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The Blarney Stone
January 17, 2024
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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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White Boots
Dear Friends,
I am happy to see that 86% of our students made it to school even though we had a late start this morning. Thanks for following our inclement weather procedures.
As I stood outside the gym to pretend I was being helpful this morning during dropoff, I couldn't help but notice the nice, fancy boots that many students were wearing that featured rainbows, unicorns, fur, frogs, and more. It made me think back to my childhood, when I wore what were technically "overshoes" to school on snowy days. The formula for donning these boots was as follows: first layer→ warm socks; second layer→ school shoes; third layer→ an empty Wonder Bread bag on each foot for ease of sliding; and finally, the overshoe itself.
I was the seventh of nine children, and my practical mother was forward thinking. Long ago, when I was in second grade, I got some giant white boots, and I mean giant. My mother bought my sister Annie and I the same size of boots, thinking we could grow into them. This was a great idea, other than the fact that Annie is three years older than I, and even hers left lots of room to grow. (It appears that the late Mrs. Gittens expected us to grow feet to rival those of an NBA player.)
Our school days back then all began with Mass, and we sat with our homerooms. Those white boots may or may not have been so huge that one day the left one lodged itself between the floor and the pew when I knelt down, so my skinny little seven-year-old body had to be fished out from under the kneeler during the Lamb of God. What I wouldn't have given for some child-sized rainbow unicorn boots….
I'm heading home now, so keep warm, keep checking notifications regarding weather, be safe, and wear your boots!
Thanks for being here,
Barbara Bolaños
Principal
Saint Patrick, pray for us!
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Re-Enrollment
We're preparing re-enrollment contracts. Barring special circumstances, we assume continuing enrollment for our current students (except 8th graders). You don't need to submit a new application for a current student.
You will receive an email via SchoolAdmin with a link to your child's contract on or around Thursday, January 18. If you have more than one student enrolled, you must complete a separate contract for each student.
Your child's enrollment for 2024-25 is guaranteed until Friday, February 9. You must submit your completed contract by that date to confirm your student's spot. We will begin admitting new applicants on Monday, February 12, and continue until our classes are filled. We expect some grades to fill very quickly. Please ensure you don't lose your spot— submit your contract by the due date!
Get a $50 early-bird discount through Friday, February 2, off the registration fee of $150 per student.
The School Commission recently approved tuition rates for the 2024-2025 academic year and a technology fee of $200 per student in grades 1-8. Please read the letter from John Nelson, School Commission Vice President, to learn more.
Families who have applied for tuition assistance can expect to receive notification of their award by Wednesday, January 31. Those families should submit their contracts after this date.
If you have any questions, please call or email Registrar Kathey Bucholz.
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Holding a full boat? We are asking for your help with the 2024 R.E.A.C.H. Raffle!
- The Golden Ticket winner may choose $3,000 in tuition or $1,500 cash;
- Silver Ticket $1,500 in tuition or $750 cash;
- Bronze Ticket $500 in tuition or $250 cash.
Download the official Raffle form for a chance to win either Tuition money for any student at any school PreK to graduate to be applied to the 2024-2025 academic year or cash.
♥️ ♦️ ♣️ ♠️
Are you all in? Go to the exclusive R.E.A.C.H. Auction 2024 website to secure a sponsorship opportunity, donate, get your tickets (we're more than half sold out,) or volunteer; we need everyone to be all in!
The 49th Annual R.E.A.C.H. Auction celebrates Saint Patrick Catholic School's 131 years of Catholic Education. We're raising the stakes, upping the ante, and Betting on Brighter Futures by hitting the jackpot at Casino Royale to raise $500,000, and we need you at the table to do it!
—HERE'S THE DEAL—
March 10-17
Online Silent Auction
March 16
In-Person Live Auction
Professional casino dealers for Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, and Poker will be on-site in PreK classrooms. The attire is fancy, the food is tasty, and the champagne will flow.
Auction Night Schedule
- 4:30 pm | V.I.P. Reception
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5:00 pm | Doors Open at the North G Street Gymnasium Entrances
- 6:00 pm | Dinner
- 7:00 pm | Live Auction
- 9:00 pm | Gambling & Dancing
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How to Double Your Gift
Does your company match? You can double or triple your gift through employer matching programs. Some companies, like Microsoft, provide volunteer grants, too.
__________
Thank you, Melissa Urquhart and family,
for securing an Annual Fund matching gift from Starbucks!
__________
Matching gifts are a type of philanthropy in which companies financially match contributions their employees make to nonprofit organizations like Saint Patrick Catholic School.
