Catholic Schools Today

Hosts: Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Wayne Magdiarz. Segment One: The Thomas E. McGovern Jr. Scholarship Fund, started in 1990, provides eighth grade student athletes tuition assistance to a Chicago Catholic League High School. The fund is dedicated to the memory of Tom McGovern; an inspirational coach, teacher, father, husband, brother and friend. Each year, scholarship funds are raised through the McGovern Open Golf Outing and Raffle, The St. Rita Thanksgiving "McGovern Classic Tournament," and the continued support of all of family and friendsl It's commitment to Catholic High School education will forever serve the memory of Tom...by sending "his" kids to school. Guest: Michael McGovern Segment Two: Green Schools--St. Monica Academy: Principal Ray Coleman, pastor Fr. Ted Schmitt and teacher Renee Rosenbusch discuss the new SEEDS curriculum at the school. Pat Farrell of St. James School talks about it's environmentally friendly initiative. Segment Three: Class of 2008 Archdiocesan High School Graduates are on air to discuss their future plans and their experiences at their respective high schools. Byron Whitting of St. Francis de Sales High School; Aaron Reese of Seton Academy; Graceson Huelar of St. Gregory the Great High School; Warren Ragland of Leo High School; Mary Iannucilli

Hosts: Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Graziano Marcheschi. Segment 1: Celebrating Papal Visit: Prayer and Picnic in the Park. On Thursday, April 17 in Portage Park, 4200 N. Central, eight Catholic elementary schools will gather and pray in solidarity with Pope Benedict XVI on his first visit as Pope to the United States. Approximately 1,700 students will gather at 10 a.m. for a prayer service and lunch. Participating schools are: St. Bartholomew, St. Pascal, Our Lady of Victory, St. Viator, St. Edward, St. Constance, St. Robert Bellarmine and St. Ladislaus. Guests: Fr. Jason Malave, Pastor of St. Bartholomew; Fr. Paul Seaman, Pastor of St. Pascal; John Kasel, Principal of Our Lady of Victory. Segment Two: St. Helen School partners with the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Art Institute of Chicago and Holy Trinity High School. St. helen School teachers will begin special professional development activities at Lincoln Park Zoo and the Art Institute of Chicago. Students will have special learning opportunities at these sites as well. St. Helen junior high students are using Holy Trinity High School's state-of-the-art video production lab once a week after school to learn how to film, edit, and produce multimedia presentations. There will be a screening of their works at the Apple Store on Michigan Avenue in May. Guests: Marianne Johnson, Principal of St. helen School; Diniah Dean, Teacher at Holy Trinity High School. Segment Three: Week of the Young Child 2008--April 13-19, 2008. The Week of the young Child is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). One hundred percent of Catholic elementary schools in the Archdiocese have kindergarten programs and 93 percent have preschools. St. Therese Chinese Catholic School added a new preschool this school year. Guests: Julie Ramski, Early Childhood Program Director; Phyllis Cavallone-Jurek, Principal of St. Therese Chinese Catholic School.

Hosts: Fr. Greg Sakowicz and Graziano Marcheschi. Segment 1: A discussion with the three Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic school Golden Apple award Finalists. The Golden Apple Foundation announced 31 Chicago-area finalists for the 2008 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching in grades 4 through 8. A total of 850 teachers from Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake and Will counties were nominated for the award, which was first presented in 1986. Ten Golden Apple Award winners, selected from the 30 finalists, will be announced in mid-April. The finalists will be honored Saturday, March 15 at the Celebration of Excellence in Teaching from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency McCormick in Chicago. The Awards selection committee is comprised of Chicago-area educators. Two committee members will observe each of the 30 finalists in the classroom and interview their principal and selected colleagues, parents and students. The 10 Golden Apple Award winners will be announced in Mid-April. The winners will be honored at an awards ceremony on September 6 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, which subsequently will be aired as a one-hour prime-time special on WTTW/Channel 11. Guests: Katherine Noonan, teacher, St. Malachy School, Chicago. Veronica Ruelas, teacher, The Academy of St. Benedict the African School, Chicago. Heather Kelsey, teacher, St. Gall School, Chicago. Segment 2: On Tuesday, March 11, St. Dorothy School will conduct a Civil War Living History Day. Guest: Fr. Robert Miller, Pastor, St. Dorothy School, Chicago.

