Principal's Corner -'23-'24

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Everest Parents,

Happy Feast of the Visitation! This morning we offered our all-school Mass for all of our volunteers. As I mentioned to the students, this is a perfect day to recognize our volunteers because like Mary, who upon hearing that Elizabeth was pregnant went in haste to assist her cousin, our parents (and grandparents) are so very generous in responding to our calls for help!

The love our parents show with their selfless efforts, whether in the classroom, at school events, or behind the scenes, embodies the spirit of generosity and service that is at the heart of our Catholic faith and at the heart of what it means to be a Christian leader. So thank you, thank you for sharing your gifts. As Fr. Jason said at Mass, thank you for being a “warrior” of love.

I also want to inform you of a significant change in our teaching staff. Mr. Rob Spang and Mrs. Ursula Shanle will be moving on to other adventures. Mr. Spang and Mrs. Shanle have been dedicated and inspiring educators, contributing immensely to our students' growth and success. Over the years, they have touched the lives of countless students. While we are saddened to see them go, we understand and support their decision to pursue new opportunities and challenges. We are confident that they will continue to make a positive impact wherever they go. Please join me in thanking Mr. Spang and Mrs. Shanle for their years of service to our students and families. We wish them the best and hope that they will visit us as so many of our former teachers do.

Yesterday was a special day for our preschoolers who were promoted to PK4 or kindergarten. What a blessing it has been to see these youngest students grow - not just in height but in maturity! I am so very proud of all that they have learned and I want to thank the preschool team for a beautiful celebration of their achievements.

Lastly, as we come to the conclusion of our 33-day consecration to the Eucharist, I want to thank all of the students, faculty, staff, and alumni who read one of our daily reflections. I also want to invite you to come out this Sunday for a Eucharistic procession concluding with making our act of consecration which includes this promise to Jesus:

“Here I am, Lord.

I come to do Your will.

Come and dwell within me.

Heal my body, focus my mind,

transform my heart,

and nourish my soul,

so that I may represent You faithfully in the many

situations and circumstances of my daily life…"

 

In Christ's love,

 

 

 

Principal

Let us be rooted in Christ, nourished by His love, and overflowing in gratitude for His blessings. (cf, Col 2:6-7)
 

Principal Pics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Everest Parents,

I hope you enjoyed our Spring Concert. Because it has been a few years since we held an instrumental concert, I am grateful to Mr. Landowski for reinstating this opportunity for our students to benefit from a concert experience that not only showcases their developing musical skills but also fosters skills like discipline, teamwork, and collaboration.

Music, as a form of art, can play a significant role in the spiritual and cultural development of children as it helps them to appreciate beauty and creativity as a reflection of God’s own divine creation. Today we have another opportunity to witness the joy of artistic expression when our 8th graders host our school Talent Show. I hope that you can join us for what promises to be another heart-warming celebration of our students’ God-given gifts.

In this week’s newsletter, we feature the accomplishments of our current and former students. We love to hear about the great things that members of our Everest family are doing. Please do not hesitate to share good news with us.

As a reminder, please complete the Parent Survey by May 31st so that our school leadership team may use your feedback as we prepare for next year.

Lastly, as we head into Memorial Day weekend, let us extend our heartfelt gratitude to those brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. May God reward them for their courage and commitment.

 

In Christ's love,

 

 

 

Principal

Let us be rooted in Christ, nourished by His love, and overflowing in gratitude for His blessings. (cf, Col 2:6-7)
 

Principal Pics

 

 

 

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Everest Parents,

Veni sanctus spiritus! Come, Holy Spirit! Happy Feast of Pentecost!

This past week we were visited by RC Education as part of our periodic accreditation which evaluates how well our school is living the RC School Principles that guide us. Representatives from RC Education met with students, parents, and teachers to gain first-hand insight into their experience at Everest and get feedback on their priorities and concerns. The feedback received is being used to help us develop our school's continuous improvement plan. I also invite you to complete this survey to provide our school leadership team and teachers with helpful information to inform our next year's planning.

Last Friday we recognized those students who recently received their first Holy Communion. Thank you to Ms. Stephanie DeRoche and Mrs. Christine Purpura for preparing our students for this special and joyous milestone in their faith journey!

This Friday I invite you to join me in recognizing our eighth graders who recently made their sacrament of confirmation. After Mass, our eighth graders will “pass the flag” to our seventh-grade class. This annual tradition symbolizes the passing on of the responsibility to uphold the values and traditions of Everest.

Lastly, this weekend we learned of the passing of Irene Lindow, beloved mother of 6th grader Miles and alumna Lucia (class of 2023). To show our support of the Lindow family, we invite our Everest community to join us at the grotto on Monday (5/20) evening at 6:30 pm to honor Irene's memory and to offer our collective prayers and condolences. Thank you for supporting the Lindow family during this difficult time.

On this feast of Pentecost, let us invoke the Holy Spirit to bless our school community with unity and joy. Holy Spirit, help our students to grow in faith and understanding, our teachers to impart wisdom with compassion, and our families to support one another in Your love.

 

In our Risen Lord,

 

 

 

Principal

Let us be rooted in Christ, nourished by His love, and overflowing in gratitude for His blessings. (cf, Col 2:6-7)
 

Principal Pics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Everest Parents,

What a beautiful day it was to celebrate our moms and honor Our Blessed Mother last Friday! The weather cleared and the sun came out just in time for our procession and crowning of Mary - as if God was smiling down upon our mothers and showering them with his graces. Thank you to everyone who brought in flowers for Our Lady and potted plants for our grotto!

Each first week of May is National Teacher Appreciation Week. On behalf of our Everest teachers, I want to thank our families for your contributions to the special treats that have filled our teachers’ lounge. The love and support you show through these acts of kindness is greatly appreciated!

During the month of May, we will be offering our Friday All-School Masses for the following groups of people and honoring them immediately after Mass. You are invited to join us for these special occasions:

• May 10 | Blessing of our Teachers for National Teacher Appreciation Week
• May 17 | Recognition of our First Communicants
• May 24 | Recognition of our Confirmandi and Passing of the Flag Ceremony
• May 31 | Recognition and Thanksgiving for our Volunteers

Upon my request, the Cook County Sheriff's office has placed a speed trailer near the south entrance of our school to help slow traffic during the school day. This is part of an effort to bring more awareness to traffic entering our school zone. The speed sign should be in place for about a week and I'm hoping that they will be able to do this at the beginning of the school year as well.

