholarship in his name, aiding student athletes who demonstrate character, kindness, and respect. The gym, recently dedicated to Driscoll, continues to be a community hub, reflecting his commitment to providing a safe space for students. Click HERE for more details.
SCSL Dedicates Beautiful New Gym
October 7, 2021
St. Catherine - St. Lucy School hosts over 100 guests at Dedication Ceremony for their new gym and Tutoring Center. “We’re very fortunate to have a lot of people who believe in us and a lot of partners who support us,” Leamy said. “Believe me, without the support of all those partners and without our teachers and staff all coming together and working together, we would not be in this space. There’s a lot of people that have really pushed our school forward.”
Click HERE for more details.
Early Learning Academy grows through Gardening with new Grant
June 8, 2021
St. Catherine - St. Lucy School is excited to announce our participation in a community gardening project led by the Collaboration for Early Childhood. As one of the 11 early childhood programs selected for a special grant funded by the Albrecht-Poss Family Foundation, we received a raised garden bed, along with soil, composting pods, and worms. The grant aims to provide children with hands-on learning experiences through gardening. We look forward to seeing our garden flourish and our students grow alongside it! Click here for more information about the grant and the full list of recipients.
SCSL Students Excel in Big Shoulders Fund Stock Market program
August 28, 2020
St. Catherine-St. Lucy School eighth-graders excelled in the Big Shoulder Fund's annual Stock Market Program, placing third out of 64 Chicago area teams. Developed by Big Shoulders Fund, this nine-month program brings business professionals into eighth-grade classrooms to teach students about the stock market, personal savings, investing, and careers within the financial industry. Guided by their teacher, Mrs. Arnette Young, and Stock Market Program volunteer coach, Paul Goodworth, our students learned valuable lessons about saving, investing, and managing portfolios. At the start of the nine-month program, Mr. Goodworth gave students a list of 60 stocks, and the program provided $3,000 to invest. Their teamwork and dedication resulted in a portfolio that outperformed the S&P 500, providing them with a strong foundation in financial literacy and business skills they can bring with them into the next chapter of their lives.
Click here for more details.
SCSL / Fenwick High School
Enter Historic Partnership
April 19, 2020
St. Catherine - St. Lucy School and Fenwick High School entered into a historic partnership bridging the eight block distance between the schools. Fenwick has pledged $100,000 in scholarships for SCSL graduates wishing to attend Fenwick and $100,000 towards constructing and equipping the new “Fenwick Center for Educational Excellence” to be built this spring. Click HERE for more details.
Mrs. Leamy and Fr. Peddicord at the Signing Ceremony
SCSL Recieves Big Shoulders Fund Support
January 29, 2020
St. Catherine-St. Lucy School was one of the 30 schools in the Chicago area to receive a $47.5 million commitment over 10 years from Big Shoulders Fund, an independent charitable organization that supports inner-city Catholic schools. Big Shoulders Fund will also "take on an expanded leadership role with principals in these schools", assisting with moving "schools toward specific goals in key operating areas of academics, enrollment, development and finances," the statement explains. Principal Sharon Leamy said the investment is "wonderful all the way around." She continues, "we're very excited about the partnership, because it's a win-win for everybody. It's an investment that allows [St. Catherine-St. Lucy School] to serve the mission of [SCSL] and the archdiocese." Thank you Big Shoulders for this incredible commitment! Click here to learn more.
SCSL Blesses Our First Playground
August 7, 2019
On August 7, 2019, St. Catherine-St. Lucy students, staff, and officials welcomed our first playground on campus in Oak Park. Big Shoulders Fund, Enchanted Backpack, and other groups helped us school build the first playground in our history.
Click here to read more.
Our Very Own Principal Mrs. Leamy Recognized for Prestigious Award!
April 23, 2019
Dr. Rigg and the Office of Catholic Schools present Mrs. Leamy with the John the Baptist Innovation Award
This award is given to principals who are unafraid to innovate to improve their school. Like John the Baptist, they “Stick their Necks Out”, taking risks (including metaphorical decapitation) through courageous decisions and creativity. Not only have award recipients innovated, but their efforts have succeeded in positively benefitting the students in their care.
