|
Strategic Plan: Go Towards the Roar!
There is a saying in Africa about self-preservation that goes something like this: Go towards the roar. The idea is that a pack of lions flank the lion that roars waiting for prey that have avoided going towards the roar. The natural instinct is to go around the lion that is the loudest and seen as the threat, but by doing so, animals put themselves in even greater peril. While the visual is a little graphic the saying makes sense to me, because in my experience, many of us avoid those things that are seen as the most challenging, most difficult, even the most threatening (to success). We go around looking for an easier route, a quick fix, less "loud" work. It isn't that we aren't busy-even productive-but we too often skirt the real issues that need to be addressed. I can fill my days with observing classrooms, having lunch with Middle School, playing a quick game of tetherball with third graders. I love going to Mass with the different school divisions and dropping in on an Art lesson. I often say being with the teachers and students in their classrooms is the best part of my day. Sometimes, I am avoiding the roar. The "roar" is contained in our Strategic Plan. The roar are those elements that are essential to our future, necessary for our mission driven present, and our agreed upon critical goals for our school. Our Strategic Plan calls for continued progress on academic excellence with programs for students with special needs and for enrichment. Our Plan prescribes a need for a comprehensive retreat program, greater connection to the Parish, and a service component for students to strengthen our Catholic identity. Stabilization of our enrollment and increased financial aid, so we can grow to an optimum size of over 425 students is a "roar" that is in our Plan. The vision of those who wrote the Strategic Plan includes the need for a Development Office so that we no longer defer building maintenance, freeze academic budgets or worse, continue to run deficit budgets. It asks us to dream bigger about a new or remodeled building. The entire Strategic Plan can be found on our website, but I can assure you that it is comprehensive and challenging, and it's easy to find reasons to skirt around it. But to do so is to move into that perilous flank of avoidance. I am happy to let you know that the Strategic Plan is the document that the School Commission has set its yearly goals against. It has provided the source and inspiration behind my 2015-16 goals, which the Commission has accepted. It is a vision from which we have framed our self-study; which you know is part of our accreditation process. It has all the challenges that make strategic planning difficult, even overwhelming, but it has the clarity that calls us to action, to walk in a direction that encourages us to get better, and it roars loudly about the hope in the future of St. Patrick School. There was another saying that I heard repeatedly when on safari in South Africa: "You don't have to be faster than the lion; you just have to be faster than the other people in your group!" Let's run together right into the good work. Now is the right time.
peace,
Chris
|
|
Upcoming Events
October 15: Noon Dismissal, Conferences October 16: No School, Teacher In-service October 17: Harvest Festival, 4-7 PM in School Gym October 21: Kitchen In-service, No Hot Lunch October 22: Rosary and Living Rosary October 29: All School Mass, All Saints' and All Souls'
|
|
Annual Fund 16
Don't forget to return your envelopes for the letter writing campaign! We appreciate your efforts in participating in and supporting this campaign.
We are thankful for the strong support of Annual Fund 16 so far. In pledges and gifts, we have over $101,000 toward our goal of $150,000. If you haven't pledged or donated, please take a moment to do so today. We will need everyone's participation to reach our goal! For more information, click here for the video and click here to learn more about Annual Fund on our website. Don't forget to pledge or donate by October 31! Thank you.
Click Here To Make A Donation
|
|
Accreditation Stakeholders' Meeting
Community members, parishioners and parents are welcome to join us for a Stakeholders' Meeting as we begin our Self-Study Year in the school's accreditation cycle. The meeting will be held on October 27 from 6-8 PM in the Gym.
|
|
Community Ministry
Question of the Week: "In the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption." Psalm 101 What does our psalm response mean to you?" Please join St. Patrick School for these gatherings for prayer: - Middle School Mass Thursday October 15 8:45 AM - The Living Rosary with PreK-5th gr., Thurs. Oct. 22 8:45 AM - All School Mass in anticipation of All Saints/All Souls, Thursday October 29, 8:45 We invite you to pray the rosary at home as we are praying at school in our classrooms. October is the Month of the Rosary!
|
|
CYO
Cross Country
Congratulations to all runners for working so hard this season. You have done well!
Thank you to all the volunteers. With Cross Country, it takes a village: coaches, course volunteers, tent supervisors, snack donors, cheerleaders, etc.
Our end of the year pot luck is October 18 at the church hall at 5:30 pm. Please check with coaches to see what your family is to provide for the pot luck.
Basketball
Our sign-ups are over. The coaches are meeting tonight. If you your son or daughter in the 4th - 8th grade want to play and are not contacted by the end of this week, please contact the athletic director at cyoathletics@saintpats.org. We should start practicing this week or next. Go St. Pats!!!
Volleyball
Sign-ups will start in mid-January for 5th - 8th grades.
|
|
Service Opportunity
Dear parents and students, L'Arche Farm and Gardens would like to invite St. Patrick School middle school students and their parents to participate in another volunteer day this Friday, Oct. 16. Students and parents are invited to volunteer from 9 AM-12 PM, from 1 PM-3 PM, or to stay for both shifts. Volunteers may bring a sack lunch and join the L'Arche crew for lunch from 12-1. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from L'Arche. This opportunity is for students in grades 6-8. If younger siblings would like to attend, a parent must be present with them. Please sign up with the following link: L'Arche is an international movement with a local organization in Tacoma. Its mission is, "to make known the gifts of people with developmental disabilities, revealed through mutually transforming relationships; to foster an environment in community that responds to the changing needs of our members, while being faithful to the core values of our founding story; to engage in our diverse cultures, working together toward a more human society." In Tacoma, L'Arche operates a farm and greenhouse. For more information about this organization, please follow the link below: L'Arche Farm and Gardens
|
|
Box Tops
We will be submitting Box Tops soon. Please send your Box Tops to school by Tuesday, October 26th, to be included in this submission. Thank you for your support!
|
|
Photo Request
School parent, Mindi Marsh has generously volunteered to create our yearbook this year. If you have any unique and wonderful pictures of students, teachers, administration, classroom events, fields trips, CYO sports, etc., please email them to Mindi Marsh at swampclan@hotmail.com. If you have questions, she can be contacted either through email or call 253.232.9152. Thank you!
|
|
From the Parish
The Art of Teaching the Good News:
Surprised by Joy!
Presented by Sr. Liz Tiernan, SNDdeN
Saturday October 17, 2015 9:00 AM - Noon
Doors open at 8:30 AM for continental breakfast
St. Martin of Tours Parish, 2305 54th Ave. E, Fife 98424
Workshop content includes:
-
The Six Tasks of Catechesis
-
Prayer in the Classroom
-
Discipline Techniques "Surrounded by Angels"
-
The Catechist's Personal Relationship with God
Free for all Catechists!
The workshop is funded by the Pierce County Deanery All Catechists of the Pierce County Deanery are invited! RSVP to Kim Ward 383-2783 ext. 4108 or kward@saintpats.org
Sr. Elisabeth Tiernan, is a member of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, and has been a religious educator for many years. She has traveled extensively as a workshop presenter. Sr. Liz presents ideas and methods intended to enhance the classroom experience for teachers and students alike. Her style is interactive making use of visuals, music, media and storytelling, as well as prayer and ritual.
Youth Group NO JUNIOR HIGH CRUISE. Instead, we will go Bowling at CHALET Bowl on Proctor October 25th from 4-5:30 PM during our normal Youth Group time. Bring money for snacks. Contact Joe and Anna to let us know you are coming so we can reserve enough lanes.
|
 |
|
