July 24, 2026

Dear SJB Families,

I hope you are having a wonderful July! We have exciting news to share about our amazing school. We truly have so much to be thankful for at SJB, and we are looking forward to a fantastic school year.

Our gym floor looks beautiful, featuring updated striping and the incorporation of our new Wildcat logo at center court, giving the space a fresh and exciting new look. In addition, thanks to a very generous donor who wishes to remain anonymous, we now have a brand-new volleyball net system. Let’s go Wildcats!

New HVAC units for the school have also been ordered for St. Cecilia Hall and the gym. Over the summer, cleaning and maintenance have been completed, and we are making our final preparations for the first day of school on Wednesday, August 19. Students will be dismissed at 11:30 AM, and our first school Mass of the year will begin at 10:00 a.m. All are welcome to join us.

We are also excited to announce that, thanks to the generous donation of John and Cathy Barrett, grandparents of Nick and Lucas Barrett, along with a parishioner and the Knights of Columbus, we have purchased five new Promethean Boards to replace our aging SMART Boards. These new boards will be installed in the 4th–8th grade classrooms upon arrival, enhancing the teaching and learning experience for our students. We are deeply grateful for this investment in our school and look forward to expanding these technology upgrades to additional classrooms in the future.

The library has been relocated, and books are currently being shelved. The nonfiction collection is in place, and we are now working on shelving the picture books. We could use your help! If you have some time to assist with shelving books, please let me know, and we can arrange a time that works for you. (Of course, this counts for volunteer hours.)

Speaking of opportunities to help, we will be organizing the Uniform Closet on Wednesday, July 29 at 9:00 AM. If you are available to lend a hand, please let me know. The more volunteers we have, the quicker the work goes; many hands truly do make light work, and you will receive credit towards volunteer hours.

Personnel Update

I am pleased to officially welcome our newest staff members to the SJB family.

Grace Fisher – Fourth Grade Teacher

Our new fourth-grade teacher, Grace Fisher, recently graduated from North Central College in Naperville and completed her student teaching in a fourth-grade classroom in Winfield School District 34. We are excited to have her join our team and she is delighted to begin her teaching career at St. John the Baptist.

Chris Colangelo – School Counselor

We are fortunate to welcome Chris Colangelo as our new full-time school counselor. Chris will be on campus Monday through Thursday, replacing the previous one-day-per-week social worker support provided through Catholic Charities. He is eager to support our students' academic, social-emotional, and personal development.

Chris earned his Master of Arts form National Louis University and his Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) credential in 2003. He has more than 20 years of experience providing counseling and case management services. He recently obtained his Professional Educator License and his School Counselor Certificate from Northern Illinois University and looks forward to serving the students and families of SJB.

Arlita Ancheta – Assistant Principal and JH Social Studies Teacher

We are also pleased to welcome Arlita Ancheta to the St. John the Baptist faculty. Mrs. Ancheta will teach 7th and 8th Grade Social Studies and serve as our Assistant Principal. She is thrilled to be joining our faith and learning community.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Education and Master of Arts in Educational Administration from the University of the City of Manila in the Philippines. Mrs. Ancheta began her teaching career in Catholic schools, including the Nazarene School operated by the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres and Aquinas School, a private Catholic boys' school administered by the Dominican Province of Our Lady of the Rosary. She has also taught at the college level in both public and private universities. Most recently, she has been working at Glenbard High School District.

The part-time music teaching position remains open, although a candidate is currently completing the final hiring requirements. The candidate will be teaching preschool – fifth grade music. JH music be taught by another individual. I will update you as soon as the candidates are officially hired. 

Uniform Closet

Our Uniform Closet will be opening next weekend. The closet contains a wide selection of uniform shirts, pants, jumpers, skirts, and skorts in sizes ranging from toddler to adult.

• Girls in Kindergarten through 4th grade wear the blue plaid jumpers.
• Girls in 5th through 8th grade wear the blue plaid skirts or skorts.

The Uniform Closet will be open:

• Saturday, August 1 from 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM in St. Cecilia Hall
• Sunday, August 2 from 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM in St. Cecilia Hall

Families are encouraged to bring uniforms that no longer fit and exchange them for items that do. You are also welcome to browse for gently used uniform pieces to supplement your children's uniform wardrobe. If you are new to SJB, we encourage you to stop by and see if there are items that fit your children.

Restrooms will be available and may be used as dressing rooms as needed. Please park in the church parking lot or in front of the school and enter through Door 11, located on the north side of the school. Door 11 leads to the mezzanine and faces the chapel.

If you are unable to attend next weekend, the Uniform Closet will also be open for a period of time on August 17.

Tommy Hilfiger Uniform Promotion 

School Uniforms by Tommy Hilfiger, our official uniform provider, will be offering an additional 10% Back-to-School promotion through July 27.

Promo Code: PROMO CODE REQUIRED:  WK6BTS26JL

Offer ends 07/27/26 at 11:59 PM CT.

Please note that this code will only be valid through Monday, July 27.

UPCOMING SJB EVENTS

K- Grade 8 Supply Drop Off – Monday, August 17 – sign-up to follow

Our annual K- Grade 8 supply drop off is quickly approaching. It will be Thursday, August 17. A link to sign-up for a time will be sent soon. Supply lists can found attached to this message. Please note that if you pre-ordered your school supply kit from SchoolKidz, kits will be delivered to the classrooms and ready for your child(ren). 

Preschool and Prekindergarten Supply Drop-Off, Pizza, Play, and Popsicle, and Back to School Night – SAVE the DATE – Thursday, August 13 PM

Our preschool and prekindergarten supply drop-off, pizza, play, and popsicle event is scheduled for Thursday, August 13 evening. After pizza and popsicles, teachers will meet with the parents for Back to School Night while our youngest learners hear a story and do a short activity. More details to come.

Wildcat Classic – A Message from our Co-Chairs

Hello Wildcat Family!

The Wildcat Classic is quickly approaching! The golf outing will be held at Klein Creek Golf Course on September 25th. Come out and support our teachers and students.

Own a business? Know someone who does? Check out our sponsorship opportunities!

Love to golf? Get a foursome together or sign up as an individual. Don’t golf? There is a dinner only option and you can come for cocktails, dinner, and raffles!

**Sign up here: sjwinfield.ejoinme.org

Volunteer!!!! We are still in need of people to help secure raffle prizes and sponsors. Please prayerfully consider coming to our next meeting on August 10th at 6:00 in the school, or email Angela Murray amurray@sjbwinfield.org, or Katie Pierscionek kpierscionek@sjbwinfield.org and start volunteering today!

Attached is information about sponsorship opportunities and registering to attend the event. Share the info, and sign up today!

Follow the St. John the Baptist Wildcat Classic Golf Outing on Facebook!

Thank you for all your support!

Angela Murray, Katie Pierscionek

Thank you for your continued support, generosity, and commitment to SJB. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for another wonderful year.

That’s all for now…

Have a great weekend!

Joanne Policht

0S259 Church Street
Winfield, IL 60190
P: 630.668.2625, ext. 617 F: 630.668.1074
Email: jpolicht@stjohnwinfield.org