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The Blarney Stone
August 9, 2023
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Saint Patrick Catholic School, a ministry of Saint Patrick Parish, guides students in the pursuit of academic growth while inspiring joyful lives filled with love, service, and respect as disciples of Christ. | |
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—Back to School Details 2023-2024—
Meet and Greet | Wednesday, August 29
For those of you with a history at Saint Patrick Catholic School, our Meet and Greet Day will be very familiar. Before the pandemic, it was a mainstay for back-to-school. Meet and Greet is a happy, festive-feeling day where parents can park on the playground or surrounding streets and then have the opportunity to come into the classrooms to help children meet their teachers and classmates and greet new faces. Students should bring school supplies and settle them into lockers, desks, and cubbies. Siblings can see where their brothers and sisters will be, and families can arrive and leave at their leisure at any time between 8:30-noon. Stay for the whole time, or stay for a while. We are just happy to have you here!
We understand that bringing back our traditional format has raised some questions, particularly among our new families, and for any lack of clarity, we apologize. If the day poses a hardship for anyone, please email Principal Bolaños at principal@saintpats.org or call the main office at 253-272-2297) for happy assistance!
First Full Day of School | Thursday, August 30
We've outlined the drop-off and pick-up details below. There will be a Coffee & Doughnut gathering for parents in the gym from 8:00-9:30. Please join us!
Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedures
Morning Drop-Off Procedures for Regular School Days (Begins at 8:10 am)
- PreK students must be walked in and remain with parents until doors open at 8:25 am. After school, pick up students on G Street at their designated spots.
- Grades K-8 | 12th Street is a 2-way street; however, traffic flow for our DROP-OFF ZONE is DOWN 12th from Yakima to G Street. Safely pull over and let your student out curbside ONLY. Do not leave your car in the DROP-OFF ZONE.
- Grades 5-8 | Yakima is a 2-way street, pull over and let your student out curbside. Please make sure to instruct your student to use the crosswalks. Students can walk down to the main entrance of the playground and wait in their designated areas.
- Always have the child(ren) use the crosswalks patrolled by assigned staff.
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Afternoon Pick-Up Procedures for Regular School Days
PreK | Pick up at assigned first-floor doors
Grades 5-8 | Pick up on Yakima Street
For Kindergarten-Grade 4
- Gates open 10 minutes before dismissal time.
- Cars enter the playground from 12th Street and move forward in two lines. If your youngest child is in kindergarten or first grade, please use the left (building-side) lane; if your youngest child is in 2nd-4th grade, please use the right lane.
- Please leave only 2-3 feet between your car and the car in front of you.
- Please turn off your engine.
- Students will be kept behind the coned area until parents/guardians are present.
- Stay in your car until you see your child/children.
- Exit only if necessary to collect your child/children, then return quickly to your vehicle.
- If one or more of your students are still in the building, you may be asked to exit the pick-up area, circle the block and re-enter the pick-up area.
- Students may not play on the Big Toy or playground after school.
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Class Lists
We are putting the finishing touches on the class lists! Due to summer admissions, we like to ensure they are all set with no changes needed once the lists are published. Please look for an email from your child's classroom teacher before our Meet and Greet Day.
Back to School Nights
What is Back to School Night (BTSN) is an adults-only evening to get acquainted with staff, teachers, and families. It is an opportunity to learn about programs and special events, discover volunteer opportunities that fit your unique talents, visit your student's classrooms, learn about goals and expectations, and more. We will begin promptly in the Skip Butler Gym. We're excited to offer our Back to School Night in two sessions this year.
PreK-5th Grade
September 14 | 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Middle School
September 19 | 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Mass Days
This year all-school Masses (K-8) are on Thursdays* at 9:00 am, beginning September 7. Students should wear full Mass uniforms on Thursdays, including sweaters, sweatshirts, blazers, or vests.
*If there is a Holy Day, Mass will be on the Holy Day and not on Thursday unless the Holy Day falls on a Thursday.
Spirit Wear Friday
Students may wear SPCS-approved Spirit Wear t-shirts or sweatshirts on Fridays this year! Ordering information will be in The Blarney Stone newsletter when it is available.
Family Directory
Watch for an email from our Vice Principal, Mrs. Chambers, with the option to be included in our 2023-2024 digital Family Directory. Our directory is password protected and shared only within our school community.
Helpful Links
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Meet & Greet — First Day of School
The Meet & Greet event marks our first, albeit informal, contact day with students for the 2023-2024 school year.
August 30 | 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Saint Patrick Catholic School
The day allows students and families to stop in and meet teachers, put books and personal belongings in lockers, cubbies, or desks, and reconnect with friends after the summer break.
