PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION

MR. RIDDER’S REMINDERS

Jan 21                    2010-2011 Registration Forms Go Home

Jan 22                    SCRIP Dress Down Day for all – Re-Scheduled from 1/8/2010

Jan 23                    Omaha Chess Community Tournament 9:00-1:00 Parish Center

Jan 25                    Home & School Meeting - 7pm in the Staff Lounge

Jan 28                    Registration Forms Due Back

                               6th Grade Music Program 6:30pm

Jan 30                   2010 CSW Kickoff – See Info and Important Dates Below

Feb 3                      8th Grade Parent/Child Confirmation Retreat 7:30 – 8:45pm

Feb 6                      Science Fair – Please read details below

Feb 11                    2pm Dismissal – Teacher In-Service

                               3rd – 8th Grade Progress Reports go home

                               Pre S Valentine Exchange/Party

Feb 12                    Pre K – 4th Grades Valentine Exchange/Party 2:30

Feb 13                    Parish Dinner Auction

Feb 17                    Ash Wednesday – 8:30 and 11:00 School Masses

HUNDREDS FOR HAITI – St. Patrick’s School families answered the call to help for our brothers and sisters in Haiti affected by the earthquake.  To show support, students participated by bringing a donation of a dollar or more for a dress down day last Monday.  They were extraordinarily generous in their giving.  The school exceeded $2500 in the effort to help.  A check from the school and parish went to Catholic Relief Services on Tuesday so that the dollars that were donated may be put to immediate use.  The Haitian people will remain in our thoughts and prayers.

REGISTRATION FORMS SENT HOME THURSDAY, JANUARY 21ST, 2010– In order to allow new families earlier notification of their status, whether it be accepted or on the waitlist, the registration process will begin today for current families. Please note that the “Current Student 2010-2011 Registration” forms went home with your youngest child.  They are due back by January 28th with the $100 registration fee per child to hold their spot. If you have Please make sure you have completed the 2009 Stewardship Appeal form, found on the Parish website, to keep receiving the parishioner rate for tuition.

TUITION & BOOK FEES – We expect tuition to go up approximately 4% and our book fees to have a 0% increase. The parish finance committee will make a final decision sometime in April. At this time, we can only give you is what we anticipate.  Please let me know if you have any question about that and/or if you are need of tuition assistance.  Call me or email me at ridderd@stpatselkhorn.org.

MEN’S CLUB, KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS AND OTHER TUITION ASSISSTANCE DONORS – St. Patrick’s School has been very fortunate to have had the Men’s Club, the Knights of Columbus and several individual donors help us with tuition assistance each year.  Because of these generous contributions each year, we have over 20 families who receive assistance so their children can have a Catholic education here at St. Patrick’s.  If you or anyone you know, would like to donate to help these families, please contact me at ridderd@stpatselkhorn.org.

STEWARDSHIP FORMS MUST BE TURNED IN – All families must complete and turn in a 2009 Stewardship Form in order to receive the parishioner tuition rate for the 2010-2011 school year. If you are in need of a copy, please contact the office at 289-5407 or find it online at www.stpatselkhorn.org.

SCRIP PAST “HO HO HO” PROMOTION SUCCESS – DRESS DOWN DAY IS RESCHEDULED – This promotion was a HUGE triumph, with over $50,000 in sales!  The students earned a Dress Down Day for Friday, January 22nd! 

SPANISH CONTEST - Voting has begun!  Here is the link to the website, everyone can vote from their own personal or home computer for our school kids.  Tell them to vote for the Middle school category and the video called “Podcast Languages – Lack of Communication”

http://www.actflvideocontest.org/finalists.php.

HOW CAN YOU BE A PART OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK? Catholic Schools Week is not just for kids.  Here are a couple ways for parents to participate in the annual celebration of Catholic Education:

■ Write a letter to your representatives in the US Congress and State Legislature to let them know why Catholic Education is important to you and your community, and send a copy of your letter to your school principal.

■ Set aside time during family prayer and pray for all those who contribute to the success of St. Patrick’s School, including students, teachers, staff and volunteers. 

■ Since the theme for 2010 Catholic Schools Week is “Dividends for Life: Faith, Knowledge, Discipline, Morals” – discuss ways we as individuals and/or as a family benefit from all these attributes in our Catholic education that make us better for life.

