MHR Newsletter October 9th, 2026

Eric Fay

From the Principal's Desk

Dear Most Holy Redeemer Families,


Halloween Movie Night

Join us for a Spooktacular Evening hosted by the Parents Club and Women's Guild! Enjoy a showing of Hotel Transylvania with friends and family.

Purchase your tickets here!


Friday, October 30th

Join us at 5:30 PM to get settled before the movie begins at 6:00 PM!

MHR Parking Lot

$20 per Family


Baracco's pizza slices will be available for purchase, and each kid will receive one kid's drink and a special Halloween treat. Come dressed in your Halloween best (pajamas welcome!) and get ready for a fun night of family, friends, and a little spooky fun!


Sincerely yours in Christ,

Dr. Eric Fay


Important Dates & Events

School Calendar 

  • October 12 Columbus/Indigenous People’s Day; No School for PK-Grade 8
  • October 15 First Communion Meeting
  • October 18 Family Mass 4th Grade Hosts 
  • October 21 Living Rosary
  • October 23 8th Grade Retreat and Wear Orange Day
  • October 26 Red Ribbon Week begins; Oct 26-30
  • October 26 Pumpkin Carving Contest; Oct 26-30
  • October 26 Early Dismissal for Faculty Collaboration
  • October 28 First Responder Day 
  • October 30 Halloween; Classroom parties


Faith & Formation


Baby Bottle Collection

Most Holy Redeemer will once again participate in the annual Baby Bottle Collection to support mothers and babies in need. Donations help provide essential items such as formula, diapers, clothing, blankets, health care, and car seats.

Please fill the baby bottle with spare change, or any donation you are able to give, and return it to your child’s homeroom teacher by October 30. Please return every baby bottle to school, whether or not you are able to make a donation.

Thank you for helping support mothers and their babies in our community. Your generosity is a beautiful way to put our Catholic faith into action.

God bless you for your generosity!

Learn more about the organization and its mission: Save the Babies


Classroom & Curriculum Highlights


Exciting News: Our New STEAM Lab is on the Way!


We are thrilled to announce that we are currently ordering state-of-the-art equipment 

to build a brand-new, cutting-edge STEAM lab for our students!


What is a STEAM Lab?
STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. Rather than teaching these subjects in isolation, a STEAM lab brings them together into a single, hands-on collaborative workspace. It transforms traditional learning into an active studio where students become inventors, designers, and problem-solvers.


What Can Students Expect to Learn?
In the lab, students will move beyond passive learning to tackle real-world challenges through inquiry and design. They will develop critical skills for the future, including:

  • Hands-on Engineering & Coding: Building working models and learning the foundations of computer science.
  • Creative Problem-Solving: Testing hypotheses, learning from trial and error, and iterating on their designs.
  • Collaboration & Communication: Working in teams to brainstorm, prototype, and present their ideas.
  • Artistic Integration: Blending technical precision with creative design and aesthetics to bring their projects to life.


We cannot wait to open this incredible space and watch our students dream, build, and innovate. Stay tuned for updates as the equipment arrives and the lab comes together!


Spotlight On

At Most Holy Redeemer, we are proud to support organizations that strengthen our community and teach our students the importance of compassion, inclusion, and giving back.


On Friday, October 23, 2026, we will participate in The MuSic Movement's #RockOutMS Dress Down Day. Students are invited to wear orange, the national color for Multiple Sclerosis awareness, in exchange for a $2 donation.

The MuSic Movement is a local nonprofit founded by local Chicago parents to raise awareness and funds for Multiple Sclerosis through the power of music. Many individuals living with MS are unable to participate in traditional fundraisers like walks or 5Ks, so this organization has created a way for our entire community to make a difference together. Donations from our Dress Down Day will support local families affected by MS, while also benefiting the National MS Society.

Throughout the day, students will also learn about the importance of inclusion and celebrate with music as we come together to #RockOutMS.


