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Empower Illinois is Accepting Donations

The Empower Illinois Tax Credit Scholarship Matching Donation Program is now accepting donations. The Archdiocese of Chicago has once again secured matching donors for the Empower Illinois Scholarship Program.
St. Giles will receive an additional $2 for every dollar that you contribute between Dec. 1, 2020 and Jan. 20, 2021 (when funds typically run out). Here’s how the program works:

1. REGISTER with the State of Illinois at mytax.illinois.gov, unless you already have an online account.  It usually takes 10-14 days to receive a letter with the ID number required to set up an account, so click on the “Sign up Now!” button in the Login box to start the process as soon as possible.
2. RESERVE your tax credit for the current calendar year (2020 if you donate in Dec and 2021 if you donate in Jan.).  Once your account is set up, log into your online account at mytax.illinois.gov (Empowerillinois.org will eventually take you to the same page.).  Click on the link to your individual account under the “Accounts” tab.  Then, under “I Want to” in the top right corner of the page, select “Contribute to Invest in Kids”.  Navigate through the form, selecting Cook County, Empower Illinois as the scholarship granting organization, and the amount you will be donating (to all schools).  You will have the opportunity to select St. Giles (and any additional schools) when you make your donation.  You will then receive your Contribution Authorization Certificate under your mytax.illinois.gov account correspondence tab almost immediately. 
3. DONATE: Make your donation between Dec. 1, 2020 and Jan. 20, 2021 (So that we can get our 2:1 matching funds).

You will receive 75% of your donation that can be used as a tax credit on your Illinois tax bill.  Last year, we were able to secure $50,000 in matching funds due to our generous donors which helped 17 children in need! Our goal this year is to secure the full $100,000 in matching funds available to each school.  Here is a step by step guide to make your donation 

Contact Michele Bibbey Business Manager at St. Giles School or Carolyn Burke, parent advocate with any additional questions.

Welcome 2021!

We hope everyone is enjoying a safe and happy new year! On Tuesday, January 19, we look forward to welcoming our staff and students back safely into classrooms for in-person learning after a long winter break. 

If for any reason students were unable to return home on January 4th to quarantine, please notify the homeroom teacher and the office know ASAP. Quarantine for 14 days after travel is required per the Archdiocese guidelines. We will work with families to ensure students receive assignments during any quarantine.

Virtual Variety Show

Registration is now open for the annual St. Giles Variety Show! Parents should complete this short registration form for any students interested in participating virtually this year. A few notes: 

• Complete the Google registration form (link above) by Friday, January 15, including a short description of the student act.
• Acts should be no more than 2 minutes in length.
• If working as a group, each individual should video themselves separately and then edit the pieces together. Please do not plan for students to meet in person as a group.
• Once registration is received, the act will receive instructions on creating the video and a timeline!
• We are excited to see all the talents of St. Giles!!

New Year. New Gear. Same School Pride.

Just in time for Catholic Schools Week (January 31 – February 5) and the (permanent!) return of Spirit Wear Fridays, we’ve introduced new St. Giles School apparel! For a limited time, you can purchase newly-designed t-shirts, sweatshirts, pullovers, and other gear in youth and adult sizes, many featuring a fresh St. Giles School monogram we’re excited to debut. Order now through Thursday, Jan. 14 and items will be shipped directly to your home before February 1. You also can find some old favorites in the Spirit Wear Store on the St. Giles Athletics website. We can’t wait to see our Lions show off their black and gold paw pride.

A portion of all sales will be donated to St. Giles School athletics programs. If you have any questions, please reach out to Jennifer Sabatino.

Shop Local

Let’s shop local! During this season of gifts and giving, consider shopping at / using the services of these amazing businesses owned by St. Giles School families!

Congrats, Principal Bigane!

Congratulations to Principal Meg Bigane who received the Magis Award at this year’s Archdiocesan Leadership Day! The prestigious award is given annually and acknowledges Miss Bigane for being a “leader among leaders,” serving as a mentor for both current and future principals, and going beyond her own role to strengthen the collective leadership of the Archdiocese. 

