Congratulations to our SPC Alumni Class of 2016! It’s hard to believe that four years have gone by since they left the doors of St. Paul of the Cross School.
Traditionally, we invite our graduating seniors to come back to SPC for a little reunion during the first week of June. Since that was not possible this year, we asked them to share a photo with us, and many of them did!
This alumni class is a remarkable group of scholars, athletes, artists, performers, volunteers, leaders, supporters, and the list goes on!
We are so proud of each of them, and wish them much success as they head into their next big chapter!
On Monday, June 4th, 2018, we had the honor of welcoming back our alumni from the SPC Class of 2014. The reunion began with the school’s traditional class photo on the church steps. After the photo, they gathered for lunch and an afternoon of visiting old friends and teachers. It was a special day for both the alumni and the faculty. Congratulations to all of the graduates! We are proud of all of them and will keep them in our prayers as they move on to their next chapter.
There are so many outstanding scholarships and recognitions for these college bound students! Congratulations to National Merit Finalists Jack Kulevich, Steve Manos, and Michael Marino. Congratulations to National Merit Commended Students Zach Cmiel, Jack Fyda, and Brian Gannon. The Class of 2014 plans include studying Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Business, Creative Writing, Pre-Med, Nursing, Neuroscience, Flight Science, Political Science, Physical Therapy, Biology, and the list goes on!
We wish the SPC Class of 2014 the very best and encourage them to stay connected to each other and to SPC.
Congratulations and Good Luck to our alumni at the following colleges and universities:
SPC Class of 2013 Heads to College! We congratulate our alums from the Class of 2013 as they graduate high school and prepare for their next chapter this fall.
On June 5th, 2017, members from the SPC Class of 2013 attended our annual College Sweatshirt Day. We always try to schedule this special event after all of the high school graduations. Unfortunately conflicts arise with orientation plans, vacations, and work schedules. We are grateful for those who were able to attend and missed those who couldn’t. Our St. Ignatius students even sent us a photo of them together since they were unable to be at SPC for this event!
Mrs. G. was excited to see all of them as they were her first class at SPC when they were in prekindergarten. Father Britto enjoyed catching up with them. He asked them to always remember that SPC is their home.
So many incredible scholarships for these college bound students! Congratulations to Margaret Cahill for receiving the National Merit Scholarship and Veronica Dohr, a National Merit Commended Student. The Class of 2013 plans include studying Environmental Engineering, Business, Creative Writing, Physical Therapy, Forensic Science, Journalism, Biology, Photography, Illustration, Engineering, Nursing, and the list goes on! Plans also include Division 1 LaCrosse, Track, and Volleyball. We are so proud of all of them and wish them the very best!
On Monday, June 4th, 2018, we had the honor of welcoming back our alumni from the SPC Class of 2014. The reunion began with the school’s traditional class photo on the church steps. After the photo, they gathered for lunch and an afternoon of visiting old friends and teachers. It was a special day for both the alumni and the faculty. Congratulations to all of the graduates! We are proud of all of them and will keep them in our prayers as they move on to their next chapter.
There are so many outstanding scholarships and recognitions for these college bound students! Congratulations to National Merit Finalists Jack Kulevich, Steve Manos, and Michael Marino. Congratulations to National Merit Commended Students Zach Cmiel, Jack Fyda, and Brian Gannon. The Class of 2014 plans include studying Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Business, Creative Writing, Pre-Med, Nursing, Neuroscience, Flight Science, Political Science, Physical Therapy, Biology, and the list goes on!
Congratulations and Good Luck to our alumni at the following colleges and universities:
Arizona State University
Boston College
Bradley University
Butler University
Case Western Reserve University
Colorado State University
Creighton University
Depauw University
Dominican University
Elon University
Illinois State University
Indiana University
Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis
On Thursday, June 4th, 2015, St. Paul of the Cross School’s faculty and administrationwelcomed back 63 alumni from the SPC Class of 2011. The reunion began with the school’s traditional class photo on the church steps, however this time, they were wearing their college t-shirts instead of SPC graduation gowns. After the photo, they gathered for lunch and an afternoon of visiting old friends and teachers. It was a special day for both the alumni and the school’s faculty and administration.
They will be heading off to colleges all over the U.S. in the fall and have plans to study everything from Engineering to Music, Architecture, Physical Therapy, Business, Pre-Med, Nursing, Law Enforcement, Computer Science, Graphic Arts, Advertising, to name a few.