For families who would like to support the mission beyond our Dress Down Day, The MuSic Movement's third annual benefit concert will be held on February 6, 2027, at Bourbon Street, featuring The Strumbellas with special guest Coax & Folks. Learn more or purchase tickets at https://www.msmusicmovement.com/.

Thank you for helping our school make a difference for families impacted by Multiple Sclerosis!


Reminders

  • Let’s come out and pack the house for our 8th grade girls basketball teams on Sunday, October 18! Games begin at 2:00 p.m., with our 8th grade teams taking the court at 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. We’d love to see our MHR family filling the stands, cheering loudly, and showing our 8th graders some school spirit! After the games, all 8th graders are invited to stay for pizza, with the evening wrapping up around 6:30 p.m.
  • Morning arrival procedures help keep all students safe and traffic moving smoothly, even in rainy weather. PreK–4th grade students should enter through The Porch, while 5th–8th grade students should enter through Briody Hall. Students walking or biking must use designated crosswalks, and bicycles must be walked on school/parish property. Families dropping off by car should enter from Lawndale, drop students off in the parking lot, and exit onto Millard; Millard Avenue is not a drop-off area, and parents needing to enter the building should use the Main Entrance and ring the bell.


Social-Emotional Learning

Social-emotional learning extends far beyond understanding our own emotions. It truly flourishes when children learn to look outward and connect with the world around them. Encouraging kids to help others builds vital life skills like empathy, emotional resilience, and a deep sense of belonging, showing them that their actions truly matter to the well-being of our community. You can easily practice this at home through simple, everyday habits, such as starting a "kindness challenge" jar where children draw out achievable ideas like writing a thank-you note to a school teacher or reading to a younger sibling, or involving them in collaborative problem-solving by brainstorming and preparing a small gesture, like baking cookies or crafting a card, for a neighbor or family friend going through a busy time. Small, intentional moments like these help children discover that making a difference in someone else's day is one of the most rewarding parts of growing up.


Final Word from Dr. Fay

Thank you for blessing our school community and for the gift of one another. As we navigate the busy weeks ahead, open our eyes to the needs of those around us. In both our classrooms and beyond our school walls. Instill in our children and in us a spirit of empathy and generosity, that we may look for ways to lift others up, share kindness freely, and be a source of light in our community. Amen.


In Christ,
Dr. Eric Fay
Principal


Stay Connected

Email: efay@mhrschool.com

MHR Website - https://www.mhrschool.com/
MHR Instagram -
https://www.instagram.com/mhrraiders/ 