Lastly, if your child was absent during MAP testing last week, you will be contacted to schedule an after-school time to make up the test. Last term, it took more than 3 weeks to make up missed tests and students had to miss classes in order to take them. From now on, we will schedule make-ups after school so that your child doesn’t have to miss class or feel pressured to finish quickly. Please be sure to send an extra snack for your child when he/she makes up the test after school.

Please save the date for our Act of Consecration to the Eucharist on June 2nd, the Feast of Corpus Christi, also known as the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. We will have a special adoration and Eucharistic procession to conclude our 33-day consecration. Today’s reflection bears repeating:

“Spend time in silence. The world is a busy and noisy place,

and all of that tends to distract us from what matters most. 

We need silence to hear God’s voice in our lives.”

Please know that each day I am praying for your children and all our families. May today you find time to enjoy some silence and hear God’s voice tell you, “You are loved.”

 

In our Risen Lord,

 

 

 

Principal

Let us be rooted in Christ, nourished by His love, and overflowing in gratitude for His blessings. (cf, Col 2:6-7)
 

Principal Pics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Everest Parents,

With only a month left of school, we have a lot going on!

Our students have been happily preparing for tomorrow’s Tribute to Mothers. They are eager to spend time with their moms and to honor our Blessed Mother.

This past week students have been taking their MAP tests. I anticipate sharing with you the results by the end of the month.

Everest’s Got Talent! Click HERE to learn how your child can share his or her talent on May 24th.

On May 31st we will thank and recognize our volunteers at our All School Mass… and then let the games begin at Field Day! Please be sure to return your food and t-shirt order by May 3rd.

I hope that you can join us for these end-of-the-year traditions and special events!

And if you haven’t yet joined me in our 33-Day Consecration to Eucharistic Glory, it’s not too late to start. These brief reflections are the perfect opportunity for us to live this year’s school theme of being “rooted in Christ.” As our Mass readings of late remind us, “Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.”  I pray that our spiritual pilgrimage will bear much fruit - for each of us, our students, and our school community. You can either listen to the daily reflection through our school app or pick up the book which is available for purchase in the front office. (note: we have both an adult and kid-friendly version)

In our Risen Lord,

 

 

 

Principal

Let us be rooted in Christ, nourished by His love, and overflowing in gratitude for His blessings. (cf, Col 2:6-7)
 

Principal Pics

 

 

 

 

 

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Everest Parents,

Over the past few weeks, our school leadership team, faculty, and staff have been meeting to articulate grade-level expectations, review our annual plan, and begin planning for next year. Last week, members of our school board met for strategic planning. I want to thank our board members for sharing their time and expertise and helping our school to fulfill its missions. In the coming week, parents and students will have an opportunity to provide feedback and input through a survey. Please look out for a separate email with the link to the survey.

This week our students competed in our annual Poetry Contest. Congratulations to all of those who made it to the final round! The competition was intense and the presentations were entertaining. I was most impressed by the quality of poems that our students selected - many of which highlighted the beauty of virtue. Please see the newsletter for the listing of winners.

Last Thursday’s Resurrection Play was a beautiful way for our school to continue our celebration of Easter. Thank you to Mr. Landowski for giving our students an opportunity to share the Good News through a retelling of the first Easter. Truly precious was hearing the joyful voices of our students sing to glorify God!

Lastly, I invite you to make a spiritual pilgrimage with me. This year has been designated the “Year of the Eucharist” by our church. As Catholics, we believe that the Eucharist is the “source and summit” of our faith. On May 1st, our school will begin a sacred journey to consecrate ourselves to Jesus in the Eucharist on June 2nd, the Feast of Corpus Christi. This 33-day pilgrimage will entail reflecting, praying, and living virtue - to help us know and love Jesus in the Eucharist and to unite together in asking Our Lord to bless our school, our students and families, and our faculty and staff. We will be using the book 33 Day Consecration to Eucharistic Glory by Matthew Kelly. As we did last year, a member of our school community (past and present) will read the daily reflection that will be made available via email and our app. If you would like to purchase the book, we will have a few available at the front office.

“Consecrate yourselves today to the Lord… that He may bestow upon you a blessing this day.” (Exodus 32:29)

In our Risen Lord,

 

 

 

Principal

Let us be rooted in Christ, nourished by His love, and overflowing in gratitude for His blessings. (cf, Col 2:6-7)
 

Principal Pics

 

 

 

 

 

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Everest Parents,

Happy Easter! Alleluia!!

I hope you and your families had a beautiful Easter celebration! After fasting 40 days, let us be sure to celebrate for the full 50 days of Easter! Friends and family are invited to witness the joy of Easter at our annual Resurrection musical. A full dress rehearsal will take place this Wednesday at 1pm and the final performance will be at 6:30pm on Thursday.

Joy was certainly on the faces of our students at last week's Easter Egg Hunt. I would like to thank Mrs. Shanle for organizing the event as well as our 5th-8th graders for serving as hosts for our youngest students.

Thank you to all of our students and families who participated in our Lenten almsgiving service projects!

• Our middle schoolers were able to raise more than $1,000 for St Jude's research hospital through their Penny War.
• Because of the donations by families from Everest and East Lake, we filled more than 100 Buckets of Hope for those affected by natural disasters.
• Our Heart of an Apostle jar outside the chapel was full of beads representing the various acts of charity that our K-5 students completed during the Lenten season.

I also want to thank all of the families that participated in our Holy Week Mission activities. Next year it seems we will need two buses to accommodate our Holy Thursday 7 Church pilgrims. And thank you to the students and families who helped carry crosses on Good Friday in downtown Lemont. You collected nearly 100 prayer intentions!

Registration forms for our summer sports and academic camps will be out shortly but please see the save the date flyer for details of the sessions we already have planned.

Please click here to see the SY24-25 Year at a Glance which provides those dates that your children are expected to be in school. Please use this as a guide when planning your family vacations. We are currently reviewing our attendance policy in light of the negative effect that excessive absences have on students and the classroom. I will inform you of any changes.

Lastly, MAP testing will take place the week of April 29. Your child's homeroom teacher will inform you of the specific schedule. Because we have had difficulty making up missed tests in the past, please note that all make-up tests will be done after school.

May Our Lord's Resurrection bring you overwhelming joy and peace as we continue to celebrate this Easter season. God bless!

