Dear SPC Families,

We are excited about our fun menu of summer enrichment camps for students for three weeks this coming summer! The registration is now open for all current SPC students and incoming new SPC students! Click here for the Summer Camp brochure, which includes the registration link. 

Parent Teacher Conferences Coming Soon!
The second-trimester Parent-Teacher Conferences will be on Thursday, March 7th, 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm and Friday, March 8th, 9:00 am - 3:30 pm. Conferences on Thursday will be in person. Conferences on Friday will be online using Google Meets (meeting links are located in the Room section of Your Schedule). The format for conferences will be 10 minutes for students in grades four through eight and 30 minutes for students in grades preschool through third.
Parents will use the online scheduling program, Pick-A-Time, to schedule conferences. To schedule a conference, you must utilize the Pick-A-Time website and select your conference times. We ask every parent to access Pick-A-Time to schedule a conference with their child’s teachers between Tuesday, February 27 (starting at 8:00 am) and Tuesday, March 5 (ending at midnight).
PICK-A-TIME WILL CLOSE ON TUESDAY, MARCH 5th at MIDNIGHT 

LENTEN ALMSGIVING:

We are excited to announce our 2024 partnership with Catholic Extension! Over the past seven years, we have partnered with Catholic Extension for our Lenten Almsgiving. What the parish and school have been able to accomplish during this time is truly amazing. I have been blessed to visit some of the projects and see firsthand the transformative nature of the donations. Please click here for an overview of projects throughout the years. 

This year, we will support missionary priests in the Diocese of Cheyanne, Wyoming! Please click here for an overview of this year's project. In early March, Seminarian Lee will come and speak to the students about his vocation and his work in Wyoming. 

We are asking students to participate in Almsgiving this Lent. I encourage you to have a conversation with your students about ways they can participate. This is not a "ask mom and dad for money" situation; it is time for students to make choices and work to help the missionary priests. Below are some ways to talk to your children about almsgiving. If your child brings in $1 or $50, the important thing is they contribute themselves in any way possible. Simply bring the money to the homeroom, and we will collect the funds. 

Lenten Resources for Families:

Helping kids understand Almsgiving

Explaining Fasting, Prayer and Almsgiving to kids

Teaching about Lent

Teaching Kids about Lent

Strings Concert February 22nd at 7:0opm
Congratulations to all of our musicians! Please come and listen to their beautiful music. If you are thinking of having your child start an instrument, this is a great way to show them what is possible!  

Peace,

Dr. Erika Mickelburgh

SPC Home & School Association

Sweetheart Dance Ticket Update and Call for Volunteers
We are very excited to welcome all of our SPC Sweethearts this Saturday, February 24th, as we prepare to dance the night away at our Barbie-themed event. Ticket sales are now closed for pre-purchase. The price of tickets at the door increases to $20 per person and is only available for the 3:30 and 7:30 pm sessions. Walk-in tickets can be paid via cash or check. 

We are not able to accommodate walk-ins for the 5:30 pm session due to gym capacity. 

We are still looking for volunteers to help with set-up and to facilitate the check-in process for our 3:30 pm and 7:30 pm sessions. If you are able to volunteer, Use this link to sign up.

Used Uniform Sale - Save the Date March 7th!
If you have any used uniform items, please drop them off to either office by March 7th. 

SPC Athletics

SPC Athletics Sponsored Spirit Wear Sale! 

The Athletic spirit wear store is open to EVERYONE!!! We have sweatshirts, T-shirts, pajama pants, bags, water bottles, and decals for decoration. The spirit store closes on Saturday, February 24th at 5:00 pm. Click here or on the image below to place your order.
 

SPC Football Fall 2024!


If you would like to help and coach our football program or be an active football board member in the upcoming 2024-25 school year, please complete this Google Form. 

Spring Ballet Registration 

Please click here to download the flyer with the registration link and more details.

SPC School Board 

The St. Paul of the Cross School Board will have 3 vacancies for the 2024-25 school year. Details regarding the nomination deadline and election timeline will follow in a few weeks. For now, we wanted to put the idea on your radar, giving you plenty of time to consider taking a leadership role and participate on the school board.

As an advisory board, our school board assists our Pastor, Fr. James, and our Principal, Dr. Erika Mickelburgh, in formulating and implementing policies and procedures to run our parish school.

The school board meets monthly during the school year. The board activities include finance, academic education, religious education, public relations, technology and building planning.

The eligibility requirements to serve on the Board include being:
1. A registered practicing Catholic at St. Paul of the Cross;
2. Genuinely interested in working collaboratively to advance the Catholic and academic education at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic School.

If you are interested in learning more about serving on the school board, please contact Siobhán Haugh (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it./773.791.0570).

