“Another Great Week” Newsletter from Principal Ferguson

Dear Lancer Families,

Congratulations: Congratulations to the St. Mike’s Chess Team! 23 members participated in the Benjamin Middle School chess tournament in West Chicago on Saturday, December 1st. We won three team trophies: 5th place in the junior high division (Jack Stiefel, Nathan Carroll, Patrick Mahan, Lillian Hartz, Ayden Wielgos, Benjamin Carroll, Colin Smith and Samuel LaHood), 1st place in the 4th-5th grade division (David Bessert, Joseph Stiefel, Owen McHugh, Leo Sendek, Emily Krause and Alex Jost) and 1st place in the K-3rd grade division (Tyler Wernick, Declan Tobin, Enzo Morreale, Zac Gray, Carter Sendek, Nolan Wanzung, Alexander Carroll, Peter LaHood and Leo Stella). The following students took home individual trophies: Primary Division - K-3rd (Zac Gray 2nd place, Alexander Carroll 5th place, and Carter Sendek 7th Place. Elementary Division - 4/5th (Joseph Stiefel 5th place and Leo Sendek 9th Place). Great job Lancers!!

Thank you to the SMPO volunteers who’ve brought so much fun and joy to our days already this December. From Donuts with Santa to Santa’s Secret Shop to our preparations for the upcoming celebrations…we deeply appreciate all that our parents do to make this season special for all!

Christmas Program: We are excited for this year's Christmas Program on Thursday, December 14th. The Kindergarten through 5th grade students have been practicing for weeks in preparation for this annual event. The doors will open at 6:00 pm for the 6:30 performance. At 6:00 p.m. students will enter through Door 1 and go directly to their classroom and families may find a seat inside the Cashin Gym.

Advent Prayer Spaces: Also, the photos above show a few of the prayer tables around school. Walking around on this Feast of the Immaculate Conception, it’s easy to see how the anticipation of Advent fills this special time of year for all of us at school! Just a quick look in the classrooms shows how we await the birth of our Lord. We feel grateful and blessed to prepare together this Advent.

Eucharistic Adoration: Questions about the Adoration Chapel…What is Eucharistic Adoration? How do I access the Adoration Chapel? Feel free to click on this LINK to view a quick video from Fr. Dan, that will hopefully answer all your questions.

“Advent is a time of waiting for our Lord, who will visit us all in our own hearts. The Lord is coming! Let us wait for him!” says Pope Francis. May we all journey together toward Bethlehem, drawn by the light of Jesus, with joyful hope of peace on earth.

