The Blarney Stone
December 8, 2021
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—Grow Stronger Together—
2021-2022 ASB Theme
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ALWAYS scroll to the bottom of The Blarney Stone [you might need to click view entire message, if the email was clipped] to stay informed about important news, events and programs. You'll know you've reach the bottom of this edition because you'll learn how many days are left til Christmas!
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Dear family and friends,
Celebrating the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception today, we are drawn to the knowledge God held, even at the time of Mary’s conception, of the special role she would come to play in our salvation history. It affirms our understanding that each of us is willed, loved, and necessary. But our belief in the Immaculate Conception does not relegate us to a clockwork universe that is void of free will. Rather, it elevates our free will – it elevates Mary’s “yes.”
Though we know God chose Mary to give birth to Jesus, without her “yes,” the world is deprived of Jesus. Her life, as we come to know it in Scripture, is the lived example of saying yes to God, of directing one’s life and energies toward God’s will. Mary’s virtue arises from her willingness to accept God’s call in her life.
As we continue to journey with and toward Christ during this season of Advent, we are extended the invitation to listen to God’s call in our lives. Where are we being asked to say yes? What great works has God imagined for each of us? We continue to listen, waiting with the slow patience of gestation, seeking that which is trying to be born in each of our lives.
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Tomorrow we have our annual Advent and Christmas Celebration. Mrs. Lewis has been working tirelessly with our students in preparation for tomorrow’s program. We could use some volunteers tomorrow morning and after tomorrow’s program to help us move the risers from the school to the parish and back again. We have the truck, but could use some extra muscle! If you are able to help, please complete this survey and/or show up at the school tomorrow morning at 9:30 am.
As you read through this week’s Blarney, be sure to find important information about:
- Tomorrow night’s Advent and Christmas Celebration and Friday’s Miracle on G Street
- Registration for middle school CYO basketball, due on Monday, December 13
- Upcoming deadline for tuition assistance applications. All families interested in applying for tuition assistance from St. Patrick Catholic School must complete the application for the Fulcrum Foundation’s tuition assistance program by January 7, 2022.
With gratitude,
Nicholas
Nicholas Ford
Principal
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Parish News for Advent & Christmas
Are you reading our weekly parish newsletter, The Cornerstone? Check out the most recent edition— read Fr. David Mulholland's pastor letter, learn about Advent & Christmas schedules, faith formation opportunities, sacramental prep, outreach and advocacy programs, news from the Seattle Archdiocese, and more!
Are you interested in receiving The Cornerstone right in your inbox when it is published on Fridays? Email us and we'll get you set up!
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DECEMBER
9 | Advent & Christmas Celebration
10 | Miracle on G Street: A Festival of Lights
thru 13 | CYO Basketball Registration
13-17 | Spirit Wear Orders Arrive
14 | Middle School Youth Group
14 | The Chosen Movie Screening
14 & 21 | Operation Keep 'em Warm & Fed
15 | SPPA & School Commission Meetings
16 | School Mass
17 | Christmas Sweater or PJ Free Dress Day
17 | Noon Dismissal
20-31 | No School—Christmas Break
JANUARY
3 | School Resumes
4, 11, 18, 25 | Middle School Youth Group
6 | REACH Auction 22 Planning Meeting
6 | Preschool & PreK ZOOM & SEE
7 | Tuition Assistance Applications Due
7 & 21 | Spirit Wear Friday
11 | SPPA & School Commission Meetings
11 & 18 | Keep' Em Warm & Fed
14 | All School Mass
14 | End of First Semester
17 | No School | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
18 | No School | Professional Development Day
20 | Primary & Intermediate ZOOM & SEE
28 | All School Mass
29 | Parent Map's Preschool Virtual Fair
31 | Catholic Schools Week begins
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- Our main phone line is down. Call 253-274-4101 to reach us.
- The school office closes at 3:15 pm every Wednesday for staff meetings.
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CYO Basketball for Grades 6-8
Registration for CYO Basketball for middle school students is now open.
Healthcare Coordinator Needed
To prepare for the season, given the guidance from the archdiocese and the Department of Health, we are in need of a Healthcare Coordinator who will work with our Athletic Director, David Goodsell, to help teams comply with health and safety guidance.
If you're interested in earning commitment hours and serving in this important volunteer role, email David Goodsell.
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Tuition Affordability & Assistance
It's our goal that no student be denied the opportunity to attend St. Patrick Catholic School because of financial need. We are committed to making tuition affordable by offering tuition assistance programs.
Tuition assistance applications and supporting documents for the Fulcrum Tuition Assistance Grant Program (TAP) and for St. Patrick Tuition Assistance Program (StPTAP) must be submitted by January 7, 2022.
