St. Paul of the Cross is featured in the Museum of Science and Industry’ 2006 Annual Report, “Discovery”.  Interviewed last year, Mrs. Christine Stypka’s comments are reported under the heading, Gold Medal Performance – Christine Stypka believes there’s no reason to wait until high school to expose youth to science experiments. When she arrived at St Paul of the Cross five years ago, students competed in their own science fair.  In 2005, Stypka decided her 140 seventh – and – eighth-graders should have the complete experience and started her own competition.  Each student completed an original research project that used measurable data to test an original hypothesis.  Independent judges selected the top 15 experiments and students entered them in the regional competition at the Museum of Science and Industry.  Six students reached the finals downstate, and all six won gold medals.  One project won top honors in the engineering category for measuring the speed of water at various angles.  In all, more than 300 Chicago students entered projects in the public and non-public school science fairs hosted by the Museum in 2006.

The 2007-2008 St. Paul of the Cross School Science Focus will be held on January 16, 2008.  During the day student projects will be judged and in the evening the student’s work will be on display.  At the end of the evening awards will be presented.  Mark this important day on your calendar, this will be the place to be!

Congratulations to the Math Team for their fine performance at Resurrection High School on Saturday, November 3, 2007.   Congratulations to Team A members and to Team B members, for receiving a second place trophy. Thank you to Mrs. Widmaier and Mrs. Helen Stephens for coaching and being with our students. The trophy is on display in Mrs. Stephen’s classroom.

The Archdiocese of Chicago Task Force for the Prevention of Alcohol and Other Drug Use by Youth awarded two St. Paul of the Cross students for their participation and winning posters in the 2007 Red Ribbon Poster Contest. In the Junior High Division, an eighth grader received a Second Place and $25.00 certificate from McDonald’s.  A third grade student received a certificate of participation and a $5.00 certificate from McDonald’s.

Congratulations to the fine, fine students that represented St. Paul of the Cross School at the Trinity High School and Notre Dame High School’s Academic Bowls!  Michelle Whitehead, Principal, Trinity High School for Girls, complimented our team of “strong, young women,” for representing themselves so well and for the courage to participate. The young men who represented St. Paul at Notre Dame were congratulated for a fine performance.

Trinity Academic Bowl Team

St. Paul ’s Student Council shared Drug Dog Tags, which were passed out to all our students and the students of Epiphany “as a symbol of our friendship and continued commitment to building a Peaceable Kingdom.” 

At the invitation of The Field Museum, 6th grade students from St. Paul and 6th grade students from Epiphany School will be invited guests at the media opening of The Map Exhibit at the Museum this Monday, October 29, 2007.

Teachers attended a variety of workshops last week.  They attended workshop presentations on Differentiated Instruction, The Six Traits of Writing, Integrating Art into the Curriculum and Social Studies.  Mrs. Stypka will be attending the Illinois Energy Workshop presented by Commonwealth Edison and the National Energy Education Development (NEED).  Students and faculty benefit from teacher participation at workshops.

Through the efforts of Mrs. Kitty Zurkowski, The Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) has allocated waste grant funds to St. Paul of the Cross School.  We will use these funds towards the expense of presenting a “Ricky Recycle” performance next week to students.  As part of on-going education, there will be presentations next week for all students.  St. Paul of the Cross school is committed to educating its students, teachers and parents about respecting our environment and the earth God gave us. Click here to learn more.