The turnout was tremendous, with 85% of the students returning. Some were unable to attend due to college orientations and work commitments. Principal Mrs. Lorelei Bobroff said, “We thank the parents of the SPC Class of 2011 for encouraging their sons and daughters to remain close to each other and to SPC. We wish them all the best in their next big chapter. God bless the SPC Class of 2011.”
Congratulations and Good Luck to our alumni at the following colleges and universities:
On June 5, 2014 we welcomed home 55 of our alumni from the St. Paul of the Cross School Class of 2010. They all met on the church steps wearing their college shirts to take a class photo, before heading in for sandwiches and to visit with each other and their former teachers. What a fine testament to our SPC faculty and administration, and the Class of 2010. These students will be heading off to colleges all over the U.S. in the fall and plan on studying everything from Engineering to Journalism to Business, Hospitality, Pre-Med, Nursing, Computer Science, Physics, and so much more.
We thank the parents of the SPC Class of 2010, for encouraging their sons and daughters to remain close to each other and to SPC. It was a fantastic day! We wish them all the best in their next big chapter. God bless the SPC Class of 2010.
Congratulations and Good Luck to our alumni at the following colleges and universities:
Thank you to all of those from the SPC Class of 2009 who were able to come back for a visit before heading off to college. We enjoyed seeing you and hearing some of your fond SPC memories, as well as hearing about your exciting future plans.
We are so proud of you! God bless you.
Congratulations and Good Luck to our Alumni at the following Colleges and Universities:
On September 13th and 14th, 2013, the Class of 1973 reunited to celebrate 40 years since graduating from SPC. This class has had many reunions through the years and they are still going strong. Many fond stories were shared over the course of the weekend. Some trivia from the Class of 1973 thanks to Luke Atwood and Jim Kelly:
Note: Trivia was updated October 2013.
Grades:
1st Grade
145 students started out in 1st grade in the 1965-1966 school year. There were three classrooms with a Mercy sister in each room.
2 Teachers Still Alive!
2nd Grade
3 classrooms, 2 Sisters
2 teachers still alive!
Many students left after making their Communion this year
3rd Grade
3 classrooms, 2 Sisters
2 teachers still alive!
4th Grade
3 classrooms, all lay teachers
1 teacher still alive!
5th Grade
3 classrooms, 2 Sisters
All are deceased
6th Grade
3 classrooms, 1 Sisters
1 teacher still alive!
Another wave left due to a possible closing due to finances or parents wanted kids to experience a larger class experience to prepare for high school.
7th Grade
3 classrooms, No Sisters
6 teachers still alive!
8th Grade
3 classrooms, No Sisters
6 teachers still alive!
Art and Music teachers are both alive and well and make it to most reunions. All the other living teachers make every effort to attend the reunions. When they haven’t been able to make it, they’ve sent nice notes of encouragement and some pictures.
87 of us graduated on June 3, 1973. Since then 4 classmates have died. We are in contact with all of our classmates except one. No one seems to know where he is these days. We are also in contact with very many of our classmates who left after 2nd, 4th, or 6th grade.
There were 5 Susans and 5 James in the graduating class.
Fr. Pat Brennan was contemplating priesthood during our junior high years.
One married couple within our grade at St. Paul.
Fr. Pat Brennan was contemplating priesthood during our junior high years.
One married couple within our grade at St. Paul.
Since our 40th reunion September 14, there’s been a gathering at a Crystal Lake Summerfest to hear a classmate in his band, a golf outing for St. Paul grads, and Barrington’s Art in the Barn this weekend to see our Art teacher who lives in Ohio.
I try to read obituaries daily and email classmates when a classmate’s parent or sibling dies. This has made for some very meaningful reconnections at the wakes or funerals.
The building is quickly getting ready for students, and it is an exciting time of year! The faculty and staff started yesterday, and we were blessed with some Student Government and National Junior Honor Society members who came to help prepare for the start of school.
This year marks the 100th year of St Paul of the Cross School! The Class of 2025 will be the 100th class to graduate from St. Paul of the Cross. We are truly blessed as a school with a vibrant school community where all children and families can grow in their faith and become faith-filled leaders for the 21st century. We will begin planning Centennial celebrations soon involving alumni, alumni parents, and current community members. Please stay tuned for opportunities to celebrate 100 years of St Paul of the Cross School. We have accomplished a great deal in the past 100 years, and as we look forward to the next 100 years, I am grateful for your partnership in strengthening our community!
I look forward to kicking off our Centennial Year on Sunday with our Back to School Mass, Meet the Teacher, and Ice Cream Social!
