MARK YOUR CALENDAR -

Sept 14th             School/Staff Pictures PreK, K, 2 -8th graders

                            must wear uniforms w/ sweater

Sept 16th             Mount Michael Festival

Sept 20th             Progress Reports go out for 3rd – 8th grade

Sept 24-28th         ITBS Testing for 2nd through 8th grade

Sept 28th             Dress Down Day for Box Tops Reward

Sept 28th             Annual Staff vs. 8th Grade Kickball Game 2:00pm

MONTHLY TUITION INSTALLMENTS BEGIN – On September 20th, the families who have chosen the monthly option will begin having their tuition automatically taken out of their checking account.  You will notice, in most cases, multiple withdrawals.  The new database system that both the parish and school are using, allows for automatic payments from various categories.  Most families will have separate withdrawals for tuition and books. Parents will also notice that PreS/PreK tuition is separated out as well. These amounts do equal out to the total agreed upon last spring at tuition weekend. We are just making everyone aware that there will not be a lump sum as in the past.  This will allow for better accounting for our business manager, Vicki Payton.

INFORMATION ON THE NEW BUILDING PROGRESS – The weather worked in our favor this past week, which allowed the builders to continue the progress of our newest addition to St. Patrick’s School. As the new building progresses behind the existing building, you may be unable to see the ongoing development.  Please continue to look on our school website www.stpatselkhorn.org for updated pictures of the progress. Special thanks to all who are working hard and those being charitable towards the success of our Capital Campaign.  Please continue to pray for this success.

SMILE…SCHOOL PICTURE TAKING TIME IS HERE AT ST. PATRICK’S SCHOOL – On Friday, September 14th, we will be taking school pictures. This year we plan to make it mandatory that all students must wear their school uniform along with their sweater for pictures (sweaters may be taken off after pictures are finished). Look for a picture envelope for ordering to come home with your child. Today, the PreS and 1st Grade had their pictures taken.  On Friday the 14th, the rest of the school, PreK and K and 2nd through 8th, will take their pictures.  Please make sure that your child looks presentable as this picture will be what is used for the yearbook. The photographer can only accept money for orders at the time the picture is taken.  Please remember to send orders with checks made out to Lifetouch with your student in the morning. We do intend to have Lifetouch come to take spring pictures as well.  At that time, we will allow appropriate dress down clothing to be worn for those pictures.

PROGRESS REPORTS – Progress Reports will be going out on Thursday, September 20th for all students in 3rd through 8th grade.  Initially it was set for progress reports to go out on the 17th.  The date is changing to allow more time for teachers to compile student’s grades.

LOST & FOUND ITEMS- Our Lost and Found area is beginning to overflow.  Please take the time to retrieve any items if they are yours.  In it, we have a large supply of lunchboxes, sweatshirts, jackets etc – Periodically we plan to take items left behind to Goodwill, or to the used uniform sale.  We strongly encourage you to have your child’s first and our last name on each item, so that you can easier claim you items/s, also so we can return the item to the child.

A NOTE FROM THE SCHOOL NURSE - As our children get back into the full swing of school and extra-curricular activities, please take the time to examine each child’s schedule to assure they are not too busy.  Attached is the Boys Town Pediatric Newsletter to learn more about this. ALSO – We are requesting new undergarments to keep in the school office for those unexpected accidents.  If you would be willing to donate these, we are in need of girls and boys.  Thanks!

IS MY CHILD TOO BUSY?

ILLNESS OR HEALTH PROBLEM – If your child has a potential illness, or health problem of any type, the school must be informed of all details.  The school office and the child’s teacher/s must be provided, by the parents, the proper medication and instructions to take care of the child while he or she is in our care during school hours.

RESPONSIBILITIES WHEN YOUR CHILD MISSES SCHOOL – When your child must miss school due to illness or any other reason, please make certain you email the school office and the child’s homeroom teacher to let them know.  Email sgrewe@stpatselkhorn.org and/or kmoritz@stpatselkhorn.org for the office and your child’s teacher/s.  You must also plan to retrieve your child/children’s homework that he or she will miss while gone. You may either have your child’s homework sent home with a sibling, or have your child’s teacher organize it and then plan to pick it up in the school office. By doing this, the child stays on the same schedule as the rest of the class.

PARKING LOT CHANGES – The road construction crew is ahead of schedule and as a result, the south and east entrances will be open the end of the week. Therefore, for morning drop-off, you may come into the parking lot via those entrances and the north access road and then merge into the drop off traffic on the east end of the parking lot. The opening of those two entrances will help with the afternoon pickup as well.  However, the parking lot entrances will continue to be closed off @3:20 for the safety of all children.  Lot #1 will continue to leave via the north access road, Lot #2 & the north side of Lot #4 will leave either the north access road or the east exit.