In Christ’s love,

 

 

 

Principal

Let us be rooted in Christ, nourished by His love, and overflowing in gratitude for His blessings. (cf, Col 2:6-7)
 

Principal Pics

 

 

 

 

 

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Everest Parents,

Last Friday’s Day for Dad and Saturday’s Shamrock Shuffle featured the heartwarming joy of our families.

Our students were so excited to welcome their fathers (grandfathers, uncles, etc.) to Everest. I loved seeing the smiles on the faces of young and old as they tried to eat donuts from a string, practice shaving, build towers, swing the golf club, or beat one another at chess or knockout.

Thank you to all the families who supported our school by sponsoring, volunteering, or participating in the Shamrock Shuffle! We had nearly 150 runners and walkers and we raised close to $14,000.

This week our 8th-grade students helped us to live Holy Week through their moving presentation of the Living Stations. Thank you to Mrs. Colarelli, Fr. Michael, and Mr. Landowski for preparing and accompanying our students, allowing them to deepen their faith and understanding of Our Lord’s passion.

As we enter the most holy days of the Easter Triduum, let us pray for one another, especially for those in our community carrying heavy crosses. This Good Friday I will be participating in the CrossWalk which will take place in downtown Lemont. Join me and members of Regnum Christi as we imitate Christ in carrying the cross. As we walk and pray, we will gather prayer requests from those we encounter. If you would like me and others to pray for you, please CLICK HERE to submit your prayer request. Please CLICK HERE or use our school app to follow along with Holy Week Missions and find information such as maps and prayers.

Prayer from the Good Friday Liturgy

May your abundant blessing, O Lord, we pray,

descend upon your people,

who have honored the Death of your Son

in the hope of their resurrection:

may pardon, come,

comfort be given,

holy faith increase,

and everlasting redemption be made secure.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen

Count on my prayers for you and your family. Have a blessed Easter and a joyful Easter break!

In Christ’s love,

 

 

 

Principal

Let us be rooted in Christ, nourished by His love, and overflowing in gratitude for His blessings. (cf, Col 2:6-7)
 

Principal Pics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Everest Parents,

We are now in the homestretch to Easter! Our students have been working hard at keeping their Lenten promises of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. With Holy Week upon us, I want to invite our families to participate in the following activities designed to help us encounter God more personally during this holiest time of the liturgical year.

• Living Stations | Please join us for a powerful enactment of Jesus’ journey to Calvary by our 8th-grade students
  • Tuesday, March 26 at 7:00pm
  • Wednesday, March 27 at 1:00pm

 

• Holy Week Missions - Hosted by Regnum Christi Chicago, these events provide you an opportunity to put your faith into action CLICK HERE to learn more about and register for one or more of these events

  • Holy Thursday 7 Church Pilgrimage | Join other families as we visit various local churches in remembrance of when Jesus invited his disciples to stay awake and pray in the garden of Gethsemane.

  • Good Friday CrossWalk | Join other missionaries in gathering prayer requests as we carry the cross through downtown Lemont.

  • Holy Saturday Family Missions | Help pack Buckets of Hope or serve at Pacific Garden Mission

Thank you to all who have been bringing in items for our Lenten apostolic project, Buckets of Hope. Your donations of cleaning supplies and various useful items help people begin the cleaning process after suffering a terrible ordeal like a flood or tornado. CLICK HERE to view the list of suggested items.

I am looking forward to seeing our dads this Friday for Day for Dad. Please be sure to RSVP.

Lastly, please pray for good weather and for our sponsors and participants at this weekend’s Shamrock Shuffle. To all our walkers and runners: May the road rise up to meet you; may the wind be always at your back; and may the sun shine warm upon your face!

In Christ’s love,

 

 

 

Principal

Let us be rooted in Christ, nourished by His love, and overflowing in gratitude for His blessings. (cf, Col 2:6-7)
 

Principal Pics

 

 

 

 

 

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Everest Parents,

This past week I and a delegation from our school attended the RC Education and Formation Summit held in Detroit, Michigan. Members of our Formation Team – Fr. Michael, Mr. Purpura, Mrs. Lambert – and first-grade teacher, Ms. Michniak were able to meet with formators and teachers from other RC schools to share best practices and learn ways to improve how we form Christian leaders through a student-centered approach.  In the coming weeks, we will be sharing some of the lights and lessons we learned with our faculty and staff.

One of the highlights of the conference was the opportunity to tour the campus of our sister school, Everest Collegiate and Academy, located in Clarkston, Michigan. It was very inspiring to meet their school leaders and see how they work to achieve the same mission. After our tour, we were given the opportunity to participate in an apostolic activity. This was one of my favorite moments of the week - serving dinner and spending time with the residents of Angel’s Place and then treating them to a 1950s dance. What a privilege it was to bring joy to these adults with developmental disabilities! (check out the pics below)

Thank you to the parents who attended the State of the School last week. Click HERE to view the slide deck and notes from that presentation. If you have any questions after reviewing these, please do not hesitate to reach out to me by email or schedule a meeting (in person or by phone).

Lastly, I want to acknowledge the hard work of several faculty, staff, and parents who helped Mr. LaPointe host our first-ever league playoff tournament last weekend. I also want to congratulate the coaches and players for a great basketball season and thank all of the fans who came out to support them.

Praying that your Lenten journey is bringing you closer to Jesus!

 

In Christ’s love,

 

 

 

Principal

Let us be rooted in Christ, nourished by His love, and overflowing in gratitude for His blessings. (cf, Col 2:6-7)
 

Principal Pics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Everest Parents,

Happy Feast of the Chair of St Peter! Thank you to Mrs. Lambert and the kindergarten class for helping us celebrate. (Photos to come next week)

Congratulations to all of the finalists who competed in the School Spelling Bee! I am very proud of how well our students did, especially to see so many rounds and students spelling one or two grade levels about their own. Good luck to Jake Ferdynus, our School Spelling Bee Champion, who will represent Everest when he competes at the South Cook County contest next month.

Each family should have received a Magnificat Lenten Companion thanks to the generosity of the St. James of the Sag Bridge Mission Society. Our middle schoolers will be using this daily devotional as their prayer initiative this Lent. In addition to daily prayer, all are welcome to join us every Wednesday of Lent at 1:30pm in the gym to pray the Stations of the Cross.

This past Friday, our faculty and staff participated in a Lenten retreat. Using the book, “Life of the Beloved” by Henri Nouwen, Fr. Michael challenged us to live as God’s beloved which not only means accepting God’s love but also sharing it. I invite you to consider spending a weekend on retreat so that you, too, may hear God saying to you, “you are My beloved.” Information about upcoming retreats can be found in the Community News section.