A FEW GENTLE REMINDERS
Morning Drop-Off and Kiss-and-Go! If you are choosing to use the kiss-and-go lines in the morning, please remember that the drivers must remain in the car. It is a safety concern when cars stop in the kiss-and-go line and get out of the car; it creates a backup on the main streets, which is a hazard.
Thursday Mailings Every Thursday, we send a detailed mailing with important information to all SPC families. Thank you in advance for your careful reading!
IPAD Agreement We plan to distribute iPads on the first days of school. For your child to receive their iPad, an updated agreement needs to be completed. Please click below to sign the agreement. https://forms.gle/7votX5pGB6nitHY76
School Office August 16th Offices are closed August 14th-15th Offices are open 8:00 am-1:00 pm We will resume regular hours on August 21st.
Back to School Mass/Teacher Meet and Greet and Ice Cream Social
On August 18th, please join us for our Back to School Mass at 4:00. Immediately following Mass, we will have a Teacher meet-and-greet/supply drop-off and our Ice Cream Social. In the Gym, we will host the used uniform sale, the Park Ridge Public Library, and the New Family Welcome Committee Table. We will also have spirit wear available for purchase from The Athletic Board! (Checks and cash will be accepted for uniform sales and spirit wear.)
The Ice Cream will be located in the Safe Zone.
Teacher Meet and Greet/Supply Drop-off will be after Mass until 6:30. If you ordered your school supplies through Home and School, they will be delivered to your child’s classroom.
Class Lists Will Be Emailed Tomorrow, August 16th, at 4:00 pm We know everyone is eagerly anticipating classroom assignments. We will send welcome letters tomorrow, August 16th, at 4:00 pm. Please remember that I do not accept teacher requests, and requests for classroom changes will not be entertained. We are blessed with an outstanding faculty and staff.
The process for developing class lists is a very thoughtful one that begins in May with teachers dividing the students into classrooms. For example, 3rd-grade teachers meet to divide the 3rd-grade students into the 4th-grade rooms. Many factors go into grouping students into classrooms: balancing class size, gender, abilities, and behavior concerns are just a few factors. Once those class lists are finalized in June, the administration assigns teachers during the summer.
BACK TO SCHOOL SAVE THE DATES August 18: Back to School Mass followed by Teacher Meet & Greet! August 21: First Day of Grades K-8 August 22: First Day of Preschool August 26: EDP Starts
New in Preschool-2nd Grade At the State of The School in May, I announced that we would be substituting American Sign Language for Spanish in Preschool- 2nd grade this school year. Spanish will continue to be offered as a club for these grades during the school year. We are excited to provide this opportunity to our students:
Learning a new language like ASL stimulates your brain and enhances cognitive abilities.
It improves your visual-spatial skills, memory, and multitasking capabilities.
ASL also promotes cultural awareness and sensitivity towards diverse communication styles.
Learning ASL encourages cognitive flexibility by engaging different brain regions responsible for language processing and motor skills.
This flexibility can extend to problem-solving abilities, adaptability, and creative thinking.
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT Save the Date – September 5th A reminder that back-to-school night is a child-free event. We will include a more detailed schedule in a later Thursday mailing. Please note the times we will have classroom presentations. This will allow families with multiple children to attend back-to-school night.
Grades Preschool-3rd will have sessions from 7:00–8:30 pm. Please enter through door D5 on Ridge Terrace or door B1 for 3rd grade.
Grades 4-8 from 6:00-7:20 pm (Please enter through door B1)
VOLUNTEERING FOR THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR Lunch Recess and Field Trip Chaperones I understand there is chatter about the shift from needing lunch supervisors to recess supervisors. The reason for the change is simple: teachers benefit from having time alone in the classroom without students for planning and preparation needs. Specifically in grades K-2, specials take place in the classroom, which does not allow for quiet prep in the room. This decision was based on what makes planning and preparation easier for teachers. A faculty member and our SPC security will be outside to assist with any emergencies. Thank you in advance for your willingness to volunteer.
Lunch/Recess Supervisor Sign-Up Information Looking for a great way to get involved and help our teachers? Volunteer to be a Lunch Recess Supervisor! Volunteers will be assigned a classroom to supervise at lunch recess. Duties include supervising students outside during their scheduled recess time. Exact recess times will be communicated, but generally between 11:30 am and 12:30 pm. Parent volunteers must attend a training session in August to be approved (see sign-up below). Virtus requirements will also be adhered to (see below for more on Virtus).
