PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION

MR. RIDDER’S REMINDERS

Aug 13               St. Patrick’s Street Dance 6:30-11:00pm
Aug 15                Back to School Night for Kindergarten – 8^th Grades
                            5:30-6:00pm Last Names A – H
                            6:00-6:30pm Last Names I – P
                            6:30-7:00pm Last Names Q - Z
Aug 17                First Day of School for Kindergarten – 8^th Grades
                            Kindergarteners Attend 8:05 - Noon with Lunch thru Aug 19^th
Aug 18                PreS Open House 9:00 or 1:00
Aug 19                PreK Open House 9:00 or 1:00
Aug 22                First FULL Day of School for Kindergarteners
                            Boo Hoo/Whoo Hoo Kindergarten Parents Breakfast 8:15am Boland Hall
                            PreK First Day of School
Aug 23                PreS First Day of School
                            5^th-8^th Grade Curriculum Night 6:30 & 7:15 classroom then to church
Aug 25                2:00 Dismissal
                            2^nd-4^th Grade Curriculum Night 6:30 & 7:15 classroom then to church
Aug 26                Parish Golf Outing
Aug 28                Parish Carnival

PAPERWORK NEEDED-Health information listed below for students should be turned into the school office by August 1, 2011 if you have not previously submitted it. Please refer to the Family Handbook for additional information.  We MUST have a copy of each child’s:
birth certificate
Immunization record
baptismal certificate (if this sacrament took place at another Parish) before your child(ren) can attend school.
We are currently going through every child’s file..  If you received an email stating we are missing one or more of these items, please get a copy in to the office  BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
***Birth certificates and immunizations are required by the state of Nebraska for school attendance. These documents must be turned in, signed off as complete and accurate by office staff and the school nurse before your child is allowed to attend school at St. Patrick’s School next week. If the birth took place in Douglas County and you need to get a copy, you must walk-in to the downtown Omaha office to receive the certificate as the website says it takes 7-10 days to process. Days missed by students who do not have this information turned in will be marked with an unexcused absence.

OPEN SPOTS IN THE SCHOOL - Even though our enrollment numbers are climbing (730 last year and 780 this year) we still have openings in most of our grades. Most of that is due to the economic challenges many of our families are facing. Therefore, at this time we have a few openings inpre-School and first grade.We also have openings in grades 3rd thru 8th grade. Since our students and staff are so welcoming and adaptable it is never too lateto register your child(ren). Please come and check us out in person or on our web page at stpatselkhorn.organd you will be impressed with our caring staff and our friendly students.We can be reached by email at ridderd@stpatselkhorn.org.

TUITION ASSISTANCE HELP - As our program continues to excel with higher academic and behavioral expectations we are finding more and more parents who want their children to have the excellence in Catholic education that St. Patrick's School is providing. Unfortunately, we also have more families who can't afford this education. Therefore, we are searching for more people who have the resources to help fund our tuition assistance program. If you or someone you know is interested in supporting our tuition assistance program, please have them contact Don Ridder, Principal at ridderd@stpatselkhorn.org Thank you for your continued support of St. Patrick's Catholic School. The tremendous support of our parishioners, our parents, and our community are the reasons we continue to thrive on the cutting edge of excellence in education.

AVOID BEING TARDY – To ensure that your child is not tardy for school; please have your child dropped off by 7:55 a.m. each morning.  Every child must be at the school by the first bell at 8:05 a.m.  If your child is not in the classroom by 8:10 a.m. they will be considered tardy.  Three or more tardies for a quarter will disqualify your child from receiving perfect attendance for that quarter and/or a total of eight for the total perfect attendance award at the end of the year. There is supervision in the morning outside beginning at 7:45am.

2011-2012 FAMILY HANDBOOK POSTED ONLINE - The 2011-2012 Family Handbook is posted on the school web site.  All parents/guardians and students are expected to read and follow the entire handbook.  There are several changes to acknowledge.  The main procedures or changes to note are:

• Addition of Exploratory Classes
• Participation in Extra-Curricular Activities
• End of School Year Financial Obligations
• Security System
• Student Birthday Recognition
• Uniform Policy – Note that trendy hair accessories are not allowed which includes feathers or distracting colors/cuts.

Family Handbook Acknowledgment Forms will be distributed at “Get Set for School” where all parents/guardians and students will be asked to sign that they have readand expect to follow the proceduresthe handbook in its entirety. These handbook acknowledgment forms will be due into the office by Friday, August 19^th.

