SaberSpeak

Information to be considered for inclusion in the newsletter must be emailed to dsinopoli@st-hilary.org by 3:00 p.m. on Friday for the following week. Information must be relevant to the St. Hilary School or St. Hilary Parish community, and cannot promote a personal interest or a school other than our own. The school reserves the right to determine what content will be included.

Click here for the School Faculty & Staff Directory

Click here for information about our drop-off and pick-up procedures (note exception for Kindergarteners as shown on opening schedule)

Click here for the 2026-2027 School Calendar, revised August 2026

Click here for the 2026-2027 Dress Code

Click here for the 2026-2027 School Handbook

Click here for the Parents as Partners Code of Conduct

This week's main events are detailed below.

There will be no school on Monday, September 7 in observance of Labor Day.

There will be a meeting for all Room Parents on September 8 at 8:30 a.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room. Room Parents for each classroom have been notified.

OCTOBER HOT LUNCH ORDERING ENDS SEPTEMBER 10 - MILK ORDERING AVAILABLE

Hot Lunch ordering for October ends September 10. Milk ordering for the first semester will be offered again in this round of ordering for those who missed it. If you don't want to wait and would like your child to receive milk at lunchtime beginning this week, please email Hot Lunch Coordinator Becky Vieltorf at bvieltorf@st-hilary.org. All orders must be placed and paid for online by the deadline. All lunch orders are placed on Digital Academy. Simply login, locate the Cafeteria Calendar on the right, and click the Order button to begin. Click here for more information about our Hot Lunch program. Please contact Hot Lunch Coordinator Becky Vieltorf at bvieltorf@st-hilary.org with questions.

***PARENTS OF SEVENTH GRADERS, PLEASE NOTE GRADE 7 WILL BE AT THE DAMASCUS RETREAT CENTER OCTOBER 14, 15 AND 16. PLEASE DO NOT ORDER LUNCHES FOR SEVENTH GRADERS ON THESE DAYS.***

Please join us for our Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 10 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for grades K-5. We will begin with a mandatory introductory session in Horning Hall and parents will be dismissed from there to classrooms.

• These evenings are intended as informational events for parents only.
• For grades K-5, there will be three 15-minute sessions in each classroom to accommodate parents with multiple children going to more than one classroom.
• Changes from one session to the next will be announced over the PA system.
• During these evenings, parents will be asked to complete forms that will be required for student Internet use.

First responder family members of our students are invited to attend the school Mass on September 11 and receive a special blessing at the end of Mass. Mass begins at 9:30 am. Those who are unable to attend the entire Mass but would like to come for the blessing should arrive at the West Market entrance by 10:10 am. Either way, please complete the form below to RSVP so we can plan appropriately.

If you did not order a 2025-2026 yearbook but wish you had, a limited number of hard cover ($35) and soft cover ($30) books are available for purchase through September 11 or until sold out. Cash or checks payable to St. Hilary Parents’ Association will be accepted. We cannot accept credit cards. We cannot hold books without payment.

An HSPT prep course is being offered for St. Hilary School 8th graders on September 11 and 18 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm and September 18 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm, all in the Science Lab. Please click the flyer below for details and to register.

Girl Scout Religious Medal Training

What: Are you a Girl Scout Leader interested in facilitating a Catholic Religious Medal Program for your troop? If you or a parent in your troop has an interest please register for the upcoming training!

Where: Training will be held on Saturday, September 19th at St. Ambrose Church Lehner Center. Leaders/Advisors are able to pick which program they want to be trained for and do not need to attend the other sessions. Muffins and drinks will be provided.

Times: 9:00-10:30 God is Love (Grades K-1) and Family of God (Grades 2-3)

10:30-12:00 I Live My Faith (Grades 4-6)

12:00-2:30 Mary the First Disciple (Grades 7-12) & Spirit Alive (Grades 9-12)

To Register: Please contact and send questions to Stephanie Reese at reesesteph@yahoo.com or text (330) 858-2796. Please register by Sept.18th and let us know which program you are interested in.

Fall CYO sports photos are scheduled to be taken by Lifetouch on September 23 and 24. Please see the attachments for schedules and details. Teams wishing to have their photos included in the school yearbook must participate in these photos. This decision should be made by coaches conferring with team parents, as it needs to be a team decision and these are the only dates that will be offered for team yearbook photos. Teams choosing not to participate in these photo dates will not be pictured in the yearbook. Teams who would like to have outside photos taken for families to purchase may do so separately, but these photos will not be included in the yearbook. Thank you for understanding that there are many details and a great deal of time and effort that go into collecting photos and creating the yearbook each year and that we cannot permit outside team photos due to the many aspects taking place behind the scenes.

Is the Angel Scholarship still a mystery to you? Does it seem too good to be true to earn an Ohio income tax credit while making St. Hilary School tuition more affordable? Join us for Lunch & Learn to find out more! See details below!

We will hold a school Rosary on October 6 at 1:45 pm, planned by Grade 4. Please join us if you are able.

All parents of children ages 2-4 are invited to join us October 13 at 6:30 pm in the Spiritual Center to learn tips for helping children grow into kindergarten at St. Hilary School. Space is limited, and RSVP is required. Click here to sign up.

Parents of prospective 2027-2028 kindergarteners, watch for Kindergarten Kaleidoscope information this fall!

Questions? Please contact Debbie Sinopoli, Director of Marketing & Admissions, at dsinopoli@st-hilary.org.

Girls ages 9-13 and their parent / caregiver are invited to a Cycle Prep workshop on October 25 or January 14. Please see the flyer below for details.

The Diocese of Cleveland's Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd Institute is proudly sponsoring the fourth annual Faith AND Science workshop on artificial intelligence. The event is November 14th at St Sebastian’s Zwisler Hall from 11 AM – 3:30 PM. Registration includes: presentations by prominent experts in both scientific and ethical fields, lunch, and discussion tables. Mass will be celebrated at St Sebastian’s at 4:30 PM, for those wishing to join. This event is open to all who are interested in delving deeper into this evolving technology and who wish to participate in healthy discussions about it. Please find speaker profiles & other information on the website! *RSVPs required by Nov 7th: https://mmgsi.org/events/churchgpt-christian-faith-in-the-age-of-ai/

• THE ANGEL SCHOLARSHIP IS THE KEY TO FILLING GAPS AFTER EDCHOICE AWARDS AND KEEPING TUITION AFFORDABLE!

