1. Important Upcoming Dates

2. COVID-19 Reminders

• Updated Covid Protocols
• How To Upload Vaccination Cards

3. School-Wide Announcements 

• Thermal Blanket Drive: In Support of Ukraine Drive NEW
• Spring Book Fair: May 2-6 NEW
• PAC Spirit Wear Survey: What Items Would You Like For Next Year? NEW
• Gala Auction Pick-up Deadline: Wednesday, May 11 NEW
• Condolences
• Summer Camp Registration Is Open for Camp Jaguar and Jaguar Geniuses
• Save The Date: The Equity and Justice Forum Town Hall On May 17
• Box Top Competition Returns
• Grade 2 Post Office Fundraiser – May 3
• Schedule Change: June 3, 2022 Moves to Half Day
• OSP Teacher Tutors
• ISACS Parent Series NEW
• FAN (Family Action Network) Events NEW
• Ask The SET team 
• HNC Learning Lab Mentors
• Medical Authorization Forms

4. Enrollment

• Billing for Spring Extracurriculars NEW
• Billing for 2022-2023 School Year

5. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

6. Parent Volunteering

• Spring Book Fair Volunteers Needed: May 2-6
• OSP Art Room Volunteer
• OSP Lunch Volunteer
• OSP Curbside Pick Up Volunteer

7. Athletics & Co-Curriculars

• Uniform Return For Fall and Winter Sports

8. Living The Legacy

9. Support FXW

• Shop At The New Whole Foods On Monday, May 2 NEW
• Promote FXW Giving On Your Social Media
• Pac Spirit Store Is Open
• Pledge Reminder — How It Works

10. Parish News

• HNC
• OSP

11. Did You Know?

Important Upcoming Dates

• To view the 2021-2022 School Calendar, click here. 
• May 2-6: Spring Book Fair
• May 4-6: Grade 8 Trip To Washington, D.C.
• May 9-13: Grade 3 Rooms Visit HNC
• May 13: CATC Scholarship Dinner at The Four Seasons
• May 17: Equity and Justice Forum Town Hall at HNC Campus
• May 19: Grade 5 Trip To Springfield
• May 20: Grade 4 Trip To Springfield
• May 23-26: OSP Spring Map Testing
• May 27: No School: Staff Professional Development Day

Covid-19 Reminders

If you have any questions, please contact your campus nurse: Chole Smith, OSP Nurse at smithc@fxw.org, Pam Madura, HNC Nurse at madurap@fxw.org.

How To Upload Booster Vaccination Cards

Please upload a copy of your child’s booster vaccination card into their Magnus account which is found in the Parent Portal.

To upload a copy of the booster vaccination card, go to your child’s Student Health Tracker and find the tab titled COVID-19 Vaccination Record, select the “Edit” tab, then select “Add File” and upload a copy of your child’s COVID-19 Booster Vaccination Record.

School-Wide Announcements

As you plan for this upcoming week, please note that all bus-related emails should go to intercampusbus@fxw.org.

Thermal Blanket Drive: In Support of Ukraine

To support Ukrainians, we have launched a drive to send hundreds of thermal blankets in order to help them through this difficult time. Here is how it will work:

• Over the next two weeks, consider purchasing these essential items either here or here. Please limit your donations to the thermal blankets listed here.
• After they have been delivered to your home, please drop off the items in a basket that will be conveniently located in front of the OSP and HNC campuses. The drop boxes will be available from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. from Tuesday, April 26 until Tuesday, May 10.
• At 3:30 p.m. on May 10, participating Grade 8 students will earn service hours wrapping the blankets and preparing them for shipping. A sign-up genius link will be shared with Grade 8 students at a later date. We are also arranging for the students to create cards that will also be delivered to the refugees.
• We have connected with a shipping company, recommended to us by Chicago’s Ukrainian consulate and members of our community, who will handle delivery to Ukraine

We will also be encouraging all students to wear the colors of Ukraine on Wednesday, May 11, our dress down day.

Spring Book Fair: May 2-6
The Spring Book Fair will take place May 2-6 at the 625 W. Adams building and will include books for both OSP and HNC students. Flyers will be sent home with students this week with additional details. We are still in need of 40-plus parent volunteers to help staff the event. Please click here to choose which time you would like to volunteer.

PAC Spirit Wear Survey: What Items Would You Like For Next Year?
The PAC Merchandise Committee are planning for the 2022-2023 school year and could use your help! Please take this 2-minute survey to provide feedback on what type of spirit wear you would like to see for next year.

