Beverly Montessori School Celebrates 50th Anniversary
Beverly Montessori School, 9916 S. Walden Pkwy., is in its 50th year as an early childhood center that ignites joy, wonder and a love of learning within children in Beverly/Morgan Park and neighboring communities.
The impressive anniversary will be celebrated Sat., Mar. 3, 6 to 11 p.m., at a formal gala at Ridge Country Club, 105th and California. Current and former school families as well as friends of Beverly Montessori School are invited to be a part of the celebration. Tickets are $75 per person and include a seated dinner, beer, wine, dessert and coffee bars, dancing, raffle, a silent auction and more.
Founded as a not-for-profit educational organization, Beverly Montessori School was started by five neighborhood families who believed in the importance of providing a different and progressive kind of preschool education for area children. Opened in September 1967, the school was first located at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church then moved to its present location shortly thereafter. Beverly Montessori School has educated over 2,600 children and takes great pride in its legacy in the community and the hearts of all of the children who have passed through its doors.
Beverly Montessori School serves students in preschool and kindergarten in a diverse school community that provides a nurturing and inviting Montessori environment. Guided by the philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori, the school values the human spirit and the development of the whole child — physical, spiritual, social, emotional and cognitive. For information about the school, call 773-239-7635 or visit www.beverlymontessori.org. To purchase 50th anniversary gala tickets, visit www.beverlymontessori.org/anniversary-celebration.
CMYC Offers Expanded STARS Program
The Catholic Youth Ministry Center at Morgan Park High School (The Blue House) recently restructured their STARS (Setting Targets and Reaching Success) program. What began as a leadership training program now has an added a job-readiness component.
STARS participants commit to attending daily meetings for a two week period, working with their team to coordinate a tournament and a special event for their peers to earn a $25 stipend. They are required to punch in on time daily (without reminders) and to evaluate themselves as employees. In addition to learning leadership, decision-making, planning and collaboration, it is hoped that the introduction to paid employment will provide valuable experience for the participant’s future. An evaluation of the program is completed by all participants, and 85% of STARS participants have reported a positive experience. In addition, both the facilitator and the young person complete and discuss the employee evaluation as it would relate to a paid job.
STARS teams have held pool, air hockey, Wii, card and game tournaments. Some special events are Christmas ornament decorating, Talent Show and Thanksgiving Gratitude Sharing. For more information contact Peggy Goddard, 773-881-0193 or www.cymcatmphs.com
St. Walter School FunDrive
Community members are invited to donate gently used clothing and household items to the FunDrive at St. Walter Elementary School, 11741 S. Western, through Mar. 31. Items are being collected in a pod storage unit in the school’s parking lot, which is parking lot is accessible from both Western and Oakley avenues. The drive’s goal is to raise $9,000 in funds to support the school and its students.
Acceptable donations include clothing, shoes, accessories, linens, books and small household items; no furniture. All goods collected through the FunDrive are sold to Savers, the parent company to thrift stores including Value Village, Unique and Savers. They will pay the school by the pound for every qualifying donation received.
St. Walter School is a small school that does has community service embedded in the curriculum. Students come from all around the city and suburbs, and graduates go on to some the area’s top high schools and stay engaged with the St. Walter community. Info: 773-445-8850.
MPA Wins Big at WYSE Competition
Morgan Park Academy’s WYSE (Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering) team began its postseason push with a strong performance at regionals, finishing third among schools with 1,500 or fewer students at the University of St. Francis in February.
Competing in biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering graphics, English, math, and physics, MPA not only won Division 300 against schools its own size but finished third when measured against high schools with 10 times more students.
Teams will advance to next sectionals in March.
WYSE is an international program headquartered at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, offering the annual academic challenge competition, summer camps and other programs. Its primary goal is to attract a greater number of talented and diverse students to careers in engineering and the sciences.
Morgan Park Academy’s WYSE program, first started by retired science teacher Dr. Larry Brown, has a 20-year history of top-level success in state competition, including Illinois Division 300 championships in 1997 and 2012.
Morgan Park Academy is an independent college preparatory school at 2153 W. 111th St., enrolling 450 students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12.
Built around small class sizes and strong teacher-student relationships, MPA invites students to develop a worldview rooted in their own culture while broadening and deepening their thinking beyond the boundaries of campus, city and country.
Shamrockin’ at Rice
The Brother Rice Alumni Mothers’ Club will host “Shamrockin’ at Rice with Infinity” on St. Patrick’s Day, Sat., Mar. 17, in the Brother Rice High School main gym. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. 21-and- older event. Info/tickets: brotherrice.org/shamrockin/
