2015 STATE OF THE SCHOOL REPORT

FAITHSERVICE

COMMUNITY

MISSIONOld St. Mary’s School, sponsored by the Archdiocese of Chicago and reflective of the Paulist Mission,

is committed to preparing students to be productive, responsible, and effective members of the world

community. We prepare students for lifetime service to God and the quest for knowledge.

HISTORYOld St. Mary’s parish was founded in 1833 as Chicago’s first Catholic congregation, making it the oldest parish

in the city. The Paulist Fathers have led OSM since 1907.

Now Old St. Mary’s is located in one of Chicago’s newest church buildings. In 2002, the parish dedicated the

new church, and it became clear that there would be a need for a Catholic school to serve South Loop. Many

young families who had moved into the neighborhood were looking for a faith-based, quality education for

their children. In 2004, Old St. Mary’s School opened to its first preschool class of 18 children. Today, Old St.

Mary’s School serves about 400 students in preschool through eighth grade, in a new facility built in 2011. We

look forward to expanding our campus with the construction of a Parish Center, featuring a school gymnasium

in early 2016.

‘All are welcome’ is more than just our unofficial motto; it really defines who we are as a community.DILLON, PARENT

FAITHFaith is our foundation. Student led prayer services, weekly masses,

and invitations to participate in the sacrament of Reconciliation during

Advent and Lent are part of our faith initiative. Our teachers prepare

second- and eighth-grade students for the sacraments of

Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation.

SERVICEInstilling a commitment to serve the community is an important part

of our mission at Old St. Mary’s School. The Social Justice committees

of the parish and the Family and School Association give students

opportunities to assist local agencies and other parishes by donating

such items as school supplies, food, clothing, and books to benefit

our neighbors in need. Middle school students commit to a number

of service hours each year.

COMMUNITYThe mission of the Paulist Fathers is to treat all people with dignity, justice, and respect. At the core of Old St. Mary’s School is the belief that

“All Are Welcome.” We put this into action each day by supporting students and families in need and by gladly welcoming new parishioners

and school families in many ways.

CURRICULUMOur curriculum includes core subjects — language arts, science, social

studies and mathematics — as well as religion, technology, Spanish,

physical education, art, and music classes. This is dictated by and

meets all of the Illinois Early Learning Standards, the Common Core

State Standards, and the Chicago Archdiocese Office of Catholic

Schools requirements. We work to enhance and increase children’s

feelings of self-worth as they are guided in developing a relationship

with God, making friends, resolving conflicts, and strengthening

leadership skills.

Preschool Program• The program focuses on the whole child in a small classroom

environment.

• Teachers use monthly themes to guide instruction and use a center-

directed approach to learning.

• Full and half-day programs offered to three- and four-year-olds to

meet the individual needs of each child.

Our Elementary School Program (K-5)• The curriculum offers a variety of individual and collaborative

learning opportunities for each student.

• Hands-on experiences in core content areas and fine arts allow our

students to learn about their world in a variety of ways.

Middle School Program (6th-8th)• The coursework is designed to meet the educational, emotional,

and spiritual needs of adolescents, who are often experiencing

rapid physical, intellectual, and social growth.

• Students develop an enthusiasm for learning and gain the

confidence and discipline they need to think independently and

behave responsibly as they prepare for high school and beyond.

• OSM provides support that guides in the decision-making process

of high school placement, including holding a Fall High School

Open House, meeting individually with students and parents, and

maintaining close relationships with admissions directors from area

high schools.

EMMA, 2ND GRADEThe teachers at OSM are so nice and make learning really fun.

TECHNOLOGY• Every classroom has an interactive white board and projector.

• Students begin to use laptops in first grade to learn basic typing skills and even

publish their own writing. Student laptops are also used for research projects in

online learning communities.

• In grades 6 through 8, OSM has a one-to-one iPad initiative through which each

student is given an iPad for use at school and at home. Middle school students

use their iPads to create multimedia projects and presentations.

• Each class has access to iPads, and students use them to practice math and

language skills, create projects, and engage in interactive review games.

• Teachers and middle school students use Google Apps for Education accounts

to work collaboratively on various virtual projects. It helps OSM stay “green” by

reducing paper in the school.

• Middle school students participate in weekly news broadcasts via “OSM TV.”

The students are entirely responsible for the content of the news. Students

create videos and use green screen technology and teleprompters to create

a real newscast.