At a special celebration this morning in the school courtyard, Melissa Link, the Office of Catholic Schools Director of Catholic Mission and Culture, presented Miss Bigane with the award while the proud 8th-grade class cheered and shared homemade congratulatory signs.

We are blessed to have such a tremendous school leader in Principal Bigane. We applaud her dedication to the academic growth, spiritual development, and health and safety of our students, as well as her commitment to Catholic education and developing future leaders.

Bravo, Miss Bigane!

St. Giles School Tour Flyers

• Principal’s Letter
• Kids Klub Fast Facts 2020 – 1 Pager
• Kids Klub Fast Facts 2020 – 2 Sheet
• Saint Giles School Campus Map 2020
• Saint Giles School Fact Sheets 2020
• Saint Giles School Fact Sheets 2020 Pre-K
• Saint Giles School Fact Sheets 2020 Pre-K
• Saint Giles School Flyer

E-learning Updates

Dear Parents,

As the E-Learning Days begin, on March 17th, I will post lessons on my teacher page and I will be emailing you with links for home.

Please feel free to contact me Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

I will get back to you as quickly as I can. Keep in mind that I will be responding to other parents as well and it may take a bit longer to answer your questions 🙂

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Blessings,

Mrs. La

School Closed

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Archdiocese of Chicago has determined that all schools will be closed for the remainder of the school year.

All extracurricular activities, including weekend activities, are canceled. St. Giles school offices and buildings will remain closed until further notice. 

We are adapting to these unprecedented times with e-Learning. Students are assigned daily homework via teacher pages and Google Classrooms. If necessary, Administration, Faculty and Office Staff will be available via email during school hours. Please see the Faculty/Staff Directory here.

Please stay safe, stay healthy, stay positive!

Bienvenidos!

Hola y bienvenidos! My name is Monica Guerrero, and I am very excited to be working at St. Giles this year! I was born and raised in Chicago, and I grew up speaking both Spanish and English. I attended Northwestern University for two years and then graduated from Northeastern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. I love teaching students about both my culture and language, and I look forward to helping them succeed in my class.

Units

Current Unit: School Supplies

Upcoming Units

9/23-10/11 - Body Parts
10/14-11/01 - Autumn
11/04-11/22 - Emotions
11/25-12/13 - Hobbies 
12/16-12/20 - Winter

Vocabulary

Current Unit: School Supplies

La mochila - backpack
Las tijeras - scissors
El almuerzo - lunch
El borrador - eraser
Los crayones - crayons
El lapiz - pencil
El estuche de lapices - pencil case
La escuela - school
El cuaderno - notebook

Ms. Kreun’s Science Page

Homework April 8-12

Monday_ Spelling Menu Easter List

Math Page ( Reteach/Workbook/Challenge)

Tuesday-Spelling Menu Easter List

Math Page ( Reteach/Workbook/Challenge)

Wednesday-Spelling Menu Easter List

Thursday-Spelling Menu Easter List

Math Page ( Reteach/Workbook/Challenge)

Friday Spelling Test Easter List

March 25, 2019

LA: 2nd side of study guide due tomorrow

Test Thursday

Reading: workbook p. 25

SS: Read and Cornell notes pages 375-377

Schedule a tour!

Call us today at 708-383-6279 to schedule a tour of our campus!  Our administration will show you around our beautiful campus and answer any questions you may have.  Please note that some of our grades currently  have wait lists.

Please scroll through our website to learn our reasons to believe, academic approach and events throughout the year.

Click here to learn more about enrolling in St. Giles School!

Homework: February 25, 2019

Homework:

Math: Prime/Composite worksheet

Grammar: Page 145 Part B in workbook

Science: Finish lab worksheet

Vocab: Unit 11 Tic Tac Toe due Wednesday; Test Friday!

