St. Patrick School

The HSA is excited to welcome families to the new school year, and we need your help! The Tailgate Committee is looking for volunteers to assist with various tasks. Whether you can lend a hand at the event, help set up, or work the wishing tree table, your time is greatly appreciated. Click the link below to sign up and support our classrooms and school community. Thank you for making a difference!

Invite your neighbors, family & friends with children up to 5 years-old to join us at Tiny Tots Tuesdays on October 8! Tiny Tots is held every 2nd Tuesday of the month from October 2024-May 2025. Come for the story, stay for the fun! RSVP below.

Do you like volleyball and helping people? If so, the SPAA needs your help in coaching the varsity co-ed volleyball team made of students in grades 7 and 8. Practices are after school and the volunteer position is one of the most rewarding you will ever participate in. To volunteer, contact SPAA president, Mike Salvitti at michael.salvitti@hotmail.com.

With Saint Patrick School closed on Friday, October 11, it's the perfect time for your kids to tap

into their creativity! Two local spots, Crafted in Madison and House of Dezign, Chatham, are

offering exciting drop-off workshops to make the day off from school extra fun and inspiring.

• Crafted in Madison will provide hands-on crafting projects that spark imagination and encourage artistic expression. Kids ages 5-10 will have the chance to dive into various crafts and create something special! https://www.hisawyer.com/crafted-in-madison/schedules/activity-set/957766
• House of Dezign is offering a full day, drop off workshops for kids and teens! To learn more and register https://houseofdezign.com/product-category/camps-workshops/school-holidays-1-day/

Drop them off and let their creativity soar! Don't miss out—spaces fill up fast!

Well, we have a whole week under our belts! I have noticed less tears in the morning and a few more smiling faces. Please continue to encourage your students to talk about their transition back to a school schedule and check in to see how they are feeling after a full week of early mornings. Practice makes progress! As you continue to prepare for the morning you will notice areas that are working well and areas that need some tweaking. Encouraging your student to provide input in regards to the morning routine will help to instill some independence and confidence.

As tough as it is to drop off our littlest friends, a simple goodbye will prove more effective than multiple statements of ‘love and missing you’. Your children feel your love for them. Your ability to say goodbye without longing provides reassurance and the idea that the children are in a safe place and that you will be there for them at dismissal. Elongating a goodbye proves to raise doubt and insecurity. Our children follow our examples, when we show confidence in the drop off routine, our students begin to feel that confidence and display it themselves.

This week the younger students and I reviewed the names of feelings and emotions. We discussed how to recognize facial expressions that give clues to how someone is feeling. In the older grades we are discussing transitions and new routines. We are getting reacquainted and I am collecting ideas regarding what your students would like to know more about. There is always room for “Smore” learning in regards to emotional regulation, effective communication, and academic challenges. We have a cozy campfire in our room for small group meetings and Lunch Bunches. I’m excited to reconnect with everyone and for our growth minded conversations to continue.

https://sparkandstitchinstitute.com/growing-together-priorities-for-a-new-school-year/

Child Mind Institute Support for Stressed Parents

Have a wonderful weekend and please peruse the articles below. I receive a great deal of information for parents and am always happy to share these articles with you.

Best wishes,

Kelly Horan, LAC

Join Mrs. McKenna for two weeks of decoupage fun! Hold on to those summer memories while you decoupage a clam shell and mason jar.

Open to students in grades 4 though 8.

Meeting Dates: Wednesday 9/25 and Wednesday 10/2

Time: 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Cost: $55 per student

Register at the link below.

Below is a list of VIRTUS trainings coming up soon in the area. Should you have any questions about Diocesan volunteer guidelines, please reach out to Mrs. Bogardus in the School Office at nbogardus@st-pats.org.

Archdiocese of Newark

St. Helen in Westfield

o Monday September 16 7:00pm (3 hours)

o Wednesday September 18 5:00 PM (3 hours)

Our Lady of Lourdes in Mountainside

o Friday September 20 7:00 PM (3 hours)

o Saturday September 21 10:00 AM (3 hours)

Holy Trinity Church in Westfield

o Thursday October 3 7:00 PM (3 hours)

St. Michael the Archangel in Union

o Tuesday October 22 7:00 PM (3 hours)

Diocese of Paterson

St. Paul Inside the Walls in Madison

o Monday September 30 4:00 (3 hours)

o Tuesday October 22 4:00 (3 hours)

Passionate Discipleship: Become a true, dynamic disciple of Jesus Christ. This study focuses on equipping women to know Christ and to make Him known. We will contemplate 2 Timothy verse by verse as we immerse ourselves in Paul’s last and deeply personal letter to his beloved friend and mentee, Timothy. Join us on Thursdays 9:30 –11:30am beginning October 10th. It’s an opportunity to make authentic connections with other women, refuel and refresh, and learn more about God. All are welcome! Additional information and to register please visit https://st-pats.org/walking-with-purpose

The “one-bag-a-month” food collection for the pantry at the Chatham Community Food Distribution is Tuesday, September 17. Food may be left at the priest’s garage anytime on the 17th. All of the food is donated to local recipients. The most helpful items are:

Canned tuna

Peanut butter

Canned black beans

Macaroni and cheese

Canned Vegetables

Rice

Cereals

Canned Tomatoes

Spaghetti Sauce

Future collection dates are October 15 and November 12.

The One-Bag-a-Month program is sponsored by the Chatham Interfaith Clergy Council of which St. Patrick parish is a member. Please contact Deacon Mark with any questions or suggestions.

Cognia National Certified STEM School

U.S. Blue Ribbon School of Excellence

Cognia Accredited

Email: schooloffice@st-pats.org
Website: www.spschatham.org

Location: 45 Chatham Street, Chatham, NJ, USA
Phone: 973-635-4623
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SPSChathamNJ/
Instagram: @SPSChathamNJ