Teachers are supportive of one another, the kids show up happy and eager to learn, and the parents couldn’t be more supportive.STEPHANIE, TEACHER

ATHLETICSSports teams for students are offered in 1st through 8th grade. Our coaches place a strong emphasis on teamwork, fundamentals, and

sportsmanship. Approximately two-thirds of students in grades 1-8 participate in a school sport.

Current Offerings: • Volleyball — girls, grades 3-8

• Flag Football — boys, grades 4-7

• Cross Country — coed, grades 3-8

• Basketball — boys and girls, grades 1-8

• Track and Field — coed, grades 3-8

• Baseball — boys, grades 4-6 (New in 2015)

• Softball — girls, grades 5-8 (New in 2015)

Highlights: • First flag football team in school history in 2014.

• 4th grade boys’ basketball made Final 4 in City Tournament.

• Three students qualified for State track and field meet in 2014.

• Girls’ cross country team won several meets and one student.

qualified for the State cross country meet in 2014.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

• Debate Club

• Chess Club

• Engineering Fundamentals Lego Club

• Choir

• Band

• Dance

• Yoga

• Student Ambassadors

• Yearbook

Highlights:• In only its second year, two sixth graders from the Debate Club won

the Varsity Division in one tournament, and several other members

were top finishers in various Junior Varsity and Varsity tournaments.

STUDENT POPULATION• Serving Pre-K through 8th grade.

• Our first 8th grade graduation class was in 2014.

• 85% of our students are Catholic. We enjoy a special relationship

with our church and the Paulist community.

• 70% of our students live close enough that they can walk to school.

Of a current student population of 393:

FINANCIALSOSM School: Statement of Financial Position 2013-2014Tuition and Fees $2,809,352.47Net Fundraising $32,724.57Interest Income $1,001.32

TOTAL INCOME $2,843,078.36

Salaries/ Benefits $1,892,999.40Insurance $235,342.00Rental Expense $300,000.00Admin Expenses $100,154.35Book and Supplies $112,791.02Utilities, Maintenance, Repairs $159,464.12Other $18,273.42

TOTAL EXPENSE $2,819,024.31

TEST SCORESTerra Nova Students in grades 2-7 take the Terra Nova standardized test

designed to measure achievement, monitor progress, and design

instruction. The chart below provides the national percentile rank for

subjects tested. A percentile rank indicates the percentage of students

in a norm group whose scores fall below a particular student’s raw

scores. For example, if a student’s raw score converts to a percentile

rank of 63, it means that the student scored higher than 63 percent

of the students in the norm group. OSM student averages are all well

above the national and Archdiocesan average.

FACULTY • Low student-to-teacher ratios.

• Pre-K, K, and 1st grade classrooms all have two full-time teachers.

• Over 40 percent of teachers possess advanced degrees.

• Special classes offered — Music, Art, Spanish, Religion, Physical

Education, and Technology.

• We prioritize ongoing professional development for our teachers

to ensure they are using best practices and continually evaluate

student data to drive instruction to meet our students’ needs.

WHITE

HISPANIC

ASIAN / PACIFIC ISLANDER

TWO OR MORE RACES

AFRICAN AMERICAN

7%

59%

14%

10%

11%

GRADE READING LANGUAGE MATH TOTAL SCIENCE SOCIAL STUDIES

National 50 50 50 50 50 50

2 87 NA 83 85 80 87

3 86 86 89 89 85 90

4 84 84 89 88 84 90

5 89 92 88 93 90 85

6 95 95 93 96 92 96

7 84 87 86 90 77 83

Spring 2014 Terra NovaNational Percentile of the Mean NCE

In addition to the Terra Nova tests, we also administer the ASPIRE test

to our 8th grade students as a focused initiative to best prepare our

successful middle school students through high school.

CONTACT INFORMATION:www.osmschool.com1474 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605Phone: (312) 386-1560Fax: (312) 386-1578

PrincipalJulie Martinjmartin@osmschool.com

Business ManagerLisa Galullolgalullo@osmschool.com Administrative AssistantNicole Downingndowning@osmschool.com

FAMILY AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION• The Family and School Association is dedicated to collaboration among parents, guardians, and members of the

school and parish staff in the pursuit of quality, faith-centered education with an emphasis on fostering the family

and school partnership. All parents are members.

• Fundraising occurs through four main events: Oktoberfest, Poker Night, Spring Gala, and Boosterthon Fun Run.

• Family-friendly, community-building events include the Family Fun Fest, Spaghetti Dinner, and Sweetheart Dance,

among other events.

• Families are asked to donate 20 hours of service time to the school each year.

To learn more about Old St. Mary’s School, visit our website www.osmschool.com, or call the school to register for one of the scheduled tour dates.