Dear St. Giles Families,
Christmas is in full swing here at St. Giles! We can hear our Lions in the hallways practicing for our upcoming Christmas Concert on December 19th and look forward to being together at one of our beloved traditions at St. Giles. If you missed the Special eNews regarding the concert that went out on Friday, you can find it here. Church doors will open at 5:30 pm and all students should be seated with their class by 5:45 pm.
While the weather outside has yet to be frightful, we do want to be prepared for inclement weather and the possibility of school closure as we head into January. It is important to remember that while most families do not live far from school, most of our faculty and staff travel a significant distance, and therefore road conditions play a large part in our decision-making as safety is the priority for all involved.
In the event of an emergency closure due to weather conditions or other emergencies, families will be notified via special eNews and Social Media: Facebook and Instagram. We attempt to make these decisions as early as possible and will try our best to notify families the night before. You are probably wondering (and we know your children will be wondering!) if a closure will mean a true snow day or remote learning for our Lions. As we did last year, our first school closure day will be a snow day. However, if the need arises to have multiple days off in a row, we may implement eLearning in order to avoid adding days at the end of the school year and to minimize the loss of learning.
Lastly, please make sure your Lions have appropriate coats, hats, and gloves for outdoor recess. We know that many of them go from the house to the car in the garage and feel they do not need a coat. However, when they step outside for recess, they are freezing. Per school policy, we plan to have outdoor recess unless the temperatures drop below zero with the wind chill, the surfaces are icy, or it is actively raining or snowing heavily, so students should always be prepared to be outdoors. Finally, please remind your Lions to bring their water bottles!
Have a wonderful week,
Meg
Please note: The Office will be closing at 2:15 on Wednesday, December 13th so that all of our faculty and staff can celebrate at our Christmas Party. Afternoon Kids Klub remains open.
|
|
Scroll down for details regarding:
Reading Olympics Success
Variety Show Details
Winter Enrichment
PTO Newsletter and Christmas Appreciation Fund
Veteran Teacher Spotlight
Athletics
Parish News--be sure to scroll down to see how we can help the parish during the Christmas season!
|
|
The Fall Reading Olympics season at St. Giles has been a great success! We fielded four teams, involving almost half of the fifth grade. The Olympics requires each team of students to read nine books chosen by the librarians in Oak Park and River Forest, and then to answer questions on them. The St. Giles competition last Wednesday was very tight, but the winning team was Emmie C., Juliana E., and Lydia M. Tuesday, that team did a great job representing St. Giles at the competition at the Oak Park Public Library! Emmie, Juliana, and Lydia not only advanced to the final round, but ultimately finished second out of a field of teams from 12 public and private schools in the Oak Park and River Forest area. We are roaring with pride for our reading Lions! Thank you to Ms. Bellmar for leading the teams again this year.
|
|
2023-2024 Live & In Person Variety Show!
Calling all Lions, this year the St. Giles Variety Show will be live and in person!
All participants must be registered by December 15th to participate in auditions to be held on January 10th and 12th right after our Christmas Break.
Grab a friend or go solo to join in the performance and start practicing over the Holidays! All acts will have up to 2 minutes to be performed.
Please use the link below to sign up by December 15th so you can participate in auditions!
|
|
WINTER ENRICHMENT IS HERE!
Looking for some after-school fun during the winter months? Look no further, we have plenty of opportunities available for our Lions! Below is just a glimpse of what is available--be sure to check out all of the courses in the parent portal.
Winter Enrichment registration is open now at the link below.
|
|
Cheer Team!
Cheer Team registration is now open. There will be a K-2 team as well as a 3-8 (there is a possibility that 3-8 will split into 3-5 and 6-8 based on enrollment)
Please visit the link below to register!
|
|
Teacher Spotlight
Ms. Mary Johnson, 3rd Grade
B.A. Elementary Education, St. Xavier University
Years at St. Giles: 4 years
Favorite Book and/or Movie: A League of their Own
Favorite Vacation Spot: Disney World
Fun Fact: In my free time I love riding through nature on the back of a motorcycle.
I am a single mom of 3 very energetic children whom all attend St. Giles. I have twin boys in 6th grade and a girl in 1st grade. When I am not at work I enjoy spending time outdoors with the children, shopping and drinking coffee. I am an avid baker in my free time.
|
|
Season’s Greetings, Lion Families!