SPECIAL NOTE:  The east exit will only allow right turns (southbound) and we continue to expect everyone leaving the southwest exit to go west.  The south side of Lot #3, Lot #4 and Lot #5 will continue to leave via the southwest exit.  Lastly, the safety committee and I would like to thank you for your total cooperation with all the road construction and our parking lot directions. 

DROPPING CHILDREN OFF IN THE MORNING – Students should not be dropped off for school before 7:45 a.m.  When they are dropped off, students should stand in their appropriate line outside.  We will have students stand in lines inside if weather is unpleasant. Children who are dropped off before 7:45 a.m. will need to go to our Extended Care.  

FATHER RON IS AWAY ON VACATION-    In place of students attending Mass during the school week - On the three Thursdays listed   below, the Kindergarten through 3rd grade will gather in the church as usual.  On the three Tuesdays listed below, 4th graders through 8th grade will assemble in the church.

Thursday, Sept 20       K-3rd – Catechesis about the Liturgy of the Word

Tuesday, Sept 25        4th-8th – Catechesis about the Liturgy of the Word

Thursday, Sept 27      K-3rd – Catechesis about the Liturgy of the Eucharist

Tuesday, Oct 2            4th-8th – Morning Prayer Service in honor of the

                                                                                     Feast of the Guardian Angels    

Thursday, Oct 4           K-3rd – Morning Prayer Service in honor of

                                                                              St. Francis of Assisi  

Tuesday, Oct 9            4th-8th – Catechesis about the Liturgy of the                                    Eucharist

USED UNIFORMS FOR SALE - With colder weather upon us please remember that Home & Schools Used Uniform Committee has pants, cardigans, long-sleeved shirts, and sweatshirts.  If you need any of these items please contact Richelle Novak-Allen at nursenovak@cox.net

SCRIP TIP FOR THE WEEK - New to SCRIP is Michael’s (The Arts & Crafts Store)!  Michaels is available in $25 denominations with a 4% discount!  With all the “crafters” here at St. Patrick’s, I think this new card should be very popular!!!  Call Jane Chapman @ 553-6131 to order your Michael’s gift card today & any other gift cards you need!  SCRIP is available at the Information Desk during all school days & after all weekend masses! Buy your SCRIP today – it pays!

MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIBRARY - We still need volunteers for the following shifts:            

Wednesday mornings: check in and shelve book

Thursday afternoons: help during 1ST grade and 4th grade classroom check outs (assist students find books and shelving books)

Please contact Anne Kalkowski (akalkowski@stpatselkhorn.org ) if you can spare an hour or two during these times!

ST. PATRICK’S IS IN NEED OF AN EXTENDED CARE ASSISTANT – Our wonderful Extended Care Director, Dana Gerten, is seeking an assistant that loves to care for children in her program before and/or after school for a few hours Monday through Friday when school is in session.  The hours are Monday through Friday from 6:30am – 7:45am and/or 3:15pm – 6:00pm.  If you or someone you know is interested, please contact Mr. Ridder at ridderd@stpatselkhorn.org.

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED -  A Book Fair Blizzard is coming to St. Patrick’s October 16th thru 23rd. Just an hour or two of your time would be greatly appreciated. We need help on the following days:

Thursday, October 18th                          8:00am – 9:00pm

Sunday, October 21st                            11:00am - 3:00pm

Tuesday, October 23rd                           3:30pm - 6:00pm

Please email Jacquie Schumacher at jacquieschumacher@cox.net.

USED UNIFORMS FOR SALE - With colder weather upon us please remember that Home & Schools Used Uniform Committee has pants, cardigans, long-sleeved shirts, and sweatshirts.  If you need any of these items please contact Richelle Novak-Allen at nursenovak@cox.net.

COMING SOON – CUB SCOUT POPCORN - Please support our year in Scouting. 

Find your favorite scout and buy lots of popcorn Sept. 29th thru Oct.22nd. 

Thanks Denise Kimnach

BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION - This past week was very successful for us with Box Tops for Education. We have collected more than 5,000 individual Box Tops for Education. At the beginning of the school year we set a goal/reward program. For each 5,000 individual Box Tops for Education that we collect, the whole school will be rewarded with a dress down day. The first reward will be a dress down day Friday, September 28th.  Be sure to check your principal’s notes to see when this dress down day will take place. Keep clipping and sending those Box Tops for Education to school.

