SCHOOL’S HISTORY

The originator of the founding of the Polish school was Mrs. Grażyna Migała in 1999, who was the Secretary General of the Association of Polish Women in America. On September 9, 2000, at the headquarters of the Polish Women’s Association at 205 South Northwest Highway in Park Ridge, Illinois, the Polish School began its operations. Maria Skłodowska-Curie. At the first meeting of the founding committee, on July 25, 2000, in the conference room. Maria Skłodowska-Curie, it was decided that the school would be named after the outstanding Polish woman, Maria Skłodowska-Curie, and the head of the facility would be Mrs. Czesława Kolak. Initially under the patronage of Commission 27, and then transferred to the patronage of District I, it was to be a model educational facility whose main goal was to familiarize children born abroad with the Polish language, history and geography, as well as to transmit Polish traditions and encourage them to learn and use the Polish language in speaking and writing. From the beginning of the school’s existence, this idea was very successful, which was the reason for the number of students increasing every year.

The first chairwoman of the Parents’ Committee of the Polish school was Mrs. Agata Królicka. In 2001, Ms. Małgorzata Kościelak-Królikowska was elected, and in 2002, this function was taken over by Ms. Dr. Halina Głos. Due to the constant arrival of new students and the change of the headquarters of the Polish Women’s Union, the school board decided to move to a new location. Classes began to be held in the Saint Julian Catholic School building at 7400 West Touhy on the border of Park Ridge, Niles and Chicago.

Despite the passage of years, the Polish School of Maria Skłodowska-Curie continues to enjoy great recognition among the Polish community. The undoubted merit is the continuation of the school’s idea through the careful selection of teaching staff and board members. The principal, Mrs. Agnieszka Trzupek, and the president, Mrs. Sylwia Wójtowicz, constantly cultivate and follow the school’s assumptions, care for its good name, and are unwaveringly committed to promoting the institution not only in Illinois but also in Poland. In 2022, the position of Principal was taken over by a teacher from our school, Mrs. Elżbieta Berkowicz.