September Newsletter #2

Heavenly Father,

We thank You for the gift of a new school year, for the laughter, learning, and growth that fills our classrooms. As September brings the beauty of harvest, we are reminded of Your abundance and provision. Bless the hands that gather the fruits of the earth and the hearts that share with others.

We ask Your protection and guidance over our students and their families as they pursue their studies, play on the field, and cheer for our hometown teams. May the excitement of football season and the joy of homecoming bring our community together in friendship, sportsmanship, and gratitude.

Lord, help us to honor You in all we do—through learning, through play, and through celebration. Let this month be filled with safety, laughter, and memorable moments for every student and family.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

🌳On Friday, September 26th, after the 10:00 AM School Mass, the Presentation Sisters will be planting and dedicating a tree to the SPCS in honor of Sister Margaret Anne Kramer, principal of St. Patrick School from 1986 to 1992.

💚 Grandparent's Day - October 10th - A morning full of fun and love celebrating our SPCS students and their grandparents and special friends.

Get your team gear now! GO INDIANS!!

Pictures may be ordered online or by completing the form below.

To: Parent(s)/Guardian(s)

From: Mrs. Koenig - SPCS Principal

Under the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, all dioceses in the United States have agreed to do the following:

Provide education and training for children, youth, parents, ministers, educators, volunteers and others about ways to make and maintain a safe environment for children and young people. This is education and training teaching children about boundaries and safe touches, helping children to stay safe.

The safe environment training program at our St. Patrick Catholic School will be offered on: To all students JK-5th grade on September 29th, 2025.

While all children are to be offered the Archdiocesan safe environment training, a parent/guardian may refuse to allow their child to participate in the Archdiocesan training.

In the event that you do not wish your student to participate in the safe environment training, please complete the form. Please list each child and the level/grade training they would have the opportunity to receive. If we do not receive the form by September 25th, 2025, we will assume your approval of your child(ren)’s participation in the program.

The State of Iowa Code 279.5 and Archdiocesan Catholic School Board Policy #5141 mandate education in health education. At SPCS, we will be integrating this education within our guidance and religion programs.

Parents do have the right to withdraw their student(s) from this program if they so choose. To eliminate the possibility of any misunderstandings, we request that the form below be completed by September 18th, 2025 if you request for your child to not participate.

Immunization Requirements & Exemptions

Iowa law requires students to be immunized against certain diseases in order to attend school. Parents/guardians may request an exemption if they qualify.

Exemptions available:

• Medical exemption – signed by a licensed health care provider stating immunization would harm the student’s health.

• Religious exemption – based on genuine and sincere religious beliefs, submitted on a notarized form.
  
  

To request an exemption:

• Complete the official Iowa Certificate of Immunization Exemption form.

• Submit the form to your school office before exemption status is granted.

• Students with exemptions may be excluded from school during disease outbreaks.
  
  

Forms and more information: Iowa HHS – Immunization Requirements & Exemptions

Safe, Respectful, & Responsible

Joy is another Fruit of the Spirit. Joy means having happiness in your heart that comes from God, not just from what’s happening around you. Joy is deeper than being excited about a new toy or happy when things go your way—it’s the kind of gladness that stays even when things are tough.

• Joy looks like smiling and singing because you know God loves you.

• Joy looks like being thankful for what you have, even if it’s not everything you want.

• Joy looks like celebrating others when good things happen for them.

• Joy looks like finding the good in a situation, even when it’s hard.

When we show joy, we remind others that God gives us a happiness that doesn’t run out.

🏫September 15th - School Board Meeting @ 6:00pm in School Library

⛪September 19th - 2nd Kuennen Mass

🏈September 19th - Waukon Homecoming - GO INDIANS!

🍎September 24th - No School - Teacher Inservice

📸September 25th & 26th - SMILE😀 School Pictures

⛪September 26th - 4th Grade Mass

All Kindergarten - 5th Grade Students

Please log into your Odyssey account and accept your first semester tuition amount. Thank you!

💻School Website: stpatswaukon.com

Includes events, calendars, testimonials, social media post, and much more!

📱Download our St. Patrick School App

Includes weather notifications, lunch menus, social media post, and much more!

📞St. Patrick Catholic School ph# 563-568-2415

We are looking for sponsors for our take-home folders for the 2025-2026 school year! $200 for a color logo on every students folder! Logos will also be on our phone app and church bulletin periodically. We also do shout outs on our Facebook page! Let us know if you'd like to sponsor. Email Mrs. Koenig if interested. We truly appreciate the continued support of SPCS.

This fundraiser helps cover the annual costs of running our school website and app. Because of generous individuals and businesses like you, we are able to provide our families with instant communication tools to stay up to date on all that’s happening at our school. Your partnership helps us keep our families connected and informed—thank you again for making this possible!

Each box will include 30 candy bars for $2 each.

Please reach out to Becky in the office if you would like more than one box sent home.

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all parents, families, and community members for your continued support of SPCS. Year after year, your generosity and dedication make a lasting difference. We are truly thankful for each of you who believe in and support Catholic education for our students. Your commitment allows us to provide the environment and resources that help every child grow academically, socially, and faithfully in their learning journey.

Thank you for walking with us in faith and education—you truly make a difference!