Dear SPC Families,
It is good to be back in school! Thank you for your understanding and patience this week. Let's hope the cold weather is behind us. This weekend, we have much to celebrate on the basketball court as all of our 6th-8th grade teams battle in the playoffs. We love to see SPC families in the stands, so check in with the SPC Athletic Instagram for games and locations for the tournament! You can also check the conference website for the latest playoff bracket.

Celebrating the Spirit is coming up in two weeks…Friday, February 2nd, a night you won’t want to miss! Reminder: Tonight at Midnight, tickets will increase to $150. If you plan on attending but have not yet purchased your tickets, click here.  

Stay tuned next week; the committee will share a sneak peek of the exciting Party Boards, precious Student/Class Art, Teacher Treats, and one-of-a-kind auction packages. 

Catholic Schools Week:

It is the most wonderful week of the year! Catholic Schools Week is right around the corner and promises to be a fun-filled week celebrating St Paul of the Cross. We start Catholic Schools Week on Sunday, January 28th, with our Open House and close the week with CTS on Friday, February 2nd! Please see below for a schedule of activities:
Catholic Schools Week Schedule of Activities
 

JANUARY SAVE THE DATES (please remember to sync your calendar to the school calendar from the website)
January 19th:
Re-enrollment ends for current families
Home and School Out of Uniform
January 28th Catholic Schools Week Open House (10:00 am-12:00 pm)
January 28-February 2 - CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK!  

Re-ENROLLMENT for 2024-2025
If you still need to complete your re-enrollment, please do so by tomorrow! Beginning the week of January 22nd, we will start reviewing and accepting new applications for the 24-25 school year. Current families' enrollment is only guaranteed through January 22nd!

Peace,

Dr. Erika Mickelburgh

Celebrating the Spirit 2024

We can't wait to Celebrate the SPC Spirit on February 2nd!
Don't forget that the ticket price increase to $150 at Midnight TONITE! Purchase tickets here

Celebrating the Spirit will be an outstanding night from the moment you pull up to our Fabulous Las SPegas! The casino tables will open at 7:30 pm; until then, grab a drink, sign up for your favorite parties on our fantastic Party Boards, renew your vows in the chapel, bid on the auction packages and precious student class art, and socialize with friends. It will be a night to remember!

We'll give a sneak peek next week, so stay tuned for the exciting Party Boards, Student Class Art, Teacher Treats, and one-of-a-kind auction packages. The Party Boards are physical sign-up boards at CTS and will not be on the mobile bidding. Many of these will sell out quickly, so plan to get to Las SPegas early to sign up for the parties you want to attend!

Thank you for supporting SPC!

Thank you! 
CTS 2024 Co-Chairs
Kelly Bontempo, Amy DiGregorio, and Megan Weber

SPC Home & School Association

The next Home and School Association meeting will be on Friday, January 26th, at 8 AM in Duffin Hall. An email with a virtual link to join will also be shared the day prior to the meeting.

During this meeting, we'll have exciting updates on CTS, Parent / Child Events, Open Committee Roles, and Spring Activities. We hope that you will join us as we introduce our new Home and School Association Board to the SPC community:

Dan Bohlke, President
Erin Greene, Vice President
Christine Bryant, Treasurer
Rachel Barrett Kennedy, Secretary

If you have any questions, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We look forward to seeing you there!

 
Please click here to register for Bowling with the Boys.

Please click here to download the flyer.

We have an active and vibrant parish and encourage everyone to read the weekly bulletins for Fr. James' weekly letter and stay informed about all upcoming events and programs. 

Please click here for the latest bulletin. 
Please click here for Fr. James' "The Daily" - Daily Mass Readings and Reflections

FROM THE COMMUNITY

From the Community

Park Ridge Hawks Lacrosse Boys and Girls Spring Registration

 Pre-K Social Skills Therapy Groups in January at Assential Therapy

Dear SPC Families,
Happy New Year! I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas break! I'm dedicating much of my Thursday Mailing letter to the delightful January Chicago weather.

