Principal Post

Principal Post, March 12, 2025

Dear Parents,

Just a few more days until Spring Break. You can tell everyone is getting excited for not only some time off, but also the exciting activities going on yet this week!

Alice in Wonderland

“Break a Leg” to our students and directors on this week’s performance of Alice in Wonderland!

Performances open to parents, grandparents, and friends:

1:00 PM Thursday

6:00 PM Thursday

School Volunteers

Thank you so much to all our parent volunteers! You make a huge difference in our school!

All volunteers who are present with children must complete the CMG training for safe environment and have a background check completed. To help with this, any parent who completes the training may record an hour towards their volunteer hours. If you have completed the CMG training this school year, please record your hour of volunteer time. Our hope is that it will help our volunteers get their trainings complete and recognize the time you put into doing that.

Soup Supper, April 9 – School Sponsored

I hope you have had the chance to join the parish on one or more Wednesdays for the Lent Soup Suppers. They are a great chance to build community and enjoy a delicious dinner. On April 9, school families are asked to bring a crock of soup, Mac ‘n Cheese, dessert or help set up. If you are interested in helping, please go to the SignUp Genius - https://tinyurl.com/muhtjvw8

2025-2026 School Calendar

The calendar for next year is attached to my email.

March Dates

·     March 14 – Out of Uniform, dress in green

March 13, 14

·     Musical – Alice in Wonderland, Jr.

March 17-21

·     Spring Break

March 28

·     2-hour early dismissal, Spirit Wear tops may be worn with uniform bottoms.

NOT NEW BUT IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Tuition and Enrollment Fees Dropped Off at School

I want to give parents a heads up that if you drop your tuition or enrollment payments off at the SPS school office, they don’t go immediately to SCCS. The checks stay at St. Paul’s until an SCCS employee comes to pick them up. If your check needs to be deposited in a timely manner, I suggest mailing it directly to SCCS or dropping it at their office to avoid late fees. Mrs. Boche and Mrs. Thompson will try to alert SCCS when payments arrive, but that is not a guarantee that they will have the chance to send an email. We are still working on these processes, and we appreciate your patience. If you receive a late fee in this type of situation, please reach out to Rose Strickland at SCCS.

Classroom Request Form

We are beginning our planning for the 2025-26 school year and teachers will be putting together homeroom assignments. Teachers look at many factors when creating homeroom lists including academic ability, behavior, and student friendships to create a balanced homeroom where children with be successful. Requests for a particular teacher or separation from a particular student should be few. It is important to give clear, detailed reasons for this isolated request. 

Requests granted for a particular homeroom will be limited to a maximum of 3 boys and 3 girls. The principal, guidance counselor, assistant principal and current classroom teachers will meet to decide which requests will be granted based on the most pressing student needs (academic and behavioral). Classroom Request forms must be turned into the school office by March 28, 2025, to be considered. Forms are available in the school office. Emails, personal conversations, and phone messages will not serve as a formal request and will not be considered. Late forms will not be accepted. 

Join Us for Prayer After School During Lent!

Lent is a season of prayer, reflection, and drawing closer to God—and we have a special opportunity for you and your family to do just that!

·     Each Friday during Lent, St. Paul the Apostle will have All-Day Eucharistic Adoration in the church. At 3:00 PM—the Hour of Mercy—the St. Paul Singers invite you to come straight from school and join us in praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet together in song.

·     This is a beautiful and powerful family devotion, helping us all to reflect on Christ’s mercy and love during this sacred season.

·     What: Divine Mercy Chaplet in Song
When: Fridays in Lent at 3:00 PM
Where: St. Paul the Apostle Church

Bring your family, take a moment to pause in prayer, and grow in faith together this Lent. We’d love to see you there!

ESAs for the 2025-26 School Year

ALL Iowa students attending an accredited nonpublic school for the 2025-26 school year will qualify for an ESA (Educational Savings Account). Parents need to apply each year for their children to receive the ESA. More details will be sent out as it becomes available.

Financial Assistance for the 2025-26 School Year

We have financial assistance available for Illinois families and families who don’t belong to one of our supporting parishes (non-Catholic). We don’t want the cost of tuition to hinder any students from being able to attend St. Paul’s.

Home and School Membership and Volunteer Opportunities

Did you know every family is a member of St. Paul’s Home and School? As members, all families are invited to attend the monthly meetings on the 2^nd Monday of the month at 6:00 PM in the Media Center. At meetings we plan events for the students and families like the upcoming skate night at the Eldridge skating rink on Tuesday, February 18 from 6-8PM. We invite you to come share your ideas and get involved! We are looking for some volunteers to take on a few small projects.