Gala Auction Pick-up Deadline: Wednesday, May 11
Congratulations to all the lucky bidders! If you have yet to pick up your auction items, you have until May 11. You may come to the One East Superior office on Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you have any questions or need to schedule a pick-up time, please contact Special Events Manager, Tia Lindholm for assistance.

Condolences
It is with great sadness that we share Ronald Pankau, beloved uncle of Misha Pankau (Grade 6) and Zara Pankau (kindergarten), passed away on April 23, 2022. Our hearts and prayers go out to the Pankau family during this difficult time

Summer Camp Registration Is Open for Camp Jaguar and Jaguar Geniuses
We are very excited to share that we have launched registration for Camp Jaguar and Jaguar Geniuses! Please see below for our traditional Camp Jaguar offerings and our enrichment programs at Jaguar Geniuses. Our entire catalogue can be viewed right here, where you will find information on pricing, camp offerings, staffing, and after-camp care.

We have a new and improved Camp Jaguar registration page that makes it easier than ever to register your child(ren) before your choices fill up. Additionally, Camp Jaguar is open this summer to FXW families as well as non-FXW families so we invite you to share this information with anybody who may be in the market for summer camp for their kids.

If you would like more information on Camp Jaguar, please contact Tom Burke at burket@fxw.org.

Save The Date: The Equity and Justice Forum Town Hall On May 17

The Equity and Justice Forum will host a Town Hall event for the community. This will be an in-person event at the HNC campus on May 17 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Come gather as a community to hear updates on our DEI efforts and engage in meaningful dialogue with one another. Hope to see you there, registration will be coming soon.

Gala 2022: Picking Up Auction Items / Fund-A-Scholar Donations Still Being Accepted

For those of you who were the highest bidders for our many auction items, you can claim your item by stopping by the administration offices on the 6th floor at One E. Superior Ave. anytime from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Please email Special Events Manager Tia Lindholm at lindholmt@fxw.org to schedule your pick up.

As a reminder, donations can still be made to our Fund-A-Scholar effort. Fund-A-Scholar supports FXW’s ability to provide tuition assistance to nearly 1/3 of our students. If you would like to support this effort, please click here.

Box Top Competition Returns

Student council is bringing back the Box Top Competition, but it looks different from the past. The box tops are no longer physical box tops that need to be cut from packages. Instead, you’ll need to download the app and scan your receipt. Please note that Box Tops has our school listed as Frances Xavier Ward (no e). We are working with them to get that fixed.

Both campuses are working together to earn school-wide prizes. Everyone will win a prize (to be announced next week) if we reach our goals. The first goal is $75, then $100, and then $150. There will be a bonus mystery prize if we make it to $200. Click on the video below for step-by-step guidance on how to get started.

Grade 2 Post Office Fundraiser – May 3

The Grade 2 Post Office fundraiser will be held on Tuesday, May 3 at OSP. All grade levels and parents are encouraged to participate by sending letters to siblings, friends, and teachers. Each letter costs ten cents and all proceeds will benefit Misericordia. Families are welcome to write and mail letters! The post office will be “open” from 9-11 a.m. in the OSP gym if you wish to visit.

Schedule Change: June 3, 2022 Moves to Half Day

We have a schedule change to announce for this school year. June 3, 2022 will now be a half-day for students (pick up at 11 a.m. at OSP/11:30 a.m. at HNC). The change was made so all faculty and staff, along with FXW Board Members, can participate in the final presentations from the Compensation and Benefits Committee at HNC from 12:30 – 3:30 p.m.

OSP Teacher Tutors

Please click here for a list of teachers who are tutoring at the OSP Campus during the 2021-22 school year. This resource will also be uploaded into the Veracross Parent Portal and updated periodically.

ISACS Webinar on May 3: Helping Our Children of Color Thrive in Independent Schools

From January to May, ISACS will offer five evening sessions which will offer ways to support your children in many areas of their growth and development. There is no cost to you. To see all the events and pre-register for them, please click here.

The final webinar in the series will be Helping Our Children of Color Thrive in Independent Schools with Carol Sutton Lewis, Tuesday, May 3 at 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Central/7:30 – 8:30 p.m. Eastern.

Each person who plans to attend the live presentation MUST pre-register using the following link: PRE-REGISTRATION ZOOM LINK FOR MAY 3 PARENT SERIES WEBINAR

• Once pre-registered on Zoom, individuals will receive a Zoom confirmation email with a personalized URL to join the webinar.
• A message from ISACS: We are delighted you will be joining this ISACS learning community. As learners, we ask everyone to enter each session as listeners, learners and thoughtful contributors in each session. We welcome a variety of perspectives with a focus be on understanding as opposed to debating. Our hope is for each session to serve as a springboard to additional conversations. We thank you in advance for your willingness to respectfully listen and learn along with us.