Hosts: Fr. Greg Sakowicz; Graziano Marcheschi; Interim Co-Superintendent Marty Frauenheim. Topic One--A Conversation with the Interim Co-Superintendent: A brief discussion with Marty Fauenheim, Interim Co-Superintendent, about the Office of Catholic Schools. Topic Two--Lenten Activities in the Schools with guests: Kenneth Ucho, Principal of St. Daniel the Prophet School, Chicago; Geraldine Maratea, Principal of Santa Lucia School, Chicago; Marlene DeSantis, Principal of St. Rene Goupil School, Chicago; Tina Bull, First Grade Teacher at St. Thecla School, Chicago. Topic Three--The National Catholic Educational Association has launched a Distinguished Pastor Award. The Archdiocese is excited to announce that one of it's own is the recipient of this award, Fr. Carl Morello, Pastor of St. Paul of the Cross Parish in Park Ridge. Fr. Morello is one of eight pastors in the United States to receive this distinction this year. Guest: Fr. Carl Morello, Pastor, St. Paul of the Cross Parish, Park Ridge.

Guests: Marianne Dutch; Catherine Sullivan Wallenfang; Evelyn Califfe; Patrick Kelly; Marcella Bosnak; Nancy Nasko; Nancy Andrasco; Richard Guerin; Jack Percival; Fr. Brian Paulson.

Segment One--National Distinguished Principal St. John of the Cross, Western Springs, Maureen Colin, the school's principal recently received the 2007 NCEA Dr. Robert J. Legley Distinguished Principal Award. Guests: Maureen Colin, Principal, St. John of the Cross School, Western Springs; Sal Guccione, Assistant Superintendant for Vicariate II; NCEA Great Lakes State Representative. Segment Two--High School Placement Test, January 12: High School Placement Test: Mary Iannudill, Assistant Superintendant for High Schools, will discuss the upcoming placement test taking place in high schools throughout the Archdioocese on January 12, 2008. Segment Three: Guests David Burke, Principal of Epiphany School in Chicago, Lorelei Bobroff, Principal of St. Paul of the Cross in Park Ridge, Meghan Hurley, Assistant Principal of St. Agnes of Bohemia in Chicago and Patricia Hulzar, Teacher at St. Frances of Rome School in Cicero talkl about traditions and celebrations in honor of Our lady of Guadalupe, the pattroness of the Americas.

Segment One--For it's fourth consecutive year, St. Joseph School in Summit hosts a Veteran's Recognition Day. This year on November 8, St. Joseph School presented letters to soldiers in the community on behalf of all soldiers serving in Iraq. Guests: Lawrence Manetti, Principal of St. Joseph School; LTC Francisco R. Carranza USAR, Parent at St. Joseph School Segment Two--St. John of the Cross Parish School will host Pulitzer Prize winning author Frank McCourt (Angela's Ashes) on Wednesday, November 14, at 1:30 pm as he presents his first children's book, Angela and the Baby Jesus. Guest: Mary Ann Oczkowski, Second Grade Teacher, St. John of the Cross School in Western Springs. Segment 3--The Science Department at St. Patrick High School shares their facilities and equipment with students from local elementary schools that don't usually have access to top-notch science facilities. St. Patrick reached out earlier this fall, offering use of the school's biology lab and microscope equipment to assist elementary school teachers with their lessons on microscopy. Guests: Christopher Perez, Science Teacher, St. Patrick High School Georgiann Kelly, Teacher, St. Constance School

Seven Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago were named on October 2 by Secretary Margaret Spellings of the U.S. Department of Education as No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools representing the most from any school system in the nation this year. Since 2004, fifteen Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago have achieved this distinction. Joining host Graziano Marcheschi for this Blue Ribbon segment are Ms. Mary Jo Burns, Principal of Ascension School in Oak Park; Ms. Valerie Zemko of St. Colette School in Rolling Meadows; Mr. Roy Rash, Principal of St. Francis de Sales School in Lake Zurich; Rev. Robert Carroll, O. Carm., Principal of Carmel High School in Mundelein; Mrs. Deborah Dedeo, Principal of St. Mary of the Annunciation School in Mundelein. In the final ten minutes Graziano Marcheschi talks with Deborah Muldrow, Event Coordinator for Nativity BVM school about Red Ribbon Week. Red Ribbon Week is a nationwide initiative of prevention and education about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. During this week in October, students all over the country make pledges to live drug and alcohol free. Here in the Archdiocese, Nativity BVM School will host its Annual Violence Prevention event on Friday October 12 from 9am to 1pm. The event will address the importance of violence prevention education, and identify the many resources available to schools and organizations.

