A Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
Mary, Seat of Wisdom School has served the Park Ridge, Chicago, and surrounding communities for over 50 years. MSW has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Knowing that all students learn best when they feel secure, MSW teachers, administrators and parents work closely together to provide a safe and nurturing learning environment with a strong Catholic identity. Our mission, “to empower our students with the knowledge, values, and skills which will enable them to become active participants and effective leaders in both the church and world community,” serves as the touchstone for everything we do. At its core, the development of the whole child includes the fostering of faith, and goes beyond a basic religion curriculum. Instruction includes a rich sacramental program with discussion of theological doctrine and experiences designed to encourage students to follow Christ as a way of life.
MSW offers students the best of both worlds: an education steeped in over fifty years of tradition, as well as the advantages of recent advances in technology and curricular innovation. Recent changes have brought facility expansion and improvements that include a second gym, a stage, and updated computer and science labs. Program additions include a three and four year old pre-school program, an all day kindergarten program, an extended day care program, and a hot lunch program. Recent curricular highlights include in-house services for students with special needs (resource, speech, and social), Spanish taught in all grades, media, and technology classes. MSW integrates new technologies, not only in the classroom with the recent addition of Promethean Boards, Smart Tables, and a mobile lap top lab, but also through its school website, online grades, and e-mail communication.
MSW’s academic program is extended through a wide variety of extracurricular activities, which include Student Council, yearbook, athletics, academic bowls, performing arts, and robotic activities. Over one hundred-fifty MSW students participate in the student service organization, Kids Who Care. Traditional annual events include the fourth grade production of The Nutcracker, a Grandparents Day celebration, a Veterans Day assembly, Red Ribbon Week, junior high trips to Springfield, IL and Washington, D. C., the fifth grade Wax Museum, junior high dances, an all school Talent Show and Spirit Week activities.
Activities which enhance MSW’s Catholic Identity mission include participation in Catholic Schools Week, third grade All Saints Day celebration, first grade Nativity re-enactment, eighth grade production of the Living Stations of the Cross, and May crowning. Monthly all-school Catholic Identity assemblies provide meaning and explanation of the various service learning activities of the school.
Students are proud of MSW, creating a connection that lasts beyond high school and college. At MSW, a strong mission and a strong tradition combined with a faculty and administration committed to academic excellence and innovation, have created a rich, nurturing learning experience in which students thrive spiritually, academically, and socially.