Mary Ploen – St. Paul of the Cross Catholic School

March 13, 2025

Dear SPC Families,
HAPPY SPRING WEATHER! It is wonderful to see the sunshine and have recess outside! I hope you all have a fun-filled St. Patrick’s Day! Students may wear green on Monday (3/17) and red on St Joseph’s Day (3/19) next week! A reminder that next Friday, there is no school for a faculty professional development day!

WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY:
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION This coming Thursday, 3/20, we will celebrate our very own Mr. S! What is World Down Syndrome Day? World Down Syndrome Day, celebrated annually on March 21, is a global awareness day officially observed by the United Nations. It is celebrated on the 21st day of the 3rd month of the year and was selected to signify the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome, which causes Down Syndrome.

For the past 7 years we have partnered with Teaching Together Chicago to have Mr. S as a valued staff member. Mr. S will share a book about Down Syndrome with students in grades K-3 on Thursday. We would like children to come and wear mismatched socks and donate $1 to Misericordia Home, where Mr. S now resides. Students can turn in the $1 to their classroom teacher.

Why Mismatched Socks? Some attest that when viewed through a microscope, the chromosomes resemble socks; thus, the concept of socks was a natural fit for Down Syndrome awareness. Others explain that wearing mismatched socks is an easy, diverse approach to promoting the beauty of differences.

LENTEN ALMSGIVING
This coming Thursday we will welcome Father Victor Ingalls to speak to the students about the Mother of Mercy Parish and what their almsgiving will do for the parish.

We are partnering with Catholic Extension again this year to provide resources to a mission parish that is in need of support. We are excited to support Mother of Mercy Parish in Mobile, Alabama! CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE about the project. Your student will bring home an envelope so that they may collect their donations. Parents, it is important that you do not give the money to the kids! They can make donations and earn money by helping around the house or giving up a treat in exchange for a donation. Teachers will discuss almsgiving during classes.

CAREER DAY Grades 4-8th SPEAKERS NEEDED
We are looking for SPC parents to come and share their career experiences! Would you like to be a speaker? CLICK HERE Middle School is a great time for your students to start learning about different careers from the best people possible–YOU!

SAVE THE DATE: May 2, 2025
TIME: 8:15-11:30 AM
Grades 4-8 will spend the morning listening to parents from diverse fields talk about their careers. You will have four sessions from 8:15-11:30 to speak to small groups of students. You may not have to be here the entire morning, depending on the schedule.

SAVE THE DATES – March

3/17- Happy St Patrick’s Day–students may wear Green!
3/19- Happy St Joseph’s Day -students may wear Red
3/21-No School Faculty Professional Development Day

2024-2025 Family Masses: Save The Dates
This year, we have been hosting Family Masses at 10:30 AM in the Holy Family Chapel. These Family Masses are an excellent opportunity for our school community to pray together! Our students do the readings, serve as ushers, and our alumni return to be Eucharistic Ministers.

March 16th: All 4-8th grade Spring Athletes will pray together. Spring Athletes will wear their spring sports jerseys!
NO MASS in APRIL
May 25th: Preschool & Kindergarten

While the school hosts the above Family Masses, Religious Education hosts Family Masses on the following Sundays at 10:30 AM, and school families are always invited!
May 11

Peace,
Dr. Erika Mickelburgh

SPC Athletics

Click here to register now!

More SPC Updates

Teens and Anxiety and Durability
Dr. Damour shares her insights on how school pressures, social media, and widespread fears affect teenagers’ mental health. We explore healthy coping strategies, effective parenting techniques, and the importance of shifting perspectives to manage discomfort.

Turning Distress into Durability

The deadline to order a St. Paul of the Cross yearbook is Friday, April 4th. If you are not sure if you have already ordered a yearbook, please contact Mrs. McCallister at [email protected] before ordering. Click here to download the flyer with details.

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’ “The Daily” – Daily Mass Readings and Reflections

Friday Night Fish Fry Events

Help support SPC Fish Fry events!

Our SPC Fish Fry events are a highlight of the Lenten season—a time to come together as a parish community, enjoy delicious food, and strengthen our bonds of fellowship. Mark your calendars for Friday, March 21, and Friday, April 11.

Volunteer: All members of the parish are welcome to volunteer. This is also a great opportunity for students to earn service hours. Volunteer here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E49ADA829AAFAC43-55171549-spclenten

Donate: Help offset the cost of beer, wine and other beverages by donating what you are able. Donate here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=8R4UM7ZNACDUY

Contribute desserts and/or raffle baskets: Contribute to the dessert table with homemade or store-bought desserts and/or contribute to the raffle by providing a raffle basket (minimum $50 value). Drop off the day of the fish fry or coordinate drop-off on an earlier date. Please email us at [email protected] if you plan to contribute.

