Volume 2 | Issue 6
Sunday, Oct. 12
- Full Choir at 10am Mass (Arrive at 9:30)
- Adult Basketball (Evening) - Click to join Signal group here if interested
Monday, Oct. 13
- Columbus Day - No School
- Volleyball Practice (Evening)
- IESA Cross Country Practice (Evening)
Tuesday, Oct. 14
- NO BUS SERVICE
- Choir Practice (During School)
- Beginner & Intermediate Band Practice (During School)
- Advanced Band Practice (After School)
- Volleyball Practice (Evening)
- IESA Cross Country Practice (Evening)
- Gala & Fundraiser Auction Planning Meeting (Evening)
Wednesday, Oct. 15
- Choir Practice (Before School)
- Student Mass - 8th Grade Leadership Mass (During School)
- Fire Drill (During School)
- Homework Club (After School)
- Intermediate Band Practice (After School)
- Volleyball Practice (Evening)
- IESA Cross Country Practice (Evening)
- Dads Club Trunk or Treat (Evening) - Click to R.S.V.P or decorate a car
Thursday, Oct. 16
- Student Council Speeches/Voting (During School)
- Art Club (After School)
- Spanish Club Session B: Pre, K (After School)
- Knight Crew Dance Team Practice (After School)
- Volleyball Practice (Evening)
- IESA Cross Country Practice (Evening)
Friday, Oct. 17
- Auction Fundraiser Dress Down Day - Click here to purchase
- Student Council Speeches/Voting - Continued (During School)
- School Assembly (Afternoon)
- Advanced Band Practice (During School)
- Pizza Fun Lunch (During School) - Click to Order
- Beginner Band Practice 4th & 5th Grade (After School)
Saturday, Oct. 18
- IESA Select Series Cross Country State Championship Cross Country Meet (Normal, IL)
- SPX Hosts Tri-County Catholic Conference Volleyball Playoffs - Click to help, volunteers needed
The Knights Watch
The Scroll vs. The Soul
There’s no denying it—our kids are growing up in a digital age unlike any before. Phones, tablets, and social media have become constant companions, offering connection and entertainment at the tap of a screen. But with that convenience comes a quiet cost: less conversation, less eye contact, and fewer real moments shared face-to-face.
As adults, we’ve all seen it. A group of friends together, yet each one lost in their own scrolling world. The laughter and storytelling that once filled those spaces now replaced with silence and screens. For children, this shift is even more impactful. Interpersonal skills—listening, empathy, teamwork, and the ability to read emotion—are developed through genuine human interaction. The more time spent online, the less opportunity they have to grow those essential traits.
Unmonitored social media access can also open doors to dangers we might not see coming. Beyond the obvious risks of inappropriate content or online predators, there’s the quieter erosion of self-worth. The constant comparison culture—likes, followers, filtered perfection—can leave kids feeling like they’re never enough. It’s not just a distraction; it can become a distortion of how they see themselves and others.
At St. Pius X, we teach our students to build minds, hearts, and souls—and that includes helping them understand balance. Technology can be a tool for learning, creativity, and faith—but only when it serves them, not when it consumes them. Parents can help by setting boundaries, modeling healthy habits, and keeping conversations open about what they see and feel online.
Let’s remind our Knights that the real world—the one filled with laughter, faith, family, and friendship—is worth looking up for. The next time we see our children scrolling, maybe the best app we can offer them is our attention.
– The Mighty Knight, watching over the digital battlefield
New St. Pius X Fall Events!
Butter Braid® Fundraiser
- Let's Keep Rolling Knights!
We’re off to a strong start with $3,825 raised toward our $10,000 goal! Let’s keep it going, Knights—every pastry sold helps make St. Pius X safer and stronger.
The Butter Braid® Pastry Fundraiser is one of our favorite SPX traditions! These delicious pastries make perfect holiday treats, and proceeds this year go directly toward upgrading our safety and emergency preparedness equipment.
Key Details:
- Order Deadline: Friday, October 31 at the start of the school day
- Order Online (Preferred): Butter Braid Fundraiser Store
- Delivery & Pickup: Thursday, November 13, 2:00–4:00 PM in the Social Center
Selling Tips: Share your link on social media, ask family and friends, bring your form to games or church, and remind everyone that every purchase supports SPX!
Visit school.stpiuslombard.org/butterbraid for details and links. Let’s rise to the challenge and hit our goal, Knights!
2026–27 School Year
Priority Registration Opens November 1!
We’re getting a jump on next year, Knights! Registration for the 2026–27 school year opens Saturday, November 1. Current SPX families will have priority registration from November 1–16, giving you first access to secure your student’s spot for next year.