FAN (Family Action Network) Events

FAN offers a series of excellent programs featuring authors and specialists in their fields. All events are free and open to the public. Registration required at familyactionnetwork.net to receive the program’s unique Zoom link.

Ask The SET Team

Why is my child finding school and homework so tiring right now? How do we set boundaries on social media use–and what should those boundaries be? How can I help my child turn off their games without a complete meltdown? As adults supporting kids, we all have questions on how best to guide, model, and implement healthy and realistic device, gaming, and social media habits and use. The FXW SET team offers parent programming during the school year, but we want to share research, data, resources and strategies with you more regularly, so we are happy to announce a new way to stay connected–Ask the SET Team. Through Ask the SET Team you can ask mental health and technology-related questions, and the SET team will answer questions on a regular basis in In The Loop. All questions will be shared anonymously–your name will not be connected to the question–but the questions and answers will be available for our whole community. To submit questions, click here.

The FXW Social Emotional Development and Technology (SET) program is a collaborative team comprised of our mental health team on both campuses, our Director of Innovation, and the OSP Librarian. Our goal is to support our families, teachers and students with up-to-date research, resources, and strategies to help all of us successfully navigate our digital lives in ways that support our mental health.

HNC Learning Lab Mentors

Do you have a skill or area of expertise that you’re willing to share with our students? We are looking for FXW community members to mentor students in woodworking, sewing, 3D fabrication, engineering, robotics, and more! Mentors can be available to answer technical questions, demonstrate how to use tools, help students clarify their ideas through reflective conversation, provide constructive suggestions and feedback, and model life-long learning. Mentoring can happen with one meeting/communication or span the course of a project. Click here to sign up. Questions? Contact Director of Innovation, Sarah Vaughn at vaughns@fxw.org.

Medical Authorization Forms

Please make sure your medical authorization form is up to date and submitted. EpiPens and inhalers are required to be with the nurse unless documentation is submitted that the student can self-carry. If students are missing their EpiPen and/or inhaler or does not have the proper authorization to self-carry, they will not be allowed to practice. Please reach out to Nurse Pam Madura (madurap@fxw.org) at HNC if you have any questions or concerns and thank you for your continued partnership.

Billing

Billing for Spring Extracurriculars

The fees for spring extracurriculars will be added to students’ invoices in early May. If you are on Auto-Pay these, will be charged with the May Auto-Pay run. Please contact Student Billing billing@fxw.org for any questions regarding making a payment or your invoice.

Billing for 2022-2023 School Year

We are very excited to welcome back so many families for the next school year. For those families that have completed re-enrollment, your invoices are available for review on the parent portal. Additionally, AutoPay billing begins in April, and runs on the 15th or nearest business day of each month. You will receive a reminder a few days before indicating what amount will be charged. Please look out for these reminders to review this amount, and if you have any questions or wish to make a change, please let the billing office billing@fxw.org know by the day before AutoPay is set to run.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Affinity Groups and Alliances

Are you looking for a social way to connect with other FXW families? It’s not too late to participate in the affinity groups or alliances! Groups meet twice a month. Family groups meet virtually in the evening from 6 – 7 pm and student groups meet after school!

Check out what we’re offering: Student Offerings | Family Offerings

Click here to sign-up! If you have suggestions for a group to be created, please click here.

Parent Volunteering

Spring Book Fair Volunteers Needed: May 2-6

The 2022 Spring Book Fair is gearing up and we need a few extra hands to create a wonderful opportunity for FXW students to preview and purchase their favorite books. Many dates and time slots are still available. Please click here to pick your time to volunteer. NOTE: This year we are having the book fair at the 625 W. Adams Building and it will include books for both the OSP and HNC students.

OSP Art Room Volunteer

We have a great opportunity to spend time in the school supporting Efrén in the OSP art room. The main responsibilities include: hanging student artwork, light organization, and possibly assisting during larger projects in the classroom. Please sign up now for dates that will run through the remainder of the year on Monday’s and Wednesday’s from 1-3 p.m. and Friday’s from 8-10 a.m.

OSP Lunch Volunteer

Are you available from 10:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. during the lunch hour? We could use your help at the OSP Campus – delivering hot lunches and supervising classrooms as needed. Please click here to sign up.

OSP Curbside Pick Up Volunteer

We could use your help with morning curbside drop off assisting OSP students safely out of their vehicles and into the building between 7:30 – 8:15 a.m. (Wednesdays 8:10-8:30 am). Please click here to sign up.