CAN WE PUBLISH YOUR CHILD’S PICTURE?  – St. Patrick’s School is always looking for ways to market our school and tell the community about events taking place in our school.  If you do not  want your child’s picture to be a part of any of our marketing tools, such as in the Omaha World Herald, Catholic Voice, or The Douglas County Post-Gazette, or the school website, then you need to inform Mrs. Moritz ASAP. 

TUITION PAYMENTS PAST DUE – First tuition payments were due July 20^th.  If you have not made your payment, please do so ASAP and contact Vicki Payton if you have questions at vpayton@stpatselkhorn.org.

CATHOLIC 101: Second Commandment – by Fr. Rodney Adams
The Second Commandment:  You shall not take the name of the Lord Your God in Vain.   When I was a kid my Nana thought me that I should start every day with the Sign of the Cross.  She told me/us to do it the moment we woke up, before we got out of bed.  She told us to do that because it is a way to dedicate the day to the glory of God’s holy name.  She actually talked like that.  Now she could be a lot of fun, but when it came to matters of faith she was absolutely resolute and would not tolerate any breach of the second (and of course third) commandment, no matter how small.  And as an adult her insistence on this makes perfect sense because if you love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, then you would just naturally respect the name of God with that same kind of passion.  I think all of us expect people to respect our names, because respect for someone’s name is respect for them.  So disrespect for someone’s name is disrespect for them.  So the second commandment calls us to respect the name of God, especially the name Jesus Christ.  Now the word God is not a name strictly speaking, it is more of a title or even description, but the term contains our idea of whom and what God is and so it must be respected.  So to swear and curse using God’s name when someone cuts you off in traffic, or honks if you don’t turn the instant the arrow turns green, is a sin.  And if you think about it, isn’t it ironic that so many people who claim to follow Jesus express their anger and animosity by using his name.  When was the last time you heard someone outside of mass say Jesus Christ, or for Christ’s sake?  Was it said in prayer?  Using God’s name disrespectfully is blasphemy.  The most common and even acceptable way God’s name is disrespected is when we say: God damn it.  So, a couple of things about that:  One is that generally that phrase is yelled in anger or just frustration like …I forgot my keys.  So we don’t really mean we want to damn someone to hell, but that doesn’t excuse how serious saying that actually is.  If I say that, I have just blasphemed the Holy Name of God.  Or maybe I really do mean to damn someone to hell, this too is gravely sinful.  Jesus Christ himself said that he came to bring everyone to the Father; the Church prays that no one should be lost, we pray for the dead.  Now, we sometime have passing feelings wishing someone would just go to hell, that’s a feeling, feelings come and go.  But to feed the desire for someone to go to hell, for someone to be forever separated from the love of God, is evil in and of itself.  Besides, it doesn’t work that way God does not send people to hell, those who reject God and God’s mercy send themselves to hell.  It’s amazing when we unpack these commandments how much each one actually says.  Let God’s Holy Name always be praised.

IT'S DIRECTORY TIME AGAIN - Watch your inbox for an email showing the information we have on file for your family which will be published in the 2011-2012 Home and School directory. You will have the option to choose what you do NOT want published or to update what you do. This email will arrive the week of August 1st. If you don't receive an email and would like to update your information, you may contact Jaymie Oehler at jaymie@jaymie.netor visit the directory table at Get Set for School. We are making every effort to ensure that all information is as accurate as possible.

USED UNIFORM SALE A MAJOR SUCCESS - Thank you to everyone who donated or purchased uniforms at the Used Uniform Sale.Home & School appreciates your support as well as all the school children who ultimately benefit from your purchases. I do have a waiting list for several items, so if you have uniforms you would rather not donate & prefer to sell directly, please contact me & I will put you in touch with families that are waiting for items so they can be “ready for school”.My waiting list is for:

• Plaid, sizes 5, 6, 10 & 12.
• Large sweaters &
• Large or x-large short sleeved shirts in good condition.

Please contact Suzanne Kahnk at skahnk@otcvs.com.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES ARE HERE!!  For everyone who ordered school supplies last spring, please pick up your child's/children's school supplies in the gym entrance next Monday, August 15th at the Back to School night. Supplies may not be picked up before that day. Please contact Christina Diers at acediers@cox.netwith any questions. Thanks!

SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING – ALL staff and volunteers must be Safe Environment Trained as required by the Archdiocese of Omaha to be around children in any capacity. This includes but is not limited to volunteering in any way around the school, coaching, sponsoring clubs, etc. The following information will tell you when, where and how you may take the training classes.
Initial Training
The next trainings at St. Pat’s for Safe Environment Initial Certification are in Boland Hall on:
Saturday, Aug. 20^th from 9:00-11:00 am in Boland Hall
Thursday, Sept. 8^th from 6:30-8:30 pm in the Parish Center
Saturday, Oct. 1^st from 9:00-11:00 am in Boland Hall
To register, contact Jenni Vankat, Safe Environment Coordinator, at jvankat@stpatselkhorn.org or 402-289-4289 x1527.
Recertification Online Training
The Archdiocese offers a Safe Environment Online Recertification program.  This online program was created so individuals may complete the training at their convenience. The training takes approximately 60 minutes to complete.  Below are the steps to access the online recertification and other key points to acquire recertification.

• Go to the Archdiocesan website -  www.archomaha.org
• Select the “Safe Environment” tab.
• Click on "Recertification Online Training" to get started.
• Follow the instructions.  Note:  You will have to create a login and password for yourself.
• When the training is finished, you must print out and fill out:  1) the Online Recertification Registration form, and 2) the Notification, Authorization and Screening form.  Mail the two completed forms to the Safe Environment Records Office along with the fee (see step 6).  The address is noted on the Recertification Registration Form.
• The training fee is $12 for volunteers and $15 for employees.  If you need reimbursement, print out and complete the SE Reimbursement Form found on the Safe Environment page of the parish website (www.stpatselkhorn.org) and turn it in to the Parish Office.  A reimbursement check will be mailed to you.
• You will receive an LMS email report of your recertification session with LMS and an Attempt % in the subject line.  Please forward this email to safeenvironment@stpatselkhorn.org so we can update your certification status.  Thank You!

WELCOME DESK VOLUNTEERS – CALLING ALL PERSPECTIVE WELCOME DESK VOLUNTEERS – We need your help!  We are looking for a volunteer for each afternoon while children are still in the building for after school activities from 3:00 – 6:00pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. You or your friends, parents, grandparents, could volunteer once a week, or once every two weeks or what works best for your schedule.  Don’t miss out; this could be a lot fun for you. If you have a friend or relative that might be interested, please let us know.  If you or someone you know are interested, please email Dan Van Anne at dva47@hotmail.com.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR LUNCHROOM DUTY - Each month we need to fill 100 volunteer positions in the lunchroom to help serve and clean up after the students. Whether your child buys their lunch at school or is a cold lunch kiddo - they utilize the lunchroom. Parents (or grandparents) are needed from 10:45 - 12:50 each school day. We need help every day of the week, but specifically we could use additional volunteers on Mondays and Fridays. Please call or email Kris Morrissey if you would like more information or are willing to help: krismorrissey@cox.net or 402-630-8964.

COME JOIN THE WALKING CLUB - Looking for a fun way for you and your child to be healthy? Join Walking Club! We meet every Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7:40am to 8:00am at the soccer field. Our first meeting will be August 30th. Please fill out the permission form and bring it to the first meeting. If you have questions, please contact Christina Diers at acediers@cox.net. See you then!

CLICK HERE FOR WALKING CLUB PERMISSION SLIP

7^TH & 8^TH GRADERS TRY OUT FOR THIS YEAR’S SCHOOL MUSICAL - We are pleased to announce that Once Upon a Mattress Jr.will be our fall musical. All 7th and 8th graders are invited to participate in the musical. There are many opportunities to join in from making sets to designing programs and much more! Auditions for speaking and singing parts will be Monday and Tuesday, August 22 & 23at 7:15am. You only need to attend one of the days. Please prepare a short (1 minute) song for the audition. Contact Mrs. Ackerman with any questions!

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR VERY OWN ART TEACHER, KELLIE MURNAN! - The College of Business Administration is hosting a celebration of creativity, art, and business with a focus on the artists whose works appear within and outside Mammel Hall.  Our awesome art teacher, Ms. Murnan, is one of the artists being recognized.  Please be sure to congratulate Kellie on her wonderful accomplishment.