• IT'S FAST, EASY AND DOESN'T COST A PENNY FROM YOUR POCKET!

• TELL YOUR OHIO FAMILY & FRIENDS!

• CONTRIBUTE BY APRIL 15, 2027 AND DESIGNATE YOUR CONTRIBUTION FOR TAX YEAR 2026 OR 2027!

• ALL FUNDS CONTRIBUTED BY APRIL 15, 2027 WILL BE AVAILABLE TO BE AWARDED FOR THE 2027-2028 SCHOOL YEAR!

• THE TUITION YOU REDUCE COULD BE YOUR OWN!

Make a difference for our school and parish community without paying an extra penny from your own pocket! Still not familiar with how the Angel Scholarship works? In the most straightforward terms, you just redirect Ohio income tax dollars you already owe for the benefit of our students and receive a tax credit for doing so! You can even set up your tax dollars to be redirected in a lump sum or in monthly installments! It's that simple! Click here to learn how you can turn your taxes into tuition! Just make sure you designate your contribution to benefit the students of St. Hilary School! Angel Scholarship funds help to keep tuition affordable for families while reducing the amount of tuition assistance coming from St. Hilary coffers, so those monies can be directed to other needs. Thank you for your support!

GOOGLE CALENDAR:

Click here for the school Google calendar

• September 7: No School - Labor Day
• September 8-30: Tentative MAP Testing Window
• September 8: Grade 5 Saber Lunch 11:30-12:45 pm (order hot lunch or bring packed lunch)
• September 10: October Hot Lunch ordering ends
• September 10: Curriculum Night - Grades K-5 - 6:30-8:30 pm
• September 11: School Mass 9:30 am
• September 13: Grade 8 Youth Ministry 6:30-8:30 pm
• September 14: Stage Stars Club 3:10-4:10 pm
• September 14: PSR First Class 6:15-7:30 pm
• September 16-18: Grade 6 Damascus Retreat
• September 16: Credit Union Student Banking
• September 18: Kindergarten to Ramseyer Farms
• September 18: School Mass 9:30 am (Catechetical Blessing)
• September 18: Grade 8 HSPT Class 3:00-5:00 pm
• September 21: Stage Stars Club 3:10-4:10 pm
• September 21: Parent Enrichment Event 6:15-7:30 pm
• September 22: Kindergarten Parents' Night Out 7:00-8:00 pm
• September 23-24: Fall Sports Photos (evening)
• September 24: Pencraft Club 3:10-4:00 pm
• September 25: First Quarter Interim Reports
• September 25: School Mass 9:30 am
• September 25-27: Grade 8 Damascus Retreat
• September 27-28: Angel Scholarship Kick-off Weekend
• September 27: Grade 8 Youth Ministry 6:30-8:30 pm
• September 28: No School Grade 8 Only
• September 28: Stage Stars Club 3:10-4:10 pm
• September 30: Grade 2 to Cleveland Museum of Natural History
• September 30: Angel Scholarship Lunch & Learn Zoom 12:00 pm

Our next school Mass will be Friday, September 11 at 9:30 am planned by Grade 5. Upcoming Masses are Friday September 18 at 9:30 am planned by Grade 7 (Catechetical Blessing), Friday, September 25 at 9:30 am planned by Grade 2, Friday, October 2 at 9:30 am planned by Grade 6,

October 16 at 9:30 am planned by Grade 5, October 23 at 9:30 am planned by Grade 8 (Student Council Induction), and Friday, October 30 at 9:30 am planned by Grade3. The 2026-2027 Liturgy Schedule can be found here. Masses are also posted on the school Google calendar.

A SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT SCHOOL MASSES AND SEATING FOR GUESTS:

Please see the Mass Seating Chart below for reference. This seating arrangement is subject to adjustment to meet the needs of our students.

As a Catholic school, we truly love that so many of you have the desire to attend school Masses with your children. Sharing our faith with our families is a priceless gift, and a full church is an amazing blessing. We simply ask that you be considerate of others, especially those who have children participating in Mass, and particularly if a staff member asks you to accommodate students, in order to ensure that our students and the staff members supervising them have seats. This is even more important for our larger school Masses, such as Holy Days, days scholarships are awarded, Student Council Induction, May Crowning, the Eighth Grade Farewell Mass, and similar Masses.

To ensure that there is room for students and staff, parents are asked to sit in the back rows of the church. Parents may pull children from class sections to sit in the back with them, and parents may sit with students with their class sections, but please do not simply take seats in the main section of the church before classes arrive.

Our new pews are beautiful and our growing enrollment is wonderful, but both have combined to create a shortage of seating in the church during school Masses. Additionally, it is neither desirable nor logistically practical to have two school Masses for different grade levels each week to reduce overcrowding. For these reasons, we are merely making a request for your consideration. We are not issuing a directive or establishing a new policy. All are, and will continue to be, welcome at Mass. We ask only that, whenever possible, you put others first.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

The St. Hilary Parents' Prayer Warriors ministry invites you to pray for the intentions of our students. All students will have the ability to privately record any prayer intentions that they may have and place them in the class prayer box. Intentions will be collected, and on Friday mornings at 8:30 am, the Prayer Warriors will gather in the Sacred Heart Library (or the back of the church) to pray over these intentions. All parents are invited to join us to pray. Questions? Please contact Sarah McDonnell at smcdonnell16@yahoo.com.

Each homeroom classroom has a traveling family prayer box that will be making its way to homes throughout the school year. Included in the box is a statue (Our Lady of Miracles, Holy Family, Sacred Heart of Jesus, or St. Joseph), four Rosaries, a guide to praying the Rosary, and an overview guide with additional information and prayers. Click below for a portion of the overview guide. Students will be bringing these boxes home to share with their families for one week, after which the boxes need to be returned to the homeroom teacher for the next family to enjoy. There is no need to sign up - teachers will simply send the boxes home with a different student each week. It is suggested that the statue be placed in a prominent area of the home, that maybe a small prayer corner be set up for the week, and that time be set aside during the week to pray the Rosary as a family. We hope you enjoy having the traveling prayer box in your home as a support of your family's Domestic Church through time spent together in prayer.

Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) is a special opportunity for children ages 3 through grade 3 to engage with God’s Word in a way that speaks directly to their hearts and minds!

Offered during the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass throughout the school year and part of the summer, CLOW gives children the chance to hear the same readings and Gospel as adults—but in an age-appropriate and interactive format. Kids are divided into two groups: Preschool (ages 3–5) and Kindergarten through Grade 3, ensuring the message fits their stage of learning and faith development.

Children are invited to leave just before the First Reading and return during the Offertory, allowing them to experience the Liturgy of the Word at their level while still participating in the full celebration of the Mass, including the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

No registration is needed—just come when you're able! Parents are always welcome to join their child to see what CLOW is all about or help them feel comfortable on their first few visits.

If you have questions, please reach out to:
Meghan Tuck, CLOW Coordinator
330-867-1055 ext. 211
sthilaryparishclow@gmail.com

Are you looking for a joy-filled way to grow in faith with your children and support our parish? We’d love for you to join our Children’s Liturgy of the Word volunteer team!

Whether as a leader or assistant, your presence helps bring the Word of God to life for our youngest parishioners. Don’t worry—materials and support are provided, and the time commitment is minimal.

Parents, grandparents, and guardians are especially encouraged to volunteer—you are your child’s first teacher in faith, and this is a great way to model love for Scripture and service!

Help us make faith come alive for our youngest members—and have fun while doing it!

If you’re interested or have questions, please reach out to:
Meghan Tuck, CLOW Coordinator
330-867-1055 ext. 211
sthilaryparishclow@gmail.com

All parents are invited to attend a quarterly Parent Enrichment Program at St. Hilary Spiritual Center Meeting Rooms from 6:15-7:30 PM. This is a program for all parents, presented by parents of our parish. We hope you will feel enriched and take the chance to grow your faith. See the attached flyer below for more details. Light snacks and beverages will be served at all Parent Enrichment Program events. No childcare is provided for these events.

Hello Families,

The Liturgical Living at Home - August email from the Faith Formation Office is available now!

We hope you will find a fun new tradition or way to bring the liturgical year into your home this month. As always, if you have questions please reach out to our Faith Formation Office.

If you know someone who would like to receive this email, forward it on, and if they’d like to get on the monthly email list they can email Katie McCarthy, kmccarthy@sthilarychurch.org to add them to the list.

Katie McCarthy

Faith Formation Associate

kmccarthy@sthilarychurch.org

(330) 867-1055 ext. 211

Office Hours:

Monday 12:00-7:30 pm

Wednesday 8:45-3:00 pm

Thursday 8:45-3:00 pm

Make faith a priority and enhance your children's faith formation by using FORMED. Click below for complete instructions on how you can access this valuable tool for your family.

ACME RECEIPTS

If you shop at Acme, we want your receipts!

The generous Acme Community Cash Back Program gives 5% of qualified purchases as cash back to our school and it's easy to participate. Please send in eligible receipts from August 1, 2026 through February 15, 2027 (any others will not qualify) in an envelope marked Acme receipts; c/o Breck Delaney Room 105 OR if you prefer, take a picture of your receipts (be sure to include the bottom portion of the receipt that includes the cash back amount) and email to christina.a.delaney@gmail.com. Click here for a 1 minute video on how to help. Collection will close February 16, 2027. Thank you for participating in this fundraising effort!

Looking for a fun way to be involved at school, see your child during the school day, get some fresh air, and make some extra money? Are you a grandparent with a few extra hours to spare for a small, fun and meaningful part time job? Consider being a playground monitor!

Help is needed for the 2026-2027 school year in order to ensure that our students are properly supervised during recess. Help is needed every day, and especially on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. Monitors work just a couple of hours each day, and can be flexible to work as many days or times in a week or month as desired, so this is the perfect part-time job for those with limited time! If you are interested in learning more, please contact Playground Supervisor Teri Brennan as soon as possible at 330-592-4696.

We are always in need of individuals to serve as substitute teachers. A summary of requirements would include the following: a bachelor's degree in any subject, Virtus training, a background check including fingerprinting, and a substitute teaching certificate. If you meet (or are able to complete) these requirements and are interested in being added to our pool of substitute teachers, please email a current resume to Miss Malick at smalick@st-hilary.org as soon as possible.

Classroom volunteer sign-ups will be available via individual classrooms. Watch for more information.

Part of what makes our school so great is the amazing efforts of our parent helpers. Click here to volunteer! Please contact Parents' Association Secretary Stephanie Walton at sntwalton@gmail.com with questions.

Each school year, a variety of support opportunities are presented throughout the year. While most fundraisers benefit our school, some are service projects supporting the larger community. We realize that not every family will be able to participate in every fundraiser. Please use the information below to select those your family will support to the extent you are able. We appreciate your support of St. Hilary School in whatever way you are able to contribute!

Will you be sending birthday treat doughnuts to school this year? Need a special treat for a class party or family event? Through April 1, 2027, Krispy Kreme is partnering with our school to give 50% of your order back to St. Hilary when you purchase doughnuts through their Digital Dozens fundraising sales page! See below for details.

Our Box Tops program is fully online! No more cutting out box tops from packages! Everything is now done through the Box Tops app. Just follow the steps below, select St. Hilary School, and start earning money for our school while you shop! Thank you for your support!

Blessings in a Backpack is a non profit organization that provides food for children on the weekends in the Akron Public Schools. Blessings volunteers pack bags of food for the kids to take home on the weekends so they have food to eat. Packing takes place once a week at Helen Arnold Community Learning Center, 450 Vernon Odom Blvd, Akron, OH. The time commitment is between 60-90 minutes per week. We are looking for more volunteers to help pack and provide plastic bags used for packing. Please join us as we look forward to a great 2025-2026 school year by helping those in need in the Akron Community! If you are interested, please contact Debbie Pianalto at dpianalto23@gmail.com.

