Principal's Pad (1/22/23)
Updates for the St. Stan's Community
What's in this Newsletter?
***Haga clic aquí para leer el boletín en español***
Here is what's new...
A Few Words
Gentle Reminders
Leaders of the Week
Catholic Schools Week Updates
What's still here from last week?
Home-Learning Hub
Lil' Wildcats Soccer Club
BSF: Soccer-for-All
Coffee with the Principal
Important Dates
A Few Words On...
As the leader of St. Stanislaus Kostka Academy, I would just like to share a few words and thoughts on several topics and happenings in our school community.
i-Ready 2nd Diagnostic Update
We have completed one week of our 2nd Diagnostic testing and most of our students will be finishing up over the next few days. I want to first thank parents for your efforts in both getting students to school on time and for their attendance each day. This previous week saw some of our best attendance numbers since the beginning of the school year! Please continue to do what you can to have your child(ren) be present at school and on time.
Most of our students have completed the Reading portion of the testing and I have some positive news to report!
- 54% of our students have ALREADY met their yearly growth goal
- The percentage of students reaching their yearly growth by the second Diagnostic is up 12% from this time last year when 42% of our students had met their goal
- Over 1/4 of our students have also already attained their yearly "stretch goal" in Reading, which is an ambitious, higher level of growth set at the beginning of the year
To clarify, the reason why the numbers above are so encouraging and impressive is that those yearly growth marks are goals for the end of the year. We are just over halfway through the school year and over half of our students have already achieved their yearly goal! I and all of the teachers at St. Stan's are very proud of the hard work of our students to this point. We all know, however, that we aren't done yet and we will continue to push our students to achieve all they can.
World's Finest Chocolate Fundraiser
At the end of Catholic Schools Week on Friday, February 3, we will kick-off our World's Finest Chocolate sale and fundraiser. As a part of this fundraiser, students will be able to earn prizes and rewards based on the amount of chocolate they sell. All funds will go towards supporting our educational programming and the purchase of classroom materials for teachers.
Your child should have brought home a "Commitment Form" on Friday which we need you to fill out. You can access the form by clicking on this link or reaching out for it to be sent via email. We are requiring that each family sell at least 1 box of chocolate bars as a part of your required fundraising efforts for the school. If you would like to commit to selling two or more boxes, please note it on the form. We need these forms submitted by Tuesday, January 24 in order to make the proper order with the company. If you have any questions, please email our Booster Club at boosterclub@ststanschicago.org or myself.
Gentle Reminders
i-Ready Testing Continues
Since testing is continuing for some of our students this week, I ask that you help your child(ren) prepare the best they can for their exams. To do this, please consider the following:
- Having your child go to bed earlier in order to get a good night's sleep
- Eating a good and healthy breakfast each morning
- Encouraging your child to do their best and take their time
- Expressing confidence that your child will do well
- Asking your child how the testing went at the end of the day and communicating with teachers if there are any concerns
Leaders of the Week
Each week our grade-level teams will decide which of their students demonstrated awesome leadership in the classroom and around the school.
This week's "Leaders of the Week" are...
Jayleen Salas
Kindergarten - 2nd Grade
Savannah Perez
3rd Grade - 5th Grade
Joshua Guzman
6th Grade - 8th Grade
World's Finest Chocolate Fundraiser
Our third fundraiser of the year will begin on Friday, February 3. At that time, families will pick-up boxes of chocolate bars to sell to friends, family, and neighbors. Each family is expected to sell at least 1 box to help raise money to support our academic programming at St. Stan's Academy. Please complete the "Commitment Form" your child brought home. You can access the form by clicking on this link or reaching out for it to be sent via email. Please return the form to school no later than Tuesday, January 24.
Catholic Schools Week Updates
This section of the Principal's Pad will keep you updated on events and happenings occurring during Catholic Schools Week, which for us will go from January 30 to February 5.
