A while ago, in a Wednesday chapel, I was telling the children about the human race and how to win it. And I said that the human race had a lot of people in it. In fact, a whole world full of people.  But, unlike most races that have only one winner, the human race was a race that everyone could win. And you win it by treating others with compassion and kindness.

Some months passed and I had pretty much forgotten the chapel when a bright little first grader stopped me in the front lobby and asked me if I remembered the talk on the human race. And I said, “Yes, I did.”

With all sincerity, he looked at me and said, “Mr. Hammond, I think I can win it.  I think I can win the human race.”

That is what we are all about at Saint Patrick Catholic School.  Teaching kids how to win the human race.  Teaching them to use their gifts in building up each other in the ways they are able.  In supporting and nurturing…. the human race.  It looks like they are out of the blocks very well. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

School will dismiss early at 11:30 am on Wednesday, Nov 26th due to the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday & Friday, Nov 27 - 28.

There is sure to be a crowd at our 4th annual Grandparent’s Day performance so parents are invited to attend the dress rehearsal on Tuesday, Nov 25 at 9 am in the Gym.

Music Program: GYMNASIUM
Art Gallery: CONNECTOR between Media Center and Academic Wing
Please join our school community for this celebration of the performing arts featuring a program of music by the pre-kindergarten through 6th grade and an art exhibit by the 7th and 8th grade students.

The 7th and 8th graders are also the hosts for the music program, which is under the direction of Mr. Christopher Kypros.

The Art Gallery and its exhibition is under the coordination of Ms. Jacki Voorhies and Mrs. Suzanne Voorhies.

Many of you may already know that a member of one of our families, Mia Nguyen, is currently awaiting a heart transplant while being treated at UVA Med Center in Charlottesville. Mia was first admitted to CHKD in September and then was later transferred to the UVA Medical Center. Mia was born on July 15th to Dwight and Ngoan Nguyen. Mia’s big sister Nicole is in the 3rd grade at STPCS and she has also a brother Kobe (6) who attends school in Chesapeake.

As the Nguyen family has struggled with Mia’s situation, Nicole’s third grade classmates have taken it upon themselves to assist and support their friend Nicole through the offering of prayers and thoughtfulness but they have want to take a more active role to assist their friend. The latter part of this week both 3rd grade classes will be working on a project accepting donations and prayer notes from the school community through Friday, November 14th. They will have paper hearts upon which prayers can be written and placed in a prayer and donation box in the Dining Hall during lunch on Friday. This box will then be given to the Nguyen family as a physical sign connecting us to them through prayer during this very difficult time and we hope that we can be a source of strength for them. You can send your donation and/or prayer note into school in an envelope marked, “Hearts for Mia” and we will make sure it is placed in the box.

Nicole’s U9 advanced soccer teammates, many of whom are her classmates, have also been inspired to make every goal they score through December 7th be a goal for little Mia and a goal-a-thon fundraiser. Please email Susan Call (susancall3@verizon.net) for further donation information.

You can visit Mia’s page on Caringbridge by going to www.caringbridge.org/visit/mianguyen.

As spirit-filled students, our third grade class has risen to this difficult situation and recognized the need to help their friend.

Listen to a podcast of the presentation the students made at chapel:

Parents and teachers are encouraged to join together in an effort to identify the progress made by students within the pillars of the Graduate at Graduation document and to make strategic plans to augment the work that is being done at home and in the classroom. This is a non-crisis type interaction between the parent and teacher on behalf of the student. The time for this collaboration is open ended and scheduled between parent and teacher.

Saint Patrick Catholic School invites and welcomes special friends to a free “Returning Thanks” breakfast to be held in the Gymnasium. For more information on this memorable and special event, please contact Cathy Thaden, Director of Advancement, at cthaden@stpcs.org.

Sponsored by the Saint Patrick Catholic School Media Center
Please visit our Media Center during school hours on Monday, November 17 – Friday, November 21st. Students will preview with their classes on Monday, November 17th and Tuesday, November 18th.
Purchases can be made Wednesday, November 19th through Friday, November 21st during school hours.

‘Family Night’ is Thursday, November 20th from 3:45 - 7:00 p.m.

Please contact Elizabeth Woodard at ewoodard@stpcs.org or Elizabeth Brasek at ebrasek@stpcs.org with any questions.

There is no school on Monday, November 10th because it is Teacher Records Day - extended care is offered this day. In honor of Veteran’s Day, November 11th, there is no school. No Extended Care is offered on November 11th.

If you will need extended care on Monday, Nov 10, please go to the link below and fill out the Non-School Day Registration Form and return the form to Sheila Jessen:

http://www.stpcs.org/documents/2008_non_school_day_reg_form.pdf

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Sheila Jessen via email sjessen@stpcs.org or by phone at 440-5500.