About Us » Facilities

Facilities

Since the founding of our school, we are grateful that our parish community has embraced our innovative school and successfully supported two capital campaigns. 

These campaigns were critical to keeping pace with the growth of our Academy and parish ministries. They resulted in expanding our campus by 40,000 square feet to include two classrooms per grade K-8, an art room, cafeteria, gymnasium, and a multi-torium that can seat 450 people.  Our modern facility notably includes two fully-equipped science labs supporting our science curriculum grounded in Next Generation Science Standards. These labs create an opportunity for both our middle school students as well as students in preschool through grade 5 to study science in a hands-on manner, use authentic equipment, and learn skills only found in genuine lab experiences.

Nationally Certified Outdoor Classroom
 
Holy Family’s campus is located on 20 acres and features the first Preschool-Grade 8 school in the entire Chicago area to be certified as an outdoor classroom by Nature Explore, a collaborative project of the Arbor Day Foundation and Dimensions Educational Research Foundation. 
 
The HFCA Outdoor Classroom consists of nine distinct areas that complement HFCA's innovative curriculum and expose students to a broad range of disciplines that go beyond textbooks and beyond the classroom. During free play, students develop important skills in critical thinking, creativity, and self-direction.  

Our outdoor classroom is truly a unique place to play and learn by: 
  • expanding learning outside the classroom is consistent with HFCA's data-driven approach to our curriculum. Studies support that exposing students to nature:
    • helps improve students' concentration,
    • boosts creativity and collaboration,
    • nurtures the mind, body, and soul,
    • teaches students the importance of caring for God's creation, a major tenet of Catholic Social Teachings.
  • aligning with the International Baccalaureate mission and our goals of:
    • developing students’ natural curiosity,
    • promoting an independent spirit to explore new roles and ideas,
    • emphasizing the importance of intellectual, physical, and emotional balance needed to achieve personal well-being.
 
States Susie Wirth, Nature Explore Outreach Director,
"Holy Family Catholic Academy has shown tremendous leadership in growing the next generation of environmental stewards. Their commitment to providing research-based and nature-rich learning offers a wonderful example to educators throughout the country."
 
In addition to our nationally certified Outdoor Classroom our facilities include:
  • a fenced play area,
  • sport fields
  • sledding hills