Count on my prayers for your family as we begin Lent.

Heavenly Father,

As I begin my Lenten journey, guide me to the path that leads to you. Fill my heart with gratitude, patience, strength, and peace as I strive to become the-best-version-of-myself, honestly admitting my shortcomings and sins. As I renew my resolve each day to become a better person, let me hear your voice in the deepest reaches of my heart tell my that I am your beloved. Give me rest in you. Help me to accept others, showing them your great love instead of casting judgment. Stay with me through the busy days and remind me that when I need comfort, solitude, wisdom, or guidance, I can always turn to you. Help me develop discipline and generosity through fasting and almsgiving, and come closer to you through prayer this Lent. 

 

In your name, I pray, Amen.

 

In Christ’s love,

 

 

 

Principal

Let us be rooted in Christ, nourished by His love, and overflowing in gratitude for His blessings. (cf, Col 2:6-7)
 

Principal Pics

 

 

 

 

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Everest Parents,

As we end another Catholic Schools Week, I want to thank everyone who helped make this a special week for our students, faculty, and staff. Each day this week, I witnessed something that made me smile: from students dressing as their favorite teachers to classmates playing their hearts out in the soccer and hockey tournaments to children sharing the different ways that their parents show their love. The icing on the cake was joining the whole school in adoration of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament! See Principal Pics for some of my favorite moments.

On Thursday our students offered prayers throughout the day for their parents and our volunteers in appreciation for their love and support. When it comes to our student and family events, our parents are truly at the heart of making them special. Thank you to the parents who helped make our WinterFest a success by helping with tours (we had more than 30!) and running the various stations. Special thank you to Mrs. Wilczek for helping organize the carriage rides and awesome Winterfest photo backdrop and to Mr. Naglak for serving delicious sausages! In the next month, we have several volunteering opportunities and I invite you to consider signing up. Please feel free to contact Sue Zabilka if you have any questions about the volunteer commitment.

• Jumpy Night (Feb 9) - Please note that to ensure the safety of our students, we need all of the volunteer positions to be filled by Monday, Feb 5th or we will need to cancel)
• Basketball Playoff Tournament (Feb 23-25) - Please contact Mr. LaPointe if you are interested in helping with admissions or concessions.
• Shamrock Shuffle (Mar 23) - Volunteers are needed pre-event as well as on race day.

I am looking forward to our annual State of the School to be held Wednesday, February 28. Doors open at 6pm with a parent social. The meeting will begin at 6:30pm. The purpose of this meeting is to keep you informed of our progress on the goals and priorities that I shared at the beginning of the year. If you have any specific questions or concerns that you would like addressed, please feel free to submit them here.

Lastly, I am excited to share that if there is enough interest, we have a possibility of offering musical theater to our students this spring. Please read this letter and complete this form if your child is interested and available to participate.

In Christ’s love,

 

 

 

Principal

Let us be rooted in Christ, nourished by His love, and overflowing in gratitude for His blessings. (cf, Col 2:6-7)
 

Principal Pics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Everest Parents,

Thank you to all who took the time to meet your child’s teachers for parent-teacher conferences. I hope that you found them helpful. If you have any feedback, please feel free to share this with me or your teacher. Also, please remember that you are always welcome to schedule a meeting to discuss any concerns or issues regarding your child’s academic or social performance in school.

This week is Catholic Schools Week, a moment for us to celebrate the unique value of Catholic education. Please see the schedule in the newsletter for information regarding special dress-up days. There are a variety of activities planned to help us celebrate our faith and give thanks to God for the people who help to make our school community a special place to learn and grow.

This Wednesday, January 31st is the deadline to apply for tuition assistance. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Zabilka. Lastly, please save the date for Wednesday, February 28 at 6:00pm for our annual State of the School. I am looking forward to sharing with you the progress that we have made on the goals presented at the beginning of the year.

As we kick off Catholic Schools Week, please join me in thanking God for the gift of faith and in asking the saints to intercede for Everest and all Catholic schools:

 

Loving God,

You shaped us in your image and likeness,

giving us the gift of intelligence

and the ability to understand the world around us.

Help us to use those gifts to learn and grow.

May all that we do in our school be an opportunity to praise You. 

 

St. Hildegard, patron of writers, pray for us.

St. Albert the Great, patron of scientists, pray for us. 

St. Barbara, patron of mathematicians, pray for us. 

St. Thomas Aquinas and St. John Bosco, patrons of students, pray for us.

 

In Christ’s love,

 

 

 

Principal

Let us be rooted in Christ, nourished by His love, and overflowing in gratitude for His blessings. (cf, Col 2:6-7)
 

Principal Pics

 

 

 

 

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Everest Parents,

As we begin a new year, it is always good to review our policies. In all of our classes, our teachers have been reviewing procedures and routines. Not only are routines good for class management, they also help students develop important executive functioning skills. 

In addition to reviewing procedures, our formation team has begun a uniform refresh campaign. Our dress code is one way we can teach students the importance of personal presentation as well as foster a sense of unity as a school community. Please click here to read our uniform policy and details of this campaign. Each week there will be a different focus (see Uniform Refresh in the newsletter to see next week's focus).

With the cold weather upon us, I would also like to remind you to please make sure that your children come prepared for outdoor recess. The weather is constantly monitored. If it is not raining and the real feel is 22 degrees or higher, recess is outside. Students should have a winter coat and coverings for their head and hands. Children will only be permitted to go in the snow if they have boots.

Lastly, if you have not already done so, please be sure to sign up for parent-teacher conferences next Thursday and Friday. As a reminder, these meetings are mandatory because your collaboration with our teachers is essential for the success of our integral formation program and helping your children attain their potential. In middle school, we are requiring that students attend because we believe this helps them develop and practice invaluable leadership skills. Click here to read more about why student participation in conferences is beneficial.

This weekend I will be on my annual spiritual retreat. Each year I look forward to this special time to rest in God's love and receive the graces I need to be who God is calling me to be. I encourage you to do the same. Please check the Community News section for upcoming spiritual opportunities for children and adults. Be assured of my prayers for our school and your families.

 

In Christ’s love,

 

 

 

Principal

Let us be rooted in Christ, nourished by His love, and overflowing in gratitude for His blessings. (cf, Col 2:6-7)
 

Principal Pics

 

 

 

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Everest Parents,

Happy 2024! I hope you and your families had a nice Christmas break and that your children are refreshed and ready to take on the last half of the year!