Feed My Starving Children Field Trip
As a way to Celebrate Our Community, the 3rd-8th grades will be taking a field trip to help serve those in need. Students will pack meals for the less fortunate with the Feed My Starving Children organization. Please be on the lookout for permission forms which will be sent home this week.
Special Show for Students & Families
On Wednesday, February 1, we will celebrate our students and families Each of our classes will be treated to a special viewing of Ben's Bubble Show. Parents are welcome to join us in the Library for the festivities as well.
Career Day at St. Stan's
We will be celebrating Vocations and Careers on Thursday, February 2. As such, we will be welcoming in members from the community and parents to speak to classes about their jobs and careers. Classroom teachers should have reached out to parents about potentially volunteering, so please consider joining us on this day. If you have not received any information, but are interested in speaking, please reach out to Mrs. Hunter Fox at hfox@ststanschicago.org.
Celebrating Our Parish & Open House
We will have a Family Mass and Open House on Sunday, February 5 to close out Catholic Schools Week. Students who attend Mass at 10am in their uniform will earn a "dress-down" day. We also encourage all families to be a part of our Open House immediately after Mass until 12pm. Please bring any friends or family who may be interested in enrolling at St. Stan's Academy.
Home-Learning Hub
i-Ready Family Guide
How to Beat Test Anxiety
i-Ready Testing Tips
Lil' Wildcats Soccer Club
Our youngest Wildcats will have the opportunity to enhance their soccer skills in the Lil' Wildcats Soccer Club which is open to all students in Pre-Kindergarten through 2nd grade. Practices start on Tuesday, January 31 and happen each Tuesday until March 7. Each practice is one hour long and goes from 3pm to 4pm. The cost for participating in the Lil' Wildcats Soccer Club is $100. Sign-up forms were sent home last week. Please return them as soon as possible.
Soccer for All Practices
The Big Shoulders Fund, in conjunction with the Wildcat Athletics Department, is hosting soccer practices open to all students in 3rd through 8th grades. Through a series of practices, students will work on shooting, passing, trapping, dribbling, volleys/half volleys, and overall ball control. Monday practices are free of charge.
Coffee with the Principal
As a part of "Catholic Schools Week," Principal Vickman will host a Coffee with the Principal event at 8:30am on Tuesday, January 31. Please click on this link to complete a brief survey of talking points.
Upcoming Events & Important Dates at St. Stan's
Catholic Schools Week - January 30 to February 3
We will be celebrating all the things that make Catholic Schools great during this week.
Family Mass & Open House - February 5
On Sunday, February 5th we will gather for a Family Mass at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish at 10am. Afterward, we will have an Open House at the school until 12pm.
Coffee with the Principal - January 31
Meet with Principal Vickman and our School Counselor, Mrs. Fox, to discuss topics of interest at St. Stan's Academy. Parents may mingle as early as 8:15am and the event will start at 8:30am.
Feed My Starving Children - January 31
All students in 3rd-8th grades will take a service field trip to Feed My Starving Children on Tuesday, January 31. This is a part of celebrating our community during Catholic Schools Week.
World's Finest Chocolate Fundraiser - February 3
The World's Finest Chocolate Fundraiser begins on Friday, February 3. Please make sure to sell at least one box of chocolate to help support our school.
Family Mass and Open House - February 5
To celebrate the end of Catholic Schools Week, we will have a Family Mass at 10am on Sunday, February 5. We will also have an Open House following Mass from 11am to 12pm.
FSP Lunch Orders
Food Service Professionals (FSP) will again be providing our lunches. Although lunches will be free, families will need to register through the online ordering system, Boonli. This will be where lunch menus are updated as well as a platform for you to order for your child. Click here to visit the Boonli platform.
Champions Enrollment for 2022-23 School Year
Contact Information:
Sam Peterson (Champions Director)
- Email - speterson@discoverchampions.com
- Phone - 630.251.4943
Contact Us
Email: Office@StStansChicago.org
Website: https://ststanschicago.org/
Location: 1255 North Noble Street, Chicago, IL, USA
Phone: (773) 278-4560