Student Activities

At Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic School, we are devoted to helping our students grow academically, spiritually and emotionally. OLW offers many student organizations and clubs for just about every interest. We encourage students to pursue these activities as a way to make new friends, learn about teamwork, and practice leadership skills. Our goal is to provide an environment where our students can achieve personal success through a balance of intellectual, social, physical and emotional fulfillment– and have fun along the way!

Robotics Team – open to 6th-8th graders. Teams meet twice a week from September to December, or longer if teams advance to the state competition. In the past few years, several OLW teams have advanced from the regional round to the state competition and some have won team awards. OLW participates in the FLL (First Lego League).

Scholastic Bowl – open to 7th and 8th graders. OLW competes at St. Viator High School and at other local grade schools.

Band – Beginning Band is offered to students in 3rd and 4th grade and the Band program continues through eighth grade. The OLW band marches in the Arlington Heights Memorial Day Parade and performs two concerts at school. The honor band often performs at other school functions such as the Grandparents Day Mass. 

Middle School Musical – open to all middle school students, auditions start in March and the final performance is in May

Drama Club – open to 6th-8th grade. This club meets during lunch in the winter

Student Council – fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth graders elect class representatives.

The Believers – open to 6th-8th grade; this choir meets during lunch in the fall and spring and will perform at the Fall Choir and Spring Fine Arts Night

Altar Serving – students are trained during the school year