Companies of all sizes match their employees' contributions to nonprofits because it's an easy way to support good work in their communities, matching donations 1:1, and some match at a 3:1 ratio.
If you've made your gift to the Annual Fund, THANK YOU. If you have yet to make your gift, do so now! Our goal is 100% participation.
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Pastor's Letter
Are you reading our weekly parish newsletter, The Cornerstone?
To view schedules and events, learn about faith formation opportunities, sacramental prep, outreach, advocacy programs, news from the Seattle Archdiocese, including Partners in the Gospel, and more, subscribe to receive The Cornerstone in your inbox when published on Fridays!
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CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK
Minds prepared. Hearts transformed. Mission ready.
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Celebrate the 71 schools in the Archdiocese of Seattle, including Saint Patrick Catholic School! Catholic Schools are always reaching higher in academics, faith, and student leadership.
Catholic Schools Week (CSW) is an annual national celebration of Catholic education that is now entering its 50th anniversary year.
The week is observed with Masses, assemblies, and other activities for students, families, parishioners, and the community to celebrate what makes Catholic schools great.
Check out our at-a-glance daily events schedule, mark your calendar, and sign up to volunteer! Volunteer opportunities to support the Uniform Resale and BINGO are in Track It Forward.
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Confirmation Mass & Reception
Earn service hours by helping decorate, set up, serve, and clean up in preparation for the 5:00 pm Confirmation Mass with Bishop Frank Schuster. It will be a joy-filled evening with 35 youth and ten adults being confirmed (plus sponsors).
February 10
Saint Patrick Catholic Church
While we welcome all volunteers, including Middle School students, we ask that anyone who is being Confirmed or has a family member being Confirmed refrain from volunteering so that they can fully enjoy the evening.
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Enjoy Recess with Students
Are you looking for a fun way to earn commitment hours? Volunteers are needed to help supervise recess. Surround yourself with happy little people while helping to keep them safe.
Opportunities have been loaded into Track it Forward for the rest of the school year!
Volunteers must have completed Virtus Safe Environment. Go to the EVENTS tab in Track it Forward to sign up.
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Track It Forward
Saint Patrick Catholic School has adopted a volunteer hour management program. With Track It Forward, you can log in, sign up to volunteer, select the event you volunteered at, enter your volunteer hours, or view your dashboard and see how many required hours you have volunteered.
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All-School Mass
Mass is an integral part of faith formation for Kindergarten-Grade 8 students. Students must wear full uniforms, including sweaters, sweatshirts, blazers, or vests.
—All-School Mass—
Thursdays | 9:00 am
Saint Patrick Catholic Church
except as noted below
All-School Mass will be celebrated
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February 14 | Ash Wednesday
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March 29 | Stations of the Cross
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May 1 | May Crowning
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June 11 | 8th Grade Graduation
—No All-School Mass—
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January 18 | Adoration
- Primary | 9:45 am
- Middle School |10:15 am
- Intermediate |10:45 am
- February 15
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February 29 | Reconciliation
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March 28 | Holy Thursday
- May 2
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May 16 | Living Rosary
The church doors are locked when the all-school Mass begins. Go to our calendar to view which class is leading Mass.
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Welcome to Holland
Are you raising people with diverse learning needs?
Join Rachel Ford, LICSW, parent and parishioner at Saint Patrick Catholic School, for community building, knowledge, and resource sharing!
January 25 | 7:30 pm
every last Thursday of the month
Saint Patrick Catholic School
Library
Share
—save the dates—
February 29 & April 25
Rachel finds great joy in building relationships among people who can support and nurture one another. As a therapist, perinatal mental health expert, and mom of three, she is dedicated to creating a community that can buttress and care for one another by sharing knowledge and resources.
Read more to learn how the group got its name.
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New Moms Group
Feel less alone, more connected, calmer, and better able to face the challenges of new motherhood. You'll gain connections, sharing, understanding, confidence to respond to the emotional highs and lows of new motherhood, and skills in building resilience. Because every baby deserves a healthy mother, and every mother deserves to enjoy parenthood.
Join us for an eight-week series with Rachel Ford, LICSW.
Sundays
January 28 - March 17
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Saint Patrick Catholic Church
Parish Center
Share
Email Laura Dougherty to RSVP.
RSVP is appreciated but is not required.
By providing a brave and affirming space, free from judgment, Rachel Ford explores the current challenges moms face and celebrates the "small wins" of each day. She strives to make each person feel genuinely seen and heard.
She finds great joy in building relationships among groups of women who can support and nurture one another.
As a therapist, perinatal mental health expert, mom of three, parishioner, and school parent at Saint Patrick Catholic Church & School, she is dedicated to creating a community of moms who can buttress and care for one another.
