November 2025 – St. Paul of the Cross Catholic School

November 20, 2025

Principal’s Message

Dear SPC Families,

Happy Thanksgiving Week! All of us at SPC wish you and your families a joyful and restful break as we officially enter the holiday season. When we return to campus on December 1st, we will begin the beautiful season of Advent. Sr. Pia and our Catholic Identity Team have several meaningful opportunities planned as we prepare for the birth of our Savior. Through the sacrament of reconciliation, student-led kindness initiatives, and Advent prayer services, we hope each student will deepen their personal relationship with Jesus Christ during this sacred time.

Thank you to the Endowment Committee and everyone who came out for Trivia Night last Friday! The gym was filled with energy, creativity, and incredible spirit—another wonderful testament to our amazing SPC community.

The Endowment Committee hosts this annual event to bring people together in fun and fellowship while raising support for the SPC Parish Educational Endowment Fund. We are grateful for your participation and generosity!

Open Gym
As a fun opportunity over the break, we will be hosting Open Gym for students in grades 4–8 on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (November 24–26) from 9:00–11:00 am. Students may be dropped off between 9:00 and 9:30 am. For security purposes, doors will lock promptly at 9:30 am. Please ensure pick-up is no later than 11:15 am.

A few reminders:

• No outside guests (insurance requirement)

• Gym shoes must be worn on the court

• Basketballs provided

• Bring a water bottle

Although school will not be in session next week, please take a moment to review these important upcoming dates as we approach Christmas break:

Upcoming Dates & Events

Thursday, November 27 – Thanksgiving Day
Sunday, November 30–December 24 – Advent
Monday, December 1 – Term II Begins
Tuesday, December 2 – 9:45 am – All-School Mass
December 3–9 – Book Fair
Friday, December 5 – Report Cards Sent Online
Tuesday, December 9 – 9:45 am – All-School Mass
Wednesday, December 10 – 8:00–9:00 am – Early Grade Center: Prospective Family Tour
Wednesday, December 10 – 6:30–7:30 pm – Grades 3–6 Advent Vespers
Saturday, December 13 – Spotlight Hoops Tournament (UGC Gym – All Day)
Wednesday & Thursday, December 18–19 – No EDP after school
Friday, December 19 – 10:00 am – All-School Mass
Friday, December 19 – Early Dismissal:
- 1:00 pm for Grades 1–8
- 12:50 pm for Preschool & Kindergarten
Friday, December 19 – 11:30 am–12:30 pm – Christmas Room Parties (All Grades)

Announcements

Faculty Christmas Gift Fund
As we approach the holiday season, our Home & School Association will once again host the SPC Faculty Christmas Gift Fund. This school-wide collection is divided equitably among all full- and part-time faculty, administration, and support staff as a collective expression of gratitude. While past donations have averaged $40–$50 per student, families are welcome to contribute any amount they feel comfortable with. This takes the place of individual teacher gifts. The final date to donate is Friday, December 12. Thank you for your generosity and support of our outstanding staff!

Hearing & Vision Screening
Screenings will take place on December 5 & 10, with make-up dates in January as needed. Illinois requires annual screenings for:

Vision: Kindergarten, Grade 2, & Grade 8
Hearing: Kindergarten, Grades 1, 2, & 3
Screenings may also be done at the parents’ or teachers’ request. Questions or opt-out requests may be directed to Nurse Kari at [email protected].

Coffee with the Principal
Join me on December 17, 8:00–9:00 am for our next Coffee With the Principal, featuring a conversation about Inclusion and Social & Emotional Learning at SPC.

We are grateful for the gift of your children and your continued partnership with us in Catholic education. Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving! Safe travels to all who may be away — we look forward to welcoming everyone back on December 1st.

May God’s blessings surround you this week and always,

James White
Principal

Celebrating the Spirit

NEW:
Our Celebrating the Spirit committee has been hard at work planning for another outstanding event!

Well Wishes
Please join us in celebrating the spirit and community of SPC through your well wishes!
Well Wishes are a great way for you to give shout-outs to your children, grandchildren, favorite athlete,
scout troop, artist, or a special faculty member or coach! Well Wishes will be published in the CTS 2026
Program Book, which will go home with your oldest/only the week before the event.

Sponsorships
We invite you to support CTS 2026 through one of our sponsorship opportunities!
Our sponsors play an essential role in bringing this event to life and directly supporting the programs and experiences that make SPC such a special community. From premium visibility to recognition in our event materials, each sponsorship level offers meaningful ways to showcase your family or business. Explore the full sponsorship package through the link above and join us in creating an incredible evening for SPC!

Auction and Party Boards
We’d love your support! 💙 If you’re interested in donating an item or experience for the event, please reach out to Kelly Bontempo at [email protected].
Have an idea or want to brainstorm a fun party board? Connect with Amy Dolan at [email protected]—she’d love to hear from you!

Christmas Faculty Gift Fund

With the Christmas right around the corner, the Home & 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.

