This summer, 40 Cristo Rey St. Martin students—26 juniors and 14 seniors—completed an intensive Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program through a partnership with Dominican University. Running from June 17 through August 15, the program provided both academic and hands-on training to prepare students for the Illinois Nurse Assistant Competency Exam (INACE).

Classes were held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students spent their mornings in the classroom and their afternoons in the Sim Lab on CRSM’s campus. By the end of the program, each student had completed 40 didactic hours, 18 lab hours, and 40 clinical hours at local healthcare facilities, including Whitehall in Deerfield and Presbyterian Homes facilities, The Moorings in Arlington Heights, and Lake Forest Place.

Almost 70 percent of students passed the CNA exam on their first attempt, outperforming the 62 percent pass rate of comparable dual credit programs. The course, taught by an experienced instructor from Dominican University and who also served as Program Coordinator, offered students a powerful entry point into healthcare and demonstrated the impact of strong partnerships in preparing future leaders in medicine.

A special thank you to Dominican University, our facilities team, and our work-study team for helping to launch this program. We are proud of our students’ hard work and look forward to all they will achieve next.

Cristo Rey New York High School gathered as a community for the first annual Mass of the Holy Spirit, marking the official start of the academic year with prayer, reflection, and celebration. The Mass, held in the school’s auditorium, was led by Bishop Edmund Whalen, who shared a powerful homily reminding students, faculty, and staff of the importance of inviting the Holy Spirit into their studies, relationships, and growth throughout the year.

The liturgy was enriched by the active participation of students, who served as lectors, while others assisted with the offertory and music.

Following the Mass, the community honored academic achievement with the Academic Convocations, recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of the previous school year. Awards were presented to students who excelled across subjects and demonstrated perseverance, commitment, and intellectual curiosity.

Together, the Mass of the Holy Spirit and the Academic Convocations set a tone of gratitude, inspiration, and purpose for the year ahead. By celebrating both faith and scholarship, the day highlighted the school’s mission to form students who are not only prepared for college and career but also guided by the values of service, justice, and faith.