■ Make sure your children know that giving them a Catholic Education is one of the biggest and best gifts you could ever give them.

2010 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK EVENTS AT ST. PATRICK’S – The week of January 31st, 2010 is the celebration of Catholic Schools Week.  St. Patrick’s CSW Committee has many fun-filled events that will take place.  To allow you better planning we are letting you know of a few activities that you may want to plan for.  More details may follow in the next edition of Principal’s Notes. Here are a few events that you may want to know:

Saturday, January 30th & Sunday, January 31st – Kick-Off Catholic Schools Week Masses on the Weekend – Tours of School facility to follow all Masses.

5:00 PM Mass- 4th grade hosts

8:00 AM Mass- 5th grade hosts

9:30 AM Mass- 6th grade hosts

11:00 AM Mass- 7th grade hosts

12:30 PM Mass- 8th grade hosts

SPY BREAKFAST - On January 31st, St. Pat’s Youth are hosting a Pancake & Scrambled Egg Breakfast in the Parish Center.  For a free will donation, get your meal made to order and delivered right to your table by the parish teens!  Breakfast is available from 8:30 am-12:30 pm.

Monday, February 1st -

CSW School Mass 8:30am

1:35-2:10 Buddy Writing Lesson

2:15 Spelling Bee in PC

Tuesday, February 2nd –

No School Mass

Uganda T-Shirt Dress Down Day for All                

Human Rosary in the Church 9:15

Wednesday, February 3rd -

              A Special Friends Day Visit –

              K – 4th Grades students can invite an adult friend to visit/tour their school.  

              Last Names:

  A - M – 12:45-1:30

  N - Z – 2:00-2:45

Click Here for Special Friends Day Invite Form

End of Day Surprise Announcement from Mr. Ridder

Thursday, February 4th -  

                Author Visit in Media Center

                9:30-10:15 – K-2nd Grades

                10:20 – 11:05 – 6th – 8th Grades

                 11:10 – 12:00 – 3rd – 5th Grades

Friday, February 5th –

   Green & White Spirit Dress Down Day for all

                               4th – 8th Grade Talent Show on Parish Center 1:00

Saturday, February 6th –

                               Science Fair in Parish Center – Details Below

2010 SCIENCE FAIR - The 2010 St. Patrick’s 7th & 8th Grade Science Fair is fast approaching.  Many of you have seen your kids working hard on their projects.  The date and times can be found below so that you can mark your calendars:

Saturday, February 6th, 2010 

• 1:30 – 1:45  Kids need to report to St. Patricks in uniform
• 2:00 – 4:00  Presentation of projects to parents and judges
• 4:00 – 4:30  Clean up projects while totals tabulated
• 4:30 – 4:45  Awards presentation – top in each category

These times have been changed somewhat from our previous schedule to accommodate the judges and the facilities.  The fair will be held in the Parish Center/Boland Hall and doors will open 5 minutes before presentations begin.  Hopefully all of you can make it to watch your kids perform at the highest level in the area of science. We encourage all of you to check in on how your kids are getting along with their projects.  Making sure they are working the hardest they can to present the best possible project is of utmost importance for this 300 point assignment. We are all very excited to see what the students have in store for us and for everyone this year.  Any questions, email Mr. Maline at dmaline@stpatselkhorn.org.

ORDER A SIGNED BOOK BY N.L. SHARP – Author N.L. Sharp is coming to our school to speak about writing and to autograph her books on February 4th.  Nancy, who has spent most of her life in Nebraska, lives in Fremont. Several of her books have been Golden Sower nominees and several have been honored by the Nebraska Center for the Book. She has written Today I'm Going Fishing with my Dad, Effie's Image and a newly produced book that combines The Flower Girl/The Ring Bear.  It’s your chance to get a rare and personally autographed book!  Order her books now, & and get them autographed!

