Dear Families,

We all have heard the expression “you will know it—when you see it.” Call it our gut feeling, our instinct, or just our parental intuition. We all naturally possess this capacity for recognizing something without having to formally learn it.

Prior to winter break, I had the opportunity to visit each classroom on both campuses. Throughout my “walkabout,” I felt an overwhelming sense of pride in this place of learning and witnessed an environment that espouses a culture of excellence. I knew it when I saw it.

I also had a gut feeling that what FXW has created here may not exist in too many other schools. I should probably add that I will not pretend to be an expert in anything but drawing on 18 years as a head of school, and our leadership team’s 100 plus years of experience of working at all levels in education settings. I can say with confidence—we know it when we see it. Although we are a school that is only 33 years old, and just over a decade removed from being a full member of the Chicago Archdiocesan Catholic School system, it is worth reflecting on how we got here.

The formula is simple: First, take the two visionary leaders, Maggie Daley and Jack Wall, who trusted their instincts, and acted on their discussions of opening a new school in the West Loop. This school opened up 33 years ago to create a diverse and inclusive learning environment, open to all faiths, fulfilling a specific mission. Then, families, looking for what this school has to offer, sign up and support the school. Since day one, we have seen excellence in action. This parent-school partnership directly benefits the student experience and in my opinion is why we have the culture and climate that exists today.

As we begin 2023, with a fresh perspective, my colleagues and I are humbled and incredibly grateful for the ongoing parent engagement and support—highlighted by the organizational work of the Parent Advisory Council. With this support, I am confident we will continue to deliver an education rooted in excellence. My colleagues can feel (and see) the impact of this partnership, which leads me to the four topics I wish to share with you that have a common theme—you will know it when you see it.

ISACS Accreditation Visit: A school that truly lives out its mission and charisms

Last fall, we hosted the Independent Schools of the Central States (ISACS) Accreditation visiting team. Every seven years, FXW hosts a team of educators and administrators from other ISACS schools throughout the Midwest, who come to Chicago to conduct our reaccreditation process. The accreditation visit is an essential component of the ISACS accreditation process. During this period, the visiting team will:

• reaffirm FXW’s compliance with ISACS Standards for Membership
• evaluate the effectiveness of the school’s programs
• examine the congruence between FXW’s mission and the programs and services FXW offers
• validate FXW’s engagement in the ongoing school improvement process, including strategic planning

While we await the team’s full report, we were initially provided an “Exit Report” that provides us general Commendations and Recommendations. During this Exit Report, there was one comment that I believe is worthy of sharing. In the spirit of “you know it when you see it,” one visiting team evaluator stated the following:

We discovered a school that truly lives out its mission and charisms. We have been impressed with the diversity of your community and your commitment to doing even more. Your school has achieved a pretty unique balance of academic and intellectual curiosity alongside a basic kindness and decency that seems increasingly rare. You are a Catholic independent school deeply rooted in its faith but also recognizes and welcomes diversity, making FXW even more special.

To read more about the ISACS accreditation process, please click here.

Introducing Ashley Okonta-Mathews as FXW’s new Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

As was shared in In the Loop, after a comprehensive search for a Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, I am pleased to share that we welcomed Ashley Okonta-Mathews to FXW this week. You can say we trusted our instincts, as did she.

Ashley comes to FXW from Intrinsic Schools in Chicago, where she served for the last six years as a teacher, administrator, coach, and most recently as the Assistant Principal. In addition to the many roles and myriad of responsibilities, Ashley was the founder of the school’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts with responsibility for facilitating DEI committee meetings, collaborating with consultants, and most importantly, providing educational opportunities for students, school staff, and families.

Additionally, she was responsible for creating professional development opportunities for 100 staff members to create a culture of inclusivity and to enforce culturally responsive teaching. Ashley earned her Bachelor of Science from The University of Notre Dame and also participated in Teach for America.

An Appreciation of our Community

I would be remiss if I did not, yet again, express my feeling of appreciation for the generosity this community has demonstrated over the last several months. Whether it’s your volunteerism for our classroom parties and admissions events or support for the FXW Fund or Parent Holiday Gift Fund, this community responds to the call time and time again.

Thanks in large part to Gala Chairs Rana Abraham & Samer Abbas, Amy & Tim Kennedy, and Yvonne Tsao & Chadi Nouneh, we are confident Gala 2023 will be a great success and an amazingly fun evening. In that same spirit, it is no surprise that our Gala always approaches full capacity in the days leading up to the big parent and alumni community event—which will be held at the Marriott Marquis Chicago on February 25. We have many opportunities for Gala 2023 sponsorships which you can find by clicking here along with ticket purchases and auction item donations.

Finally, I am sharing two (more) links that I trust you would find interesting. This past Sunday’s Gospel, and ensuing sermon by Fr. Ed Foley at Old St. Patrick’s Church coincidentally addresses this same theme of recognition. Although I started this communication over a month ago, and certainly not as eloquently as Fr. Foley, I found affirmation and inspiration in his message as he is a revered theologian, author, educator, and outstanding homilist. I invite you to read his full Homily here or watch it here. Supporting this theme of knowing it when you see it, I was struck by Fr. Foley’s statements of recognition, as he shares:

How do you recognize a true friend: And not just one of those fair-weathered ones?

How do you recognize a true colleague: And not just a clever competitor angling for your job?

True to form, the gospel goes even deeper: How do you recognize the Christ?

I will close with how Fr. Foley opened Mass. As we celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we are reminded that Dr. King called us to recognize that all humans have dignity, and we should be attentive to that.

I wish you a healthy and happy 2023, and I hope to see you at one of our events or for Catholic Schools Week later this month.

Michael Kennedy
Head of School