PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION

MR. RIDDER’S REMINDERS

Jan 28                    Registration Forms Due Back Today

                               6th Grade Music Program 6:30pm

Jan 30 & 31            2010 Catholic Schools Week Masses– See Info and Important Dates Below

Jan 31                    SPY Pancake Breakfast after Masses in the Parish Center

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

REGISTRATION FORMS HAVE BEEN SENT HOME & DUE BACK TODAY – In order to allow new families earlier notification of their status, whether it be accepted or on the waitlist, the registration process began for current families. Please note that the “Current Student 2010-2011 Registration” forms went home with your youngest child last week.  They are due back today, January 28th with the $100 registration fee per child. This registration fee is non-refundable and does not apply toward tuition for the upcoming school year which has been the policy since the school opened. This was incorrectly stated on the gold form. This fee reserves your child’s place in the school for the upcoming year. If you did not receive a form in your child’s backpack, forms are available in the office. 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 to increase tuition 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.

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.

ST. PATRICK’S 2010 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK EVENTS – 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 this weekend.  All students should wear uniforms with sweaters to the Mass they attend. 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

COME HUNGRY SUNDAY TO THE SPY BREAKFAST AND SUPPORT OUR YOUTH MINISTRY - 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 -

Catholic Schools Week 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

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

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.

INTERNET SAFETY PRESENTATION - What is Facebook?  Should my young child play online “kid-friendly” games? Should I restrict my middle school student’s internet use? On Monday, February 8th, at 6:00pm State Trooper, Keith Bell, and St. Patrick’s Director of Technology, Eric Lordemann will have an informational session for parents on facts about internet use and strategies that parents can use to help keep children safe.  It will be held in Mrs. Nelson’s classroom in the lower level.  Call or email Mrs. Delaney at school mdelaney@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 ... (more)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 TO ORDER N.L. SHARP’S SIGNED BOOK

STUDENT JOURNALISM PAPER PUBLISHED ON THE WEBSITE –Take the time to read the second edition of St. Patrick’s student-made newspaper, the St. Pat’s Scoop on the website! It covers the latest in our school’s sports, events, and generally what’s going on around St. Pat’s.  The newspaper is the result of the addition of journalism to our middle school program.  This 9-week course teaches students to create interesting, informative articles, work with Microsoft Publisher, and puts our skills of photography to the test.  We hope you enjoy this edition. Thanks for your support. – St. Pat’s Scoop Staff Members

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.

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.

SCRIP FOR LAPTOPS - Don’t forget to make SCRIP a part of your New Year’s resolutions!  Use it for your weekly groceries, gas, shopping and entertainment.  Remember, 30% of profits go back to you at the end of the year and 40% will go toward the purchase of new laptops for the portable computer lab. Thank you to everyone who braved the cold wind on Monday and stopped by Sam & Louie’s.  We earned $280 of profit!  Way to go St. Pat’s!!

ST. PAT’S CHESS CLUB TOURNEY RESULTS WERE OUTSTANDING - St. Patrick's School held its first Omaha Chess Tournament on Saturday, January 23, in the Parish Center. There were 110 students in grades kindergarten through -8th grades from 35 schools throughout the Omaha area participating. 27 of those students were from St. Patrick's. Trophies were awarded to the first three places in each of the 12 sections. Participants were divided into sections by grade level and experience. Team trophies went to St. Patrick's, 1st place; Brownell-Talbot, 2nd place; and Wahoo, 3rd place.  St. Patrick's students brought home 10 individual trophies:  Four 1st places, three 2nd places, and three 3rd places. This is the first year for St. Patrick's Chess Club. Previously, St. Patrick's received the third place team trophy at the Central High Chess Tournament in November. That tournament had over 300 participants from 70 schools. This event will be an annual event every January. A special thanks goes to Omaha Chess.

ST. PATRICK’S “MATHLETES” - Congratulations to the following students who won the “school component” of the MATH COUNTS competition, and will represent our school at the upcoming Chapter Competition. 

Representing St. Patrick’s for our 1st Team will be:

John Michael Hogue       Emily Benes       Libby Edmundson           Quin Tarrence

Representing the school and competing as individuals at the Chapter Competition will be:

Ethan Pfeifer                     Andie Hanus       Conor Luff          Sydney Nelson

Congrats to our “Mathletes”!  They are doing an outstanding job and will represent our school well.

SNEAK PEAK #2 - 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: 

• The Windy City with Oprah:  Grab a friend and head to Chicago for one of Oprah’s last tapings!  Also included is a 3 night stay at the Five Star Hyatt Regency Chicago – located in the heart of downtown, just off Magnificent Mile!
• Riviera Maya Vacation:  Come soak up the sun in beautiful Cancun, Mexico! Stroll the fine white sands of Riviera Maya, near Cancun, and enjoy an exclusive, luxurious vacation at The Grand Mayan Riviera Maya luxury resort. Paradise is yours the week of November 5-12, 2010.  Check out http://mayanresorts.com/the-grand-mayan/riviera-maya/ for more details and incredible photos.
• For Your Valentine:  What a perfect night to treat your sweetheart!! She will be the belle of the ball in this new pair of 18K white gold diamond earrings in a martini setting AND a matching 14K white gold diamond pendant featuring one amazing, round brilliant cut diamond. Diamonds ARE forever!

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.

ONLY TWO WEEKS LEFT...TURN CAR RAFFLE TICKETS IN –That's right, only two weeks until a lucky person will win a 2010 Mercury Milan or $10,000, and you could win $500!  Please help St. Patrick's reach their goal by TURNING IN YOUR RAFFLE TICKETS!  Your class could also win an afternoon with The Amazing Arthur, and if you sell 18 tickets, you will be entered into a drawing for an APPLE iTOUCH! CONGRAULATIONS to the Kindergarten class for winning a "get out of school" party at Mt. Michael!  Also, many thanks to MRS. SMITH for having the top selling class!  Enjoy your $50 SCRIP card! Interested in attending the auction as a volunteer?  Please contact Nicole Vossen at 763-9534 or nicolevossen@cox.net if you would like to sell raffle tickets that evening.

Announcing

Pre-Lenten Reflections with our Archbishop

Archbishop George J. Lucas, primary teacher of the faith for our Archdiocese,

will offer his own spiritual reflections in preparation for Lent. 

 Saturday, February 13, 10-11 am

Saint Cecilia Cathedral, Omaha.

Free and open to the public. Please share this spiritual formation opportunity with your fellow Catholics. Thank you for your support.

Presented by Saint Cecilia Institute for Laity Formation

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