PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION

MR. RIDDER’S REMINDERS –

Apr 7- 25           Student Council Penny War to benefit the Lymphoma/Leukemia Society

Apr 19               Archdiocese Math Contest at St. Patrick’s

Apr 26               Open House for Accepted 2008-2009 PreS (2 Day) Only Students

April 29             6:30 K – 1st Grade Spring Program in Church

April 29-30         6th Grade- Outdoor Education Field Trip

May 1               Ascension Thursday –Holy Day of Obligation

May 4              Confirmation @ 12:30 in the Church

May 6               6:30 5th through 8th Grade Spring Music Program

                        (NOTE- At Elkhorn Methodist Hills Church)

May 8               2:00 Dismissal – Teacher In Service – Pick up by 2pm!

May 12             6:30 2nd – 4th Grade Spring Program in Church

May 13             8th Grade last day of School

May 15           All School Mass honoring 8th Grade Class followed by Breakfast for Graduates                       & Their Parents.  Graduation in Church @ 6:30pm

THANK YOU FROM MR. RIDDER– I want to thank you for all of your kind words and notes for the recent “Administrator of the Year” Award that I received from the Omaha Archdiocese.  I have told the students and that staff that this recognition is not about me; rather it is about these students, our staff and you, the parents.  We have been open for eight years and people are recognizing St. Patrick’s School as one of the top schools in the Omaha Archdiocese and again that is because of you, your children and our staff and I am thanking you for all you do.

DID YOU KNOW … our technology plans for next year includes over 200 desktop/tower computers along with over 60 laptop computers, three mobile labs, an abundance of laser jet printers, several servers, and all the switches, routers, and other tech needs/equipment to run a smooth technology program with little to no glitches?  We are purchasing a huge sand for data storage, wireless access points for each room, projectors, mimeos, 73 new computers and flat screens for the junior high classrooms, media center and new computer lab.  We have data and electrical connections in the floors of several of our new classrooms to provide unlimited technology access through out the building.  Much more of our curriculum focus will be on utilizing technology while infusing it into the curriculum for all staff.  All grades will take computer applications classes with multiple technology experiences.

AN END OF THE YEAR GOODBYE TO SOME FINE STAFF MEMBERS –

Dear St. Patrick’s School Colleagues and Families,

I would like to inform you that I will not be returning next year as the PE teacher at St. Patrick’s.  However, I will be taking a full time position at Mount Michael Benedictine High School where I have been teaching part time and coaching for the past two years.  This is a great opportunity for me as a teacher and as a coach. 

Thank you for the professional and personal development you have assisted me with over the last two years.  St. Patrick’s School and the staff have helped me become a better person and teacher.  The people here at St. Patrick’s School are wonderful and feel blessed to have worked here with Mr. Ridder and this great staff.  I would to thank you for the relationships I have been blessed with.  I look forward to teaching former St. Patrick’s students at Mount Michael.  Presently I have few students from St. Patrick’s in my classes and they are at the top in all aspects of education and personal growth.  I owe a big thank you to our faculty, staff and St. Patrick’s families for this.

Sincerely,

Mr. Nolan Reilly

Dear St. Patrick’s Staff,

It is with both regret and anticipation that I am writing you to tender my resignation from St. Patrick’s School effective May 20th, 2008 although it saddens me to say goodbye to a truly amazing work environment.  I have chosen to relocate to Temple, Texas for personal reasons and to be amongst family.

While thinking about the last four years, I cannot say enough about what each of you have contributed to make St. Patrick’s the best school.  I can’t say thank you enough for all of your professional and personal guidance to help me become a member of this great Catholic family. The students here could not ask for better leaders and role models for their future.

I want to thank you all for the tremendous amount of unforgettable memories while working with all of you. The past four years have been the best I could ever ask for. An educator couldn’t work with better people and students. The tremendous amount of success at this school is a true reflection of how dedicated, hard working, and faithful you are. With your leadership, flexibility, hard work ethic, and cooperation towards St. Patrick’s School, all of you have prepared me to take on any opportunity that awaits me in the future. All of you will be in my heart as I move on with the great challenges ahead of me. Thank you all for everything!

