WELCOME

Let's look what St. Dorothy School offers

 

Thank you for your interest in the St. Dorothy School.  Our motto is “We are One Family in Faith, Hope and Charity” and this becomes visible as you visit and come to know us.
Students experience “One Family  “ rooted in faith, hope, love, and values.	Students experience “One Family “rooted in faith, hope, love, and values. ·         We are a Catholic School rooted in a common Christian faith that encourages the respect and support of each Child’s beliefs.  We have many students who are not catholic. ·         We strive to live the Gospel message of Jesus Christ every day, and encourage our students to do the same. ·         We pray daily, both as a whole school and in our classrooms, and we celebrate Mass and prayer services together as a school community. ·         We instill in our students the values of compassion, kindness, and service to others through projects such as Thanksgiving canned goods collection, Advent toy drive of Hatti,  Lenten collection for the Holy Childhood collection and the weekly Mass offerings for an agreed upon charity. ·         The values or reaching back to help others is visible as former students come back and help out in to mentor our young students. ·         We prepare our students to choose nonviolence.
Students are offered a safe, nurturing environment.	Students are offered a safe, nurturing environment. ·         Our administration offers a sense of security and stability to the school and the community.  Some of our parish tutors have been volunteering for 10 to 25 years. ·         Our students come to school knowing that they are in a safe environment, where they are cared for, loved, and where they are safe to learn and grow. ·         The teachers know the students and their parents by name, and work together serve the students’ academic, emotional, physical and spiritual needs. ·         Counseling services are available for students and their families. ·         Building admittance is restricted only to authorized staff, students, their families, and approved visitors. ·         The entire staff works to keep our students safe, and is certified by the Archdiocese of Chicago in protecting all of God’s children. ·         We promote the healthy intellectual, emotional, social, and physical growth of each child.
Students are ensured that they succeed in a strong, standards-based educational experience.	Students are ensured that they succeed in a strong, standards-based educational experience.  ·         Our teaching staff sets high expectations for learning and growth, and actively works with students to help them succeed and to be prepared for high school and life. ·         Our curriculum helps students to achieve their fullest potential through effective, research-based teaching practices.  We are accredited by the State of Illinois and the Archdiocese of Chicago.  Our Early Childhood Program has had NAEYC training. ·         Our students consistently out perform their expected levels of achievement on standardized tests.  Our student’s annual spring test scores have consistently ranked from 3-15 points more that their anticipated scores.  Reading and mathematics rank amount the higher end of these scores.  Social Studies and Science scores continue to improve yearly with rises in the 3-5 point range. ·         Our teachers participate in on-going professional development.
Students are prepared to be future leaders.	Students are prepared to be future leaders.  ·         Our teaching staff sets high expectations for learning and growth, and actively works with students to help them succeed and be prepared for high school and life. ·         Through a grant, the middle school students have the experience of running the “Exchange City” as part of the Experiencia (immersion education) Foundation ·         Our curriculum helps students achieve their fullest potential through effectively, research-based teaching practices.  We are accredited by the State of Illinois and the Archdiocese of Chicago. ·         Our graduates go on to various magnet and private Catholic high schools including St. Ignatius, DeLaSalle, St. Rita, Mother McCauley, Brother Rice, Queen of Peace, Maria, Walter Payton, Whitney Young, and Marion. ·         Attending a Catholic or Magnet high school is critically important – 97% of Catholic high school students graduate, while only 63% of minority public high school students graduate (Source:  Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago) ·         We enable our graduates to obtain scholarships for high school.  Recent graduates have received academic scholarships, including the prestigious Daniel Murphy Scholarship and the Pastors’ scholarship. ·         Our graduates consistently attend the high schools of their choice, matriculate into college at above normal rates, and have shown remarkable success in careers and later life.  Our graduates include numerous doctors, lawyers, corporate executives, bankers, teacher and even one former Alderman!
Before and After School Care.	We serve busy working families by providing before and after-school care and Summer programs. ·         We provide before-school care beginning at 6:00 a.m., and after-school care until 6:00 pm.  Students are not only cared for in a safe environment, they are also able to do their homework, obtain tutoring, participate in extracurricular activities, etc. ·         In the summer, we offer a comprehensive academic and activity program.  Our students spend the mornings reinforcing and enriching necessary grade-level skills, and the afternoons enjoying various activities, including field trips.  An eight to four-thirty basketball camp is also available. ·         Please contact the Office for pricing information for our Extended Day and Summer Programs.
Technology is used to enhance our students’ learning and growth.	Technology is used to enhance our students’ learning and growth. ·         Students enjoy high-speed internet access in all classrooms. ·         A iMac lab of  15 computers and a PC lab of 26 computers are available are used for computer instruction Pre-K through 8th grade.  Two Smart Boards are being used for interactive class activities. ·         Sixty  wireless laptops are used to enhance learning in the classrooms.  A LCD projector is available in the lab to enables students to see presentations given by  teacher and/or students.  Four other projectors are available for classroom use. ·         Our teachers and staff utilize technology across the curriculum to help our students better learn academic concepts and to expose students to the technology that will be essential in the future. ·         Students use programs such as Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Movie Maker, Publishing),  a supplemental math program and a supplemental music program and learning to navigate the World Wide Web. ·         Teachers can communicate with students and parents through e-mail and the web site, Edmondo.
Small class sizes allows our students to receive much individual attention	Small class sizes allows our students to receive much individual attention. ·         Our teachers utilize differentiated instruction, providing each student with the educational experience that best meets the student’s individual needs. ·         Our students are actively involved in their own learning process through engaging and interactive experiences. ·         Our students actively participate in setting their own learning and growth goals, and in tracking their progress toward meeting those goals. ·         We cultivate self-motivated learners who are invested in their own educational experience ·         Title I services are available, providing additional, small-group support in Reading and math, using both guided teacher instruction and computer instruction. ·         We help students to succeed, including students having selected special educational needs. ·         Teachers work together across grade levels to provide fluid, flexible groupings to best meet students’ needs.
Students’ interests are developed through a variety of academic programs and extracurricular activities.	Students’ interests are developed through a variety of academic programs and extracurricular activities. ·         Students benefit from weekly classes in Music, Spanish, Physical Education, Computer, and Art. ·         After school activities include Dance (Liturgical and Swing), Drumming, Basketball, Art, Choir, and Jazz Band will be begin in the fall of 2010. ·         Individual and small-group tutoring is available. ·         Annual programs, including a Performance for Grandparents Day, the Christmas program, Black History program, the Passion Play, a Fine Arts night and a Dance Concert.  These with the opportunities provided by the weekly Mass give the students many opportunities to achieve and develop talents through the performing arts. ·         All of the various levels of scouting are available for both boys and girls on Saturdays. ·         The Knights of Peter Claver, Court 156 and K.P.C. Ladies Auxillary Court 156 have a Junior Knight and Junior Daughter division.
Efforts are made to make this investment financially possible.	Efforts are made to make this investment financially possible. ·         We work diligently to help families be able to afford a better education for their children. ·         Through the generosity of the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Big Shoulders Fund and other benefactors, we make an education valued at $7,000 per year available to families fo a fraction of the cost. ·         Scholarships are available. ·         Our qualifying students  participate in the federal Free & Reduced Lunch Program. ·         We strive to find highschool scholarships and grants for our graduates.