Portland St. Patrick Catholic School

Announcements that have been removed from the homepage will be saved here for a few weeks before they are permanently deleted.

(1/25)  Breakfast Tickets

Please be sure to return your packet of tickets (sold and unsold), along with the money to the school office or your child's teacher today or tomorrow.  The Breakfast Buffet will be held next Sunday, January 31 from 8:30 - 11:30 to help kick off the 2010 Catholic Schools Week celebration.

(1/22) School Newsletter Online

This week's school newsletter is now available.  Check it out for a complete list of events for Catholic School's Week.  Also, a big welcome to our new students - Seth, Changseo, and Eunseo! 

(1/19)  Clarifications!

The College Planning Workshop will start at 6:30 tonight (the Lansing State Journal published a 7:00 start time).  The KC Free Throw contest on Sunday is open to ages 9-14 (the bulletin stated ages 10-14).

(1/16)  Catholic Schools Week Schedule

The activities that are planned for Catholic Schools Week are now available online.  Catholic Schools Week begins on Sunday, January 31.

(1/16)  Basketball Game Rescheduled Again!

The JV boys/girls game against Saranac has been re-rescheduled.  It will be played on Monday, February 8, 2010 at St. Pat's gym.  The girls will begin at 6:00, the boys will play at 7:30.

(1/15)  School Newsletter Online

This week's issue of the school newsletter is now online.  A few items of interest:

•  No school on Monday, January 18.  Staff Professional Development Day.
• Tickets for the upcoming Breakfast Buffet will go home with students today.  Each family will receive 5 tickets to buy/sell.  If you need additional tickets, call the school office.
• The Copper-Stopper contest was a huge success, raising over $1500 that was donated to Ele's Place and Pregnancy Services of Ionia County.

(1/15)  College Planning 101

Don't forget to pre-register for College Planning 101, which will be held on Tuesday, January 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall.  Walk-in's are welcome, but will not be guaranteed an information packet.  Pre-registration for the event will close at noon on Monday.

 (1/15)  Basketball Game Rescheduled

The JV boys/girls home game against Saranac which was originally scheduled to be played on December 10, has been rescheduled for February 9, with a 6 p.m. start.

(1/15)  School Commission Notes

Notes from this week's school commission meeting are now online.

(1/13)  KC Free Throw Contest

The Portland Knights of Columbus annual Free Throw contest is scheduled for Sunday, January 24 at 1:00 at SPS gym.  This is for ALL boys and girls ages 9-14 (as of 1/1/2010).  Pre-registration is NOT required and you do NOT need to be a KC family member to participate.  Doors will open at 12:30.  If you have any questions, contact Ken Cook at 647-2331.  

(1/12)  Financial Aid Letter

St. Patrick School families will receive a letter from Mr. Hodge this week, which also includes an application for financial aid for students in grades DK-12.  This aid is available to qualifying families for the 2010-11 school year.

Private School Aid Service is a service that determines if you are eligible for a Diocesan Grant (grades 1-12) and/or Saint Patrick Parish Grant (grades DK-12). Please follow the instructions on the cover of the Student Aid Form booklet exactly. Applications must be postmarked no later than March 1, 2010, and must include payment for the $21.00 processing fee payable to Private School Aid Service. The Parish Office will notify you by June 30, 2010.

If you will not be using this application, please pass it along to someone who may be interested in sending their children to St. Patrick School, but do not think they can afford it.

(1/11)  College Planning 101

One more week to register for College Planning 101, scheduled for Tuesday, January 19 at 6:30 p.m. in our Parish Hall.  This seminar/workshop is strongly recommended for all parents and students in grades 7-12.  It is open to all families, not just those from St. Pat's.  Complete information, including an online registration form is available here.

(1/11)   Exams Begin Tomorrow

First semester exams begin tomorrow.  See last week's school newsletter for a complete schedule, or visit the Academics/Programs page.

