Reading is Fun!!!

Students at St. Patrick School will tell anyone who is listening that READING is extra fun when Accelerated Reader provides points and rewards.  Students read books that interest them and take an online quiz to test their comprehension.  They are then awarded points based on the length and difficulty of the book as well as their performance on the quiz.  Students are required to earn a specific number of points each quarter depending on their grade level.  An apple with the student’s name appears in the hallway as goals are met, and prizes are awarded each quarter based on the reader with the highest points.  We all know reading is fun, but READING is extra fun with AR!!

Message from our Athletic Director - Scott Spanbauer

BASKETBALL SEASON IS UNDERWAY (or something close...I'm not that clever)

The boys and girls basketball season gets underway this Saturday, December 4th with a full slate of games scheduled right here at St. Patrick's School Gymnasium.  The girls 5th/6th grade team will be taking on IHM at 9:00 AM and the 7th/8th grade girls will start their season at 12:30 taking on OLC.  Please come and support our very own right here at St Pat's on Saturday.

Their next games will again be at HOME with the Fightin' Irish taking on All Saints and Corpus Christi on Saturday, December 11th.  Game times for the 7th/8th grade girls against All Saints is  9:00 AM and the 5th/6th grade girls against Corpus Christi at 1:40.

Rich Wade has volunteered to coach the 5th/6th grade girls this year and Gillian Hurley  is coaching the 7th/8th grade girls team.  Gillian coached the the same girls last year at the 5th/6th grade level.  All our coaches are volunteers and they spend an incredible amount of time and energy with our student athletes. THANK YOU!

Weston Hurley is playing 8th grade boys basketball with St. Stephens and they are playing Saturday, Dec 4th at Holy Trinity at 11:20 and Saturday Dec 11th at Assumption at 12:30.  We wish Weston the best of luck this weekend and next.  If you happen to be in the area I am sure he would appreciate your support as well!

Good luck to all on a safe, fun and successful season!

Interested in Lacrosse?

GRACEAC

Lacrosse

Parent Informational Meeting

If your child (boy or girl) in grades 5 thru 8 is interested in playing Lacrosse as a GRACEAC sport this spring you must attend this informational meeting.  You will learn the nature of the proposed program and the costs involved.

A significant purpose of the meeting is to determine how much interest in playing Lacrosse exists for boys and girls in fifth thru eighth grade in our Catholic elementary schools. If your child is interested in playing this great sport you must attend this meeting.

Date:  Monday, December 6, 2010

Time: 7:00 PM to 7:45 PM

Where: Cathedral Square      Room B/C

             360 Division Ave

             Grand Rapids, MI 49503-4501

Contact Bob Wolf with any questions about the meeting.

            (616) 560-2438   or     sportwolf@msn.com

Basketball Season Begins!

Basketball season has arrived.

Good luck to all of our basketball players here at St. Pat's. Both girls basketball teams begin season play this Saturday! Come support the girls whenever you get a chance.

We are in need of volunteers to work concessions and to collect admissions at the gate. Send me an email if you are interested at scottczarnopys@gmail.com


Go St. Pat's!!!

Opportunity at Saint Thomas School

Calling All Parents, Teachers, Coaches and All Those Who Work With Children

Bullying is a huge topic in the media lately.

While some adults trivialize the problem saying that "kids will be kids,"

bullying is unacceptable.

You are invited to an

Anti-Bullying Initiative Workshop

Presented by Dr. Michele Coyne

―Peaceful People—Peaceful Place‖

* Free Childcare will be Provided

Dr. Coyne received a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Eastern Michigan University in 2005. Dr. Coyne’s dissertation examined the nature and extent of bullying among students and used action research to provide strategies for the reduction and prevention of bullying.

Dr. Coyne was a teacher for 25 years and a building principal for 10 years. Her anti-bully program provided the foundation for positive school climate, relationship building, and increased academic

achievement.

Copies of the booklet,

"Bully-Proofing Your Child: First Aid for Hurt Feelings," will be available for purchase.

Questions? Contact Jeanne Walch at 458-4228 ext. 337

November 29, 2010

6:15-7:30 p.m.

Saint Thomas the Apostle Church Basement

1449 Wilcox Park Drive SE

Grand Rapids, MI 49506

Hospitality from 6:15 – 6:30 p.m.

Presentation from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

A Message from St. Pat's Leadership Council

Thank you for your generous donations to the "The Gift of Warmth this Winter" Coat Drive.  At this time, St. Patrick's has received 65 coats which Curtis Cleaners will be distributing to children and veterans in need.  We appreciate all of the wonderful donations.  We would like to extend a special thank you to the Fotis family who donated 40 new coats to the drive.  Even though we surpassed our goal of 50 coats, we're still not done.  The coat drive will continue until December 1st.  There is still plenty of time to help us give the gift of warmth this winter.  

