Pacelli Post

April 29, 2026

Dear Parents,

Baby Chicks

Each year, the 3rd grade students incubate eggs and observe chicks hatching. Any eggs that do not hatch are then passed on to the 6th grade for further investigation. This activity aligns with their study of body systems, allowing students to examine the contents of the eggs, identify developing structures or organs, and form hypotheses about why the embryos did not survive to hatch.

Reading Camp-Out

Students voted for their reward day and chose a reading campout! They made tents out of desks and chairs, used flashlights to read books of their choice, and enjoyed camping-themed snacks brought in by parents, including popcorn, s’more pops, and s’more trail mix.

Students also built campfires and s’more magnets as part of their procedural writing unit. It was a fun and creative way to celebrate while connecting reading, writing, and hands-on learning!

Steve Kucia’s Retirement

I would like to share that Mr. Kucia will be retiring at the end of this school year after an incredible 45 years of dedicated service. We are so grateful for the lasting impact he has made on our school community.

Thank you for helping us recognize and celebrate Mr. Kucia’s remarkable career.

May 5th

Please note that school will be closed on Tuesday, May 5, as our building will be used as a polling site for local elections.

Because we prioritize the safety and security of our students, we are unable to have school in session while the building is open to the public. Thank you for your understanding as we take this precaution to ensure a safe environment for all.

Sacraments of Initiation

Our Parish Family has wrapped up First Communion celebrations for this year. Congratulations to all children who received First Holy Communion. Each Mass was such a special celebration of initiation and full of excitement for our young Catholics. We look forward to our students joining us in receiving Communion at our all-school Mass this Friday!

Lunch & Recess Volunteers

If you have signed up to assist in the lunchroom or at recess, please be sure to fulfill your commitment. These volunteer roles are essential in providing our teachers with a much-needed break during lunchtime. If you are unable to attend, please arrange for a replacement in advance.

Mass

Because we are a Catholic school, students are expected to attend Mass each week. If a student arrives at school after Mass has ended, the tardy will be considered unexcused. We must report unexcused absences and tardies to the state. If there are excessive unexcused absences and tardies, the state may not renew your Ed Choice Scholarship.

Dress Code

Students are now permitted to wear shorts for the remainder of the school year. Girls may also wear their skirts without leggings, provided the skirt length meets handbook guidelines. Please refer to the handbook for specific dress code expectations or with any questions.

Best regards,

Jen Martin

Parents,

As we wrap up another school year, we invite you to complete our End-of-Year Parent Survey. Your feedback is incredibly important and helps us celebrate what is working well while identifying opportunities to grow and improve.

Link to survey: End of Year Survey

Junefest is our parish and school’s largest fundraiser, helping fund the spaces, resources, and improvements that keep our community running strong all year. Sponsorships play a big role in making it happen. We’re in the final stretch, and sponsorships close May 1. If you’ve been thinking about it, now’s the time to jump in: https://olctk.regfox.com/junefest-sponsorship-2026

Thank you again for all of your help!

Junefest is introducing a new “Booth Captain” role where volunteers commit to running a single game booth for the entire weekend, fulfilling their full volunteer obligation without any additional shifts required. Captains can bring family and friends to help staff their booth, and the role comes with perks worth over $80, including beer tickets, 20 game tickets, and 2 inflatable obstacle course wristbands. Spots are limited. Sign up today!

Booth Captain Signup

Thank you to Becca Longberry, Beth Knollman and Jessica Crane for putting on a fantastic play for our community! It had rave reviews! Special shout out to Josie Hines, our 8th grader in the play. If you'd like to get involved in the play next year, email is best! We'd love to hear from you.

finearts@cardinalpacelli.org

LINK TO PHOTO GALLERY

Password: CPS

Planning for the big day is underway! Here is some important info about your child's grade and what to wear.

SIGN UP TO HELP HERE

Questions? Please reach out to PTO Chairs Holly Bayer & Teddy Hobson!

