Special Programs

This required course meets once a week throughout the year. It is team-taught by the Head of School, the Wellness Coordinator, the Principal, the Dean of Students, the Librarian, the Instructional Technology Coordinator and the Community Service Coordinator. This program provides freshman students the opportunity to learn about the history and traditions of Sacred Heart education, to learn about self-esteem issues and stress management, and to focus on effective study techniques, time management, and the means to access electronic sources of information.

All freshman students are assigned to supervised study during their free time each week. Freshmen are expected to study under supervision throughout the year. Sophomore students are assigned to study during some of their free time each week. Any student, regardless of age or grade, may be assigned to supervised study upon the recommendation of her teachers, the Principal, or Dean of Students

The Woodlands Advisory Program is a unique program intended to give students the experience of personal growth and support within the framework of a stable, small peer group. Each student is assigned an advisor who serves as a resource and support person to assist her, her parents, and teachers in all areas of school life. Advisories remain with the same advisor throughout their four years at Woodlands. They meet daily for attendance, announcements, and dismissal, as well as to celebrate birthdays and each other’s accomplishments. They also share dinner outings and other special activities throughout the year.

The College Skills Program begins in the second semester for all juniors and continues through the end of senior year. Classes meet weekly. College Skills prepares students to make informed choices about college.

The Woodlands Academy Service Program promotes Sacred Heart Goal III, “a social awareness that impels to action.” Freshmen are required to do 10 hours of service during the second semester. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors are required to do 20 hours of service per year. Service hours are a graduation requirement. In addition, freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are required to write a three-page reflection about their service experience every year, and seniors are required to complete a project as a culmination of their four years’ service experience.

To deepen our students’ spirituality, relationship with God, and fellowship with one another, Woodlands provides an annual retreat. Participation is a graduation requirement.

This program is designed for juniors and seniors who are highly motivated and organized and who have a passion to pursue a subject or topic in great depth. The student designs her program with a faculty member who serves as her facilitator. The burden of responsibility for learning falls directly upon the student. Students interested in developing an independent study course must first meet with the Principal, who will provide guidance through the development of a proposal. The Principal will give final approval of the proposed course, faculty facilitator, means of assessment, and amount of credit granted.

Through the Network of Sacred Heart Schools, Woodlands students have the unique opportunity to study at one of the many Sacred Heart schools in the United States and abroad. In recent years, Woodlands students studied in Boston, MA, Seattle, WA, Atherton, CA, Greenwich, CT, Princeton, NJ, Montreal, Halifax, Australia, and Vienna, Austria. Participating students spend several weeks or one academic quarter (depending upon the school) on exchange. Students usually live with a Sacred Heart family. Woodlands annually hosts students from other Sacred Heart schools, domestic and international, allowing everyone to connect with our extended Sacred Heart community.

Test preparation programs are offered annually to sophomores and juniors. Current programs prepare students for both the SAT and the ACT and include TestWatch, TestPrep, Princeton Review, and Stanley Kaplan.

Woodlands Academy provides our international students academic support through our International Student Program. Students are placed in ESL classes according to their level of English ability as determined by the English Language Placement Test (the College Board SLEP). International students are mainstreamed as much as possible in all other classes based upon their test results in the following subjects: mathematics, literature, history, science, theology, fine arts, and physical education.

This course is the standard State of Illinois-approved program with both classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction. Adams School of Driving comes to our campus each semester to teach an after-school Driver Education program.

Woodlands Academy students may attend summer school classes at other educational institutions and receive credit for the courses they take, provided the course has received the Principal’s prior approval. Grades received in summer school are not included in a student’s grade point average.

Woodlands Academy will accept only one full credit of course work through online courses or correspondence study. Such courses must receive the Principal’s prior approval.