Monday, February 11 Homework

SPELLING: Rainbow Words 2X: mail, rain, chain, play, way, day, took, hood, our, carry

SOCIAL STUDIES: Lincoln Packet due Wednesday

MATH: Finish Assessment Packet

January 22, 2019

8th Grade (A/B)

• 5.4 Extension: Special Functions
  • A piecewise function is a function defined by two or more equations. Each piece of the function applies to a different part of the domain
    • f(x) = x – 2, if x <= 0 and 2x + 1, if x > 0
  • Step function is a piecewise function defined by constant values over its domain. An real-world example are parking garage rates.
    • f(x) = 6, if 0 < x <= 1; 12, if 1 < x <= 2; 15, if 2 < x <= 3
  • The absolute value function can f(x) = |x| can be written as a piecewise function
    • f(x) = -x, if x < 0; 0, if x = 0; x, if x > 0
  • Students should be able to graph f(x) = |x + 2| – 3 and compare it to the graph of y = |x|
• Homework – Student textbook, page 235, #s 12 – 30

8th Grade (C)

• 4.3 Solving Systems of Linear Equations by Elimination

• This is the third technique for solving a system of linear equations.
  • Step 1: Multiply, if necessary, one or both equations by a constant so at least one pair of like terms has the same or opposite coefficients
  • Step 2: Add/subtract the equations to eliminate one of the variables
  • Step 3: Solve the resulting equation for the remaining variable
  • Step 4: Substitute the value from Step 3 into one of the original equations and solve
• Students should be able to solve each system of linear equations by elimination
  1. 5x – 3y = 18 and -5x + 3y = -22
  2. 2x + 4y = 20 and -3x + 4y = 30
  3. 4x – 2y = 2 and 7x – 3y = 6
  4. You have 33 quarters and dimes in a jar. The jar contains a total of $4.95. Write/solve a system of equations to find the number x of dimes and the number y of quarters
• Homework: Student Textbook, page 169, Activity 3

Cards and Candy for the Troops

Participation points

PARTICIPATION POINTS

In order to ensure an optimal learning environment, participation points are awarded (per class) to each student based on simple criteria.

Students are given several opportunities to make better choices by consulting the ‘Wheel of (limited) Choices’ before facing consequences or disciplinary action (as established by school policy).

3 participation points are awarded (per class) as follows:

1 point = Following Instructions
1 point = Contribution (to class activity/discussion) & Collaboration (with other students)
1 point = Effort & Completing Work (classwork and homework)

Extra credit point –
An extra credit point (4/3) is awarded to any student who excels in all of the above, regardless of previous participation. Of course, students are not always ‘on their game’ during any given class session, so they are encouraged to try harder the next class.

We push the ‘reset’ button:
Each time class starts, students have a fresh start and an new opportunity to increase their daily score for participation and influence the overall average of their grade in Spanish class. OLE!!!

SRA. HOLMAN

October Happenings

October Happenings                   K100                   10/8/18

Religion:

Faith Focus: In Prayer we talk to God

We talk to those we love,

We talk to God.

We pray in different ways

We will be able to join in spontaneous prayer as a response to God’s presence

Language Arts:

Question of the week: What kind of Bugs do you know about?

Vocabulary words: curious, observe, attaches, process, slender

Phonics Review: /m/,  /a/, /s/, /p/, /t/Handwriting: Mm, Aa, Ss, Pp, Tt

High-Frequency Words: the, a, see, we, like

Comprehension: Ask and Answer questions about key details.

Grammar Verb an action word

Math:

Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; When counting objects, say the number names in the standard order. Understand that the last number name said tells the number of objects counted.

The number of objects is the same regardless of their arrangement or the order in which they were counted

Science

WEEKLY READER The Real Busy Spider

Life science / form and function

Kindergartners will compare fiction and non fiction texts about how spiders build their webs

How are they alike and how are different Explain that one is fiction and the magazine is nonfiction

Watch video “Fiction and Nonfiction” to help distinguish between the two genres.

Video: “Tricky Spiders”

Vocabulary; fiction, silk, thread, web

October 5, 2018

Reading: Study vocabulary for at least 10 minutes each day!

Quizlet Unit 3

September 24, 2018

September Happenings                   K100                   9/24/18

Religion:

Faith Focus: God Made the World; we look at God’s World through the story of Creation

I can tell that God made the world

I know that everything God made is Good

I can tell the story of Creation

Language Arts:

Question of the week: How do Tools help us to explore?

Vocabulary words: Tool, discover, defeated, fetch, rumble

Phonics: /Pp/, Handwriting: Pp   High-Frequency Words: a

Comprehension: Informational text: Texts that give real facts and information about real people, places, things, or events.