Save the Date! Spring Art Show April 14, 2024!

Webinar: Helping Your Child Face Their Fears February 29th

Spring Session Information. Please click here.

Deadline to order a 2023-2024 SPC Yearbook is Monday, April 1st 2024

 If you are not sure if you have 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. Tree Ring does send  a confirmation email when you order.

Please click here to download all the details about ordering your yearbooks.

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

From the Community

Park Ridge Baseball and Softball Registration Now Open
Age 5 (by August 31st) and Up

Dear SPC Families,

Yesterday afternoon, I was walking down the hall when a little voice exclaimed, "Dr. M, today was the best day ever!" to which I replied, "What happened today?" She enthusiastically told me, "A very tall man (Father James) came into the classroom and put crosses on our foreheads. That means God loves us!" There really is no greater gift than seeing children grow in their faith! We don't often associate excitement with the Lenten season of fasting and sacrifice, but this little one quickly reminded me that even in the season of sacrifice and fasting, there can be great joy in God's love for us! 

On Tuesday, we gathered for our Palm Burning Prayer Service, and yesterday, we gathered as a school for Ash Wednesday Mass. As we journey through Lent, we will talk about Fasting, Prayer, and Almsgiving. Students will attend Stations of the Cross led by 8th graders, and the 2nd -8th graders will attend Reconciliation. 

LENTEN ALMSGIVING:

We are excited to announce our 2024 partnership with Catholic Extension! Over the past seven years, we have partnered with Catholic Extension for our Lenten Almsgiving. What the parish and school have been able to accomplish during this time is truly amazing. I have been blessed to visit some of the projects and see firsthand the transformative nature of the donations. Please click here for an overview of projects throughout the years. 

This year, we will support missionary priests in the Diocese of Cheyanne, Wyoming! Please click here for an overview of this year's project. In early March, Seminarian Lee will come and speak to the students about his vocation and his work in Wyoming. 

We are asking students to participate in Almsgiving this Lent. I encourage you to have a conversation with your students about ways they can participate. This is not a "ask mom and dad for money" situation; it is time for students to make choices and work to help the missionary priests. Below are some ways to talk to your children about almsgiving. If your child brings in $1 or $50, the important thing is they contribute themselves in any way possible. Simply bring the money to the homeroom, and we will collect the funds. 

Lenten Resources for Families:

Helping kids understand Almsgiving

Explaining Fasting, Prayer and Almsgiving to kids

Teaching about Lent

Teaching Kids about Lent

Celebrating the Spirit  - Final Day to Sign Up for Teacher/Classroom Parties or Party Boards
Just a reminder, tomorrow (February 16th) is the final day to sign your child up for any of our fun Teacher Treats Parties! Please click on the Teacher Treats & Party Board link to sign up for the great parties hosted by our teachers. And for the parents, we still have some spots available at our incredible parent hosted party boards! Don't miss out!

Strings Concert February 22nd at 7:0opm
Congratulations to all of our musicians! Please come and listen to their beautiful music. If you are thinking of having your child start an instrument, this is a great way to show them what is possible!

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES:

This is a reminder that parent-teacher conferences are around the corner, and pick-a-time will go out shortly!

March 7th: Dismissal for students at noon (NO PM EDP)

In-person conferences will take place from 1:00-8:00 pm

March 8th: No school today- Remote Parent Teacher Conferences today 9:00-3:30 pm

Save the Dates:

February 16th - no school, faculty professional development day

February 19th - No school Presidents Day

SPC Athletics

Please click on the image or here to register today

SPC Home & School Association

We are just over one week out from the SPC Sweetheart Dance! If you haven't purchased your tickets yet, please do so using this link!
There are a *very* limited number of spaces remaining for the 5:30pm session! Also, see below for volunteer information! 

As we prepare for the dance, we are looking for volunteers to help us get the gym Malibu-ready! Use this link to sign up. Volunteers are needed to help decorate the day of the event as well as to assist with check-in and the overall flow of each of the sessions. You may sign up for more than one volunteering time slot.

Spring Ballet Registration 

Please click here to download the flyer with the registration link and more details.

SPC School Board 

The St. Paul of the Cross School Board will have 3 vacancies for the 2024-25 school year. Details regarding the nomination deadline and election timeline will follow in a few weeks. For now, we wanted to put the idea on your radar, giving you plenty of time to consider taking a leadership role and participate on the school board.

As an advisory board, our school board assists our Pastor, Fr. James, and our Principal, Dr. Erika Mickelburgh, in formulating and implementing policies and procedures to run our parish school.

The school board meets monthly during the school year. The board activities include finance, academic education, religious education, public relations, technology and building planning.