It's hard to believe our first Celebrating the Spirit Gala since 2020 is three short weeks away! The committee has been working hard in preparation for this exceptional community-building party for all of us! It's great to have all the RSVPs coming in! Remember, the ticket prices go up next week, January 19th. Click here to purchase your tickets. 

FREEZING COLD WEATHER NEXT WEEK!
Next week, the bitter cold arrives; therefore, we will do our best to limit the EGC students to the UGC. Mrs. Dohr will come over for Library for grades preschool-2. However, since we will most likely have indoor recess, we plan to walk over for gym time so the students can run around! We will make that decision based on the specific day's temperature.

Drop off: We will continue the kiss-and-go at drop-off next week, but I am instructing the helpers to go inside right at 8:00 am; if you are late, you must walk your children inside.

SNOW DAY DECISIONS!
December was such a joy with mild winter temperatures and inclement weather, but it does not look like January will treat us the same way! Making the call to close school for weather is my least favorite decision because unless there is a blizzard that shuts everything down, the decision will always result in some people being unhappy. While there is no exact science to calling a snow day, I evaluate the following: Can students and teachers get to and from school safely?

WHEN DO I MAKE THE DECISION?
I make the decision the night before so that families can plan accordingly, but I won't call the day if there is no snow falling from the sky. Given that teachers must travel to school, the latest I will decide is by 5:00 am the day of. If you have yet to hear by 5:00 am, consider us open!

HOW WILL I BE NOTIFIED?
Gone are the days of sitting by the TV watching for the school name to scroll across the bottom. We will send an email blast, text message, and robo-phone call! We will also post it on Instagram. We will also notify the Emergency Closing Center.

IF THERE IS A SNOW DAY, WILL THERE BE REMOTE LEARNING?
I am a believer that there is childhood joy in hearing the news of an impromptu snow day. Therefore, the first "snow day" is always a good old-fashioned day, a surprise day off. If there is a need for more emergency closing days, then we will likely have asynchronous learning days.

SNOW DAY COOKIES:
This is a friendly reminder that you should have these ingredients on hand to bake if we do have a snow day!
Here is Dr. M's SnowDay Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe...
Ingredients:
2 1/2 Cups Flour
1-teaspoon baking soda
1 Cup Butter (softened)
1/4 Cup White Sugar
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Small Package Instant Vanilla Pudding (secret ingredient)
1/4 Cup Love (secret ingredient)
1/3 Cup "It's a snow day" excitement (secret ingredient)
1-teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 Eggs
1 Package (12 oz) Chocolate Chips
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375
Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mix flour with baking soda in a separate bowl. Set aside.
In a different bowl: Combine butter, white sugar, brown sugar, vanilla pudding, and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth and creamy. Add eggs.
Add flour to the mixture and combine.
Add chocolate chips, 1/4 Cup love, and 1/3 Cup "it's a snow day" excitement!!
Drop onto the baking sheet.
Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.
Enjoy while watching a favorite movie or playing a family board game!

Welcome, Mr. Jay Torrens, Music Teacher!
Hello, my name is Mr. Torrens, and I will be the new music teacher for the rest of the year! I studied K-12 Music Education with a Vocal Emphasis at Millikin University and am excited for the many fun activities I'll be doing with the students.

JANUARY SAVE THE DATES (please remember to sync your calendar to the school calendar from the website)
January 15th: NO SCHOOL
January 17 & 18th: Iready Winter Testing
January 19th:
Re-enrollment ends for current families
Home and School Out of Uniform
January 28th Catholic Schools Week Open House (10:00 am-12:00 pm)
January 28-February 2 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK! More fun details to follow next week.

Re-ENROLLMENT for 2024-2025
If you still need to complete your re-enrollment, please do so by January 19th! Beginning the week of January 22nd, we will start the process of reviewing and accepting new applications for the 24-25 school year. Current families' enrollment is only guaranteed through January 22nd!

THANK YOU NOTE FROM THE WOMEN'S CENTER:
Congratulations! In collaboration with the parish, we raised over $23,000 from the baby bottle project! Click here for the letter 

Peace,

Dr. Erika Mickelburgh

Celebrating the Spirit 2024

We can't wait to Celebrate the SPC Spirit on February 2nd!
Purchase tickets here, and don't forget that the ticket prices go up next week on January 19th!