Sincerely,

Mr. Charles Valish

Dear St. Patrick’s Family,

It is with much sadness that I need to announce that I will not be returning next year to St. Pat’s.  As many of you know I am the very busy mom of five children, ranging in age from high school to preschool.  An opportunity arose last weekend that will enable me to teach in Wahoo.  Returning to teach at the same school system as my children will enable me to have more family time and it also means I will spend less time on the road.  I love St. Patrick's and appreciate the wonderful school family I have become a part of.  As a professional I can think of no better environment to teach within.  St. Pat’s has some of the best educators in the state.  I feel that I have learned much from all of them.  Furthermore, I adore my students.  I have been privileged to teach such kind, caring children – and yes, they’re smart too!  I am grateful for the parents I have worked with over my four years also.  When teachers and parents work together as a team great things happen for our children.  Finally I am deeply indebted to Mr. Ridder.  He has taught me incredible lessons about compassion, giving of self, and being supportive of others.  So it is truly with a heavy heart that I leave this wonderful school community.  My decision to leave was definitely not an easy one, but it was based on what my family needs.

Blessings,

Missy Chvatal    

It is really hard to see these people leave, but at the same time I am pleased to know that each of them will have the opportunity to improve things for their family.  Fortunately for St. Patrick’s, God has sent us incredible people with wonderful references  to fill their positions.

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM OUR PASTOR, FATHER RON

It has been said that “the only certainty in life is change!”  People grow and/or age, businesses expand or down-size, institutions come and go.  We, as believers in Christ, view these realities through the eyes of faith, applying the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Himself.  We accept that suffering, dying and rising is a natural part of all life, and that the presence of Jesus within these realities, stirs hope and gives comfort through the process.  In short, we never fear the future for God is already there. 

The upcoming 2008-09 St. Patrick’s school year is a case in point!  You may (or may not) be aware that various personnel changes are occurring, raising such questions as “Who?”, “What?”, and “Why?”.  Some exiting staff members have accepted an opportunity to relocate closer to families, others are following their hearts by taking the risk to move into new stages of their own lives, and still others are embracing different career paths.  While discussing their future plans and reasons for leaving, each has expressed a passion and respect for our school and staff and has asked that this message be shared with you during this transition. 

From the very beginning, St. Patrick's Catholic School has thrived by hiring the best possible educators and support staff.  We are ever so grateful for the positive impact and faith witness that our current and previous staff members have made in the lives of our children, their families, and our extended community.  And we certainly look forward to experiencing the gifts and resources, the energy and passion that newly hired staff members will bring in the coming year.  I want to assure you that the upcoming changes will sustain and enhance our commitment “…to teach as Jesus did.”  It’s all part of the great Paschal Mystery; we mourn a loss yet rise to newness.  In fact, it’s my great pleasure to welcome our newly hired staff members, eager for the knowledge, experiences, and even hidden talents they bring to our team. 

I, and I’m sure I speak for the entire St. Patrick’s School family, treasure the fact that you entrust your children to us, blessing us with the opportunity to help you form and educate them.  We will continue to provide a quality education, challenging your children to be their very best.  To that end, I’m also thrilled at the progress on our academic addition.  When we move into this incredible space later this summer, it’s the fulfillment of a dream begun almost 10 years ago.  Your children, you, and our parish as a whole will reap the benefits of the planning, generosity and long-term commitment to Catholic education of so many!

Sincerely in the risen Christ,

Fr. Ron

INTRODUCING SOME OF OUR NEW TEACHERS/STAFF

KIM MIKLO – FIFTH GRADE -I graduated in 2000 from Manson Northwest Webster High School and then went on to get an Associates Degree from Iowa Central Community College, where I was offered a softball scholarship.  I continued my education and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in December 2004 with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Mathematics.  Shortly after graduation, I moved to New Orleans, Louisiana and started my first teaching position in Kindergarten.  The next year as a 3rd grade teacher, we were a few short days into the school year and Hurricane Katrina hit.  We were scattered across the nation.  A month later, most of us came back and were joined by many new faces.  As challenging as it was, we finished the school year as we worked hard at building relationships as well as learning the curriculum.  The following year I moved back home to Clare, Iowa and substituted in the Manson Northwest Webster School District.  As much as I wanted to accept a full time position there, opportunities brought my fiancé, Brent and me to the Omaha area. 

From the first time I entered St. Patrick's school, I knew that it would be a great fit for me.  Everyone I've met has been wonderful and made me feel at home.  I have been looking for a caring community that shares my beliefs in education as well as religion, so I am extremely excited to begin working and teaching at St. Patrick's School. 

I am originally from Clare, Iowa where my parents still reside.  I have an older brother that lives and works in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and a younger brother who is a junior at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. 