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MHRRaiders 


By Eric Fay • October 9, 2026
What a week for our Raiders! Thanks to the incredible generosity and support of our MHR families, we have raised more than $41,000 through the Raider Run-a-thon! Even though the rain moved our Fun Run indoors, our students still celebrated with music, dancing, Kona Ice, and plenty of Raider spirit. Thank you to everyone who shared the fundraiser, encouraged our students, and helped make this such a tremendous success. I am so grateful for the way our MHR community comes together to support our children and our school. Thank you, MHR families! Sincerely yours in Christ, Dr. Eric Fay Important Dates & Events School Calendar October 12 Columbus/Indigenous People’s Day; No School for PK-Grade 8 October 15 First Communion Meeting October 18 Family Mass 4th Grade Hosts October 21 Living Rosary October 23 8th Grade Retreat October 26 Red Ribbon Week begins; Oct 26-30 October 26 Pumpkin Carving Contest; Oct 26-30 October 26 Early Dismissal for Faculty Collaboration October 28 First Responder Day October 30 Halloween; Classroom parties Faith & Formation October is traditionally celebrated by the Catholic Church as the Month of the Holy Rosary , making it a beautiful time for our school community to come together in prayer. To honor Mary and this treasured Catholic devotion, our students will participate in a Living Rosary . During a Living Rosary, our students become the beads of a giant Rosary. Each student represents a particular prayer, and as we pray together, they come forward and take their place, forming the shape of the Rosary. Our students will lead the prayers as we reflect on the mysteries of Christ’s life, death, and Resurrection. There is something especially beautiful about seeing our children literally become a Rosary—a visible reminder that we are a school family united in prayer . We invite our families to join us for this special opportunity to pray together and to ask Mary to lead us always closer to her Son, Jesus. Classroom & Curriculum Highlights Cold-Weather Uniform (October 1st-April 30th) Bottoms Navy slacks or trousers with a leather belt. Shirts are to be tucked into pants with a visible belt. Pants may not be sweatpant material. Plaid jumper (2 choices available for Grades K – 4)* Plaid skirt or skort (for Grades 4 – 8)* Girls may wear solid black leggings or white/red/gray/black tights under their skirt during the cold weather months (October 1-April 30th) *NOTE: There is a choice in 4th grade as to whether a skirt or jumper is the preferred and most comfortable choice for daily uniform wear. That choice is entirely at the discretion of the parents and child. Tops White or gray Most Holy Redeemer polo shirt (short or long-sleeved) with red MHR logo or plain, white, collared blouse tucked into pants/skirt. Articles of clothing worn under the uniform shirt must be white, gray, or black—colored or printed shirts must not be worn under uniforms. Spotlight On Pack the House! Let’s come out and pack the house for our 8th grade girls basketball teams on Sunday, October 18! Games begin at 2:00 p.m. , with our 8th grade teams taking the court at 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. We’d love to see our MHR family filling the stands, cheering loudly, and showing our 8th graders some school spirit! After the games, all 8th graders are invited to stay for pizza , with the evening wrapping up around 6:30 p.m. Come cheer on our girls and help us pack the house! Go MHR! Reminders As Most Holy Redeemer begins an important season of listening and discernment, we are grateful for the faith, people, families, and generations that have shaped our parish. Over the coming months, we want to hear from parishioners, school families, ministry leaders, alumni, and our broader community about what we value most and what we hope for the future of Most Holy Redeemer. Please take a few minutes to complete this brief survey and share your thoughts, hopes, and vision. Your voice is an important part of shaping our parish’s future. Parish Survey Morning arrival procedures help keep all students safe and traffic moving smoothly, even in rainy weather. PreK–4th grade students should enter through The Porch, while 5th–8th grade students should enter through Briody Hall. Students walking or biking must use designated crosswalks, and bicycles must be walked on school/parish property. Families dropping off by car should enter from Lawndale, drop students off in the parking lot, and exit onto Millard; Millard Avenue is not a drop-off area, and parents needing to enter the building should use the Main Entrance and ring the bell. The volunteer commitment sign up offers a variety of opportunities throughout the year. Please review the available opportunities and select the commitment that works best for your family. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B44A4AD2DAAF4C52-65134848-202526#/ Social-Emotional Learning Every day at school is an opportunity for students to be their best selves . Not to be perfect, but to give their best effort, make good choices, treat others with kindness, and take responsibility for their learning. Parents can help by asking questions such as, “Did you give your best effort today?” or “How did you help someone today?” rather than focusing only on grades or accomplishments. Remind your child that being their best means showing up ready to learn, persevering when something is difficult, listening to teachers and classmates, and making choices they can be proud of. When we encourage effort, character, and growth, we help children develop the confidence and habits they need to thrive. Final Word from Dr. Fay Heavenly Father, we thank You for the beauty of autumn and for the many blessings You have placed before us. Through the intercession of Mary, Our Mother, draw our students, families, teachers, and staff closer to Your Son, Jesus. Help us to be people of prayer, gratitude, kindness, and faith, remembering that You are present in both the joyful moments and the ordinary moments of each day. May our MHR family continue to grow together in faith and love. Amen. In Christ, Dr. Eric Fay Principal Stay Connected Email: efay@mhrschool.com MHR Website - https://www.mhrschool.com/ MHR Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mhrraiders/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MHRRaiders