Hosts: Fr. Greg Sakowicz; Dr. Nicholas Wolsonovich Topics/Guests: Segment 1--Discussion of Strengthening Catholic Schools Conference on September 29, 2007 from 8:30am to 12-15pm at St. Ignatius College Prep, 1076 W. Roosevelt Rd. in Chicago. This conference serves the needs of elementary and secondary school partners, including school board members, family school associations, and legislative action persons. Keynote address will be delivered by Nicholas Wolsonovich and will be followed by two sessions of workshops on a variety of topic areas. Guests for this segment are Sue Bordenaro, Legislative Action Consultant with the Office of Catholic Schools and Dr. Michelle Jenkins, Director of Staff Development for the Office of Catholic Schools. Segment 2: Our Lady of Guadalupe School has seen improving test scores over the past few years, increased number of staff development and school days, as well as a large renovation to the school building. Guest for this segment is Michael Hughes, Principal of Our Lady of Guadalupe School. Segment 3: St Procopius School implements a dual-language program (English and Spanish) for its students. The goal of this program is to achieve bi-lingual academic proficiency in both English and Spanish. Guests for this segment are Fr. Tim Howe, Pastor of St. Procopius Parish and Adam Dufault, Assistant Principal from St. Procopius.

Topics/Guest(s): Segment 1--Superintendent Back to School Report: Dr Nicholas Wolsonovich provides a brief overview of the Office of Catholic Schools' preparations for the new school year, including a system-wide Teacher Celebration planned for September 10 at the UIC Pavilion and the implementation of the Genesis Strategic Plan Segment 2--St. Francis De Sales High School: Rick Hussmann, school president, discusses the upcoming shcool year that will see a 50th anniversary celebration for the campus. In addition Mr. Hussmann talks about creative scholarship and tuition assistance opportunities that exist at St. Francis de Sales. Segment 3--Back to School News From Around the Archdiocese: Listeners were invited to call in and share new initiatives, projest and programs that their schools will have in motion for the 2007-2008 school year. Father Larry Dowling, pastor of St. Agatha Parish discusses new development at the newly named Saint Agatha Catholic Academy.

First half hour: Eight teachers from Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic schools were awarded a total of $70,000 from BP, through the company's A+ for Energy program. The awards are for creative classroom, after-school, extra-curricular or summer activities involving energy education and conservation. Guests for this segment are Dan Foertsch, Ph.D. Director of Data and Research for the Office of Catholic Schools who was a grant reviewer; Margaret Laney of BP; Grant recipient Cheryl Tolish of Infant Jesus of Prague School in Homewood; Grant recipient Marcus McKinley of Fenwick High School in Oak Park; Grant recipient Nancy Ramig of Saint Michael School in Orland Park. Second half hour: Resurrection College Preparatory High School (Chicago) recently passed 13 seventh grade students in its first Math Initiative Program. The 13 students, who took Algebra I Honors this past year, will be enrolled at Res during their 8th grade year in honors Geometry. Resurrection will welcome16 new 7th grade girls to the program to be enrolled in Algebra I honors. Our guests: Jo Marie Yonkus, Principal of the school, who started the Math Initiative Program last year for 7th and 8th grade students who excel in math.

Topics/Guest(s): Segment 1--St. Martin de Porres' First Graduating Class. Guest is Fr. Charles Bolser. Segment 2--All Elementary Schools will remain open next school year for the first time in 45 years. Guest is Dr. Nick Wolsonovich. Segment 3--Bearing Witness: High school faculty will participate in this 3-day program, June 11-13, that provides Catholic school educators with the training and resources necessary to teach about the historical relationship between Jewish and Catholic communities and the impact of that relationship on Catholic teaching, catechesis and liturgy. Guest is Paul Wieser, Director of the Anti-Defamation League's Braun Holocaust Institute.

Join us for a broadcast of Catholic Schools Today on May 14. The show is being guest-hosted by, Wayne Magdziarz. Please tune in for the program featuring: Kohl McCormick Early Childhood Awards – Three Archdiocese of Chicago educators, Elizabeth Grelle, kindergarten teacher at Frances Xavier Warde School, 751 N. State St., Chicago, Marta Ostrowska, preschool teacher at St. Ferdinand School, 3131 N. Mason Ave., Chicago, and Renee Rosenbusch, kindergarten teacher at St. Monica School, 5115 N. Mont Clare Ave., Chicago, were named as finalists for the 2007 Kohl McCormick Early Childhood Teaching Awards. Ms. Grelle was chosen as a 2007 Kohl McCormick Early Childhood Teaching Best of Field Award winner. All three will discuss their approach to early childhood education. Congratulate your Graduate! Elementary and high school graduations will be taking place within the next few weeks. Marty Frauenheim, Associate Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, will join the discussion to speak about the Academic Excellence in Catholic schools.

