Partnerships
At St. Giles School, we believe in the power of community. Our partnerships with local organizations create amazing opportunities for our students to explore, learn, and grow. These collaborations help us provide a well-rounded education that goes beyond the classroom. Here are some of the exciting partnerships we are proud to engage in:
University Partnerships
DePaul University - Schreiber Catholic Future Teacher Leader Program - An innovative program created by the university that provides leadership training and mentoring to St. Giles middle school students in our Ambassadors program. This program is designed to help them develop and implement community equity projects in their school or community. Student learning occurs both on-site at DePaul university and through their school Ambassadors Club.
Rise Together: Catholic Communities of Belonging - A comprehensive year-long professional learning experience designed to transform Catholic school communities into vibrant centers of belonging, intercultural understanding, and authentic solidarity rooted in Catholic Social Teachings. This program involves the entire community with monthly staff development, student training and quarterly parent development. This program is presented by Dr. Donna Kiel, Ed.D., Catholic Future Teacher Program Manager and Office of Innovative Professional Learning.
University of Notre Dame - Play Like a Champion Today - Play Like a Champion fosters the leadership development we provide for all of our Lions on the athletic fields and courts. Coaches and parents participate in workshops facilitated by the university to foster a positive learning and growth experience in athletics.
Dominican University - Undergraduate students from Dominican University join our preschool and K-4 classrooms to partner with our experienced staff bringing fresh ideas and innovative teaching methods to our students while gaining valuable work/study experience.
Concordia University - We welcome student observers from Concordia into our K-8 classrooms offering them practical experience and opportunities to learn diverse teaching practices.
Loyola University - Graduate School of Psychology - This partnership allows us to offer specialized support and resources for our students’ academic, social and emotional well-being. Two school psychology graduate student-interns from the university provide academic, social and emotional learning support and interventions in individual, small and large group settings.High School Academic Partnerships
Math with Fenwick High School - Each year a group of middle school students participate in the Fenwick Math Competition. Our advanced math students have the opportunity to enroll in high school geometry at Fenwick during their 8th grade year, provided they demonstrate proficiency in Algebra 1 by the end of 7th grade.
STEM at Trinity High School - St. Giles 7th grade girls enjoy a dedicated STEM day with Trinity high school students engaging in hand-on science, technology engineering and math activities that spark curiosity and innovation
Theater at Trinity High School - Throughout the school year, students have the chance to attend a variety of performances by Trinity’s theater program. Engaging in the fine arts not only provides entertainment but also enriches students' educational experiences by fostering creativity, enhancing communication skills, and promoting cultural awareness.Other Academic Partnerships
Field Museum - Field Museum School Partnership / Harris Learning Library Member - St. Giles has partnered with the museum to bring Field Museum educators to the school where they share museum resources for an “in-school field trip” as part of our spring STEM night. Additionally St. Giles teachers can bring real artifacts and specimens from the Field Museum Harris Library into the classroom for hands-on learning experiences.
ComEd - Smart Energy Hub - Through the ComEd Smart Energy Hub program our 5th grade students visit ComEd’s education facility where they receive educational and home resources focused on energy conservation and sustainability, empowering them to become environmentally conscious citizens.
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency - Poster, Poetry, and Prose Contest - 4th and 5th grade students are invited to think creatively about environmental issues and conservation through the creation of posters or focused writing. St. Giles students consistently place among the top entries each year and receive recognition by the Illinois EPA.
Junior Academy of Science (IJAS) - Science Exposition - As members of IJAS, we provide our 7th grade students with unique opportunities to explore science and technology, fostering a deep appreciation for scientific inquiry and discovery. Our students participate in a school-wide science fair adhering to IJAS guidelines, with top exhibits advancing to IJAS regional and state science expositions.
Other Community Partnerships
Collaboration for Early Childhood - St. Giles Goeddert Center early childhood staff share their talents participating in events such as Blast off to Kindergarten sponsored by the Collaboration for Early Childhood, a non-profit that works with community experts to nurture our community’s young children and help break the cycle of intergenerational poverty through early childhood education.
Housing Forward - Each month two St. Giles buddy grades actively contribute to the community by preparing sack-to-go lunches and breakfast donations for Housing Forward, a non-profit organization supporting unhoused individuals. This volunteer program helps students develop empathy, teamwork, and organizational skills while connecting them to the community and showing them the impact of their actions.