If you’re interested in volunteering, please complete the Google Form HERE. We will use this form to gauge parent interest at this time. We will communicate classroom assignments in August once class lists have been communicated.
NEW RECESS/LUNCH PROCEDURES TRAINING:
WHEN: August 15th – 5:00–5:30 pm, or August 20th – 5:00–5:30 pm. WHERE: School GYM WHAT: Training on new lunch/recess supervision procedures. We will review school emergency protocols, recess/lunch protocols, and student health protocols. Please attend one of the training sessions to be on the approved list. CLICK HERE TO RSVP
FIELD TRIP CHAPERONE TRAINING: WHEN: September 5th – 5:30 pm (immediately before Back to School Night) WHERE: School GYM WHAT: This year, we are instituting training for field trip procedures. To be placed on the field trip-approved list, you must attend the training and be fully compliant with volunteer requirements. CLICK HERE TO RSVP
VIRTUS REMINDER: To volunteer in any capacity, such as coaching, recess/lunch, room parent, field trip chaperone, Fun Fair, or Olympics, to name a few, you must be a registered and approved volunteer. All aforementioned volunteers will only be assigned if they are fully compliant. If you have questions about your compliance, please email Mrs. Miulli. Click here for the list of requirements. You can drop off all forms in the EGC office during summer office hours or email them to Mrs. Miulli at [email protected].
Fall Support Groups A survey was sent out earlier this summer to assist us with planning our Fall programming. If you are still interested in having your child participate in an after-school program, please use this link for additional information. Mrs.Quinn will follow up regarding registration.
FINAL 24-25 SCHOOL CALENDAR We have finalized the 24-25 school calendar and uploaded it into the Google Calendar, so please check to see if it has synced with your phones. Click here to download the pdf version.
HOT LUNCH If you plan to order Hot Lunch for your students, we have new procedures in place this year. Please read through the information.
Peace,
Dr. Erika Mickelburgh
Welcome Parents!
The St. Paul Home & School Association is the parent organization at St. Paul of the Cross School. We are excited for the 2024-2025 school year at SPC! As your Home & School board, we invite you to get involved in your children’s school. Home & School is a great way to meet other parents and teachers, spend time with your children, and meet their friends. There are many volunteer opportunities both at school and from your home. Please contact any member of Home & School with questions.
Home and School Association Board Dan Bohlke, President
Erin Greene, Vice President
Christine Bryant, Treasurer
Rachel Barrett Kennedy, Secretary
If you would like to volunteer or have questions, please contact [email protected] for more information.
Please mark your calendars for the HSA meetings for this school year. Meetings are at 8am in Duffin Hall. We will also send Zoom links out if you prefer to join virtually. 9/6, 10/4, 12/6, 1/24, 4/4
Out of Uniform Passes HSA programs or co-sponsored activities are already underway and we need your partnership to keep the positive momentum. Out of Uniform Passes fund the majority of Home and School activities. We are asking each family to complete this form. One form per student enrolled at SPC needs to be completed. This form will allow you to purchase Out of Uniform Passes and also provide you the opportunity to donate towards our monthly teacher/faculty luncheon and birthday celebrations.
This year the Home and School Out of Uniform Passes are valid for the following dates (also indicated on the SPC School Calendar).
NEW THIS YEAR: Preschool students will be able to purchase “themed day” passes for the same days (for example PJ day, super hero day etc). The list of Themes will be sent in August.
We are looking forward to a great year and thank you in advance for your continued support!
Back to School Readiness Group: Main Street Counseling is offering a Back to School Readiness group (for 1st-3rd graders) on August 15th from 12:00–2:00 pm and will be $75. The workshop will be focused on discussing and practicing ways to transition back to school on a positive note. They will also review expected behaviors at school. If interested, please contact Laney Dossey at Main Street Counseling, Park Ridge.
Now Accepting New Students for Fall Smiling Strings Violin and Classical Guitar Smiling Strings Violin Grades K-8 Tuesdays 2-3 PM Guitar Grades 3-8 Tuesdays 3-4 PM Registration information here.
Registration for the Fall Session of the after-school chess program is underway. The 10-week program takes place on Tuesdays from 2-3 pm and runs from 9/10/24 to 11/12/24.
For more information and to register, please go to https://2024-2025stpaulofthecrosschess.eventbee.com/ and register by August 27th 2024 for the lowest rate. Chess-Ed is looking forward to seeing your CHESS ENTHUSIAST!
