North Shore school hosts inner-city students for Black History Month event

Nearly 50 fourth-through-eighth-grade students from St. Malachy School in Chicago visited Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart in Lake Forest Friday, Feb. 1, to participate in a gospel liturgy, a pizza lunch and a talent show. This celebration marked the latest chapter in a Black History Month tradition between the inner-city grade school and the North Shore all-girls college-preparatory high school dating back more than 20 years.

As she opened the liturgy, which featured music from the joyful voices of students in the St. Malachy Gospel Choir, Woodlands Academy senior Paige Bartusiak, of Lake Forest, praised the strong bond between the two schools that makes it possible for their students to share so many experiences and learn so much from each other.

"Sharing friendship is something St. Malachy's and Woodlands Academy have been doing for a long time," Bartusiak said. "We have shared by visiting each other's schools. We have sung, prayed, celebrated and have used our talents to entertain one another. We are so blessed to share so many experiences together and to learn so much from one another."

The service, held in the Chapel of the Sacred Heart, concluded with students, faculty and staff from both schools joining together in singing a rousing rendition of "We are Called."

St. Malachy and Woodlands Academy students next enjoyed a pizza lunch in the Lake Forest school's dining room and then a talent show with students from both schools performing a variety of vocal, instrumental and dance numbers.

Woodlands Academy's campus ministry, diversity and baking clubs joined with other students, faculty and staff to make this year's celebration possible in the true spirit of "a social awareness which impels to action" (Sacred Heart Schools' Goal III).

Founded in 1858, Woodlands Academy is an independent Catholic college preparatory day and boarding high school for young women. It's part of a worldwide network of Sacred Heart Schools that spans the United States and 40 other countries. A nonprofit, Woodlands Academy's identity is rooted in Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat's desire to inspire young hearts and minds to excel, to lead lives of integrity and to serve. For more information about Woodlands Academy, please visit www.woodlandsacademy.org