From School’s Life

Mass on the occasion of All Saints’ Day

For parents wishing for their children to attend Mass on the occasion of All Saints’ Day in church on Friday, November 1, and Saturday, November 2, students may be pulled from classes to do so. Please note that the school is not planning to take the children to the mass.

Polish Independence Day Celebration

To honor Polish Independence Day on Friday, November 8, and Saturday, November 9, students and teachers will gather to sing the Polish national anthem. We encourage students to wear Polish national colors, school logo T-shirts (available for purchase on school days for $15), or traditional Polish folk attire if available.

Photo Session

On November 15 and 16, we will be holding class photo sessions for all grades and portraits for 11th graders. Students should wear T-shirts or sweatshirts with the school logo and may add accessories like scarves or hats in Poland’s national colors for a festive look. Order forms are available by clicking on the link.

Thanksgiving Wishes

With Thanksgiving on November 23rd, we send warm wishes for joyful moments with family and friends. No classes will be held on November 29 and 30 in observance of the holiday.

November: A Month of Charity

In the spirit of giving, our school supports the Helping Hands Food Pantry, which assists local families in need. Let’s teach our kids about the importance of sharing and community support! Each child who donates will receive a lollipop as a token of appreciation. The flyer is available by clicking on the link.

45th ANNIVERSARY BALL

This year marks the 45th anniversary of our school! To celebrate, we will hold a special anniversary-themed Parents’ Carnival Ball on Saturday, February 15. This charity event supports school activities, and we warmly invite parents and their friends to join us. Donations are welcome and greatly appreciated! Invitation is available by clicking on the link.

Donations Reminder

If you or your company would like to make a cash donation or provide items for our charity auction, please contact Maria Lesnicki at [email protected]. Donations of $200 or more will be recognized on the school website for one year and are eligible for a tax deduction.

School Board Updates & General Parents’ Meeting Recap

Our semi-annual School Board Meeting was held on October 18th at the Parish Building. School Board members, staff, and parents discussed key topics including enrollment, budget, and student safety during school operations.

Key Highlights from the Meeting:

Parent Duty Obligations

The board unanimously voted to reinstate parent duty obligations starting in January. Each family will be scheduled to assist once per school year, monitoring student behavior in the hallways and cafeteria. Families who cannot attend on their assigned date will incur a $50 no-show fee, or $70 if they fail to provide prior notice. A roster with dates will be sent out soon.

Foreign Language Credits and Seal of Biliteracy

We want to remind students and parents—especially those of 8th graders—that to receive foreign language credits on a high school diploma, students must continue their Polish studies through high school graduation. Since Polish is often not offered in local high schools, our program results are accepted by various schools, enhancing students’ college applications. Additionally, our school offers the Seal of Biliteracy exam, which students can take independently of their high school studies to gain official recognition of their bilingual proficiency.

Board Elections

Election results for school board positions were announced:

• Monika Malochleb as Treasurer
• Kamila Wiaderek as Administrator
• Katarzyna Galdyn as Secretary

We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Krystyna Mize and Aleksandra Labuda for their years of dedicated service on the school board. You will be missed! Congratulations to our new board members!

We cordially invite you to the Semiannual Meeting of Parents,
held on Friday, October 18th, at 6:15 PM,
in the parish building, opposite the school.

 Why is your presence important?

The Semiannual Meeting of Parents is an important meeting for our school community. Board members and principals will share important information about the school’s current situation and discuss decisions about the future. Your presence and contribution are invaluable.

Parents’ Duty at School

The General Meeting will discuss the topic of duty at school. Parents’ duty was suspended at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, but we want to restore these functions. Parents on duty help maintain order and discipline at school and ensure the safety of children staying on school grounds.

Elections of the School Board Members

According to the school’s regulations, board members can serve for 3 years, with the possibility of one re-election. As the terms of several board members are ending, we are actively looking for parents who would like to fill the positions of Treasurer and Administrator. We invite parents who care about the future of our school and value their children’s education to consider taking on these influential roles.

October Calendar

Teacher’s Day – October 11 & 12

In the spirit of Polish tradition, we warmly invite you to join us in celebrating Teacher’s Day. It’s a perfect opportunity for our community to show appreciation for the hard work and dedication of our teachers. Sometimes a simple “thank you” can really make their day!

IMPORTANT! Parent Meeting – October 18

It is crucial for all parents to attend the meeting on October 18 at 6:15 PM, which will take place in the parish building across from our school. During the meeting, the school board and administration will provide key updates about the current situation and future decisions that will affect the school’s operation. Elections will also be held for the positions of treasurer and administrator.

Inaugural Mass – October 20

At 11:00 AM, there will be an Inaugural Mass for the new school year at the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius. We encourage all students attending the service to wear school-logo shirts or red-and-white outfits.

School Patron Days – October 18 & 19

On these days, we will honor our patron, St. John Paul II. We kindly ask the students to wear their school shirts for this occasion.

Halloween – October 25 & 26

October wouldn’t be complete without a bit of Halloween fun! We invite all students to come in their creative costumes and join in the “spooky” adventures we’ve got in store for you.

Welcome back, students and staff!
Wishing everyone a fantastic 2024/2025 school year!

We’re kicking off the new school year at St. John Paul II Polish School on Friday, September 6th, and Saturday, September 7th. Just a reminder of the class times!

The drop-off and pick-up procedures remain the same as last school year:

• Students in Grades 4-11 enter the school on their own through the main entrance.
• Younger students (PK-3) will meet 15 minutes before class starts for the first two weeks at the church courtyard (Friday at 5:45 PM; Saturday at 9:45 AM). Each teacher will have a sign with their name and class number. After classes begin, the children will walk to their classrooms with their teacher.
• After classes end (Friday at 9:45 PM; Saturday at 12:45 PM), the children will be brought back to the meeting spot. Starting from the third week, please drop your child off at the school’s main entrance, where the teachers will be waiting in the hallway.
• Students attending extra-curricular activities (Polanie and Art Club) will remain in the school building.
• At the end of the day, the older students (Grades 4-11) will be the last to leave the building.

IMPORTANT!

Personal electronic devices:

Students are prohibited from using personal electronic devices (e.g. cell phones, tablets, or any wearable technology) during instructional time unless authorized by building administration and the classroom staff.  Students may not utilize personal electronic devices in a manner that disrupts the educational process or impedes the privacy rights of the school community. Inappropriate use of personal electronic devices may lead the school staff to take disciplinary actions, including confiscating the device until the end of the school day (the electronic device will be returned to the parent or legal guardian). The School is not responsible if the student’s electronic device is damaged, lost, or stolen.

Safety

We would like to remind you that for the safety of our students, teachers, and board members, parents are not allowed to enter the school.

From school Life:

September 28^th: Students in Grades 2-5 will attend a performance of Jan Brzechwa’s “The Mischievous Flea” by the actors from “Teatr Nasz.” The play will take place on September 28th at 11:00 AM at Trinity Christian College, The Ozinga Christian Chapel, 6601 West College Drive, Palos Heights, IL. The cost of the trip is $25. Alternative activities will be available for students who do not participate in the trip.