Dear Parents,
This Saturday, our 8th grade Confirmandi will receive the Holy Sacrament of Confirmation. Please keep them in your prayers as we celebrate Confirmation at 9:30 am with The Most Reverend Bishop Mark Bartosic. Having completed a number of Confirmation interviews myself, I know our 8th graders are ready for this special day!
LENT BEGINS ON WEDNESDAY
Our students will begin our Lenten Journey on Tuesday morning when we gather for a short Palm Burning prayer Service. Please have your children bring their palms to their classrooms by Monday so that their palms may be included in the Palm Burning Prayer Service.
On Tuesday afternoon, we will gather as a school in the afternoon to learn about our Lenten Mission. Students will be coming home on Wednesday afternoon with their almsgiving envelopes.
We will gather for Ash Wednesday Mass at 1:30 on 2/26.
NEW: FACTS Tuition Management System
Beginning in July 2020, we are switching to FACTS Tuition Management for our tuition collection. We will detail the migration next week in the Thursday mailing. We are also working with FACTS at creating an online system for our May mailing, which will allow you to complete all the required forms online. In addition to online forms, you will be able to upload the necessary medical documentation. It is our hope that the new system will be more family and environmentally friendly.
5Essentials Survey: Please Complete
Beginning February 18, teachers, parents, and students across the Archdiocese of Chicago will have an opportunity to participate in the Climate, Culture, and Catholic Identity Survey utilizing the 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of St. Paul of the Cross School. As a parent, this opportunity will allow you to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness in a survey about your child’s school.
The 5Essentials Survey will be administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. These five indicators that affect and predict school success are:
· Effective Leaders
· Collaborative Teachers
· Involved Families
· Supportive Environments
· Ambitious Instruction
Prior research has shown that schools that were strong on at least three of these “5Essential” indicators were ten times more likely to improve student learning gains in math and reading than those that were weak on three or more Essentials.
All teachers and 4th through 8th-grade students will be responding to this survey. 5Essentials Reports will be generated for schools if their teachers and/or students meet the response rate threshold of 50 percent. These reports will be sent to schools and the Archdiocese in May 2020. Additionally, the Archdiocese has chosen to provide the 5Essential parent survey. If at least 20 percent of St. Paul of the Cross parents complete this survey, a parent supplement report will also be generated.
Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child.
The 5Essentials Survey will be conducted February 18 – March 20, 2020. To take the survey please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/archchicago/survey/parent/.
Thank you in advance for completing the survey.
Peace,
Dr. Erika Mickelburgh
Principal
Celebrating the Spirit - Deadline Tomorrow Sign Up for Teacher Celebrations, Out of Uniform Passes, Mother Son Dinner, and MORE!
Don't forget, one last chance to sign up online for all of the fabulous Teacher Celebrations, Out of Uniform Passes, Mother Son Dinner, and a few select Party Boards!
Thanks to all who have been going online to sign up for our wonderful CTS offerings, including the Teacher Celebrations, Mother Son Dinner, Father Daughter Dance, Out of Uniform Passes, and Parent Celebration Parties (Party Boards)! This is truly a community endeavor!
If you or your friends have plans to sign up for one or more of our CTS Party Boards (there are a few open spots and these parties are NOT to be missed!) and have not yet done so, please don't delay. ALL CTS Party Boards will be closed after tomorrow, February 21. Please click here to go to the the CTS website where you can sign up online.
To sign up for Teacher Celebrations (these are super fun parties for your child and his/her classmates hosted by their teachers!!!), Mother Son Dinner, Father Daughter Dance, and Out of Uniform Passes, please click on this link. The teachers have very creative and fun parties planned for your children!
The CTS website will close after tomorrow, February 21st. After that, the Teacher Celebrations & Father Daughter Dance prices increase to $25 each ($50 per father/daughter couple). The Mother Son Dinner will be $100 per mother/son couple. For Teacher Celebrations you will be able to send in cash/check to the teachers. There will be a form available for the Mother Son Dinner and the Father Daughter Dance that can be sent in with cash/check to the school office. If you are planning on purchasing any of these, we recommend you do this online before it closes.
For questions about the Teacher Celebration Parties, please contact your child's teacher directly.
Thank you for all of your support for SPC!
Laissez les bons temps rouler...Let the Good Times Roll with Dilly Bars!
Celebrate Mardi Gras and Support the Class of 2020...Dilly Bars will be sold for $2/each, during lunch, on Tuesday, February 25th!
SPC Home & School Association
BOX TOPS DUE Friday, February 27th!
