Important Updates & Upcoming Events

October 17 – General Parent Meeting

Time: 6:15 PM
Location: Parish hall across from the school

This is one of the most important meetings of the school year. Parent attendance is mandatory. The board and administration will share key updates on current matters and future plans, and there will be elections for the vice president position. It’s a great opportunity to get involved in our school community!

School T-Shirts & Hoodies – New Shipment & New Color!

Good news! Students who ordered school logo T-shirts and hoodies but haven’t received them yet – will get them this week! If you haven’t ordered yet but would like to, there’s still time – you can purchase them every week before, during, or after classes.

In addition to our classic red shirts, we now have a new option – T-shirts and hoodies in a stylish navy blue! This is a great choice for anyone who wants to add variety to their child’s wardrobe or refresh their school look.

October 11 – Field Trip to Copernicus Center

On Saturday, October 11, students in grades 5–11 will go on a special educational trip to the Copernicus Center to see the performance “On familiar terms with history”. This is more than a history lesson – it’s a time-travel adventure and a fascinating encounter with Poland’s past in an engaging and interactive format!

Details about departure time, transportation, and return will be shared soon. Please make sure your child is on time and ready to go.

October 17–18 – Patron’s Day & Bilingual Day

During these days we celebrate our patron – St. John Paul II and Bilingual Day. It’s a wonderful occasion to honor our culture, language, and history together. Please have students wear their school T-shirts or clothes in polish national colors – white and red.

October 17–18 – Teacher Appreciation Day

Let’s not forget our wonderful teachers! Thanks to their passion and dedication, our children spread their wings and discover the world with pride. On this day, every “thank you” carries great meaning – let’s make it count!

October 19 – School Year Opening Mass

Time: 11:00 AM
Location: St. Cyril & Methodius Church

Let’s start the new school year together! Students are asked to wear school T-shirts or outfits in white and red. Let our presence show how strong and united our community is!

To stay up to date with all school news and announcements, remember to follow our school Facebook page – that’s where we post the latest updates, notices, and photos from classes!

Dear Parents and Students,

We’re kicking off another school year full of learning and adventures! We wish everyone lots of joy, success, and great teamwork. Below you’ll find some important info to get us started.

Snacks & Lunch

Please make sure every child brings a lunch or a snack from home. While kids can buy small snacks (like chips) during breaks, we strongly encourage packing food from home.
➡️ Fridays are especially busy, and kids tend to get really hungry!

Bake Sale – How You Can Help

Families who would like to bake and donate goodies (cupcakes, donuts, cookies, etc.) for our bake sale—please contact us at: zarzad@polschool.com Funds raised will go toward:

• contest prizes,

• DJ fees for the carnival party.

Families also have the option to run their own bake sale—in that case, all profits stay with the family. In the past, families used this to help cover field trip costs or school fees.

‍‍‍ Parent Duty Shifts

Just a reminder: every family is expected to sign up for at least one parent duty shift during the year. You can reserve a spot here:
Parent Duty Sign-Up

Field Trip

October 11, 2025 — grades 5–11 will head to the Copernicus Center for the play “History Up Close”.
The cost is $25. Students will bring home permission slips—please sign and return them by the deadline.

Student of the Month

This year we’re launching a new initiative—“Student of the Month.” Each teacher will nominate one student every month who stands out for:

• strong attendance,
• keeping up with homework,
• active participation,
• helpfulness toward classmates.

One winner will be randomly selected each month, and yes—there’s a prize!

School T-Shirts

School t-shirts ordered during registration will be handed out this week or next.

Extra-curricular activities – join us for a free trial!

Students interested in trying out Polanie (folk dance) or art classes are welcome to join a trial session this or next week.

Polanie – Saturdays, 1:00–3:30 pm
Art classes – Saturdays, 12:45–1:45 pm

Don’t miss the chance to join in and try something new!

Thanks so much for your support and involvement!
School Board

Dear Parents and Students!

It is my pleasure to welcome all students of the Polish School of St. John Paul II to the new 2025-26 school year. Below you will find some essential information:

1. Class Schedule

2. Student Drop-off and Pick-up:

The rules for student drop-off and pick-up will remain the same as in previous years. Students in grades IV–XI will enter independently through the main entrance. Younger classes and preschool, during the first two weeks of classes, will meet 15 minutes before the start of lessons in the church yard (5:45 PM Friday; 9:45 AM Saturday). Each teacher will have a sign with their name and class number. At the start of lessons, children will go to their classrooms with their teacher and assistant. After classes (8:45 PM – Friday; 12:45 PM – Saturday) children will be brought back to the meeting place.