(1/11)  Box Tops for Education

Please take a look at the Meijer/Toms ads this week, because both stores are offering bonus box tops when you buy 10 or more Box Tops for Education items at their stores.  The bonus box tops will come to you as a custom coupon that prints when you check out, and it's a HUGE bonus---at Meijer you'll get 70 bonus box tops!  Box tops have a ten-cent value, so it's like getting $7 back!

The Box Tops program has given away over $300 million since 1996.  St. Pat's PTO recently received a check for $1500!  If you don't already participate in the Box Tops program, it's very easy to do.  Save the coupons that are printed on the participating brands, then send them to school or drop them in the container that is located inside the vestibule of the handicap entrance to the church. Thank you!

(1/8)  School Newsletter Online

This week's school newsletter is now available to read online. Among the information in it:

• Welcome to the newest members of our school family, preschool students Nicholas Rooks, Connor Johnson, and Lucy Denker. 
• Thank you to Homeworks Tri-County, Brian and Nancy Wohlscheid and the PTO for the donation of multi-mediavideo projectors.
• Thank you to the Kidfest Committee for the donation of new computers for the school office.
• Thank you to Scott and Stacie Bohr, Dave and Mary Kramer, Don and Dee Gross, Marie Schrauben, Jane Gross, Tom and Allice Zimmerman, Gary and Carolle Gross, Rocky and Mary Beckhold and Steve and Rita Snitgen for their monetary donations to the school prior to Christmas break.
• Thank you to Don and Dee Gross for donating the Church's original Nativity set back to the school.
• Thank you to the Rita Blundy family for designating the St. Patrick School Library as a memorial in honor of their mother.
• And, much, much more!

(1/8)   Basketball Game Change

St. Patrick game vs. Laingsburg has been rescheduled for Saturday.  Girls start at 6:00, boys start at 7:30.  Laingsburg had no school today.

(1/8)  Catholic Schools Week

Catholic Schools Week will be held the week of January 31-February 6.  Sunday, January 31 will be the Kick-Off day, with the following activities planned:

•  Breakfast Buffet in the cafeteria 8:30 - 11:30 am
•  Special Mass at 9:30 am
•  School Open House 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Complete information about Catholic Schools Week will be published very soon!

(1/7)  Athletic Association Minutes
Full meeting minutes for the December 2009 and the January 2010 meetings are now available. 

(1/6)  Parish Calendar

The button box in the upper right corner of this page has a new link to the complete parish calendar.  When you click on this link, you'll access a calendar page that lists everything that's happening in St. Pat's Parish. 

In the upper right hand corner of the calendar you'll see a box that says "All Interest Groups" with a down arrow.  By clicking on the arrow, you can choose the category of events that you want to view.  For example:

• By clicking on Athletics you'll see all of the Shamrock games. 
• By clicking on Parish Hall, you'll see all events that are currently scheduled for the Parish Hall.
• If you have events that need to be added to the calendar, please contact LuAnn at the school office or Jan at the parish office.

(1/3)    Correction

The School Commission meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of the month from now on.  The January meeting will be held on Jan. 12.

(1/3)   Athletic Association Information

The complete minutes from today's Athletic Association meeting will be posted online later in the week.  Some items to note:

•  The CMAC has voted to begin charging admission at spring sports this year.  The charge will be $5 for all track meets, baseball and softball games.  If you have a Season Pass, be sure to hang onto it, because it will be good for all of the home games through the end of the school year.
• Advance notice:  Parent's Night will be held on February 26 for Girls Basketball and on March 2 for Boys Basketball.
• Mark your calendars and plan to attend the Shamrock Auction on Saturday, April 17.

(1/3)  School Commission Meeting

The School Commission will meet on Tuesday, January 5 at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall.

(1/3)  Exams Scheduled for Next Week

First semester exams will be held next week.  See the complete exam schedule and other information posted on the Academics page.