Angel of God, my guardian dear,
to whom God's love commits me here,
ever this day be at my side,
to light and guard, to rule and guide.

Does this short little prayer bring back memories for you? It was a prayer read to me at a very young age. A prayer which provided security when harmless shadows assumed eerie shapes on a bedroom wall. A prayer that came in handy as I boarded my first school bus. A prayer respectfully uttered as I awaited the outcome of a dissertation defense at Illinois State University. I can't remember ever facing a major event without relying upon that prayer.

In my opinion, guardian angels are very underrated these days. Virtually forgotten by many people, and that's a shame. We all need as much help as we can get in dealing with the challenges of this world as we prepare ourselves for the next. Guardian Angels can be very helpful in that regard.

Sometimes people look or act like angels. When our daughter was carried out of a St. Joe's delivery room quite a few years ago, I thought it was a little angel being placed in my arms. When a very kind professor at Lewis College helped me land my first teaching job, that seemed to be the stuff angels were made of. I've never forgotten that person.

I guess whenever we do something to help a friend, neighbor, family member or even a total stranger, we're acting like angels. One thing for sure, there are plenty of households in our St. Patrick School community in need of a helping hand. These are people who believe in Catholic education. They've always paid their tuition and been willing to make any sacrifice necessary to keep their kids enrolled at St. Pat's. But now they're in trouble. They've been laid off. They've suffered foreclosure. They've experienced illness - even death.

Now they need an angel, an angel who will assist them in continuing their children's Catholic education. When we lose a child to a public school it is a tragedy. But it is also a missed opportunity for those of us who have the financial means to prevent such a tragedy. There's no hidden cost, no administrative cost, no doubt as to where your money is going, no ambiguity or misconception whatsoever when you pay or help pay the cost of a child's tuition to St. Patrick School. The end result is one thing and one thing only. You've kept a child in a Catholic school. You'll also receive two receipts for providing such assistance. One will be printed on paper; the other inscribed upon your immortal soul. You won't lose or misplace it, and you can be well assured of its value somewhere down the line.

Want more information? Give me or Marta a call at St. Patrick School (815) 726-2924. And may God bless you.

The Bishop's requested proposal has been signed, sealed and delivered to the Diocese on Wednesday, February 24, that evening the 2020 Committee met and started the ball rolling on the next chapter and formed three subcommittees to pursue the expectations which have been set for St. Pat's School by the Diocese. With your help we will be successful in reaching these goals and securing the future of our school for many years to come.

The three new subcommittees are:

1. Enrollment Committee (Chair- Murri Briel)
   
   
2. Finance Committee (Chair-Mike Gahan, Co-Chair-Chris Adler)
   
   
3. Marketing/Fundraising Committee (Chair - Eileen Martin)

We are ready to begin! The structure is in place to increase our enrollment and deal with our financial issues. We need volunteers. So please, consider which of the committees you'd like to be part of and then notify Carol Ann Heinemann of your choice. Please include your committee choice and an e-mail and cell/telephone number at which the committee chairs' may reach you. The registration deadline for volunteers is Wednesday, March 3. Committee meetings will be set for the following week.

As these committees form and progress the Vision 2020 Committee will continue to keep everyone updated on progress and ways to reach out for assistance in achieving our goals.

                       

We've had several requests for an all day preschool. A morning 3-4-year-old preschool class followed by day care in the afternoon that would include a hot lunch (or lunch box), gym, stories, art and nap time. This could possibly be followed by involvement in our extended care program. Please let us know what your thoughts are on this subject by emailing Marta.

MATH-A-THON
Math-a-thon PLEDGES are due Monday, March 1st.

Mrs. Kramerich gives a big Irish Shout-out to 3rd grade students Logan Hearn and Emily Schroder!

Logan and Emily developed an amazing new game to be used in our St. Pat's P.E. classes. This high energy game appropriately named "Gottcha", incorporates an impressive balance of physical coordination, strategy, and teamwork.

Mrs. Kramerich currently has students concentrating on kicking skills, with a focus on gross motor technique, large muscle development and balance. Logan and Emily's game is a perfect fit for the current unit.

Congratulations Logan and Emily on an outstanding job!

PANCAKE BREAKFAST - SUNDAY
This Sunday 12/28 there will be a Pancake Breakfast from 8:00am through 12N in the School Gym, sponsored by the PTO. Please stop by for pancakes and remember to pick up a Spirit Day pass for all students that attend mass on Sunday.

CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE DINNER - Volunteers Needed

Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner. March 20, 2010 from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. at St. Patrick's Gym. Join us for the Keigher Irish Dancers and other musical performances all evening.

Adult dinner $10, children $7, Seniors $9.

Carryouts available. Contact Alicia at the Rectory or Marta in the school office with questions or reservations. We are also in need of smiling volunteer faces to serve the dinner. (This event is eligible for school points.)

Any baked goods you can provide for the dessert table will be appreciated. Please contact Alicia or Marta to donate cookies, cakes, cupcakes, etc.

Come for the food, fellowship and help support St. Pat's!

RICE BOWLS
Please return Rice Bowls the week of Holy Week.

8th GRADE RAFFLE
We will be selling 8th Grade Raffle tickets at lunch time on Friday. Tickets are .25 each, 5 for $1.00 or 30 for $5.

EXTENDED CARE FAMILIES
Billing statements for Extended School Care will be sent home March 1, 2010, instead of March 4, 2010. Please check with your child(ren) or look in their backpacks. Thank you for your patience with this change.

YARD SIGNS
There are yard signs in the office to encourage enrollment at St. Patrick's School! If you are interested in putting a sign in your front yard, or know a really good vantage point to place one, please see Marta in the School Office, she will supply you with a sign. Let's advertise the great school that we have!

EASY $'S for ST. PAT'S WHEN YOU SHOP AT GFS Anytime you shop at GFS and upon check out you tell the Cashier that you want your order credited to St. Pat's PTO @ 110 Willow Avenue and St. Pat's get's a percentage back directly in the form of a check. Just one more way to help out your school. (If you are shopping for Athletics or any other organization at St. Pat's you can always tell them to apply the credit to that organization.)

POWER FAILURES SCHOOL
When there is a power failure at the school, a safety feature of our system is to lock the doors and not to allow access using a key card until the system is reset by a member of the St. Pat's staff. This safety feature is especially important during a school day, but can be nearly as important when the power failure occurs in the middle of the night or on a weekend. Please be patient with us as the system is restored to normal operation.

MEN'S CLUB MEETING
March 4th. 7 PM at Traditions.