Principal’s Message
Dear SPC Families,
As we continue through the joyful Easter season, I am reminded of the many blessings that make our St. Paul of the Cross community so special. This time of year is filled with celebrations, milestones, and meaningful moments for our students, and I am grateful for the partnership we share in supporting them.
First, thank you to our incredible Home and School Association for the thoughtful ways they have celebrated our teachers and staff throughout Teacher Appreciation Week. The treats, snacks, and gestures of kindness have been deeply appreciated by our faculty and staff. We are especially grateful for the breakfast they will provide during our Professional Development Day on Friday. Your generosity and support mean so much.
A special thank you as well to Sue Dohr and the Book Fair Team for organizing and hosting this year’s Book Fair. As always, it was a tremendous success and brought great joy to our students and families while helping foster a love of reading in our community.
A reminder that Friday, May 8th is a Professional Development Day for faculty and staff, and there will be no school for students. During this time, our teachers will be engaged in important planning for the upcoming school year, including constructing class lists for the fall trimester and building daily instructional schedules. In addition, all faculty and staff will participate in a two-hour CPR training.
Please know that the process of drafting class lists is done with great care, using multiple points of data, teacher collaboration, and administrative input to ensure we create learning environments that best support the academic, social, and emotional growth of every student. Because of this intentional process, SPC does not accommodate parent requests for specific teachers or classroom placements. Thank you for your trust and understanding as we make decisions centered on what is best for all students.
Our Bago Set Raffle will continue Monday through Friday next week. This beautiful handmade set is being raffled as a continuation of the “Round Ball” set featured a few months ago. Tickets will be available for purchase in Mrs. Iacopelli’s office throughout the week. Please note this raffle is cash only.
Ticket pricing is as follows:
• 1 ticket for $5
• 3 tickets for $10
• 8 tickets for $20
The drawing will take place the following week and will be conducted by our 8th Grade Parent Group. Thank you for your support of this fundraiser!
As we begin to look ahead to summer, please note our summer office hours beginning June 15th. The Main Office in the EGC will be open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8:00 AM–12:00 PM. A secure drop box will also be available during the week for any forms or paperwork that need to be submitted outside of office hours.
As we prepare to celebrate Mother’s Day this Sunday, May 10th, I would like to offer a heartfelt thank you to all mothers, grandmothers, and mother figures in our community. Your love, sacrifice, and faith-filled witness shape the hearts of your children in countless ways. May God bless you abundantly this Mother’s Day. Please note an important calendar adjustment for next week: our weekly school Mass will be moved to Wednesday, May 13th at 10:00 AM in honor of our beautiful May Crowning celebration. Congratulations to the students who have been selected to serve on this year’s May Crowning Court.
Up and Coming
- Wednesday, May 13
- 1st Communion School Photos
- May Crowning Mass – 10:00 AM
- 8th Grade Mother’s Lunch immediately following Mass in the Gym
- Friday, May 15
- • Prayer Buddies Day
• Home and School Dress Down Day
• Financial Assistance Notifications sent via email
- • Prayer Buddies Day
- Sunday, May 17
- • Family Mass at 10:30 AM in the Holy Family Chapel – Facilitated by our National Junior Honor Society students
- A complete list of 8th grade end-of-year activities is included below in this mailing. We look forward to celebrating our graduating class as they prepare for their next chapter.
Looking Ahead
- Wednesday, May 20th
- Coffee with the Principal – 8:00 AM in the EGC Art Room
Topic: Occupational Therapy and Family Access to Support Resources
- Coffee with the Principal – 8:00 AM in the EGC Art Room
- Thursday, May 21st
- Spring Musical – Dr. Dolittle
We are excited for this year’s production! Join us for a special Thursday evening performance featuring a homemade pasta dinner before the show. Please click the link below for show dates and dinner package information.
- Spring Musical – Dr. Dolittle
- Friday, May 29th
- SPC Olympics (Preschool–8th Grade
A full day of school spirit, fun, and community-building!
- SPC Olympics (Preschool–8th Grade
This is truly one of the busiest—and most joyful—times of the school year. There is so much to celebrate, and none of it would be possible without the dedication of our teachers, staff, and parent volunteers who generously give their time and talents to make these experiences so meaningful for our students.
