Principal's Welcome

Letter from the Principal

Welcome to Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Catholic School. We are humbled and honored to bear the name of a man of unwavering faith and integrity. Our school mission guides us daily to emulate his example.

Cardinal Joseph Bernardin School is a regional school sponsored by four parishes, with which we have forged strong relationships: St. Elizabeth Seton, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Julie Billiart and St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr. In addition to the support of our sponsoring parishes, we welcome ALL families who are looking for a Christ-centered, nationally recognized Blue Ribbon academic education. An important ministry of all four parishes, we proudly profess the CJB pillars of faith, service and academic excellence.

Faith
We live our faith in a variety of ways including the celebration of weekly all-school Liturgies, Feast Days and Prayer Services that are planned and led by our students(K-8). Priests from all four supporting parishes visit our classrooms as Chaplains to discuss our Catholic faith and answer questions, and our faculty and staff deepen their faith through professional development. Our classroom instruction in all subjects consistently incorporates our Catholicism.

Service
All students and staff in our school are expected to give back and perform service for others. Students do this in various ways, independently, as they approach their sacramental milestones. Additionally, we offer service through guided opportunities such as community events and drives. Importantly, our student organizations (Student Council, NJHS, Student Ambassadors and Classroom Representatives) lead through service.

Academics
We have a rigorous academic curriculum that is paired with a supporting socioemotional curriculum to promote the whole child approach to learning. We believe academics are important, but that independence and the acquisition of tools for future success are as well. Our teachers are absolutely exceptional and have guided numerous high school valedictorians and salutatorians toward their success through this approach to learning. We are a twice-awarded Blue Ribbon School of Academic Excellence, and we have an unparalleled reputation for academic excellence within the community and also among the high schools attended by our graduates.

Thank you for reading about our school, one of the youngest in the Archdiocese of Chicago, but also one of the strongest, and most supportive of student development. It is my privilege to be the principal and servant-leader of such a prodigious institution.

-Jeanne Pagliaro
Principal