Mar 5 Parish Dinner Auction Mar 9 Ash Wednesday School Masses
8:30am – K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th Grades
10:30am – 6th, 7th & 8th Grade with Assisted Living Residents Mar 102:00 Dismissal – Teacher In-Service
End of the 3rd Quarter Mar 11 No School - Staff Spiritual Retreat – Office Closed
Parish Lenten Fish Fry 5 – 8pm Parish Center Mar 12 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Downtown Omaha Mar 14 Open House for Interested Families 8:30am–3:00pm Mar 17 St. Patrick’s School Spirit Day – Details Later
Report Cards Sent Home Mar 21 Home & School Meeting 7:30pm Staff Lounge Mar 23 Rehearsal for 7th & 8th Grade Musical, Annie Mar 24 2nd – 8th Grade Reconciliation Service
7th & 8th Grade Musical, Annie at 7:00pm in the Parish Center Mar 28-31 No School – Spring Break Apr 1 No School – Spring Break
PENNIES FOR PATIENTS - We are gearing up for our Pennies for Patients Campaign. All the money raised benefits the community outreach program of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This year we are
setting a goal of 3500 oz. for K - 3rd grade. If they reach the goal by the last day of collection, they will receive a special treat on a hot day in May. The upper grades will be competing against each other. If the fourth, fifth and middle school can surpass last year’s record, they will receive a special treat on a hot day in May also.
4th grade vs. 5th grade
6th & 8th grades vs. 7th grade
If we surpass last year’s total of 27,846 oz, everyone receives a dress down day to be determined by Mr. Ridder. We will weigh the coins again this year. We will convert all bills to ounces. $1 is the equivalent of 9 ounces. Student council members will be coming around every few days to collect and weigh. They will also be updating a thermometer so the kids can see where we are at in the collection and goal process. If you have not sent your handouts home, please do so. Thanks for your help, STUCO (Student Council)
CATHOLIC 101 - Works of Mercy and Visiting the Sick and Comforting Those Who Suffer Not many realize that the Catholic Church is the largest charitable institution in the world. This is largely due to the fact that the Corporeal and Spiritual Works of Mercy are often referred to as the “heart of Catholic identity.” St. Thomas Aquinas ((1225-1274), a famous philosopher and theologian to whom we credit the foundation of many of our Catholic teachings defines mercy as, "the compassion in our hearts for another person's misery, a compassion which drives us to do what we can to help him." This is what propels us to think and act beyond ourselves and our needs to focus on others. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are the traditional practices within the Catholic Church during Lent. The Works of Mercy exemplify the ways in which we practice various forms of almsgiving. Therefore, over the next several weeks during Lent we will be focusing on the Works of Mercy and challenging everyone to reflect on how you as individuals and families are living out your baptismal call to live a life of service towards others.
There are seven Corporeal Works of Mercy and seven Spiritual Works of Mercy. Corporeal Works of Mercy are defined as the “charitable actions by which we help our neighbors in their bodily needs.” These are to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked, visit the sick, visit the imprisoned, bury the dead, and give alms to the poor. The Spiritual Works of Mercy are defined as those “actions that help our neighbor in their spiritual needs.” These include counseling the doubtful, instructing the ignorant, admonishing the sinner, comforting the sorrowful, forgiving injuries, bearing wrongs patiently, and praying for the living and the dead. This week we will focus on the Corporeal Work of Visiting the Sick and the Spiritual Work of Comforting Those Who Suffer. Many of us have been sick ourselves or have had loved ones sick. As a child, nothing was more comforting than the touch of our mother’s hand on our forehead. As Catholics, we are called to visit the sick and be that comforting hand. As an institution, the Catholic Church was instrumental in building and staffing the first hospitals and care facilities in our country. In fact, “supplying companionship and housekeeping for the sick, elderly, and homebound, and accommodating the needs of the physically and mentally disabled are principle avenues of serving the sick.” Visiting the sick significantly coincides with Comforting the Suffering. The suffering does encompass a much larger range of individuals in addition to the sick. It may be as simple as a wiping the tears of a child who has scraped his knee, to helping someone through a dangerous addiction or being with a loved one or friend after the loss of a spouse/parent/child. Still we are called to be that loving hand of comfort and often times it is just the offering of our presence that is most needed. As a parish we strive to live out these Works of Mercy in many different ways. One ministry in particular we have at St. Pat’s which truly lives out Caring for the Sick and Comforting Those Who Suffer is the Ministry of Caring. This ministry is made up of individuals who are EMHC’s (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion) and take communion to those in care facilities (there are 7 in our parish boundaries) and to those who are homebound. The Ministry of Caring also serves at funeral masses assisting the pastor. They reach out to those who are sick and suffering either bodily or in sorrow. The funeral committee also comforts those who suffer by providing family members of the deceased with a luncheon after funerals. We encourage you to think of ways you and your family lives out these Works of Mercy and challenge you this Lent to make a conscious effort to Visit the Sick and Comfort the Suffering. For ideas on ways you can do this, please visit our website: www.stpatselkhorn.org/Catholic101.
SAFETY PATROL CHAIR NEEDED - Home and School is in need of a volunteer to be chairperson of the Safety Patrol committee for next year. Safety Patrol is the committee who closes the lots at 3:20pm in order
to keep our children safe when exiting school. The chairman's duties include: recruiting volunteers, coordinating volunteer schedules, and ensuring volunteers are manning their assigned lots after school. This is a very important position for ensuring our children's safety as they leave school and approach our cars. Please contact Christina Diers (acediers@cox.net) or Shelley Weeks (shel5@cox.net) if you are interested. Thank you!
