St. Patrick Catholic School
Principal's Newsletter- April 16th, 2026
Our 5th and 6th graders did a terrific job with their musical performance!
April 16, 2026
There are two very important application windows now open for families with students in grades K - 12. The first one is the application for ESAs, which opened today. It is important to remember that all students attending a non-public school, regardless of income, qualify for an ESA.
When you login and apply for the funds make sure that you add all your children's names in this application. Once they are added please select St. Patrick School - Cedar Falls. Immediately following application approval, students will be able to select their school of choice and grade level for 2026 - 27 school year in the ESA Portal. Once selected, I will be able to see the student in their ESA Portal and confirm enrollment for the 2026 -27 school year.
ESA Application Window
Opens: Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 8:00 a.m.
Closes: Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Application website: https://iowa-households.withodyssey.com/login/
The application is available in English and Spanish.
The second application is STO Application. School Tuition Organization (STO) is a nonprofit that provides tuition assistance scholarships to families so their children can attend accredited nonpublic schools. Families qualify based on income guidelines, and the scholarships help make a faith-based or private education more affordable.The first-round STO deadline is May 1st, which means only 15 days remain to submit STO applications and provide all tax information for income verification. Even though you have applied for ESAs, you should also apply for STO.
If you need assistance in completing either the ESA application or the STO application, please let me know. We can set up a time that works for you.
Blessings,
Mr. Wiebers
Summer Tutoring
15th Annual Shamrock Shuffle 🍀
🍀Save the date for our 15th Annual Shamrock Shuffle!🍀
This years fun run will take place on Saturday, May 2nd at 1:00 p.m. at the South Side Shelter at Big Woods Lake in Cedar Falls. All participants will receive a HURTS donut, fruit, and water - post race. Handheld inflatable horses provided to "ride" for the kid's race.
Get registered here by April 26th to guarantee a t-shirt!
NEIFB Volunteers - Date Change In May
Due to the 7/8 music performance on May 7, The last food bank date has been changed to Wednesday May 6, 6-7:30 p.m. If there are any 7/8 kids who want to join, or are in need of last minute service hours, we can accommodate!
Dress Code Policy Reminder
This is a reminder that, beginning April 1, students are permitted to wear shorts or skirts of appropriate length without leggings underneath.
For reference, examples of skirt lengths are provided in the image. Only skirts labeled 4, 5, and 6 meet dress code requirements. Please note: walking shorts, skirts, skorts, and jumpers must not be more than three inches above the middle of the knee in order to comply with the school’s dress code.
Please keep the weather in mind when dressing for the day. If the temperature is above zero, and it is not actively raining, we will be outside for recess.
Track Pictures
Track pictures have been scheduled for April 22nd at 1:30 p.m. Please ensure that your runner brings their track uniform to change into after school on that Wednesday. Pictures usually take 30-45 minutes. Any student needing to call for a ride can enter through the MPR doors and use the library phone to call their parents.
We are Hiring!
We currently have openings for the 2026–27 school year:
We are looking for a part-time 3rd/4th-grade associate (20 hours per week) and a part-time marketing position (20 hours per week). These roles are presently combined into one full-time position, but they may also be filled separately as two part-time positions, depending on interest and fit.
Contact Mr. Wiebers at
jwiebers@cfcatholicschool.org or
319-277-6781
We are also looking for kitchen help just a few hours a day—perfect for parents with school-aged kids!
Enjoy the same days off (including summers!) as your child—no babysitter needed!
Join our team, serve up smiles, and help make lunchtime the best part of the day!
Interested? Contact Principal Jon Wiebers
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd fosters the child's relationship with God.
St. Patrick Parish invites you to give your child the gift of time and space to grow in their relationship with God through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program.
Relationships Bloom in Peaceful Spaces.
An interpersonal relationship is always a mystery, all the more so when the relationship is between God and the child. We believe there is a deep bond between God and the child, which produces in the child the desire to draw nearer to God. Each week, the child is offered a selected presentation from scripture or liturgy. The catechist listens with the child, and together they ask, “God, who are you? How do you love us?” The atrium (or prepared environment) is one of the important elements that helps the relationship between God and the child to flourish. The quiet time and meaningful work aid the child in listening to the voice of the Good Shepherd, learning to recognize His voice so he or she can follow.
The CGS atrium supports the children's religious education at St. Patrick School and offers a particular focus:
~ The atrium can be compared to a retreat house, facilitating recollection and silence.
~ The atrium is a place for religious life, for community and worship—rather than a classroom for instruction.
~ The atrium is a place of meaningful work through which the child can have a conversation with God.
~ In the atrium, the growth of this relationship is assisted by the adult, but is directed by the Spirit of God within the child.
This video provides an understanding of the atrium.
The 2 pm session on Wednesdays is designed to accommodate the children who attend St. Patrick School and Clover Patch. A catechist will accompany children from their school building to the parish center atria. Register here through Realm.
Contact Monica Miller with any questions at the parish office, 319-266-3523 or at mmiller@saintpatrickcf.org
Uniform Exchange Closet
ESA Information
Catholic schools are an important option for families and Senate File 2425/House File 2713 helps strengthen and support our schools. These bills expand access to preschool, provide added flexibility for ESA enrollment, and improve access to funding for school facilities. We encourage our families to contact their state legislators to express support for these efforts. Your voice matters in sustaining Catholic education across Iowa. Click here to send your legislator(s) a message.
Transportation Reimbursement
Just a reminder that Transportation Reimbursement Request Forms for the second semester will be due soon. If you live more than 2 miles from school and transport your student(s) to and from school, you may be eligible for state reimbursement. Students on our bus route are not eligible.