KIRK SCHJODT – MUSIC TEACHER - I will graduate from Dana College on May 17, 2008 with a degree in Vocal Music Education and a minor in Psychology. While at Dana, I was active in Theatre, Chorale, Concert and Jazz Band, Residence Life and Student Activities. I have also worked with youth for the previous three summers as an employee of the Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, specifically, as a Counselor/Music Specialist for the Carol Joy Holling Summer Camp near Ashland, NE. I completed my elementary student teaching placement at Spring Ridge Elementary School in Elkhorn under Tamera Loftis and I am currently serving in my secondary student teaching placement at Elkhorn High School under the guidance of Dan P. Hays.

A main draw to working at St. Patrick’s for me dealt with the growing controversy that is present in public schools in dealing with the sacred/secular music ratio. In a public school—as the Supreme Court has ruled—a maximum of 50% of the music can be sacred. At St. Patrick’s, the students will be able to experience both sacred and secular music to learn the fundamentals of music.

The first thing that impressed me about St. Patrick’s School happened when I was touring the school with Mr. Ridder. The first student we saw was a Kindergarten student who came right up to me held out her hand, looked me square in the eye, introduced herself and welcomed me to the school. A KINDERGARTENER!!! From that moment, I realized just how unconventional and special a place St. Patrick’s is. Every student we passed stopped to greet me. Every time one student shook my hand, three more followed suit. The environment of this school was like nothing I had ever experienced before and I am very excited about the role I will be playing in sustaining this culture.

I have been blessed with parents who will be celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary the day after I am completing this survey. I also have an older brother who lives in the Omaha area. Furthermore, I have been fortunate to know all four of my grandparents—no small feat considering two are in their 80’s and the other two will join them in the next few years. I have also had the privilege to know all of my aunts and uncles and the several cousins who keep the family entertained at every family gathering.

JERRY TOMASEK – SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR - I began in electronics in the United States Navy graduating in the top of my class. After serving 6 years and traveling around the world I attended Metro Community College and received my associate's degree in Microcomputer Technology with a networking focus.  I then continued taking classes at UNO and Creighton Universities, I am also Comptia A+ and Network certified. Along with my Education I have been working in the information technology industry for 8+ years for companies like Siemens and Creighton University.

I feel that teaching is the most important thing that a person can do in his/her life.  I take great pleasure in supporting people who are.  I also have a strong belief in God, and to work here at St. Patrick's only supports me in that I am passing on His word.  

To find a school that is willing to invest and expose this level of technology into a young person is visionary.  The younger a person sees technology, the earlier they begin to understand it, and develop ideas of how it can be used to advance themselves and accelerate there learning.  The expansions and upgrades that we will be conducted here at St Patrick's only shows our commitment to this vision, and I am very excited to take part in its evolution.

I was raised with my brother in the Florence area on the north side of Omaha.  I attended Omaha North High School graduating in 1990.  Joining the Navy right after high school, I was stationed in Yokosuka, Japan and saw a lot of the world. I live with my wife, Theresa, stepson Sam 13, and daughters Shelby 6 and Sophia 4, in the Millard area.  I am currently in the Navy reserve as a Seabee, and recently returned from a 7 month tour duty in Iraq, and yes it is good to be home.

I look forward to helping the students and staffs of St Patrick's take advantage of the technology that we are providing.

DID YOU MISS TUITION COMMITMENT WEEKEND? -  Tuition Commitment weekend took place last weekend.  If you were unable to come at that time, please come into the school office at anytime Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm and we will get your paperwork for you!  All forms should be completed by Friday, April 18th. Filling out this paperwork is required and will take less than 5 minutes! We truly appreciate your cooperation with this matter.

CHILDREN’S SCHOLARSHIP FUND AND TUITION ASSISTANCE INFO – Any families who feel Tuition Assistance may be necessary for the 2008-2009 school year must apply for the Archdiocese Children’s Scholarship Fund.  In order to qualify for St. Patrick’s Tuition Assistance, applicants must have first applied for the Children’s Scholarship Fund.  Applications for the Children’s Scholarship Fund are due by April 21, 2008, and applications for St. Patrick’s Tuition Assistance will be due by June 1, 2008.  All information is kept strictly confidential.  If you are in need of the Children’s Scholarship Fund Application and the St. Patrick’s Tuition Assistance Application, please contact our Business Manager, Vicki Payton, for the updated forms.  She can be reached at the parish office at 289-4289, or via email at vpayton@stpatselkhorn.org.  Completed forms are to be either emailed back to Vicki or in a sealed envelope to her attention.

GRATEFUL FOR YOUR HELP - A special thank you to the people that helped with the computer wiring “party” at St. Patrick’s school last Saturday.  We were fortunate enough to have over 30 knowledgeable volunteers that assisted, and therefore the upper level of the new addition was wired within 3 hours.

