Archive for the News Category

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School is seeking a 3rd Grade Teacher for the 2025-2026 school year. The ideal candidate is someone who is excited to teach in a faith-filled environment, willing to continue learning about children and teaching, effectively collaborate with fellow teachers, and is a difference maker in the lives of our students.

At Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School (STBCS), we create a vibrant, mission-driven community where teachers have a meaningful impact on students’ lives through holistic learning, academic excellence, and personal empowerment in a supportive, faith-filled setting.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Supports and upholds the philosophy of Catholic education and the mission of the school.
• Understand the school’s and state’s requirements to teach 3rd grade students and use provided curriculum
• Modify teaching plans according to varying needs of students
• Collaborate with fellow staff members to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment
• Engage with parents to keep them informed of their child’s academic progress and development
• Maintain accurate records of student performance and provide regular feedback
• Provide weekly lesson plans

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education
• Must meet all Diocese of Belleville background check requirements

Compensation and Benefits:

• Salary $29,000-$48,000 based on experience and qualifications
• Benefits: Medical, Life Insurance, Vision, Dental, 403B, Sick Days, Personal Days

To apply for this position please send a cover letter, resume, and three professional references to Sr. Kathleen Murray, via email at assistantprincipal@srthea.org.

Posting will remain open until the position is filled.

Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School serves the community by passing on the Catholic faith and values while immersing the student within a Christ-centered environment. A continued partnership of Sister Thea Bowman staff and families will provide students the opportunity to learn about the Church’s teachings, to incorporate them in their daily life, and to take an active role in addressing social concerns. We are committed to serve the children and families who desire an outstanding and faith-based education.

Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School located in East St. Louis, Illinois is seeking an elementary school Principal. Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School provides academic excellence in Kindergarten through 8th grade. The position will be available July 1, 2025.

The spiritual, mental, physical, and social development of each child is the core of Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School. The school encourages students to gain a deeper understanding of church tenets, Christian and family attitudes, and their relationship with God, nature, and all humanity.

The principal is responsible for the overall operation and management of the school with specific focus on spiritual and curriculum development. The principal must be a visionary leader who can unite the faculty, staff, and school community in collaborating for the greater good of the Catholic church; create an environment that promotes the Catholic faith and moral teachings; develop strategic initiatives to promote growth; manage the financial assets of the school; and cultivate the spiritual and professional growth of faculty and staff through strong management skills.

Applicants should hold a master’s degree and an Illinois Administrator Endorsement (Type 75); experience in elementary school teaching and/or administration; management and budgetary experience; and familiarity with Catholic education is preferred. Applicants are required to be a faithful, committed Catholic who understands and accepts the teachings and disciplines of the Catholic Church.

To apply send:

• Cover letter,
• Résumé,
• Transcripts,
• Three current letters of recommendation,
• Letter of recommendation from your current pastor,
• Proof of Illinois Professional Educator’s License with General Administrative Endorsement.

To: Diocese of Belleville, Office of Education, 222 South Third Street, Belleville, Illinois 62220 or email OfficeofEducation@diobelle.org.

Starting Salary Range – $60,000 – 70,000 (Final salary will be determined by relevant skills, education, and experience.)

Applications will be accepted until position is filled.

Dear Families,

The Diocese of Belleville is inviting STBCS families, staff, advisory council, community at large as well as our donors to participate in a listening session. Please take time to read the attached THE DETAILS and the INVITATION AND RSVP.

Please join us for the PTO meeting in the library today, April 10, from 3:30PM-4:30PM. Hope to see you there.

APRIL 30:The Heart of Thea Social is our biggest fundraiser for the year. Every dollar donated helps to provide tuition assistance for our families. We would love for you to join us, as well as spread the word about this event to your family and friends.

Praise Dance, Violin, and Choir will have live performances in the chapel at 2PM.

Spring Concert is May 3, 2025 at 12PM. Attendance is mandatory for all students.

Please have your child sign up for summer enrichment/ remediation. Return the form to the school office

Thank you to all of our families that have already registered for the 25-26 school year. Please make sure to let us know if you have any questions on registration by emailing info@srthea.org.

