SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT

This holy season teaches us that we, who now with Christ, share one humanity, must do our best to bring this fragile earth into the peace that heralds a new birth.

Rejoice, rejoice! Our freedom is at hand. The Dawn of Justice shines upon the land. 

PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Dec 13                                2:00 Dismissal – Teacher In-Service

Dec 17                                K – 2nd Grade – Rescheduled Christmas Cantata @ 6:30 in Church

Dec 17                                7:30 pm - Meet the 2008-2009 Middle School Football Coach         

Dec 18                                3rd-8th Grade Christmas Cantata – 6:30 in Church

Dec 20 & 21                        PreS & PreK Christmas Programs 9:30am & 1:00pm

Dec 21                                Kindergarten – 8th Grade Christmas Parties 2:30-3:00

                                          1st Semester Ends

Dec 24 – Jan 4                    No School - Christmas Vacation

Jan 7                                  School Resumes & Report Cards Sent Home

DID YOU KNOW…that more than 494 lives have been directly impacted in a positive way by St. Patrick’s involvement with Opportunity Education?  Hundreds of letters have been exchanged from students in Elkhorn, Nebraska, with pupils in Mubende, Africa.  Life-long friendships, a respect for each other’s culture, and sharing God’s love are just a few of the benefits of this program.  In our most recent exchanges, our students found that while they were learning about animal adaptations, their pen pals were learning how to fend off animal attacks.  Our first grade students are now writing letters to return to their pen pals at St. Mary’s. As you will read below, our staff and students have been gathering supplies that will be sent to St. Mary’s on the 20th of December.  Our lives may seem worlds apart, but it is imperative that we recognize that we are all God’s children and are called to share what He has provided us with:  time, talents, and treasure. 

INFORMATION ON THE NEW BUILDING PROGRESS – F & B Constructors work each week averaging 5 to 6 days on our expansion.  As the cold weather is upon us, they began several interior projects.  During this Advent Season, please continue to pray for their work and for our Capital Campaign which is supporting this building process. Thanks to all of the people and families that have been a part of this success. Updated pictures can be seen at www.stpatselkhorn.org.

SCHOOL WEATHER CLOSINGS – As stated in the Family Handbook, in the event of bad weather, please listen to Radio Station KFAB or KKAR and/or watch channels 3, 6, and/or 7 for school closing, late start or early dismissal.  If school is closed or dismissed early due to inclement weather, all events or activities after school will be canceled or postponed to a later date.  In case of early dismissal, students will be sent home their usual way--walking, carpool, etc., unless we are notified otherwise.  No child will be dismissed unless proper provisions have been made.  St. Patrick’s School will follow the recommendations of the Catholic School Office and Elkhorn Public Schools regarding announcements made concerning dismissal because of weather.  In the event of bad weather and no early closing, children can be released early only if a parent/guardian comes to school to pick them up.  Reminder, students must be picked up at the office. FYI – St. Patrick’s School is NOT considered Omaha Catholic Schools.  We will be listed as St. Patrick’s Catholic School of Elkhorn.   

K-2nd GRADE CHRISTMAS MUSCICAL CANTATA RESCHEDULED- The K-2nd Grade Christmas Cantata has been rescheduled for Monday, December 17th @ 6:30 in the Church. 3rd – 8th GRADE CHRISTMAS MUSICAL CANTATA –The 3rd-8th grade Christmas Cantata will be held at 6:30pm on December 18th, in the Church.  Please have your child/children in their classroom by 6:15 (no earlier than 6pm please).  Students are to come dressed in their Christmas best for this night.  No tennis shoes, jeans, shorts, T Shirts are allowed to be worn. It is our hope that everyone will still be able to attend and enjoy the sounds of children singing.

PRES and PREK CHRISTMAS PROGRAMS – PreS Programs will be on Thursday, December 20th at 9:30 for the am class and 1:00 for the pm class.  PreK Programs will be on Friday, December 21st at 9:30 for the am class and 1:00 for the pm class.  Programs will be in the Church followed by a cookie reception in the school cafeteria.  Everyone is welcome.

STUDENT COUNCIL IS IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING - As we celebrate this season of advent, we are focusing on giving to those less fortunate than us.  The Student Council is sponsoring a school supply drive for our sister school in Uganda.  The students need pencils, crayons, and other materials to help with the learning process.  The teachers are also donating teacher supplies to the teachers in Uganda.  The drive will run from Monday, December 10 to Thursday, December 20.  Let’s all work together to make this school supply drive to be the best ever! Thanks for your support, Mrs. DeWald and Mr. Valish-Student Council Sponsors.

PRINCIPAL’S NOTES - The office posts the Principal’s Notes every Thursday afternoon on the school page of the website unless we have a shortened week of school.  In that case, the notes will be available a day or two earlier.  The notice of Principal Notes will not be sent via email every week as The Principal Notes will be available on the web page at www.stpatselkhorn.org/school/index.cfm

CHRISTMAS VACATION- Our Christmas Break is scheduled from December 22nd through January 6th, classes will resume on January 7th.  The school office will be closed during the break to observe the holidays.  We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday and look forward to seeing your shining faces in 2008!

 SAFETY PATROL NEEDS YOUR HELP - We are in dire need of adults to help with morning Safety Patrol.  My plea goes out to parents who have no kids left in their car after they drop off.  Could you find it in your heart to help us out for 10-15 minutes?  I challenge you to find 10-15 minutes for one morning a month – maybe even every other month – if we can get enough parents to help.  The days we need help in order of need are Wednesdays, then Monday and Friday.  This job is all about getting your children out of the cars and into school safely.  Drop off times start at 7:45. If you can help from 7:50-8:10 please consider offering it up.  Call Denise Kimnach at 496-1210 and let her know you can help.  Thank You!

