A Message from Dr. Mickelburgh

Dear Viator Families,

Thank you for attending Meet the Faculty Night. It was an honor to be together and share the exciting initiatives we are building at Saint Viator. I am truly honored to be here as your new principal! Every day I am impressed by the contagious positivity that your children bring to our school, it is contagious and energizing!  If you missed my presentation last night, I am including a summary of what was discussed. 
 
My commitment to you is to make Saint Viator the best school it can be for current and future Lions. I have spent time listening to faculty, staff, and students and heard the themes of Communication, Visibility, and Accountability. Last night, I spent some time addressing each of these areas and how we are working to address each one. 
 
Communication
On each Friday, you will receive this newsletter, which will highlight everything you need to know. I truly appreciate your attention to these newsletters. If you have any questions, I welcome emails and phone calls! My door is truly always open. I want to hear the concerns so that I can work with my team to do better. 

 We will highlight the many examples of our students in action on social media. I invite you to follow:
 
 
Visibility
My goal is to learn your child's name by Christmas. To that end, our students see me every morning at the front door, at games, school performances, in the hallways, and in classrooms. I love being a Super Fan—cheering on all that our kids accomplish. My team is present, visible, and accessible, supporting all students in all areas! Our goal is to support each student to become the best they can be. 
 
Accountability
When I was hired, I promised to build on the tradition of excellence that has existed for over 60 years here at Saint Viator.  This is the area I take the most seriously; we are going to hold ourselves to a higher standard in all areas: academics, extracurriculars, and athletics. Our students' current and future Lions deserve the best high school experience possible that prepares them for future success. In the past six weeks, we have already made headway. In the very near future, you will be hearing about some of the initiatives that we are currently developing:
  • Lion Period is receiving overwhelming positive feedback from students! The purpose is straightforward: to simulate a college environment that facilitates choice, independence, and responsibility. Our students will be more attractive college candidates by taking advantage of clubs and leadership opportunities that were previously difficult to enroll in. Students can receive support in our academic support labs while exploring the numerous opportunities available to them. 
  • A partnership with Harper College to build a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) program.
  • Expansion of Dual Credit College Programs 
  • In the Summer of 2026, we will launch a comprehensive internship program that will provide career readiness training and real-world experiences.
  • International Travel Experiences—We will host a parent information meeting in late September.  
  • London in the Summer of 2026, where our students will focus on international business and culture. Some of the planned highlights include visiting the London School of Economics and meeting with marketing executives at Chelsea Football Club, as well as exploring the city's cultural highlights (see below for details).
  • Spring Break 2027—Japan Trip to experience Engineering and Robotics
  • HelloCollege—we are thrilled to announce that Saint Viator will have an exclusive partnership with the #1 Forbes-rated college consultants who are developing a custom platform for our students to use for all aspects of college planning!
In the upcoming weeks, we will send more details on all of our new initiatives. Our goal is simple: to make Saint Viator the best high school experience for your student! We want every student to feel supported, challenged, and prepared for life beyond high school. I am thrilled to be your new principal and incredibly excited for the future of Saint Viator High School. 
 
We’re thrilled to share that we’re heading to London in Summer 2026, and we’d love for your student to join us!
 
This is an incredible opportunity for students to explore new places, experience different cultures, and develop lifelong skills such as independence and confidence. I’ll be sharing all the details, including what we’ll see and do, hands-on learning activities, academic opportunities, trip costs, and how to secure a spot at our informational meeting.
 
Meeting Details
📅 Date: September 24
🕒 Time: 7:00 PM
📍 Location: The Auditorium
👉 RSVP here to join us: https://rsvp.eftours.com/wbydpyw
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    • Dr. Erika Mickelburgh, Principal

Saint Viator High School

1213 East Oakton St. 
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
TEL: 847-392-4050
Located in Arlington Heights, IL, Saint Viator High School is a private, co-ed, Catholic school for grades 9-12. Students benefit from a challenging academic program, fine and performing arts, competitive athletics, and a wide selection of extracurricular activities.