A big thank you to Beech Acres Parenting Center and Character Effect for hosting their first student workshop for our 5th graders last Friday.

Students had the opportunity to explore core values, reflect on what makes them unique, and learn how to lean into their individual strengths. Through this on-site experience, they engaged in meaningful discussions and activities focused on building strong relationships.

The workshop also provided valuable tools for resolving conflicts in healthy ways and managing emotions more effectively. Our 5th graders were fortunate to participate in such an impactful program.

We’re excited to continue bringing more opportunities like this to our school community in the coming year!

The stage is set, the lights are ready, and now we just need YOU. Registration is officially open for this year’s Pacelli’s Got Talent Show on May 13th.

Whether you are a master of the hula hoop, a piano prodigy, a joke-teller, or a dancer, we want to see what makes you unique. This isn't just a show—it’s a celebration of our amazing students!

How to Join the Show:

• Who: Open to all students, K–8!

• What: Solo acts, duos, or group performances (each student can participate in only 1 act).

• When: The big show will take place on May 13, 1-2 pm

• Rehearsal: May 11, 2:30-4 pm

• Registration: Talent Show Sign Up

Join the PTO!!

We are still needing chairs for some of our main events this coming school year. Catholic Schools Week in need of Chairs. If interested please reach out to Meggie Brennan or Ali Teepe at ptoonline@cardinalpacelli.org

Soccer + Girls Volleyball Sign-Ups - Register by May 17

Girls Soccer (Grades 1-8): Coordinated by Joe Bartish (joe.bartish@gmail.com)

Boys Soccer (Grades 1-8): Coordinated by Mikel Quast (mikel.jenna@gmail.com)

Girls Volleyball (Grades 3-8): Open - we need a volunteer to take this over! Please contact Craig Murphy for more information (ccmurphy@infomgmtsol.com)

Golf + Boys Tennis Sign-Ups - Register by May 17

Co-ed Golf (Grades 6-8) : Coordinated by Chris & Frannie DiBattista

Girls Tennis (Grades 6-8): Coordinated by Tara Veith (please contact her for more information/to get involved!)

Cougars Football + Cheer - Register by May 16

Deadline to register for Cougars is May16!

Important Dates:

March 12th - Registration Open!

April 26th - Cougar Combine (11:00am-1:00pm)

May 16th Registration Closes

July 13th – Conditioning Starts (4 Total—2 week of July 13th, 2 week of July 20th)

July 27th – First Day of Practice

August 29th–30th – Opening Weekend

October 24th–25th – Playoffs Begin

November 7th–8th – Championship Weekend

The yearbook needs your end of the year pictures! Please send group pictures from events from August 2025 to present. This includes Olympic Day, graduation events, sports, concerts, school functions that you attended, classroom parties, and any other group photos that you would like to share.

You can email them to: cpspictures@cardinalpacelli.org - please include a brief description and grade level in the subject line.

• April 28-30 - iReady Testing
• May 1 - May Crowning
• May 5 - Election Day - No School
• May 7 - Wax Museum
• May 8 -1st Grade Mother's Day Brunch
• May 12 - Spirit Wear Day
• May 13 - Talent Show
• May 15 - 8th Grade Square Dance
• May 15 - Volunteer Mass
• May 19 - Olympic Day
• May 19 - Last Day for 8th Graders
• May 20 - PreK Graduation
• May 20 - 8th Grade Graduation
• May 21 - Kindergarten Graduation
• May 22 - Last Day of School - Dismissal 11:00

Kaldi's Handbook

• Principal Email: martin_j@cardinalpacelli.org
• Website: cardinalpacelli.org
• Location: 927 Ellison Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45226
• Phone: 513-321-1048

Cardinal Pacelli, parish school of Our Lord Christ the King, is driven by Christian values, committed to academic excellence, strengthened by a nurturing community and dedicated to educating both the heart and mind, while serving the Lord.