PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION

MR. RIDDER’S REMINDERS

Feb 18                    No School PreS – 8th Grade Parent/Teacher Conferences

                               By Appointment Only

Feb 19                     No School

                               St. Patrick’s Parish Fish Fry 5-8pm in the Parish Center

                               Desserts provided by Families’ Last Name A - D

Feb 25                    6th – 8th Grade After-School Art Club Begins

Feb 26                    $CRIP Dress Down Day

Mar 1                      Home and School 7pm in Teachers’ Lounge

Mar 4                      School Reconciliation Service for All Students

                               1st Grade Spring Music Program - 6:30pm in the Parish Center

Mar 8                      Start of School Staff Appreciation Week

                              School Board Meeting 6:30pm

Mar 9                      All Staff/Students Uganda T-Shirt Dress Down Day

Mar 11                    2pm Dismissal – Teacher In-Service

Mar 12                    No School-Teacher In-Service

Mar 13                    St. Patrick’s Day Parade Downtown Omaha

Mar 16                    5th Grade Couple to Couple Presentation at 7pm

Mar 17                    St. Patrick’s Day – All Staff/Students Wear Your Green Dress Down Day!

Mar 18                    3rd Quarter Report Cards Sent Home

                               Kindergarten Spring Music Program - 6:30pm in Parish Center

Mar 19                    St. Patrick’s Open House 8:30am – 3:00pm

Mar 25                    Meeting for Parents of 2010-2011 Kindergarteners in the Parish Center 7pm

Mar 26                    No School for 2009-2010 Kindergarteners Only

                               Kindergarten Roundup 9:00-10:30 & 1:30-3:00

JOIN US FOR STATIONS OF THE CROSS – During this Lenten Season, Father Rodney Adams will lead the students and staff in the Stations of the Cross.  The Stations will be held on Friday from 2:30 to 3:05

4th – 8th Grades will partake on February 26th and March 26th

Kindergarten – 3rd Grades will partake on March 5th and March 19th

All students & staff will go on Wednesday, March 31st for the final Stations of the Cross.  We invite all family, friends and parishioners to join us!

NOTICE TO PARENTS OF TUESDAY WALKING CLUB MEMBERS- In order to keep all children safe, beginning next week parents must park their cars and come into the school entrance to pick up their child from walking club. Thank you for your cooperation, and for picking up your child promptly at 4:00p.m.

ACCEPTANCE AND WAITLIST LETTERS IN THE MAIL – Families who have applied for enrollment in St. Patrick’s School for the 2010-2011 school year should have received a letter as to what their status is at this time.  If you have a friend or relative that has not heard from us for any reason and they are applying for this fall, ask them to contact the school office as soon as possible. Current families who completed the gold Registration form are considered enrolled for the following year.

HOME & SCHOOLS STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK BEGINS MARCH 8, 2010 - The theme of the week is "A World of Thanks".  We've got a week full of great plans and activities for the awesome school staff at St. Patrick’s.  An envelope went home with one student from each family this week, requesting a monetary donation for the gift "grab" bags that will be given to the school staff on Thursday, March 11th.  If you would like to make a donation, please return it to the office by Monday, March 1st.  If you have any questions or would like to help on the Teacher Appreciation committee, please call Jenny Johnston at 492-9593 or email to jennyjohnston@cox.net

ST. PATRICK’S SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE – If you, or someone you know, are interested in seeing what St. Patrick’s School is about, please plan to come in on Friday, March 19th between 8:30 and 3:00 for a tour during a regular school day. This is your opportunity to see how our teachers and students exhibit on a daily basis what makes St. Patrick’s School such a special place

INFORMATION REGARDING KINDERGARTEN ROUNDUP – On Thursday, March 25th, there will be “parents only” meeting for those who have children that have been accepted into the 2010-2011 Kindergarten class.  The meeting will be at 7:00pm in the Parish Center.  We ask that at least one parent per student attend.  On Friday, March 26th, there will be two Kindergarten Roundup sessions for children: 9:00-10:30am and 1:00-2:30pm. 

The 2009-2010 PreK will come to school as they normally do. The accepted children that do not currently attend to St. Patrick’s School, will come to the assigned session by their last name:

A – M      9:00 – 10:30am

N – Z      1:00 – 2:30pm

2009-2010 Kindergarteners will not have school on Friday, March 26th.  We look forward to meeting you and your child that week.  If you have any other questions email Mr. Ridder at ridderd@stpatselkhorn.org.

HOME & SCHOOL NEEDS YOUR INPUT - Home & School is interested and looking into offering bundled school supplies to parents as a convenience.  The more families that participate, the better - so we want to know how many families might be interested in this service.  Home & School would get the supply lists from the teachers.  We would not offer everything on the lists - just the basic supplies like paper, writing utensils, folders, binders, etc.  The families interested in participating would order and pre-pay before the end of this school year.  Families would then pick up their bundled school supplies at the “Get Set for School” event in August.  It would be that simple.  Please help us out by completing a three question survey.  This will help us determine how many families might be interested in this program. Results of the survey and a final decision about offering the supplies will be made at the March H&S meeting.   Thank you for your responses! http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/C9DTYCB.