Ask and Answer questions about key details.

Grammar Verb an action word

Math:

Count forward beginning from a given number within the known sequence (instead of having to begin at 1)

Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; When counting objects, say the number names in the standard order. Understand that the last number name said tells the number of objects counted.

The number of objects is the same regardless of their arrangement or the order in which they were counted

Science

I can name the tools we use in Science and become familiar with them.

Social Studies

At The Apple Orchard; Weekly Reader

Vocabulary: orchard, tractor, wagon

Watch video: Apples!

Reread using rebus pictures to help them out the more difficult words. Read color words. Reread by themselves to their “Learning Partner”

Interactive Smart Board Game: “Apple Sort”

September 24,2018

September Happenings                   K100                   9/24/18

Religion:

Faith Focus: God Made the World; we look at God’s World through the story of Creation

I can tell that God made the world

I know that everything God made is Good

I can tell the story of Creation

Language Arts:

Question of the week: How do Tools help us to explore?

Vocabulary words: Tool, discover, defeated, fetch, rumble

Phonics: /Pp/, Handwriting: Pp   High-Frequency Words: a

Comprehension: Informational text: Texts that give real facts and information about real people, places, things, or events.

Ask and Answer questions about key details.

Grammar Verb an action word

Math:

Count forward beginning from a given number within the known sequence (instead of having to begin at 1)

Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; When counting objects, say the number names in the standard order. Understand that the last number name said tells the number of objects counted.

The number of objects is the same regardless of their arrangement or the order in which they were counted

Science

I can name the tools we use in Science and become familiar with them.

Social Studies

At The Apple Orchard; Weekly Reader

Vocabulary: orchard, tractor, wagon

Watch video: Apples!

Reread using rebus pictures to help them out the more difficult words. Read color words. Reread by themselves to their “Learning Partner”

Interactive Smart Board Game: “Apple Sort”

September 24, 2018

September Happenings                   K100                   9/24/18

Religion:

Faith Focus: God Made the World; we look at God’s World through the story of Creation

I can tell that God made the world

I know that everything God made is Good

I can tell the story of Creation

Language Arts:

Question of the week: How do Tools help us to explore?

Vocabulary words: Tool, discover, defeated, fetch, rumble

Phonics: /Pp/, Handwriting: Pp   High-Frequency Words: a

Comprehension: Informational text: Texts that give real facts and information about real people, places, things, or events.

Ask and Answer questions about key details.

Grammar Verb an action word

Math:

Count forward beginning from a given number within the known sequence (instead of having to begin at 1)

Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; When counting objects, say the number names in the standard order. Understand that the last number name said tells the number of objects counted.

The number of objects is the same regardless of their arrangement or the order in which they were counted

Science

I can name the tools we use in Science and become familiar with them.

Social Studies

At The Apple Orchard; Weekly Reader

Vocabulary: orchard, tractor, wagon

Watch video: Apples!

Reread using rebus pictures to help them out the more difficult words. Read color words. Reread by themselves to their “Learning Partner”

Interactive Smart Board Game: “Apple Sort”

Test/Quiz Corrections

If you would like to complete corrections for a test or quiz, please follow the guidelines listed in the link below. Corrections are always due on the following Friday after a quiz was completed.

Please click here for more information.

September Happenings K100

September Happenings K100

Religion:

Faith Focus: God tells us in the Bible that He loves us. The children will learn good listening skills and realize that they have a story and learn how to share it. They will learn that the Bible is read at Mass.

Language Arts:

Make predictions based on cover, title, and pictures. Retell information from a story. Respond to a simple question about the reading. Introduce /Mm/ sound.

Phonological Awareness refers to an understanding of the sound structure of language-that is, that the language is made up words, syllables, rhymes, and sounds (phonemes). This knowledge occurs initially in oral language; students do not have to know how to name their letters or their corresponding sounds in order to demonstrate phonological awareness.

Math:

Identify, sort, and classify objects by kind. Develop and explain own rules for sorting.

