October 29, 2026

Dear Wildcat Families,

Formed in Faith is one of our core values, and this week provided countless reminders of what that looks like in the life of our school.
From gathering as a faith community each week for school Mass, to coming together to pray the Rosary, to celebrating the saints through
the work of our fourth grade students, to watching our kindergarten and seventh grade buddies discover the beauty and meaning of our church, our students experienced faith not only as something they learn about, but as something they live each day.

Tuesday’s All Saints Day Mass was truly beautiful. Our fourth grade students processed into Mass dressed as the saints they have been researching and writing about, and during the homily, they were invited forward to be interviewed by our pastor, Fr. Dan. They did a wonderful job sharing what they had learned, and it was a joy to have so many parents, grandparents, and family members join us for this special celebration.

Thank you to Ms. Fisher, our parents, and Fr. Dan for helping bring the lives of the saints to life for our students. Through their efforts, we were all
able to learn from and be inspired by these young "saints."

All Saints Day reminds us that holiness is something we are all called to pursue each day. By looking to the saints as examples and intercessors,
we are encouraged to grow closer to God and strive to become the saints He is calling each of us to be.

Congratulations to all of our volleyball teams on a memorable season. While the scoreboard did not always reflect their hard work, our Wildcats made tremendous strides in their skill development, teamwork, and confidence. Most importantly, they consistently cheered one another on and represented our school with pride, determination, and good sportsmanship.

Thank you to our volleyball coaches for sharing their time, talents, and dedication with our student athletes. Their hard work, encouragement, and commitment helped our players grow in skill, confidence, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout the season:

5^th grade girls - Nick Doncoes 

5^th grade boys - Kathy Barrett and Monica Barton 

6^th grade girls - Kate Buchbinder, Lauren Roman, and Mitch Bridges 

6^th grade boys - Luke Murray and Dave Knutson

7^th grade girls - Jessica Blitvich and Dan Taylor

7^th grade boys - Aaron LeMay and Kathy Barrett

8^th grade girls - Marc Farin and John Weitz

8^th grade boys - Mike Roldan 

Thank you to our volleyball parents for your support throughout the season. We are grateful for your assistance in working the concession stand, cheering on our teams from the stands, and ensuring your children arrived at practices and games ready to play.

A special thank you to our Athletic Director, Jason Woodbury, for his dedication and leadership throughout the season. From coordinating home games to managing countless details behind the scenes, his efforts ensured that everything ran smoothly from the first serve through the playoffs.

As we wrap up the volleyball season, please remember to wash and return volleyball uniforms in a gallon-sized resealable bag labeled with your child's name. Students may place their uniforms in the designated collection container in the gym. All volleyball uniforms must be returned before basketball uniforms can be issued.

With basketball season just around the corner, we look forward to another exciting season of Wildcat athletics!

Fall Pictures

Fall pictures were sent home today. If you haven't seen them yet, please be sure to check your child's backpack. Please note that re-takes are on Thursday, November 12, at the beginning of the day. If your child will be having their picture retaken, please remember to send the photo envelope back to school on November 12.

Calling All Veterans

We warmly invite veterans in our SJB community to join us for school Mass at 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday, November 10, as we honor those who have served our country. We would love to welcome you and hear a little about your experiences serving our nation. If you are available to join us, please reach out to me at JPolicht@stjohnwinfield.org. We would be grateful to celebrate this special day with you!

Veterans Day Photo Tribute

SJB will once again honor family members of our students and staff who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces with a special photo tribute displayed on school monitors.

To include your loved one, please email veterans@sjbwinfield.org with the following information:

• Student’s name
• Veteran’s name, branch, rank, and years of service
• War or conflict served in (if applicable)
• Duty station(s)
• Relationship to the student or staff member
• Why this person is important to your family
• A photo in uniform, if available

If you have previously submitted a photo and information, there is no need to resubmit unless you would like to make an update.

We look forward to honoring these brave men and women, celebrating their service and sacrifice, and sharing their stories with our SJB community.

Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent Teacher conferences are around the corner on Tuesday, November 17 and Thursday, November 19 from 4:00 – 8:00 PM. To accommodate all our students in Junior High, there will also be conference times available on Wednesday, November 18 for grades 6-8. We will again be using the Pick a Time sign-up program. Here’s the link to sign up for a conference: https://pickatime.com/StJohntheBaptistCatholicSchool/SJB_Parent_Teacher_Conferences_26-27
Directions for setting up a conference are attached.

Home and School Happenings

Thank you to everyone who attended our SJB Skate Night at Funway last night! It was wonderful to see such strong SJB spirit and participation. Students and families enjoyed a fun evening together, and the costumes added a festive touch that made the night even more special.

Fall Candy Sale

It’s time for our Fall Candy Sale featuring World’s Finest Chocolate! This fundraiser is a school-wide effort, and every family will be participating in and supporting this important, sweet tradition.

Tomorrow, the oldest SJB child in each family will bring home a box of chocolate bars to sell. Each box contains 40 candy bars priced at $2 per bar, for a total value of $80. To simplify the process, families will be billed $80 through FACTS rather than returning cash to the school office. As you sell the candy, you may reimburse yourself directly from the proceeds collected. The FACTS charge will be applied in November, with payment withdrawn in December. Thank you for your support of SJB and for helping make this fundraiser a success!