Send in those Box Tops clips to the EGC or UGC offices ASAP! Our deadline is next Friday, February 27th in order for SPC to get credit for all of your box tops!
The Six Flags® Read to Succeed Six Hour Reading Club
A few weeks ago all kindergarten through sixth grade students received the Six Flags Read to Succeed Six Hour Reading Club information. The Six Flags® Read to Succeed Six Hour Reading Club is due by Wednesday. April 8th. Teachers will not be accepting reading logs after that date. Every student in kindergarten through sixth grade who completes six hours of recreational reading and enters the information online by Friday, Wednesday, April 8th is eligible for a free admission ticket valid at Six Flags Great America. Tickets will arrive in May, and will be distributed to those students that participated.
This year all reading logs need to be completed online. You can register your child/ren by going to http://www.sixflags.com/books . Please see all homeroom teacher’s codes below.
Homeroom Teacher Codes:
Mrs. Kusinski- XW4QZ
Mrs. Murphy- PADTH
Mrs. Rinaldi- A9TU3
Mrs. Hader-HFETT
Ms. Kraft-MDWRX
Mrs. Chaparro- D9EAH
Mrs. McCallister-S5E6V
Ms. Chambers- PZZHU
Mrs. Johnson- A5CY6
Mrs. Galvin- EKCVJ
Mrs. Golden-YWR2H
Ms. Lewandowski-4RMSZ
Mrs. Valdez- JPDBZ
Ms. FaQuin- ZQNPZ
Mrs. Zimmerman-Q9K7V
Mr. Okimoto-EKVBE
Mrs. Pecoraro-CGW7S
If you have any questions, please email Mrs. McCallister at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
SPC Yearbooks - Ordering Deadline is Friday, April 3rd
The deadline to order a St. Paul of the Cross yearbook is Friday, April 3rd. If you are not sure if you already ordered a yearbook, please contact Mrs. McCallister at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before ordering.
Here are three reasons we chose TreeRing:
- Custom Yearbooks: Every student gets a one of a kind printed copy containing two free pages to customize with personal photos. (This is optional; don’t feel obligated to complete this)
- Green Yearbooks: TreeRing plants a tree in our school’s name when you purchase a book and it prints on recycled paper. In the past four years TreeRing planted almost 1,800 trees on behalf of St. Paul of the Cross.
- Beautiful Yearbooks: All yearbooks are gorgeously printed in full color using the highest end print production available.
YOU CAN PURCHASE AND PERSONALIZE YOUR St. Paul of the Cross YEARBOOK BY CLICKING HERE https://treering.com/
Yearbook password: 101414618165482
A few important facts:
o Your personalized yearbook only costs $26.00 for a soft cover. You may order a hardcover yearbook for an additional charge.
o You’ll need to purchase your copy and complete your free personal pages by April 3rd.
o Your 2 free custom pages are optional, if you don’t customize you’ll receive a standard yearbook.
Regards,
Mrs. Melissa McCallister
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
P.S. If you need help, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. TreeRing has a wonderful customer service. I have found that calling them at 877-755-8733 works well too.
Spring Session begins Wednesday, March 18th!
Please click here to download the flyer.
Sticky Fingers Spring Session begins Thursday, March 19th!
Please click here to download the flyer.
Chess Ed Spring Session! Last Chance for Discounted Registration
Registration for the Spring Session of the after school chess program is underway! The 10-week program takes place on Tuesdays from 2-3 pm and runs from 2/25/20 to 5/5/20. The chess program is taught by Chess-Ed instructors and is open to all SPC students in 1st through 8th grade, and students of all chess abilities, novice or continuing.
Professional instruction will include the basics for novice players and build with opening theory, middle game planning, and end game combinations for continuing students. Playing chess improves memory, uses analytical and critical thinking skills, teaches problem solving, responsibility, sportsmanship, social skills and more! The benefits of chess last a lifetime.
Please click here for the Chess Ed spring flyer.
Please click here to go directly to registration.
St. Paul of the Cross Parish
We have an active and vibrant parish and encourage everyone to read the weekly bulletins for Fr. Britto's weekly letter and to stay informed about all of the upcoming events and programs. Parish Bulletin for February 23, 2020
From The Community
Loyola Academy Dance Team clinics on March 3rd and April 2nd for 6th through 8th grade students.
Please click here for the flyer and information.
St. Viator Future Lion Newsletter
Edison Park Youth Soccer
Regina Dominican High School Panther Book Club!
Summer Camps