December 5, 2024

Dear SPC Families,
This week, we began our celebration of Advent!  Our 3rd-5th graders went to Reconciliation after Mass on Tuesday. Thank you to our National Junior Honor Society members, who have been collecting and organizing packages in partnership with the St. Catherine of Siena Guild. After the first run, we’ve collected 120 packages that will be distributed to the homeless. Please see the link below to contribute to the Adopt a Family Program, which helps provide gift cards to the clients of the Parish Food Pantry. Tomorrow, St. Nick will drop off a special treat (candy canes) for all the SPC Tigers!  

Thank you for reading the Thursday mailing; it is jam-packed with a great deal of information this week!

In this Thursday Mailing: 

  • Re-enrollment starts tomorrow for current families
  • Draft of the 2025-2026 School Calendar
  • Kiss and Go during cold weather
  • Nominations Needed for the St Paul of the Cross Legacy Award
  • The Parish is hiring a Director of Operations. Please pass this along to people who may be interested.
  • Trimester 1 Report Cards
  • Adopt a Family-donations needed
  • Christmas Concert Grades PS-3-Save the Date!
  • 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:
It is that time again to begin preparing for enrollment for the next school year. Re-registration for the 2025-2026 school year opens tomorrow, December 6, 2024. Reminder that the early bird rate of $75/ student runs until January 10, 2025. Following January 10, the rate increases to the regular fee of $125/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/student. You will receive an email tomorrow with the links to re enroll your child through FACTS.

DRAFT of the 2025-2026 School Calendar:
Please click here for a draft of next year’s calendar. It is also updated on the school calendar on the website. I do not anticipate any changes to the start and end date of the school year or major school holidays. PD days may change slightly. We will publish the finalized calendar for the 25-26 school year by the end of March 2025. 

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 really hard to get off of the naughty list infraction!

SPC Legacy Award
We are thrilled to announce that we have established The St. Paul of the Cross School Legacy Award. This award will be given to a current or past St. Paul of the Cross community member who has made a positive impact on our school community and has made significant contributions to our community and whose accomplishments, affiliations, and careers have honored the mission and values of St. Paul of the Cross School. 

We will present the inaugural SPC Legacy Award at Celebrating the Spirit on February 7, 2025.
Who Is Eligible?
Any person who has been a St. Paul of the Cross Community member.

Who Can Nominate?
Any SPC community member (past or present) 

Due Date
January 6, 2025

SPC Legacy Award Nomination Form

Trimester 1 Report Cards:
Report Cards will be sent home tomorrow, December 6th, via email.

Adopt A Family Donations:
SPC has a long-standing tradition of partnering with the parish social service ministry to ensure that needy families in our community have a wonderful Christmas. The Adopt-A-Family program will collect funds and purchase gift cards so families can buy their own gifts. Given the timeline, we ask that funds be collected by December 12, 2024. These funds benefit the families who are recipients of the St Paul of the Cross parish Food Pantry. 

Please consider donating to the Adopt-A-Family program so our school can continue this beloved Advent tradition.

100% of these proceeds will go towards the Adopt-A-Family program in Social Service Ministry. CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION

CHRISTMAS CONCERT (Grades PS-3) SAVE THE DATE:
WHEN: December 19th, 10:00-11:00 am (doors open at 9:45)
WHERE: Church

2024-2025 Family Masses: Save The Dates
This year, the school will be hosting family Masses at 10:30 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. 

  • December 15th: All 4-8th grade (and Bitty Basketball) Winter Athletes will pray together. Winter Athletes will wear their fall sports jerseys!
  • 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 fall 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, and school families are always invited!
December 8
January 12
February 2
March 9
May 11

Peace,

Dr. Erika Mickelburgh

Save the Date! Celebrating the Spirit 2025!

Please visit the CTS website here!

We love seeing all of the Well Wishes and Sponsorships coming in! Please keep them coming!

CTS Student Art Projects
Calling all artistic and crafty parents… We are looking for parents to help with art projects for our upcoming Celebrate the Spirit. Mrs. Waldeck and Ms. Leffler can help provide ideas and materials, or if you have a grand idea and want to take the lead (or possibly group with other parents) with something fun for your child’s grade, here is your time to shine! Please complete the link to volunteer CTS Art Volunteer Sign-up.

Home & School Association Meeting Tomorrow, December 6th
The Home and School Association Meeting will take place at 8am in the Holy Family Chapel tomorrow, December 6th. We hope to see you there! If you cannot attend in person, please use this link to join virtually. 

Faculty Christmas Gift Fund
With the holidays right around the corner, the Home & School Association (HSA) will once again host the SPC Faculty Christmas Gift Fund. This is a school-wide collection of monetary gift donations which is then equitably divided among all SPC full and part-time faculty, administration, and support staff as a demonstration of our appreciation during this holiday season. 

In previous years, families have donated $40-$50 per student (an average of $6-$10 per faculty or staff member with whom your child interacts depending on grade level), however, the FACTS form allows for you to contribute any amount with which you are comfortable.

This donation is in lieu of individual gifts. The last names (only) will be added to the Christmas card that will be given to each faculty and staff member with the check enclosed.

Donations can be made by clicking this link. Donations can also be made via check or cash to the main office. Checks should be made out to SPC Home and School.

The final date to donate is Monday December 16th so that we can process the checks in time for Christmas. 

Thank you in advance for your generosity! 
Home & School Association

The Scholastic Book Fair is here! YAY! Choosing their own books empowers kids and inspires them to become Bolder, Prouder, and Stronger Readers. AND—as always—every book they buy earns rewards for our school.   
Please click here to download all the details and information.

Mrs. Sue Dohr
St. Paul of the Cross’s Book Fair Chair
[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.

Overcoming Parental Anxiety: Responding to the Surgeon General’s Call to Support Parental Well-Being
Parent Webinar Thursday, December 12th.

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

The first annual “Christmas Stroll” takes place on Saturday, December 14th. Join us for the Adult and Children’s Choirs as they perform for the event on Saturday, December 14, at 11:00 am in the Upper Church.

Christmas Care Bag Project
Help the St. Catherine of Sienna guild with its annual Christmas Care Bag Project (formerly the shoebox project). 
Bring the following gender-neutral items to the meeting (We’ll supply the bags and drop them off for you.)

  • Winter hat
  • Gloves
  • Scarf
  • Warm tube socks
  • One Christmas card signed from “St. Paul of the Cross Church”

Questions? Email us at [email protected].

Apostolate of Women’s Annual St. Nick’s Party December 8th!
Download the flyer for details.

From the Community

From our Catholic High Schools

Notre Dame

Loyola