New school year to be the best version yet

   Typical of most first days of school, the classes meet outside by the stone sign and get their group picture taken.  Mr. Frimml then leads in the morning prayer sequence that our school follows every morning of the year. So far, so good.
  This year, instead of doing a "pizza hut dance" to show that school can also be fun, Mr. Frimml announced that he was going to read a story.  Not just any story.  This story is called "Why am I here" by Matthew Kelly.  If you recall, Matthew Kelly is the author of the book called "Rediscover Catholicism" that was handed out to our parish members for free two Christmases ago. 
   In this nicely illustrated children's story, a school age boy named Max has a conversation with his grandfather during which Max asks, 'Why am I here?'  After some simple talk and comparisons of fish and birds, the answer is decidedly "to be the best version of yourself".  The rest of the story takes Max through his days where he has to make choices to be the best version of himself.
  Mr. Frimml told the children that the theme of this story, to be the best version of yourself, was going to be a theme that we work on throughout the school year.  I have read of other schools using this theme with very good results.  If you read "Rediscover Catholicism", you know that Matthew Kelly is a very good writer with a passion for promoting and improving the catholic faith. 
  To be the best version of yourself is a simple yet direct motto we can all adopt.  I encourage you to ask your children if they have been making the right choices that leads them to be the best version of themselves.

  "Why am I here?" is available for order from dynamiccatholic.com.


 
 

New playground going up Saturday

  After many months of planning and site prepping, it's finally time to put up the new playground equipment in St. Patrick Park.
  This Saturday, August 11th, many hands and borrowed tools will begin the work about 8:00 a.m.  Anyone and everyone is welcome to join us. 
  Our preschool teacher, Mrs. Peggy Goltz, has been working hard on this project and sent out the following message last week:

Dear Families,

As you’ve read and may have heard we will be installing a new preschool playground on August 11^th beginning at 8:00am.  We would love some help with this project not only for our preschoolers but also for our community.  It is a wonderful project for all the children of Anamosa.  Along with labor we will need hardware.  If you can not help us with installation but have any of the below listed tools that you’d be willing to lend to the installation team it would be greatly appreciated.  If you can come over and help please bring some of the below tools to make our job as easy and fluent as possible.

 

1.     Hammer Drill

2.     Heavy duty extention cords/generator

3.     String line and stakes

4.     Saw horses

5.     Levels: (2) 9” magnetic torpedo levels and (1) 4” carpenter’s level

6.     Tape measures 25’ and (2) or more 100’

7.     Open ended wrench set

8.     Allen wrenches or hex keys

9.     Sockets sets (we will be needing these for several pieces of equipment.)

10. Screwdrivers of various sizes

11. Drift pins

12. Box Knife or utility knives

13. C-clamps and vice grips

14. Electric Drills with various sized drill bits (and extra batteries/chargers)

15. Impact wrench (optional; need extreme caution w/ this to avoid damaging parts)

16. Hammers: Standard and Rubber mallets

17. Wooden stakes and moving strapes

18. S hook pliers for closing S hooks on swimgs

19. Jacks, or blocks to mechanically suspend components while concrete sets.

20. Hand-held grinder

21. 4” cut-off wheel

22. Tap & die set: 5/6”, 3/8”, ½”, 7/16”, 5/8”, etc.

23. Bolt Cutter, 24”

24. Tech screwdriver – 5amp, 2000 RPM optimum

25. 12-15 Mechanically-inclined adult volunteers and helpers.

If you can help in anyway with this project either with tools or man power please email Peggy Goltz <pgoltz@stpat-anamosa.pvt.k12.ia.us> as she will be collaboration a list of tools and help.  Thank you so much!!

 

 

  The purpose of the new playground is to provide a safe environment for the preschool age children and  give them more options for the kind of play that helps with development.  St. Patrick preschool currently rates 5  out of 5 stars on the state rating system and the new playground will help keep this level of quality.   The funding for the playground comes from the state  grant for preschool programs.

  Members of the St. Pat's PTO will be providing lunch for the workers about noon.  Hope to see you Saturday!

 

 

 

Welcome Back Swim and Open House

St. Pat's is giving you one last chance to cool off this summer.  You are invited to join us at the Anamosa Pool for a welcome back swim social hour.  Please plan to join us August 17th at 5:00 p.m. to 6:00p.m..  All family members welcome - no pencils and paper, please.

 We are hosting an open house at St. Patrick School on Tuesday, August 21st.  Bring in your school supplies, look around the school and get ready for the new school year.   The hours are from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.