Adam Ferguson

Principal, St. Michael Parish School

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Dear Current St. Michael Families,
Re-Enrollment season is upon us for Current Families. We are excited to welcome your family back next year! Our re-enrollment processes have changed with the implementation of the new FACTS system, which now includes a universal, Diocesan-wide process. Please read below for details for Re-Enrollment requirements for Current Families, and complete whichever set(s) of steps applies to your family. Thank you!
If you have a RETURNING student who will be a Preschooler or Kindergartener for next year*:
Open Now: Please fill out this P/K Preference Form for each 2024-2025 Preschool or Kindergarten student [due by December 15 at the latest].
[Coming in Jan 2024: Complete the FACTS Enrollment Packet online - required for all NEW & RETURNING students.]
If you have a NEW student to enroll for next year:
Open Now: Enter your NEW student through this FACTS application (the system will “recognize” your login and current student(s). You only need to add your NEW student) [due by December 15 at the latest].
Open Now: If your NEW student is entering Preschool or Kindergarten, please fill out this P/K Preference Form[due by December 15 at the latest]. If your NEW student is not entering P or K, please skip this step.
[Coming in Jan 2024: Complete the FACTs Enrollment Packet online - required for all NEW & RETURNING students.]
If you have NO new students and NO Preschooler or Kindergartener for 2024-2025, and your returning student(s) is in Grades 1-8*:
There are no Re-Enrollment requirements due at this time.
[Coming in Jan 2024: Complete the FACTS Enrollment Packet online - required for all NEW & RETURNING students.]
Please know that currently enrolled families have priority for enrollment. This means:
A spot for your current St. Michael student(s) is “held” for next year.
Current Families’ preferences and New Student entries will be placed/prioritized before any New Family applications are processed (which begins Dec 15, so please, please let us know of any new family members enrolling and your P/K preferences by that deadline, after which we may not be able to accommodate).
Current Families do not need to “reapply” for returning students, but only have to complete the Enrollment Packet which will be sent in Jan 2024.
We look forward to another great year! If you have questions about re-enrollment, please email or call me (630-462-5009).
Thank you!
Laura Gnorski
*Families who do not plan to have a student(s) return for 2024-2025, please contact Mr. Ferguson to let him know your intent by December 15. Thank you.
Friday Night Hoops is BACK!
Hey Hoops Fans - last year was awesome!
We brought you the basketball and you brought the noise! Way to go!
The basketball season is just underway! We will have home games on select Friday nights throughout the season. Most games will be for our 8th graders as they round out their Lancer basketball career… come and cheer them on!
There are another 4 games this Friday night!
And all 3 of our boys teams play tough St Pets teams!
530, 630, 730, and 830pm
Come early and stay late!
Let’s pack the gym! Cheer loud! Get nuts!
Hope to see you!
Lets Go Lancers!
Save some room for dinner… we will be selling pizza every Friday Night… proceeds go towards helping our 8th graders have an awesome end of the year celebration.
If you can’t make it on Friday Night…. you should… but if you can’t we’ve got ALOT of basketball this weekend.
Join SMPO for a night of FAMILY FUN as the Chicago Wolves take on the Milwaukee Admirals! The Chicago Wolves are celebrating local Catholic Schools; what better way to show our LANCER Pride?!
When: Puck Drops at 7:00 on Saturday, January 27, 2024
Where: Allstate Arena, Rosemont, IL
All proceeds from this event will benefit the Cashin / Flynn Scholarship
Please print, complete & return this attached flyer to get tickets and learn about the free merch with ticket purchase!
Makes a great Christmas gift for the entire family!
Make plans that make a difference @ St. Mike's Restaurant Nights
SMPO is excited for a FULL day of Panda Express!
Egg Rolls all day! Yeah!
When: Join us ANYTIME on Tuesday December 12, 2023
Where: at the Panda Express in GLENDALE HEIGHTS
(181 W Army Trail Rd, Glendale Heights)
20% of St Michael sales on 12/12/23 from 10am - 9pm will go directly to the Cashin Flynn Scholarship fund.
Bring your flyer, show it on your phone, or use the code 356344 on the app or online ordering to show you are supporting St Mikes!
Click to view details
Join us for the event of the year…The annual Blue & Gold Gala!
Click for invite, details, TICKETS, & open tuition raffle!
Tuition Raffle tickets are ON SALE NOW through the Blue & Gold Gala site. Get them while you still can!!!

CALENDAR

COMMUNITY POSTS

Benet Academy 2023 Cheerleading
Kindergarten through 4th Grade
Please join us for the Benet Winter Cheer Clinic!
Date: Wednesday, Dec 13th 5-6:30pm (4:45 check-in)
Half-time Performance at Boys Basketball game- Friday, Dec 15 Location: Benet Dance Studio, 2200 Maple Ave., Lisle, Door 28 Register: www.benetcamps.com - Girl Athletics- Cheerleading Cost: $60
Clinic Details
Check-in for the clinic will begin at 4:45pm in the BA Dance Studio lobby. Warm-up starts promptly at 5pm. Participants will learn and practice skills including motions, cheers, and jumps. A dance will be taught for the game halftime performance. Participants should wear socks, gym shoes, and athletic clothing. Participants should bring a water bottle. To participate safely in the clinic, students must remove all jewelry. Clinic will be indoors.
Performance
Participants are invited to show off their skills learned at the clinic along with the Benet Cheerleaders during the halftime performance of a Benet Academy Varsity boys basketball game at Benet (door 9). Attire for the performance is the clinic T-shirt, black leggings and Benet Santa hat. More information regarding this performance opportunity will be given to you at the first night of the clinic. Game entry for participants is free.
We are very excited about this year’s cheer clinic and look forward to a great performance! If you have questions, please contact Coach Danielle (dkowalski@benet.org ) and Coach Rashelle (rwollnik@benet.org).
CLICK TO REGISTER
Click to View Details!
BASKETBALL, BAND, & CHOIR MIDDLE SCHOOL NIGHT: Friday, December 15, 2023 (PDF attached)
Choir
Rehearse and then perform with the SFHS Choir before the boys basketball game!
Pep Band
Rehearse and then perform with the SFHS Band before the boys basketball game and during halftime!
Basketball
Girls - game begins at 6:00 p.m.
Boys - game begins at 7:30 p.m.
Come 30 minutes before game time to enter a raffle and win prizes! Free admission for middle school students!
Register at https://www.sfhscollegeprep.org/admissions/visit-st-francis-high-school.
You are invited! Click to view: Glenbard Parent Series