Though this past week was a short week, it was a packed one! On Monday, we met as a faculty and staff to review our annual program, goals, and expectations. Our K-4 teachers and assistants received training with a consultant to assist them with teaching Voyager Passport, our new reading intervention program. Additionally, all of our teachers took part in a workshop with Mrs. Linda Mikottis on Visible Learning which emphasizes the importance of helping students to see how their own efforts contribute to their learning and encourages teachers to self-reflect on their practice to measure how their teaching impacts student outcomes. CLICK HERE to view a short video on key elements of Visible Learning and how this research can benefit teachers and students.

As I mentioned last month, we are excited to begin using social-emotional learning curriculum to help our students become successful learners. This month, Ms. Bischoff and Mrs. Fontana will begin teaching weekly lessons in preschool through 3rd grade. In middle school, our homeroom teachers are using a program called ARISE which is a video series that integrates the best of neurobiology with the call to virtue and holiness. CLICK HERE to learn more about this program. 

Since I’ve received a few questions about re-enrollment, I’d like to clarify that while everyone has been automatically re-enrolled, you still need to submit your 10% non-refundable tuition deposit to reserve your child’s spot for next year. This payment is due by March 15, 2024. After this date, your seat for next year is not guaranteed as we will open new student enrollment and an automatic late fee will be charged. 

The deadline on Monday, January 15 is for anyone who needs to change how they previously paid for tuition - for example, if you previously paid in full and now would like to pay in monthly installments or if you’d like to change the terms of your payments. Please contact Katie Reidy in the Business Office to make these changes.

Lastly, I would like to once again thank all of our families for contributing to the success of our Christmas Miracle. The recipients at Aid for Women were overjoyed with the supplies for mothers and babies. Our local food pantries expressed to me how our donations greatly help them serve our local residents, especially the increasing numbers of seniors seeking assistance. Next Tuesday, students are welcome to wear Spirit Wear if they bring in something to benefit their classroom’s apostolate. Please see your teacher’s newsletter to learn what your student can bring in a spirit of service to earn the privilege of dressing out of uniform.

In Christ’s love,

 

 

 

Principal

Let us be rooted in Christ, nourished by His love, and overflowing in gratitude for His blessings. (cf, Col 2:6-7)
 

Principal Pics

 

 

 

 

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Everest Parents,

As I write this, I am watching our students rehearse for the Christmas Production. I hope that many of you will be able to join us for this special event featuring our students sharing the Good News. I want to especially thank Mr. Landowski and Ms. Bischoff for their hard work with all of our students over the past few weeks and I am looking forward to tonight’s performance.

To enhance the educational experience and well-being of our students, this year we are launching two new programs. The first is the Student Support Team led by Ms. Kelsey Bischoff. Ms. Bischoff holds a degree in Early Childhood Special Education. She meets weekly with Mr. Purpura and me to discuss how we can help students needing academic or behavioral support. In addition, she meets regularly with teachers to create or review student plans and serves as our liaison to our local school district to maintain or refer students who may need special services. The goal of the Student Support Team is to ensure students receive the support they need to succeed in all areas of formation. Working with our support team are two resource teachers, Mrs. Joan Behme and Mrs. Lynn Abramic, who provide small group and individual personalized support to students needing academic assistance.

Beginning in January, Ms. Bischoff and Mrs. Fontana will be piloting lessons in preschool through 3rd grade classrooms to help teachers and students understand, validate, and control their emotions. They will be using the program, Zones of Self-Regulation, which was recently introduced at the October parent meeting with Dr. Kasia Kula where we learned about the importance of executive functioning and emotional self-regulation. Mrs. Sherry Fontana holds a master's degree in counseling psychology and is excited to use her knowledge and skills to help us build supportive environments that foster learning and well-being. A pilot for middle school implementation is also in the works.

As we draw closer to Christmas, may our hearts be filled with joy and peace knowing that God comes not as our accuser but as comforter and savior.  Come, Lord Jesus!

 

In Christ’s love,

 

 

 

Principal

Let us be rooted in Christ, nourished by His love, and overflowing in gratitude for His blessings. (cf, Col 2:6-7)
 

Principal Pics

 

 

 

 

 

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Parents,

This past week our students began their Advent Adventure. Each day until Christmas break students will have an opportunity to do an act of charity. When they are caught doing good, a faculty or staff member will give them a piece of hay (yarn) that can be placed in the empty manger in the chapel. With each piece of straw added to the manger, Jesus has a softer place to lay for Christmas morning.  Our good deeds and sacrifices are the best presents we can give to Jesus for his birthday! (if you’d like to do this at home, CLICK HERE for more details)

Yesterday, we held an Advent holy hour for our faculty and staff. Thank you to Fr. Michael for preparing the reflection that encouraged us to contemplate the messiness (yet miraculousness) of Jesus’ birth.  Hopefully, these questions will help you as you prepare your hearts for Christmas: Do I see how God makes himself present in the messiness of my life? Do I believe that he can make miracles happen through my limitations?

In other news, I am sure that you have heard from your children that we have been using our new PA and school bell system since late October. There are still a few more features of this system yet to be installed. In addition,  we are nearly complete with updating our security cameras and door access system. All of the old cameras have been replaced and we should be finished installing the remaining additional indoor and outdoor cameras before break. I want to thank again all of those who donated to the security fund-a-cause last year, with special thanks to Mr. Abbinanti and the Isidore Group for donating their time, expertise, and services. (For a detailed listing of security expenses and how donations were used, please CLICK HERE.)

Count on my prayers during this Advent season. May our hearts be prepared to rejoice in Christ’s birth at Christmas.

 

In Christ’s love,

 

 

 

Principal

Let us be rooted in Christ, nourished by His love, and overflowing in gratitude for His blessings. (cf, Col 2:6-7)
 

Principal Pics

 

 

 

 

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Parents,

Last Sunday we celebrated my favorite feast day (outside of Christmas and Easter): the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. We heard in the Gospel what will happen at the end of time when Jesus will come and separate the sheep from the goats. The sheep are forever blessed while the goats get thrown into eternal fire. Yikes! Why do the sheep inherit the Kingdom and not the goats? It is because the sheep showed mercy and love to those in need.

During this Advent season, we have an opportunity to become sheep. On Saturday, we kicked off our Christmas Miracle with the Brunch with Baby Jesus. While this festive event reminded us of the “reason for the season,” it was also an invitation to be a blessing to others. All proceeds of this event will be used to help moms and babies cared for by Aid for Women, a local crisis pregnancy center.

