WELCOME BACK

Dear Viking Family,

Warm greetings to you and your families! As we approach the beginning of a new academic year, it is with great joy and enthusiasm that I extend to you a heartfelt welcome back to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School.

The start of a new school year is always a special time, filled with hope, new possibilities, and a renewed sense of purpose. We are truly excited to partner with you once again in nurturing and guiding your children's educational and spiritual journey. At St. Vincents, we hold the firm belief that education is not just about acquiring knowledge but about shaping young minds and hearts to become true disciples of Christ who are virtuous, responsible, and can positively contribute to society. Our dedicated faculty and staff have been diligently preparing for the upcoming academic year, and are committed to providing your children with an engaging, enriching, and faith-filled learning experience. This academic year, we are anxious to challenge and inspire, while our commitment to fostering the Catholic values of faith, love, respect, empathy, and service remains unwavering.

Please read through the important information below that will equip you for a smooth start to our school year. May our collective efforts and prayers ignite a spark of excellence, compassion, and faith within our school family and beyond.

In Christ's love and service,

Ms. Hogan

Miss Dunbar: 6-2 HR, 5th & 6th Religion, 5th – 7th Science, Campus Minister

Mr. Miller: 6th – 7th & 8th Religion, 5th - 8th Social Sciences, Campus Minister

Mrs. Scudder: 6-1 HR, Pre-K-8 STEM, 8th Science

Senor Polillo: 7-2 HR, Pre-K-8 Spanish

Friday, January 31st

Dismiss at 1:00pm

Wednesday, August 14th

8:25am - 11:30am

Aftercare will be available the first day of school. A sack lunch is required for care students on ½ days of school.

Due before the first day of school, Wednesday, August 14th

Kindergarten Students

Physical Exam (all immunizations must be up-to-date with verification of lead screening)

Dental Exam

Eye Exam

2nd grade Students

Dental Exam

6th grade Students

Physical Exam (all immunizations must be up-to-date with verification of lead screening)

Dental Exam

5th-8th Student Athletes

A sports physical is required to participate in SVdP athletics and is valid for 13 months.

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday:

School begins: 8:25am

Dismissal: 3:15pm (Kindergarten 3:10pm)

Wednesdays:

School begins: 8:25am

Dismissal: 2:30pm (Staff Development)

There will be 2 drop-off/pick-up locations.

Drop-off

Drop-off in the morning will begin at 8:00am. Families can drop off all of their children at the location of their oldest child:

• Middle School Entrance: 5th – 8th Grade
• Front School Entrance: K-4th Grade

All students will gather in the small gym upon arrival at school.

Dismissal

All parents must park to pick up students at the same location as drop-off.

Cost of Lunch

$3.50 Hot lunch (milk included)*

$1.00 Extras

$0.50 Cold lunch milk

*Please note price increase for 2024-2025.

Cold Lunch

Those who bring a sack lunch may purchase milk each day for $0.50. Late lunches must be labeled with the student’s name. Students who have forgotten their lunch should check with the office on their way to lunch. If a parent chooses to send fast food/restaurant food, the child will be asked to eat in the office conference room with a friend.

Reminder: No soda or candy from home is to be brought to school as part of their lunch.

Hot Lunch Program

All hot lunches are charged to your FACTS Prepay Family Lunch Account. Family lunch prepay balances and charges are available to be viewed in Family Portal, Financial tab.

Depositing Money into Family Lunch Prepay Accounts

There are two ways to deposit money for your student/s lunch charges:

Log into Family Portal:

🖱️ Click on “Financial”

🖱️ Click on “Add Funds” in the Prepay Accounts box (middle of page)

Send money to the school office:

💲Cash: in an envelope labeled with Family Name

💲Check: payable to SVdP Hot Lunch Program

A friendly reminder email will be sent every Sunday to any families that have a low balance (<$10) or a negative balance in their lunch prepay account. Please be sure to add money by that following Monday.

Families who qualify for free/reduced meals generate a proportionate share of government funds (such as Title 1) for our school. The free/reduced meal application is confidential. We highly encourage your family to complete the application and return it to the school office if you qualify (see income chart information). Families who qualified for free or reduced lunches last year have one month to reapply before their status is changed and they are charged for lunches.

All Care registration was completed in your enrollment packet. If your plans change anytime during the school year and you need our Care program please complete the Care Registration Form and return to the school office.

The Care costs are:

Registration Fee: $40 for first child, $10 each additional child

Hourly Cost: $5.00 first child, $1.00/hour for additional children

Care will be available for students in grades preschool – 8th beginning the first day of school. Please drop your Before Care students off at the Care door to the right of the school front doors in the morning. If any student comes to school before 8:00 AM, they are to go to Care and you will be billed.

SVdP’s Care Director:

Ms. Megan Kelly

mkelly@svdpvikings.com

If you purchased the pre-packaged school supply kits (Grades K-8) through the Women’s Guild program, they will be available in their homeroom at our Meet & Greet.

The SVdP school supply lists can be found here.

No watches will be permitted.

SHOES: BOYS AND GIRLS

• ATHLETIC SHOES
  • Any combination of white, gray or black athletic shoes
  • No additional colors allowed
• DRESS SHOES
  • Brown, black, gray or navy dress shoes only
• Toes and heels of feet must be covered
• NOT PERMITTED:
• Heels over an inch.
• Clogs, sandals, mules, crocs, slippers or moccasins etc.
• Hiking, hunting, UGG, or any type of boot (Boots are for outside only on rain or snow days).
• No glitter or light-up shoes allowed

SOCKS: BOYS AND GIRLS

• Solid white or black socks (small visible manufacturer’s name is acceptable; however, no neon allowed)
• No emblem, logo or brand name
• Socks must be visible above the tops of the shoes.

The full dress code policy can be found here.

All prescription and non-prescription (over-the-counter) medications require written authorization from the student’s health care provider (licensed to prescribe the medication) as well as written parental consent for the office to dispense.

Administration of Medication Policy

If your child requires staff to administer inhalers, medicine, including any other-the-counter medicines, please complete the School Medication Authorization Form and return to the school office with their medication.

Medication Storage Requirements:

Prescription Medication

· stored in original container

· labeled with:

• student name
• medication name
• dosage and instructions
• pharmacist name

Over-the-counter Medication

· student name

· medication name

· suggested dosage (as labeled by the retailer)

The school directory is ONLY public to our registered school families. Parents can access the school directory with information on parents/students’ names, addresses, phone numbers, and emails.

Log into Family Portal (District Code: SVDP-IL)

Click on the “Directory” tab under School Information

The entire directory will be displayed or search box choices are available.

For more information (ie. cell phone numbers, emails etc.) click on the underlined name.