Social Studies:

Identify expectations for personal behavior in school and social settings

Interactive video: “Name That Rule”

Discuss our school rules

 Social Emotional Development:

 We are learning about manners and how to be a good friend

Recognize and accurately label emotions and how they are linked to behavior in school and social settings

Identify ways to work and play well with others

September Happenings K100

September Happenings K100

Religion:

Faith Focus: God tells us in the Bible that He loves us. The children will learn good listening skills and realize that they have a story and learn how to share it. They will learn that the Bible is read at Mass.

Language Arts:

Make predictions based on cover, title, and pictures. Retell information from a story. Respond to a simple question about the reading. Introduce /Mm/ sound.

Phonological Awareness refers to an understanding of the sound structure of language-that is, that the language is made up words, syllables, rhymes, and sounds (phonemes). This knowledge occurs initially in oral language; students do not have to know how to name their letters or their corresponding sounds in order to demonstrate phonological awareness.

Math:

Identify, sort, and classify objects by kind. Develop and explain own rules for sorting.

Social Studies:

Identify expectations for personal behavior in school and social settings

Interactive video: “Name That Rule”

Discuss our school rules

Social Emotional Development:

We are learning about manners and how to be a good friend

Recognize and accurately label emotions and how they are linked to behavior in school and social settings

Identify ways to work and play well with others

Jan. 22-26 Spelling Words

1.22-26SpellingList

Schedule and Homework for Week of 12/11-12/15

Focus this week:

-Socratic Seminars continue this week! Make sure to prepare!

-Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

-Weekly Vocabulary

Assignments:

Monday: Vocabulary Words; Read Chapter 8 in Swallowing Stones; Socratic Seminar Preparation

Tuesday: Read Chapter 9 in Swallowing Stones; Socratic Seminar Preparation; Study Vocabulary Words

Wednesday: Read Chapter 10 in Swallowing Stones; Socratic Seminar Preparation; Study Vocabulary Words

Thursday: Read Chapter 11 in Swallowing Stones; Socratic Seminar Preparation: Study Vocabulary Words

Friday: Read Chapters 12-13 in Swallowing Stones

Next Independent Reading Assignment will be assigned after break.

The Organized Child: Building Executive Functions

November 14 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
McDonough Hall

St. Giles is pleased to welcome Dr. Georgia Bozeday on Tuesday, November 14th for her presentation on “The Organized Child: Building Executive Functions”. Her presentation will focus on media use and learning and will provide parents with practical strategies from the field of Executive Functions to help them guide students at home. Please RSVP and join us for this important conversation. Presentation geared towards parents of 4th – 8th grade students.

Homework: Week of 10/2-10/6

Monday: Vocabulary Words

Tuesday: Read and annotate Chapters 35-36 (We will be discussing these in class tomorrow as well as Ch 34)

Wednesday: Prepositions and Objects Worksheet; Study for Vocab/ Grammar Quiz

Thursday: Vocabulary Quiz (Morning classes)

Friday: Vocabulary Quiz (Afternoon classes)

***Independent Reading Project due for ALL students on Friday! Make sure to include your Reading Log and Rubric with your project!***

Vocabulary Words Answers: https://docs.google.com/a/stgilesschool.org/document/d/1OvleqFhGdUmOS4XeIOU99b7lV9DqZ64NlJ0KP1zofyg/edit?usp=sharing

Quizlet Flashcards: https://quizlet.com/_3sddoq  

Homework Week of 9/25-9/29

Monday: Complete Vocabulary Words

Tuesday: Read and annotate Chapters 28-31

Wednesday: Read and annotate Chapters 32-33

Thursday: Study for Vocabulary; Grammar assignment Direct and Indirect Objects

Friday: Vocabulary/Grammar Quiz today! Read and annotate Chapter 34

Independent Reading Project due Friday, October 6th!

Vocabulary Word Definitions:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tPOYjctMgWJZ2Ni6QLyDgoTvzIWqxLwLFpNTlh7LtdQ/edit?usp=sharing

Week of August 21st

Welcome back to the 2017-18 school year! I look forward to an exciting year of learning! I hope you are excited too! ~Mrs. Lucas

Monday, August 21st is supply drop off/unpack wrap pack from 9:00-12:00.

Please remember to bring in your completed math packet and your summer reading project to school on Tuesday.