 
Click here for tickets!

Thank you! 
CTS 2024 Co-Chairs
Kelly Bontempo, Amy DiGregorio, and Megan Weber

SPC Home & School Association

Home & School Association Restaurant Fundraiser - Lou Malnati's, Tuesday & Wednesday, January 16th & 17th
The H&S fundraiser will be at Lou Malnati's on Tuesday & Wednesday, January 16th & 17th. If you participate, students may come out of uniform on Thursday, January 18th.  They will not have out of uniform passes, so please send your receipt to school with your child. Thank you for your support!

 
Please click here to register for Bowling with the Boys.

Please click here to download the flyer.

Chess Ed - Chess Enrichment Workshop 
NO SCHOOL MLK DAY 1/15/24
Please click here for all the details and to register.

We have an active and vibrant parish and encourage everyone to read the weekly bulletins for Fr. James' weekly letter and stay informed about all upcoming events and programs. 

Please click here for the latest bulletin. 
Please click here for Fr. James' "The Daily" - Daily Mass Readings and Reflections

FROM THE COMMUNITY

From the Community

Park Ridge Hawks Lacrosse Boys and Girls Spring Registration

Edison Park Indoor Youth Soccer Spring Registration Information 
Click here to download the flyer with all the details. 

 Pre-K Social Skills Therapy Groups in January at Assential Therapy

Dear SPC Families,

Last week, you received your Celebrating the Spirit Invitation in your oldest/only student's Thursday takehome folder. As you can see from the invitation, it will be quite an amazing evening! A very big thank you to all of our CTS Event and Ad sponsors!! 

I know it's a busy time of year, but you will definitely want to get a head start and purchase your tickets. Also, be sure to plan for your Well Wish so you don't miss the deadline which is MONDAY, December 18th. You can visit the CTS website to order your well wish, and simply email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. your well wish photo! Tickets and Well Wishes can be purchased by going to the Celebrating the Spirit 2024 website here. 

In Today's Thursday Mailing: 

• EDP on 12/21 & 12/22
• GERMS
• BAND REGISTRATION IS LIVE
• RE-ENROLLMENT IS IN PROCESS!
• SAVE THE DATE: CHRISTMAS PRAYER SERVICE & CONCERT GRADES PS-3 (updated parking options)
• DECEMBER SAVE THE DATES

EDP Next Week:

A reminder of the following changes for the EDP schedule next week:
THURSDAY 12/21: All students in EDP must be picked up by 4:00 pm.  
FRIDAY 12/22: NO afternoon EDP!

Germs:

The urgent care cases in the main offices keep climbing! I know this time of year is particularly busy with coughs, sore throats, etc. However, if you have to give your child medicine in the morning to "get them through" the school day, that is an indicator to keep them home! Kids are very candid, and it is frustrating when we hear, "I took medicine this morning (cold medicine and Tylenol), and I said I was sick," and they were still sent to school. We know it is often difficult, but we must do our best to keep the germs away from the classroom; strep, flu, COVID, RSV, and other viruses are going around. If your child throws up, they must stay home for 24 hours. If they have a fever, they must stay home until fever-free without fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours before returning to school. I appreciate your cooperation.

Adopt A Family Donations–Thank you!

Thank you for your generosity! We have collected almost $5000 for the Adopt a Family gift cards! We've sent the donations over to the Social Service Ministry Office!

 
Band and Piano Registration is Now Live
We are excited to announce that registration for band (4-8) and piano (K-3) is now live! Be sure to register before January 1st to allow us time to create the schedule. 

If you have questions about band and music lessons, please email Jim Jozwiak at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. *Please see Band and Piano Registration information below in the School News section.

Re-ENROLLMENT for 2024-2025
Re-enrollment is in FULL SWING! You will need to complete re-enrollment (we are using the same process as last year through FACTS) to secure your child's space for the 24-25 school year. All families should have received the link for their student packet(s). If any family accidentally created a new student application, please contact Mrs. Waldeck immediately so she can deactivate that application and reverse the fee.  