Girls and Boys Basketball
Please access your student-athlete’s Team Site through the TeamSideline App - The APP is your go-to for all things about the Basketball Season. TS App Sign In - TeamSideline.com Please ‘RSVP’ for events so coaches can plan accordingly!
Basketball/Volleyball Family Season Pass: The Family Pass is back this year!
The Family Pass allows all members of your immediate family admittance to all Basketball/Volleyball games this Winter Season. The Family Pass can be purchased for $50 on the Athletic Website: Family Season Pass / Donations button at the top/right.
Event Admission at the door is $2/person for individuals over the age of ten (10).
Girls Volleyball Registration - Coming Soon!
Thank you,
Sean Clancy
|
|
The Week Ahead in Athletics
Date Time Home Away Location
12/11/2023 5:00 PM Girls Giles 6th Marys 6 St. Giles Gym
12/11/2023 6:00 PM Girls Giles 8th Marys 8 St. Giles Gym
12/11/2023 7:00 PM Boys Giles 4th Ascension 4 St. Giles Gym
12/13/2023 5:00 PM Girls Giles 5th Vincents 5 St. Giles Gym
12/13/2023 6:00 PM Girls Giles 6th Vincents 6 St. Giles Gym
12/13/2023 7:00 PM Girls Giles 7th Vincents 7 St. Giles Gym
12/13/2023 6:00 PM Angelas 8 Girls Giles 8th Angelas
12/14/2023 7:00 PM DP 8 Girls Giles 8th DP
12/16/2023 9:50 AM Girls Giles 4th IC 4 IC
12/16/2023 11:30 AM DayStar Boys Giles 4th Julianas
12/16-17 2023 Loyola Academy Girls Grade School Tournament
** Scheduled Practices will appear on the Team Sites / App; and can found below ‘Game Schedule’ on the Athletic Website.
GO LIONS!
|
|
Be sure to check out the latest newsletter from PTO here!
|
|
Help us meet our goal for the Christmas Appreciation Fund (CAF)
We are entering the last week of collection for the CAF and need your support!
To date, 39% of our school community has contributed. That's 83 of 213 families, and we are confident we can reach our goal of 100%. This fund supports every member of our faculty, staff, and administration. Thank you to everyone who has made their donation to date. Any amount is appreciated.
Tax deductible donations will be collected through Thursday, December 14th via the following:
Here is how you can give today:
-
Online Donation: Scan the QR Code or Click here.
-
Text to Give: Text Gratitude to 708-554-7874.
-
Cash or Check: Drop off in an envelope at the St. Giles School Office with the following information. Checks can be made payable to St. Giles School.
-
“CAF”
- Donor name(s)
- Student name(s)
**If you use one of our electronic options, please consider selecting the option to cover your credit card fees.
Next week look for Santa's helpers at school drop off and pick up. Listen for the bells and bring cash/check or pay with your phone!
Whether you contribute $10 or $1000, every contribution makes a difference - and 100% participation sends a powerful message of support and gratitude to our teachers and staff.
|
|
Upcoming Events
Trinity Christmas Concert
Trinity's Winter Fine & Performing Arts Evening is Thursday, December 14! Join us for the gallery at 6:30PM and the concert at 7PM.
|
|
Time for Caring and Sharing: CCW Sharing Tree
With the Christmas Season quickly approaching, we would like to remind you of one of the traditions that makes our Parish so special—the CCW Sharing Tree. It is a way to support vulnerable families during the holidays—to share what we can and care for one another, especially those in need.
We are asking for :
- Donations of gift cards to Jewel, Walmart or Target.
- Monetary donations by check (payable to St. Giles CCW).
- Online donations via GiveCentral (use the button below).
Mail your donation to—or drop off at—the Parish Center, 1025 Columbian Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302. Or place it in the Offertory collection at weekend Mass.
So that we have sufficient time to purchase and allocate the gift cards to those needy families, please respond by Monday, December 11th. Thank you in advance for your generosity! Anything you can offer is greatly appreciated.
If you have questions, please contact Madeleine Butler at 708-267-7572 or Pat Micucci at 773-237-4691.
|
|
Join the St. Giles Community as a Greeter at Weekend Masses |
|
Let's Light up Oak Park!
Pre-order your Luminaria Kit NOW for “Light Up the Night” or Christmas Eve!