St. Paul Women’s Group Merit Scholarships for Current 8th Grade Female Students Attending ANY Catholic High School in the Fall of 2025
Deadline: Friday, May 2, 2025
Please click here to read more.

From the Community

Notre Dame College Prep

March 6, 2025

Dear SPC Families,

On Ash Wednesday, Father James, Mrs Hart, and I always spend some time in the preschool rooms giving out ashes. It is one of my most cherished moments during Lent because I hear what Ashes mean from the younger Tigers. Yesterday did not disappoint! As I sat in Mrs Nelson’s room, I asked them if they knew why we were having ashes put on our foreheads, to which they enthusiastically answered, “It is to show everyone that we are followers of Jesus!” How do we, as a community, show those in our lives that we are followers of Jesus? A Homily delivered by Pope Francis in 2017 provides insight into how our personal faith journey during Lent guides us to a greater understanding of God’s love for us so that we can grow as followers of Jesus. I hope that these words from the Holy Father sustain you in your Lenten journey.

Similar to Advent, we focus on the Lenten journey as a school. It is important for us to walk in the desert before we rejoice in the risen Christ on Easter morning. This chart provides simple ways Lent can be honored in your home during this time:

LENTEN ALMSGIVING
This year, we are partnering with Catholic Extension again to provide resources to a mission parish that is in need of support. We are excited to support Mother of Mercy Parish in Mobile, Alabama! CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE about the project. Your student will bring home an envelope so that they may collect their donations. Parents, it is important that you do not give the money to the kids! They can make donations and earn money by helping around the house or giving up a treat in exchange for a donation. Teachers will discuss almsgiving during classes.

ROUNDBALL THANK YOU!
My goodness, it has been quite a week! I want to take a moment to thank Mr. Joe Haugh and Mr. Ryan Fletcher for their many, many years of making Roundall a beloved tradition!
It takes many hours of behind-the-scenes logistics to make Roundball happen, not to mention the over 30 basketball games during the week to supervise! We are so grateful for their energy and planning! This year, Mr. Jim Brennan is transitioning to take the lead in the future. Thank you, Ryan, Joe, and Jim, for another great year! We are grateful for your time!

To Ms. Iacopelli, Mrs. Spanos, Mrs. Serafin, Mrs. O’Connor, Mrs. Mitlyng, and Mrs. Fletcher, thank you for the many hours you spent providing healthy and nutritious treats to all the fans! Having some new menu items and a great group of smiling faces behind the counter was fun! TODAY!
March 6th in-person Conferences 1:00-8:00 pm
March 7th -Asynchronous Learning Remote Parent-Teacher Conferences

SAVE THE DATES – March

Roundball March 2-8th
3/9 Daylight Savings Time (Turn Clocks forward)
3/17- Happy St Patrick’s Day–students may wear Green!
3/19- Happy St Joseph’s Day -students may wear Red
3/21-No School Faculty Professional Development Day

March 16th: All 4-8th grade Spring Athletes will pray together. Spring Athletes will wear their spring sports jerseys!
NO MASS in APRIL
May 25th: Preschool & Kindergarten

While the school hosts the above Family Masses, Religious Education hosts Family Masses on the following Sundays at 10:30 AM, and school families are always invited!
March 9
May 11

Peace,
Dr. Erika Mickelburgh

SPC Athletics

Click here to register now!

More SPC Updates

Turning Distress into Durability

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’ “The Daily” – Daily Mass Readings and Reflections

Friday Night Fish Fry Events

Help support SPC Fish Fry events!

Donate: Help offset the cost of beer, wine and other beverages by donating what you are able. Donate here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=8R4UM7ZNACDUY

From the Community

February 27, 2025

Dear SPC Families,

IMPORTANT: MAIN PARKING LOT ON TUESDAY, MARCH 4th!
The church is undergoing a large chiller project requiring the main parking lot to be closed for drop-off on Tuesday. It is important to note the following:

The Main Parking Lot will be closed at 6:30 am.
Please use Washington for drop-off. DO NOT DROP YOUR CHILD OFF NORTHBOUND ON WASHINGTON, WE DO NOT WANT KIDS CROSSING THE STREET IN BETWEEN TRAFFIC.
You may also use Summit and Ridge Terrace for Kiss and Go.
We strongly encourage all families to use the kiss and go on Tuesday. We will open the school doors at 7:40 am to aid in this.
You may not park in the FM Global lot and walk your children over.
We hope the large crane will be gone by 1:30 for pickup. However, if the parking lot is closed, please use public parking or the Metra spaces.

ROUNDBALL STARTS THIS WEEKEND!
One of the most beloved traditions for students, parents, and alumni is days away! The gym will be full, basketball will be exciting, and the concessions will be healthy and nutritious! Games begin on Sunday and continue through the week with games each evening. We hope you can come and join in the SPC Spirit! Download the Roundball Tournament brackets here.