CHRISTMAS PRAYER SERVICE & CONCERT GRADES PS-3 December 21st

WHERE: Church

WHEN: Thursday, December 21 at 10:00 am

GUESTS ALLOWED: We will Livestream so friends and family can watch it. Please be mindful of the number of guests you bring; we have limited capacity. 

PARKING:  Parking will be a challenge; please utilize the public parking in Park Ridge. There is also parking available along the tracks for a fee. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND carpooling! YOU MAY NOT PARK IN FM GLOBAL or RYAN PARKE FUNERAL HOME.  

PARKING OPTIONS:

• Tiger Parking Lot—small parking lot off of Ridge Terrace next to the Kinnane Center. Teachers will not be parking there on concert day. 
• Pay for Metra Parking along the tracks
• Park Ridge Public Works will extend a courtesy parking on Summit Ave on the day of the event (12/21) from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. 
  The courtesy parking will begin at the point where the street sign says "bus parking only" and extend to Ridge Terrace. ***The part from S. Washington Ave up to door B7 is still off limits. 
• Uptown Park Ridge Public Parking

CAN I BRING MY OLDER STUDENTS TO THE CONCERT? No, the older students will see the concert during the practice on Wednesday, December 20th, allowing for more room in the church.

WHY DO WE DO THE SERVICE DURING THE DAY? Excellent question; the truth is when we host the concert at 6 or 7 at night for these little ones, it can be a challenge. Asking them to perform when they should be unwinding for the day and getting ready for bed does not make for ideal circumstances, especially during the excitement of the holiday season. We understand that it isn't always the best for parent schedules, but we appreciate your understanding that this decision is focused on what is best for the kids. We will livestream the performance so that you can still see your child perform if you can't be there.

DECEMBER SAVE THE DATES:
December 21- Preschool-3 Christmas Concert (see above for details)
December 22 - Last day of school before Christmas break – 3:00 Dismissal!

Peace,

Dr. Erika Mickelburgh

Celebrating the Spirit 2024

We just want to have fun with you at CTS!
Purchase tickets here, and don't forget to submit your well wishes by this MONDAY, December 18th!

Thank you! 
CTS 2024 Co-Chairs
Kelly Bontempo, Amy DiGregorio, and Megan Weber

SPC Home & School Association

Happy December!  
With the holidays right around the corner, the Home and School Association (HSA) will once again host the SPC Faculty Christmas Gift Fund.  This is a school-wide collection of monetary gift donations which is then equitably divided among all SPC full and part-time faculty, administration, and support staff as a demonstration of our appreciation during this holiday season. 

In previous years, families have donated $40-$50 per student (an average of $6-$10 per faculty or staff member with whom your child interacts depending on grade level), however, the FACTS form allows for you to contribute any amount with which you are comfortable.

This donation is in lieu of individual gifts. The last names (only) will be added to the Christmas card that will be given to each faculty and staff member with the check enclosed on Friday, December 22nd.

Donations can be made by clicking this link. The final date to donate is Tuesday, December 19th at 5:00 pm.
Thank you in advance for your generosity! 
Home and School Association

Teacher Cookie Exchange!

Please click on the flyer above for the Sign Up Genius.
Please click here to download the flyer directly.

Dear Parents and Families,

Thank you for making our Book Fair amazing and creating memories that will last a lifetime, and for making our Book Fair an outstanding success! We are so grateful to all the Book Fair volunteers from our school community! Please click here for a letter from the Book Fair Chair, Mrs. Sue Dohr. 

More School News 

St Paul of the Cross School - Enrollment - Log In (renweb.com)

Roundball 2024
Save the Dates for the 2024 Roundball Tournament, March 3rd – 9th! Practice will begin on March 2nd. Look for player, coach, and sponsor forms soon! 

Band and Piano Registration is Now Live
We are excited to announce that registration for band (4-8) and piano (K-3) is now live! Please click below for all the details and the registration link. If you have questions about band and music lessons, please email Jim Jozwiak at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

SPC Band Registration Flyer
SPC Piano Registration Flyer

Hot Lunch
The January-April hot lunch link will be open till Dec 22nd at 11:59 pm. This link is for registration for the 2nd trimester, and If you want to just register for January alone.