$10.00 Kit includes - 6 candles, 6 bags, and sand
New pick-up location this year - Pick up your kit for “Light Up the Night” in OP or Christmas Eve from St. Edmund's!
St. Edmunds Church Garage
In between the parking lot and the church
188 South Oak Park Avenue
Oak Park, IL 60304
Pick up Dates:
Friday, December 15th 4-6pm
Saturday, December 16th 9-1pm
Sunday, December 17th 9-1pm
Tuesday, December 19th 5-7pm
Payment- We are not accepting pre-payment at this time. Payment can be made at the time of pick up. We are accepting cash or checks. Checks can be made out to Spirit and Light.
*Orders due by Dec. 11
The Catholic Parishes of Oak Park have collaborated with Infant Welfare Society of Clarendon Hills. We purchase all our Luminaria Kits from them. When you purchase your Luminaria Kit you can feel good knowing it has helped The Infant Welfare Society of Clarendon Hills and Spirit and Light Religious Education.
|
|
The Launch of The Neighborhood Bridge
It’s official!
After almost a year during which a team representing the Oak Park parishes explored ways to enact the Renew My Church imperative “to use the St. Catherine-St. Lucy campus as a base for powerful ministry outreach to our neighbors on the West Side,” The Neighborhood Bridge has been launched.
The Neighborhood Bridge, a social ministry outreach to residents across Austin Boulevard, focusing initially on school families, is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization registered as a not-for-profit in the state of Illinois with a Board of Directors, which sets the stage for the next important phase, fundraising to upgrade the rectory and hire the necessary personnel to make the vision a reality.
Although the overall goal is to raise $1.6 million to $2 million to renovate the entire rectory and support a wide range of services, the immediate goal is to raise $100,000 to upgrade the basement to house some of the current ministries serving Austin residents, such as Faith & Fellowship, which has been accompanying Austin residents with severe mental health challenges on their faith journey for the past 41 years. With the intended improvements, the basement will be able to also host a center for adult education, providing training in areas the school families have requested, such as household budgeting, communication skills, computer skills, and violence prevention. Finally, it will become a distribution center for needed household staples, such as food, clothing, first aid supplies, and school supplies.
Work can begin on this first phase as soon as 90 percent of the funds are in the bank.
While fundraising is ongoing, the Board will begin a search for the Executive Director of The Neighborhood Bridge, who will be from the Austin community and, as the public face of the center, will interact with schools, connecting school families and other Austin residents with the network of service providers active in the area.
Meetings with community providers and leaders who serve the larger Austin community revealed that Central West Austin, which borders the St. Catherine/St. Lucy campus, is considered a social services desert and several organizations are looking for more space in this area to better serve residents. As they noted, proximity matters when someone is looking for help.
Getting to the upper limit fundraising goal would enable The Neighborhood Bridge to host in the rectory a wider range of needed services identified by Austin residents in surveys and focus groups, such as mental healthcare, primary healthcare, financial counseling, and job training, provided by established organizations that would lease space in the building.
Even as fundraising begins in earnest, the team that has been working on this project from the beginning, buttressed by new volunteers with much-needed skills who emerged from the public forums, will continue to meet with Austin residents at their schools and churches to elicit additional input on what services the community needs at The Neighborhood Bridge.
The Neighborhood Bridge came about due to the efforts of a small group of dedicated volunteers (the Feasibility Study Team) who have been laying the groundwork since last January, with the support and guidance of Fr. Carl Morello.
Since August, some of the Team presented the study’s findings in 18 public forums held at churches throughout Oak Park, River Forest, and Forest Park, as well as five schools in Austin. In all, about 325 members of the community attended the public forums, offering enthusiastic support for the study’s findings. Thanks go to the people who have devoted countless hours to the effort over the last 12 months, led by co-chairs Jack Crowe and Dan Doody. Other team members include: Maudette Carr, Mary Darnall, Mindy Dillon, Sarah Finnegan, Jeanne Gallo, Chris Griffith, Jim Jankowski, Jack Lesniak, Kenna MacKinnon, John Meister, Mike Morrissey, and Bill Rosenquist.
Those interested in making an end-of-year donation to The Neighborhood Bridge can mail a check to:
The Neighborhood Bridge
P.O. Box 1853
Oak Park, IL 60304
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