PALMS NEEDED
On Tuesday, March 4th, we will have our Palm Burning Prayer Service. Please have your children bring in last year’s Palms.

ASH WEDNESDAY:
We will be having Ash Wednesday Mass next Wednesday. Preschool classes will be visited in the morning to receive their ashes.

Shamrock Shakes are Back!
Once again, NJHS is sponsoring a Shamrock Shake fundraiser, with proceeds benefiting the Church Lenten almsgiving project to support Our Mother of Mercy Parish in Mobile, Alabama. A shake costs $5, and you can place orders until March 6th at 10 am. No late orders will be accepted. Shakes will be delivered during lunchtime on March 17th. Thank you for your support.
Shamrock Shakes Click Here!

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES:
Next week, conferences will begin on Thursday, with dismissal at noon. Attendance at Parent-Teacher conferences is strongly encouraged.

The Pick-A-Time portal opened on February 25th. Please find instructions below on how to create an account and sign up for parent-teacher conferences. If you created a Pick-A-Time account in the fall, please use those login credentials. Spring conferences are required. Please schedule a conference with your child’s teacher(s). If you have any technical questions, please get in touch with me via email.

Conference Sign-Up Instructions

March 6th- Dismissal at 12:00 pm – NO AFTERNOON EDP TODAY!
March 6th in-person Conferences 1:00-8:00 pm
March 7th -Asynchronous Learning Remote Parent-Teacher Conferences

CAREER DAY Grades 4-8th SPEAKERS NEEDED:
We are looking for SPC parents to come and share their career experiences! Would you like to be a speaker? CLICK HERE Middle School is a great time for your students to start learning about different careers from the best people possible–YOU!

SAVE THE DATES – March

Roundball March 2-8th

Parent-Teacher Conferences:
March 6th– Dismissal at 12:00 pm
March 6th in-person Conferences 1:00–8:00 pm
March 7th -Asynchronous Learning Remote Parent-Teacher Conferences

March 16th: All 4-8th grade Spring Athletes will pray together. Spring Athletes will wear their spring sports jerseys!
NO MASS in APRIL
May 25th: Preschool & Kindergarten

While the school hosts the above Family Masses, Religious Education hosts Family Masses on the following Sundays at 10:30 AM, and school families are always invited!
March 9
May 11

Peace,
Dr. Erika Mickelburgh

SPC Athletics

Click here to download this week’s Athletics Newsletter.

Click here to register now!

More SPC Updates

Turning Distress into Durability

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’ “The Daily” – Daily Mass Readings and Reflections

Friday Night Fish Fry Events

These events are only possible with the help of volunteers like you! The SPC Women’s Group partners with the Knights of Columbus for these events. We have many opportunities for you to help make these welcoming and successful events for our parish. All members of the parish are welcome to volunteer. This is also a great opportunity for students to earn service hours. Volunteer here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E49ADA829AAFAC43-55171549-spclenten

We also need donations of beer, wine and desserts. You can drop them off the day of the fish fry or coordinate drop-off on an earlier date. Please email us at [email protected] if you are able to donate.

Women’s Group Retreat March 6th
Reflect, Recharge, Renew
Please click here to download the flyer and all of the details.

From the Community

February 20, 2025

Dear SPC Families,

This weekend, we celebrate our 8th grade Confirmands! On Saturday morning, our 8th graders will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Please keep them all in your prayers as they receive the sacrament of Confirmation! I want to thank Mrs. Donahue and Mrs. Parkhill for all they have done to prepare the students for Confirmation.

Saturday evening, Home and School will be hosting the Sock Hop! We have over 700 dancers and sweethearts ready to dance and enjoy a fun evening! A special shout out to Home and School for planning this wonderful tradition.

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES:

Parent-teacher conferences are on March 6th (in person) and March 7th (Google Meets). On February 25th, Pick a Time opens to schedule your conferences! We strongly encourage parent participation in these valuable teacher conversations.

Last Call Celebrating the Spirit Teacher Parties!
Don’t miss out on signing up your students for the awesome Teacher Treats! You have through tomorrow, Friday, February 21st.

A very special thanks to our incredible teachers for planning these fun after school Teacher Treats (parties) for the students! Please visit the Celebrating the Spirit website to sign up! Thank you for supporting St. Paul of the Cross School!

SAVE THE DATE: May 2, 2025
TIME: 8:15-11:30 AM

Grades 4-8 will spend the morning listening to parents from diverse fields talk about their careers. You will have four sessions from 8:15-11:30 to speak to small groups of students. You may not have to be here the entire morning, depending on the schedule.

SAVE THE DATES – March

Roundball – March 1-8th
Parent-Teacher Conferences:
March 6th- Dismissal at 12:00 pm
March 6th in-person Conferences 1:00–8:00 pm
March 7th -Asynchronous Learning Remote Parent-Teacher Conferences

2024-2025 Family Masses: Save The Dates
This year, the school will be hosting family Masses at 10:30 AM in the Holy Family Chapel, and it will be an excellent opportunity for our school community to pray together! Our students will be reading and serving as ushers, and our alumni will return to be Eucharistic ministers.