Then, on Sunday, November 16, we’ll open registration to the public during our St. Pius X School Open House. Spread the word to friends and family—this is the perfect chance to show them what makes our school such an amazing community of faith, service, and academic excellence!
Mr. V is Looking for Supplies for Project
Beloved art Teacher Mr. Velat is looking for lids to 32oz. containers for a project. He is hoping he can get the SPX families to help him out and bring in any they would otherwise recycle around the house. Typically, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. Please clean and drop off at the school office. Thanks!
8th Grade Field Trips into History
Exploring Lombard's Rich History
On Oct. 2nd, our 8th graders stepped out of the classroom and into local history with a walking field trip through Lombard. The students began their journey at Babcock’s Grove Cemetery, where docents from the Lombard Historical Society shared stories about the early days of Lombard—once known as Babcock’s Grove.
From there, they continued to the Sheldon Peck Homestead, where they learned about the Peck family’s remarkable legacy, including their role as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Students enjoyed lunch and free time at Lombard Commons before returning to St. Pius X, completing the five-mile round trip on a warm and sunny afternoon.
The day offered a perfect blend of learning, exercise, and appreciation for the community’s roots—bringing history to life just steps from campus.
Exploring our State's Rich History
On Thursday, October 9, the 8th grade took a trip to Springfield, Illinois. They visited New Salem Village, where they learned what life was like during the time Abraham Lincoln lived there (1831-1837), including what schooling was like with a "blab lesson".
They then headed to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum to learn about the life of A. Lincoln, and his incredible involvement in the Civil War. They were able to view a copy of the Gettysburg Address, written by Lincoln himself, which is 1 of only 5 copies in the world.
They took a tour of the State Capitol building where they were able to sit in the gallery of the House and see the old Supreme Court chambers.
Last, they headed to Lincoln's tomb to learn more about the final resting place of the 16th President of the United States of America.
The Week in Photos
Around SPX this Week!
- Kindergarten: Enjoyed a visit from Firefighters Brian Kurth and Noah Plunge, who demonstrated their rescue gear and explained what to do if a firefighter ever needs to enter their home during an emergency.
- Pre-K 4: Met with Kim White to learn about animals that start with the letter “B.”
- Beginner Band: Worked hard transforming those first “crazy noises” into real music.
- Eighth Grade: Fully embracing their final year with energy and enthusiasm.
- Student Choir: Continues to impress—singing beautiful solos at Mass.
- 8th Grade Volleyball Blackout: Lit up the gym last weekend—check out the photos from this incredible event!
- Feed My Starving Children Service Night: SPX Athletics came together for a meaningful evening of service—Knights making a difference on and off the court!
Enjoy the week in photos!
See a video of the Student Choir in Action!
Exciting News!
Our School Dance Teams — along with our performing Pastor, Fr. Matt — will be featured on the Around Town segment on WGN News on Friday, January 9th, between 7:00–11:00 AM!
We’ll be going live seven times throughout the morning and can’t wait to showcase our amazing school spirit. We encourage full school participation and excitement as we cheer on our talented Knights in action!
Stay tuned for more details — and parents be sure to tune in from home or work on
January 9th to catch all the fun!
Of Interest to our 8th Grade Families
Stay Connected with the PSA
Grandparents' Day and Book Fair
We can't wait to celebrate our students' grandparents and special friends! Please join us for Grandparents' Day on Sunday, October 19th, 2025. We'll kick things off with Mass at 12:30 PM, followed by light refreshments and snacks in the Social Center.
The annual Book Fair will also begin on Grandparents' Day! It's a wonderful chance to stock up on new books for your family or find early birthday and Christmas gifts. The book fair will be open during Grandparents' Day and will also be open for students to visit throughout the week, October 19th through October 23rd.
Read the newsletter to see everything going on from the PSA!
Please RSVP for Grandparents' Day by Monday, September 30th:
We also need your help to make these events a success!
For information and events as well as some volunteer opportunities from the SPX Dads Club, view their latest newsletter here:
Dad's Club News
Fall Sports Update
Cross Country
The Results are in from the fifth SPL meet at at Settler's Hill Cross Country Course in Geneva, IL. Congrats to all our Knights on how hard they worked and to each and every student-athlete that achieved their or PR! Special Congratulations to our Champion 6th Grade Girls and 7th Grade Boys for winning Division AA grade competition! Well done, Knights!
