AGW 11/22
Dear Lancer Families,
First, we have to thank our 2nd grade students and teachers for sharing their incredible Saint projects with us at Mass on Wednesday. Their holiness and goodness were on full display and we were all inspired! As well, congratulations to our 5th grade inventors on a fantastic “Invention Convention” this week!
The much needed Thanksgiving Break is finally upon us. As we head into the next week off of school and Thanksgiving Day, I wanted to share my gratitude to each of you for the joy, kindness, and partnership you bring to our school community. Your children continue to inspire all of us each day, and we are truly blessed to walk this journey with all the SMPS families.
When we return from Thanksgiving break, we enter one of the most exciting stretches of the school year! December is packed with celebrations, traditions, and special events that help us prepare our hearts for Christmas. Please take a moment to note the important dates below so your family can stay organized during this festive season:
Giving Tuesday – December 2: A wonderful opportunity to support our school community.
Santa’s Secret Workshop – December 5: Students can shop for small gifts for family and friends.
Donuts with Santa – December 6: A fun morning for families to enjoy treats and photos with Santa!
High School Placement Test – December 6: Best wishes to our 8th graders as they take this important step.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception Mass – December 8: A Holy Day celebration for our entire school community.
Christmas Concert & 5th Grade Nativity Play – December 11: A beautiful evening showcasing our students’ musical gifts.
Dickens of a Christmas – December 17: Our 6th graders bring the classic story to life!
All School Mass & Faith Rally and Classroom Christmas Parties/8th Grade Lip Sync – December 19: A joyful finish to the season before we head into Christmas break.
Below is an excerpt from the Jesus’ Calling Daily Devotional for Thursday, November 27, Thanksgiving Day…
“Let thankfulness rule in your heart. As you thank Me for blessings in your life, a marvelous thing happens. It is as if scales fall off your eyes, enabling you to see more and more of My glorious riches. With your eyes thus opened, you can help yourself to whatever you need from My treasure house. Each time you receive one of My golden gifts, let your thankfulness sing out praises to My Name. "Hallelujahs" are the language of heaven, and they can become the language of your heart. A life of praise and thankfulness becomes a life filled with miracles. Instead of trying to be in control, you focus on Me and what I am doing. This is the power of praise: centering your entire being in Me. This is how I created you to live, for I made you in My own image. Enjoy the abundant life by overflowing with praise and thankfulness.”
We wish you all a restful and relaxing Thanksgiving Break with family and Friends!!
Make it a great day, Lancers!
Adam Ferguson
Principal
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Click to view: A Black Friday Special for the Blue & Gold Gala!
Purchase Here: https://e.givesmart.com/events/BcU/
Thank you! Happy Thanksgiving!
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This #GivingTuesday make a difference right here at St. Michael Parish School: Donate. Make a difference!
Donate online through WeShare!
Donate in the Sunday basket; Memo line or envelope: "SMPS #GIVINGTUESDAY"
Donate with a check by mail to: 314 W. Willow Ave., Wheaton, IL 60187
Thank you! Our school deeply appreciates your support!
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Time for a uniform refresh? SMPO has you covered! Click for details!
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Spirit Wear Christmas Shop is open until November 21, so get those orders in now! Due to busy production times, we will only be keeping this shop open for a short period of time to collect and produce in time for distribution before Christmas break. We have a lot of fun, new designs to check out: https://smps.logoshop.com/
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Donuts with Santa is December 6! Santa will be available for a photo, as well as donuts, crafts, games and fun! Reserve your spot today! Tickets are $10 per family. Ticket sales will close 12/2 for the final donut count, so make sure to buy your ticket here: https://forms.gle/Gog9bX5JcYzyciaT6
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The 14th Annual Lion’s Charities Reindeer Run is Saturday, December 6 at 8:30 AM. If you enter code: MICHAEL25, you’ll receive a $5 discount and SMPS will receive $5! Win/Win! You can register here: https://wheatonparkdistrict.com/events/reindeerrun/ (Don’t forget to stop by SMPS for Donuts with Santa after the run!)
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St. Michael Family Night at the Chicago Wolveshockey game is January 17 at 7 PM. Everyone will receive a free Chicago Wolves hat and we’ll all be seated together. Our school name will also be on the LED boards during the game! Ticket orders are due December 15! Order form attached.
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Ho! Ho! Ho!
Santa’s Secret Shop is returning to St. Mikes!
Children in kindergarten - 5th grade are invited to participate in the upcoming “Santa’s Secret Shop” on Friday, December 5th during the school day. There will be a large variety of gifts in different price ranges to choose from. Parent volunteers and for our K-2 students, their buddies!, will help the children pick that perfect gift for the price they want. Imagine the fun the kids will have surprising a loved one with a “secret” gift they bought all by themselves! Please keep in mind when making your list of who to shop for that each class will have 20 minutes to shop, purchase, and have their gifts wrapped. The majority of gifts range from $1-$7 with some higher end options up to $20.
