God Bless the OLW Class of 2026!
We are incredibly proud of this outstanding group of 8th graders and all they have accomplished. They will be continuing their education at St. Viator High School, Loyola Academy, Prospect High School, and Rolling Meadows High School. Impressively, the majority of these students earned placement in honors and AP-level courses, including Honors English, Honors Algebra, Geometry, and Honors Geometry. Many of these 8th graders have grown together since preschool or kindergarten, and the students who started in later grades were welcomed and have made lasting memories as well. Their 2nd grade buddies will certainly miss them; the buddy pairs became quite friendly over the course of the school year.
When we asked them, “What is one thing you learned at Wayside that you will never forget?” their answers reflected their faith, their character, and the strong education they received at OLW. Again and again, they spoke about knowing they are loved by God and the importance of putting Him first. They also pointed to the strong academic foundation they built in math, language arts, and social studies. Their careful responses show just how much they have grown—not only as students, but as thoughtful, grounded, and faith-filled young people. Some of their specific answers were:
“I learned that treating others with kindness and respect is one of the most important things you can do.”
“To put God first in my life always and to never give up.”
“Be grateful and respectful.”
“Even if your grades slip, others are unkind to you, or you find yourself in darkness, never stop reaching towards your final goal.”
“Don’t procrastinate.”
