Alsip-Crestwood Catholic Schools Celebrate 2024 Catholic Schools Week

ALSIP-CRESTWOOD, IL — Alsip and Crestwood-area Catholic schools will be celebrating 50 years of excellence in Catholic education. The Catholic Schools Week 2024 is set for Jan. 28 through Feb. 3.

Each year, the last week of January is set aside where Catholic schools observe the week with Masses, open houses and other activities for students, families, parishioners, and community members. Families can register current and new students for the 2024-2025 school year. The theme for National Catholic Schools Week 2025 is “Unity in Faith and Community.”

Students in Archdiocese of Chicago schools achieve higher than national average scores on standardized tests like the ACT and ACT Aspire. Seniors are purported to graduate at a rate of 98 percent, with 95 percent going on to college. The Chicago Archdiocese also boasts more U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Award schools than any other school system – public or private – in the nation.

Financial aid is also available to help children grades K-12 from low-income homes attend an archdiocesan Catholic school through the Illinois Invest in Kids Act, Tax Credit Scholarship Program. Donors fund the scholarship and in return receive a 75% credit on their donation when filing their Illinois state income taxes.

Families can apply for Tax Credit Scholarships through a scholarship granting organization, which distributes the scholarships. The Archdiocese of Chicago works with two SGOs: Empower Illinois and Big Shoulders Fund.

St. Christopher’s, St. Damian’s, St. Patricia Schools and St. Walter-St. Benedict will hold special Masses and open houses on Sunday, Jan. 28. If you're looking for a Catholic school experience for your kiddos, take a look at what they have to offer. Most schools offer private school tours by appointment if you can't make the open house.

All open houses take place on Sunday, Jan. 28:

St. Christopher School, 14611 S. Keeler Ave., Midlothian, 708-385-8776
St. Christopher School will hold an open house from 10:30 a.m. through 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28. Home of the Cougars, St. Christopher focuses on the development of the entire child in body, mind and spirit. The school provides a nurturing, faith-based Christian environment that serves as a “home away from home” for students.
St. Christopher offers:

• Competitive tuition compared to lower tuition rates than neighboring Catholic schools, financial aid and scholarships
• Before & after extended day care, 6am-6pm
• Integrated technology program with 1:1 Chromebooks for the entire school
• Half- and full-day preschool for 3-4-year-olds
• Reading resource teachers for students who need extra help
• Weekly Mass, daily prayer and religion classes
• Music, band, art, choir, computer instruction, library, athletics and more

“Our open houses are a great opportunity for you and your child to learn about our school in a relaxed, informal atmosphere.”

St. Damian School and Pre-School Academy, 5300 155th St., Oak Forest, 708-687-4230
St. Damien will usher in Catholic Schools Week with a family Mass at 11:30 a.m., followed by an open house for prospective families from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28. A two-time Blue Ribbon Award-winning school, St. Damian offers:

• A rigorous Catholic education for PreK through 8th grade, including language arts, mathematics, fine arts, PE, religion, science and social studies.
• Preschool Academy for 3- and 4-year-olds, half and full-day available, for three, four and five days a week

New families can read more about St. Damian here.

St. Patricia School, 9000 S 86th Ave, Hickory Hills, 708-598-8200

St. Patricia School will celebrate National Catholic Schools Week by inviting prospective students and their families to tour the campus, meet the teachers and students, discover the classrooms, and learn more about what makes St. Patricia School the perfect school for your kids.

Open House will take place Sunday, Jan. 28 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Celebrate Mass with the St. Patricia community at 9:30 a.m. family Mass to start your Open House experience.
St. Patricia School provides a nurturing environment where students are challenged to grow into critical thinkers for the world ahead. The school is welcoming new families for the 2024-2025 school year in our PreK Program for 3- and 4-year-olds and Kindergarten – 8th grades. Space is limited and registration is encouraged, as classrooms fill up fast. New Family Registration opens Jan. 28. Reserve your spot for the 2024-2025 school year.

Read more about St. Patricia

St. Walter-St. Benedict School, 11741 S. Western Ave., Chicago, and 2324 New Street, Blue Island, 708-385-2016.

St. Walter-St. Benedict School will be holding two open houses on Saturday, Jan. 27, at its Chicago campus, starting with a 4 p.m. family Mass, followed by an open house for PreK through fourth grades; PreK and grades 5-8 will take place on the Blue Island campus, starting with a 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, Jan. 28, with an open house to follow.

Both campuses strive to educate the whole child academically, spiritually, physically and emotionally through an environment of faith, compassion and academic rigor, including:

• Open enrollment for all grades
• Meet the teachers and principals
• Scholarships available
• PreK for all (Blue Island campus)