It has always been a fun and light way to begin the year. Adults stay with their students, and families can come and go any time between 8:30 am-12:00 pm. August 31 is the first full day of school— 8:30 am - 3:00 pm.
About the history of the Meet & Greet
For those with a history at Saint Patrick Catholic School, our Meet & Greet will be very familiar. Before the pandemic, it was a mainstay for back-to-school.
Meet & Greet is a happy, festive-feeling day where families can park on the playground or surrounding streets and then have the opportunity to come into the classrooms to help children meet their teachers and classmates and greet new faces.
Shamrocks wear their school uniform to mark the transition from summer casual to school clothes. Please bring your school supplies to settle them into lockers, desks, and cubbies. Siblings can see where their brothers and sisters will be, and families can arrive and leave at their leisure at any time between 8:30 am - 12:00 pm. Stay for the whole time, or stay for a while. We are just happy to have you here!
If the day poses a hardship for anyone, please email Principal Bolanos at principal@saintpats.org or call the main office at 253-272-2297 for happy assistance!
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First Day of School Photos
We can't wait to see your Shamrock smiles. Plan to send us your first-day-of-school snaps!
First Day of School Signs
We've created first-day-of-school signs for each grade; there is even one for future Shamrocks, grandparents, and supporters!
How to Share
There are several ways to share— email us or for public profiles, tag us on Facebook or Instagram @saintpatstacomaschool!
We'll also share a Facebook post on the morning of August 30— the first day of school, and you can drop your snapshots in the comments.
Remember to comment, share, like, and save our posts. It's an easy way to support your school.
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Coffee & Doughnut Social
We look forward to seeing you on the first full school day to celebrate our legacy of 130 years of Catholic Education!
August 31
8:00 am - 9:30 am
Saint Patrick Catholic School
Skip Butler Gymnasium
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Whether celebrating that first day of school, shedding a tear, or both, join us for doughnuts and coffee after drop-off to meet new Shamrock families and reconnect with friends.
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Middle School Electives
Preference selections for Middle School electives will be completed via a Google Form in mid-August.
Class Placements
We are putting the finishing touches on the class lists! Due to summer admissions, we like to ensure they are all set with no changes needed once the lists are published. Please look for an email from your student's classroom teacher before the Meet & Greet First Day of School.
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Pastor's Letter
Are you reading our weekly parish newsletter, The Cornerstone? To read Fr. David Mulholland's pastoral letter, view Mass schedules, and learn about faith formation opportunities, sacramental prep, outreach, advocacy programs, news from the Seattle Archdiocese, and more, subscribe to receive The Cornerstone in your inbox when published on Fridays!
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Picture Day Volunteers Needed
Volunteering to help with Picture Day earns Commitment Hours for the 2023-2024 school year. Volunteers are needed starting at 8:00 am. Help for a few hours or the entire day.
September 28
Saint Patrick Catholic School
Skip Butler Gymnasium
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| Picture Day details and order link are coming soon. | | |
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Safe Environment Training
All adults must complete the Virtus Training to volunteer at Saint Patrick Catholic School.
Adult volunteer requirements include:
- Background check completed on or before the first day of service and every three years while in active service.
- Abuse prevention initial training is completed within 30 days of starting service, and refresher training is every three years while in active service.
- Policies are read and signed on or before the first day of service.
If you have finished the initial training, please log into your account to ensure you are up to date with the background check and all modules!
You can visit the Seattle Archdiocese Virtus Tool Kit for a step-by-step how-to.
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Lunch Orders for September
The lunch program, catered by Love My Lunch, offers three daily choices, including snack and drink add-ons.
Each regular-size meal is $5.75 plus tax and includes fruit, vegetable, and a side item. Larger meals are more. Additional snacks and drinks, priced individually, are also available.
Orders are due two days before lunch service, and Love My Lunch sends weekly email reminders to all families with registered accounts.
For food and menu questions, call Lisa at 206-354-0980 or email lovemylunch22@outlook.com
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Kindergarten Picnic
Let's kick off the start of the new school year together! Kindergarten students and their families are invited for fun in the park with Kindergarten teachers Mrs. Richards and Mrs. Wheeler.
August 16 | 6:00 pm
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Garfield Park
400 North Borough Road
Tacoma, WA 98403
Bring a blanket to sit on and dinner for your family. Please share your fun family photos with us!
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Shammy Diaries
Whether you are staycationing or traveling, please email us a summer photo for the Shamrock Diaries. We would especially love to hear from new families and staff! You can submit more than one entry!
Bonus if you are sporting your Shamrock spirit wear. We'll share Shammy's Diary entries on social. Check out Shammy's summer photo diary.
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Summer Climb
Teachers at every grade level have prepared Summer Climb assignments for students to complete over the summer.