Hi, I'm Bridget Lally.  Hey, I'm Elizabeth Pniewski.  As members of Student Leadership, we are in charge of  all community projects for this school year.  When we volunteered to be the committee heads, we never thought we'd be folding coats, but there we were, folding 65 new and used coats into boxes, and then doing our best to tape the boxes closed.  We thank everyone who donated and we hope that we will have the chance to fold even more before December 1.

Drivers Needed

Hi St. Patrick Families -

GOOD NEWS! -
Our community has been very generous with pie orders for GOD'S KITCHEN - we have 250 PIES to donate.

THE CHALLENGE -
We need to deliver them to God's Kitchen on Monday, November 22nd.

Is anyone able to help with this?
We need 4-6 drivers to take this many pies.  We can only stack pie boxes 3 deep for transport, which allows us to take approx. 40-60 per vehicle.

Please let us know if you are able to help.  We'll load vehicles in the morning after student drop-off and then caravan to Grand Rapids.

Thank you!
Your PTO Board  (Darcy Snarski, Penny Spanbauer, Maryalene LaPonsie, Carol Blundy)

More Service by St. Pat's

Last year, the Student Council at St. Patrick's teamed up with the youth group at St. Mary's to collect teddy bears for Haiti.  Curtis Cleaners generously offered to clean the bears we collected.  At the end of the drive, we had collected (and Curtis Cleaners had cleaned) almost 2,000 bears!!! 
To show our appreciation to Curtis Cleaners, Student Leadership wants to help them with their coat drive.  Curtis Cleaners will be collecting coats through December 1.  The coats will be cleaned and given to children and veterans.  We are proud to be part of their efforts.  We are calling our drive "The Gift of Warmth this Winter."  Here's a perfect opportunity for you to clean out your closets and bring in coats that you've outgrown or no longer use.  All sizes are appreciated.  St. Patrick's has three drop boxes for the coats.  We are hoping to "warm" at least fifty people's winter.  So if your coat closet is calling, I know mine is, let's meet by one of the drop boxes at the entrances to the school. We can make a difference.

Join Us for an Intergenerational Event

Advent - Waiting for Jesus Christ

A meal, a presentation, a prayer service and a variety of family activity centers for adults and children of all ages.

Father Mark and I would like to encourage school families to join the Intergenerational Event on Sunday, November 21 from 5-7pm in the Parish Center.

• Bring your loved ones and join your parish family for activities centered on Advent as a season of repentance, preparation and joy.
• Help your family learn more about this beautiful first season of the Church year.
• Meet your fellow parishioners in a fun, prayerful and interactive setting.

Please contact us if you are planning to attend, providing us with the number of people in your group.

Phone: 691-8541 ext. 38
E-mail: aekohn@wmis.net
Please RSVP by: Thursday, November 18th

Service Projects

With the help of our student leadership, St. Patrick’s will be participating in two special service projects in November.  For the first project, “Operation Christmas Child,” we are collecting gift items that fit into a shoe box.  These shoe boxes are sent to children all over the world who otherwise would not have the chance to celebrate Christmas.  Please see the Shamrock for suggested gift items.  The collection will continue through Friday, November 19.

The second project, “The Gift of Warmth this Winter,” is a chance for St. Patrick’s to partner with Curtis Cleaners in collecting coats to benefit children and veterans.  Check your closets for coats that you’ve outgrown or no longer need.  All sizes are appreciated.  The coat drive will continue through December 1. 

We also hope that you will join us in praying for those who will benefit from these two causes. 

A Touching Moment

Today was another example of a heartfelt, touching moment for Arley and I. The people of St. Patrick have accepted us with open arms and we are sincerely moved by the type of community that exists here. We were surprised by students, parents and staff members - the COMMUNITY - with a "reception" to celebrate our recent wedding. The strength of this community is instilled in all of you. From my family to yours, a sincere thank you. We look forward to a bright future and to be part of the greater St. Patrick family that exists here.

Living Saints

From 9:50 until 11:15 on Friday, the 5/6 graders will be performing their interpretation of the Living Saints' Museum. After selecting a saint, each student researched the life of the saint and wrote a brief biography which they memorized. Now they have their costumes and props and are excitedly anticipating the Living Saints' Museum. The "saints" will also be present after this Sunday's Masses at the K of C Breakfast.