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REMINDERS for the Advent & Christmas Celebration
December 9, 2021
6 pm & 7 pm
Saint Patrick Catholic Church
1123 North J Street
WHAT TO BRING
Students should wear a coat. They are also allowed to bring a water bottle with their name clearly printed on it. Please do not bring toys, food, electronic devices, etc.
WHAT TO WEAR
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K-5 General Music Students wear your festive Sunday best! At a minimum, the school uniform satisfies the dress code for this concert, so we know everyone already has something to wear. (No jeans, shorts, sweats, pajamas. Nothing that lights up, jingles, or makes noise.)
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Choir All members of the school choir will wear their full performance uniform
DROP OFF TIME
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Choir call time is 5 pm upstairs into the main doors of the church. Come directly into the Sanctuary for your sound check/warm-up.
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K-5 General Music Students call time is 5:30 pm downstairs at the exterior doors into the Parish Hall. Supervision will be provided by your classroom teacher from drop-off to pick-up.
DROP OFF LOCATION
- K & 1st grades use the garden door closest to the restrooms and elevator
- 2nd & 3rd grades enter through the 12th Street door directly into the Parish Hall
- 4th & 5th grades enter using the Alley door between the parking lot and the back of the Parish Hall
PICK UP
All students will be released only at the conclusion of the full program at approximately 7:45 pm. After the second performance has completed, students can be picked up from their teachers at the same doors they were assigned for drop-off. If you are collecting students from multiple grades, have the older children join the youngest at their door. Parents should not enter the Parish Hall/downstairs for drop-off or pick-up.
PRE-SHOW NOTE
Please provide your student with rest and a light meal after school and before their call time to the church. Not too much—just enough to fuel them. But not so much that it would contribute to an unsettled stomach during the performance.
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Miracle on G Street
A Festival of Lights
Get into the Christmas Spirit at our winter wonderland event presented by the Middle School Division.
Decorate your vehicle, then drive to St. Patrick Catholic School to wave to your teachers, mail a letter to Santa, and perhaps even get a glimpse of him and his helpers at our drive-through event.
Bring a food donation to benefit the St. Leo Food Connection Backpack Program. Especially needed are single-serving size packets of crackers like goldfish, honey grahams, butter crackers, etc.
December 10, 2021
Saint Patrick Catholic School
Playground Area
Schedule
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PreK-2 Grade | 6:00 pm-6:45 pm
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Grades 3-5 | 6:45 pm-7:30 pm
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Grades 6-8 | 7:30 pm-8:15 pm
For traffic flow and as a courtesy to our neighbors, please enter North 12th Street via North I Street, and head toward the water to enter the school parking/play area from the North 12th Street entrance. Exit to the left into North 11th Street to Tacoma Avenue.
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Christmas with The Chosen
The Messengers
To launch the Christmas season The Chosen has created a special movie about the birth of Christ through the eyes of Mary and Joseph.
December 14, 2021
6:30 pm
The Blue Mouse Theatre
This is the perfect opportunity to bring friends and family, including those who haven't seen The Chosen, for a unique Christmas experience. Fr. David loves The Chosen series. You will too.
The School Commission and SPPA Meetings scheduled for the same night have been moved to December 15 so all can attend the movie.
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Youth Ministry for Grades 6-8
All middle schoolers are invited and encouraged to bring a friend. Need not be Catholic to attend nor a student at our school! All are welcome.
DECEMBER 14, 2021
6:30 pm-8:00 pm
St. Patrick Catholic Church
Parish Center
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School Mass
Join us for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, one of the most important Marian feasts of the liturgical calendar at 9 am at St. Patrick Catholic Church.
The mass is being prepared by 7th graders and grades 6-8 are attending in-person. All other grades will participate via livestream on our YouTube Channel.
View parish Mass schedule
View parish Advent & Christmas Mass schedule
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Christmas Free Dress Day
Wear your favorite Christmas-themed sweater or pajamas to school!
December 17, 2021
If students wear pajamas, they still must wear shoes— no slippers or bare feet for safety reasons.
Students will be dismissed at 12 pm. There is no Extended Care Program.
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Christmas Eve Pageant for ages 5-12
Were you ever in a Christmas Pageant? Did you want to be? Here is your chance!
Christmas Eve Vigil Mass
December 24 | 5 pm
at St. Patrick Catholic Church
Children ages 5-12 are invited reenact the Gospel story, lector, present the Gifts and serve a greeters.
Adult volunteers are needed too. Participation includes early seating for Mass. St. Patrick Catholic School families also earn commitment hours.
Practice Schedule
December 19 | 2 pm-3 pm
December 22 | 6 pm-7 pm
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Spirit Wear Friday
Show your school spirit on Fridays including this Friday—December 10 by wearing your spirit wear, except if there is an all-school Mass on Friday— then students must wear their regular uniform or as announced otherwise, or a Free Dress Day!