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ASB Spirit Week
ASB is celebrating Catholic Schools Week 2024 with themed dress days! Dress must be neat, modest, and appropriate for school. Here's the lineup—
Saturday & Sunday
January 27 & 29, February 2 & 3
Wear Your School Uniform to Mass
to earn a Free Dress Pass for February 20 or 21
Monday, January 29
Beach Day
Tuesday, January 30
Country Western vs. Country Club
Wednesday, January 31
Dress Like Your Teacher
Thursday, February 1
Thursday is an all-school Mass day, and students must wear their full uniform, with a sweater, sweatshirt, blazer, or vest.
Friday, February 2
Spirit Wear
Students who choose not to participate in Spirit Week should wear their school uniform.
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Blue Ribbon Night & Open House
Current and prospective families are invited to our annual Blue Ribbon Night and Open House!
We're offering two sessions; you can come for one or both. Classrooms will be filled with excited learners during each session, sharing projects from history and science to poetry and art.
February 1
Saint Patrick Catholic School
Share
Session 1
3:15 pm - 4:30 pm
Refreshments & Social
family-friendly dinner of hot dogs and chips
4:30 pm - 5:15 pm
Skip Butler Gymnasium
Session 2
5:15 pm - 6:30 pm
You'll meet faculty and staff, view exceptional student work, and learn about admission and enrollment for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Current families are encouraged to visit their student's homeroom and grade-level classrooms for the next school year.
Do you have a friend who is asking about Catholic Education? Invite them to join you! All are welcome. Prospective families are encouraged to RSVP.
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Uniform Resale
Shop the mid-year Uniform Resale event hosted by the Saint Patrick Parent Association (SPPA) during Catholic Schools Week 2024 Blue Ribbon Night & Open House.
February 1
3:15 pm - 6:30 pm
Saint Patrick Catholic School
Skip Butler Gymnasium
Share
Donations of gently used uniform apparel are welcome! Please drop off donations in the school office or bring them to the Uniform Resale event.
Purchases can be billed to SchoolAdmin, or paid by cash or check.
A limited selection of Spirit Wear hoodies, t-shirts, and other apparel will also be available.
Volunteer and earn commitment hours! Sign up in Track It Forward
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BINGO Night
We had so much fun at BINGO Night last year that we are doing it again! To close out Catholic Schools Week, SPPA is sponsoring family BINGO Night! An adult must supervise students; it is not a drop-off event.
February 3
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Saint Patrick Catholic School
Skip Butler Gymnasium
Share
We're serving pizza for dinner! Please be sure to RSVP for seating and dinner planning purposes!
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Alumni Mass Celebrating Vocations
Join us in prayer for an all-school Mass during Catholic Schools Week to celebrate vocations and alums. Students must wear full uniform to Mass with a sweater, sweatshirt, blazer, or vest.
February 1 | 9:00 am
Saint Patrick Catholic Church
Share
We look forward to seeing alums, clergy, religious, and former teachers and staff at Mass.
To RSVP or update your alum profile, email us or call 253-274-4128
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Basketball for Middle School Girls
Cheer on the Middle School girls! Let's fill the stands with Shamrock supporters at home games.
Snacks such as chips, popcorn, water, Gatorade, and granola bars are available for purchase cash only) at all home games courtesy of SPPA Sham Snacks Concessions!
January 25 | 4:30 pm
vs. Chief Leschi Warriors
February 6 | 4:30 pm
vs. Muckleshoot Kings
February 13 | 4:30
vs. Crosspoint Warriors
February 22 | 4:30 pm
vs. Sound Christian Lions
February 27 | 4:30 pm
vs. Carbonado Cougars
Saint Patrick Catholic School
Skip Butler Gymnasium
View the full schedule, including away games. The schedule is subject to change.
Do you have photos from practice or matches? Share them with us and earn volunteer commitment hours!
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D & D Club for Middle Schoolers
Players form an adventuring party to explore fantasy worlds together as they embark on epic quests and level up in experience.
Mondays | 3:15 pm - 4:25 pm
Saint Patrick Catholic School
Art Room
The club is an opportunity for players to develop social-emotional skills, critical thinking, and logic skills in order to traverse puzzles and realistic scenarios through the course of the games.
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Homework Support Hour for grades 5-8
Need help with homework? Sign up for support. Space is limited to 20 students. Sign-ups are required in advance, one week at a time.
Tuesdays | 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Saint Patrick Catholic School
Mr. Ainslie's Classroom
Students go directly to Mr. Ainslie's room after school. Mrs. Paez will help students and ensure they are on task.