To support those planning special events and projects, a guide has been created with step-by-step information on what to do, who to contact, etc. Please see below for this guide.

• To schedule an event anywhere on our campus, you must contact Joan Heegan in the Parish office. Joan handles all facility scheduling. She can be reached at jheegan@sthilarychurch.org, or 330-867-1055, ext. 200.
• After your event is scheduled, you must request a set-up for your event.
• New set-up forms have been printed and can be found under the staff mailboxes in the school office. Please destroy any old set-up forms you may have.
• THESE FORMS ARE THE ONLY WAY TO REQUEST A SET-UP. PLEASE DO NOT REQUEST A SET-UP VIA EMAIL, TEXT, A NOTE, OR A VERBAL CONVERSATION.
• YOUR SET-UP FORM MUST BE TURNED IN NO LESS THAN 48 HOURS BEFORE YOUR EVENT. OTHERWISE, YOUR EVENT MAY NOT BE SET UP.
• The forms are color-coded depending on the location / frequency of your event. PINK are for Spiritual Center single meeting, PURPLE are for Spiritual Center recurring meetings, and GREEN are for school and surrounding area. Please use the correct form and fill it out completely, accurately and legibly.
• Please fill out the proper form and EITHER (1) deposit it in the green box marked SET-UPS on the bookshelf across from the desks in the parish office OR (2) put it in the manila folder on the school office counter to be sent over to the green box. This folder goes to the Parish office daily.
• PLEASE DO NOT PUT FORMS IN ADAM'S, PEDRO'S OR JOAN'S MAILBOXES OR ANYWHERE ON JOAN'S DESK.
• In some cases, ONLY if your event is at the Spiritual Center, Joan will offer to complete the form for you when you schedule your event. Joan does NOT complete any set-up forms for events at the school.
• After Joan has checked to confirm that your event is in the system, she will stamp your set-up form and turn your form over to the Maintenance team for set-up.

Some have asked about “redirecting” EdChoice Scholarship dollars to the Investing In Our Future campaign to support our educators and other fundraising initiatives.

EdChoice Scholarship funds will be paid by the State of Ohio directly to the school, and must be used toward operating costs for the 2026-2027 school year. Support of our fundraising efforts is vital to ensure St. Hilary School continues to remain the school we all know and love. If you find yourself benefiting from the EdChoice Scholarship for one or more of your children but have the means to cover the amount of tuition underwritten by the EdChoice Scholarship, we ask that you give even greater consideration to supporting our fundraising efforts, especially the Investing In Our Future campaign and the Raise the Paddle appeal at Celebration.

Your support and generosity are greatly appreciated as we plan for the future vitality of our school!

Now, it’s even easier to donate to St. Hilary causes via Venmo! Just Venmo us at @StHilary-Parish (or scan the QR code) and be sure to note the purpose of your donation before you click “Pay”. Questions? Please contact Lisa Luby, Business Manager, at lluby@sthilarychurch.org or 330-867-1055, ext. 203.

Registration for CYO winter sports is now open. Please see the information below for details.

Grade 8 Youth Ministry will meet from 6:30 to 8:30 pm on September 13 and 27, October 4, 11 and 25, November 8 and 22, and December 6 and 13. There will also be a Priest vs. Seminarian Basketball Game on November 1 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, and a CLE 2:16 Teen Conference on January 9. See the flyer below for details and contact Joe Peach, Youth Minister, at jpeach@sthilarychurch.org with questions.

Registration for our Stage Stars Club is underway! The club will meet on Mondays, September 14, 21 and 28, October 5, 12, 19, and 26, and November 2 and 9 - from 3:10-4:10 pm. The club is open to grades K-6 and limited to the first 30 students to register. Please click the flyer below for complete details and registration information.

The Ohio Catholic Federal Credit Union will again offer student banking for our students this school year. A representative from the credit union will be in the Multi-Purpose Room on the following dates from 8:00 to 8:20 am to handle student banking transactions: September 16, October 14, November 18, December 16, January 20, February 17, March 17, April 21, and May 19.

Pencraft Club is a young authors club open to students in grades 5-8. Sign-ups for the club are open through this week. The club will meet in Room 202 from 3:10 to 4:00 pm on September 24, October 8 and 22, November 12 and 19, and December 10 and 17. Questions? Contact Miss Angle at mangle@st-hilary.org.

Registration for Chess Club for grades K-4 is now underway! The club will meet on Mondays, November 16, 23 and 30, December 7 and 14, January 11, 18 and 25, and February 1, from 3:10-4:10 pm. The club is open to grades K-4 and limited to the first 30 students to register. Please click the flyer below for complete details and registration information.

Registration for Chess Club for grades 5-8 is now underway! The club will meet on Mondays, February 8 and 22, and March 1, 8, 15, and 22, and April 5, 12 and 19, from 3:10-4:10 pm. The club is open to grades 5-8 and limited to the first 30 students to register. Please click the flyer below for complete details and registration information.

Are you ready for a high-energy STEM camp full of confidence-boosting adventures? We can’t wait to bring you Camp Invention, a weeklong summer adventure like no other! Campers in grades K-6 will collaborate with friends June 7-11, 2027, in exciting, hands-on activities and challenges that inspire curiosity and stretch imaginations. Check out the flyer below for more details!

Spots are limited, so we encourage you to take advantage of the biggest savings of the year now and gear up for an unforgettable camp filled with hands-on, confidence-building challenges.

Register at: Camp Invention 2027

We can’t wait to share an awesome summer with you and your creative camper.

Questions? Please contact Mrs. Maskow at vmaskow@st-hilary.org.

COME ONE, COME ALL!

Step right up to an extraordinary evening of entertainment, dining, exciting auctions and more as we come together to celebrate St. Hilary School on Saturday, May 15, 2027.

Please save the date for St. Hilary School's Annual Celebration at the John S. Knight Center on Saturday, May 15, 2027, once again co-chaired by Laura Crucs and Kathy Williams!