While the Suburban Parochial League (SPL) is finished this Fall, SPX Cross Country also participates in the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) state-wide cross country competition. This event focuses the very best of the best. Participating school pick a small squad, seven participants with a handful of alternates, to participate. The first stop is the Sectional Qualifying meet on Saturday, Oct 11, at Westmont High School. The next stop, after we qualify, is Maxwell Park in Normal, IL on Oct. 18! Schools can either qualify as a team or individuals. Our IESA Select Team runs tomorrow morning! Good luck nights and congratulations to the following athletes (noted with their SPX graduation year):
Boys
Tommy Barrett '27
Colin Blain '28
Rylan Blain '26
Jayden Citta '28
Kyle Citta '26
Kellen Ferris '27
Ryley Kissel '27
Mario Pesola '27
Michael Richardson '27
Tiago Taylor '27
Tommy Barrett '27
Colin Blain '28
Rylan Blain '26
Jayden Citta '28
Kyle Citta '26
Kellen Ferris '27
Ryley Kissel '27
Mario Pesola '27
Michael Richardson '27
Tiago Taylor '27
Girls
Kaitlyn Goetz '26
Ali Langert '27
Sophia Lehtinen '28
Vivian Neal '26
Rosie Paciga '28
Sophia Penney '28
Clare Richardson '28
Colleen Lindt '26
Amelia Stemberk '28
Ashley Sochacki '27
Abby Turner '26
Kaitlyn Goetz '26
Ali Langert '27
Sophia Lehtinen '28
Vivian Neal '26
Rosie Paciga '28
Sophia Penney '28
Clare Richardson '28
Colleen Lindt '26
Amelia Stemberk '28
Ashley Sochacki '27
Abby Turner '26
Knights Volleyball Season Update
As the regular season is nearing the end, St. Pius X Volleyball teams continue to impress across every division, wrapping up conference play before the Tri-County Catholic Conference Playoffs begin next weekend.
- Boys 5A: Sitting in 3rd place with a strong 6–5 record and a 58% set win rate.
- Boys 6A: Continuing to build experience and teamwork heading into postseason play.
- Boys 7A: Holding steady in 4th place with a .500 record and competitive matches throughout.
- Boys 7B: One of our top performers this season, currently in 3rd place with a 6–4 record.
- Boys 8A: Finishing in 4th place with five solid wins and great energy heading into playoffs.
- Girls 5A: Growing every match, gaining valuable first-season experience.
- Girls 6A: Showing steady progress and securing four wins on the season.
- Girls 6B: Continuing to develop and compete with determination.
- Girls 8A: Closing strong in 6th place with a 6–5 record and a 55% set win percentage.
Across all levels, the Knights combined for 35 total match wins and 89 sets won this season—another proud showing for SPX Athletics!
Good luck to all teams as we head into the TCC Playoffs—Go Knights! 🏐
11th Annual Volley for the Cure - Tomorrow!
We Fight Like Knights
Join the cause and let's make it a sea of pink to support SPX Athletic's Volley for the Cure on Oct. 11!
👉Click here to go to our raffle basket presale site.
👉Click here to go to our raffle basket presale site.
Spread the word to friends and family to donate and support our event!
St. Pius X is proud to host our 11th annual Volley for the Cure on Saturday, October 11, from Noon–8:00 PM in the SPX gym—a day where our community comes together to honor those who have lost their battle with breast cancer, support survivors, and stand alongside those still fighting. Once again, we are partnering with the National Breast Cancer Foundation to raise awareness and funds for this important cause.
Throughout the day, all nine of our Knights volleyball teams will take the court, each playing a match in special uniforms designed to show our support. Between games, fans can purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win gift baskets generously donated by sponsors and created by our teams.
Throughout the day, all nine of our Knights volleyball teams will take the court, each playing a match in special uniforms designed to show our support. Between games, fans can purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win gift baskets generously donated by sponsors and created by our teams.
Commemorative t-shirts are also available, at the link under this years logo!
Join us for this special event—come cheer on the Knights, show your spirit, and help us prove that at SPX, we fight like Knights and we don’t let the hard days win!
Join us for this special event—come cheer on the Knights, show your spirit, and help us prove that at SPX, we fight like Knights and we don’t let the hard days win!
Volunteers Needed – TCC Volleyball Playoffs at SPX!
St. Pius X Athletics is hosting Tri-County Catholic Conference Volleyball Playoff games all day Saturday, October 18, and we need your help!
Hosting brings great energy—and important revenue—to our program, but we can’t do it without volunteers for admissions and concessions. Each shift is just two hours and counts toward volunteer hours.
Please sign up and lend a hand to support our Knights!
Keeping Catholic Education Strong
Since 1996, the Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) has secured the future of Catholic schools in our diocese. Through generous donors, more than 50,000 students at 40+ schools across five counties have received a faith-filled education.
This year, we aim to raise $1 million to keep Catholic education vibrant for generations to come.
Join us! Visit CEFJoliet.org to learn more or use this QR Code to give today.