Please mark your calendars that on Saturday, May 24th; we will be wiring the top floor.

2008 PENNIES FOR PATIENTS - St. Patrick’s School is one of 312 schools across Nebraska that supports the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society by hosting a penny war.  Our war is different though because we weigh our coins.  One dollar is worth 9 oz (the same as 100 pennies).  This money is used to support programs that the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society sponsors such as cancer research.  Since the Pennies for Patients campaign began, over $18 million has been raised by students across America.  Ask your student where his/her class ranks in the competition.

SPRING PROGRAMS – This Spring, we will be doing the spring programs a bit differently, breaking them up into three shorter programs opposed to two longer ones. The Kindergarten through 1st Grade will perform in our Church at 6:30pm on April 29th.  The 5th – 8th Grade will perform on May 6th at 6:30pm, but will be held at Elkhorn Methodist Hills Church, and lastly, on May 12th, 2nd – 4th Grade will perform at 6:30pm at St. Patrick’s Church.  Making this adjustment should reduce the parking lot perplexity and crowded seating in the Church during performances.  Thank you!

BOXES NEEDED - We need moving boxes for transferring books from our current library to the new library media center.  Boxes, ideally, need to be big enough to hold a shelf full of books, but not too big to break volunteers’ backs. However, we will take what we can get.  We have over 10,000 books to box up!  Also, please contact Anne Kalkowski at akalkowski@stpatselkhorn.org if you would like to volunteer time in May to box up books or in August to moves boxes when the new addition is ready.

NEW THIS YEAR – 2007-08 YEARBOOK WILL BE IN FULL COLOR - Get your pictures in the yearbook! The Yearbook Staff invites students and parents to submit photos for the yearbook. If you’ve got great photos of school events or you and your friends just having fun, we’d like to see them.  Help us get as many photos as possible to create a terrific book everyone will want to have.
Here is how you can submit photos online:
   • Log on to: images.jostens.com
   • Enter Login ID: 1148179
   • Enter Your Password: password
   • Browse to select the photo(s) you wish to upload.
   • Enter information about the photo and provide contact information in case the staff needs     additional information.
   • Click "Save Details".
It’s that easy! Submit your photos today! The last day to submit photos is 6/1/2008.
The Yearbook Staff will review all photos and determine final yearbook content. We cannot guarantee that all submissions can be used in the book.

PARISH ELECTIONS – Parish Elections are scheduled for May 3rd & 4th, 2008.  You can be a part of the decision making process. Candidates are needed to run for Parish Pastoral Council, RF Committee, and School Board. There are 3 positions available to run for on the School Board. Interested candidates should complete the brief candidate questionnaire form linked below and turn into the Sunday Collection, Parish or School offices by Friday, April 18th.

CLICK HERE FOR PARISH ELECTIONS FORM

ST. PATRICK’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL SUMMER SCHOOL INFORMATION - This summer St. Patrick’s School will be hosting one session of summer school.  Each of the classes are intended as a “kick-start” for students who will be entering grades K-4.  The class size limit will be cut off at 15 students based on the 15 turned in first.  Please take a few moments to review the classes listed below. Registrations will be sent home today.  Look for them to come home in backpacks!

2008 Sessions:      August 4th-August 8th

Time:     8:00-11:00

Course Fee:     $100 (Includes $20 building fee)

Please make checks payable to the teacher in charge of the session.

Kindergarten Readiness  (Miss Ashley VanDyke) - This class will be an upbeat session for children entering kindergarten to fine-tune skills needed to be successful in the fall.  Emphasis will be on readiness skills such as fine motor, listening, social, and letter/number recognition.

1st Grade Readiness (Mrs. Tracy Kill) - This class is intended for students who will be entering first grade in the fall.  Emphasis will be on early reading/phonics skills: word analysis, word patterns, sight words, and decoding . VoWac will be introduced.  Basic math skills will also be covered.

2nd Grade Readiness  (Mrs. Jodie Hotovy) – This class is intended to build reading and VoWac skills for students entering second grade in the fall.  A continuation of basic reading skills will include oral reading, decoding, and comprehension.  Math concepts to be covered: addition and subtraction strategies, place value, money, and time.  The students will be introduced to two digit addition and subtraction.

3rd Grade Readiness  (Miss Betsy Larson) - This class is intended for students who will be entering third grade in the fall.  Emphasis will be placed on reading, writing, and grammar, as well as the review and application of VoWac sounds and rules.  Math concepts such as addition and subtraction with regrouping, problem solving, time and money will also be covered.

