February 12, 2026 – St. Paul of the Cross Catholic School

Principal’s Message

Dear SPC Families,

As we enter the holy season of Lent, we invite our school community to begin these 40 days with prayer, reflection, and a renewed focus on growing closer to Christ. On Tuesday, Fr. James will burn the palms with all students in the Safe Zone to help prepare our hearts and mark the beginning of this sacred time. On Ash Wednesday, we will come together as a school community to celebrate Mass, reminding our students of the call to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Below is a complete list of our Lenten activities planned for students and families. We hope these opportunities encourage meaningful conversations, intentional acts of kindness, and moments of quiet reflection throughout the season.
SPC Lent 2026

As we look ahead, we also wish our families a happy Valentine’s Day this Saturday, February 14. Please note that there will be no school on Monday, February 16, in recognition of Presidents’ Day. We pray that this long weekend offers you time for rest, family, and faith as we begin our Lenten journey together.

Congratulations to Dr. Ochsner and the “St. Paul of the Crops” Future City Team for their impressive achievements at the Illinois Future City Competition in January! Earning 3rd Place Overall, Outstanding Project Management, and Best Team Name is a tremendous accomplishment. Their creativity and thoughtful design even earned them recognition from NPR, which interviewed the team during the event, and their segment aired this afternoon. Be sure to check out NPR’s All Things Considered segment to hear more. Well done, “St. Paul of the Crops!”

Please read through the entire Thursday Mailing for news and important updates. A final reminder: our Celebrating the Spirit Teacher Parties and the remaining Party Boards will close tomorrow. If you haven’t signed up yet, now is your last chance! Don’t miss out on these amazing events designed to create lasting memories for our students and families while supporting our Teacher Bonus Fund.

Calendar of Events

Friday, Feb 13:
- H & S Out of uniform Day
Monday, February 16:
- Presidents Day – No School
Wednesday, February 18:
- Ash Wednesday Mass 10:00 am
Friday, February 20:
- Prayer Buddies
- Lunch Meeting #1: Young Men’s Club
Saturday, February 21:
- Father/Daughter Dance – Details below
Wednesday, February 25:
- Coffee with the Principal 8:15-9:15 am – Details below

Up and Coming

March 1 – 7
- Roundball Tournament

What’s New?

Starting with our concession stand during the Roundball tournament, we will be accepting credit and debit cards via a swipe card reader. Pending the success of our trial event, we will implement electronic payments at all future events.
Young Men’s Club: 1st meeting for any interested boy grades 4-8, Lunch Meeting Feb 20th.
A competitive grade 7–8 boys’ and girls’ summer basketball league will be added in June 2026. Additional information will be provided soon.

Coming Fall 2026:

Accelerated Mathematics grades 5-8
Accelerated English grades 6-8
STEM Program extended to include preschool students as an elective
New-daily schedule grades 3-8 (TBA)

Tuition Rates 2026/2027: 5% Increase
As part of our planning for the 2026–2027 school year, we want to share an overview of the 5% tuition increase that will be reflected in next year’s rates. This adjustment allows Saint Paul of the Cross School to continue providing a high-quality Catholic education while responsibly addressing rising operational costs.

The increase is primarily driven by projected expenses, including a 3.5–4% salary increase to remain competitive and retain excellent faculty and staff, a 6–12% rise in employee benefits, and a minimum 6% increase in utility costs. In addition, we anticipate approximately a 10% increase in instructional materials and supplies, along with higher costs associated with campus maintenance, capital improvements, and ongoing investments in school safety and security.

Our budget is built on a projected enrollment of 730 students in grades Preschool through 8 and reflects our commitment to careful financial stewardship while prioritizing student learning, faculty support, and a safe, well-maintained campus. We are grateful for your continued partnership and trust as we work together to sustain and strengthen the mission of SPC.

1 Child $7,775
2 Children $14,220
3 Children $18,950
4 Children $21,615
5 Children, $22,750

Calendar 2026/2027:
We are happy to share a draft of the 2026–2027 school calendar to help families begin planning for the upcoming school year. This calendar has been submitted to the Archdiocese of Chicago and is awaiting final approval, but we wanted to provide an early look at the general structure of the year.

Please keep in mind that this draft highlights major dates and does not include all weekly activities or events. Once we receive final approval, a complete and finalized calendar will be shared with our school community.
2026-2027 School Calendar Draft

Employment Opportunity 2026-2027
2nd Grade Teacher – Please click here for details.