In case you missed the event, you still have an opportunity to help miracles happen this Christmas:

• Participate in our Advent Countdown - CLICK HERE to view a calendar that suggests items that you can bring in throughout the Advent season to help families served by our local Lemont Food Pantry.
• Take a tag from the Giving Tree - Each tag lists items that are needed for our moms and babies at local pregnancy care centers and maternity homes. CLICK HERE to view the list.
• As a thank you for contributing to the Christmas Miracle by bringing in at least 3 food pantry items or returning a tag and items from our Giving Tree, students will be allowed to dress in Christmas clothes (see Out of Uniform policy) on Tuesday, December 19th.

Each time we give, let us hear the words of Jesus say to us, “What you did for one of these least ones, you did for me.”

 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

 

 

 

Principal

Let us be rooted in Christ, nourished by His love, and overflowing in gratitude for His blessings. (cf, Col 2:6-7)
 

Principal Pics

 

 

 

 

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Parents,

In his most recent homily, Fr. Michael challenged our students (and all of us) to not just use words to express our gratitude but more importantly, to show our gratitude to those we love. And the best way to show our gratitude is to spend time together. 

Last Saturday, over 250 members of the Everest community gathered for our Annual Benefit Gala! “Together” is a fitting word that summed up the evening - we raised needed funds together, we celebrated together, we laughed together, we danced together, and most of all we gathered together around our shared mission and love for our school.

While I was not able to spend time with each person who attended, I wanted to express my sincerest gratitude to all those who supported the gala with their donations, their time, and their prayers. What a tremendous sense of community and accomplishment we experienced last Saturday! Congratulations to the gala committee and volunteers for hosting such a successful event!

As we head into Thanksgiving, let us together give thanks to God for his many blessings upon our school. Please know that you and your family are in my prayers. May your gathering with family and friends be a special time of togetherness!

 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

 

 

 

Principal

Let us be rooted in Christ, nourished by His love, and overflowing in gratitude for His blessings. (cf, Col 2:6-7)
 

Principal Pics

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Parents,

Last Friday was a beautiful occasion to celebrate and thank our grandparents! Thank you to all those who helped to make this day so special - from our teachers who helped our students prepare special gifts and their class presentations to the staff and volunteers who created a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all our guests. As I mentioned in my opening remarks, to quote Pope Francis, “Grandparents and the elderly are bread that nourishes our life.” How wonderful it was to be able to cherish them and spend time with them!

This Saturday we have another opportunity to give thanks and celebrate as a community when we gather for our Annual Benefit Gala. This year’s gala committee has been working so hard over the last few months preparing for this event which is our largest fundraiser. Please pray for the success of our Gala. At school, we have been offering a novena using this prayer. May we raise the funds to help our school “bloom” and flourish!

I am looking for individuals who might be interested in helping with spiritual and apostolic initiatives (such as bible studies, topical faith-based discussion groups, or family missions) as well as looking into the possibility of organizing a group from Everest to join the National Eucharistic Conference taking place in Indianapolis next July. With Christmas just around the corner, I would love some help with the Giving Tree, Christmas Miracle, and Holy Week Missions. Please drop me a line or send me an email if you would like more information or are interested in being part of the team.

Lastly, I would like to introduce Mr. Brandon Morrow who is currently student teaching in 2nd Grade. He is excited to be in his final stage of becoming a certified teacher and earning his masters degree in elementary education from Western Governors University. I hope you will join me in giving him a warm welcome when you see him around campus.

 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

 

 

 

Principal

Let us be rooted in Christ, nourished by His love, and overflowing in gratitude for His blessings. (cf, Col 2:6-7)
 

Principal Pics

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Parents,

What an amazing time our 8th graders had on their class trip that helped to bring to life what they have learned in history and Catholic formation classes - alongside their peers from East Lake Academy, our sister school in Lake Forest. We began our trip in Philadelphia where our students visited many early US historical sites important during the founding of our country. In DC, our students visited several memorials commemorating significant people or events, as well as the buildings where the three branches of our government operate. An added feature of this trip included a full day of serving as missionaries in Philadelphia. Not only did our students learn about leaders, they were also able to serve as leaders - through their prayers and actions. Please join me in praying that this experience will help our students to see the world with open eyes and compassionate hearts, as well as inspire them to seek other opportunities to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

During last week's assembly, students competed in teams to form words using the roots that they have been learning through the new Latin and Greek Roots vocabulary program taught in Spanish class. Thank you to Mrs. Wodka for creating a fun way for students to show what they have been learning! CLICK here to watch.

I’d like to thank all the parents, students, and staff who made our All Saints Day celebration so wonderful. CLICK to see all the amazing saint costumes! A special shout out to the middle school students who organized fun games and activities for all.

On All Souls Day, middle school celebrated a special Mass offered for our dearly departed. Together with the 4th and 5th graders, they made a pilgrimage to St. James cemetery to offer their rosary for a specific person. Thank you to all our parent chaperones who joined us for this special devotion.

I’d like to close by sharing a quote I read that was inscribed at the WWII Memorial in DC. On the wall are 4,048 gold stars, each representing 100 Americans who died in the war. The inscription beneath reads, "Here we mark the price of freedom." As we begin this month where we focus on the virtue of gratitude, I would like to give thanks to God for the gift of freedom and those brave men and women who paid the price so that we could enjoy it.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

 

 

 

Principal

Let us be rooted in Christ, nourished by His love, and overflowing in gratitude for His blessings. (cf, Col 2:6-7)
 

Principal Pics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Parents,

Thank you for taking the time to meet with your child’s teachers. I hope that you found your conferences helpful in understanding how together we can support your child’s growth in all areas of formation. Using the formation plan as a tool, our teachers are looking forward to helping your child achieve his or her academic and behavioral goals.

As you know, one of our primary academic goals is to improve reading. Last month, I shared information about the Passport and Rewards reading intervention program. To further improve students’ reading ability, we are also using STARS (Strategies to Achieve Reading Success), a proven, research-based program designed to teach students to read for meaning by focusing on 12 key reading strategies. (CLICK HERE to learn more about the research behind the STARS program).