HOME & SCHOOL MEETING COMING UP - The next Home and School meeting will be on Monday, March 21st at 7:30pm in the Teacher's Lounge. Please contact Christina Diers (acediers@cox.net) or Kathy McCarthy (mccarthy5@cox.net) if you have items for the agenda.
SCRIP - Thanks to all of our families that purchased their Savings Sidekick coupon books. We raised over $1,000 already in addition to the SCRIP orders! You can still turn in your money or return the books – just
send it in your child’s backpack. Just in time for SPIRIT – dinner/auction – Nouveau-Nail in Elkhorn is hosting “St. Pat’s Week” next Monday, Feb 28th thru Thursday, March 3rd. (To help you all get dolled up for the auction that Saturday) Plan a girl’s night/day out or stop by and get pampered while the kids are at school. 10% of sales will go back to St. Pat’s! Look for details on the yellow flyers in backpacks today! Details are below.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Saturday, March 12th 2010
Look out Omaha St. Pat’s is back and we are looking for our 8th trophy!
Theme: St. Patrick’s Catholic School #1 in Faith, Service and Excellence
Line up Time: 9:30 a.m.
Parade start time: 10:00 a.m.
Where: Old Market-Omaha
Questions:
Patti O”Hertel H-(402)779-4304 C-(402)681-3721
pjhertel@msn.com
Parade Route: Starts at 14th and Jones proceeds north and east through the Old Market area.
ST. PATRICK’S CHEERLEADING TRYOUTS FOR FALL, 2011
For: Upcoming 7th and 8th grade Girls
Dates: Monday March 7th at 3:30 - 4:30
Tuesday March 8th at 3:30 - 4:30
No practice Wednesday
Thursday March 10th 2:00 -4:00 (This is an early out day)
Girls please wear mostly white T-shirt and shorts (no denim) with spanks/spandex under. Hair must be pulled back away from face. We will have a parent’s informational meeting along with contract signing and uniform sizing (Date to be announced after tryouts).
ST. PATRICK’S MINI CHEER CAMP
Who: Girls in grades K-5
When: Monday March 7th: 3:30-4:30
Tuesday March 8th: 3:30-4:30
Thursday March 10th: 2:00-4:00 (This is an early out day)
Saturday March 12th: The girls will have the opportunity to march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade with our cheerleaders (Weather permitting)
Cheer coaches and our wonderful 8th grade cheerleaders will help the girls learn cheers and chants. There will be a performance for the parents at 3:45 on the last day to watch your future St. Pat’s cheerleaders! Cost: $25.00 (The cost includes snacks, drinks, and a t-shirt on the final day!)
ANNUAL GIRL SCOUT DANCE - The annual Girl Scout Dance will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2011. The theme is Hollywood Nights and the Red Carpet opens at 6:15 pm to 9:00 pm. This dance is sponsored by the Third Grade Brownie Troop for all St. Patrick School Girl Scouts and their fathers or special guest. Please plan now to attend. Contact Sara Banzhaf at 402-431-0923 with any questions.
CARNIVAL NEWS - Carnival News—Items Needed– Don’t forget to mark your calendars for St. Patrick's Parish Carnival set for Sunday, August 28 from 1:30-5:30pm.and get a head start on your SPRING CLEANING too! Look around your house for some fun "carnival" type toys and trinkets - we would love them for the carnival! One mom's trash is another kid's treasure at the carnival!!!! A box marked “carnival donations” will be placed in the entrance of the school for you to deposit your items. If you have questions or would like to volunteer, contact Jacquie Schumacher @ 201-1183 or email jacquieschumacher@cox.net.
DO YOU CARE FOR A CHILD WITH SPECIAL MEDICAL NEEDS? Join our support group for parents/guardians of children who need extra care, such as support for diabetes, autism spectrum, organ diseases, cancer, etc. We meet at 6:30pm the second Monday of each month in the family room in Boland Hall. Our next meeting is Monday, March 14th. Please email or call Kim Guthmann if you plan to attend – Kimberly@guthco.com 402.990.0549.
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
setting a goal of 3500 oz. for K - 3rd grade. If they reach the goal by the last day of collection, they will receive a special treat on a hot day in May. The upper grades will be competing against each other. If the fourth, fifth and middle school can surpass last year’s record, they will receive a special treat on a hot day in May also.
Not many realize that the Catholic Church is the largest charitable institution in the world. This is largely due to the fact that the Corporeal and Spiritual Works of Mercy are often referred to as the “heart of Catholic identity.” St. Thomas Aquinas ((1225-1274), a famous philosopher and theologian to whom we credit the foundation of many of our Catholic teachings defines mercy as, "the compassion in our hearts for another person's misery, a compassion which drives us to do what we can to help him." This is what propels us to think and act beyond ourselves and our needs to focus on others. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are the traditional practices within the Catholic Church during Lent. The Works of Mercy exemplify the ways in which we practice various forms of almsgiving. Therefore, over the next several weeks during Lent we will be focusing on the Works of Mercy and challenging everyone to reflect on how you as individuals and families are living out your baptismal call to live a life of service towards others. 
to keep our children safe when exiting school. The chairman's duties include: recruiting volunteers, coordinating volunteer schedules, and ensuring volunteers are manning their assigned lots after school. This is a very important position for ensuring our children's safety as they leave school and approach our cars. Please contact Christina Diers (acediers@cox.net) or Shelley Weeks (shel5@cox.net) if you are interested. Thank you!
send it in your child’s backpack. Just in time for SPIRIT – dinner/auction – Nouveau-Nail in Elkhorn is hosting “St. Pat’s Week” next Monday, Feb 28th thru Thursday, March 3rd. (To help you all get dolled up for the auction that Saturday) Plan a girl’s night/day out or stop by and get pampered while the kids are at school. 10% of sales will go back to St. Pat’s! Look for details on the yellow flyers in backpacks today! Details are below.