On Tuesday we will dismiss at 1:30. Please remember to bring your lunch.

Important Dates:

Wednesday, August 23rd: 2:00 dismissal

Thursday August 31st: Curriculum Night-beginning in church @ 6:45

Monday, Sept. 4th: Labor Day~No School

Friday, Sept. 1st: Lions Leap Pep Rally

Thursday, Sept. 21st: Lions Leap

Monday, February 27th

Religion:  Complete Lenten IQ worksheet – Due Wednesday.

6th Grade Math:  Finish workbook pages 132, 134, 140, and 144 on area and perimeter of composite figures. Write the formula, substitute, and evaluate.

There is a new assignment on Tenmarks.com.  It is due March 2nd.

There will be a test on Chapter 6 on Friday

5th Grade Math:  Complete worksheet on GCF.

Week of 1.30 Homework

Reading and Math 1.30

Spelling 1.30

Please turn in completed boards on Friday, Feb. 3.

St. Giles School Tour Sign-up

Tuesday, January 17th

6th Grade Math:  Complete p. 184 #1-16. There will be a test on chapter 4 tomorrow.

5th Grade Math:  Finish worksheet on adding decimals if necessary.

Other: Basketball players may wear their basketball uniform to school tomorrow in honor of “Jam the Gym“.

Friday, December 9th

Religion:  Complete the chapter 7 review worksheet – due Monday.  The test on Chapter 7 will be on Wednesday, Dec. 14th.

6th Grade Math:    Finish p. 158 #7-37.  There is a new assignment on tenmarks.com: Expressing Percents – due 12/13/16.

5th Grade Math:  Finish long division worksheet.  Be sure to show your work on loose-leaf paper.

Kindergarten Grade Guide 2017-18

Kindergarten Grade Guide 2017-18

Junior High Grade Guide 2017-18

Junior High Grade Guide 2017-18

6th Grade Guide 2017-2018

6th Grade Guide 2017-2018

5th Grade Guide 2017-2018

5th Grade Guide 2017-2018

4th Grade Guide 2017-2018

4th Grade Guide 2017-2018

3rd Grade Guide 2017-2018

3rd Grade Guide 2017-2018

2nd Grade Guide 2017-2018

2nd Grade Guide 2017-2018

1st Grade Guide 2017-2018

1st Grade Guide 2017-2018

We celebrate & remember Mr. Tom Bell

This morning, our St. Giles 8th graders, staff and many parents joined Fr. Carl outside the Corrigan building to celebrate and remember our former beloved art teacher, 8th grade dad and friend of St. Giles School and Parish.    Tom’s twin boys, Sean and Seamus, blessed the tree and benches with Holy water and wife Kelly spoke briefly.  She told the story of how Tom became the art teacher and ended with words of advice for these ambitious 8th graders about to graduate, “…follow your dreams, your passions and do what makes you happy in life. Remember what is important too, family.”  She also reminded the students that on such a beautiful spring day, Tom would have had them outside sketching something, as he loved to do.  Stop by and visit the lovely tree and 2 new benches that were dedicated in his honor with a beautiful memorial plaque.  Tom will always be missed, but he has a special place now at the School he loved so much.  Thank you Tom for your love and dedication to us!

Vision 2020: A Strategic Plan for St. Giles Parish and School

As part of the St. Giles Parish strategic planning initiative, the Board of Specified Jurisdiction (BSJ) undertook a two-year, in-depth strategic planning analysis of the school. This analysis included the annual parent satisfaction surveys, several open forums to gather input, a strategic planning survey of the teachers, SWOT analyses of the early childhood and junior high programs, and work of the BSJ’s committees.

The BSJ’s analysis was then shared with the Parish Strategic Planning Committee. This process culminated in the development of a number of focused goals for St. Giles Parish reflected in the Strategic Plan 2015-2020 or Vision 2020. The full plan and executive summary attached below, are intended as an organic, living document to be used as a planning tool by the pastor, principal, parish staff, key parish leaders, and active ministries.

Please take a moment to review at your convenience. If you are interested in participating in future planning for our school, please contact any BSJ member to join one of our committees.

Vision 2020 Strategic Plan