Students can be picked up from the main office at 4:00 pm. Please do not send siblings with your student. Feel free to email Mrs. Paez with questions.
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After School Art Studio for Middle Schoolers
Middle school students can use the space and supplies in the Art Room as their studio to develop their skills with a particular medium or to explore something new.
No Session February 1
Blue Ribbon Night & Open House
Thursdays | 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Saint Patrick Catholic School
Art Room
Art Studio is a free drop-in activity! You don't need to register. Art Specialist Mrs. Emily Keller will help students with their independent work most weeks. A unique project is planned for once a month.
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Operation Keep 'Em Warm & Fed
Involve your family in a school service project you can do from home! Serving Tacoma since 1995, Operation Keep 'em Warm & Fed [KEWAF] builds relationships with people experiencing homelessness.
Can your family help make ten sandwiches at home to give to people experiencing homelessness and hunger?
January 23
February 13 & 20
March 12 & 19
April 16 & 23
May 14 & 21
June 11 & 18
July 16 & 23
August 13 & 20
September 10 & 17
October 15 & 22
November 12 & 19
December 17 & 24
To sign up or learn more, email Patty Davidson! Service counts towards fulfilling required commitment hours.
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St. Leo Food Connection
You can support the St. Leo Food Connection in several ways.
Catholic Schools Week SOUPer Bowl
Who are you rooting for in the Super Bowl? We're rallying to fight hunger with our SOUPer Bowl Collection for student backpacks! Instead of touchdowns, we're scoring yummy goodness.
Join the team and deliver a winning combination of delicious soup to our SOUPer Bowl lineup of healthy snacks that will keep young minds and bodies in championship form. Students vote for their favorite team in the Super Bowl with soup donations.
In January, we're collecting fruit cups too, ideally in single serving sizes, to support the St. Leo Food Connection Backpack Program, serving over 1,200 students weekly at schools in Tacoma, Lakewood, and Puyallup.
Backpacks contain at least two days of easy-to-access food, such as oatmeal packets, instant soups, fresh fruits, and vegetables, so students can come to school nourished and ready to learn after the weekend.
Looking ahead, the following are needed in single-serving sizes:
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February | Instant grits
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March | Fruit leather and dried fruit like raisins, Craisins, apples, mango, pineapple
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April | Mac and cheese
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May | Cereal
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June | Fruit snacks
Drop off donations at Saint Patrick Catholic School during school hours!
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Download the latest version of the RaiseRight app (version 1.2.54) from the App Store or Google Play. | |
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RaiseRight scrip
Help us earn free organization shipping for the rest of 2024. Every participant order placed through January 26 can increase our chance of winning.
How it Works
Buy gift cards from your favorite brands to earn on your daily purchases using the mobile app or for year-round shopping and gift-giving needs.
- Buy gift cards at face value.
- Earn up to 20% for Saint Patrick Catholic School on every gift card you buy.
- Use gift cards at their total value for your everyday purchases.
Ship to Home
200+ brands delivered right to your door—Ship to Home. It's convenient to keep earning with reloadable gas or grocery cards, birthday gifts, and more.
Enroll Friends
You can also help grow our RaiseRight fundraising program and boost earnings. We've enabled a new feature allowing you to send enrollment invites directly to friends and family members. To send invites, download the latest version of the RaiseRight mobile app and go to Account > Settings. Tap into "Invite Friends & Family" and share the invite link or send direct invites to your contacts via email or text message.
If you are not a school family but want to support us, enroll now.
Scrip Coordinators
Carolyn Weber and Christa Perez are collecting payments and receiving shipments for orders you place through RaiseRight. Wynter Dait continues to oversee the program and handle special orders. Email them at [email protected] if you have questions or want to learn more about the program.
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Subscribe to our Google calendar to have all these dates at your fingertips.
To subscribe, click on the button on the calendar page on our website.
