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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING GUERIN PREP HIGH SCHOOL AND THE SISTERS OF PROVIDENCE FOR PROVIDING DECADES OF QUALITY CATHOLIC EDUCATION
WHEREAS, in the early 1960s, Chicago Archbishop Meyer invited the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, to establish a high school for young women in River Grove, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, the Sisters of Providence named the school in honor of their founder, Mother Theodore Guerin, a teacher and missionary to the sick and poor; and
WHEREAS, originally from France, Mother Theodore established schools in Indiana and Illinois. She was later canonized. One of her sayings, “Love the children first, then teach them,” would be a guiding principle at the high school; and
WHEREAS, in 1962, while waiting for the new high school to be completed, more than 300 freshmen began classes at a wing of Holy Cross High School for young men on the property next door. In September of 1963, classes began with 796 freshmen and sophomores in the new Mother Theodore Guerin High School building located at 8001 W. Belmont Avenue; and
WHEREAS, Mother Guerin High School was built to accommodate 1,200 students, but its outstanding reputation helped it to grow well beyond that, peaking in the late-1970s to the early-1980s with nearly 1,600 students yearly; and
WHEREAS, the student body of Mother Guerin was diverse, drawing from neighboring suburbs, such as Elmwood Park, Schiller Park, and Oak Park, as well as from Chicago, which the school abutted; and
WHEREAS, the curriculum at Guerin High School was especially known for its excellence and achievements in art, theater, music, foreign languages, English, and social studies, to name a few; and
WHEREAS, in addition to having expertise in their fields, the Guerin faculty were committed to instilling a love of learning that would last long after students moved on; and
WHEREAS, when neighboring Holy Cross High School announced it would close in June 2004, Cardinal George asked if Guerin would be willing to become co-educational. In September of 2004, Mother Guerin opened its doors as the co-educational Guerin College Preparatory High School; and
WHEREAS, Guerin Prep remained dedicated to developing the unique potential of its diverse student body through its extensive academic curriculum, its excellent staff, its wide-range of extracurricular programs, and its commitment to Catholic faith and service; and
WHEREAS, as years progressed, rising educational expenses, declining enrollment, and increased need for financial aid contributed to the closure of Guerin College Prep at the end of the 2020 school year; and
WHEREAS, the close to 20,000 accomplished alumni of three schools in one-Mother Guerin, Holy Cross, and Guerin Prep-know that while the physical buildings are gone, the intellectual, social, and spiritual foundation received there lasts a lifetime.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby honor Guerin Prep High School and the Sisters of Providence for providing decades of quality Catholic education; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be tendered to the Sisters of Providence as an expression of our gratitude and esteem.
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