Our Christmas Flash Sale orders are expected to be ready for distribution at school December 13-17— just in time for Christmas.
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Service Academy & ROTC Informational Forum
The forum will begin with prayer and a welcome by Fr. Justin Ryan, Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese of Seattle as a whole group, and then participants are invited to join breakout rooms where they will interact with the young men and women who represent the different programs. They will introduce themselves, share their story, and then open the floor for questions.
December 21, 2021 | 7-8 pm
on Zoom
Participants must register in advance to receive the Join Zoom Meeting link.
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Experience the Classroom
We're scheduling classroom visits for January 2022! We want prospective students to experience what classroom life is like a St. Patrick Catholic School!
To schedule a classroom experience:
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ZOOM & SEE Virtual Open Houses
It's time to start planning for the 2022-2023 academic year! Families exploring educational opportunities are welcome to ZOOM & SEE!
2022 VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSES
January 6, 2022 | 5 pm
Kindergarten- 5th grade
January 20, 2022 | 5 pm
RSVPs are appreciated for planning purposes, but not required! Share virtual open house information with your friends and family.
Interested in exploring middle school opportunities for grades 6-8? Request more information and/or a tour.
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Learn more about procurement, browse our Amazon Wish List, download a procurement form to take with you when you shop so you can invite businesses to support St. Patrick Catholic School, sign up to volunteer and more by visiting our REACH Auction 2022 website.
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Food Drive
During December we are collecting single serving size packets of crackers for the St. Leo Food Connection Backpack Program, serving over 1200 students weekly at schools in Tacoma, Lakewood and Puyallup.
Backpacks contain two days of easy-to-access food such oatmeal, soup, fruits and vegetables so that students can come to school nourished and ready to learn after the weekend.
Looking ahead, the following are needed, ideally in individually wrapped, single-serving sizes:
- January | fruit cups
- February | noodle cups
- March | dried fruit
- April | mac & cheese cups
- May | cereal
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June | fruit snacks
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Operation Keep 'Em Warm & Fed
Involve your family in a school service project that you can do safely from home!
Operation Keep 'Em Warm & Fed, a ministry of St. Leo Church, needs sandwiches to give to people experiencing homelessness and hunger. Can your family help make ten sandwiches for delivery?
2022
- January 11 & 18
- February 8 & 15
- March 15 & 22
- April 12 & 19
- May 10 & 17
- June 14 & 21
- July 12 & 19
- August 16 & 23
- September 13 & 20
- October 11 & 18
- November 15 & 22
- December 13 & 20
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Fred Meyer Community Rewards
Do you shop Fred Meyer? Every time you use your loyalty card you can earn money for St. Patrick Catholic School.
Then, every time you shop and use your loyalty card, you're helping our school earn a donation! You'll still earn your rewards points, fuel points, and rebates, and you’ll also earn money for St. Patrick Catholic School.
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Scrip
Do all your holiday shopping in one impactful place. The Holiday Gift Guide is filled with gifting inspiration for everyone on your list.
Whether you buy gift cards as presents or use them to buy gifts, your order immediately raises funds for St. Patrick Catholic School. Be sure to shop early to get your gift cards ahead of time and take advantage of surprise mystery bonuses and two full weeks of special bonuses during Dazzle Days—through December 10.
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Shop AmazonSmile
Did you know you can shop for the holidays using AmazonSmile so that your purchases can help support St. Patrick Catholic School?
Just remember to shop at smile.amazon.com, or in the Amazon app with AmazonSmile turned ON within Settings, and they will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases at no extra cost to you.
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Parent Association [SPPA]
2nd Tuesday of the month
5:30 pm - 6:25 pm
NEW DATE
next meeting only
WEDNESDAY
—Dec 15, 2021—
- Jan 11, 2022
- Feb 8, 2022
- Mar 8, 2022
- Apr 12, 2022
- May 10, 2022
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June 14, 2022
Meeting Minutes
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School Commission
2nd Tuesday of the month
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
NEW DATE
next meeting only
WEDNESDAY
—Dec 15, 2021—
St. Patrick Catholic Church
Parish Center Office
1011 North J Street | Tacoma, WA
- Jan 11, 2022
- Feb 8, 2022
- Mar 8, 2022
- Apr 12, 2022
- May 10, 2022
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June 14, 2022
Meeting Minutes
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REACH Auction
1st Thursday of the month
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
- Jan 6, 2022
- Feb 3, 2022
- Mar 3, 2022
- Apr 7, 2022
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SCHOOL MISSION
The mission of Saint Patrick Catholic School is to nurture in its students an abiding Catholic faith while pursuing academic excellence and modeling honesty, respect, and service as dynamic members of our world community.
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SAINT PATRICK CATHOLIC SCHOOL
1112 North G Street | Tacoma, WA 98403
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