RETURNING STUDENTS REGISTRATION

Enrollment is open for returning students. Please go to FACTS and enroll your child(ren) for SY 2025-2026.

The fee is $70.00 per student

Students enrolled between March 16 th – April 15 th receive a Movie Day with Snacks

Students enrolled between April 16 th – May 15 th receive an Extra Recess

If 85% of students are registered by May 15 th, we will have an all-school Kickball VS Teachers Match

*Student MUST be current on Tuition and Medical/Health Forms to receive the prize*

If your child enrolls by March 15th, they will be eligible to receive all the prizes listed.

Many Blessings,
Mrs. Ruppel

Calendar

April

• 9 Mass- 5th grade leads
• 11 Friday 2PM Dismissal
• 16 Mass- Staff Leads
• 16 12:30 Dismissal
• 17 No School Holy Thursday
• 18 No School Good Friday
• 21 No School Easter Monday
• 22-25 Iowa Assessments. Grades 2-8
• 23 Mass- 4th grade leads
• 25 Friday 2PM Dismissal
• 30 Heart of Thea Social 2-6 PM

May

• 2 Friday 2PM Dismissal LISLTENI
• 5 3:30-5:00
• 3 Spring Concert 12 PM All students participate
• 5 LISTENING SESSION 3:30-5:00
• 7 Mass- 3rd grade leads
• 9 Friday 2PM Dismissal
• 14 8th Grade Graduation and Mass 9AM
• 16 Friday- 2PM Dismissal
• 19 Kindergarten Bridge Ceremony 10AM
• 22 Last Day of School (8:30 AM Mass and Awards Ceremony) 10 AM dismissal
• 26 Memorial Day No School

May 27- June 13 Summer Enrichment/ Remediation Monday – Thursday from 9AM-12PM

Good afternoon families,

All report cards have been sent home today in the Thursday envelope. Please make sure the report cards are signed and returned. If your child has a mandatory conference, please bring the signed report card with you to his/ her conference.  Some teachers have decided they would like to see all of their families.    Students are required to attend with their parents/ guardians.

Thank you to all of the families who have registered their students thus far.   The pizza party incentive will be on Wednesday, March 26th.  Those students who have enrolled thus far will receive a certificate for the first incentive.  Please make sure all required forms are completed and turned in to the office and tuition is current.

Open House is Wednesday, March 19th from 4-6:30PM.  Please bring a friend to come check our outstanding school.

Many Blessings,
Mrs. Ruppel

Parent Teacher Conferences

• March 19 1-7PM
• March 20 8AM- 1PM
• Conferences are mandatory for students with Ds, Fs, attendance or behavior concerns
• Please check conference sheet for time

Calendar

March

• 19    Mass- Staff Leads
• 19    12:30 Dismissal
• 19    Parent Teacher Conferences 1-7:30 PM
• 20    Parent Teacher Conferences 8AM- 1PM
• 20    No school
• 21    No School
• 26    Mass- 7th grade leads
• 28    Friday 2PM Dismissal

Good afternoon families,

I hope all of you can join us tomorrow, Friday,  for our Black History Month Program at  9AM in the chapel.  Students are allowed to wear African Attire. If they do not wear African Attire, they should wear their uniform.  No jeans.

Peacemaker Day will be celebrated March 7th.

Our first Enrollment  Incentive Day is coming up. Please make sure your students are fully registered for the upcoming school year by March 15th.

RETURNING STUDENTS REGISTRATION

Enrollment is open for returning students.  Please go to FACTS and enroll your child(ren) for 2025-2026.  The fee is $70.00 per student

Students enrolled between January 30th – March 15th and receive a Pizza Lunch and Free Dress Day.

Students enrolled between March 16th – April 15th and receive a Movie Day with Snacks

Students enrolled between April 16th – May 15th and receive an Extra Recess

If 85% of students are registered by May 15th, we will have an all-school Kickball VS Teachers Match

*Student MUST be current on Tuition and Medical/Health Forms to receive the prize*

If your child enrolls by March 15th, they will be eligible to receive all the prizes listed.

Absence

With all the viruses going around, please make sure to keep students home if they are experiencing sick symptoms. They are not allowed to come to school until they are fever and vomiting free for 24 hours.  Please make sure to always call the office when they are sick.  Thank you.

