PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION

MR. RIDDER’S REMINDERS

May 2                  Home and School Meeting 7:30pm Staff Lounge

May 5                  3^rd & 4^th Grade Spring Sing

May 6                  No School – Teacher In-Service

May 12                2:00 Dismissal

May 13                Uganda Dress Down Day

May 19                PreS Picnic & Last Day of School

                           7^th & 8^th Grade Variety Show

May 24                8^th Grade Mass 8:30am & Graduation 6:30pm

May 25                PreK Graduation 9:30 & 1:30

May 26                Field Day – Details to Follow

May 27                Last Day of School – 11:00am Dismissal

2011-2012 SCHOOL CALENDAR FINALIZED - The calendar for the 2011-2012 school year has been finalized and can be found on the school website in the right hand column. Please make note of the Christmas and Spring Break dates when planning your vacations and note the four added dismissal days.  An explanation is found in the letter linked below regarding some other changes you will find.  Please take a moment to read these important updates.

LINK TO PRINCIPAL’S CALENDAR LETTER

TUITION ASSISTANCE DEADLINES – Families who feel Tuition Assistance may be necessary for the 2011-2012 school year need to 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 St. Patrick’s Tuition Assistance will be due by June 1, 2011.  Due to increased demand, and less funding available, deadlines must be adhered to.  All information is kept strictly confidential. Forms may be acquired online at www.stpatselkhorn.org under the “School” tab.  St. Pat’s application is to be filled out prior to printing.  Any questions, please contact our Business Manager, Vicki Payton at the parish office at 289-4289 Ext 1521, 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.

TEACHER ASSISTANTS, RESOURCE (TEAM) AND EXTENDED CARE ASSISTANTS NEEDED –If you or someone you know are interested in any of these positions, please email your application, resume, and references to Mr. Ridder ridderd@stpatselkhorn.org.  

One Part-time Preschool TA on Tuesday/Thursday
One Full-time 1^st Grade TA Monday-Friday 
One Part-time 3rd Grade TA Monday-Friday

One Part-time 6th Grade TA Monday-Friday
One Part-time 7th/8th Grade TA Monday-Friday
One Full-time TEAM TA Monday-Friday

Two Part-time TAs for Extended Care before and/or after school

MAY EXTENDED CARE AND LUNCH MENU ONLINE – See the website for updated information.

CATHOLIC  101 - The Easter Octave

Sometimes people look at Catholicism as a religion that only serves to set limits and restrictions; it exists to say no to everything that’s fun in life.  It tries to scare us away from our need for pleasures and takes the playfulness and joy out of everything.  But nothing could be further from the truth.  Religion is the very opposite of that; religion is not about restrictions it’s all about excess.  Easter is a perfect example of how we celebrate what the rest of the world forgets.  Life in God is the real thing, the real high, and everything else (when used in excess) things like sex, alcohol, drugs, gambling, pornography, greed, are only substitutes for the real thing.  These things are made for people who haven’t discovered God among us and the joy that that discovery brings.  Someone once wrote: it is religion, in fact, that built joy and excitement, happiness and satisfaction, abandon and trust, fun and holy leisure into the midst of life in the first place.  Throughout history religion gave hope to those oppressed or forced into labor with feast days and solemnities.  Before fair labor laws and a five day work week, religion insisted people take time to worship and rest and feast on Sundays.  I don’t in any way want to pretend that we don’t also promote fasting and prayer, discipline and self-control, but these disciplines only serve to focus our attention away from empty excesses to sustainable joys.  Easter calls us to stop, to put our work down for a minute or two and enter into another level of life and ask ourselves what does resurrection mean and who are we in this Easter drama.  So when we say that religion is about celebration we have to be careful to make a distinction between mindless party time and intentional awareness.  So the celebration of Easter must be savored, not rushed; the fifty days are like on “Great Sunday.” The first eight days are called the octave of Easter, they’re like the “early hours” of the great Sunday; eight days of solemnity and feasting.  Eight days to refocus from the disciplines of Lent to the joy and celebration of the great 50 days.  Lent is not a day, it is a season, and it’s ok to have fun.