Scholastic Book Fair and Family Reading Night

Book Fair is returning Thursday Nov 5 - Friday Nov 6. To make it as easy as possible for the kids to shop, did you know that you can set up an eWallet, which is a cash-free way for your child to shop the Book Fair? This digital payment option can be used at the in-school Book Fair or online at the Virtual Book Fair. Not only is an eWallet easy to set up and add funds, but you also have the option to invite family and friends to contribute funds as well to your child's account! Don't worry about any unused funds after the Book Fair... you can spend unused funds online or save them in your account for the next Book Fair. Here is the link to set up an eWallet: https://tinyurl.com/SJB-book-fair
 
Family Reading Night is also returning! To make our Book Fair extra special, we are opening the doors Thursday night, Nov 5 from 6:00 - 7:30 PM in St. Cecilia Hall. Friends and family are invited to shop at the Book Fair, tour the new library and enjoy stories read by guest readers. 

Daddy Daughter Dance

Just a quick reminder that TODAY is the FINAL day to RSVP to the Daddy Daughter Dance on November 7th. Please note there is a new start time for the event: 6:15 PM.

To make signing up easier than ever, we’ve set up a quick online RSVP form. Please click here to sign up by the end of today, October 28! If you've already submitted a paper RSVP to not submit an RSVP again or else you could get charged twice!

To make this night extra special if you are able to donate or volunteer please click the link below for different opportunities to do so! 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQblQPTsYkJZ7Wm13lWZUilY61tc1pQJZzBz5pVFmmyIwYlQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=105827492904076365426

**If you have already reached out to volunteer, thank you so much & we will be getting in touch with you shortly!**

Ladies Night Out –Friday, November 13

Get ready for a fun and relaxed evening supporting St. John the Baptist School! Whether you are completely new to Mahjong, a beginner, or a seasoned player, all are welcome—no prior experience needed!

We’re excited to partner with The Mahjong Society, whose instructors will be on hand to guide you step-by-step. Everything you need for the evening is provided: tiles, boards, wine, and light snacks are all covered!

Event Details

• Date & Time: Friday, November 13th at 6:00 PM (Instruction & games start promptly at 6:30 PM)
• Location: St. Cecilia Hall (Enter through Door 11)
• Registration: $60
• Pre-Sale Raffle Tickets: 6 for $25 (Note: Ticket prices increase on the day of the event!)
• RSVP Deadline: Saturday, November 7.

How to RSVP

Space is limited, so don't wait to reserve your spot! We’ve made signing up easier than ever:

Click or Scan to Register: Simply [Click Here to Sign Up Online], or scan the QR code on the attached flyer using your phone's camera to go straight to the registration form!

Paper Form: Fill out the registration section on the attached flyer and kindly submit it to the School Office.

Reserve your spot today!

Cooks Night Off – Save the Date – Monday, November 16

Join us at Portillo’s on North Avenue in Glendale Heights on Monday, October 26, from 5:00–8:00 PM! (Twenty percent of net sales will be donated back to SJB after $200 in sales) We hope to see lots of Wildcat families there! Please see the attached flyer for more information.

Spirit Wear Polo and Quarter-Zips Sale

Save 30% off St. John's polos and quarter-zips during our Fall Sideline Style Sale. From school pick up to weekends around town, show your
St. John's pride with style. Pick your favorite and represent St. John's wherever the day takes you. Shop Now & Save 30%: https://1stplace.sale/29701

    🎉 Gala Planning Is Officially Underway! 🎉

Planning for our annual school gala is officially underway! We’d love to have you join our gala chairs, Stephanie Machalek and Ami Garcia, for an introductory meeting on November 11 from 6-7pm in St. Cecilia (use entrance #11) to learn more about the gala and discover how you can get involved.

There are plenty of ways to help make this event a success! Every bit of help makes a difference, and we truly appreciate your support. We hope
to see you there! 💛

Halloween

This is a reminder that students can wear costumes to school tomorrow. Remember that costumes should be school and age appropriate and weapon like accessories should not be brought to school. Costumes that convey death, horror, are violent in nature and those that are contrary to our faith such as witches and the occult will not be permitted at school. Students will not be allowed to wear costume masks. In addition, costumes should be tasteful and follow dress down code.

Please be reminded that tomorrow our preschoolers and kindergarteners are trick-or-treating for change for the St. Vincent dePaul Society as a service project. Don’t forget to send change with your child. We look forward to our safe and friendly participation of tomorrow’s holiday. As a final reminder, we dismiss at 11:30 AM and there is no After Care.

Have a wonderful fall weekend! Remember to turn your clocks back one hour on Sunday as Daylight Saving Time ends. Sunday is also All Saints Day, a special time to celebrate those who inspire us to grow in faith and follow Christ’s example. We encourage you to join your parish community for Mass as we celebrate this beautiful feast day. The Knights of Columbus will host a pancake breakfast from 8:00–11:00 a.m. in Sebahar Hall on Sunday. We hope to see you there!

Peace and blessings,



Joanne Policht

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