Donations can be made by clicking this link. The final date to donate is Friday, December 12th.
Thank you in advance for your generosity!
Home & School Association

**Save these dates for the Book Fair:**
**Wednesday, December 3rd through Tuesday, December 9th.**

Volunteers: We’d love to have your help. Thanks!
Click here to sign up for a volunteer slot or two!
Feel free to browse our webpage for some additional information…
St. Paul of the Cross Book Fair Homepage
Please click here to download the flyer with all of the details and links.

TRIP/Raise Right
Hello Parents,
Thank you for participating in TRIP through Raise Right. The holidays are a busy time for physical gift cards. To simplify the ordering process and to ensure timely delivery of the cards, please have your payment and orders in by the first Fridays of both November and December. Please contact me with any questions: [email protected]|
Thank you!
Carrie Jackiewicz

More From SPC!

Please scan the QR code or click here to RSVP.

**Homework Club (Grades 5-8)- Mondays and Thursdays 3-4**
Homework Club is back! Students can come to Mr. G’s room (UGC 117) after school from 3:00 to 4:00 to receive help with their homework. There is no cost to the club, and it will run every Monday and Thursday from now until the end of the year unless otherwise specified. All students need to do is show up and receive the help they need!

Please use the link below, log in to your account, and select Create a New Student Application. This is only for new students joining their sibling(s) next year. Re-enrollment for current students will open in December. Any questions, please contact Meghan Waldeck at [email protected]

Renweb Account

Students in Grades 3-6 Advent Program

SPC Athletics

Ballet with Ms. Rio Winter Spring Session – Registration Opens
Please click here to download and register.

Chess Ed

REGISTER NOW FOR THE WINTER AFTER-SCHOOL CHESS PROGRAM Registration for the Winter chess program at SPC School is underway! The 11-week after-school program takes place on Tuesdays from 2-3 pm and runs from 12/2/25 to 2/24/26. The chess program is taught by Chess-Ed instructors and is open to SPC students in grades 1 through 8 and of all chess abilities, beginner to advanced.
Please click here for complete details and registration links.

From the Parish

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’ Weekly Letters

SPC Women’s Club Mingle & Jingle Christmas Social – Saturday, December 13th

From the Community

Catholic High School Events

November 13, 2025

Principal’s Message

Dear SPC Families,

As we enter the holiday season, our hearts are filled with gratitude and anticipation for the birth of our Savior. This special time invites us to pause, give thanks, and reflect on the many blessings we share as a faith-filled community. We pray that God anchors you in faith and provides you and your family with moments to encounter Christ in meaningful and joyful ways throughout the coming weeks.

Thank you to all who joined us for our first Coffee with the Principal this week to learn more about the many programs, traditions, and activities rooted in our Catholic Identity. Our discussion was both informative and inspiring, and I left feeling deeply grateful and reassured knowing we have so many faith-filled families who are committed to and make sacrifices for the gift of Catholic education at SPC. I am scheduling our next Coffee with the Principal on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, from 8:00 am to 9:00 am. Our topic will be inclusion, academic support, enrichment, and social-emotional learning. Our special guest will be Mrs. Ronda Quinn, Inclusion Coordinator, and members of her scaffolding team. We have 10 support staff members who work in the areas of student academic, social, and emotional support. Please consider joining us; we have a lot of information to share. We will email parents additional information and an RSVP soon.

I will be honoring my promise to work from the roof as an incentive for the Fun Run next Friday, November 21st. I will be easily recognizable in my Turkey costume!

Reminders:

As we approach the holidays, we understand that some families may plan to leave early for vacation. Please note that teachers are not required to provide homework or class assignments in advance of a planned absence. Any missed work will be made available to students upon their return to school. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping us maintain consistency in classroom instruction. Parents should notify the principal and students’ teachers via email if they intend to be off school on a planned leave.
This Sunday, November 16th, our Family Mass will be facilitated by grades 5 & 6 in the Holy Family Chapel at 10:30 am. All are welcome!!
On Tuesday, November 18th, we will be hosting an “Open” Board meeting. Nurse Kari will be presenting on identifying and minimizing health concerns in our school. The meeting will take place in Duffin Hall at 7:30 pm.
November 24-28 Thanksgiving Break
Friday, November 21st, is the final day of the first term.

Have an Awesome Week!
James White, M.Ed.
Principal

Celebrating the Spirit–Sponsorships!

We are excited to present our CTS Sponsorship Opportunities! We will be opening up our sponsorship link this week; please look for an email with the details!

We’d love your support! 💙 If you’re interested in donating an item or experience for the event, please reach out to Kelly Bontempo at [email protected].
Have an idea or want to brainstorm a fun party board? Connect with Amy Dolan at [email protected]—she’d love to hear from you!

From the Parish

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’ Weekly Letters

SPC Women’s Club is excited for its first kick-off event of the year. Please join us at Harp and Fiddle on November 18th.