The eligibility requirements to serve on the Board include being:
1. A registered practicing Catholic at St. Paul of the Cross;
2. Genuinely interested in working collaboratively to advance the Catholic and academic education at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic School.

If you are interested in learning more about serving on the school board, please contact Siobhán Haugh (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it./773.791.0570).

Save the Date! Spring Art Show April 14, 2024!

Webinar: Helping Your Child Face Their Fears February 29th

Spring Session Information. Please click here.

Chess Ed Kumbaya Presidents Day Workshop on February 19th. 
Click here for details.

Deadline to order a 2023-2024 SPC Yearbook is Monday, April 1st 2024

 If you are not sure if you have 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. Tree Ring does send  a confirmation email when you order.

Please click here to download all the details about ordering your yearbooks.

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

From the Community

Park Ridge Baseball and Softball Registration Now Open
Age 5 (by August 31st) and Up

Dear SPC Families,

This weekend, we celebrate our Confirmands as they receive the sacrament of Confirmation! Please keep our 8th graders in your prayers on Saturday as we welcome Bishop Mark Bartosic to St Paul of the Cross. I am so proud of our 8th graders. I had the pleasure of conducting the Confirmation interviews a few weeks ago, and I am in awe of how our soon-to-be graduates articulate the value of service in their lives and what it means to them all to be Confirmed in the faith! Thank you to Mrs. Meghan Donahue for all she does to prepare our students for the sacrament! 

Thank you to everyone who attended CTS last week. We all had a fantastic time and raised considerable funds to help bridge the teacher salary gap so that we can retain and recruit outstanding faculty and staff! We truly have the ability to rethink how Catholic school teachers are justly compensated, and I am grateful for your partnership. Thank you for your generosity. We are still tallying funds coming in, but so far, we have raised $130,000 in net proceeds. I want to give another shout-out to our amazing committee for all their planning and hard work. We also need to give a shout-out to those parents who had a blast on the Niles Strip and had to be up early for the 8:00 am Bitty Basketball games!

We've been getting questions about submitting corporate matching gifts. Please be sure to contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., if you need any information or assistance. The matching gifts add up and do make a difference!

Please click on the Teacher Treats & Party Board link to sign up for the great parties hosted by our teachers and the incredible parent hosted party boards! We will have these online for another week, closing on February 16th. You won't want the kids to miss out on these after-school parties!

ASH WEDNESDAY & PALM BURNING TUESDAY

On Tuesday, we will hold our annual palm-burning prayer service in the safe zone; starting tomorrow, please have your children bring palms to their classrooms. 

All students will receive ashes on Wednesday. K-8 will attend Mass, while Father James and I will visit the preschool rooms for ashes. 

VALENTINES DAY:

Since Valentine's Day falls on Ash Wednesday, we will celebrate on Tuesday, February 13th. All students may wear pink, purple, or red on Tuesday. Students may exchange valentines on Tuesday.

Save the Dates February:

February 12th- No school

February 16th - No school, faculty professional development day

February 19th - No school Presidents Day

Thank you all, and enjoy Super Bowl Weekend. 

Peace,

Dr. Erika Mickelburgh

An Announcement From our Assistant Principal, Ms. Mary Therese Iacopelli

Dear SPC Families, 

Last week, we wrapped up an incredible Catholic Schools Week, topping it off with our special event, Celebrating the Spirit on Friday evening. The faculty, staff, and I are very excited to share more news to celebrate!

Last summer, the Parish Council nominated Dr. Mickelburgh for a National Catholic Education Association Excellence Award, and we are thrilled to announce that she has just received the 2024 NCEA Live, Learn, Proclaim Award! NCEA has a longstanding tradition of honoring and recognizing excellence and distinguished service in Catholic school education. These prestigious awards recognize outstanding efforts, contributions, and achievements on behalf of Catholic school education. This NATIONAL recognition of Dr. Mickelburgh and St. Paul is well-deserved, and we are so grateful to her for her faith-driven vision, dedication, and leadership. Please join us in congratulating our SPC principal, Dr. Erika Mickelburgh!

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of Celebrating the Spirit! We are so grateful to everyone from our volunteers/committee to our event sponsors, auction donors, ad and well wish sponsors, party board hosts, teacher treat party hosts, auction bidders, partygoers, and generous donors! Donations and funds from the party boards and teacher treats are still coming in, with one more week to go. Thanks to all of you, so far we have raised 130,000 in net proceeds!

Please visit the Teacher Treats & Party Board page to sign up for the great parties hosted by our teachers and the incredible party boards! We will have these online for another week, closing on February 16th. You won't want the kids to miss out on these after-school parties hosted by our amazing teachers! Let's keep the momentum going!

