School Year 2024/25
“Santa’s Head” Contest – Holiday Creativity in Action!
Before the holidays, our classes enthusiastically prepared collective artworks representing “Santa’s Head.” The results of this hard work exceeded all expectations – the creativity of the students amazed both teachers and parents!
All the artwork was on display at the Polish-Slavic Federal Credit Union during the holiday break. The winning classes were rewarded with a pizza party sponsored by the board, and all participants received a sweet treat in the form of a lollipop.
We want to express our heartfelt thanks to all the students for their dedication and fantastic ideas! We can’t wait for the next contest, where we’ll once again see your creativity!
Check out the gallery to see these amazing works!
Christmas Concert and Christmas Eve.
We wrapped up the year 2024 at the John Paul II Polish School with a bang! The Polanie Dance Group performed an awesome dance, the kids sang Christmas carols loudly and joyfully, and the atmosphere was filled with holiday warmth. Thanks to everyone for your participation and the wonderful moments.
A special thanks to Mr. Myron Cislo, Director of Polish Roman Catholic Union of America – PRCUA District 8, for your presence and support. We’re so glad we could share the joy of our children’s performances with you. Your involvement and presence mean so much to us!
Santa Claus Visit to Our School!
On December 1st and 2nd, our school had a special guest – Santa Claus, who came with Mrs. Claus and some elves. These were two days filled with holiday joy, singing together, and surprises!
On Friday, the kids greeted Santa with Christmas carols and beautiful artwork. In return, they received delicious treats, and the older students enjoyed gift cards and chocolates. Santa was so taken with the atmosphere at our school that he came back on Saturday morning to sing more Polish carols and pastores.
Thanks to Santa and his helpers for the magical time and presents, and to the students for their beautiful carols and smiles!
Independence Day Celebration
On November 10th and 11th, we celebrated Independence Day. It was an important occasion to remind everyone about Poland’s history and to celebrate its freedom.
The students wore white and red, and during the ceremony in the gym, we sang the national anthem together.
Check out the gallery to see how this ceremony looked!
Halloween – Merging Traditions!
Halloween isn’t just a time for fun, but also an opportunity to talk about how diverse and interesting the traditions of different cultures are. Living in America, our students naturally participate in this Celtic tradition, which has evolved over centuries and become one of the most recognizable holidays in American culture.
On October 27th and 28th, the youngest students, dressed in colorful costumes, participated in a school parade and trick-or-treated, while the older students cheered them on. Halloween is a great opportunity to discuss Polish traditions, like Dziady, which had a similar symbolic meaning – connecting the living with the spirits and reminding us to honor our ancestors.
This meeting of traditions is a perfect way for kids to better understand their roots and learn to respect other cultures.
Patron’s Day – A Celebration with Pope John Paul II
On October 20th and 21st, we celebrated Patron’s Day at our school – Pope John Paul II. The Polish School, named after the Polish Pope, was officially opened on January 24th, 1980, just after Karol Wojtyła was elected pope. This event inspired a group of Poles from Lemont to establish the school, with the goal of preserving Polish identity among children in the diaspora.
For Patron’s Day, we encouraged our students to wear school shirts that reminded us of our heritage and strengthened our sense of community. Celebrating this day together became an opportunity to reflect on the values Pope John Paul II passed on to us – respect for the past, responsibility for the future, and love for our country.
Teacher’s Day Celebration – A Gesture of Gratitude for Teachers
On Teacher’s Day, celebrated on October 14th, we expressed our gratitude for the constant effort and unwavering commitment of our teachers. It’s a day when we thank all educators for their daily work, patience, and dedication to the growth of our children.
To mark the occasion, we organized a reception for the entire teaching staff to symbolically honor this special day. We thank our teachers for their passion, professionalism, and the heart they put into educating and shaping our students.
Your work means so much – you are not just teachers, but guides who help young people discover the world and shape their future.
September 28, 2024: Students from grades 2-5 participated in the play “The Mischievous Flea” by Jan Brzechwa, performed by actors from “Teatr Nasz”.
Want to hear a fairytale? Here’s one:
There once was a Mischievous Flea.
An unbelievable thing, really,
For someone so small and silly
From such a lowly flea family
To pull off such pranks and tricks,
Like this flea, folks, just watch her do her thing…
Directed by: Agata Paleczny
Costumes by: Patricia Stepniak
Featuring: Magdalena Miskowiec, Aldona Olchowska, Aga Sarrafian, Kasia Zytkiewicz, Iwona Szewczyk, Lili Totten, Andrzej Krukowski
School Year 2023/24
This post is also available in: Polish
Grzegorz Karkoszka