February 23: 1st and 2nd Grade
March 16th: All 4-8th grade Spring Athletes will pray together. Spring Athletes will wear their spring sports jerseys!
NO MASS in APRIL
May 25th: Preschool & Kindergarten

While the school hosts the above Family Masses, Religious Education hosts Family Masses on the following Sundays at 10:30 AM, and school families are always invited!
March 9
May 11

Peace,
Dr. Erika Mickelburgh

Twist and Shout! It’s time for a 1950s Sock Hop!
All preschool – 8th grade girls are invited to attend the annual SPC Sweetheart Dance.

Tickets are still available for the 4pm and 7:30pm time slots. Tickets can be purchased thru Thursday, February 20th here. Tickets will not be available at the door.

To help the event run smoothly, we are looking for volunteers to help with set-up, check-in and clean-up. We can’t make this event happen without you! Sign up here. We are in great need of 3-4 additional volunteers to help with set up from 1:30pm – 3:30pm and 3-4 additional volunteers to help with check-in from 5pm – 7:30pm.

*We are unable to provide refunds or make switches of time slots once tickets have been purchased.*

SPC Athletics

Click here to register now!

Click here to download the Athletics Newsletter

More SPC Updates

Please click on the Hot Lunch image above to register today!

Turning Distress into Durability

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’ “The Daily” – Daily Mass Readings and Reflections

Women’s Group Retreat March 6th
Reflect, Recharge, Renew
Please click here to download the flyer and all of the details.

From the Community

February 13, 2025

Dear SPC Families,

Thank you to everyone who attended, contributed, and volunteered for Celebrating the Spirit! It was a fun 100th birthday party! We are still finalizing the numbers as donations are still coming in, but it was a tremendous success, thanks to all of your generosity and support!

Celebrating the Spirit Teacher Parties and Party Board Spaces!
Though Celebrating the Spirit is over, we are still celebrating our SPC spirit! Now it’s time for the Teacher Treats and a few remaining Party Board spots!

A very special thanks to our generous party hosts for setting up a great social calendar for our SPC parents and to our incredible teachers for planning these fun Teacher Treats for the students!

We will keep any open parties online until they are sold out or through Friday, February 21st, whichever comes first. If you are planning on signing up, don’t delay. The Teacher Treats also close after Friday, February 21st.

Please visit the Celebrating the Spirit website to sign up for both the Teacher Treats and the Party Boards on the same page.

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES:

Parent-teacher conferences are on March 6th (in person) and March 7th (Google Meets). On February 20th, we will send information on scheduling your conferences through Pick a Time!

SAVE THE DATE: May 2, 2025
TIME: 8:15-11:30 AM

SAVE THE DATES (FEBRUARY & March)

February 14: No School – Professional Development Day
February 17: No School – Presidents Day
Roundball – March 1-8th

Parent-Teacher Conferences:
March 6th- Dismissal at 12:00 pm
March 6th in-person Conferences 1:00–8:00 pm
March 7th -Asynchronous Learning Remote Parent-Teacher Conferences

February 23: 1st and 2nd Grade
March 16th: All 4-8th grade Spring Athletes will pray together. Spring Athletes will wear their spring sports jerseys!
NO MASS in APRIL
May 25th: Preschool & Kindergarten

While the school hosts the above Family Masses, Religious Education hosts Family Masses on the following Sundays at 10:30 AM, and school families are always invited!
March 9
May 11

Peace,
Dr. Erika Mickelburgh

Twist and Shout! It’s time for a 1950s Sock Hop!
All preschool – 8th grade girls are invited to attend the annual SPC Sweetheart Dance. Tickets can be purchased thru Thursday, February 20th here. Tickets will not be available at the door.

To help the event run smoothly, we are looking for volunteers to help with set-up, check-in and clean-up. We can’t make this event happen without you! Sign up here.

*We are unable to provide refunds or make switches of time slots once tickets have been purchased.*

SPC Athletics

Click here to register now!

Click here to download the Athletics Newsletter

More SPC Updates

Turning Distress into Durability

Players, coaches, and sponsors, it’s Roundball 2025 Registration Time!
Player Registration
Coach Application
Sponsorship Form
All information is on our Roundball webpage.

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’ “The Daily” – Daily Mass Readings and Reflections

Women’s Group Retreat March 6th
Reflect, Recharge, Renew
Please click here to download the flyer and all of the details.