SPC Athletic News

We have an active and vibrant parish and encourage everyone to read the weekly bulletins for Fr. James' weekly letter and stay informed about all upcoming events and programs. 

Please click here for the latest bulletin. 
Please click here for Fr. James' "The Daily" - Daily Mass Readings and Reflections

FROM THE COMMUNITY

From Our Catholic High Schools

From the Community

Park Ridge Hawks Lacrosse Boys and Girls Spring Registration

Edison Park Indoor Youth Soccer Spring Registration Information 
Click here to download the flyer with all the details. 

 Pre-K Social Skills Therapy Groups in January at Assential Therapy

Dear SPC Families,

Happy Thursday! This weekend, SPC is a busy place! The gym will be packed for the Spotlight Basketball game extravaganza on Friday and Saturday. Games on Friday begin at 5:30 pm and end at 8:30; on Saturday, the basketball games start at 9:00 am and end with the last game at 7:00 pm!   

Sunday, please pray for the 8th graders who will complete their Confirmation retreat. We will also host the 6th-grade family Mass at 10:30 in the Holy Family Chapel.

Today you will be receiving your Celebrating the Spirit Invitation in your oldest/only student's Thursday takehome folder, so be sure to check those backpacks! The committee has been hard at work behind the scenes getting everything ready, and this is sure to be an amazing evening! I know it's a busy time of year, but you will definitely want to get a head start and purchase your tickets. Also, be sure to plan for your Well Wish so you don't miss the deadline of December 18th. You can visit the CTS website to order your well wish, and simply email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. your well wish photo! Tickets and Well Wishes can be purchased by going to the Celebrating the Spirit 2024 website here. 

THIS IS ANOTHER JAM-PACKED THURSDAY MAILING:

• Adopt A Family Donations–CHRISTMAS DONATIONS FOR SOCIAL SERVICE MINISTRY Last Call!
• BAND REGISTRATION IS LIVE
• Re-enrollment is in process!
• SAVE THE DATE: CHRISTMAS PRAYER SERVICE & CONCERT GRADES PS-3 (updated parking options)
• DECEMBER SAVE THE DATES

Adopt A Family Donations–CHRISTMAS DONATIONS FOR SOCIAL SERVICE MINISTRY-LAST CALL!

Thank you to everyone who has donated; so far, we have raised close to $4000 for gift cards for our food pantry families, which will enable us to purchase 80 gift cards!

Adopt A Family Donations–CHRISTMAS DONATIONS FOR SOCIAL SERVICE MINISTRY

SPC has a long-standing tradition of partnering with the parish social service ministry to ensure that needy families in our community have a wonderful Christmas. The Adopt-A-Family program will collect funds and purchase gift cards so families can buy their own gifts. Given the timeline, we ask that funds be collected by December 10, 2023. Please consider donating to the Adopt-A-Family program so our school can continue this Advent tradition. 100% of these proceeds will go towards the Adopt-A-Family program in Social Service Ministry. CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION

BAND AND PIANO LESSON REGISTRATION IS NOW LIVE!
We are excited to announce that registration for band (4-8) and piano (K-3) is now live! Please see below for information and registration.

Tomorrow, we will welcome Band for Today to campus, who will give demonstrations for students in grades 4-8! Please register before January 1st to allow us time to create the schedule.

Re-ENROLLMENT for 2024-2025
Re-enrollment is in FULL SWING! You will need to complete re-enrollment (we are using the same process as last year through FACTS) to secure your child's space for the 24-25 school year. All families should have received the link for their student packet(s) last Friday. If any family accidentally created a new student application, please contact Mrs. Waldeck immediately so she can deactivate that application and reverse the fee.  

SAVE THE DATE: CHRISTMAS PRAYER SERVICE & CONCERT GRADES PS-3

WHERE: Church

WHEN: Thursday, December 21 at 10:00 am

GUESTS ALLOWED: We will Livestream so friends and family can watch it. Please be mindful of the number of guests you bring; we have limited capacity. 

PARKING:  Parking will be a challenge; please utilize the public parking in Park Ridge. There is also parking available along the tracks for a fee. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND carpooling! YOU MAY NOT PARK IN FM GLOBAL or RYAN PARKE FUNERAL HOME.  