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JANUARY
18 | Re-Enrollment Contracts Sent
18 | Adoration — no School Mass
18, 25 | Afterschool Arts Studio for MS
19, 26 | Spirit Wear Friday
23 | Operation Keep 'em Warm & Fed
25 | All-School Mass
25 | MS Girls Basketball Home Game
25 | Welcome to Holland series
28 | ASB hosts Social Hour after 9:00 am Mass
28 | New Moms Group
31 | Tuition Assistance Applicants Notified
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK
January 28-February 4
FEBRUARY
1 | All-School & Alumni Mass celebrating Vocations
1 | Awards Assembly for grades 3-8
1 | Blue Ribbon Night & Open House
1 | Uniform Resale
2 | Spirit Assembly & Sham Fams
2 | 8th grade vs Faculty/Staff Volleyball Game
2 | Noon Dismissal
2, 9, 23 | Spirit Wear Friday
2 | Early Bird Re-Enrollment Deadline
3 | BINGO Night
4, 11, 18, 25 | New Moms Group
6, 13, 22, 27 | MS Girls Basketball Home Game
6 | R.E.A.C.H. Auction Planning Meeting
8, 22 | All-School Mass
8, 15, 22, 29 | After School Arts Studio for MS
9 | Re-Enrollment Deadline
9 | SOUPer Bowl Winner Announced
10 | Sacrament of Confirmation Mass
10-11 | REACH Auction Witness talks at Mass
13 | SPPA Meeting
13 | School Commission Meeting
13, 20 | Operation Keep 'em Warm & Fed
14 | Ash Wednesday Mass
16 | No School - Professional Development Day
19 | No School - Presidents' Day
29 | Welcome to Holland series
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—SCHOOL HOURS—
Monday - Friday | 8:30 am - 3:00 pm
The first Friday of the month is a Noon dismissal for staff professional development.
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Saint Patrick Parent Association [SPPA]
2nd Tuesday of the month
5:30 pm - 6:25 pm
share
The SPPA (pronounced like the word spa) meets from September to May on Zoom.
All registered school families are members of SPPA and are encouraged to participate.
Attending meetings counts toward Commitment Hours.
Zoom Meeting Link
—MEETING DATES—
February 13 | March 12
April 9 | May 14 | June 11
—AT-A-GLANCE—
February 1
Catholic Schools Week
Blue Ribbon Night
Uniform Resale
February 3
Catholic Schools Week
BINGO Night
April 26
Grandparents Day
May 4
Father/Daughter Dance
May 5-10
Teacher Appreciation Week
June 12
Field Day
—SPPA OFFICERS—
President
Olivia Cabrales
3rd board term
6th & 8th grader
Vice President
Kelly Frazier
new board member & family
3rd & 6th grader
Recording Co-Secretaries
Dani Kessler
3rd board term
5th, 6th, & 8th grader
Joann Varnell
new board member
7th grader
Treasurer
Leila Carlson
new board member & family
2nd & 5th grader
Faculty Representatives
Amy Sachwitz
—QUICK LINKS—
Bylaws
Staff Favorites
Email
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School Commission
2nd Tuesday of the month
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
share
The School Commission meets from September to May in the Library directly across from the Main Office at Saint Patrick Catholic School.
Attending meetings counts toward Commitment Hours.
—MEETING DATES—
February 13
March 12 | April 9
May 14 | June 11
—COMMISSION MEMBERS—
President
Jaime Singer
Vice President
John Nelson
Secretary
Alyssa Dunivan
Pastor
Fr. David Mulholland
Principal
Barbara Bolaños
Vice Principal
Kate Chambers
Faculty Representative
Hanna Graves
Commissioners
Brie Cooper
Allison Drago
Willie London
Bill Malaier
Stu Morgan
Andrew Noonan
Kasa Tupua Pierson
—QUICK LINKS—
Bylaws
Minutes
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R.E.A.C.H. Auction
1st Tuesday of the month
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
share
The REACH Auction committee meets from October to April to plan the 49th annual R.E.A.C.H. Auction held on March 16, 2024, chaired by Andrew and Katy Madderson.
Attending meetings counts toward Commitment Hours.
Zoom Meeting Link
—MEETING DATES—
February 6
March 5 | April 2
If you want to join the R.E.A.C.H. Auction board, lead a committee, become a sponsor, donate an auction package email us at [email protected] to get started.
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Have you heard of Skittle Math? PreK Shamrocks sorted Skittles by color and charted how of each color they had! | |
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We now know that COVID-19 is here to stay for the foreseeable future. Understanding how to live our lives while keeping ourselves, loved ones, and the community as safe as possible is essential. How can we do that? By using all the tools we've learned so far: getting vaccinated and boosted, getting tested and staying home if sick or exposed, wearing a mask in crowds, and keeping our distance.
Read the latest guidance on COVID-19. Help prevent the spread of the virus to others in your home, our school, and our community by using the calculator to help determine quarantine requirements.
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—Faculty & Staff Theme—
Journey of Faith: Embracing Grace, Knowledge, and Community
The theme highlights the core values of Catholic education while also focusing on the idea of a continuous journey of faith. It emphasizes the importance of embracing God's grace, seeking knowledge in both spiritual and academic realms, and fostering a strong sense of community within the school.
—School Theme—
Led by the Spirit of the Lord
"Let us act with the kindness and love towards one another that Christ exemplifies.”
—ASB Vice President—
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