"ST. CATHERINE – ST. LUCY SCHOOL: STILL STANDING" by Steven Johnson
March 13, 2018
In "St. Catherine-St. Lucy School: Still Standing," an article written by Steven Johnson, published on March 13, 2018, Johnson highlights St. Catherine-St. Lucy School, capturing the essence of our institution's enduring legacy. Despite the waves of gentrification and redevelopment around SCSL, we have remained steadfast in our mission to serve a diverse student body from all over the Chicago area since 1889. We cherish our traditions and the strong sense of community that defines us.
Click here to read "St. Catherine-St. Lucy School: Still Standing" written by Steven Johnson.
SCSL's "Blended Learning" Pilot Program Launch
September 20, 2017
St. Catherine-St. Lucy's official blended learning launch date is October 2nd! SCSL is part of a very special $1 million grant that has allowed our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers to be professionally trained in personalizing each students learning experience. "Blended learning" combines the best teaching methods with an online education technology tool. The framework for this learning environment calls for formal and informal learning, social learning, and individual learning.
Click here to learn more about SCSL's "blended learning" pilot program.
Mrs. Patterson's Classroom Highlighted as Model Classroom By Leap Innovations
Mrs. Patterson's classroom at St. Catherine - St. Lucy Catholic School is a Learner Led, Learner Focused and Learner Demonstrated haven for students, featuring student-managed supplies, learning pathways, various flexible seating options, brag tags, and more. Click HERE for a virtual tour.
Brush Creek Ranch STEM Scholars return from Saratoga, Wyoming
As part of the Big Shoulders Fund, 5 of our middle school students participated in a STEM program that focused on Earth Science enrichment. Students took part in monthly field trips to museums like The Shedd Aquarium and the Peggy Notabeart Nature Museum. The program culminated with a week-long trip to Brush Creek Ranch in Saratoga, Wyoming. Congratulations to our St. Catherine STEM Scholars!
St. CAtherine-St. Lucy Welcomes the Mayor of Oak Park
2016
St. Catherine-St. Lucy students and faculty welcomed Oak Park Mayor Adnan Abu-Taleb as he toured one of the oldest Catholic schools in Oak Park. Students shared their class work and asked important questions like, "what does a mayor do?" Thank you Mayor Adnan for your time!
Congratulations to our Teachers & Staff Winning the Croghan Teacher's Award!
May 20, 2016
There are moments in each teacher's day when they look back and reflect on the successes and challenges that present themselves through the bright eyes of each student. We are blessed to have a culture that encourages a student-centered environment where each child can operate successfully in our caring classrooms. We are proud to say that our students find success in their daily work as well as in their standardized exam. The Croghan Teacher's Award recognizes the success of our students in how they performed versus how they were expected to perform on these stanrdardized exams. We could not be more thrilled that our teachers were awarded over $40,000 in cash and our school was awarded $43,000 in scholarship funds. BRAVO!
Dominican University
Donates School Supplies!
September 1, 2016
As part of Dominican's community outreach program, Carlos Diaz and his staff drove a small busload of school supplies for our very grateful St. Catherine-St. Lucy students.
Congratulations to the Class of 2017!
June 1, 2016
Congratulations to the St. Catherine - St. Lucy Class of 2017! You join a prestigious group of alumni that look back on their academic foundation here with pride. Over 80% of our graduates have selected to go on to a Catholic high school and we are confident that continuing their education in a Catholic school environment will mean great things for their futures! Good Luck and Godspeed!
Celebrating Sister Cypser's Legacy
February 11, 2014
In the Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest, Deb Quantock McCarey wrote "Sweetheart Sister", an article highlighting the enduring legacy of SCSL and the remarkable leadership of our very own, Principal Sister Marion Cypser. Despite challenges such as gentrification and competition with nearby charter schools, our predominantly black Catholic school has thrived under Sister Cypser's 37-year tenure. Sister Cypser is known for her compassionate and innovative approach, ensuring that our students excel academically, with many continuing to prestigious high schools. As we celebrate our 125th anniversary, we reflect on our school's history, its mission to serve the Oak Park and Austin communities, and the unwavering support of our dedicated staff and volunteers.
Click here to read more about our journey and upcoming celebrations in the full article.
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