Starting from the third week, children should be brought to the main school entrance, where teachers will be waiting in the hallway.

For the safety of all students, during the first three weeks it will not be possible to drive children directly to the entrance doors. Starting in October, students may be dropped off at the doors through which they enter the school.

After classes, driving up to the school building will not be possible. The road will be closed, and teachers from Preschool through Grade 6 will escort students outside the school building.

3. School Textbooks (Materials)

Students registered in our school before September 1 will receive their textbooks during the first classes. Students registered on the first day of school will receive textbooks the following week.

4. Closing of the School Building During Classes

For the safety of our students, teachers, and board members, the school will remain locked during classes. Students are not allowed to leave the building on their own. In case of need, please contact the teacher (by phone, text message, or written note) or pick up your child in person. This applies to all students from preschool through the last high school class.

5. Parent School Duties

Just like last year, Parent School Duties will be in effect this school year. Each family is required to help once during the school year by supervising, which includes monitoring student behavior in the hallways and overseeing the cafeteria. Families who cannot attend on their assigned date must pay a fee of $50 for absence (or find a replacement). If no notification is given, the fee for not showing up will be $70. We also remind you that the duty date can be rescheduled (we understand plans may change).
Please choose a convenient date that fits your schedule and sign up for duty.

Parents’ Duty

We sincerely thank you for your cooperation and involvement!

6. Religion Classes

Children who attend religion classes remain in the same classrooms for Polish school lessons.

See you soon!

Halina Szyrzyna
School Principal

Download the 2025/2026 school calendar

Important Information and Upcoming Events

May 3rd Parade in Chicago

This year we warmly encourage all students to participate in the May 3rd Parade in Chicago, which will take place on Saturday, May 3.
We will meet in front of the school at 9:00 AM, with a planned return around 1:30 PM.
Younger children may participate in the parade only if accompanied by an adult.
To help with identification in the crowd, we ask students to wear school T-shirts. Shirts ($15) and sweatshirts ($30) can be purchased during school hours or right before departure.

Oral Exams for Seniors: (May 3 at 6:00 PM; May 4 at 10:00 AM)

Our seniors are approaching their final oral exams, and we want to express our full support and confidence in your abilities. This is an important milestone, and we know how hard you’ve worked to get here.

Good luck! We are proud of you and look forward to celebrating your success.

Special End-of-Year Events

End-of-Year Mass (May 4 at 2:00 PM)

Join us on May 4 at 2:00 PM for a special Mass for 8th and 11th-grade graduates at St. Cyril and Methodius Church in Lemont. This ceremonial Mass marks a significant milestone in our students’ lives as they start new life chapters.

Graduation Ball for Seniors and Their Families:

Seniors and their families will celebrate their achievements at the Graduation Ball at Crystal Grand Banquet Hall on May 4 at 5:00 PM.

Graduation Brunch for 8th Graders and Their Families:

Our 8th graders and their families will celebrate the completion of elementary school and the beginning of their high school journey. A special brunch will be held at Crystal Grand on May 11 at 11:00 AM.
Enjoy the meal and celebrate the years spent together.

End of the School Year

The final school days are May 16 and 17. We invite all families to join us for the Dance Group “POLANIE” performance on Friday at 7:00 PM and Saturday at 11:00 AM.

What’s Been Happening Lately?

A Sweet Treat to Celebrate the End of the Eco-Art Contest

Heartfelt Thanks to Our Incredible Parents!

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank all the parents who volunteered for classroom duty this school year or helped on their own initiative to keep things running smoothly during lessons and special events, fairs, and other school initiatives.
Thanks to your support, the school board’s work was much easier this year, teachers could count on extra help, and children were able to learn in a safe and welcoming environment.

Enrollment for the 2025/26 School Year

To enroll for the 2025–26 school year, please complete the registration form. The registration fee is $300 per family and is due at the time of registration. This fee is included in the tuition. More information is available at https://polschool.com/zapisy/