From the Community

Catholic High School Events

November 6, 2025

Principal’s Message

Dear SPC Families,

I am pleased to announce that Sr. Pia, our school’s chaplain, has been approved to officially become a part-time employee at SPC! She will be spending a minimum of 20 hours per week working at the school and parish. Her innovative and creative programming, along with her spiritual presence, is a blessing to our school. Since Sr. Pia has arrived, we have redesigned and coordinated prayer buddies, hosted Family, First Responders, and All Saints Masses, coordinated Advent activities from Mary on the Mantel to the Kindness project, and so much more.

We will be celebrating our monthly Family Mass on Sunday, November 16th at 10:30 am in the Holy Family Chapel. Our 5th & 6th Grades will lead Mass. Please join us. All family, friends, and guests are welcome!

Please reference our uniform policy. We have too many students not in the prescribed uniform. HERE (p.78)

Baby Bottles:
Absolute final turn-in day is Monday, November 10th. Please drop off items in the main offices.

One final recap from Sr. Pia about Vocations Week:
Students spent the week praying for those God has called to be priests, deacons, religious Brothers and Sisters, and for those called to the vocation of marriage.

On Wednesday, Fr. James, our parish Seminarians, Greg Wilk, Dominic Jirak, and Tim Kujawa, and Sr. Pia, along with Sr. Molly Bernadette Spiering, CSFN, visited classrooms to talk about vocations. They shared about how God led them to their own vocation, answered questions about what life is like as a Priest, Seminarian, and Religious Sister, and encouraged students to think about how God is inviting them to respond to His love each and every day.

Asynchronous Learning Day – TOMORROW, Friday, November 7
For the next school year, there will be NO asynchronous learning days scheduled for students during teacher professional development days. If there is a need for teachers to attend staff development (Archdiocesan 3-days), students will be off from school. Additionally, we are discussing providing an all-day program for students who need support on these days.

Apple Distinguished School Application
St. Paul of the Cross is currently applying to become an Apple Distinguished School! These schools are recognized as centers of leadership and innovation that embody Apple’s vision for learning with technology. We expect to hear about our review by the end of the school year. Exciting times ahead!

Upcoming School Tours – December 10, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
Word of mouth remains our best invitation for welcoming new families to join the TIGER community. Our next visitation day will be December 10, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
Enrollment information can be found HERE.

Coffee with the Principal – Wednesday, November 12
Join me from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. for our next Coffee with the Principal. Our discussion will focus on Catholic Identity and the many ways our students encounter Christ throughout their time at SPC. RSVP — space is limited to 30 parents. We hope to see you there! (Sr. Pia will be our special guest.)

Up & Coming Events

Tuesday, November 11 – Veterans’ Day

9:45 a.m. – Mass
2:00 p.m. Dismissal-PD time for teachers
Reconciliation Meeting 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday, November 12 – Coffee with the Principal 8:00-9:00 a.m.

Thursday, November 13 – Student and Staff Picture Retakes 8:00 a.m.

Friday, November 14

Prayer Buddies 2:00 p.m.
Endowment Trivia Night 7:30 – 10:00 p.m.

Sunday, November 16 – Family Mass led by the SPC 5th and 6th Grade 10:30 am in the Holy Family Chapel

Coming Soon:
Friday, January 30, 2026 – Celebrating the Spirit Gala

Thank you for your continued support of our SPC community.

Wishing you a safe and joy-filled week ahead.
James White, M.Ed.
Principal

More From SPC!

Coffee with the Principal – RSVP Today

Please click on **this link to RSVP**. Limited to 30 parents.

**Homework Club (Grades 5-8)- Mondays and Thursdays 3-4**
Homework Club is back! Starting Monday, November 10th, students can come to Mr. G’s room (UGC 117) after school from 3:00 to 4:00 to receive help with their homework. There is no cost to the club, and it will run every Monday and Thursday from now until the end of the year unless otherwise specified. All students need to do is show up and receive the help they need!

Renweb Account

Celebrating the Spirit–Save the Date!

Trivia Night – Friday, November 14th! Tables are selling out!
Get ready for one of the most fun nights of the year! Trivia Night is just around the corner, and you won’t want to miss it. Last year’s event sold out quickly—so don’t wait to organize your tables and grab your tickets! Bring your A-game, your team spirit, and get ready for a fantastic evening of friendly competition.

Use the QR code, or click here to purchase your table!

For questions, please contact the Endowment Committee at [email protected]. You can check out highlights from the past couple of years here.

SPC Athletics

Trivia Night
Are you interested in attending the Endowment Fund SPC Trivia Night but don’t have a table yet? Fill out this form to get connected to other people looking to create a table. We will connect groups based on grade level depending on the number signed up. Once you have your table, we ask that you pick one person from your group to purchase the table for the group rather than purchase individual tickets.

Chess Ed

Boy Scout Troop 24 Wreath Sale

Please click here for all the details and the order form.

From the Parish

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’ Weekly Letters

SPC Women’s Club is excited for its first kick-off event of the year. Please join us at Harp and Fiddle on November 18th.