March 26, 2026 – St. Paul of the Cross Catholic School

Principal’s Message

Dear SPC Families,

As we continue our Lenten journey, we are reminded of the importance of reflection, service, and gratitude in our daily lives. This sacred season offers us a meaningful opportunity to grow in faith as a community, and it has been a blessing to witness our students living out these values through their kindness, prayerfulness, and commitment to one another.

As we look ahead, next week marks Holy Week, the most sacred time in our Church calendar. Please note that school will be closed for Easter Break beginning Thursday, April 2, with classes resuming on Monday, April 13. We wish all of our students and their families a holy, peaceful, and safe holiday as we celebrate the joy of the Resurrection.

We are also excited to share that our annual Career Day will take place on April 29, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. This is always a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn about a variety of professions and to begin thinking about how their unique gifts and talents can serve others in the future.

If you are interested in presenting, please take a moment to complete the Google Form linked here by this coming Monday, March 30th. The form will close after that date. Your time and willingness to share your experiences make a lasting impact on our students, and we are truly grateful for your support.

If you have any questions regarding Career Day, please feel free to reach out to Mrs. Kathy Goldberg.

Endowment Scholarships
Each year, the Endowment awards merit-based, named scholarships to current SPC students who will be returning for the following school year. Please read the letter below for complete details, eligibility requirements, and the timeline for these exceptional opportunities.

Please read the entire Thursday Mailing thoroughly, as it contains important updates and upcoming events you won’t want to miss.

Calendar of Events

Friday, March 27
- H & S Out of Uniform Day
Tuesday, March 31
- School Board Meeting (Executive Session Only)
Wednesday, April 1
- Mass 10:00 am
Thursday, April 2
- Holy Thursday
  Easter Break Begins

Up and Coming

Spring Break – April 2-12
School Resumes – April 13
School Board Meeting – Open Session 7:00 – 8:00pm Duffin Hall
Week of the Young Child – April 20–24 (See below for details.)
Career Day – April 29 (8:00–11:30 a.m.)

Thank you, as always, for your continued partnership and support of our school community.
With gratitude and blessings,
James White
Principal

Endowment Scholarships
Each year, the Endowment awards merit-based, named scholarships to current SPC students who will be returning for the following school year. Please read this letter for complete details, eligibility requirements, and the timeline for these exceptional opportunities.

Mentor Families
We are thrilled to welcome many new families to SPC in the fall and are looking for our current parents to help be a mentor family. Mentor families will be a go-to source for new families for questions they may have as they prepare for their new school and help keep them in the loop with information throughout the year. We do our best to also match student grades so the new students get to also meet a new friend or two prior to the start of the school year.
Please click here to volunteer as a mentor for the 2026-2027 school year

School Board Nominations
The SPC School Board will have two (2) open positions for the upcoming 2026-27 school year. We invite parents and parish members to consider taking a leadership role and participate on the school board. Please read the details and information here.

Join us for the inaugural SPC Sneaker Ball! Information is below; tickets can be purchased by clicking the link here.

We are excited to continue the tradition of our St. Paul of the Cross School Olympics Day on May 29- a day filled with energy, teamwork, and school spirit for more than 600 of our students and faculty. To help make this day unforgettable, we are seeking sponsors to offset the cost of the event t-shirts worn by every participant. With a donation of $1,500, your family or business will be recognized with your logo featured on the back of the shirts- a lasting way to show your support for our school community. If you’re interested in sponsoring or would like more information, we would be so grateful for your partnership in making this special day possible! Please email us at [email protected] and [email protected].

Our next HSA meeting will take place on Friday, April 17, at 8am in the Holy Family Chapel. A Zoom link will be sent out if you would like to attend virtually.

Join a Committee
We are looking for volunteers who would like to join or lead some of our committees. Please see this form to get more information and sign up to get involved.

More School News & Happenings

**April Hot Lunch Registration Closes Tomorrow Night (Fr**iday, March 27th)

The Stage School Premier Program – Pre-K – 2nd Grade
Wednesdays beginning April 1st.
Please click here to download the information.

Spring Spanish Club – Kdg-2nd Grade

Spring Clubs at SPC! – Designed and taught by SPC staff!
Registration Deadline is Tomorrow, Friday, March 27th
Click here to view and register.

Little Flowers Girls’ Club – Summer Registration

Summer Registration for the Little Flowers Girls’ Club Summer Session is now open for girls in Kindergarten through Fourth Grade.

Rooted in the spirituality of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the “Little Flower,” this authentic and joyful Catholic program nurtures a love for the faith at a young age. Through shared learning and prayer, the girls form a special community that fosters friendship while discovering what it means to be a beloved daughter of God.

For more information, please see the attached Google Form or contact our coordinator, Ms. Ciupinski, at [email protected].

Week of the Young Child 2026!

Click on the image to download the full schedule.

SPC Athletics

SPACE and Peaceful Homes.

Boy Scouts
The District is holding their annual Pinewood Derby on April 12th at Woodfield Mall.

Please click here to download the flyer with additional Information.

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

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

St Paul of the Cross Blood Drive- 20th Anniversary This Sunday, March 29th!

The Holy Family Guild is hosting the St Paul of the Cross blood drive in association with Vitalant on Sunday, March 29th from 8 a.m until 2 p.m. The blood drive will be held at the Morello Parish Life Center at 320 S. Washington in Park Ridge (behind the church). Appointments are highly recommended, but walk-ins will be accepted.

Come be a hero and help us save lives — every 2 seconds someone needs a blood transfusion in this country, and the blood shortage is critical!

Contact the Blood Drive Coordinators, Christine Perille, 847-494-5150 or Eileen Kaczmarek 847-533-7952 with any questions or to schedule your appointment. You may also go to Vitalant.org and use code ORD0RG08. Please call 877-258-4825 option #1 with medical or travel questions.