PENNIES FOR PATIENTS - The 2011 Penny Drive was full of competition this year.  The 6 & 8th graders teamed up to compete against the middle school, but 7th grade came out on top for the 4th year in a row.  Mr. Maline led the way by getting the enthusiasm of the kiddos to an all time high.  At other levels, Kindergarten through 3rd grade earned their goal.  Fourth grade beat 5th grade by about 150 ounces.  The students raised $3200 total of money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation.  All the money raised is used to help families in the Omaha area who have family members suffering from cancer.  Thanks to everyone who helped.

WHAT'S YOUR TIME WORTH?  SCHOOL SUPPLY KIT ORDERS - Home & School is offering School Supply kits again.  The order forms went home via backpacks with every PreS-7th grade students. Order your student(s)'s school supplies for the 2011-2012 school year; save yourself the hassle of running from store to store to find all the supplies.  All proceeds support 2011-2012 St. Patrick’s Home & School operations like the Parish carnival, Staff Appreciation and Catholic School's Week. Orders must be turned in by May 18^th, 2011.  No need to drag the supplies into school; they will be here for you to pick up at "Back to School" night in August.  Just pick them up and bring them down to your new classrooms(s). Any questions?  Contact Christina Diers at acediers@cox.net.   NOTE – PRES/PREK morning & afternoon assignments will be determined in June so place orders by the preference that you have for your child to attend. If in doubt, order the afternoon list. Sorry for the confusion.

LINK TO SCHOOL SUPPLY KIT ORDER FORM

3^rd & 4^th SPRING SING - Next Thursday, May 5^th, is the 3^rd & 4^th Grade Spring Sing will be held in the Parish Center.  We are excited to show you what we can do!  Third grade will perform at 6:30pm and fourth grade at 7:15pm.  See you there!

SUMMER SCHOOL REGISTRATION BEGINS - This class is intended to be a brush up to get the students ready for the upcoming school year. Emphasis will be placed on reading, writing, and grammar, as well as the review of math concepts. Parents should register for the grade their child will be entering in the fall of 2011.  The list below tells what teachers will be teaching and to the right you can find a link to their registration form.  Please make checks payable to the teacher.

Ms. McGinty      Kindergarten Summer School Form

Mrs. Kill             1^st Grade Summer School Form

Mrs. Hotovy        2^nd Grade Summer School Form

Mrs. Peal           3^rd Grade Summer School Form

Mrs. Miller           4^th Grade Summer School Form

Mrs. DeWald       5^th Grade Summer School Form

Information regarding summer school registration for Middle School will be available next week.

WALKING CLUB IS BACK - Spring is here and so is St. Patrick's Walking Club!  Beginning on Tuesday, April 19th, students in grades K - 8th may participate in walking club before school.  We will be walking around the soccer field on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7:40 to 8:00am. Physical activity in children has been shown to improve academic readiness, so send your kids and set an example by walking with us!  If it is raining, there will be no Walking Club. Please see the link for more information and the required permission form.  If you have questions, contact Christina Diers at acediers@cox.net.

LINK TO WALKING CLUB PERMISSION SLIP FORM

UNIFORM PRESALE –Pre-Order Polos NOW for next school year!  The choice is yours.  Midwest Impressions and Educational Outfitters are offering to pre-order polos for pick up in August.  Print off the attached form for the retailer that you choose to use and return it to the school office with attached check by May 15th.

LINK TO EDUCATIONAL OUTFITTERS PRESALE FORM

LINK TO MIDWEST IMPRESSIONS PRESALE ORDER FORM

2010-2011 YEARBOOK ORDERS AVAILABLE - It is time to order your 80 page, full color 2010 - 2011 yearbook.  Orders are due Friday, May 13th.  The yearbooks should be available for pickup in August.  If you have any questions, or any pictures that could be included in this year's yearbook, please contact Victoria Brichacek at stpatsyearbook@hotmail.com. 