Gospel Reflection:

For the First Sunday of Lent on February 22, 2026, the Gospel (Matthew 4:1-11) Recounts Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, emphasizing his victory over Satan through Scripture, fasting, and obedience. This passage calls believers to examine their own temptations, resist worldly treasures, and rely on God’s grace during the Lenten journey.
Mt 4:1-11

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written,

‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took him to the holy city, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,

‘He will give his angels charge of you,’

and

‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them; and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Begone, Satan! for it is written,

‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’”

Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him.

With gratitude and blessings,
James White
Principal

Celebrating the Spirit

Last Chance – Deadline Tomorrow
Don’t forget to sign up for Teacher Treats and explore the exciting Party Boards! There are still a few spots left. CTS is going strong! Be sure to sign up by the deadline, tomorrow, February 13th.

Please contact us with any questions—Caitlin Brown at [email protected], Kelly Bontempo at [email protected], or Mary Ploen at [email protected].

SOUPer Bowl Food Drive

Please join our Student Council members in supporting our local food pantry here at St. Paul of the Cross. This week through TOMORROW, Friday, February 13th.
As we cheer on our favorite teams, let’s help tackle hunger in our community. We are collecting non-perishable food items to support the St. Paul of the Cross Food Pantry and the neighbors they serve.

Coffee with the Principal Wednesday, February 25, 2026 8:15-9:15 am
Staying Healthy at School: Lice & Other Communicable Diseases

Please join us for an informative and engaging Coffee with the Principal as we focus on student health and wellness at SPC.

Presenter: Nurse Kari Heideman
Topic: Lice and Additional Communicable Diseases

Nurse Kari will provide valuable information and practical guidance on:

Understanding head lice: prevention, identification, and treatment
Tips for mitigating the spread of lice
Additional precautions to reduce communicable illnesses in school
Best practices for keeping students healthy throughout the year
When to keep your child home and when it’s safe to return to school

The session will also include a demonstration of how lice checks are conducted at school, helping parents feel confident in what to look for and how we support student health.

This is a wonderful opportunity to ask questions, gain practical tools, and partner together to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all SPC students.

We hope you can join us for coffee, conversation, and important information about keeping our school community well!

It’s time to sign up for Roundball!
Calling all 6th to 8th Grade SPC Students, High School Alums, and Roundball Fans and Sponsors!
It is time to sign up for Roundball 2026. Spread the word to friends and family as the entire SPC community comes together for this exciting, week-long event, March 1st – March 7th.

The SPC Roundball Tournament is open to all sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students in good academic and behavioral standing. An SPC tradition since 2013, the continued success of Roundball is made possible through the collaboration of the school, the Alumni Association, the Roundball Committee, and the St. Paul of the Cross Men’s Club.

Roundball features two basketball tournaments for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade boys and girls. High school aged SPC alums proudly return to their alma mater to coach the teams, bringing energy, leadership, and friendly competition. The fun continues with the Future Stars of Roundball game for fifth grade basketball players.

With SPC Men’s Club members serving as announcers and professional referees officiating each game, awards recognize champions, school spirit, leadership, and integrity. From start to finish, Roundball brings together the entire SPC community, including students, alumni, and families, to celebrate teamwork and tradition.
Student Player Registration Form
High School Alum Coaches Form
Sponsorship Form _

SPC Athletics

Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.

Interested in helping to ensure the event runs smoothly? Sign up to volunteer here!

Save the Dates: SPC Parent-Child Events
Mark your calendars for our upcoming SPC Parent–Child Events. We hope you can join us!

4th–8th Grade Mother/Son Golf Outing
Saturday, March 21 | The Shack, Glenview
11:00am – 1:00pm

PS–3rd Grade Mother/Son Event
Saturday, April 25 | SPC in the Gym

We look forward to celebrating with you!

SPC Yearbooks
The deadline to order the 2025-2026 yearbook is Thursday, April 2nd!
Please click here for details and information.

Spring After School Clubs

Smiling Strings and Guitar Spring Sign Ups

Spring Chess Ed Registration
REGISTER NOW FOR THE SPRING AFTER-SCHOOL CHESS PROGRAM The 11-week after-school program takes place on Tuesdays from 2-3 pm and runs from 3/3/26 to 5/19/26.

Spring Spanish Club – Kdg-2nd Grade

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