Many Blessings,
Mrs. Ruppel

FROM POPE FRANCIS: (For whom we pray for diligently during his time of illness)

“Artists and cultural figures must be “custodians of the beatitudes,” embracing their vocation to create beauty, reveal truth and inspire hope in a troubled world, Pope Francis wrote to people participating in the Jubilee for Artists and the World of Culture.” 

 We are artists!  What can we  do at STBCS to create beauty, reveal truth,and inspire hope?

“Art is not a luxury, but a necessity of the spirit. It is not an escape, but a responsibility, an invitation to action, a call, a cry,” said the homily Pope Francis prepared for the Jubilee Mass Feb. 16 in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Calendar

February

• 28    Friday 2PM Dismissal
• 28    Black History Month Program 9AM

March

• 5      Mass- First Grade Leads
• 7      Friday 2PM Dismissal
• 7      Peacemaker Day
• 12    Mass- 8th grade leads
• 14    Friday 2PM Dismissal
• 19    Mass- Staff Leads
• 19    12:30 Dismissal
• 19    Parent Teacher Conferences 1-7:30 PM
• 20    Parent Teacher Conferences 8AM- 1PM  – No school
• 21    No School
• 26    Mass- 7th grade leads
• 28    Friday 2PM Dismissal

Good afternoon families, 
Happy Catholic Schools Week.  

Feb. 2: We celebrate the Presentation of Jesus.  We see that Jesus comes to bring light, hope,and salvation to the world. This feast invites us to embrace the light of Jesus and to trust in His saving plans for us and the world.

Join us  in worship  with our special group of violinists Feb. 2 at St. Augustine of Hippo, 9:30 am.

We are hoping you will all be able to bring a new family to the open house today from 1-5PM.  Bring a new family to the open house and we will have a drawing for  two gift cards. There will be one for current families and one for new families that enroll.

Please join us on Friday to celebrate our Parents/ Guardians. Breakfast and registration will be from 8-9:30 on Friday. The breakfast will be  in the library of the school.  Spelling Bee will be  in the foyer of the school following breakfast. COME, JOIN US!

The Office of Risk Management, Diocese of Belleville, completed the annual inspection today.  We truly have a safe physical environment.  All categories were listed with Positive Finding. Quote from the report,“The school is secure with proper safety protocol.” 

Please continue to bring in baby items.  Items are listed below.

• Infant needs
• Bottles
• bibs/burp clothspacifiers
• Baby Wash
• Baby Lotion
• Newborn diaper
• Toddler needs
• 2T-5T clean gently used clothing
• socks
• new underwear

RETURNING STUDENTS REGISTRATION

Enrollment is open for returning students.  Please go to FACTS and enroll your child(ren) for 2025-2026.  The fee is $70.00 per student

Students enrolled between January 30th – March 15th and receive a Pizza Lunch and Free Dress Day.

Students enrolled between March 16th – April 15th and receive a Movie Day with Snacks

Students enrolled between April 16th – May 15th and receive an Extra Recess

If 85% of students are registered by May 15th, we will have an all-school Kickball VS Teachers Match

*Student MUST be current on Tuition and Medical/Health Forms to receive the prize*

If your child enrolls by March 15th, they will be eligible to receive all the prizes listed.

Parent Survey

I would like to thank everyone who took the time to fill out the parent survey.  We are gathering data at this time for further study. Thank you again for your feedback.

Absences

Please make sure to call the school office if your child will not be at school every morning they will be absent.  Please also make sure your child is on time. We like all of the students to do be here before 8AM. Thank you so much.

