Back-to-School Information

First Day of School 2025-2026: Welcome Back Students!

1st through 8th Grade

• Wednesday, August 20, 2025 - Early Dismissal for 1st through 8th Grade
  • PGC: 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.; PGC drop-off window begins at 8:30 a.m.
  • UGC: 8:40 a.m. - 2:21 p.m.; UGC drop-off window begins at 8:25 a.m.

Little Angels (PreK 2)

• Tuesday/Thursday & 5-morning Little Angels: Thursday, August 21, 2025 - Early Dismissal
  • Drop-off at 8:30 a.m. in the Early Childhood playground
  • Pick-up at 10:30 a.m. at the curb, near the Early Childhood doors
• Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Little Angels: Friday, August 22, 2025 - Early Dismissal
  • Drop-off at 8:30 a.m. in the Early Childhood playground
  • Pick-up at 10:30 a.m. at the curb, near the Early Childhood doors

Shining Saints (PreK 3)

• 5-morning Shining Saints: Thursday, August 21, 2025 - Early Dismissal*
  • Drop-off at 8:30 a.m. in the Early Childhood playground
  • Pick-up at 11:30 a.m. at the curb, near the Early Childhood doors
  • *All full-day early childhood students observe half-day hours during the first week of school
• Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning Shining Saints: Friday, August 22, 2025 - Early Dismissal*
  • Drop-off at 8:30 a.m. in the Early Childhood playground
  • Pick-up at 11:30 a.m. at the curb, at the Early Childhood doors
  • *All full-day early childhood students observe half-day hours during the first week of school

Junior Kindergarten (PreK 4)

• 5-morning and full-day Junior Kindergarten: Thursday, August 21, 2025 - Early Dismissal*
  • Drop-off at 8:30 a.m. at the curb, enter at the Early Childhood doors
  • Pick-up at 11:30 a.m. at the curb, exit at the Early Childhood doors
  • *All full-day early childhood students observe half-day hours during the first week of school

Kindergarten

• Thursday, August 21, 2025 - Early Dismissal*
  • Drop-off at 8:30 a.m. at the curb
  • Pick-up at 11:30 a.m. at the curb
  • *All full-day early childhood students observe half-day hours during the first week of school

All SOSM students

Regular hours begin on Monday, August 25, 2025

• PGC: 8:30 a.m. drop-off at the curb (PreK 4-3rd grade) and walk-in through the Early Childhood Playground (PreK 2 and PreK 3)
  • Half-day preschool students pick up at 11:30 a.m. at the curb near the Early Childhood doors.
  • Full-day preschool students and Kindergarten - third grade students pick up at 3:10 p.m. at the curb.
  • All PGC drivers must stay in their vehicles at pickup
• UGC: 8:25 - 8:40 a.m. drop-off; 3:40 p.m. pick-up
• Extended Day begins (tentatively)

Questions?  Please contact Jane Schlosser at the PGC (jschlosser@schoolofstmary.org) and Jasmine Sosa at the UGC (jsosa@schoolofstmary.org) for more information.
 

Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedures

Primary Grade Center (PGC): Preschool through 3rd grade drop-off and pick-up procedures 
Drop-off and pick-up take place in the carpool line on campus near West Lake Forest train station, just east of St. Patrick Church
PGC Address: 
900 West Everett Road; Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 283-9800

Upper Grade Center (UGC): 4th through 8th grade drop-off and pick-up procedures
Drop-off and pick-up take place in the Oakwood Lot on campus near downtown Lake Forest.
UGC Address:
185 E. Illinois Road; Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 234-0371

Required Forms

Many families submit the paperwork outlined below with the student’s online application. If circumstances did not allow the forms to be submitted with the application, please ensure that the following forms are completed and submitted to the respective school offices by Wednesday, August 20, 2025:

• Birth Certificate
• Baptismal Certificate (2nd grade through 8th grade)
• Medical Forms:
  • Certificate of Child Health Examination (Medical): required for all new SOSM students, as well as rising kindergarten, 6th grade, and registered UGC school athletes.
  • Illinois Certificate of Religious Exemption (if applicable)
  • Emergency medications/needs (if applicable) including:
    • Illinois Food Allergy Action Plan and Treatment Authorization
    • Authorization for Self-Administration of Asthma Medication
    • Health concerns/medication
    • Medication authorization form
    • Over-the-counter (OTC) medicine authorization form
  • Medical and emergency notification information and authorization
  • Dental Exam - Required for ALL rising kindergarten, 2nd grade, and 6th grade students
  • Eye Exam - Required for ALL rising kindergarten students, and any new students who are transferring from out of state 

Questions?  Email Mandy Castle (mcastle@schoolofstmary.org) or SOSM nurse, Cindy Pacewicz (cpacewicz@schoolofstmary.org) for more information.

School Supply Lists

For families not taking advantage of the sale, please see the links below for the requested grade-level school supplies. Please purchase the exact items that are listed.  

• PGC Supply List

• UGC Supply List

Questions?  Email Jane Schlosser (jschlosser@schoolofstmary.org).

Student Uniforms

Students in kindergarten through 8th grade are required to wear uniforms.  It is an essential element of Catholic education.  The uniform guidelines are posted for each campus using the links below.  

• PGC
• UGC

Find complete uniform requirements and detailed instructions for ordering uniforms on our Uniform Information Page under Student Life. There, you will find more information on ordering new uniforms from Lands End and purchasing gym uniforms for 4th through 8th graders (UGC students only).

The Parents Association will hold a used uniform sale on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the UGC cafeteria.