From the Community

February 6, 2025

Dear SPC Families,

I look forward to Celebrating 100 years of St. Paul of the Cross School Spirit tomorrow and honoring the legacy of Maggie Burke! The CTS program book went home Monday so everyone could review auction items and the adorable well wishes. I want to thank our wonderful co-chairs, Megan Weber and Kelly Bontempo, and their committee for all their hard work in planning the birthday party of the century! A special shout out to Mary Ploen, who has been the point person for CTS for the past 16 years! I look forward to raising money and toasting to the next 100 years with you tomorrow!

Student Council is still collecting donations for the “Souper Bowl,” which will benefit the parish food pantry!

SAVE THE DATE: May 2, 2025
TIME: 8:15-11:30 AM

SAVE THE DATES (JANUARY & FEBRUARY)

February 7: Celebrating the Spirit
February 10: No School – Superbowl Monday reward from Fun Run
February 14: No School – Professional Development Day
February 17: No School – Presidents Day

February 23: 1st and 2nd Grade
March 16th: All 4-8th grade Spring Athletes will pray together. Spring Athletes will wear their spring sports jerseys!
NO MASS in APRIL
May 25th: Preschool & Kindergarten

While the school hosts the above Family Masses, Religious Education hosts Family Masses on the following Sundays at 10:30 AM, and school families are always invited!
March 9
May 11

Peace,
Dr. Erika Mickelburgh

We are so excited! The Birthday Party of the Century is tomorrow night, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you all! What an amazing turnout!

Those attending Celebrating the Spirit should have already received your welcome message about online bidding last night. Please DO NOT register for online bidding twice; if you have already received the welcome message text and/or email, you are already registered for online bidding. The Party Boards will be at CTS Friday night, and attendees will have the opportunity to sign up upon arrival.

For those of you who are unable to join us tomorrow night but still want to be a part of our online silent auction, the Silent Auction is online now! Click on the provided link below to automatically browse the auction packages. The “how to” is in the email blast we sent out this afternoon.

Let the Bidding Begin! https://spcsch2025.ggo.bid

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

Here are some FAQs about Celebrating the Spirit! Get the scoop on the evening program, what to expect, and more! CTS 2025 FAQ
Thank you for your support!

Twist and Shout! It’s time for a 1950s Sock Hop!
All preschool – 8th grade girls are invited to attend the annual SPC Sweetheart Dance.

Tickets can be purchased thru Thursday, February 20th here. Tickets will not be available at the door.
*We are unable to provide refunds or make switches of time slots once tickets have been purchased.

More SPC Updates

Spring Ballet with Ms. Rio
Please click on the flyer here.

Turning Distress into Durability

Players, coaches, and sponsors, it’s Roundball 2025 Registration Time!
Player Registration
Coach Application
Sponsorship Form
All information is on our Roundball webpage.

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’ “The Daily” – Daily Mass Readings and Reflections

Women’s Group Retreat March 6th
Reflect, Recharge, Renew
Please click here for the details.

From the Community

January 30, 2025

Dear SPC Families,

This week, I had the opportunity to conduct Confirmation interviews for our 8th grade Confirmands, who will receive the sacrament of Confirmation on February 22nd. As educators, we spend much of our time “measuring” success, whether it is academic, behavioral, growth of programs, or even financial. As Catholic school educators, a challenge is “measuring” Catholic identity or how children grow in their faith. Applying quantitative measures to this question does little to examine the complex journey of growing in faith through their elementary school years. Confirmation interviews provide insight into how our 8th graders are leaving SPC as faith-filled Christians. I was moved by the thoughtful responses to the questions. Our 8th graders are fully prepared for Confirmation and, more importantly, firmly grounded in their faith as they leave for high school. Our students spoke eloquently of why they selected their sponsors and how they connected with their Confirmation saint. They discussed how they experienced the Corporal Works of Mercy in their community service and how they hope to grow in the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit. After a morning of conversations, I was truly moved by how rooted our 8th graders are in their Catholic values and love for God. I was inspired by their excitement to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation and their motivation to live a life of Christian service. Growing up as an adolescent is not easy these days; the cultural norms that exist in social media, music, and movies often run counter to the values of our faith. Yes, kids will be kids, and they will make mistakes, but I can say with certainty that the moral compass and faith-filled values are strong in our graduates. Please keep our Confirmands in your prayers these next few weeks as they prepare for Confirmation!

I hope to see you at Celebrating the Spirit, the biggest birthday bash of the century, next Friday! Thank you to the CTS committee, which has planned quite the birthday bash!

If you plan to join us but have not yet purchased your tickets, don’t miss out on signing up! You can buy your tickets here. Please look below for more details and an FAQ from the committee. Stay tuned for the online auction details that will be released early next week.

What a fun week we have had at SPC, celebrating Catholic Schools Week! I want to give a shout-out to the Catholic Schools Week teacher committee, who worked to plan memorable activities! This week was extra special as we kicked off celebrating our 100th birthday!