PARKING OPTIONS:

• Tiger Parking Lot—small parking lot off of Ridge Terrace next to the Kinnane Center. Teachers will not be parking there on concert day. 
• Pay for Metra Parking along the tracks
• Park Ridge Public Works will extend a courtesy parking on Summit Ave on the day of the event (12/21) from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. 
  The courtesy parking will begin at the point where the street sign says "bus parking only" and extend to Ridge Terrace. ***The part from S. Washington Ave up to door B7 is still off limits. 
• Uptown Park Ridge Public Parking

CAN I BRING MY OLDER STUDENTS TO THE CONCERT? No, the older students will see the concert during the practice on Wednesday, December 20th, allowing for more room in the church.

WHY DO WE DO THE SERVICE DURING THE DAY? Excellent question; the truth is when we host the concert at 6 or 7 at night for these little ones, it can be a challenge. Asking them to perform when they should be unwinding for the day and getting ready for bed does not make for ideal circumstances, especially during the excitement of the holiday season. We understand that it isn't always the best for parent schedules, but we appreciate your understanding that this decision is focused on what is best for the kids. We will livestream the performance so that you can still see your child perform if you can't be there.

DECEMBER SAVE THE DATES:
December 21- Preschool-3 Christmas Concert (see above for details)
December 22 - Last day of school before Christmas break!

Peace,

Dr. Erika Mickelburgh

Celebrating the Spirit 2024

Today you will be receiving your Celebrating the Spirit Invitation in your oldest/only student's Thursday takehome folder, so be sure to check those backpacks! Our amazing committee has been hard at work planning the amazing Party Boards, Auction, entertainment, and we are so excited for February 2!

We know it's a busy time of year, but it's not too busy to plan a fantastic night with out celebrating our school community! Also, a reminder to get your well wishes in by December 18th! These are such a fun and heartfelt CTS tradition, you won't want to miss. Just visit the CTS website to order your well wish, and simply email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. your well wish photo! Tickets and Well Wishes can be purchased by going to the Celebrating the Spirit 2024 website here. Click on the menu for the different tabs.

CTS FAQ sheet

Thank you! 
CTS 2024 Co-Chairs
Kelly Bontempo, Amy DiGregorio, and Megan Weber

SPC Home & School Association

Happy December!  
With the holidays right around the corner, the Home and School Association (HSA) will once again host the SPC Faculty Christmas Gift Fund.  This is a school-wide collection of monetary gift donations which is then equitably divided among all SPC full and part-time faculty, administration, and support staff as a demonstration of our appreciation during this holiday season. 

In previous years, families have donated $40-$50 per student (an average of $6-$10 per faculty or staff member with whom your child interacts depending on grade level), however, the FACTS form allows for you to contribute any amount with which you are comfortable.

This donation is in lieu of individual gifts. The last names (only) will be added to the Christmas card that will be given to each faculty and staff member with the check enclosed on Friday, December 22nd.

Donations can be made by clicking this link.  The final date to donate is Tuesday, December 19th at 5:00 pm.
Thank you in advance for your generosity! 
Home and School Association

Teacher Cookie Exchange!

Please click on the flyer above for the Sign Up Genius.
Please click here to download the flyer directly.

More School News 

BAND AND PIANO LESSON REGISTRATION IS NOW LIVE!
We are excited to announce that registration for band (4-8) and piano (K-3) is now live! Please click below for all the details and the registration link.

SPC Band
SPC Piano

SPC Athletic News

Pack the gym Saturday, December 9th-Come see your favorite SPC basketball team play. Games will take place from 9am-7pm. We will be honoring our 8th grade athletes later in the day. We will be selling hotdogs, pretzels, popcorn and candy from our concession stand all day. Come check it out, you just might get to see our Mascot, Stripes!

We have an active and vibrant parish and encourage everyone to read the weekly bulletins for Fr. James' weekly letter and stay informed about all upcoming events and programs. 

Please click here for the latest bulletin. 
Please click here for Fr. James' "The Daily" - Daily Mass Readings and Reflections

FROM THE COMMUNITY