A “money control” envelope will be sent home next week so you can help them decide who they should buy gifts for and how much they should spend. You can even suggest ways that your child can earn extra money. Please have your children bring the envelopes back to school on shopping day - December 5th!
A credit card option is offered in addition to cash or check. You may go onto the website www.funhgs.com or scan the QR code on the envelope and pay ahead. Any balance will be returned in cash, not locked into an account for future use. If you choose this option, please put the amount prepaid on the envelope so the child knows their budget, and be mindful the purchased amount does not include their service fee.
This event creates wonderful memories for the children while teaching them to budget their money and make their own decisions. Any questions? Contact one of the committee elves.
Thank you!Santa’s Secret Workshop Committee
Cheryl Cassidy and Jackey Kerger
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Dear Current St. Michael Families,
A spot has already been reserved for your returning Lancer!
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If you have a NEW student to enroll for next year you must open a NEW application AND complete the P/K Preference Form (2 steps):
Applications Opened on 11/1/2025: Enter your NEW student through thisFACTS application. The system will “recognize” your login and current student(s) because you already have an account. Please use the same email you use for Family Portal so it doesn’t create a duplicate account. After you log in and go under “Application,” it will give you a button at the bottom of the page to click labeled “Create a New Student Application.” You only need to add your NEW student, since your current student is already in the FACTS system. [Due by December 15at the latest so we can guarantee space for your new Lancer.]
P/K Preference Form Is Open Now: If your NEW student is entering Preschool or Kindergarten, please also fill out this P/K Preference Form[due by December 15at the latest to guarantee preference]. If your NEW student is not entering P or K, please skip this step.
If you have a RETURNING student who will be a Preschooler or Kindergartener next year:
Please fill out this P/K Preference Form for each 2026-2027 Preschool or Kindergarten student [due by December 15 at the latest].
If you have NO new students and NO Preschooler or Kindergartener for 2026-2027, and your returning student(s) is in Grades 1-8* there are no requirements at this time!
💬 Reminder! Order hot lunch! New students will need an ID number to complete the order. For your student’s meal order ID number, log into FACTS and click Resource Documents under School. Scroll down to: My Meal Order 25-26 students.
UPCOMING EVENTS
COMMUNITY POSTS
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🎄 Holiday Mystery Dinner Show at Two Chefs!
Join us for A Mayor for Murder — a Hallmark-style holiday dinner with a twist!
Enjoy a festive meal, two drink tickets, and a live interactive mystery show.
Kids are welcome with free entry, balloons, and face painting during the event.
📅 Saturday, December 6th | 6:00–9:00 PM
📍 Two Chefs, 3 S Center St, Bensenville, IL
🎟️ Tickets: $75 – Includes dinner, drinks, and entertainment
Get details and tickets at: amayorformurder.eventbrite.com -
St. Francis High School Entrance Exam
IMPORTANT DETAILS
When:
Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. (Doors open at 7:40 a.m.)
Register online by December 5, 2025. Registration is highly encouraged; however, walk-ins are welcome. Scholarship eligibility and priority admission consideration are given to those who test at SFHS.
Who:
All 8th-grade students.
Where:
St. Francis High School, 2130 W. Roosevelt Rd. Wheaton, IL.
Enter Door #19 (Spyglass Athletic Center) or Door #12 (Kuhn Cultural Arts Center). Students will be greeted by St. Francis High School ambassadors.
What to Bring:
Two #2 pencils, water bottle; calculators are not allowed.
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You’re invited to the Womens’ Faith Group “Advent By Candlelight.”
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Upcoming Events
SHADOW DAYS:
A Shadow Day gives 7th and 8th graders the opportunity to immerse themselves in a traditional school day and learn why every day is a great day to be a Redwing!
Tuesdays & Thursdays - beginning in October
8:00 AM - 2:15 PMBAGELS AT BENET:
Parents, please join us for coffee and conversation about Benet with our Director of Admissions, Matt Grigas, our Manager of Admissions, Kelsey Peceniak, and several other faculty members, counselors, administrators, and students.
Select Wednesdays October - April
8:00 AM - 10:00 AMSTEP-UP DAYS:
Designed specifically for 7th and 8th graders, a Step-Up Day is a half-day where future Redwings experience what it will be like to "step-up" to 9th grade as an athlete, artist, and faith-centered student.
Friday, October 10; 7:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Tuesday, November 11; 7:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Optional HSPT Prep Workshop: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PMOPEN HOUSE:
An opportunity for the whole family to meet our faculty, staff, coaches, students, and other members of the Benet community while learning how Benet fosters the on-going religious, intellectual, and social development of its students.
Sunday, October 19; 1:00 PM - 3:00 PMPRACTICE ENTRANCE EXAM:
Created to reduce anxiety and provide meaningful feedback prior to the Entrance Exam, our practice test stimulates the full Entrance Exam for your child while giving them practical experience to help them find even greater success on the exam in December.
Saturday, November 8; 8:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Find NEW announcements and posts added this week by looking for the *
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