HY VEE SMILES FOR EDUCATION- Win $5,000 for your school and a Dell Inspiron 1501 laptop computer for your student by completing the form linked below and dropping it in the SMILES FOR EDUCATION box at your neighborhood Hy Vee store. Beginning Monday September 10, 2007 and ending Monday December 31, 2007 Hy Vee is once again sponsoring Cash for Students. This is a fund raising event that could earn St. Patrick’s a maximum of $2,000 during this 4 month period. All you need to do is shop at Hy Vee and then send the receipts into school. Those receipts will be totaled and for every $200 spent Hy Vee agrees to donate $1.00 to our school. A running tab will be kept and one check for our total will be issued in January. The receipts can come from any of the 13 Omaha and Council Bluffs Hy Vee Food Stores.  The website is: 

http://www.hy-vee.com/docs/s4e%20registration07.pdf

HAVE YOU COMPLETED YOUR SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING?  - You can get your Initial Safe Environment Training here at St. Patrick’s Church …This will be available in the Parish Center on Saturday, October 13th from 9am to Noon.  If you have already received you initial training, but you certification has expired, you can get re-certified on Tuesday, September 18th from 6:30 to 9:00pm.  Anyone who works with children in a Catholic School setting, whether through volunteering, coaching, room parent etc…All must have this training.  Please attempt to have that training as soon as possible.  If you plan to attend, please call the school office and let them know @289-5407.

YOUTH MINISTRY SPY NIGHTS –

Middle School SPY Night – First middle school youth group night is THIS SUNDAY, Sept. 16th from 6:00-7:30 pm in the Youth Room.  Join us for our Welcome Night – Introducing the Rock Star Within!  Adult leaders needed.

Service Opportunities – Need service hours for Confirmation, NHS, Health Class, or other school requirements?  Want to help others because Jesus calls us to?  There are service opportunities coming up the next three weekends which are posted on the Youth Ministry page of the website.  Check them out or give Jenni a call!  Adult drivers/volunteers needed on Sept. 29th from 8:30 am-1 pm for service at the Archdiocesan Youth Camp.

PARENTS OF KINDERGARTENER GIRLS – If you have a daughter that is interested in becoming a Daisy Girl Scout, there is an informational meeting on Thursday, September, 13th at 6:00 p.m. in room #220.  If you cannot make the meeting, but are still interested, contact Beth Vilotta at 763-9763 or bvillotta@yahoo.com.

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A 3RD GRADE BROWNIE? – If you are interested in having your 3rd grade daughter signup for Brownies, there will be a parent meeting on Tuesday, September 18th at 7pm at the school.  You can find out information about the troop, sign up to assist, and fill out the paperwork needed to register.  Please note that if your daughter joined last year, you will need to register her again for this year if you want her to participate.  The meetings for 3rd grade Brownies will be the first Tuesday of the month from 3:35-5pm.  These meetings will begin October 2nd.  For more information or questions, please contact Susan Neuverth at suzybelle29@yahoo.com .

A BIG THANK YOU TO MIMI’S AT VILLAGE POINTE – Next time you dine at Mimi’s Restaurant, take time to say thank you for their support to our school.  They do a wonderful job with their Student Recognition Program, as well as offering many reduced or free items for fundraisers and meetings. 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR TASTE… A FOOD & WINE EXPERIENCE for Saturday, November 17th. Committees are forming now for this fun event. If you are interested in helping out, please contact one of the following:

Christina Butler, 289-9787 or ecbutler@cox.net

Michele Zadalis, 965-8449 or rzadalis@cox.net

We are also looking for generous restaurants and businesses to donate food samples for the evening of November 17th. If you own a restaurant/business or have a “connection” to one and would like to help us out, please contact Christina or Michele.

THANK YOU to everyone who attended the auction kick-off party Friday. Thank you as well to Ted and Betsy Ramm for opening up their home – a great time was had by all!!  We still need your help to make the 2008 Field of Dreams Dinner/Auction a success! It’s not too late to get involved.  Please contact John & Deb Gustafson for details 491-3820

CATHOLIC ORDER OF FORESTERS OFFERS FINANCIAL PROTECTION WHILE SUPPORTING ST. PATRICK’S  - The Catholic Order of Foresters (COF) contributes $25 dollars (first year annual premium) to our school, St. Patrick’s, for every child that enrolls into the FirstVantage/Pathways Program, offering valuable financial protection, the plan is a $10,000 term life insurance plan for your child. The plan is extremely affordable at only $25.00 annual premium.

Added benefits for enrolled members:

• Random drawing for 100 tuition assistance awards of $250 each presented to COF students enrolled in Catholic schools                     
• Random drawing for 200 awards of $50 dollars each for COF public school students attending Catholic religious education program.
• 20 annual scholarship awards given to high school seniors of $1,250 each year for 4 years

 

For more information on the program contact:

Philip R. Pullum (Parishioner)

Licensed Insurance Agent

15220 Vernon Ave

Omaha NE 68116

402 651-5250

philip@pullumgroup.com

Principal's Notes Deadline

Please submit all items/information in final form for Principal's Notes

by Tuesday, 8:00am to the school or email to:

ridderd@stpatselkhorn.org or kmoritz@stpatselkhorn.org

Archived Principal's Notes