CLICK HERE FOR AUTHOR SIGNING BOOK FORM

WEIGHTS NEEDED FOR GYM CLASS – Over the next couple of weeks the 6th – 8th Graders will be working on weight lifting in PE classes.  I am asking assistance in getting weight lifting equipment either donated or borrowed.  Some of things we could use are Dumbbells (3lbs, 5lbs, 10lbs), a bench press, a straight bar (bar used for bench press and squats) and any plates for lifting.   If you do not wish to have your items back, a donation letter will be sent to you.  If you do wish to have items back, please mark the items so they can be returned.  My goal for these lessons is not to turn the kids into bodybuilders, but to help them down the road.  We will be going over such things as what muscles are used during these lifts, what the muscle is used for and proper techniques to prevent injury when lifting.  With your help I hope this is something the kids can really enjoy.  Thanks – Mr. Simon McKenzie

5TH & 6TH GRADE PAGE ONE BOOK CLUB - Attention 5th & 6th grade students:  There is a new meeting time and place for Page 1 Book Club.  We will now be meeting every other Friday after school here at St. Patrick's until 4:30pm.  Our first meeting will be Friday, January 22. Please join us!  Contact Christina Diers at acediers@cox.net with questions. See you there!

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

WINNER - Congratulations to Lynette Davis!  She won a $50 gift certificate as part of our promotion with Material Girl.  Thanks to everyone who shopped to support St. Pat's. We earned $200!

CHESS CLUB NOTES - The Chess Club weekly meetings are held on Mondays after school from 3:30 - 4:30 pm.  We are now meeting in the Parish Center.  The parish center allows us to have much more room and we now have the capacity to welcome new members.  Chess Club is open to any St. Patrick's student from Kindergarten through 8th grade.

CHESS CLUB TOURNAMENT - St. Patrick's will be hosting its first Chess Tournament on Saturday January 23rd from 9 am - 1 pm.  The tournament is open to all children in grades Kindergarten through 8th Grade.  You do not have to be a member of the St. Patrick's Chess Club to compete in this tournament. To participate in this tournament, please mail in the registration form.  Late registrations will be accepted before the tournament starting at 8 am. Registration link is attached.

CHESS TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION FORM

SOCCER REGISTRATION - The registration deadline for CYSL Soccer is coming up soon!  After January 24th, a $20 late fee will be added to all registrations and spaces will be given out on a first come, first served basis.  Register now at: Link to Athletics Registration.  If you have questions about CYSL Soccer, please contact Mike Meyer at mrmomm@cox.net.  For registration questions please contact Renee Shotkoski at msshots@yahoo.com.

GET OUT OF SCHOOL RAFFLE PRIZE FOR YOUR CHILD’S CLASS - Did you miss out on your family gathering this Christmas due to the weather? Don't forget to call up those Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, Cousins and other family and friends to see if they would like to buy a chance to win a car or $10,000!  Then get those tickets turned in so your grade can win a special "get out of school" party or a chance to see the Amazing Arthur!  DON'T DELAY...TURN IN YOUR TICKETS TODAY!

SNEAK PEAK! - The 11th Annual Dinner/Auction is quickly approaching.  Highlighted here are a few of the exciting oral auction packages that are on the books for this year:

• Dinner with the Archbishop:  Enjoy an evening with guest of honor, Archbishop George         Lucas.  Eight guests will be invited to the home of Brian and Kris Morrissey for a       memorable evening on April 17th at 6pm.
• Chicago Cubs Spring Training:  Travel to sunny Mesa, Arizona on March 5th and see the         Cubs in a spring training game!  Also included is a tailgate before the game. 
• Brix Wine Tasting:  Indulge in a private wine tasting for 16 people at Brix, Omaha’s newest         addition.

In the upcoming weeks, we will continue to preview packages to get you ready for the big event.  Get your reservations turned in so you can be a part of the excitement!  Also, don't forget about Tag Night on Monday, February 1st!  Contact Dana Bird, Auction Chair, at danambird@hotmail.com or 315-9689 for more information if you are interested in helping at this fun prep night.

STRESSED?

Catholic Conversations

Stress Management

“minimizing the number of grays” 

Rescheduled for Friday, January 29

7:30pm in Boland Hall

Social time at 7:00pm

Sister Marie Micheletto, RSM, M.A., L.P.C., LMHP, is a Sister of Mercy of the Americas, a psychotherapist and an educational humorist.  She does premarital, marital and individual counseling, provides mentoring and in-services to hospice staff, and is a national and international speaker, as well as facilitator of retreats. Sr. Marie’s talks are laced with humor and wisdom.  Come for some laughs and deeper understanding of our faith! Drinks and snacks provided—free will offering.  Registrations appreciated! Please contact Beth Kathol at 289-4289 ext. 1525 or bkathol@stpatselkhorn.org to register.

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