LINK TO 2010-2011 YEARBOOK ORDER FORM

All pictures are needed, especially pictures of preschoolers, First Communion, Confirmation, St. Patrick's sponsored sports teams (CYSL or PAL), and special events such as music programs, field trips, classroom visitors, etc. 

There are also a limited number of last year's yearbooks (2009 - 10) available for purchase as well.  Please contact Victoria Brichacek at stpatsyearbook@hotmail.com for details.

BOX TOP BLITZ - Collect and clip all your box tops and bring them in!  Extended now until Tuesday, May 3^rd – this will be the last day to bring in box tops for our contest.  Two grades are currently paired up and the 'team' that accumulates the most box tops by May 3rd will get a dress down day, a recess with their 'team' and a treat at a date later announced!  It is a close race, but any 'team' can win!

GIRL SCOUTS EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION - Attention current second grade girls!: There will be a parent meeting for girls interested in 3rd grade Brownies for the 2011-2012 school year. The meeting will take place on May 3rd, 2011 at 7:00pm in Rm229.  Please plan on one parent/guardian attending. We will be answering questions and filling out registration forms for next year, so don't forget to bring your checkbook!  All Early Registrations receive an "Early Bird Patch" to place on your Brownie Vest.   Please contact Cindy Blumenkemper at 402-315-9668 blumenkemper@cox.net with any questions.

ST. PATRICK’S SPORTS BANQUET - Today is the last day to RSVP for the 5^th Annual St. Patrick’s Sports Banquet which will be this Sunday, May 1, 2011, 5:30 (sharp) – 8:00pm. Featuring guest speaker, John Cook, Coach of Nebraska Cornhuskers women's volleyball team, announcement of the Angel Scholarship winner, and a fajita dinner catered by parishioner, Paul Knust.  Invitees include all 5th – 8th grade boys and girls involved in a St Pat’s sponsored sport (and their parents). Please RSVP immediately through our online registration system at the following link http://leagueusa.com/registration/index.jsp?SportsOrganizationId=240.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL REGISTRATION BEGINS - Mark your calendars for June 13th through 17^th 9:00 a.m. to Noon and join us for Vacation Bible School. It is open to children entering kindergarten in the fall of 2011 through children entering 5th grade. 6th grade and up are welcome to volunteer.  Registration for participants and volunteers is on the website at www.stpatselkhorn.org under the Religious Formation tab.

Eat, Pray, Love Yourself! - Treat yourself to a little soul time for Mother’s Day! Please consider joining us for a Girls’ Night Out with Nebraska’s only Soul Coach, Betty Jensen. As a Soul Coach, Betty helps people find meaning, joy and inspiration in the ordinary to make it extraordinary!  The event is open to all women of the parish and is sponsored by M.O.M.S. Friday, May 6^th in Boland Hall 6-9pm. Drinks and appetizers are provided. Fee is $10. Please RSVP to Rene’ Kremer at renekremer@cox.net or 402-250-4710. Please mail registration fee to Rene’ Kremer 19208 Sahler Street, Elkhorn, NE 68022 by May 1^st.

PARISH GROUNDS CLEAN-UP - A second grounds spring clean up is scheduled for Friday, May 13 from 5-8.  Please consider lending a helping hand for an hour or two!  We'll be tending to the boulevards, tree lines and fence perimeters.  Please bring your rakes, shovels, trimmers and wheelbarrows.  If you plan to attend or have questions, please contact Kim Kidder at kkassen@hotmail.com or (402) 980-3065.

SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING – There will be an initial Safe Environment Training class on Wednesday, May 18^th, 2011 from 6:30 – 8:30pm.  As required by the Archdiocese of Omaha, it is mandatory for all staff and volunteers that work around our children in the school and parish to take this class. If a volunteer or staff member does not complete this training, they will be unable to serve in any capacity around children. To view this policy or see other training dates go to http://www.archomaha.org/pastoral/se/.  This applies to all parish and school organizations such as athletics, scouts, Home & School, lunchroom volunteers, etc. To register for the May 18^th training at St. Patrick’s, email Beth Kathol at bkathol@stpatselkhorn.org.

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