Now those are some wonderful smiles!

Have you seen smiles so big and happy, it makes you smile yourself?  Well, I just saw a whole crop of them this past Monday.  I was lucky enough to visit the grand opening of the new playground.  If you'd like to see those faces too, check out the Playground Info page.

High School Math Placement Information

High School Math Placement - Informational Meeting

Who: Mr. Goetz, Chesterton High School Principal
What: High School Math Placement
When: Tuesday, December 1st, 2009 3:30
Where: In the St. Pat's School Library, Bldg 4

Mr. Goetz will be here to help parents understand how they place students in freshman mathematics and their gifted and talented program. He will answer questions you might have about their program.

One Last Call for Playground Help

Last weekend, an extremely diligent and dedicated group of volunteers came to work a very long day in the mud and muck. Because of these individuals and their hard work, as well as those who helped feed them, we now have a terrific new area in which all of our children can play.  This Saturday, 28-Nov, we need one last strong showing of volunteers to finish off the project.

This coming Saturday, Nov 28, we are going to be laying sod to help keep the children out of the mud and prepare the entire area for play once spring rolls around.  We need to complete the sod this weekend so the children can play on the new playground on Monday (The tentative Grand Opening!).

If you would like to be a part of this wonderful project, please come to the school at 8:30am Saturday morning. Bring gloves and something with which to trim sod. Oh, and wear old clothes... The ground is sure to be muddy!

We thank all who have helped with their time, talents and monetary support and look forward to completing the finished product together!!

But not yet open...

Some have asked, and we wanted to clarify: the playground is not yet able to be used. The concrete has not yet cured and if we were to use the equipment now, we might irreparably damage the equipment. Thanks for having just a little more patience!

The Playground installation: what I saw today...

I saw a lot of things today.  Some were obvious, some you needed to look deeper to see.  So, here's what I saw during the playground installation today:

• I saw a group of men and women from all corners in life coming together to help.
• I saw people giving all they had and then some.  No one commented when they took a break and no one asked people to give more.  We all gave all we had to make the project a success.
• I saw people who couldn't be there during the install or who weren't physically able to shovel dirt or spread mulch helping in a multitude of other ways: offering drinks, heating chili, watching over the children, waking up early to set up a lunch area, giving up their garage to safely store the materials.
• I saw people putting their God-given talents to use, no matter what those talents were.
• I saw people working together in unison to raise a slide, to close a gap, to find a tool, to fasten a bolt.
• I saw tables overflowing with chili and sandwiches and sloppy joes, with cookies and brownies and more cookies, with water and pop and sports drink.  All donated and all brought as someone's way to help make the project a success.  (Thanks to the Patel family specifically, owners of the Michigan City Quiznos, for their donation of all those sandwiches.  Delicious!)
• I saw kids who gave every last drop of energy to help get the mulch spread.  No complaints, no whining, no reservations...
• I saw teachers and the principal giving back to the kids in a whole new way through assisting with the playground project.
• I saw weather that could only be God smiling on our efforts...  A gift that was recognized by many today and credited to the gracious generosity of God.
• I saw a whole flock of kids playing nicely together, no fights, no whining, almost as if they knew part of their job today was to leave their parents alone to work.
• I saw older kids playing nicely with and helping to watch younger kids.  
• and finally...  I saw a glimpse of life in the past, with families coming together as a community, helping each other, watching out for each other's children, giving of themselves to help each other.

And most of all, you know what I saw today?  I saw a BRAND NEW PLAYGROUND for our children!!

This playground is HAPPENING!

25 people, men and woman, school and parish families, friends and family... All together making it happen! Sure, it's a little muddy, but the spirits are high and the structure is well underway. Those in charge say we're right on target to be done with the structure today as planned.
Now, break for lunch!!

Clarification on "Tardies"

We have had some confusion as to what constitutes a tardy thesedays, so I thought I would provide some clarification. According topage 7 of the Handbook, "Classes begin at 7:50 a.m. for grades 5-8and at 8:05 a.m. for grades K-4. Students who are tardy should besigned in at the office by parents and will receive a tardy note.Students who arrive by bus after starting times will not be markedtardy...All classes will be picked up by teachers at 7:50 a.m.;students should arrive at least five minutes before the start ofclasses."

To clarify, the children need to be in their classrooms, seatedand ready to begin at 7:50 or 8:05. This means they cannot be in theparking lot, hallways, lockers or unpacking their backpacks at 7:50or 8:05. If they enter the room after 7:50 or 8:05, then they aretardy. We have aides outside to help the students out of the cars.However, if the children are not in their rooms by 7:50 or 8:05 andready, then they are tardy. Even if your car is here and the aidesare helping your child out of the car at 7:50 or 8:05, then yourchild is considered tardy. Teachers take lunch count and attendancein their classrooms at 7:50 and 8:05, not in the parking lot orhallways. Aides will only be outside until 8:00. After five tardiesin a quarter, your child will serve a lunch detention. It is theresponsibility of the parent to have the child at school on time.Remember, parents are a child's first role model.

If you have any questions regarding this policy or wish todiscuss it further, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,Lee Ann Cosh