SPC Athletics

Please click on the image or here to register today

SPC Home & School Association

Webinar: Helping Your Child Face Their Fears

Spring Session Information. Please click here.

Chess Ed Kumbaya Presidents Day Workshop on February 19th. 
Click here for details.

Deadline to order a 2023-2024 SPC Yearbook is Monday, April 1st 2024

 If you are not sure if you have 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. Tree Ring does send  a confirmation email when you order.

Please click here to download all the details about ordering your yearbooks.

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

From the Community

Park Ridge Baseball and Softball Registration Now Open
Age 5 (by August 31st) and Up

Edison Park Girls Youth Soccer Grades 4-8 Registration Begins!

Dear SPC Families,

I hope all your children are enjoying Catholic Schools Week! We are certainly having a wonderful time each day. I think my personal highlight was the Tuesday Teacher Swap; who knew Mr. O could switch gears from middle school Math to preschool with such ease or that Mrs. Rabinak could teach PE? We are truly blessed with flexible and fun teachers! Tomorrow, the teachers will attempt a three-peat volleyball championship against our 8th graders; stay tuned for the results!  

Happy CTS Eve!! We are so excited to celebrate on the Vegas/Milwaukee Strip! The fantastic CTS committee, led by Megan Weber, Kelly Bontempo, and Amy DiGregorio, is ready for a fabulous event celebrating our community! I want to give a special shout-out to Mary Ploen, our Director of Advancement, for all her hard work in planning and organizing to ensure the event's success! She has been coordinating CTS efforts since 2009, and this CTS is lucky number 13!!   

Let the bidding begin... shortly!
Later today, everyone attending CTS will receive an automated Welcome to Online Bidding message on their cell phone and/or email. This message links to their online bidding page and connects to their CTS admissions.

We will also send an all-school email blast containing the online bidding site link for everyone who is not able to attend CTS tomorrow night. Please be sure to check out the latest additions to the Auction (after the book went to print.) You won't want to miss out on those. 

Please take the time to read the forthcoming CTS-related emails and communications thoroughly, starting with the information directly below my letter. I look forward to celebrating with you tomorrow! 

Save the Dates February:
February 12th- No school
February 16- No school, faculty professional development day
February 19- No school Presidents Day

Peace,
Dr. Erika Mickelburgh

Important Updates: We have some wonderful additions to our online auction, including In the Kitchen with Dr. M and Glow in the Dark Scavenger Hunt with Dr. M and Ms. Iacopelli! Be sure to review the entire auction when you receive the link to the online bidding site later today. We have something for everyone and are so grateful to all of our donors!

Attention: It's time to secure your TSA PreCheck for your flight to SPegas!

Hello CTS Partygoers!

We hope this message finds you in great spirits as we gear up for an unforgettable Friday night in Las Vegas SPegas, Celebrating the Spirit!
 

A huge shoutout to our amazing sponsors, especially our Presenting Sponsor, FPS Management, for making this first-class trip to Las SPegas possible. Thank you to Josh Brown of State Farm and Jim Stinson of Northwestern Mutual, our generous Cocktail Sponsors, offering delightful options like Josh's "Take a Cab" Cabernet and Jim's "Mr. Happy'' - perfect companions for your evening in SPegas while you place your bets, visit Little SPegas Chapel, tune into Elvis, enjoy Magic by Randy, laugh with Mr. Derick, and dance the night away at the SPegas Nightclub.

We're bringing back some fun traditions to the Niles Strip, including the Party Boards. These exclusive invitations can only be signed up on-site during the event. For those who are new to these, you write your name and bid number directly on the board to reserve your spot. 

If you want to sign up for a friend who cannot attend CTS, write YOUR name and bid number to secure your friend's spot. Only attendees will be able to sign on the party boards using their own bid numbers. Once the spots fill up, the party will be sold out.

Remember to charge your smartphones, bring your SPegas spirit, and get ready for a night filled with entertainment, blessings, laughter, and dancing. We can't wait to celebrate with you all!

Let's make it a night to remember,

Kelly Bontempo, Amy DiGregorio, and Megan Weber

SPC Athletics

Please click on the image or here to register today.

SPC Home & School Association

 
Please click here to register for Bowling with the Boys.

Please click here to download the flyer.

Webinar: Helping Your Child Face Their Fears

Spring Session Information. Please click here.

Chess Ed Kumbaya Presidents Day Workshop on February 19th. 
Click here for details.

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

From the Community

Park Ridge Baseball and Softball Registration Now Open
Age 5 (by August 31st) and Up

Edison Park Girls Youth Soccer Grades 4-8 Registration Begins!