Dear St. Patrick families,

We would like to thank the staff, students, families and especially the volunteers for making our Book Fair a rousing success. Together we were able to raise over $1,000 for our school library while encouraging the skill most vital to success – reading! We would also like to acknowledge the winners of the Candy Guessing Game: kindergarten – Landon McDaniel, first grade – Dominic Szczesniak, second grade – Hailey Roberts, third grade – Macey Rainer, fourth grade – Jaxon Bailey, fifth grade – Brayden McManus, sixth grade – Abby Wohlwend, seventh grade – Lea Parham, and eighth grade – Joey Stephan.

Our Math-a-thon was also a big success this year. Thirty-three students participated and brought in $2,250. Our donations have helped to cover the cost of chemotherapy ($1,474), one day of oxygen ($450), a complete blood count test ($132), and a platelet count test ($69). The top sellers were Colt Andrews, Caroline Smith, Jun-He Nesbella, Sarah Alberson, Dylan Atkinson and Fares Abbassi. Thank you to all of the students who participated in such a worthy cause. You are helping the kids at St. Jude’s Hospital in a wonderful way. I would also like to thank Mrs. Braden and Mrs. Shumiloff for chairing this project.

Our sixth grade class will once again be conducting their “Coats for Kids” campaign. This will provide winter apparel for those in need in Portage County (adults and children). Beginning Oct. 23rd and running through Nov. 10th, the sixth grade asks that you send in new or laundered, gently used winter apparel. You may drop off your items to either sixth grade homeroom.

Picture Retake Day is Tuesday, Oct. 24th. Order forms are available in the office, if needed. Students having their pictures retaken may dress up on Tuesday. The students must return their original picture package intact to be permitted a retake.

This is a reminder regarding Halloween. In last week’s bulletin I set some parameters for student costumes.

Please be sure they are followed. Also, be sure you have completed the Virtus training if you plan to chaperone any classroom party.

Parent – teacher conferences will begin soon. Please do not park behind the school when coming in for your conference until after six o’clock. Latchkey is usually outside in the nice weather and cars moving in and out could pose a danger to the students. Our official conference evening is Thursday, Nov. 2nd. The teachers will be sending out conference slips to all of our families.

I have been reviewing our numbers on student who arrive late for school. The numbers have been growing the last few weeks and some students have been late almost every day. A student’s late arrival takes away from their learning time and disrupts the flow of the teacher’s lesson, which has already begun. Please make every effort to have your child in school prior to 8 AM. Morning prayer and announcements usually begin around 7:50 AM. Being on time will help ensure that your child has a good day at school.

We have two active Facebook pages, in addition to our own St. Patrick website. The Home and School Association has a page at St. Patricks Home and School, and Mrs. Zaynor has created a page at St. Patrick School Kent Ohio. Check them both out to see updated pictures of the activities here at school.

Our 3rd and 4th graders who are on the Edchoice Scholarship will be taking the Ohio ELA test in the near future. Students on the scholarship are required by the Ohio Dept. of Education to take the test. Those teachers will be sending information regarding the test times.

School will not be in session on Monday, Oct. 30th. This is a scheduled in-service day for the teachers.

Wednesday, Nov. 1st, is All Saints’ Day, which is a holy day of obligation. The primary grade will be attending Mass at 9 AM and the middle will attend Mass at 12:10 PM.

There is an all school Mass scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 9th, at 8:30 AM. At this Mass we will honor all veterans and there is a reception afterwards in the church basement. We invite all of our veterans to this Mass.

Have a great weekend (at least the Cavs won)! And, as always ….. GO PANTHERS!