PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION

MR. RIDDER’S REMINDERS –

Mar 7                  3rd Quarter Ends

Mar 13                2:00 Dismissal – Teacher In-Service – Reports Cards go home!   

Mar 14                Open House 8:30am -3:00 pm

Mar 15               St. Patrick’s Day Parade – Downtown Omaha

Mar 17               St. Patrick’s Day – Spirit Day – Wear your green!

Mar 20-25          NO SCHOOL – Easter Vacation

Mar 29 & 30       First Eucharist Weekend

Apr 5                 Wiring Party 7:30am – 4:00pm

Apr 5 & 6           Tuition Commitment Weekend After All Masses

DID YOU KNOW …St. Patrick’s Catholic School continues to excel?  As with every year since our first graduating class in 2006, we celebrate multiple scholarship recipients to area Catholic High Schools.  This year’s scholarship winners are: Ryan Barton – Creighton Prep; Rachel Doyle – Duchesne; Harrison Engel – Mount Michael; & Derek Loseke – Mount Michael.  These students received the awards based on their performance on the high school entrance exam.  These 8th graders as well as all our students are expected to excel at the high school of their choice.  Our awesome new facility will definitely complement this and allow every student the opportunity to shine in all areas of our academics.  In the next several Principal’s Notes, I will highlight the specifics in the new addition that will continue the St. Patrick’s tradition we established in preparing our students for any challenging high school they may choose. Congratulations again to Ryan, Rachel, Harrison and Derek!

TUITION ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE - We ask that families who plan to attend St. Patrick's School and feel that Tuition Assistance may be helpful complete the application in order to be considered.  This application is available by emailing me and I will send it to you via email.  This information will remain very confidential.  This application must be completed annually to qualify. Also, we would like to thank the Knights of Columbus, Men’s Club and the various others that have stepped forward to contribute to our Tuition Assistance Program.  If you or anyone you know would like to contribute to our Tuition Assistance Fund, please contact Don Ridder, Principal at 289-5407 or via email at ridderd@stpatselkhorn.org.

2008-2009 REGISTRATION - If your child/children are currently enrolled in St. Patrick’s School and you registered younger siblings on the gold current student form that came home in February, please know these siblings are considered “accepted”.  Please do expect a letter of acceptance to be sent home. Please plan to attend Tuition Commitment Weekend after all Masses April 5th and 6th and tour the addition.

AFTER SCHOOL ARRANGEMENTS – Please make your “after school” arrangements with your children before school.  We have many students requesting that they call their parents for permission to go to friends’ houses, remain at school, go to an after school meeting/event, etc.  I am sure parents would appreciate the planning ahead so they know exactly where their child is, how they will get there as well as eliminating the line-up in the school office for the telephone.  Please share this with your children. Thanks for your support.

JOIN US FOR STATIONS OF THE CROSS – During this Lenten season, Fr. Dan Lenz, from Mount Michael will be here at 2:30pm to lead us in the Stations of the Cross on the following Fridays, March 7th, 14th and as well on Wednesday, Mar. 19th.  All family, friends and parishioners are welcome to join us!

MAGAZINE RENEWALS TO BENEFIT ST. PAT’S - S.O.S. Save Our Subscriptions - How Can You Help? Dear Parents and Friends:  This March, from the 7th to the 17th, we will be conducting a magazine subscription fundraiser to raise money for necessary equipment and materials for our new library media center.  If you have subscriptions that need to be renewed before our sale, you may do so online:  WWW.QSP.COM and click “Just Shopping” and enter: St. Patrick’s Online Acct #: 425052783.  You can send e-mails to friends and family inviting them to shop and support our school @ QSP.COM.  Click on “Parents”, register yourself, enter our online Code (425052783) and send friends & family personalized emails or shop away! Renewal orders will simply extend current subscriptions, unless the renewal(s) has expired.  Thank you in advance for your support! We are looking forward to your participation.  A few of the many examples of subscriptions are following: Reader’s Digest, Everyday w/ Rachel Ray, Better Homes & Gardens, Entertainment Weekly, Family Fun, Field & Stream, Golf Digest, Money, Newsweek, Nickelodeon, Real Simple, Seventeen, Sports Illustrated, Time, TV Guide, and American Girl.