The 'E' in RISE, our schoolwide learning expectations, stands for Excellent. Please check out Summer Climb and prepare to turn in the assignments on the first day of school! Teachers will use this work in their first lessons of the school year and enter the assignments' completion into the grade book.
Grades 3 and up— pay close attention to your summer reading assignments.
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Uniform Resale
Shop the annual summer Uniform Resale event and save money!
August 27
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Saint Patrick Catholic School
Skip Butler Gym
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Donate
Donations of gently used uniform apparel are welcome! Please drop off donations in the school office or bring them to the Uniform Resale event.
How to Purchase
Purchases can be billed to SchoolAdmin, or paid by cash or check.
Volunteer
The Uniform Resale is a perfect opportunity to volunteer and get a jump start on fulfilling required commitment hours for 2023-2024.
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New Family BBQ & Orientation
Join us for an evening to get to know each other. We'll start with a short orientation program and end with a BBQ!
August 29
5:00 pm - 6:30 pm*
updated end time
Saint Patrick Catholic School
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All new students are invited to attend with their families. You'll meet other new families, current Shamrock families, the principal, vice principal, teachers, and staff.
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Cub Scouts Join Night
Cub Scouts for girls and boys, in Kindergarten through 5th Grade, focuses on independence, physical fitness, outdoor activities, and learning valuable life skills.
September 13
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Saint Patrick Catholic Church
Church Hall
Dens will be working on badges, so you'll get the real feel and hands-on experience of Scouting. Plus, free pizza and games for everyone while you learn more about Cub Scouts.
To join online, click the registration button below and enter the parish zip code 98403 to find Saint Patrick Catholic Church-sponsored Pack 299.
To learn more, email Jen Van Vechten or call Scout Master Jaremy Brown at 407-766-5445
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Scouts for 6th grade & up
Join Troop 299G for girls or Troop 299B for boys.
Mondays | 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Saint Patrick Catholic Church
Parish Center
Website
Scouts Girl Troop 299G
Troop meetings are year-round. Scouts participate in monthly camping trips, service projects and more.
To visit or learn about the girls' troop, please email Scoutmaster Valerie Pettit or call 940-206-1941.
Scouts Boy Troop 299B
Celebrating its 100th year of scouting in 2020, the troop enjoys monthly outdoor outings and regional summer camps and contributes to the local community and parish through service.
To visit or learn about the boys' troop, please email Scoutmaster Chris Rousseau or call 971-404-5917.
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RaiseRight scrip
Gear up for another great school year! The Back to School Shopping Guide is a great place to start the adventure.
Make the most of the guide:
- Use the shopping list for a glance at some of our most popular back-to-school brands and their available earnings
- Learn about upcoming bonus-earning opportunities
- Get tips on how to maximize your earnings with gift cards
- Read inspirational stories from participants just like you
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Subscribe to our Google calendar. To subscribe, click on the + in the bottom right-hand corner of the calendar on our website. | |
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AUGUST
15, 16 | Office Hours | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
16 | Kindergarten Picnic
21 | Regular Office Hours 8:30 am - 4:00 pm resume Monday - Friday
27 | Parish Picnic
27 | Uniform Resale
29 | New Family BBQ
30 | First Day of School — Meet & Greet
31 | First Full Day of School
SEPTEMBER
4 | No School — Labor Day
14 | Back to School Night for PreK - Grade 5
19 | Back to School Night for Middle School
28 | Picture Day
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School Hour Changes
School Hours are changing to the following for the 2023-2024 school year:
Monday - Friday
8:30 am - 3:00 pm
- No Early Dismissal on Wednesdays.
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The first Friday of the month is a Noon Dismissal for staff meetings (unless otherwise noted).
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Summer Office Hours
Summer office hours are subject to change. You can call 253-272-2297 or email us at school@saintpats.org to confirm before you visit.
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
August 15 & 16
Regular hours resume on August 21
Monday - Friday
8:30 am - 4:00 pm
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1st Floor Early Learning Center Renovation
We need your help making Today's Vision, Tomorrow's Classroom capital campaign successful. As of today, Saint Patrick Catholic Church and School have raised over $819,098 in gifts and pledges. Our goal is 100% participation.
We continue to fundraise while constructing the Early Learning Center! First-floor construction is coming along nicely.
- Asbestos fully abated
- Classrooms and hallways are demo-ed
- Old materials have been removed
- Plumbing and electrical lines have been rerouted
- View more progress photos
Please remember that reaching our $2.7 million goal within the next three years will allow us to fully abate asbestos and finish phases 3 and 4 of our Building Safety and Renovation project. We hope to build on our current momentum by inviting you to participate today through a pledge made over the next three years.
—GIVE NOW—
continue the legacy of 130 years of CATHOLIC EDUCATION
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