Thank you to Home and School, who planned Bowling with the Boys last week; we had two very well-attended sessions and a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon! Thank you to Molly Moran who chairs the parent/child events!

I also ask you to keep Jack Trojan, one of our maintenance staff, in your prayers. Last week, his wife, Michelle, passed away. Michelle was a constant presence on campus from her time working EDP to even coming to help Jack if he was called to campus after his shift to fix something or just help out. Michelle will be missed, and all of our hearts break for Jack and his family. Please keep them all in your prayers. At this time arrangements are private for the family. Any cards or wishes for Jack can be dropped at the main office.

SAVE THE DATE: May 2, 2025
TIME: 8:15-11:30 AM

SAVE THE DATES (JANUARY & FEBRUARY)

February 7: Celebrating the Spirit
February 10: No School – Superbowl Monday reward from Fun Run
February 14: No School – Professional Development Day
February 17: No School – Presidents Day

February 23: 1st and 2nd Grade
March 16th: All 4-8th grade Spring Athletes will pray together. Spring Athletes will wear their spring sports jerseys!
NO MASS in APRIL
May 25th: Preschool & Kindergarten

While the school hosts the above Family Masses, Religious Education hosts Family Masses on the following Sundays at 10:30 AM, and school families are always invited!
February 2
March 9
May 11

Peace,
Dr. Erika Mickelburgh

We are so excited! The Birthday Party of the Century is just a week away and we can’t wait to celebrate with you all! What an amazing turnout!
Reminder, if you are planning to attend, don’t wait to get those tickets! Purchase your CTS tickets here!

Here are some FAQs about Celebrating the Spirit! Get the scoop on the evening program, what to expect, and more! CTS 2025 FAQ

SPC ATHLETICS

Please click on the newsletter to download.

Twist and Shout! It’s time for a 1950s Sock Hop!
All preschool – 8th grade girls are invited to attend the annual SPC Sweetheart Dance.

Tickets can be purchased thru Thursday, February 20th here. Tickets will not be available at the door.

*We are unable to provide refunds or make switches of time slots once tickets have been purchased.

More SPC Updates

Turning Distress into Durability

Players, coaches, and sponsors, it’s Roundball 2025 Registration Time!
Player Registration
Coach Application
Sponsorship Form
All information is on our Roundball webpage.

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’ “The Daily” – Daily Mass Readings and Reflections

Women’s Group Retreat March 6th
Reflect, Recharge, Renew
Please click here for the details.

From the Community

January 23, 2025

Dear SPC Families,

We are excited to celebrate Catholic Schools Week. Beginning on Sunday with Mass and Open House, the Catholic Schools Week committee has planned a week of activities celebrating our Catholic School!!!

Last Saturday, St. Paul of the Cross 6-8 graders participated in the Future City Competition. The students presented their model of a futuristic floating city called “Atlantis Reborn.” The team was awarded Best Name for a Community by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Congratulations!

Thank you to all of our police parents who have responded immediately by signing up for extra shifts to ensure our community’s safety! Since I have not received any official notification regarding the threat made at a local school, we will continue to have extra security on campus during the school day.

Quick reminder, if you’re planning to purchase tickets for Celebrating the Spirit on February 7th, the ticket prices go up tomorrow. Click here to purchase your tickets.

This a reminder that Home and School will meet in the Holy Family Chapel after drop-off tomorrow, January 24th.

Please keep the O’Connell family in your prayers, as they suffered a house fire this week. The 1st-grade room moms will organize some support soon, but if you would like to drop off gift card donations to the main office, we will ensure they receive them.

SAVE THE DATES (JANUARY & FEBRUARY)

January 26-31: Catholic Schools Week – Please see below
February 7: Celebrating the Spirit
February 10: No School – Superbowl Monday reward from Fun Run
February 14: No School – Professional Development Day
February 17: No School – Presidents Day

In This Week’s Thursday Mailing

Catholic Schools Week
24-25 Family Mass Schedule (please see below for additional dates for Family Mass hosted by Religious Education)

Catholic Schools Week January 26-31!
We are excited to celebrate our upcoming Catholic Schools Week! Please click here to download the pdf.

Kiss and Go During Cold Weather
“Oh the weather outside is frightful and the kiss and go line is much longer”
A few friendly reminders:

Have your children wear their coats in the car – we do not have time to put coats on and keep the line moving.
We do not prop the doors open when it is cold so we can keep the heat in the building. The teachers are just inside and will still open the door.
The kiss-and-go helpers will go inside at 8:00 am–if you are late, please walk your child inside.
And….do not get out of your car or risk the whistle and the naughty list!
And….do not pull out from the line if you are in the cones—that is a hard-to-get-off-of-the-naughty-list infraction!