Calendar

January

• 26- 2/2 Catholic Schools Week
• 29     Mass- 6th grade leads
• 31     Friday 2PM Dismissal

February

• 2     9:30  Mass: Special group Violin plays at St Augustine of  Hippo, East St. Louis
• 5      Mass- 5th grade leads
• 7      Friday 2PM Dismissal
• 12    Mass- 4th grade leads
• 14    Friday 12:30 PM Dismissal Teacher Inservice
• 17    Presidents’ Day – No School
• 19    Mass- 3rd grade leads
• 21    Friday 2PM Dismissal
• 26    Mass- 2nd grade leads
• 28    Friday 2PM Dismissal
• 28    Black History Month Program 9AM

Many Blessings,
Mrs. Ruppel

December 12th, 2024
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

PRINCIPAL’S NOTE

Good afternoon families,

We are preparing for our Advent Prayer Service on Wednesday, December 18th. All of our students participate in this prayer service. Please join us. All Students will need to be here by 5:15 PM on Wednesday, December 18th. Special Group Violin will need to be here by 5PM. There will be no extended day and no Access Academy.

Please call the office if your child(ren) are in need of a coat or jacket. We have free brand new coats available.

Please encourage your child(ren) to work diligently on their studies during the next week. Friday December 20th is the end of the 2nd Quarter. Report cards will be sent home Thursday, January 9th in the family folder.

Illnesses
Unfortunately, we have had a lot of students sick during this cold and flu season. Please make sure to keep your child home for 24 hours if they have a fever or if they throw up. This is important to help not spread any illnesses.

Absences
Please make sure to call the school office if your child will not be at school every morning they will be absent. Thank you so much.

Summer School
Access Academy will not be offering summer school this year. Summer school will be provided for families in current grades K-7th grade if there is enough interest. Summer
School is a great and available tool to provide enrichment and extra study skills for your child. More information to come.

Althoff Catholic High School
Shadow visit dates are now available for 8th graders. Information & Sign up can be found at: https://www.althoffcatholic.org/admissions/visit.cfm. More future shadow dates are Thank you so much for supporting Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School.

The Third Week of Advent is known as the week of JOY. ..This week the candle is Pink, for rejoicing. The Third Week of Advent celebrates the joy of Christs’s coming to earth. Rejoice!

Share your happiness with others.

Many Blessings,
Mrs. Ruppel

Calendar – December

• 13 Friday 2PM Dismissal
• 17 9:30 AM Advent Prayer Service Rehearsal
• 18 Advent Prayer Service 6PM All students participate
• 18 Mass- Staff leads
• 18 No Extended Day and No Access Academy
• 20 Friday 12:30 Dismissal No Extended Day and No Access Academy
• Dec. 23- Jan. 3rd Christmas Break
• School resumes January 6th, 2025.

“I think the difference between me and some people is that I’m content to do my little bit. Sometimes people think they have to do big things in order to make change. But if each one would light a candle we’d have a tremendous light.” Sister Thea Bowman

PRINCIPAL’S NOTE

Good afternoon families,
I hope you all have a very Happy Halloween.
Tomorrow, November 1, All Saints Day, we will have Mass at 8:30AM. Seventh grade will lead the Mass.

Advent Prayer Service Change of Day
Advent Prayer Service will be December 18th at 6PM. All students participate in the Advent Prayer Service so attendance is mandatory.

Althoff Catholic High School
Shadow visit dates are now available for 8th graders. Information & Sign up can be found at: https://www.althoffcatholic.org/admissions/visit.cfm. More future shadow dates are added weekly.

FRESHMAN PLACEMENT TEST

We know that choosing the right high school is a big step and we are here to help answer any questions you have! We welcome all 8th graders considering Althoff Catholic to apply for
admission and take the placement test. If you are not ready to apply, you can take the test before applying. Just pay a $25 testing fee.

TESTING DATES FOR 2025-2026 FRESHMEN:

December 8, 1 p.m. – This is the only placement test that will be considered for merit scholarship selection.

Thank you so much for supporting Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School.

Have a wonderful weekend!
Mrs. Ruppel

“Nothing is so strong as gentleness; nothing is so gentle as real strength.”
Never miss an opportunity to show goodness.

Calendar

November

• 1 All Saints Day Mass – 7th grade leads
• 1 Friday 2PM Dismissal
• 6 Mass- 6th grade leads
• 8 Friday 2PM Dismissal
• 11 Veterans Day (No School)
• 13 Mass- 5th grade leads
• 15 Friday 2PM Dismissal
• 20 Mass 4th Grade leads
• 22 Friday 2 PM Dismissal
• 26 Mass – Staff leads
• 27-29 Thanksgiving Break (No School)