Please join us in extending a warm welcome to our new principal, Mr. James Kelly. Mr. Kelly comes to Saint James the Apostle School after recently retiring from Glenbard West High School. He was a science teacher and assistant principal in both District 87 and District 211. Uniquely, Mr. Kelly worked concurrently to his public education roles as the Director of Religious Education and Music Director at Saint Cecilia in Palatine. While Mr. Kelly’s wife Grace passed away in 2017, he enjoys spending time with his sons Jimmy and Ryan and his grandchildren. We are excited to kick off the new school year with Mr. Kelly leading our team of seasoned faculty and staff, and welcoming back our students and their families.

As we look ahead to the start of the academic year during this time of leadership renewal, we can focus on the blessing and responsibility of sponsoring a parochial school at our parish. Catholic education can assist parents in their baptismal promises to raise their children in the practice of our faith by providing faith formation, virtue ethics, and academic excellence. At the same time, Catholic education is a responsibility of the entire parish community to place our faith at the center of all of our school activities, especially attendance at Sunday Mass. I encourage our school parents to prioritize attendance at Sunday Mass at the best and most essential hour of every week, even above athletic events. Everything else we do as a school community finds value beginning and ending in Sunday Mass.