Shamrock School Scoop
January 12, 2017
Calendar Reminders
- Sunday, January 14th at 1:30pm@ Pius: Winter Band Concert
- Monday, January 15th: NO SCHOOL: Martin Luther King Jr./ Teacher workday
- Tuesday, January 16th: 2nd quarter honor roll announced after Mass
- January 28th to Feb. 2nd: CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK
- Friday, February 2nd: Soup Supper and Catholic Schools Week Celebration 5-7pm
- Monday, February 5th: NO SCHOOL: Bishops Day
News From Mrs. Bethune:
We had a great full week of school. As the winter weather is now upon us, please be sure to make sure you have signed up for text and email alerts. If you are not getting them or need help with it, please see the flyer that was went out earlier this week or call the school office to help get you set up. It is important to us that we get communication to you in a timely and effective manner.
The students are getting back into the routine. We are enjoying having them hear learning and growing with us. The kindergarten through 5th grade students have started their new Wonders reading series. Please be sure to read the weekly emails from the teachers if you child(ren) are in these grades so you know of the changes and enhancements to our reading program.
Reminder, there is no school on Monday, January 15th in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Also please know that Catholic Schools Week is quickly approaching. Please see the sign up genius’s below to help when you can. The list of the events for the week will be in the newsletter next week. Friday, February 4th is our Soup Supper and Catholic Schools Week Celebration from 5 to 7pm. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend!
Have a great long weekend!
God Bless,
Mrs. Bethune
January Shamrock Cafe School Lunch Menu
Family Dine Night at Long John Silvers/KFC
The St. Patrick's Home and School Association family dine has been rescheduled for Tuesday, January 9th at the 2221 N 86th Street location. Stop by anytime from 5 to 8 pm for supper and great conversation with fellow parishioners. St. Patrick's HSA will receive 20% of all sales, which will support the future playground. Hope to see you there!
Tuesday, Jan 16, 2018, 05:00 PM
2221 North 86th Street, Lincoln, NE
Job Opportunity
Extended School Day Program
St. Patrick Catholic School is in search of part time Extended School Care staff! Please email brooke-kresha@cdolinc.net if you are interested in this fun & flexible after school position.
Girls Basketball Volunteers Needed
Pius X Junior High & Senior High Trap Team
If you cannot make this meeting, there are two other informational meetings available (However, no pizza, but same location.)
Tuesday, January 30th 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 3rd 12:00 noon
If more information is needed, please call Pius X Trap Coach, Craig Keaschall, at 402.499.9767.
Thanks for all you help in making our team a success in the past and the future. This is a great way for several students to get to know students from all the other grade schools prior to getting to Pius. We have a great group of students, parents and coaches that make this a great group and we could not do it without your help.
THANK YOU!
Pencils!!
LB295
Education Choice: Why LB 295?
Given the Church’s teaching on education choice (see CCC #2229), Nebraska’s three Catholic bishops are supporting LB 295 currently being considered by the Nebraska Legislature. LB 295 would help more poor and working-class families choose a K-12 private education. It would enact a tax credit for donations to nonprofits established for the sole purpose of providing scholarships for low- and middle-class children.
Urgent Need: The Church teaches that parents have the sacred right and duty to choose the education most appropriate for their child – but many cannot actually afford to exercise this responsibility.
Answering the Call: While at least 30 states and Washington D.C. have some form of private school choice law, Nebraska has nothing. LB 295 is the first private school choice bill ever to advance from legislative committee in Nebraska, and our bishops believe it to be a sound starting point for establishing true education choice in Nebraska. Scholarships will be funded byprivate donations, not public dollars. LB 295 will likely be debated by the entire Nebraska Legislature in January or February 2018.
Common Concern: Many wonder if LB 295 will interfere with a private school’s faith and mission. However: (1) we already accept tax-incentivized donations, (2) the bill expressly forbids undue government interference, and (3) school participation would be voluntary.
Action: Write letters or messages of support to: (a) the Governor, (b) state senators, and (c) the editor of your local newspaper. Also share NCC social media posts. Learn more atwww.necatholic.org/education.
#3
Education Choice and LB 295: How it Works
As previously discussed, LB 295 is intended as a response to the Church’s call to ensure that every parent is truly free to choose the education most appropriate for their child.
How it works: LB 295 enacts an income tax credit for donations to nonprofits established solely to provide K-12 private-school scholarships to poor and working-class students. A tax credit is a direct reduction of one’s tax liability and is thus more valuablethan a tax deduction, which reduces only one’s taxable income.
Eligible students must come from families with income below twice the Free and Reduced Lunch eligibility level (about $90,000/yr for a family of four). First-time recipients must be transferring from public to private school unless (a) they’re entering kindergarten, (b) they’re entering 9th grade, or (c) they’re a sibling of one of the aforementioned recipients.
Myth: Many say LB 295 will hurt public schools, financially or otherwise. However, LB 295 incentivizes only private donations for K-12 scholarships. And because the cost-per-pupil is often significantly lower in private school, LB 295 will leave the state with more money to spend on education if it so chooses. Indeed, similar laws in 18 other states have saved a total of more than $1 billion in recent years.
Action: Write letters of support to: (a) the Governor, (b) state senators, and (c) the editor of your local newspaper. Share NCC social media posts. Learn more atwww.necatholic.org/education.