WIRING PARTY – On Saturday, April 5th, from 7:30 to 4:00, we are running data-communication lines in the lower level of the new building. This is a work community project that we can all do together that will save us over $26,000 in capital campaign funds.  We would appreciate it if you would be able to give up your day to help us with this project.  All we need is you, your hard work ethic and a step ladder.  Don’t miss out on the fun. Please contact ridderd@stpatsekhorn.org if you and/or your spouse can help. 

SCRIP - SCRIP Info… A big “thanks” to Younkers for allowing us to sell their Community Days coupon booklets!  We sold 49 booklets – thus, our SCRIP program made $245!  Free money!!!  Thanks to everyone that participated!  Hopefully, you all got some great deals!  RUNZA night is on for Tuesday, March 18 from 5-8PM at the 168th & Maple location!!!!  St. Pat’s H&S SCRIP will get 15% of all drive-thru and/or receipts!!! CASH or CREDIT – gift cards do NOT count!  SCRIP profit for the month of February was $813.40!  Our total profit from June 1, 2007 thru February 29, 2008 is $7877.17.  THANK YOU to all families who participate in the SCRIP program!!!!  When you buy SCRIP gift cards to stores, restaurants, and hotels – our school gets FREE MONEY!!!!  Thank you!  If you have any SCRIP questions, contact Jane Chapman @ 553-6131 or email KCCJDC@cox.net.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE – ST. PATRICK’S, ELKHORN-GREEN AND GROWING Celebrating 140 Years of Family and Faith!  March 15th is the day to remember.  St. Patrick's Catholic school will be going for its 6th first place trophy in the Royal Hibernians St. Patrick's Day Parade in Omaha and all are welcome.  Our Theme is St. Patrick’s-Elkhorn-Green and Growing, Celebrating 140 years of Family and Faith. The Parade will begin at 10:00 and wind thru the old Market. Our block assignment is Jones Street between 12th and 13th.   Please line up by 9:30 if the weather permits, and please pray for warmer weather.  Remember to dress accordingly with all you green on the top. We are the final presentation of the parade so please come and join in the fun and be ready to cheer.  We would love to have over 250 parish members, family and friends walking along with our floats this year.  Please remember that all parents are responsible for their own children. KKAR-- 1290 will carry the St. Patrick's Day parade live at 10:00 on March 15th.  Watch for any changes in block assignment or time in next weeks Principal notes. Questions:  Patti O'Hertel-779-4304 or pjhertel@msn.com.

ST. PATRICK’S ANNUAL FISH FRY – St. Patrick’s Men’s Club will hold their annual Fish Fry in the Parish Center on Friday’s during Lent (February 15th through March 14th).  They will serve Catfish and/or Pollack Fillets from 5pm to 8pm.  Adults are $8 and children ages 4 to 12 are $4. 3 yrs old and under are free.  Cheese pizza and Mac-n-Cheese will be available as well.  Drive thru service available for those on the go.  Just pull in and follow the signs.  The take out will be brought to your car.

DESSERTS FOR THE LENTEN FISH FRYS - The St. Pat’s Men’s Club will hold a Lenten Fish Supper each Friday night during Lent. We ask all parishioners to help supply the dessert for these suppers. We request 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 have to donate only one week. 

LAST NAMES BEGINNING WITH:                               DATE                                                                                               

Q through S                                                                  March 7                                                                                          

T through Z                                                                   March 14                                                                                        

We want to thank each of you in advance for your cooperation and invite you to join us for a great meal each Friday.

SAFE ENVIRONMENT RECERTIFICATION - St. Patrick’s will be hosting a Safe Environment Recertification class on Thursday, March 27, 2008, from 7:00 - 8:00pm in Boland Hall Room A.  This is for those who previously attended the initial training session and need to renew.  Contact Jenni Vankat at 359-1950 or jvankat@stpatselkhorn.org to register.

Need Service Hours? – Youth needed to assist with the Fish Fry on Fridays during Lent from 5-8 pm or 6th - 8th graders who want to be part of the St. Pat’s dinner on Sunday, March 16th from noon to 3 pm.  Volunteers need to help decorate and to bus tables. Youth entertainers also needed whether vocal or instrumental, solo or group, to provide background music during the meal.  Contact Jenni Vankat at jvankat@stpatselkhorn.org to sign up.

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