If you haven’t submitted your second semester form yet, download and fill out the form for your district at the link below and return it to school office:
Transportation Reimbursement Requests - Waterloo School District
Transportation Reimbursement Requests - Cedar Falls School District and surrounding districts
Columbus Sailors/Sailor Nation Section ⚓
Good afternoon! My name is Harmony Thurmond i am a student in Mr. Brandles Service class at Columbus Catholic HS. My small group and I have an upcoming service project. It’s a babysitting night so that parents can have a free night to themselves. This will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Please see our flyer above with details, along with a link to sign up. There will be adult supervisors as well.
Columbus Catholic Spring Sports:
Practice will soon begin for high school and middle school spring sports.
CHS Parents- please ensure if your child is participating in these activities; you have created a family Bound acct, loaded your child and their needed paperwork into the account. Registration is open for these activities.
Bound How-To Sheet
Track & Field (started Feb 23)- Coach Victor Makinde: chstrack@cvcatholic.org
Boys Soccer (begins March 16)- Coach Will Maletta: columbusboyssoccer@gmail.com
Girls Soccer (begins March 23)- Coach Julie Girsch: chsgirlssoccer@cvcatholic.org
Boys Tennis (begins March 16)- Coach Nick Pateros: chsboystennis@cvcatholic.org
Boys Golf (begins March 16)- Mike Schuchmann: chsboysgolf@cvcatholic.org
Girls Golf (begins March 16)- chsgirlsgolf@cvcatholic.org
Summer Sports:
Open gyms have started for upcoming high school summer sports; please reach out if you need more information.Softball- Coach Aaron Becker: chssoftball@cvcatholic.org
SOFTBALL (9-12 plus 8th graders): INTEREST LINK
Baseball- Coach Mike Zehentner: chsbaseball@cvcatholic.org
BASEBALL (9-12 plus 8th graders): INTEREST LINK
NEW S&C Information:
Was emailed out the first week of January. Please see the attached PDF if you missed it. Make
sure you and your students join the TeamReach group for the most up-to-date schedule/changes.
TEAM NAME: STRENGTH & CONDITIONING
CODE: STRENGTH26
_______________________________________________________________
BASEBALL EVENT SUMMER 2026:
We are excited to send our varsity baseball team to the Minnesota Twins stadium on June 3 to play Grundy Center following the Twins vs White Sox game! Tickets are available on our Bound homepage:
$40 Single Ticket includes:
• Ticket to Twins vs. White Sox
• Ticket to Columbus vs. Grundy Center game
• No charter bus transportation
️ $140 Fan Package includes:
• Ticket to Twins vs. White Sox
• Ticket to Columbus vs. Grundy Center game
• Charter bus transportation
WWW.GOBOUND.COM/IA/SCHOOLS/COLUMBUSCATHOLIC/STORES/
Feel free to share the flyer and spread the word!
YSF Sailor Nation Tackle Football – Fall 2026 Registration is Open 🏈
The Waterloo Columbus Youth Tackle Football program, a division of the Youth Sports Foundation (YSF), and is available to any youth from St. Patrick, St. Edward or BMAP, entering into the 3rd thru 6th grade in the fall of 2026. Below you will find the registration link and an attachment with additional details.
All players must be registered online by April 27th in order to participate. We anticipate high interest again this year, and team numbers are limited. After April 27th, registration may close for the season. https://www.cognitoforms.com/YouthSportsFoundation1/WaterlooColumbus3rd6thFootballRegistration
Please also mark your calendars for the Equipment Fitting on:
April 28th from 5:00–6:30 PM
Location: Columbus High School Cafeteria
Registration Fees
* 3rd–4th Grade: $140
* 5th–6th Grade: $180
* $5 processing fee will be added at checkout.
* Optional hard-cup chin strap available for $25
Coaching & Coordinator Needs
We are actively looking for assistant coaches, especially for the 3rd/4th grade team. This will also be my final year serving as the YSF Coordinator. We are seeking someone willing to take on the coordinator role for 2027 and beyond. This position is essential to keeping the program running—without a coordinator in place by next February, there will not be a YSF football program for Fall 2027.
Questions or Interested in Coaching/Coordinating?
Please reach out anytime to learn more about the coaching or coordinator roles, or if you have
questions about the season, contact me at gstammeyer@hotmail.com or gstammeyer@gmail.com
Thank you!
Greg Stammeyer
YSF Coordinator – Waterloo Columbus
Community Events
Farmstead Preschool Family Carnival
Farmstead Preschool will be holding our annual fundraising family carnival on Saturday, May 2nd. We have volunteer opportunities available. Your partnership has helped us so much in previous years! We'd love to have volunteers from your school.
I have attached an information sheet with our contact information and a list of time slots available.
Please don't hesitate to call or email if you have any questions.
Susan Flack
Office Administrator
Farmstead Preschool
3603 Skyview Dr
Cedar Falls IA 50613
319-277-1094
UNI Panther Summer Camps
Below, I've attached multiple flyers for the three different youth camps that we will have! This includes Cats Camps, Panthers Camps, and a Girls Flag Football Camp.
Our website is www.unifbcamps.com. This is where you are able to look into the camps more and register for them.
Thanks,
Brady Ramker
IN CASE YOU MISSED THESE...
St. Patrick Catholic School
Clover Patch Preschool Ages 3-5
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Email: office@cfcatholicschool.org
Website: cfcatholicschool.org
Location: Cedar Falls, IA, USA
Phone: 319-277-6781