Thank you for your continued partnership, your trust, and your commitment to our SPC community. May God continue to bless your families and guide us through this beautiful season of celebration and gratitude.
In Christ’s peace,
James White
Principal
SPC School Board Election
The SPC School Board is holding an election to fill two (2) vacancies for terms that will run from May 2026 through May 2029. We are fortunate to have four (4) candidates interested in serving on the Board:
- Meghan Arquette
- Tiffany Braun
- Zach Fichter
- Ashley McNichols
Online Voting will be open through Monday, May 11th.
School parents & registered parishioners are eligible to vote.
To review the candidates’ personal statements then cast your online vote, please scan the QR code or click here.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact current SPC School Board Member, Kathy Manny at [email protected] or 847-927-4392.
SPC Athletics
More SPC Happenings
It’s going to be such a wonderful night! The cast has been working so hard to put together a really fun show, so get your tickets if you want to be like Dr. Dolittle and talk to the animals!
We are excited to offer two ticket options this year: Show-Only Admission or Dinner and a Show Package.
Show-Only Admission
Individual Ticket: $6
Family Package (up to 5 tickets): $20
Dinner and a Show Package (Thursday Show only) 5:00 pm for Dinner
Includes:
Pasta dinner
Reserved seating in the first three rows
Individual Dinner Package: $14
Family Dinner Package (up to 5): $70
If you would like the Dinner and a Show Package, we ask that you purchase those tickets in advance. Online ticket sales will close on May 18, 2026.
Here is the complete list of 8th grade end-of-year activities. We look forward to celebrating our graduating class as they prepare for their next chapter.
Mentor Families Last Chance to Sign Up!!!
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has already signed up to welcome our new families! We are so fortunate to be part of such a welcoming SPC community.
We are excited to greet many new families this fall and are still looking for current parents to serve as mentor families. Mentor families provide a friendly resource for new families, answering questions as they prepare for school and keeping them informed throughout the year.
We also try to match student grades so new students can meet a friend or two before the school year begins.
Please click here to volunteer as a mentor for the 2026-2027 school year
Volunteer Sign-Up – May 29
The time has arrived to sign up for SPC Olympics volunteer opportunities on May 29!
As a reminder, the SPC Olympics are for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade. Information regarding early childhood Olympic festivities will be shared separately by room parents.
Important Reminders:
- All volunteers must be VIRTUS trained.
- By signing up, you are confirming that you are available for the full commitment and do not have any conflicting responsibilities that day (including lunch shifts, recess duty for early childhood classrooms, childcare, or other obligations).
- New this year: To allow more families the opportunity to participate, only one parent per family may sign up for a volunteer slot. Please do not register multiple, extended family members.
Volunteer sign-up link here.
If you need to cancel your sign-up, you may do so through the registration site up until May 17.
Thank you for helping make this a fun and successful day for our students!
Spots fill up very quickly, so THANK YOU for your support in advance of this fun tradition for our students!
Upcoming Parent Workshops
Please click on this link to read about some valuable upcoming parent workshops.
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
IT’S TIME TO TEND THE GARDEN! EARN SERVICE HOURS!
Sponsor A Raised Bed in our Vegetable Garden to Feed the Hungry!
Sponsoring our parish vegetable garden means planting, watering, and harvesting your own 4’x4’
raised bed throughout the growing season. We supply the boxes, organic mix, grids, trellises, and
plants, plus all the information and support you need to make your garden grow. In keeping with our mission to feed the hungry, the vegetables we grow will be distributed through our food pantry.
Please click here to download all of the details!
Vacation Bible School – All Incoming PK 4 yr – 5th Graders
June 15-19th
Please click here for the details.
From the Community
Park Ridge Soccer Club 2026-2027 Travel Tryouts
May 4-7
Please click here for the details and registration information.
From our Catholic High Schools
Loyola Academy Learn to Row Camp
Open to rising 7th, 8th & 9th Graders – Click here to download the details.
Future Friar Shadow Days are back! See information here.
Register for Summer Camps.