Presented by the St. Hilary Parents' Association, this is St. Hilary School's largest fundraising event, featuring a live and silent auction, dinner, and entertainment. All proceeds from the auction support school needs. Watch this space for updates as planning unfolds! Questions? Please email celebration@st-hilary.org.

A new school year is upon us, and that means it’s time to start thinking about our St. Hilary School educators! Our Investing In Our Future: A Campaign To Support Our Educators initiative continues!

The total in the fund is currently just over $1 Million but we need to keep the momentum going!

Through your generosity, we will continue to grow the fund that will help to keep the salaries of our St. Hilary teachers and educational staff competitive and allow us to retain and recruit top educators. If you are interested in supporting this initiative, please contact Special Campaigns Coordinator Brianne Alaburda at 330-770-8207 or balaburda@st-hilary.org. Now, it’s even easier to donate via Venmo! Just Venmo us at @StHilary-Parish and be sure to note “Teacher Salary Fund”. Questions? Please contact Lisa Luby, Business Manager, at lluby@sthilarychurch.org or 330-867-1055, ext. 203.

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This joint effort between St. Hilary School and the St. Hilary Parish Foundation is just one of many ways the Foundation supports the St. Hilary community. Donor support is vital to continue to make the Foundation a viable entity and enable it to fund Parish and School needs well into the future. To learn more or donate, please visit https://www.sthilaryfoundation.org/ or call Diane Sarkis, Executive Director, at 330-608-4787 or d.sarkis@sthilaryfoundation.org.

Thank you to those who have expressed interest in the newly-launched donor recognition tree

for the Investing In Our Future campaign!

To confirm past contribution amounts,

please contact St. Hilary Parish Foundation Executive Director Diane Sarkis at 330-608-4787.

Thank you!

Hot Lunch ordering for November begins October 1 and will be open through October 10. All orders must be placed and paid for online by the deadline. All lunch orders are placed on Digital Academy. Simply login, locate the Cafeteria Calendar on the right, and click the Order button to begin. Click here for more information about our Hot Lunch program. Please contact Hot Lunch Coordinator Becky Vieltorf at bvieltorf@st-hilary.org with questions.

***PARENTS OF EIGHTH GRADERS PARTICIPATING IN THE WASHINGTON, DC TRIP, PLEASE NOTE THESE GRADE 8 STUDENTS WILL BE IN WASHINGTON, DC ON NOVEMBER 5 AND SHOULD NOT ORDER LUNCH ON THIS DAY.***

Our 2026-2027 school calendar has been revised effective August 10 to include various updates since the calendar was published in March. Click here to view the calendar.

As a reminder, the dress code guidelines for all clothing, shoes and accessories are contained in the family handbook, and can be found here. These dress code guidelines will be enforced, and your cooperation in following them is appreciated. Should you have questions about school uniform items or shoes being in compliance with our dress code, please contact Mrs. Alexander, Assistant Principal, at dalexander@st-hilary.org.

For new uniform items, please contact Michelle Wolski at michelle@made2wearohio.com. We also have gently worn uniform items available for free through our Recycled Uniforms program. To request any plaid items (jumpers, skirts, skorts), polo shirts, blouses, and/or sweaters contact Jen Warmus at 216-308-0630 or jenwarmus@gmail.com. To request pants, shorts (navy and khaki), sweatshirts, gym uniforms (shirts and black shorts) contact Ronda Powers, 330-590-0128 or rondapowers916@gmail.com.

In addition to the items already listed in the Dress Code, please note that NONE OF THE FOLLOWING WILL BE PERMITTED AT ANY TIME:

• Spandex or other tight-fitting shorts (boys and girls)

• Shorts (boys and girls) or rompers that are shorter than fingertip length on the thigh

• Low-cut tops

• Open backs

• Uncovered shoulders (including cold shoulder style)

• Spandex, tight, “body-con” or similarly snug dresses

• Dresses that are shorter than the height of a soda pop can when the bottom of the can is placed at the knee
  
  

This is of particular importance for 8th grade girls as you may be purchasing apparel for year-end events next spring. Please note that girls dressed inappropriately (e.g, immodestly), especially for Mass or events taking place in the church, will be REQUIRED to change clothes prior to participating. This is not open to debate. Please do not let your choice to disregard the Dress Code ruin your child’s special day. Your cooperation is appreciated.

If you have questions about a particular apparel item or shoe, please email Mrs. Alexander at dalexander@st-hilary.org before purchasing! We are happy to review in advance to save your child the embarrassment of an unpleasant situation!

Please direct any Dress Code questions to Mrs. Alexander, Assistant Principal, at dalexander@st-hilary.org.

The Diocese of Cleveland Curriculum Guides are available here.

The 2026-2027 School Handbook is available here on the school website.

Please note:

ABSENCE POLICY AND REPORTING AN ABSENCE:
Parents may call the attendance line at (330) 867-8720 ext. 350 and leave a message 24 hours a day. Parents may also email attendance@st-hilary.org at any time to report an absence. DUE TO THE NEED TO MAINTAIN ACCURATE ATTENDANCE RECORDS, DO NOT TEXT, CALL OR EMAIL STAFF MEMBERS REGARDING AN ABSENCE OR REPORT AN ABSENCE IN ANY WAY OTHER THAN TO THE DESIGNATED PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL ADDRESS PROVIDED ABOVE. Please note that parents of students absent 20 or more days (116 hours / 6,960 minutes) per semester will be required to have a conference with administration.

24-HOUR SYMPTOM-FREE POLICY:

We will follow a 24-hour-symptom-free policy for students returning to school following an illness. This means that a full 24 hours must elapse from the last symptom, not 24 hours from when the symptoms began, before a student may return to school.

APPLICATION OF SCHOOL RULES OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS:

Families using the playground outside of school hours are expected to follow the same rules in effect during the school day. Children must be actively supervised by an adult who is present on the playground - not waiting in a car - at all times. We ask that you be respectful of our equipment and the rules we follow at school during the day. Running up the slide is not permitted, and older students are not permitted on the bridge. Your cooperation in following these rules will help us to maintain consistency in playground expectations. School rules also apply to the Latchkey program, as this program is an extension of the school day.