Topics/Guest(s): Segment 1--Pastor Appreciation Day--April 29, 2007 is Good Shepherd Sunday and on that day schools throughout the Archdiocese will be rocognizing the crucial role that pastors play in so many Catholic Schools. Guest is Father Robert Casey, Pastor of Our Lady of Tepeyac. Segment 2--Fr. Robert Casey talks about the new playground at Our Lady of Tepeyac School tuilt in conjunction with Reedy Industries, Inc. and KaBOOM! Segment 3--Week of the Young Child--Archdiocese of Chicago Schools are participating in the Week of the Young Child, April 22-28, sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Guests are Julie Ramski, Director of Early Childhood Education Programs for the Office of Catholic Schools and Sr. Barbara Jean Ciszek, CSJ, Principal of the Cardinal Bernardin Early Childhood Center.

In Segment 1 of today's program Father Greg Sakowicz discusses the Summit for Catholic School Education in Illinois with Sue Bordenaro, Legislative Action Consultant for the Office of Catholic Schools, Zach Wichmann, Associate Director of Education for the Catholic Conference of Illinois, and Rick Guerin, Principal of St. Bede the Venerable School. In Segment 2 Father Greg Sakowicz talks about the St. Gregory the Great High School Protege Program with Suzanne Stone, Director of the Protege Program, Joan Riise, Director of Alumni, Media and Special Events and Yussel Rivera, Senior at St. Gregory the Great High School. In Segment 3 Father Greg Sakowicz discusses the St. Benedict High School Performing Arts Academy with Mary Kay Nickels, Principal of St. Benedict High School and Timothy Kieman.

Father Greg Sakowicz co-hosts with Dr. Nicholas Wolsonovich. Today's show features discussion about the sponsorhip transition of Notre Dame High School for Boys (Niles) with new Executive Board and Association of Christian Faithful members Paula Waters and Christopher Nowotarski. The second segment of the show discusses African American Heritage Month activities with St. John de la Salle Academy of Fine Arts (Chicago) Principal Charles Carroll and St. Ethelreda (Chicago) Principal Denise Spells. The third segment of the show discusses the new Tech 4 Learning Initiative at Queen of Peace High School (Burbank) where each student will be outfitted with her own laptop in a new wireless school environment with Dr. Kathleen Hanlon, Principal, and Irene Halko, Technology Director.

Father Greg Sakowicz co-hosts with Dr. Nicholas Wolsonovich. Today's show features discussion about the January 13 High School Entrance Exam with Thomas Ondrla, President of St. Laurence High School; The St. Mary of Scotland school's Celebration of Service honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on January 13 with Earl McKay Jr., Principal and Yaisa Hagood, Marketing and Development Director.; The 20th anniversary of Pope John XXIII school in Evanston with Rosalie Musiala, Principal and Robert Swarczewski, School Board President.

Graziano Marcheschi co-hosts with Dr. Nicholas Wolsonovich. Today's show features "Boards of Specified Jurisdiction" with Carol Palmer, Ph.D., Regional Planning Consultant for the Office of Catholic Schools/"2006 NCEA Distinguished Principal Award" winner Thomas Sedor, Principal of Infant Jesus of Prague school/"2006 NCEA Distinguished Teacher Award" winner Nancy Roberts Garrity, 7th and 8th grade teacher at St. John Fisher School/"Magnificat" with Benny Morten, Principal of St. Ann School and Brian O'Rourke, Development Director of St. Ann School.

Today's show features "Blue Ribbon" winners. Co-hosts Father Greg Sakowicz and Dr. Nicholas Wolsonovich interview Sr. Ann Busch, Ms. Patricia Frejlich, Mrs. Dorothy Aebersold and John LaRoche about the U.S. Department of Education's Blue Ribbon Awards and the Archdiocese of Chicago schools that have received it.