February 23: 1st and 2nd Grade
March 16th: All 4-8th grade Spring Athletes will pray together. Spring Athletes will wear their spring sports jerseys!
NO MASS in APRIL
May 25th: Preschool & Kindergarten

While the school hosts the above Family Masses, Religious Education hosts Family Masses on the following Sundays at 10:30 AM, and school families are always invited!
February 2
March 9
May 11

Peace,
Dr. Erika Mickelburgh

We are so excited! The Birthday Party of the Century is just 2 weeks away and we can’t wait to celebrate with you all! Reminder that ticket prices increase tomorrow! Purchase your CTS tickets here!

SPC ATHLETICS

Please click on the newsletter to download.

HSA Meeting on Friday, January 24th
Happy New Year! Please join us for our first meeting of 2025 on Friday, January 24, at 8 am in the Holy Family Chapel. If you prefer to join virtually, please use this link.

Information for the zoom is below:
Topic: HASA January Meeting
Time: Jan 24, 2025 08:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/83025925974?pwd=HIG8n4Ex9siWzoYVILfg0Gybn1nU0O.1

Meeting ID: 830 2592 5974
Passcode: wjrZ4y

Hello Families!
We are doing well with Box Tops this year! We have raised over $155 for the Home and School Association. We have increased the number of supporters scanning receipts each month since the beginning of the year! Thank you for your participation! If you would like more information about Box Tops, please visit Box Tops.

I am now the Raise Right Coordinator. I love Raise Right because I can buy virtual gift cards to use for everyday spending and it helps me reduce my daughters’ tuition at the same time. Did you know you can buy gift cards to pay for uniforms? That is my favorite way to use Raise Right and it’s very easy to do. I have created a presentation that explains the program (and how to buy gift cards for uniforms) which you can see here: Raise Right

Please contact me with any questions you may have.

Carrie Jackiewicz
[email protected]

More SPC Updates

Players, coaches, and sponsors, it’s Roundball 2025 Registration Time!
Player Registration
Coach Application
Sponsorship Form
All information is on our Roundball webpage.

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’ “The Daily” – Daily Mass Readings and Reflections

Women’s Group Retreat March 6th
Reflect, Recharge, Renew
Please click here for the details.

From the Community

January 16, 2025

Dear SPC Families,

Last weekend was excellent for SPC Basketball; we had many teams in the playoffs! Thank you to all our coaches and fans! Congratulations to the 6th Grade Girls Gold Team and the 8th Grade Boys Blue, who brought home the championships!

Please keep our 2nd graders in your prayers next week! Ms. Guerrero and Mrs. Galvin’s classes will receive the Sacrament of First Reconciliation on Tuesday, and Mrs. McCallister and Ms. Vasilic’s classes on Wednesday! May God Bless all of our 2nd graders!

Earlier this week, I sent a note about a security threat at a local Catholic School. Thank you to all of our police parents who responded immediately by signing up for extra shifts! I know many rumors are circulating. However, I have not seen an official notification regarding the issue. Until then, we will continue having extra campus security during the school day. I was able to have conversations with both PR Police Chief Kampwirth and Deputy Chief Ware, who made sure there would be extra police presence throughout the day and at dismissal. We are truly blessed to have the support of our first responders to ensure the safety of our community.

This a reminder that Home and School will meet in the Holy Family Chapel after drop-off on Friday, January 24th.

SAVE THE DATES (JANUARY & FEBRUARY)

January 20: No School – Martin Luther King Day
January 26-31: Catholic Schools Week – Please see below
February 7: Celebrating the Spirit
February 10: No School – Superbowl Monday reward from Fun Run
February 14: No School – Professional Development Day
February 17: No School – Presidents Day

In This Week’s Thursday Mailing

Re enrollment!-The last day for re-enrollment is January 22nd!
Catholic Schools Week
IReady Winter
24-25 Family Mass Schedule (please see below for additional dates for Family Mass hosted by Religious Education)

Re-enrollment for 2025-2026 School Year:
You received an email on December 6th with the links to re-enroll your child through FACTS. All enrollment packets are due by January 22, 2025. Following this date, we can not guarantee space in your child’s grade if not completed.

All new students will be accepted on January 24, 2025. Any packet submitted beyond January 22, 2025, increases to $175 per student.

Catholic Schools Week January 26-31!
We are excited to celebrate our upcoming Catholic Schools Week! Please click here to download the pdf.

IREADY WINTER
We are administering the Winter IReady tests on January 15th (Math) and January 22nd (Reading).

Kiss and Go During Cold Weather
“Oh the weather outside is frightful and the kiss and go line is much longer”
A few friendly reminders:

Have your children wear their coats in the car – we do not have time to put coats on and keep the line moving.
We do not prop the doors open when it is cold so we can keep the heat in the building. The teachers are just inside and will still open the door.
The kiss-and-go helpers will go inside at 8:00 am–if you are late, please walk your child inside.
And….do not get out of your car or risk the whistle and the naughty list!
And….do not pull out from the line if you are in the cones—that is a hard-to-get-off-of-the-naughty-list infraction!