While we are making concerted efforts at school to improve reading ability, the truth is that students become better readers by reading. As you probably heard during conferences, parents can best support their children by encouraging reading at home. Our students should be reading for pleasure at least 15-20 minutes every day. Here is a good article to read if you want to try some concrete strategies at home: CLICK HERE. My personal favorite strategy is to model reading. Children learn best by example. If you have young children, read to them. If you have older children, let them read to you, choose a book to read together, or talk about what they are reading at dinnertime. Ask your child to find out what the principal is reading.

Aside from teaching reading strategies, we are also seeing a great need for teaching strategies to help students talk about, think about, and regulate their feelings and behavior. As I mentioned at the most recent parent social, we have begun more explicitly teaching students using a program called Zones of Regulation. More information about how our parents can help support your child’s social-emotional development will be coming home.

Lastly, I would like to ask for your prayers for our 8th-graders who will be traveling to Philadelphia and Washington, DC this coming weekend. In addition to sightseeing and touring different historical sites that they have been learning about in history class, our students will have a mission day of serving others. Please pray for safe travels and for an experience that will help them to grow in knowledge and character.

 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

 

 

 

Principal

Let us be rooted in Christ, nourished by His love, and overflowing in gratitude for His blessings. (cf, Col 2:6-7)
 

Principal Pics

 

 

 

 

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Parents,

Greetings from Canada! This past week I have been at the annual meeting for principals and leaders of RC schools from the US, Canada, and even the Philippines. While we may be from different locales, we all share the same mission and so it has been a great grace to hear others share best practices and learn from each other on ways to improve our schools. 

The central theme of our talks and group discussions has been to dive deeper into understanding our core values as schools that take seriously the notion of integral formation. As I continue to work to improve student learning and achievement, these sessions have only further convinced me as to why our educational method of integral formation is the antidote to the disorder we see in society today. I am eager to share more about what I am learning with you and our teachers.

As many of you are hopefully beginning a nice, long weekend with your families, tomorrow, I will be meeting with faculty and staff to review the past month, see where we need to make adjustments, as well as plan for the upcoming parent-teacher conferences. As I mentioned during Curriculum Night, our faculty and staff have been engaged in conversations about how we are intentionally forming Christian leaders. During parent-teacher conferences, our teachers will be sharing with you tools that RC Education has developed to help us achieve our mission.

I would like to remind our parents that because the goal of parent-teacher conferences is to allow parents and teachers to communicate, collaborate, and reflect on a student’s performance, these conferences are mandatory. Please note that beginning this year we are looking to focus on more than just grades during conferences. As our educational methodology of integral formation suggests, we want to consider the whole child and his or her overall formation. During parent-teacher conferences, our teachers will be speaking to you so that they can collaborate with you in developing your child’s personalized student formation plan.

*Middle school parents, you will need to sign up to meet with our homeroom teachers. In these sessions, you will see the goal-setting plan that your child has developed with the assistance of his or her homeroom teacher. If you have subject-specific concerns, you should direct these to your child’s teacher. Please note that you do not need to wait until conferences to set up meetings with teachers about academic concerns. If your child struggles in a class, you should contact his/her teacher when you notice the difficulty.

Thank you to the Parents’ Association and Team Rockies for hosting last week’s Harvest Fest! What a great event it was for our families to come together for some fall fun. I also want to thank the 8th graders for helping to decorate and serve concessions, as well as give a shout-out to the boys who worked hard over the past few weeks to create a mountain bike trail in our woods.

Praying you and your families have a lovely Columbus Day holiday weekend!

 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

 

 

 

Principal

Let us be rooted in Christ, nourished by His love, and overflowing in gratitude for His blessings. (cf, Col 2:6-7)
 

Principal Pics

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Everest Parents,

Thank you to all of the dads who attended last Friday’s bonfire with their children. It was a perfect evening for roasting s’mores and gathering around the fire. Many fathers are hoping to hold an overnight campout in the spring. If any dads would be interested in this, or if there are any moms who would like to organize the mother-child event, please contact the Parents Association by emailing Stephanie Booth.

At Curriculum Night I informed you that one of our priority goals this year is to improve our growth and achievement in reading. To achieve this goal, we will be providing additional instruction that gives students the necessary skills required to become successful readers. Last year our teachers spent considerable time discussing strategies to improve reading. In the spring we chose the Voyager Passport and Rewards reading intervention programs, both of which are proven, research-based intervention programs.

• Voyager Passport is a K-5 supplemental reading intervention program that provides comprehensive, explicit, and systematic instruction in the five essential components of reading. It is our intent to provide struggling readers with explicit instruction, corrective feedback, and more time on task to master critical reading skills.
• Rewards is a series of short-term reading and writing intervention solutions specifically designed to help struggling learners with explicit, teacher-led instruction. Lessons help students develop the skills they need for reading long, multisyllabic words and comprehending content-area text.
• For our K-5 students who are already reading at or above grade level, we are using Reading Rangers which is an interactive online program designed to strengthen foundational reading skills, improve vocabulary acquisition, and increase fluency resulting in improved comprehension. Its main instructional goals are to teach reading comprehension strategies (visualizing and making inferences) and to teach literature concepts, including reading comprehension, literature, fiction, non-fiction, and genre.

This past week we began using Passport in grades 1-3. In the coming weeks, we will be rolling out the program for our students in grades 3-8. Using MAP scores as well as placement tests, each student will be placed in a reading group based on his/her ability.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone at this Friday’s Harvest Fest. Parents, please remember that you must accompany your children to this event. Because activities will be taking place all over our campus, parents need to supervise their children or designate another adult to do so. If you intend to send your child with another family, please notify the school so that we know who will be accountable for your child.

Tomorrow is the Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Please join me in praying for their intercession, protection, and guidance. May we follow their example of bearing God’s message and let us join them in singing God’s praise!

 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

 

 

Principal

Let us be rooted in Christ, nourished by His love, and overflowing in gratitude for His blessings. (cf, Col 2:6-7)
 

Principal Pics

 

 

 

 

 

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Everest Parents,

Happy Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows! As Fr. Michael reminded us in Mass today, it is okay to be sad. Our Blessed Mother was very sad when she stood beneath the cross watching her son die. However, today’s feast also reminds us to trust in God’s plan and hope in Divine Providence. Mary’s example of trust and surrender at the cross shows us how her pain and sorrow in witnessing Jesus’ passion and death was transformed into the joy and jubilee of His resurrection.

