Principal's Pad (8/7/22)
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
- Middle School Schedules
- Home-Learning Hub
What's still here from last week?
- School Supply Lists
- Welcome Back Cookout
- 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.
The Countdown Begins!
We are one week away from the start of our new school year! I want to make sure that our entire community feels excited and ready to begin what will be one of our best years yet. Please remember that we will have a school supply drop-off and cookout on Thursday, August 11. I could use the assistance of some parents who are willing to lend a helping hand for the event. If you are interested in helping set-up and operate our cookout from 3pm-6pm on August 11, please click on this link to sign-up.
The start of every school year is a joyous occasion and we welcome you to be a part of it! All parents and families are welcome to join us on our first day of school (August 15) for our ribbon cutting ceremony. Several students will be chosen to help us open our doors. I encourage you to join us to clap in and welcome all of our students for the 2022-23 school year! Please remember that the first day of school will be a "half day." All students will eat lunch, but we will dismiss all classes at 1pm. Please be sure to pick up your child no later than 1:15pm on that Monday. There will not be any aftercare services provided by Champions on this day. Aftercare will begin on Tuesday, August 16.
New School Counselor
It is my great pleasure to introduce Mrs. Hunter Fox as the new School Counselor at St. Stan's Academy. Mrs. Fox comes to us after receiving her Masters Degree in School Counseling from Loyola University - Chicago and completing her undergraduate work in Child and Family Studies at the University of Tennessee - Knoxville. She will offer social and emotional support to all of our students as well as continue the development of our Restorative Justice program. We are one of the few schools our size in the Chicago area who have a school counselor that is available to students all five days of the week. As such, I am excited to have Mrs. Fox as a part of our staff to give greater support for students, families, and teachers. If you would like to reach out to her, please do so via email at hfox@ststanschicago.org.
Lunchtime at St. Stan's
Food Service Professionals (FSP) will again be providing our lunches. Unfortunately, federal and state Covid-19 funding will no longer allow for all lunches to be free for the 2022-23 school year. Families who may be eligible to receive free or reduced-price lunches should inquire about an application in our Main Office. We already have a pre-approved list of students who qualify. If you would like to know whether your child automatically qualifies for free or reduced-price lunches, please inquire with Ms. Abby Torres via email at atorres@ststanschicago.org or by phone at 773-278-4560.
All payments for school lunches will be made via an online payment platform and operated by FSP. Please watch your email throughout the coming week to receive details on creating an account and purchasing meals for your child. Our Main Office will not handle any direct payments for school lunches.
Please know that students are also allowed to bring their own lunches to school. It is important to remember, however, that we are a nut-free school and that any snacks and lunches must not contain nuts or nut products. We thank you in advance for considering the health and safety of all of our students.
Gentle Reminders
Attendance & Tardiness
We take student attendance very seriously at St. Stan's Academy. It is of the utmost importance that parents do all they can to ensure their child arrives on time and routinely to school. Student tardiness can lead to missed contact time with teachers as well as an increase in classroom disruptions. Student absences can severely slow the academic growth of students throughout the year. Please begin a morning plan now in order to make sure that you and your child are on your way to school at the proper time each day.
School Uniforms and Dress Code
Please be sure to have your school uniforms ordered as soon as possible for the 2022-23 school year. Schoolbelles is our primary provider of clothing and due to supply chain issues, orders may take longer to fulfill than usual. Click on this link to view the guide to uniforms and pricing. To visit the online store to see required uniforms, please click on this link.
It is important to note that we will be having a renewed emphasis on the student dress code this school year. Parents are responsible to make sure that their children have the proper attire for each school day. As a reminder, students should wear their informal uniforms on Mondays and Wednesdays, their gym uniforms on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and their formal/Mass attire uniforms on Fridays. In addition to students wearing the proper uniforms, we will also be diligent about checking the following:
- Proper Footwear - Students should wear either black or white shoes Monday through Thursday. On Fridays, students must wear formal dress shoes for Mass. Open-toed or bright/multi-colored shoes are not a part of the dress code at any time unless as part of a dress-down day. Socks or leggings should also be white, black, or blue.