PERMITTED BEVERAGES AND BEVERAGE CONTAINERS:

Students are permitted to drink ONLY water, milk, and juice / juice drinks at school, unless another appropriate beverage is provided as part of a school or class activity. Students are not permitted to bring, have delivered to them, or consume coffee, energy drinks, alcoholic beverages, or other non-approved beverages, on school grounds. If your child is drinking coffee or another non-approved beverage on the way to school, the beverage cannot be finished at school or on the way into the building. Beverages brought to school are for students’ personal consumption only and are not to be shared with others under any circumstances. Containers used for beverages must have a closing cap or lid and must be spill proof. Containers with closed lids are permitted but containers with open straws that could spill are not.

MORNING ARRIVAL:

Our tardy bell will ring at 8:25 am. There will be only one bell in the morning, signaling the start of the homeroom period. Students arriving after 8:25 am will be marked tardy. Please do not drop students off before 8:00 am unless you are using our fee-based before-school care program. Otherwise, supervision is not available for your child until 8:00 am. We cannot allow students to wait unsupervised in any area. Students should report directly to their homeroom classrooms upon arrival (beginning at 8:00 am).

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT:

Minor Infraction Notifications

Please see the Handbook for the entire list of MIN infractions.

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT:
Suspension and Expulsion

Please see the Handbook for the entire list of Suspension and Expulsion infractions.

The Diocesan Artificial Intelligence Policy is below.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE POLICY

Intent:

Students may, in the administration’s and faculty’s discretion, learn how to use artificial intelligence (“AI”) text generators and other AI-based assistive resources (collectively, AI tools) to enhance, rather than damage, their developing abilities as writers and thinkers. The following requirements constitute our school’s AI use policy, in addition to all of the requirements in our Student Code of Conduct. Because not all situations can be foreseen, school administration reserves the right to determine other violations of this policy.

Students shall:

· Not use AI tools in connection with any assignments, quizzes, tests, or examinations unless explicitly permitted and instructed to do so, and in such case, students must follow the instructions for AI use

· Give credit to AI tools whenever used, even if only to generate ideas rather than usable text or illustrations

· Use AI tools wisely and intelligently, aiming to deepen understanding of subject matter and to support learning rather than as a replacement for student work

Instructors shall:

· Seek to understand how AI tools work, including their strengths and weaknesses, to optimize their value for student learning

· Employ AI detection tools where appropriate to evaluate the degree to which AI tools have likely been employed

· Impose an appropriate disciplinary consequence for inappropriate use of AI tools

Please note that the student Code of Conduct infractions and consequences apply whether the behavior occurs at school or away from school, as our students represent our school wherever they are.

ROLE OF PARENTS:
Parents as Partners Code of Conduct
Every parent is expected to abide by our Parents as Partners Code of Conduct and the consequences stated therein. This code has been established to foster the partnership between parents and the school, as well as among parents themselves, and is grounded in respectful actions and interactions that align with our school mission. Please note that behavior that undermines our mission will not be tolerated and violations of this code may cause a family to be removed from the school. Please read the code linked above in its entirety.

Mass emails containing school news will be sent on Monday mornings when school is in session. Information to be included in these emails must be emailed to dsinopoli@st-hilary.org by 3:00 p.m. on Friday for the following Monday. The first regular mass email update will be sent August 24. Information to be included in this email must be submitted by 3:00 p.m. on August 21.

Our daily schedule, including grade level lunch and recess periods, can be found here. Student class schedules for grades 5-8 will be available in Digital Academy shortly before the start of the school year.

Pick-up bins are located on the Moorfield Road side of the building to allow 24/7 access to pick-up an item. The bins are for picking up items only. If a forgotten item needs to be dropped off to a student in a time-sensitive manner, please ring the bell at the parking lot entrance door and the secretaries will assist you. You may drop off items between 7:30 am and 2:30 pm. If you need to drop off a lunch for a student, please ring the bell at the parking lot entrance door and the secretaries will buzz you in to drop off the lunch in the bin outside the kitchen door.

Due to health department regulations and security protocols, we need to clarify some procedures regarding our school kitchen.

• Only those preparing and serving food for lunch are permitted to be in the school kitchen during lunch prep time and lunch periods.

• Those needing to use the kitchen for other reasons must email bvieltorf@st-hilary.org AND copy smalick@st-hilary.org and enemr@st-hilary.org prior to doing so.

• A lunch drop-off bin is in place outside the kitchen door to drop off lunches. Simply let the office staff know you are dropping off a lunch in the bin and leaving, and it will not be necessary to sign in. THE CHILD'S NAME AND ROOM NUMBER MUST BE ON THE LUNCH PRIOR TO DROPPING IT OFF IN THE BIN. Please do not ask kitchen or office staff to assist with this. The bin will be checked at regular intervals to ensure that students receive dropped off lunches.

• Loitering after dropping off lunches is not permitted.

• Please do not ask for a lunch to be stored in the kitchen warmer.

• If you are bringing a birthday lunch to eat with your child, you must come at the appropriate lunch time, let the office staff know you are here to join your child for a birthday lunch, and sign in at the visitor kiosk. Office staff will direct you to either proceed to the lunch room or wait until the start of the lunch period. Parents are not permitted to go into the kitchen or elsewhere in the building before or after the lunch period.

• Frozen birthday treats may be dropped off at the school office and the office staff will take care of proper storage.

All visitors to the school must scan their driver's license at the kiosk outside the school office window upon arrival in order to enter the building. Please make sure you have your ID with you if you intend to visit the school. Thank you for your cooperation with this latest enhancement to our building security and safety!

In addition to ordering school pictures, ordering is also underway for our 2026-2027 school yearbook! This beautiful full-color book is available in a soft cover format for $30 or a hard cover format for $35. All ordering must be done directly through Lifetouch at ybpay.lifetouch.com. The order code is 3685727. The deadline to order is June 3, 2027. Please keep a record of your order - the school has no access to or record of orders. PLEASE NOTE! Yearbooks are printed over the summer so we can include events through the last day of school. 2026-2027 yearbooks ordered by June 3, 2027 will be available for pick-up at Back-to-School Night in August 2027.

