Recent News

Food Drive Success

The student council members at St. Philomena School recently conducted their annual two-week food drive to benefit New Hope Apartments, a program offered by Phoenix Community Development Services. The council’s goal for this year was 5,000 items. At the end of the drive, 10,196 food and toiletry items were collected.

On Wed., Nov. 20, 7th and 8th grade students helped load the items in seven vans, trucks and SUVs. Once the vehicles were packed full, 17 Student Council representatives and parent volunteers delivered the items to the food bank at New Hope Apartments. New Hope Apartments serves the area’s homeless population by providing supportive housing for homeless veterans, individuals and families. A majority of the residents are afflicted with a physical or learning disability or mental illness.

Tiger Tales, episode 2

Welcome to Tiger Tales, episode 2, December 2019. This month hear all of our Paws Up! shout-outs, meet our new school counselor and learn about our virtue program.

https://soundcloud.com/frdavidrichardson/tigertales-ep2

Update: 6th Grade Service Project

Thanks to all who supported our sixth grade St. Jude collection for Care and Waiting Room Kits. We were able to donate 43 Waiting Room Kits with art supplies and 69 Care Kits with personal care items. Thank you all for your generosity and for thinking of the St. Jude Families. Please continue to keep them all in your prayers. We are all so grateful for your support!

St. Philomena’s Sixth Grade, Mrs. Tony & Mrs. Cusack

St. Philomena School Students Recognized

Each year, the Central Illinois Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) honors donors, volunteers and fundraising executives whose gifts of time, expertise and resources contribute significantly to the success of the non‐profit agencies and institutions they serve. They refer to this as National Philanthropy Day. The 2019 recognition luncheon was November 13. St. Philomena School student body was this year’s recipient of the award for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy, Ages 5-17. Our school received letters of recommendation in support of our nomination from professionals at Phoenix Community Development Services, Sophia’s Kitchen, Buehler Home, and the Homeless Liaison for the Illinois State Board of Education. We are very proud of our students and staff and their commitment to serving our community. Thank you to AFP for this amazing honor and to all who supported our nomination. 

To read our letters of support from Phoenix click here, and from Sophia’s Kitchen, Buehler Home and ISBE, click here.

Attending the luncheon to accept the award (pictured) are front row: Peyton Jones, Evie Hayes, Grace Best; back row: Mr. Jack Dippold (principal), Mrs. Amanda Draeger (Buehler Home), Mrs. Jodi Peine (retired principal), Mr. Mike Mahoney (Buehler Home) and Fr. David Richardson (pastor).