DESSERTS FOR LENTEN FRIDAY FISH FRY NIGHTS- The St. Patrick’s Men’s Club will once again be holding a Lenten Fish Fry each Friday night during Lent. We are asking all parishioners to help supply the dessert for these suppers. We suggest that each family bring a pie, small cake, dessert bars, or other dessert (about 6 to 10 servings) to the Parish Center on the Friday designated by the first letter of your last name on the following schedule. Each family will donate only one week.

Family Last Name               Date

A through D                    February 19

E through H                    February 26

I through L                      March 5

M through P                   March 12

Q through S                    March 19

T through Z                     March 26

MARCH IS MUSIC IN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS MONTH - Help us celebrate by donating a good, used band instrument!  Perhaps you could provide a financial gift to enable a needy student the opportunity to explore his/her musical abilities!  Music in Catholic Schools needs band instruments (woodwinds, brass, and percussion) in good playing condition to loan to parochial school students who cannot afford to rent or buy an instrument. Financial gifts are much appreciated, as monetary contributions enable students to participate who could not otherwise do so.  For more information, please contact Deb Lund at 557-5600.  Thanks!

 MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE – Saturday, March 13th 2010 at 10:00am. This will be the 8th time that St. Patrick's Catholic School will enter the Royal Hibernians St. Patrick's Day Parade which is held in the Old Market in Omaha. Our theme this year is:  St. Patrick's Catholic School Celebrating 10 years of Educational Excellence. For those who are new to the school, we have won 1st place for the past 7 years and this is a perfect time for those of you who have never been in a parade to join us for the fun. All families of the school and parish are welcome to come and walk along with our float which will, again, be pulled by a team of Belgium horses. Please watch for future info on the parade. St. Patrick's gear is already in the stores so shop early and be GREEN! If you have any questions or want to volunteer to help please contact: Patti O’Hertel @ pjhertel@msn.com or 779-4304.

SCRIP UPDATE - SCRIP’S “One Sweet Deal” was a SWEET Success with over $20,000 in sales which means the students have earned a Dress Down Day for Friday, February 26th.  Way to go St. Pat’s families!  If you have not bought or returned your Savings Sidekick Coupon Book, there’s still time.  Just send in the payment or return the book in your child’s backpack.  Don’t forget, we carry gift cards to many local pizza joints for your Cheese or Veggie Pizza on Fridays this Lent.  Bene’s, Frank’s and Sam & Louie’s are all locally owned and great supporters of St. Pat’s.  Mark your calendars for Runza Family Food Night on Thursday, February 25th from 5-8 pm.  Watch your child’s backpack for more details.

 ST. PATRICK’S TACKLE FOOTBALL, SOCCER, T-BALL, & TRACK SIGN UP TIME – Tackle Football Registration is now open! Please go to www.stpatselkhorn.org and click on activities/organizations and sign up early.

Kids Sports News - Registration is now open for spring Micro Soccer and T-Ball.  In addition, CYSL Soccer is still accepting late registrations on a first come, first served basis.  Register for these sports now by visiting the school webpage and then go to Athletics.  For questions about micro-soccer contact Julie Wigdahl at njwig@cox.net; for questions about CYSL Soccer contact Mike Meyer at mrmmom@cox.net.  For registration questions please contact Renee Shotkoski at mjsshots@yahoo.com.

Run with Champions - The St. Patrick's Middle School Track and Field Team is now accepting registrations for the spring season.  The team is open to all parishioners in 6th, 7th and 8th grades.  Both the boys and girls teams are defending Parochial Athletic League Champions and plan to defend our title vigorously.  Register for these sports now by visiting the school webpage and then go to Athletics. For questions about PAL track contact Mike Meyer at mrmmom@cox.net, or Dan Maline at dmaline@stpatselkhorn.org.  An informational parents meeting is being held in Mr. Maline's room on Thursday, February 11th at 6:00pm.  This meeting is designed to acquaint parents with our track program. Mark your calendars:

FINAL 2009 RAFFLE UPDATE - THANK YOU to all families who supported the 2009 raffle by purchasing or selling tickets, and CONGRATULATIONS to the winners: 

2010 Mercury Milan - Matt Macdonald

$1000 cash - Dr. Craig Johnson

$500 cash – Robert Burgin

Also, congratulations to Todd and Kim Morgan...winners of the iPod touch! 

 WANT TO JOIN  M.O.M.S.?  A new group to begin in MARCH 2010!  Are you a MOM looking for a little soul time every week? A new session of the M.O.M.S. (Ministry of Mothers Sharing) is scheduled to begin Wednesday, March 3rd through Wednesday, April 14th.  This group will meet for 7 consecutive weeks on WEDNESAY MORNINGS from 8:45 to10:45 am and once a month thereafter.  Registration fee is $35.00 and includes a personal journal.  Childcare is available for a small fee.  Take this opportunity to enhance your spirituality as a mother and to better appreciate motherhood as a ministry.  Please call Angela Davidson at 445-2503 or email her at davidson111@cox.net to register or with questions.

MEN OF THE PARISH WELCOME TO A RETREAT – You are welcome to attend the Mount Michael Retreat this Saturday, February 20th from 8:00am to 1:00pm with lunch included.  This is a free will donation.  Brother Jerome will lead the Retreat in the Chapel.

Principal's Notes Deadline:

Please submit all items/information in final form.

Principal's Notes deadline is Tuesday by 8:00am to the school or email to

ridderd@stpatselkhorn.org or kmoritz@stpatselkhorn.org

Archived Principal's Notes