Departments

List of 12 items.

• Business Technology

  • Enhancing students' computer literacy
  • Developing critical 21st-century skills for college and life
  • Introduction to Entrepreneurship is a year-long elective course for 10th- to12th-grade students to develop a product or service startup, assisted by volunteer coaches and mentors in the business world, working toward a shark-tank style pitch event for funding
  • College credit may be obtained by taking AP Computer Science Principles and AP Computer Science A

• Campus Ministry

  • Chairperson: Mrs. Ann Perez
  • Proclaiming Jesus Christ and His Gospel, and raising up our community where faith is lived, deepened, and celebrated
  • Fueled by the Gospel and nourished by the Eucharist, Saint Viator is ignited to express our Catholic, Viatorian faith through study, prayer, and action
  • Learn more about Campus Ministry at Saint Viator High School

• Counseling

  • Chairperson: Mrs. Rena McMahon
  • Advocating for the needs of students as they navigate through high school and prepare for college
  • Counselors provide individualized counseling, supportive school-wide programs, and an extensive social-emotional and college-readiness curriculum so students reach their highest potential
  • Learn more about the Counseling department

• English

  • Chairperson: Mr. Chris Paolelli
  • Saint Viator’s English Department empowers students to seek knowledge, wisdom, and empathy as they discern God’s voice through the rigorous study of thought-provoking literature. We encourage students to be avid readers who think independently, write proficiently, speak confidently, and solve problems effectively.
  • Students are challenged through the core skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking
  • The Writing Lab helps students with one-on-one conferencing on writing assignments for all academic classes

• Fine Arts

  • Chairperson: Ms. Megan Gray
  • Providing an opportunity to explore music, theater, and visual arts both inside and outside of the classroom
  • Saint Viator offers a full complement of Fine Arts courses in Performing Arts (choir and band); Theater; and Art, Design, and Technology
  • Winter and Spring Arts Festivals give academic classes and co-curricular programs the opportunity to showcase their talents to the community

• Mathematics

  • Chairperson: Mrs. Cheryl Nowak
  • Preparing students for their futures by providing a solid foundation in math
  • Multiple levels of classes, including five at the freshman level, allow students to advance
  • College credit may be earned by passing AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, or AP Statistics
  • The Math Lab is equipped with computers and staffed by the math department to provide assistance to students outside of the classroom

• Modern World Languages

  • Chairperson: Mrs. Mirella Rullo
  • Preparing students to become successful communicators in an increasingly global community.
  • The curriculum emphasizes learning in all four areas of language acquisition: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
  • Five levels (including AP) are offered in French, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish. AP Italian is offered as dual credit course through Loyola University Chicago.
  • Classes and Language Lab are equipped and use the latest technology.
  • Opportunities for enrichment include clubs, National Honor Language Societies, field trips, and trips abroad during spring break.
  • We offer the Seal of Biliteracy program, which allows students that are bilingual to get an ISBE Seal affixed to their transcript.
     
    • What is the Seal of Biliteracy?
      The Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy aims to promote mastery in multiple languages. In addition to demonstrating proficiency in a language other than English, a student also must demonstrate proficiency in English in order to qualify for the State Seal of Biliteracy.
      The purposes of the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy are:
      

      • To encourage pupils to study languages.
      • To certify attainment of biliteracy.
      • To provide employers with a method of identifying people with language biliteracy skills.
      • To provide universities an additional method to recognize applicants seeking admission.
      • To prepare pupils with 21st Century skills.
      • To recognize the value of foreign language and native language instruction in public schools.
      • To strengthen intergroup relationships, affirm the value of diversity, and honor the multiple cultures and languages of a community.
        
        
    • Why is the Seal of Biliteracy important?
      Saint Viator High School values cultural diversity and creating a sense of belonging for others. Being able to speak another language opens the doors for greater opportunities for communication, understanding, and acceptance amongst diverse peoples. Additionally, students recognized for their advanced language skills can provide these achievements during the college admission process and to potential employers. Many universities waive any foreign language requirements and/or grant course credit for students who have earned the Seal of Biliteracy. 
      
      
    • How to Earn the Seal of Biliteracy
      Saint Viator High School offers current students the opportunity to test in 16 languages. We use three language proficiency assessments to qualify for the State Seal of Biliteracy designation depending on the language.

      • The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) via the Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL) exam is used for students testing in Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Thai. 
      • ACTFL’s Latin Interpretive Reading Assessment (ALIRA) For students will testing in Latin 
      • Avant’s STAMP 4S Assessment is offered to students wishing to test in Hebrew or Polish.

  Earning the Seal of Biliteracy is a two-step process. Students must establish proficiency in English and another language(s). To establish English proficiency, students must meet at least one of the following criteria:
  

  • Earn a minimum composite score of 21 on an official administration of the ACT
  • Effective April 2, 2020, a minimum score of 480 on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing portion of an official administration of the SAT.

  To establish proficiency in a language other than English, students must meet at least one of the following criteria:
  

  • Have earned a 4 or 5 in the Advanced Placement language exam they took prior to their senior year.
  • Earn a minimum score of I-5 on all components of ACTFL’s Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL) exam, or a minimum of Intermediate High on all components of AVANT's STAMP exam. 

  The AAPPL exam cost is $20. The ALIRA exam cost is $10. The STAMP 4S Hebrew exam cost is $25 and the cost for the Polish exam is $19.90.

• Physical Education

  • Chairperson: Mr. Dan Edminster
  • Fostering students' sense of health and fitness, while promoting active lifestyles
  • Courses incorporate wellness training, as well as participation in individual and team sports
  • Physical education classes keep students moving with sports and activities
  • Students need to earn two credits in Physical Education to meet the graduation requirement, and one half-credit in Health
  • The Health class covers topics affecting teens during high school years including alcohol, drugs, sex, and stress
  • A Fitness Center gives students the opportunity to develop their own programs to meet their fitness needs for toning, strength, and weight loss 

• Scanlan Program

  • Chairperson: Mrs. Erica Fuja
  • The Scanlan Center is for students with diagnosed learning differences
  • The program assists students who may require support with the demands of a college preparatory curriculum
  • Learn more about the Scanlan Center

• Science

  • Chairperson: Mrs. Paula Nicolau
  • Science classes are driven by an inquiry approach to exploring the world, inspiring critical thinking and lifelong learning
  • Students participate in collaborative lab work
  • College credit may be obtained by taking AP courses in chemistry, biology, and physics
  • A STEM curriculum is offered to those interested in science, technology, engineering, and math fields

• Social Studies

  • Chairperson: Mrs. Maureen Martin
  • Fostering students' understanding of the past to equip them for the world of tomorrow
  • The Social Studies department prepares students to participate in an increasingly global society, one which embraces diverse cultures
  • AP courses are offered in World, U.S. History, and European History, as well as in Psychology
  • Students are encouraged to explore topics in depth and develop their critical thinking skills

• Theology

  • Chairperson: Mr. Patrick McGarry
  • Challenging students to be more informed members of the Catholic Church and actively participate in ministry
  • Classes are balanced between faith formation and guided academic exploration, and emphasize Sacramental life
  • Students are challenged to know and live out the Gospel message, and inspired to explore and practice Catholic Social Teaching
  • Theology classes are rooted in the Gospels, the mission of the Clerics of St. Viator and their founder Fr. Lous Querbes, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and curriculum mandated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops