Was walking by the school with my friends during recess. A kid kicked the ball, and it bounced…read morebehind us. A woman that worked there said, and I quote "appreciate it, God forbid that you stop the ball." First of all, this is a teacher and parent who's job is to monitor recess either if she was paid to do so or volunteered, to get the balls when they go in the street, which is exactly what happened. Just thought it was very rude.

We love SJS! The school and Parish are very active and upbeat. They are always improving things…read moreso our kids have the best possible education and environment. They just got new windows in part of the school and updated the courtyard with brand new play equipment, turf, decking and benches. There's also a brand new STEAM lab for the older kids. I don't know much about the "big kid" classes since my son is in PK, but I've heard great things and have met a few WONDERFUL teachers of the higher grades. The class sizes are smaller (there are two 3 year old PK and two 4 year old PK's instead of one giant class for each). PK follows the Big Day curriculum and keeps very active. Since my son has started PK4 he has learned so much! We also love that there is after care both before and after school. We don't use the before school care but we do use Extended Care for after school, which makes life easier for working parents. I also love that the teachers all have their own blogs and post pictures and information about what the kids do all day.

Just attended last Sunday very warm welcoming people. The pastors sermon was inspiring and…read moreinformative. I went to the coffee hour and again the people we welcoming and kind. I plan to go again next week.

My kids love this school! - teachers & administrator are…read moregreat at communicating - COVID protocols are well thought out - 2 playgrounds - tons of indoor space for the winter including a cafeteria/gym, music room, library room, and art room Highly recommend!

My husband and I moved into the neighborhood 9 years ago. I remember walking through the…read moreneighborhood and seeing how happy and well behaved the SMOW kids were playing outside. I knew I wanted to send my children there one day. Fast forward a few years, I have one child enrolled and the second who will be starting next year. The school far exceeded my expectations from all aspects! It's a great community, amazing staff, lots of fun enrichment options, strong academic support, and most importantly my child loves attending SMOW. Such a great school choice!

As a parent who has had four children go through St. Mary of the Woods School, I can confidently…read moresay this community has been one of the greatest blessings of our family's life. Over nearly two decades, we've experienced every grade level, every teacher, and every stage of childhood. Through it all, SMOW has provided not only an excellent education, but a foundation of faith, leadership, and character that will stay with our kids forever. The teachers truly know their students, not just by name, but by heart. They meet each child where they are, encourage their individual strengths, and help them grow into confident, capable, and kind young people. The sense of community is unmatched, families support one another, teachers and staff go above and beyond, and the parish connection makes it feel like an extension of home. There's something special about walking into St. Mary of the Woods, you feel it immediately. It's faith, it's pride, it's joy. We couldn't have asked for a better place for our children to grow up.

Amazing This church is very welcoming and warming my kids…read morehave been going to there school since PK Over all Amazing school and church

I love this church! I was baptized here way back when. Though it's not my parish anymore, it's…read morealways nice to revisit. Lovely art and architecture inside. There is also plenty of parking here and it's close to the shops and restaurants of uptown Park Ridge.

Wonderful school! Excellent teachers, challenging curriculum, and an amazing sense of community…read more Best choice I ever made for my family

We absolutely love it here. Our kids couldn't be happier and I feel like I'm leaving them with…read morefamily every morning when I drop them off. Highly recommend if you want your child to be in a family, community, faith based school where the academics are outstanding too.

Beautiful church, especially inside. As a former Roman Catholic turned nondenominational, I've…read morebeen recently on a journey to understand my family history via my deceased father who was born in Serbia. He didn't practice Serbian Orthodox, but he has let me know that at least members in his family did. Ever since I have been attending, I haven't missed a liturgy. It feels great to be among Serbians, especially believing Serbians (Christians), and expose myself to the language. I appreciate so much their support for English-only speakers like me, and look forward to their adult, Orthodox class they offer on Fridays between September and May. From the city standpoint, this church is tucked in what seems the most northwestern part of the city, and the community surrounding the church property is very beautiful, and it is conveniently located by the Canfield Road exit off of I-90. Every time I attend liturgy here, I really feel at home. The incense that reminds me of my Roman Catholic days when I was little, draws me in deeper. I look forward to learning more about the Serbian Orthodox, and practicing it for family, traditional, and cultural reasons. I hope this Christian community will help me learn more about who I am, and help me become a devout practicing Christian (while also keeping my non-Catholic/non-Orthodox values that I have gained through the years). By the way, there is a huge parking lot on the property which is mostly fenced in. Also, there is an elementary school as part of the church, which I am sure is a huge help to Serbs who benefit from being involved in the Serbian community here in the Chicago area. This church, from what I've noticed is also well-connected to other Serbian churches in the Midwest, like Wiscponsin, and Indiana.

The options of activities and educational programs that this parish offers for children and…read morefamilies is unmatched.

We love PFGA! We've had such a wonderful experience at Pope Francis Global Academy! From the start,…read moreit's been clear that the teachers and staff really care about each student. Their dedication and warmth have made a big difference for our kids, and we always feel supported as a family. One of the things we love most is the strong sense of community. Families look out for one another, and there are always fun events happening that bring everyone together. Halloween parties, fundraisers, classroom activities - there's always something going on that helps build strong connections. Academically, the curriculum really prepares students well for high school. Our kids are challenged and engaged. And if they struggle with a subject, there's additional support. Most importantly, our children are in a safe, nurturing environment where they feel valued and encouraged to grow. The experience has been more than worth the investment!

The joy and energy is this building is unlike any other school. Great teachers, strong admin,…read morecaring all around. A Middle School science lab that rivals many high schools! All classrooms have a productive hum and great student interactions. This is a place where students express their learning and NOT a place where 'silence is golden'! Definitely worth checking out.

I would like to start off by saying that I was never really introduced to going to church as a kid…read morebecause my dad is catholic but my mom is atheist. I was invited to go to Redeemer by a friend of mine a few months ago and my whole idea of going to church has changed since then. I remember the first day I went, I was unsure of what I was getting myself into. The church was small and the pastor was wearing a flannel and jeans. However, as the service continued I started to really like it. People who didn't even know me welcomed me to the church and introduced themselves. They even sent me a welcoming package to my house with some information about the church and some brownies! (They were amazing by the way) I made friends with all of the people around my age the same day I arrived. Everyone there is so friendly and I feel as if I can talk to anyone there even if I don't know them. The church also has many programs to sign up for such as car washes, youth group trips, and so much more. It's a very interactive place to be. You're not just sitting in a chair the whole time listening to a long speech. The pastor makes everything fun to listen to. When it was time to go, I figured we would just leave right away and I would go home. However, I was surprised when I found myself staying after for a snack provided by the church and talked to a few people while we were there. We didn't end up leaving for another hour or so after! I had so much fun. I continue to go to this church and recommend it to everyone! People of all ages, races, genders, and religious backgrounds are welcome here. I can almost guarantee you'll love it!

I regularly attend the Redeemer Chicago campus and have gone to the Redeemer Park Ridge campus as…read morewell... the Chicago campus is much closer to us! We do know people from both sites and love the community we have formed. My wife and I moved to the area a little over a year ago and tried a few churches in the area and liked a hand full but really liked Redeemer Chicago. Its mission is 20 and 30 somethings which is one thing that got us in the door, considering we are in that age group! I am glad that is their mission because I do believe that age group is overlooked by the church at times. That said, it is not the only age group of people at the church and all are welcome! I do value that we have a wide variety of ages and walks of life at Redeemer. I love this church and love the people in it! I have formed a great community with people at this church and am in small groups as well. I gave it 4, really 4.5 but can't do half stars :), because I am a realist and no place is absolutely perfect this side of heaven... but I really love this church and have found a great community to walk with in my spiritual journey. Come visit us! I hope you enjoy it and if you don't... I hope you find a place that you can grow in community with people and your relationship with Jesus! Redeemer Chicago 6740 W North Ave Chicago, IL (773) 417-2399