Quite remarkable that Oak Park is home to two of the 28 Blue Ribbon schools just designated under a new program from the Governor’s Office. Also, a heady outcome that both are parochial schools.
Ascension School at Clarence and Van Buren and St. Giles on North Linden Avenue both earned the honors through strong test scores, dedicated teachers and active community support. Principals at both schools told our Gregg Voss of the elation the honor has brought to their school communities.
And as Rev. Carl Morello, the pastor of all Oak Park Catholic parishes, already did, we’d shout out to St. Catherine-St. Lucy School, which has lost its church community but moved boldly ahead as a rare stand-alone Catholic school.
Today’s paper also carries a long and thoughtful essay by Mariel Hemingway, granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway, the native of Oak Park. She spent an afternoon last week at the Hemingway Birth Home on Oak Park Avenue. She had never been here before but clearly was moved to reflect on her complex family as she sat in those lovely Victorian rooms.
In calling up the memories of Dr. Clarence Hemingway and Grace Hall Hemingway, Ernest’s parents, she brings a grace and honor to their memories.
This is a good read.