Raising Saints Since 1902

Welcome to Saint Paul School

This family packet is to help families new to Saint Paul School navigate many of the "happenings" during the school year. This by no means provides all event and special school information, but is a good overview of the events that take place throughout a typical school year, as well as some general information that you may find helpful.

A good place to start in getting to know Saint Paul School is through the Saint Paul Home and School Association. Home and School is Saint Paul School’s equivalent of a PTA and is made up of Saint Paul School parents and teachers – two of the best resources Saint Paul School has to offer. Home and School meets three times a year (at 6:30 pm on the first Monday in September, January, and May), childcare is provided by sixth graders in the library during the meetings. Please LIKE our Saint Paul School Home and School Association page on Facebook to see happenings at Saint Paul School.

  • Students may arrive at school at 7:30 am, they will be allowed to go to their classrooms when the first bell rings at 7:50 am. Final morning bell rings at 8:00 am and class begins. The students will be dismissed at 2:30 pm.
  • All entrances to the school are locked during the school day. Visitors must be buzzed in at the front door and must check in with the school office. Please wear a visitor tag from the office when visiting.
  • A weekly email is sent out on Friday afternoons during the school year with upcoming information regarding school and church events.
  • Physical Education – Grades K-3(T/Th); Grades 4-6(M/W) – children must wear tennis shoes.
  • Music Class – Grades K-3(M/W); Grades 4-6(T/Th), 6th grade children have the opportunity to take choir and band at Edison School.
  • Library is offered once a week on Wednesday - Children are given time to check out books and listen to a story.
  • Art is offered once a week - Wednesday K-3 and Thursday 4-6
  • Students attend Mass on Fridays at 9:15 am and family members are welcome to join us.
  • Multiple times throughout the year, students are bussed to WIU to watch performances, one permission slip is signed at the beginning of the year for all events.
  • Saint Paul School apparel sales happen in the fall.
  • Room Parent Duties – coordinate classroom parties, teacher gifts(Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Teacher Appreciation Week) and any other assistance requested by the teacher.
  • Girl Sports – girls in 5th and 6th grade can play basketball (August–November) and volleyball (January–February).
  • Boy Sports – boys in 5th and 6th grade can play basketball (November–February).
  • Offer to assist teachers with special projects/events throughout the year.
  • Offer to drive for class field trips.
  • Attend Home and School Association meetings (different volunteer opportunities present themselves at the meetings).
  • Work at school fundraisers/special events.
  • Volunteer to spearhead a school fundraiser or special event.
  • Work at sports tournament concessions/ticket taking.
  • Assist at classroom holiday parties(send snacks/drinks, organize games, etc.); parents are welcome to attend even if they are not assisting.
  • Assist in the library or lunch room.
  • Become a Home and School Association Officer.
  • Many teachers have "wish lists" if you would like to help purchase items for the classrooms.
  • Coaching – Saint Paul School has basketball teams for both 5th and 6th grade boys and girls as well as volleyball teams for 5th and 6th grade. Teams need a head coach and assistant coach for each season. 4th grade students are sometimes needed to play.
August
  • Golf Outing Fundraiser
  • Back to School Night – Students bring school supplies to organize in their desks the night before school starts. Teachers will give a ten minute talk to parents about classroom expectations. There will be 2 sessions so parents with multiple children can hear all the teachers.
  • Ag Afternoon – Touch and See Farm Machinery up close with local farmers.
September
  • School Open House – Families are invited to see all the fun activities students have been working on in their classroom.
  • Home and School Association Meeting – Childcare is available
  • Raising Saints Fundraiser
  • MAP Testing – All grades
  • All classes attend 1st Responder Day at the park
October
  • St. Francis Pet Blessing – Grade 2 hosts; includes pet food drive.
  • Parent Teacher Conferences
  • Book Fair Fundraiser (during Parent Teacher Conferences) – Books purchased at the fair allow the school to receive free books for all the classrooms.
  • Class Halloween Party/Trunk or Treat – Parents can volunteer to decorate their car trunk and pass out treats to students as they parade by in costume (all welcome to attend).
November
  • Bake Sale – Grade 2 conducts a bake sale to earn funds for their holiday service project.
  • Veteran’s Day Pancake Breakfast and Program – Students may invite veterans to attend the festivities; students do a short performance after breakfast (all welcome to attend).
  • Thanksgiving Mass – Grade 1 hosts a play prior to Mass; includes canned food drive.
  • First Reconciliation – Grade 2 classes continue; sacrament occurs in December.
  • All Saints Day Wax Museum – Grades 4-6
December
  • WIRC Project Santa – Families have the opportunity to "adopt" a child and provide gifts from his/her Christmas wish list.
  • 6th Grade Christmas Closet – All students have the opportunity to shop for their family and find special treasurers at the Christmas Closet; all items are $.25.
  • Coats for Kids – New coats are collected to donate to WIRC for children in need. Donations are made by the entire school. 6th grade shops
  • Christmas Program
  • Nativity Mass – Grade 3 hosts Mass as well as a play before Mass.
  • Advent Prayer Services – Prayer services will be hosted by different classrooms during the four weeks of advent (all welcome to attend).
  • Class Christmas Party
January
  • Home and School Association Meeting – Childcare available
  • Girls Volleyball Tournaments – Families provide workers for tickets and concessions.
  • Catholic Schools Week – Last week of January, theme dress days with other fun days like hobby day, game day, Battle of Books; (some activities open to parents/families).
  • MAP testing – All Grades
February
  • Trivia Night Fundraiser
  • Class Valentine’s Day Party  – Plan to send valentine’s for the entire class.
  • Boys Basketball Tournaments – Families provide workers for tickets and concessions.
  • DARE Program – Grade 5; the school resource officer for the district presents a DARE curriculum to students during the school day.
March
  • Athletic Banquet – Grades 5 & 6; students who play sports are honored.
  • DARE Program continues – Grade 5
  • Spring Break – Aligns with WIU’s spring break.
April
  • First Communion Classes begin – Grade 2(parents also attend).
  • Farm Day – Grade 4; spend the day learning about farm safety with other 4th graders.
  • Donuts with Darlings – Students invite a special friend to a donut breakfast followed by classroom tour and Mass.
  • Holy Week Reenactment – All grades; this occurs the day before Good Friday. All students participate in the reenactment; the audience moves between the church and different parts of the school to hear each story(all welcome to attend).
  • 5K Fun Run/Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser – student fun run is Friday afternoon (all welcome to attend and volunteer); Saturday is the community walk/run & pancake breakfast.
May
  • Teacher Appreciation Week – Each class is responsible on one day for bringing in food for the teacher breakfast buffet. Classes traditionally provide gifts for their teacher throughout the week.
  • First Communion Ceremony – Grade 2; reception after the ceremony hosted by the Women’sGuild.
  • May Crowning – Grade 6; hosts crowning of Mary located near the parsonage(all welcome to attend).
  • Stem Fair – Grades 4-6; STEM activities for the whole school
  • Spring Music Program
  • Class Field Trip – Grade 6
  • MAP Testing – All Grades
  • Graduation – Grade 6
June
  • Gala Fundraiser – Held alternating odd-numbered years. Next Gala 2025
  • Totus Tuus Camp for grades 1-6 day camp grades 7-12 evening