January 19th: 3rd and 4th Grade
February 23: 1st and 2nd Grade
March 16th: All 4-8th grade Spring Athletes will pray together. Spring Athletes will wear their spring sports jerseys!
NO MASS in APRIL
May 25th: Preschool & Kindergarten

While the school hosts the above Family Masses, Religious Education hosts Family Masses on the following Sundays at 10:30 AM, and school families are always invited!
February 2
March 9
May 11

Peace,
Dr. Erika Mickelburgh

Looking forward to celebrating with you all in February!
Don’t forget to purchase your tickets before the price increases next week!

Purchase your CTS tickets here!

Meeting ID: 830 2592 5974
Passcode: wjrZ4y

Bowling with the Boys
Bowling with the Boys is on Saturday, January 25th. Tickets can be purchased by clicking this link for the Noon or 2:30 pm sessions.

We are also looking for 2-3 volunteers to help with check-in at the start of each event. If you are available to help, please sign up using this link.

Additional information is below. We can’t wait to see you!

Please contact me with any questions you may have.

Carrie Jackiewicz
[email protected]

More SPC Updates

Players, coaches, and sponsors, it’s Roundball 2025 Registration Time!
Player Registration
Coach Application
Sponsorship Form
All information is on our Roundball webpage.

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’ “The Daily” – Daily Mass Readings and Reflections

From the Community

Edison Park Winter Indoor Soccer Registration Information

Knights of Columbus Free Throw Contest

January 9, 2025

Dear SPC Families,

Happy New Year! It is good to have everyone back in school! Tomorrow is a Spirit Wear Day.

In this Thursday Mailing:

Re enrollment!-The last day for the early bird rate is Tomorrow, January 10th
IReady Next Week
24-25 Family Mass Schedule (please see below for additional dates for Family Mass hosted by Religious Education)

Re-enrollment for 2025-2026 School Year:
You received an email on December 6th with the links to re-enroll your child through FACTS. Reminder- the early bird rate of $75 per student runs until tomorrow, January 10, 2025. Following January 10th, the rate increases to the regular fee of $125 per student. All enrollment packets are due by January 22, 2025. Following this date, we can not guarantee space in your child’s grade if not completed.

All new students will be accepted on January 24, 2025. Any packet submitted beyond January 22, 2025, increases to $175 per student.

IREADY WINTER
We will administer the Winter IReady tests on January 15th (Math) and January 22nd (Reading).

Kiss and Go During Cold Weather
“Oh the weather outside is frightful and the kiss and go line is much longer”
A few friendly reminders:

Have your children wear their coats in the car – we do not have time to put coats on and keep the line moving.
We do not prop the doors open when it is cold so we can keep the heat in the building. The teachers are just inside and will still open the door.
The kiss-and-go helpers will go inside at 8:00 am–if you are late, please walk your child inside.
And….do not get out of your car or risk the whistle and the naughty list!
And….do not pull out from the line if you are in the cones—that is a hard-to-get-off-of-the-naughty-list infraction!

January 19th: 3rd and 4th Grade
February 23: 1st and 2nd Grade
March 16th: All 4-8th grade Spring Athletes will pray together. Spring Athletes will wear their spring sports jerseys!
NO MASS in APRIL
May 25th: Preschool & Kindergarten

While the school hosts the above Family Masses, Religious Education hosts Family Masses on the following Sundays at 10:30 AM, and school families are always invited!

January 12
February 2
March 9
May 11

Peace,

Dr. Erika Mickelburgh

CTS Auction

Calling all SPC families! There’s still time to donate to our silent auction and contribute to this great cause – our incredible SPC teachers! Do you have access to exclusive experiences or unique items that could make our CTS auction unforgettable? Perhaps VIP tickets to a big game, a weekend getaway, or a behind-the-scenes tour? Every item, especially those that offer “priceless” moments, helps us raise essential funds for SPC.

If you are interested in donating (or if you have any questions) please email any of us with details at:

Kim Jung at [email protected]
Pam Walsh at [email protected]
Nicole Stinson at [email protected]

Looking forward to celebrating with you all in February!

Purchase your CTS tickets here!

Bowling with the Boys
Bowling with the Boys is on Saturday, January 25th. Tickets can be purchased by clicking this link for the Noon or 2:30 pm sessions. Additional information is below. We can’t wait to see you!

More SPC Updates

Players, coaches, and sponsors, it’s Roundball 2025 Registration Time!
Player Registration
Coach Application
Sponsorship Form
All information is on our Roundball webpage.

Encouraging Presence Ove Presents: Hleping Kids Stay Grounded

Elf on a Shelf Kindess Edition

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’ “The Daily” – Daily Mass Readings and Reflections

From the Community

Edison Park Winter Indoor Soccer Registration Information

Knights of Columbus Free Throw Contest