• When school is closed for a scheduled closure or break, regularly scheduled sports practices may take place.
• When school is closed due to inclement weather or another unforeseen reason, regularly scheduled sports practices are also canceled. Optional open gym may be held later in the day if weather conditions improve, and coaches will communicate as necessary. OPTIONAL open gym may be offered at the DISCRETION of the coaches with parental DISCRETION for students to attend. The school administration does not make these decisions.

Are you a St. Hilary School alum? We want to hear from you! Please help us grow our alumni database by clicking here to complete a short form. Thank you!

PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD IS ILL, ABSENT OR NEEDS MEDICATION.

If your child will be absent, tardy or picked up early for any reason, please contact the school office. We have two options:

1. Call our school attendance line at 330-867-8720, ext. 350 and leave a message 24/7, or
2. Email attendance@st-hilary.org. Although not necessary, you may also notify your child's teacher and Latchkey as a courtesy.

• Whether calling or emailing, please state your child's name, grade, and the reason for the absence, tardy or early pick-up, including specific symptoms if due to an illness. Absences must be reported to the school office by 9:00 am on the day of the absence. We are required by law to follow up with families who do not do so.

• If your child has strep throat, lice, chicken pox, COVID, or another condition likely to affect other students in the class, please also notify our school nurse at 330-867-8720, ext. 225.

• If a student needs to be picked up for an appointment or is ill and being picked up to go home, please pull up to the Moorfield Road door, call the school office at 330-867-8720, and your child will be signed out with your permission and released to your car under staff supervision.

• Students who are ill may not return to school until they are symptom free for a full 24 hours without fever reducing medication. There is no perfect attendance award or other incentive to come to school when ill.

• Please contact teachers directly regarding requests for homework; however, please understand that requests may not be able to be filled until the next day if the teacher does not see your request until late in the day. Thank you for understanding that our teachers' first priority during the day is teaching.

• Please refer to the school handbook and our table detailing the procedure for handling excessive absences.

MEDICATION AT SCHOOL

Physical exam forms and immunization records are required only for Kindergarteners and new incoming students in grades 1-8. Returning students do not need to submit these items.

Sports physical forms cannot be used for school purposes. If a physical exam form is required (new students only), please have your child's regular pediatrician complete the physical exam form.

If your child will need medication, an Epi-pen, etc. stored or administered in the clinic THIS SCHOOL YEAR, please be sure to complete the necessary paperwork BEFORE the start of the school year (i.e., schedule physician visits over the summer) and EMAIL COMPLETED AND SIGNED FORMS to Mrs. Bauman, School Nurse, at jbauman@st-hilary.org. The clinic will also be staffed during Back-to-School Night on August 20 if you would like to drop off printed forms. These methods are preferred over uploading in Digital Academy. It is important that the clinic has these forms on file from the first day of school in order to legally store and administer medication. Please do not wait until school starts to complete these forms and have them signed by a physician.

FORMS CAN BE FOUND BELOW.
YOU NEED TO COMPLETE AND SUBMIT FORMS ONLY IF YOUR CHILD
HAS ONE OF THE SPECIFIED NEEDS.

NEW PAPERWORK FOR MEDICATION, WHETHER PRESCRIPTION OR OVER-THE-COUNTER, IS REQUIRED EVERY SCHOOL YEAR... SO EVEN IF YOU FILLED OUT FORMS FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR, WE MUST HAVE NEW PAPERWORK FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

Please direct questions about medical forms to Mrs. Bauman at jbauman@st-hilary.org.

PLEASE SHARE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WITH CAREGIVERS!

PLEASE NOTE! WE ARE A CELL PHONE-FREE CAMPUS DURING DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP. FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM USING YOUR PHONE DURING THIS TIME!

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

ARRIVAL

• Students not attending morning Latchkey should arrive no earlier than 8:00 a.m. Families using Latchkey pay for this service. Supervision for all other students is not available until 8:00 am.

• Our tardy bell rings and homeroom period begins at 8:25 a.m. Students arriving after 8:25 am will be marked tardy.

• Students will report directly to classrooms upon arrival.

• Please help your child prepare for the school day in a stress-free manner by ensuring that he or she arrives at school by 8:25 a.m. each day.
  

Traffic Safety Logistics for Morning Arrival:

On Both Sides:

• When pulling forward, please make sure you are looking forward and that the path in front of and around your vehicle is clear before moving the vehicle.
  

• Please pull up to the sign at the end of the drop-off area. This allows more cars to stop between the two signs. Three to four cars can fit in the drop-off zone. All cars that fit within the zone between the signs may unload at the same time to help keep the lines moving.

• Please make sure students are ready to exit the car when they arrive. Seatbelts need to be unfastened, backpacks need to be loaded and zipped, masks and winter gear need to be ready, and last minute discussions about the day need to be handled before the point where students need to exit so as not to hold up the line.

• Please do not put your car in park and get out of the car in the drop off lines. If your child needs assistance getting out of a car seat or unbuckling, please park in the lot, help your child get out, and walk him or her to the building.
  

• Please be sure your child is completely clear of your car before pulling away. DO NOT PULL AWAY UNTIL YOU SEE YOUR CHILD'S BACK WALKING AWAY FROM YOUR CAR! Water bottles are often dropped and may roll under cars. Please instruct your child not to reach under the car or run back to the car for a forgotten item. Adults on duty will assist.
  

• Please remember that students should never get out of the driver's side of the car and cross in front of the car during morning drop-off. There have been tragic accidents resulting from this practice and we want to make sure all of our children are safe. If your child is unable to get out of the passenger side in the car line, please park and walk him or her to the building.

On The Moorfield Road Side:

• When dropping off your child on the Moorfield Road side of the building, please wait in the unloading zone until the cars in front of you are back on the road in the flow of traffic. Please do not pass cars ahead of you even if your child has already left your vehicle. Occasionally, a driver may need to exit from the non-curb side, and passing creates a dangerous situation.

  
  

  
  

On The Parking Lot Side:

• Please do not pull up to areas other than the designated car line to drop off. If you do not want to wait in the line, you may park in the lot and walk your child to the building.