JOIN US AND BE A HOME & SCHOOL CHRISTMAS ELF - This is your opportunity to show your appreciation to ALL faculty and staff without having all that shopping and accumulated expense!  Send a monetary donation to school in the envelope that was provided for you, or any envelope addressed H & S Christmas Elves. All names of contributors will be acknowledged along with the SCRIP certificate that will be givento each staff member.

SAVE YOUR HY-VEE RECEIPTS – Send us your Hy Vee receipts that you collect through the end of 2007.  We have enough receipts turned in to-date to receive about $250 from Hy Vee.  The receipts must be dated September 10, 2007 through December 31, 2007.  We need to return all receipts back into Hy Vee early in 2008.  Send your receipts for grocery, gas, pharmacy, etc. into the office.  Remember to use SCRIP so we benefit from both programs.

LOCKS OF LOVE -  We are asking for girls who wish to donate 10 inches or more of their hair to participate in this wonderful cause. This year we will be holding this great event on January 23rd.  If interested, please complete the permission slip linked below to allow your daughter to give her hair, and send it to school ASAP to allow the right number of stylists. If you have any other questions or know someone else who would like to donate their hair, contact Denise Kimnach at 496-1210.

PERMISSION SLIP FOR LOCKS OF LOVE

PINT-SIZE HERO - Your student is invited to participate in a community service project sponsored by the American Red Cross called Pint-Size Hero. This program teaches our children about the importance of blood and blood donation.  Please see the link below for more information about this program and how St. Patrick's School and Religious Formation students plan on involving themselves in the Annual Blood Drive January 23rd, 2008.  Please encourage your child to involve themselves in this worthy cause.

PINT-SIZE HERO INFORMATION

SCRIP TIP OF THE WEEK -SCRIP Tip of the Week… We’ve surpassed our sales goal of $20,000! The reward is a DRESS DOWN DAY on Friday, January 18th! YEAH!  If you would still like to order any special order items from SCRIP, please send in your order form by this Friday, December 14th – anything received after that date for any of the special order items will NOT be received before Christmas!  Thanks for supporting our Home & School sponsored SCRIP program!  Questions or comments, call Jane Chapman @ 553-6131 or KCCJDC@cox.net.

 ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? – Meet the 2008-2009 St. Patrick’s Football Coach, Mike Robinson, on Monday, December 17th, from 7:30 to 8:30pm in the Math/Science classroom, located in the lower level of the school.  This is open to all current 6th and 7th grade boys and their parents in St. Patrick’s Parish as well as anyone who would like to learn more about the start up this sport. These boys will participate in the Parochial Athletic League (PAL) next fall when they are in 7th and 8th grade. We expect this will become a long standing tradition at St. Patrick’s.

DECORATING THE CHURCH FOR CHRISTMAS – Mr. Willis is looking for help to decorate the church after December 23rd’s 12:30 Mass.  Please contact him at 359-1951 if you will be available.

REGISTER FOR SPRING SPORTS - Late Registration is still open for YMCA Basketball & CYSL Spring Soccer.  Register immediately before teams fill-up! You may also still register for the following sports:

Micro Soccer (Spring 2008)             Late charges will begin on Feb. 15th, 2008

T-Ball (Spring 2008)                        Late changes will begin on Feb. 15th

You will be able access the online registration from the St. Patrick’s Athletic Page via the following link: http://stpatselkhorn.org/athletics/Athleticsindex.cfm. If you have any questions regarding online registration, please contact Lynette Davis – Cell Phone  402.496.0764

MIDDLE SCHOOL SPY NIGHT – This Sunday, Dec. 16th from 6-7:30 pm in the Youth Room.  Topic: O is for Advent.  Bring or wear an item that begins with “O” and get a goodie!

ST. PATRICK’S FIELD OF DREAMS DINNER/AUCTION – Do you want to make a donation to the Field of Dreams auction but not sure what to give?  The committee is still accepting underwriting donations which are used to buy the exciting oral auction items each year.  We already have some fabulous packages including a 4 bedroom condo in Puerto Vallarta and a family trip to Disneyworld! If you'd like to make a donation, please contact Deb Gustafson at debragustafson@hotmail.com or 491-3820 or John Dunn at jdunn@stpatselkhorn.org or 289-1890.

HOLIDAY MASS SCHEDULE – The Mass times for the Advent and Christmas Season are as follows:Sunday, December 23rd, 4th Sunday of Event, at regular times

Monday, December 24th, Christmas Eve at 8:30am, 4:30pm, 6:30pm and Midnight

Tuesday, December 25th, Christmas Day at 8:00am, 9:30am, and 11:00am

Monday, December 31st New Year’s Eve There will be no Vigil Mass

Tuesday, January 1st New Year’s Day at 8:00am, 9:30am, and 11:00am

THE WINNER OF THE WEEK IS….with only 5 student’s names in the drawing for a $10 SCRIP card, the winner is: Mackenzie Rohe, in Mrs. Koelzer's 2nd grade RF class at 5:45. St Patrick’s 5 day and RF students please make sure to turn in your sold tickets. Those tickets will be thrown in the drawing to win the Harley Davidson Sportster or $10,000 cash, which will be won at our annual Parish Dinner/ Auction on February 2nd.  Drawings for the SCRIP gift cards will be held on Dec. 14th, 21st, Jan.11th, 18th, 25th and Feb 1st.  The drawing will include every school and RF student that have turned in sold tickets.

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