St. Patrick Catholic School
Principal's Newsletter
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February 8, 2024
As we gear up for an exciting month ahead, we have some important updates and reminders to share with you:
Save the Date for the Main Event:
We're thrilled to remind you that the school's Main Event is scheduled for Saturday, February 10, starting at 5:30 p.m. This eagerly anticipated event will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn in Cedar Falls. Get ready for an evening filled with fun, fellowship, and fundraising in support of our beloved school. We look forward to seeing you there!
File for STO (Kindergarten-Gr. 8):
We encourage all families of students in K-Gr, 8 to file for Our Faith Student Tuition Organization (STO), even if you believe you qualify for Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). It's important to explore all available options to ensure that every family can access the financial support they need for their child's education. Filing for STO could open up additional opportunities for assistance, so don't hesitate to take advantage of this resource.
Preschool Scholarships:
A local organization, Cedar Valley’s Promise, offers preschool scholarships to qualifying families. You can find out more about their program and eligibility requirements at Cedar Valley Promise.
School Registration Open for Current Families:
School registration for the 2024 - 25 academic year is now open for current St. Patrick's families. Please ensure you complete and return the registration forms to the school at your earliest convenience. Your prompt response helps us effectively plan for the upcoming school year and ensures a smooth transition for your child.
ESA Information Coming Soon:
Stay tuned for detailed information regarding Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). The qualification guidelines for the 2024 – 25 school include the following: current students receiving an ESA during the 2023 -24 school year will continue to qualify, along with new kindergartners and students transitioning from public school or homeschooling to St. Patrick's. Additionally, families at or below 400% of the poverty level will be eligible. Keep an eye out for further updates on ESA eligibility and application processes.
Your partnership and involvement are vital to the success of our school community. Thank you for your continued support and dedication to providing an exceptional education for our students.
Blessings,
Mr. Wiebers
Principal
CPTO Meeting Tonight! Feb 8th
Our monthly CPTO meeting will be held tonight, February 8th, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the MPR. Please enter through the glass doors on the playground. Children of parents who attend tonight's meeting will receive an out of uniform pass for a later date this month. We hope to see you there!
✨The Main Event! Feb 10, 2024 ✨
Join us at The Main Event on February 10th. For more information, and to buy your advanced tickets online, please click here.
Out of Uniform Day - February 13th 🤍❤️
Tuesday, February 13 will be an out of uniform day in memory of Carson Schmitz. All proceeds will be donated to the organization "No Foot Too Small." The minimum cost for out of uniform will be $1.00 per person. We ask that your student wears red or pink.
Volunteer at the Food Bank - Feb 13th
Our next evening to volunteer at the Northeast Iowa Food Bank will be on Tuesday, Feb 13th from 6:00-7:30 p.m. If you are interested in signing up, please contact Erin Youngblut at erinyoungblut@gmail.com. We will not have a night at the food bank during the month of March, due to Spring Break. This is a great opportunity for older students to get their service hours in!
Final Godfather's Pizza Fundraiser Night 🍕
Our Final Godfather's Pizza Fundraiser night will be on Ash Wednesday, February 14th. This will be our last pizza fundraiser night, as Mick Timmerman will be retiring after 40 years at Godfather's Pizza. If you have any Godfather's Scrip gift cards, please use them up before February 23rd! This will be your child's last opportunity to win a pizza party for their classroom, so let's make our last fundraiser night count! If you have any fedoras from your pizza boxes, please get them sent in to the office, as soon as possible.
We want to offer our heartfelt thanks to Godfather's for their many years of supporting our school through this fundraiser.
UNI Make-A-Wish Pancake Breakfast 🥞
Free Dental Care Event For Children - February 23rd
Contact: Black Hawk County Public Health
Phone: 319-291-2413
publichealth@blackhawkcounty.iowa.gov
Free Dental Care Event for Children
Black Hawk County Public Health’s I-SmileTM Program is partnering with Kimball and Beecher
Family Dentistry to provide free dental care to children in need on Friday, February 23.
Appointments will be scheduled from 8 am – 2:00 pm at the 4015 Hurst Drive, Waterloo
location.
The Give Kids a Smile in the Cedar Valley Day provides free dental services to children ages
1-13. Services include oral exams, x-rays, preventive care such as cleaning, fluoride, and
sealants; as well as restorative care such as fillings. Children must be registered in advance,
and parental permission received, to receive services.
This event is designed to meet the increasing need of families who are unable to find a dental
provider who accepts Iowa Medicaid or will provide services when there is a lack of insurance or
transportation resources.
If transportation to the event is an issue, Medicaid patients are advised to contact the member
service phone number on the back of the Iowa Medicaid card to schedule a ride. Scheduling
must be done at least three days prior to your appointment day.