MCS (MUSIC IN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS) MEETING – Parents and prospective band students (grades 5-8) band information and registration nights are quickly approaching.  The locations for registrations are held at various Catholic Schools and are held from 7:00-8:30 pm in August and September.  All 5-8 grade teachers have the informational flyers with the dates and locations and will be sending them out to the students.  Please check with your child’s teacher if you have not received it via e-mail.

THE ADVENTURE STARTS NOW!!  Pack #650 Cub Scouts would like to invite all 1st  through 5th grade boys to join Cub Scouts. If your son enjoys camping, swimming, hiking, field trips, and having fun with friends, then Cub Scouts is for you! Cub Scouts is a year-round family program designed for boys in the 1st through 5th grades, or ages 7 to 10 years of age. The program emphasizes faith, shared leadership, learning about community, family understanding, character development, citizenship and personal fitness. Young boys grow up fast. Give your son a valuable gift by encouraging him to join Cub Scouting. The time you invest in him today will make a difference in the person he becomes tomorrow. Join us for the first Pack Meeting/Parent Night on Tuesday, August 30^th at 6:30pm in the Parish Center to register. Please contact Andrew or Amy Wilson at afwilson@creighton.edu  or (402) 917-4350 with questions.

We need you!!  Here is how you can help with St. Patrick’s Scrip fundraising program for the 2011-2012 school year.  Send your completed order form and payment to the school in your child’s backpack. Orders received by 8:00am on Tuesday mornings will be returned by the following Tuesday.

• Purchase Scrip gift cards after all Masses in the back of church by the elevators – volunteers will be selling at the podium – Starts up again on Sunday, August 21^st
• Do you need Scrip gift cards for same day shopping or are picking up a last minute gift? Stop in the school office Monday through Friday to see what cards are in stock and available for immediate purchase.
• Scrip is implementing returnable envelopes in an attempt to limit paper waste. Please help us in “going green” by returning these envelopes to school with your child. You can send it in with your next order for Scrip!
• Sign up to order online at ShopWithScrip.com – use enrollment code D6693A9234L6

Scrip Back to School Promotion:
Educational Outfitters has joined our SCRIP program just in time to purchase school uniforms. They are offering $20 gift cards with 5% going back to the SCRIP program. Anyone who redeems an Educational Outfitters gift card before August 31stwill be entered into a drawing to win a $50 gift card.

PARISH CARNIVALNEWS - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED–Counting down the final few weeks until… The St. Patrick’s Parish Carnival is Sunday, August 28th from 1:30-5:30 PM– save the date. Hopefully we’ll have cooler weather & no rain – and a fun afternoon for all. If you have questions or would like to volunteer, contact Jacquie Schumacher @ 201-1183/emailjacquieschumacher@cox.netor Tammy Olson at 490-2191 or email olsonp1@cox.net.

2011 FALL BASKETBALL SESSION - Registration is now open for the 2011 Fall Basketball Session for parish youth grades K-4. The grades will be separated as the following: Kindergarten, 1st/2nd grade boys, 1st/2nd grade girls, 3rd/4th grade boys, 3rd/4th grade girls. The season runs October 22nd - December 10th. For any questions regarding this session please contact Scott Kubicek: carrie.kubicek@cox.net. For questions regarding online registration please contact Katie & Brent L'Heureux at lheureux03@yahoo.com. Cost is $30 for YMCA members, $60 for Non-YMCA members. Registration will end September 17th and late registration fees will apply after the 17th. To register please go to: http://new.stpatselkhorn.org/athletics/athleticsindex.cfm.

PAL VOLLEYBALL REGISTRATION OPEN AGAIN! - Don't forget to sign up for PAL volleyball - registration closes on Aug 18th. If you signed up in the spring you DO NOT need to sign up again. If you can’t remember if you did, please send an email to Dan Hanus (DQH@COX.NET). Depending upon the new registrations, it is possible we will hold a fall tryout to ensure we assign the girls to the proper team for her skillset. Dan will be in touch with you after signup closes regarding tryout information. Since the season starts the first week of September, if you miss signup we cannot guarantee your daughter will be able to be assigned to a team. Please contact Dan if you have any further questions.

SAVE THE DATE! 
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26^TH, ST. PATRICK’S PARISH 11^TH ANNUAL GOLF OUTING
New location… Indian Creek Golf Course
Visit the St. Pat’s Facebook page for Registration & Sponsorship Information
Contact Charles Olson at 402-290-0294 or Charles@ociservices.com for more information

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