Over the past week, we have had several important events:

• Thank you to all who attended Curriculum Night. Please click HERE to view the presentation slides. Last Thursday, I introduced several new programs that we are implementing this year. I intend to share more information and updates with you as the year progresses.  If you were unable to attend, please be sure to reach out to your teachers so that you may be informed about the curriculum, as well as class policies and procedures.
• Thank you to all those who endured the rain to offer prayers and thanksgiving for our first responders, military and guests at our annual Patriot Day 9/11 remembrance ceremony. The weather did not damper the patriotic spirit of our students and guests. Let us continue to pray for all those who serve and protect us and our nation.
• During last week’s all-school Mass, we celebrated our Blessed Mother's birthday and the founding of our school 28 years ago.  Let us give thanks to all those who serve and support Everest Academy.
• Most students have completed taking their Measurement of Academic Progress (MAP) tests. I will share our school results once testing is complete.
• Last Thursday, Sue Zabilka announced a new program we have that we hope will help to forge new friendships and lasting relationships among parents and families. These Mountain Teams bring together parents from across the grades, providing you an opportunity to work together in support of the school through the organization of family activities and other key school events. Please click HERE or the Mountain Teams button to see which team you belong to (I belong to Team Alps!)
• Security Update: This week we had officers from the Cook County Sheriff's Department conduct our annual practice drill with our students in the event of an intruder or other incident that would require lockdown procedures. Faculty and staff also received training on how to triage people with serious wounds. Next week, I will share with you the results of the safety survey conducted in the spring.

Have a nice weekend. May you always know that Our Blessed Mother is near you in your joys and sorrow, especially when the cross is too difficult to bear.

God bless you!

 

 

Principal

Let us be rooted in Christ, nourished by His love, and overflowing in gratitude for His blessings. (cf, Col 2:6-7)
 

Principal Pics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Everest Parents,

We’ve completed our first week of school! It was so wonderful to see so many families at last Sunday’s Back to School BBQ. It was a perfect day with plenty of sunshine and smiles! I hope that our newest families were able to experience a warm, Everest welcome. I am looking forward to seeing everyone again next week…

Next week, we have two events and three celebrations!

• Curriculum Night - Next Thursday, September 7th, parents will have the opportunity to meet their teachers and learn about grade-level curriculum and expectations for the school year. Since integral formation is a collaborative effort, your attendance is required.
  • Doors open at 5:45pm. A group presentation will begin at 6:00pm in the Gym, followed by repeating class presentations until 8:00pm. *Please note that the middle school teachers will give only one presentation at 6:30pm. After this initial presentation, each of the teachers will be available to answer further questions.

 

• Founders Day/Patriot Day/BVM Birthday - Next Friday, September 8th, we will be celebrating three events on one day:
  • Founders Day - To commemorate the opening day of our school (September 8, 1995) and give thanks to those who made the dream of an RC school in Chicago become a reality
  • Patriot Day - To commemorate the anniversary of September 11, 2001 and pray for those who died, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to others. This day we also give thanks to our first responders and military who serve and protect our school and country everyday. If you or someone you know is currently serving or has served as a first responder or in the military, please invite them to attend.
  • Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Each year on September 8th, we celebrate the birth of Our Blessed Mother. Join us at the Grotto as we end our day with a birthday song and closing prayers.
  • Due to Curriculum Night, we will have a late start. Please note that arrival will be 9:15-9:27am. Students should be in their class ready to begin at 9:30am. Our celebrations will begin at 9:45am at the Grotto with our Patriot Day Ceremony. Mass will follow immediately after the ceremony in the gym.

A few housekeeping items:

• Please carefully review our arrival and dismissal procedures below or click here. For the safety of our students, as well as for our staff who are assisting with drop-off and pick-up, please adhere to these guidelines. Not only will following these procedures make car line safer, but it will also make car line go faster!
• Part of spiritual formation includes helping students to participate well at Mass. In an effort to provide this formation, our teachers are requesting that students:
  • Sit with their class so that the teachers and staff can help them focus and engage.
  • Bow their heads to the altar when they enter/leave their row (because Christ isn’t present in a tabernacle there is no need to genuflect, but bowing to the altar is a wonderful sign of respect).
  • Participate in the prayers and sing. Jesus loves to hear their voices!
• Please take a moment to complete the after school activity survey to help us offer programs that will attract your children's interests.
• This weekend is the 71st Annual Lemont Keepataw Day Parade. Please contact Sue Zabilka to let her know that you'll be joining her, Fr. Michael, and Copper in representing Everest.

As we head into Labor Day weekend, I pray that you and your family have a lovely Labor Day weekend.  As we enjoy these last days of summer, let us give thanks to God for His many blessings.

May the gracious care of the Lord our God be ours; prosper the work of our hands for us! Prosper the work of our hands! - Psalm 90:17

 

God bless you!

 

 

 

Principal

Let us be rooted in Christ, nourished by His love, and overflowing in gratitude for His blessings. (cf, Col 2:6-7)

 

Click Here to Review our Arrival & Dismissal Procedures
 

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Click Here to Listen to This Letter (Audio Version)

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Everest Families and Friends,

We had a great first day! It was so exciting to see your students in our halls and classrooms again! Welcome to our newest students and families and welcome back to our returning ones!

From supply sorting to middle school team building to beginning the year by entrusting our school and our plans to Our Blessed Mother, it was a very full first day!! And on top of all this, we held our first set of home volleyball games. Congratulations to our 7th and 8th grade teams for their first wins of the season! I am looking forward to many more! Please click the link to see the short video from our first day - Click Here to Watch on Facebook --- Click Here to Watch on Instagram

I am also excited to introduce the newest members of the Everest Academy team (see Welcome to the Team below) who have spent the past 2 weeks in orientation learning more about our educational method of integral formation. This past week all of our faculty and staff participated in pre-planning sessions to prepare for the new school year. At Curriculum Night (September 7th), I will be sharing with you the many different initiatives that we are rolling out this year. I believe that these programs will strengthen academic achievement and further our students' development of those skills and habits they need to be successful learners and future leaders.

Please see the newest section of our newsletter, Heartfelt Thanks in which I highlight the contributions people have made to our school community. (Please know that words alone cannot communicate how much I appreciate what you are doing to support our school!)

I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the Back to School BBQ this Sunday. All are welcome to join us for Mass at noon - let us worship together as a community before celebrating as one! (and don't forget to bring your swimsuit as there will be a giant water slide for the kids to enjoy!)

As we begin this new school year, let us ask Our Heavenly Father to bless our students, families, teachers, and staff so that together we may grow in wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, as we also deepen our commitment to seek truth and reach out to those in need.

 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

 

 

 

 

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