- Hair Length - All students are expected to keep their hair well-groomed. Boys are not to have their hair-length extend over their ears and (if applicable) are to be clean-shaven each school day. No students should have their hair dyed or highlighted with any color not considered to be a "natural" hair color.
Student Health Forms
Please note that families need to turn in student health forms to Ms. Abby Torres in our main office as soon as possible. The following ages/groups need to submit evidence of the noted forms:
- Pre-Kindergarten & Kindergarten: dental exam, eye exam, and physical exam
- 2nd Grade: dental exam
- 6th Grade: physical exam
- All New Students to St. Stan's: dental exam, eye exam, and physical exam
- Student Athletes: physical exam
Forms can either be dropped off in the main office or emailed to Ms. Torres at atorres@ststanschicago.org. Please reach out or call if you have any questions or concerns.
Middle School Student Schedules
Students entering 6th, 7th, and 8th grade will operate on a schedule meant to challenge them academically, support them emotionally, and help them grow spiritually. I am very excited about our Middle School team this year and am quite confident that they will do a fantastic job molding, educating, and empowering our students.
The courses and duties of each teacher are as follows:
- Ms. Hannah Fogle - Math & Science - 6th Grade Homeroom
- Mr. Ryan Reed - Social Studies & Physical Education - 7th Grade Homeroom
- Ms. Erin Logan - English & Language Arts - 8th Grade Homeroom
- Mrs. Maria Randall - Religion & Genius Hour
Click on the links below to see the middle school class schedules:
In addition to having foreign language (Mandarin & Spanish), musical arts, fine arts, physical education, and media & technology courses, our middle school students will also continue with Genius Hour once a week. Genius hour was first brought to St. Stan's last year and challenged them to think critically, develop projects, and follow through with their vision. The class gives students agency to make their own choices and learn about topics and create projects that are of interest to them. To learn more about Genius Hour, please click on this link to read the Parent Introductory Letter.
School & Classroom Supply Lists
The classroom supply lists have been posted on our school website since early July. If you were unable to find it, however, please click on this link to access the lists. Unlike last year, all students in 2nd-8th grades will receive a school planner/agenda in which they can keep track of assignments, tests, and projects. For this reason, you will not need to purchase a planner for your child this school year.
Welcome Back Event & School Supply Drop-off
- From 3pm to 6pm, families can drop off school supplies in their child's classroom
- Teachers will be in their rooms from 3pm to 5pm should you wish to meet them and say hello
- From 5pm to 6pm, we will have a cookout. We will also have a few outdoor games for students to participate in should they wish.
We could use the assistance of some parents who are willing to lend a helping hand for the event. If you are interested in helping set-up and operate our cookout from 3pm-6pm on August 11, please click on this link to sign-up.
We look forward to your entire family joining us for this event! If you have some questions about alternative drop-off times, please reach out to us.
Home-Learning Hub
Back-to-School Resources for Parents
Routines & Activities for Students
Champions Enrollment for 2022-23 School Year
Paula Short (Champions Director) Contact Information:
- Email - pshort@discoverchampions.com
- Phone - 847.850.9817
Upcoming Events & Important Dates at St. Stan's
Back to School Cookout & Supply Drop-off - August 11
Families can drop-off school supplies from 3pm to 6pm on Thursday, August 11. From 5pm to 6pm, we will be hosting a cookout with outdoor games for all St. Stan's families.
2022-23 School Year Begins - August 15
The school year will begin on Monday, August 15. Students will have an "Early Release" from school at 1pm. Please note that there will not be Champions aftercare services on this day, so all students need to be picked up by 1:15pm.
First All School Mass - August 19
Families are welcome to join our students for our first all school Mass on Friday, August 19. Mass will begin at 8:30am at the church.
Meet the Teacher Night - September 1
All parents/guardians are required to attend "Meet the Teacher Night" on Thursday, September 1. You will have the opportunity to meet with your child's classroom teacher, the Principal, and other school support staff.
Scholastic Book Fair - August 29 to September 2
The Scholastic Book Fair will be open to students and families beginning on Monday, August 29. Students will have a chance to visit the fair throughout the week with its last day being on Friday, September 2.
Contact Us
Email: Office@StStansChicago.org
Website: https://ststanschicago.org/
Location: 1255 North Noble Street, Chicago, IL, USA
Phone: (773) 278-4560