• Please do not pull beyond the sign at the end of the drop-off area or stop on the cross walk to drop off. Please keep the crosswalk clear for pedestrians.

DISMISSAL

Parents, please make sure your child knows how he or she will be dismissed to go home before he or she leaves for school each morning. In the rare event that plans would change during the day, please call the school office at 330-876-8720 as soon as possible. Please do not call with changes after 2:30 pm unless it is an emergency.

• 2:50 pm: Kindergarteners and siblings
• 2:58 pm: Last names A-J
• 3:01 pm: Last names K-P
• 3:04 pm: Last names Q-Z, walkers and bike riders

• Students will not be released until their designated time, so it is important that you make every effort to arrive as close to that time as possible, rather than lining up far in advance. We also ask for your cooperation in picking up your child on time, or calling the office in advance if you will be a few minutes late.

• Students should go directly to their car or bus – no loitering.

• Families picking up Kindergarteners and siblings will display a blue family name sign; families picking up students in grades 1-8 will display a green family name sign. The signs will be available for families with new students to pick-up at Back-to-School Night and should be displayed only from the visor or side window. Please do not hold the sign as it cannot be read and obstructs the driver's view.

• Families picking up Kindergarteners and siblings may enter only via Blue Ribbon Drive. Pavement markings, signage and staff will be in place to guide drivers.

• Families picking up students in grades 1-8 may enter via either Blue Ribbon Drive or West Market Street and must follow markings and staff directions. Drivers unable to enter via West Market Street must not sit on West Market Street waiting to turn in, but may go around the block until traffic has cleared or may enter from Blue Ribbon Drive instead.

• Blue Ribbon Drive will be gated until 2:30 pm. Please do not arrive to enter Blue Ribbon Drive earlier than 2:30 pm as doing so will cause traffic to back up into the surrounding neighborhood.


• If you are picking up a kindergartener (and siblings), you will be directed to proceed to the main pick up line. If you are picking up a student in grades 1-8 (other than a kindergarten sibling), you will be directed to the back lot staging area to wait your turn to enter the main pick up line. Please follow the instructions given as to where to line up.

• Families picking up Kindergarteners and siblings will follow blue markings on the pavement until entering the main pick up line, which will be a merged blue and green line. Families picking up students in grades 1-8 will follow green markings on the pavement until entering the main pick up line, which will be a merged blue and green line.

• Students are instructed where to wait and when to go to cars. Please do not wave your child to your car.

• Please be courteous at all times by not turning right on red into our driveway. Turning right on red blocks the driveway and prevents traffic turning left into the driveway from entering, even when the left turn arrow is activated. Thank you for your kindness to others!
  

LATCHKEY

• Morning Latchkey will be available beginning at 6:50 a.m. Students being dropped off for morning Latchkey will be dropped off at the Art Room Door.

• Afternoon Latchkey will be available until 6:00 p.m. Students being picked up from evening Latchkey will be picked up at the Art Room Door.

BUSING

Three districts provide bus transportation for our students who reside in those districts: Copley-Fairlawn, Highland and Revere. Please note that the buses that serve our students are provided by these districts, not by St. Hilary School. We anticipate that these districts will provide transportation for St. Hilary School students barring driver shortages. In that case, there is the potential that bus transportation for St. Hilary School students who ride the affected district’s bus may be lost. We encourage all families to have an alternate transportation plan in place. For more information, you may contact the transportation departments listed below:

Copley-Fairlawn: 330-664-4820
Highland: 330-239-1901, ext. 1235
Revere: 330-523-3118 or 3119

Please also visit our Bus Transportation page on the school website.

Please make sure your child knows how he or she is going home each day before leaving the house. It is difficult for the office to handle last-minute calls at dismissal time. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Please remember that our doors open and supervision of students begins at 8 am. Students (other than bus riders) should not be dropped off at school before 8 am. If you need to drop your child off prior to this time, please make arrangements for morning Latchkey. Information about our Latchkey program can be found here. Our Latchkey Director, Mrs. Melton, can be reached at latchkey@st-hilary.org or 330-873-1282.

Our afternoon dismissal process is running smoothly and usually concluded by about 3:15 pm. If you will be arriving later than 3:15 pm to pick up your child, please remember to contact the school office at 330-867-8720 so we can plan appropriately for supervision of your child until you arrive, which may include your child going to Latchkey.

St. Hilary School offers a Latchkey program that includes before- and after-school care. Complete information about the Latchkey program can be found here. STUDENTS MUST BE REGISTERED IN ADVANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LATCHKEY PROGRAM.

Registration for the Latchkey before- and after-school care program is now open in Digital Academy.

***HOWEVER, YOU MUST COMPLETE BACK-TO-SCHOOL FORMS (SEE ABOVE) PRIOR TO COMPLETING LATCHKEY REGISTRATION.***

• YOU MUST LOG IN WITH YOUR DIGITAL ACADEMY ACCOUNT. Please contact Mrs. Nemr at enemr@st-hilary.org if you do not know your username or password.

• If you have already completed your Back-to-School forms in Digital Academy, you can complete Latchkey registration. Please click here to register your child(ren) for Latchkey, following the prompts to finish the registration online and pay the registration fee. Your information from your Back-to School forms should auto-fill into the registration.

• Please contact Latchkey Director Mrs. Marissa Melton at latchkey@st-hilary.org with questions.

Federal law requires all schools to inspect their buildings for asbestos containing materials and to develop management plans for those materials found. Our school has completed this inspection/management plan and has submitted a copy to the Ohio Department of Health. This asbestos inspection/ management plan is available for review, by appointment, during regular business hours. Please know that we are making every effort to comply with all laws and regulations pertaining to asbestos and the safety of our children.

The Admission Policy of St. Hilary School is in accordance with the student acceptance regulations of the Diocese of Cleveland. St. Hilary School admits qualified students of any gender, race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship, tuition assistance programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

Email: dsinopoli@st-hilary.org
Website: www.st-hilaryschool.org
Location: 645 Moorfield Road, Fairlawn, OH, USA
Phone: 330-867-8720
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StHilarySchoolFairlawnOhio/