PAC Opportunities

Want to get more involved in our School? We are excited to announce that the PAC (Parent Advisory Committee) is bringing back Parent Volunteers to help run the events we have scheduled for the rest of the year. We have opportunities for parents to participate in the Book Swap, Uniform Swap, Merchandise Team, Grandparent’s Day, Staff Appreciation Day, etc. Send an email to pac@fxw.org to get involved.

Athletic & Co-Curriculars

Please Return All Fall or Winter Uniforms

If your child has a uniform from any of the fall or winter sports, please have them return to the front office at HNC immediately so we can avoid the cost of replacing them. We are taking inventory and will need to order any necessary replacements soon. A basket has been set up where they can drop it off.

REMINDER: Signing Athletic Handbook Is Mandatory

If your child is playing sports, please do not forget to sign-off on reading and accepting the Athletic Handbook in the parent portal. This must be complete before your child can participate.

Please visit the Athletics tab in the Parent Portal for more information on FXW Athletics. You will find team game schedules, practice information, rosters, and other useful links there too for gym and field locations.

Living The Legacy

Cancer Survivor Walk/Run and Celebration

All FXW families are invited to join the “FXW Fighting Jaguars” team and to participate at the 2022 Cancer Survivors’ Celebration Walk & 5K taking place Sunday, June 5 at Grant Park. The run starts at 9:15 a.m. and the walk at 10 a.m. This event supports the vital work done at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University in fighting cancer. Let’s get together to help this initiative. If you have any questions, please contact our team leader Diana (Pre-K 4 mom to Jodi and Nora) at dianasaleiro@gmail.com. Please click here for a direct link to our team page.

The Honeycomb Project

The Honeycomb Project has posted in person and virtual volunteer opportunities for May. Please click here for more details.

Grade 7 and 8 Service Hours

All Grade 7/Grade 8 service hour forms should be submitted via email or in person to Stephanie Hagerman. If sending via email, please copy Dr. Norma Guzmán at guzmann@fxw.org. For questions regarding Grade 7 and 8 service hours, please contact Dr. Guzmán. All service hour forms are due in by May 23.

Support FXW

Shop At The New Whole Foods On Monday, May 2

The Frances Xavier Warde School has been selected to benefit from Whole Foods program to donate one percent of net sales at a particular store to an educational organization. Please shop at the new Whole Foods at 3 W. Chicago Ave. (the one across the street from our HNC campus) to support FXW!

Still Want to Support FXW?

Our 2022 Gala was a huge success. If you are looking for ways to still support this event, you can click here to make a donation to Fund-A-Scholar. All Fund-A-Scholar contributions will go directly to supporting tuition and program assistance for FXW students. 

PAC Spirit Store

Snag some spirit wear on the PAC Merchandise Store. If you have any questions about your order, feel free to reach out to PAC@fxw.org.

Pledge Reminder – How It Works

If you made a pledge to the FXW Annual Fund, this is just a gentle reminder to also set-up your donation or recurring donation on our online giving page to fulfill your pledge this year if you haven’t already. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to advancement@fxw.org.

Parish News

OSP Parish News

SPOKES (St. Pat’s Opportunities for Kids to Experience Service)

On behalf of the OSP Family Advisory Board, thank you for your participation in our OSP SPOKES service events throughout this past school year! Many individuals and organizations, (including The Night Ministry, St Agatha’s Parish, Feed My Starving Children, and more) benefited from your generosity. The FXW community’s ongoing commitment to its Charisms is truly special and without question makes a tremendous difference to so many in need. The SPOKES committee invite you to contact us with any questions, suggestions, or ideas as we plan for next year. (Contact Jim Jelinek). Thank you again! We wish you and your families all the best as we head into the home stretch of the school year!

Children’s Liturgy of the Word for our Pre-K through Grade 2 students will be virtual for the remainder of the year. Contact Brian Lindstrom to receive electronic materials or for more information.

Family Masses

Thank you to those who volunteered this year allowing for such wonderfully meaningful masses!! Your help was imperative and appreciated!

For a full list of upcoming OSP events, click here. Click here to view the OSP parish weekly bulletin. To sign up for OSP’s weekly newsletter, click here. If you have any questions about any of the events or are interested in learning more about OSP’s Family Advisory Board (FAB), please contact OSP FAB member and FXW parent Sheri McGuire.

Holy Name Cathedral News

• Sunday Mass Schedule: Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday at 7:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
• Weekday Mass Schedule: M-F from 9:30 a.m. to Noon
• Confessions: Saturday from 9 a.m. to Noon

Parish News

Our soon-to-be graduating Grade 8 students braved the wind and cold on Thursday, April 28 and had a wonderful day at Great America. The faculty and staff chaperoning them had a pretty good day as well.