To sign up for the Give Kids a Smile in the Cedar Valley Day call Kimball and Beecher Family
Dentistry at 319-235-6287 to schedule an appointment.
The Black Hawk County I-SmileTM Program provides oral health screenings in the school and
clinic settings, along with navigation to dental, medical, and community resources in Black Hawk
and surrounding counties. If you have questions about the I-SmileTM Program call 319-292-2284
or visit the Black Hawk County Public Health website.
Snow Day Make Up - February 19th
Because of the three snow days, we will now use Presidents' Day on Feb. 19 as a snow make-up day. Please plan accordingly to have your student attend school as usual on Monday, Feb. 19. Going forward, if we have a late start on a Wednesday, we will have school until 3:20 p.m., instead of an early dismissal at 1:30 p.m. If your student has an appointment that afternoon, you are welcome to sign them out as needed.
Kindergarten Parent Information Night - February 22nd
Our parent meeting for 2024/25 kindergarten students will be held on February 22nd, at 6:30 p.m. Please enter through the MPR entrance and proceed up to Mrs. Byers classroom. In the event that the night is postponed due to inclement weather, our make up date will be February 26th.
⭐ Gold Star Teacher Awards ⭐
Brochures to nominate a deserving St Patrick Catholic School teacher for the 2024 GOLD STAR AWARD
FOR OUTSTANDING TEACHING have been sent home. Please take time to nominate at least one of our very deserving teachers. You can nominate your favorite teachers online here.
Solo/Ensemble contest at Don Bosco - Feb 24
On Feb 24th there will be a Solo/Ensemble contest at Don Bosco from 9 am - 12 pm. Please contact Mrs. Lawrence directly if you would like more information about attending.
Educational Savings Accounts
Education Savings Accounts, ESAs, have given parents a choice in their child's education. Catholic education is becoming more affordable for families. For more than 35% of families, the Our Faith Student Tuition Organization, or STO, is the first piece of financial assistance income qualified families rely on. Even with the ESA's this year, more than 3100 students in the Archdiocese of Dubuque received more than $5.5 million in tuition assistance from the STO. Iowa taxpayers that donate to the STO receive a 75% Iowa tax credit, or 75 cents back for every dollar you contribute on your Iowa tax return. The 75% STO tax credit is the only tax credit of its kind, and it reduces the amount of taxes you pay to the state of Iowa at tax time. If you want to learn more about how to turn your taxes into tuition, watch this video, call the school office or go to OurFaithSTO.org.
Applications now being accepted for tuition assistance through STO!
Annual Appeal
Our Annual Appeal is in full swing! Thank you to our donors! Please know that money donated to our Annual Appeal is allocated into our Student Impact Fund. Donations this year will help us meet our goal of having a safe surface installed for our playground equipment area.
❄️Winter Weather Alerts ❄️
St. Patrick School Scrip Program
Stock up on Scrip
Scrip cards and certificates are great for gifts and everyday use. Visit our website to find out about our Scrip program. Place your order through your Raise Right account, email scrip@cfcatholicschool.org, or print a paper form.
Fareway Grocery has been added to the RaiseRight line up, but we will still be selling Scrip cards from our local Fareway store. If you would like to continue to support local, and possibly receive your Scrip cards sooner, choose "Fareway Local $__ " when placing your Scrip order on the app. Cards ordered as "Fareway Meat & Grocery" will be coming from Fareway corporate through RaiseRight.
You will find many other local gift card vendors available on our paper order sheet and on the RaiseRight app if you'd like to support our local community!
Columbus Sailor Section ⚓
Sailor Nation Athletics
There are several sports opportunities through Sailor Nation for students as young as Kindergarten age. Click on the graphic to see what's available. Contact information is included. These clinics and clubs through Sailor Nation do involve a fee.
Sailor Nation Softball Opportunity!
Hello All,
Please see the information below from the Sailor Nation Softball for girls in grades 3 - 7. Please direct any questions to the contact information listed below.
The Sailor Nation Softball team is working to organize for the upcoming season. The Sailor Nation program has teams for girls in grades 3 - 7 and supports the development of students in the Cedar Valley Catholic Schools in an inclusive environment to support player growth and development. The season starts with clinics in February (one per month) and with games / tournaments beginning in April / May. If you are interested in participating or learning more please complete the link below.
If you have immediate questions regarding Sailor Nation softball please contact Courtney Donohue (donohue.courtney@gmail.com).
https://forms.gle/ceSQC3dtpFSMAukq7
God Bless,
Mr. Aaron Becker, Principal
Cedar Valley Catholic Schools
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Email: office@cfcatholicschool.org
Website: cfcatholicschool.org
Location: Cedar Falls, IA, USA
Phone: 319-277-6781