4th Grade Readiness (Miss Tiffany Wagner) - This class is intended for students who will be entering 4th grade in the fall.  An emphasis will be placed on both reading and writing skills. Math concepts such as multiplication, division, and geometry will be covered.  General mastery of basic facts will be encouraged through daily review and timed tests.  Your soon to be 4th grader will be sure to start the New Year with confidence!

SCRIP INFO –Don’t forget to place your SCRIP order!  If we reach a sales goal of $15,000 by Friday, April 25 – Mr. Ridder will award the kids a DRESS DOWN DAY on Friday, May 2!  Send in your SCRIP order today!  Any questions contact Jane Chapman @ 553-6131 or email KCCJDC@cox.net!!  Thank you for supporting our SCRIP program!

ST. PATRICK’S SOCCER NEWS -  Registration is now open for the fall seasons of CYSL Soccer and Micro-Soccer.  Sign-up online at the following link: http://stpatselkhorn.org/athletics/Athleticsindex.cfm.  Register today to avoid late fees.  Contact Lynette Davis for any questions with online registration at 496-0764.

ST. PATRICK’S ATHLETIC BANQUET - Invitations have been mailed for the 2nd Annual St. Patrick's Athletic Banquet.  If your son/daughter is a 5th - 8th grade student and involved in any St. Patrick’s sports, you are invited.  Be sure to RSVP as directed on the invitation to enjoy a great meal, participation awards, and some special honors.  Reserve the date of April 27th on your calendar now.

SAFE ENVIRONMENT INITIAL TRAINING IS BEING OFFERED AT THE FOLLOWING PARISHES:

▪Saturday, April 26, from 9am to Noon at St. John Vianney Parish. For more info call 895-0896

▪Tuesday, May 27, from 6:30pm to 9:30pm at St.Vincent De Paul Parish. For more info call 496-7988, extension 239.

SAFE ENVIRONMENT RECERTIFICATION - St. Patrick’s will be hosting a SE recertification class (you must have attended a previous initial SE training session in order to come to this one).  The date and time for the recertification class is Thursday, April 24, 2008, from 7:00pm - 8:30pm.   Please call Jenni Vankat at 359-1950 or email Jenni at jvankat@stpatselkhorn.org to register.

SPRING CLEANUP – Mark your calendars and please consider joining the grounds committee for a Spring Cleanup around the outside of St. Patrick’s School and Church.  The date will be April 26th, from 9am to Noon.  Contact Julie Kaup for more information at julie.kaup@cox.net

DONATIONS FOR SPRING CLEAN-UP – If you would like to donate a flat of annuals (preferably “full sun”) and drop them off Friday or Saturday morning, we will gladly use them to spruce up the front containers and flower beds.

LILY LEYDEN SPAGHETTI AND AUCTION BENEFIT – Lily was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in June 2006 when she was just 2 ½ years old. At that moment, the Leyden's life changed forever. Lily underwent countless testing and procedures including biopsies, chemotherapy, bone marrow aspirations and more. Although Lily achieved remission early in 2007, she relapsed in July of the same year. The next step took the Leyden's to Minneapolis for a triple stem cell transplant in October 2007. Lily again underwent another battery of procedures, including more chemo and radiation. On December 4th 2007, Lily was transplanted with cord blood. Although there were a few complications, for the most part Lily did amazingly well with the transplant. She had the doctors, nurses and staff in awe of her spirit and determination. Unfortunately 60 days post transplant, it was determined that Lily had relapsed again. The Leyden's have come back to Omaha to pursue further treatment under supervision of the medical team from MN and NE. Although Lily's prognosis is not good, John and Shelly are determined to give her all possible treatment and options for healing. This very condensed version of Lily's story brings us to today. Through this long and painful journey many expenses have come with it. The trips back and forth to Minneapolis, meds, co-pays and numerous general expenses that go along with caring for a sick child for nearly 2 years. Family and Friends of the Leyden's are organizing a spaghetti benefit on Sunday, May 4 from 4:00 until 7:00pm at Bethany Lutheran Church to help diffuse some of the expenses that have been incurred and will likely continue to add up. Please join us in support of this family and this courageous little girl who battles this disease everyday! Monetary donations can be made to any Wells Fargo Bank Branch "Lily Leyden Fund".  Tickets are available at the door $7.00 for Adults and $5.00 for children 12 and under.  Children 3 and under are free. You may also purchase tickets online at Lily’s website:  www.lilyleyden.com. You can also purchase your Spring Flowers at this event.

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