Today's show features representatives from St. Mary of Czestochowa School, St. Mary Star of the Sea School and Chicago Jesuit Academy. Guests: Al Theis; Barbara Otto; Evelyn Califfe; Detective Connie Perusich; Matthew Lynch and Rev. Patrick McGrath

Join us for the first broadcast with our new co-host of Catholic Schools Today. We are proud to announce that Dr. Nicholas Wolsonovich, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, will join Father Greg Sakowicz, pastor of St. Mary of the Woods Parish, for their first broadcast together. Please tune in for the program featuring: Children of Peace Elementary School - a new partnership has just been established with Rush University Medical Center's Science and Math Excellence Network. Two state-of-the-art science labs will be built at the school. Joining the discussion will be Arlene Redmond, Principal of Children of Peace and Reginald Adams, Director of Community Affairs, Rush University Medical Center. Seton Academy - IBM Laptop computers have been issued to every faculty member and student at the high school to supplement curriculum. Joining the discussion will be Ingia Jackson, the new Principal of Seton, Fred Reynolds, Seton's Technology Director, and Mark Garstki, Director of Technology for the Office of Catholic Schools. It's time for the Strengthening Catholic Schools Conference on Saturday, September 23rd at Resurrection High School. The conference is open to everyone involved in Catholic education in the Archdiocese. Dr. Michelle Jenkins, Director of Staff Development for the Office of Catholic Schools, and Mark Garstki, Director of Technology for the Office of Catholic Schools will join us to preview all the conference has to offer.

Join us for this special, "Back to School Preview Program" with hosts Tom Sheridan, editor of The Catholic New World and Father Greg Sakowitz, pastor of St. Mary-of-the-Woods Parish. The 2006-2007 Catholic School Year has already begun with the Leadership Meeting for Principals, Presidents and Pastors last Thursday. Our guests will talk about our schools' wonderful accomplishments and what parents, teachers and students can look forward to in the months ahead. Dr. Nicholas Wolsonovich, Superintendant, Office of Catholic Schools, will bring us up-to-date on a number of important school-related issues including the progress on the Notre Dame High School leadership transition and an update on Genesis. Barbara Keebler, Director of Communications, The National Catholic Educational Association, will provide us with an update regarding the results of the national Catholic schools efforts for Hurricane Katrina and preview a number of important events taking place in the 2006-2007 school year. Julie Ramski, Program Director of Early Childhood Education and Mary Iannucilli, Assistant Superintendant for High Schools will talk to parents about making the right decisions when choosing a Catholic pre-school or high school for their children. Mary Ann Tschanz, Principal of St. James School in Highwood will share the exciting story about how this north suburban Catholic elementary school was chosen to participate in the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program for this school year. Also joining us will be Ms. Rebecca Coleman, the Fulbright partner from St. James School in Hereford, England, who will be teaching first grade at St. James

This special edition of Catholic Community of Faith, hosted by Tom Sheridan, editor of the Catholic New World, features the latest response to the June 30, 2006 announcement from the Congregation of Holy Cross, Indiana Province, that they will no longer sponsor Notre Dame High School for Boys in Niles. Dr. Nicholas M. Wolsonovich, Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago, is joined by Notre Dame Advisory Board Chairman, Joseph Gurdak, and Advisory Board members Peter Newell and Paula Waters, in a discussion about the efforts already underway to work with all interested parties to assure that the school continues its mission to educate young men. Interested Notre Dame High School parents and alumni are also included with their call-in comments and questions. Phyllis Cavallone-Jurek, principal of St. Therese Chinese Catholic School, invites listeners to attend the children’s performance at the Taste of Chicago's Taste of Talent Youth Competition on Friday, July 7, at 11:42 a.m. in Grant Park. The dancers, among only 24 finalists, will perform an authentic Chinese ribbon and fan dance that celebrates the joys and excitement of summer.

Today's show features recent graduates from three of our high schools who share their academic and service project experiences during the past four years. Our guests include Saint Viator High School (Arlington Heights) graduates Kristin Cortese and Daniel Zundel along with Associate Principal, Daniel Lydon; St. Rita of Cascia High School (Chicago) graduates Patrick Kirkland and Eliot Bessette, along with Vice President for Academic Affairs, Sally Deenihan; and Our Lady of Tepeyac High School (Chicago) graduates Cecily Ceniti and Patty Esparanza as well as Principal Joni Thompson and Maggie Civik, Director of Recruitment and Marketing

Today's show features examples of the wide range of marvelous music found in our schools, from classical to jazz, from solo sax to marimba trios, to massed choirs. Marist High School (Chicago) is represented by their band director Frank Manna along with students Melissa Lonski and David Oriente. Fr. Richard Todd and Principal Susan Dzikas from St.Paul/Our Lady of Vilna School (Chicago) share the story of their successful elementary school partnership program with Scott Winship from “Rock for Kids.” Band director, David Wiebers from Carmel Catholic High School (Mundelein) is joined by students Ryan McFfaden and Austin Byrd in a discussion about their music.