PRINCIPAL

I hope that you and your family are having a healthy and enjoyable summer! It is hard to believe that it is time to start thinking about school again! Labor Day is late this year, so we have an extra week in August to get ready.

As usual, St. Patrick School has been a very busy place this summer. Windows have been washed. Floors have been cleaned and waxed and painting touched up. The small classroom and Faculty Room have been painted. Bit by bit we are losing the Pepto Bismol pink! Next on the agenda will be the outside. If only grass and plants would grow as well as the weeds!

We are happy to say that as of July 24, 70 families had verified Facts Grant and Aid applications and received notification of their financial aid. I met with parents who had questions about their tuition during July. Over $60,000 of Financial Aid has been distributed to our families! We are very grateful to the Catholic Schools Foundation and to our private donors for their ongoing support!

We are happy to welcome new students to our school. Enrollment for K-1 is going a little more slowly than last year. I am afraid that many people are waiting until August. Please encourage friends, co-workers, neighbors or relatives who have children who would like to enroll their children at St. Patrick’s to please apply soon. This will allow time for Financial Aid applications to be processed as well. There are still spaces in most classes!! With class sizes growing due to cut backs and school closings in many of the public school systems, now is the time to take advantage of smaller classes and quality education within a “culturally diverse environment based upon Gospel values” here at St. Patrick’s.

v Tuition: Your first month’s bill is enclosed. If you are still waiting to hear about financial aid, adjustments will be made as soon as financial aid is finalized. A reminder – the first tuition payment is due August 17.

v Special Back to School Information for K-1 and K-2 ( only K-1 and K-2 students have this)

Other information will be sent home on the first day of school in the Family Envelope or given to K-1 and K-2 Parents at their Orientation sessions. The oldest – or only – child in your family will bring the Family Envelope home each month.

v School Supplies: The School Supply list was sent home in June. It is also posted on our school web site: www.saintpatricklowell.org. Click on “News and Highlights” and scroll down to each grade’s Supply List. If you have any questions about it, please contact school.

v Extended Day Program: Information and Registration forms for the Extended Day Program will be sent home in the first Family Envelope. The Extended Day program will begin on Tuesday, September 8.

v Nutrition Program: Applications for Free and Reduced Breakfast and Lunch will be in the Family Envelope, as well as the menu for September Breakfast and Lunch. Breakfast, Snack and Lunch will begin on Tuesday, September 8.

v Student-Parent Handbook: The St. Patrick Parent-Student Handbook will be part of the Family Envelope. The handbook outlines all policies and procedures for our school, as well as providing information about our history and mission. A few things have been updated. Please keep this at home for your reference and go through it with your child/ren. There is a paper that needs to be signed indicating that you have read the handbook and support the policies contained in it. This sheet is due back to school by Friday, September 18.

First Week of School (Grades 1-8): Please note that the first three days of school are half days. THERE IS BUS TRANSPORTATION IN THE MORNING! The city of Lowell has full days; therefore, there will be NO BUS TRANSPORTATION AT DISMISSAL. Please make arrangements to have your child/ren picked up at 12:00 noon each of those three days. Thank you for your assistance with this schedule.

The office will be open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9:00 and 12:00 during the first two weeks of August. The office will be open 8:00 – 3:00 Monday through Thursday during the weeks of August 17 and August 24.

We look forward to welcoming the students back for a new school year. Thank you once again for entrusting your children to us. Together we will make this year another great year at St.Patrick School, the “little school with a big spirit”!

IMPORTANT BACK TO SCHOOL INFORMATION

Those students who submitted a Bus Application in the spring should be receiving notification from the City of Lowell Transportation Office prior to school beginning. If you completed and returned a Bus Application but do not hear from the Transportation Office, please contact them directly. Bus transportation begins on the first day of school. The Transportation Office’s number is : 978-937-7633 or 978-937-8972.

School Begins on Tuesday, September 1 at 8:20 AM, Dismissal will be at 12:00 Noon

THERE IS NO SCHOOL IN LOWELL – OR AT ST. PATRICK’S - ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 OR MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 DUE TO THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY.

Students in Grades 1-8 must be in full uniform beginning Tuesday, September 1.

All students should bring their school supplies to school on the first day.Students need to bring a snack and drink with them during the first week. There will be no breakfast or lunch program.

Family Envelopes (Grades 1-8) will be sent home on Tuesday, September 1. All forms need to be returned no later than Tuesday, September 8

Extended Day, Breakfast, Snack and Lunch programs will begin on Tuesday, September 8.

Tuition: The first tuition payment for ALL students is due on August 17. Please mail it to school or bring it into the office on that date.

WELCOME TO ST. PATRICK SCHOOL K-1, K-2 PROGRAM

Students in K-1 and K-2 will have HALF DAYS (dismissal at noon) on Tuesday, September 8 and Wednesday, September 9. There will be no bus transportation at dismissal for those who ride the bus. Students will have FULL DAYS on Thursday, September 10 and Friday, September 11.

K-2 Students must be in FULL UNIFORM beginning September 8. K-1 students must wear their ST. PATRICK SCHOOL GYM UNIFORM on the first day of school. If you have not yet ordered and received you child’s uniform, please contact Collegiate House as soon as possible. Mrs. Carnazzo will have order forms in the school office.

There will be a special orientation meeting for parents/guardians of children in K-1 and K-2 on Thursday, September 3. It will be held in the K-1 or K-2 classroom. This is a very important meeting and we ask that at least one parent/ guardian or adult family member attend. The children in K-1 and K-2 do not need to be present for this orientation. Please make every effort to come so that we may be able to share with you important information regarding the K-1, K-2 Program and help get the year off to a good start. Some of the information we will be presenting and discussing will include:

You will also have the opportunity to see the classroom, meet the teachers and ask questions. We want this to be a good beginning for your child/ren. Working together will help this happen. We look forward to seeing you at Orientation!