This Week at St. Patrick – Week of September 12

Good Sunday evening, everyone!  I hope you have had a nice weekend shared with your family, friends, and loved ones.  We have a busy week ahead this week at St. Patrick!

What an image we see in today’s Gospel – Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son! When reading, you can almost picture Jesus’ listeners gasping at his description of a respected, wealthy landowner, advanced in age, hiking up his robes and running to greet his wayward son! In the patriarchal culture of ancient Israel, it would have been humiliating for a father to do such a thing. The child should be the one coming to the father—humble and repentant—while the father stands firm, arms folded, waiting to see what his son has to say for himself.

Every time I read this passage, I cannot help but think about God’s mercy and how his mercy defies our fallen human logic. Whoever heard of a God who runs to welcome sinners before they have a chance to repent? Or a God who forgives sins that we think are unforgivable? Or a God who rejoices over us even when we give him very little reason to rejoice? But this is our God. His love is unfathomable and free-flowing.

My prayer this week is that each of us will let God love us. Let him run to you and embrace you and shower you with his mercy. And let that mercy fill your heart and flow out to the people around you.

We are a third of the way through the first semester, and that means that progress reports will be emailed to all parents and students on Friday.  Teachers will have all grades current for all classes.  For questions about grades, assignments, or your child’s progress, please contact your child’s teacher.

We are excited to celebrate this year’s Homecoming festivities on September 26 through October 1!  Be sure to check out the email I sent last week detailing all of the activities and events we have planned for Homecoming 2022.

Our College and Career Fair will take place this Wednesday.  Ninth through twelfth grade students will have the opportunity to meet with representatives and recruiters from many colleges, universities, and corporations this week.

We hope to see you Friday evening for our first home Varsity Football game!  I wish our varsity football team, cheerleaders, band, and dance team all the best.  Game time is set for 7:30pm, and be sure to check out all of the gameday traditions and activities.  Tickets may be purchased at stpatrickhighschool.net/tickets.

Our seventh grade boys will have their spiritual retreat this week.  Please hold these students and our Campus Ministry Team in prayer as they experience this faith-filled Discipleship Retreat focused on Kerygma.

We love and appreciate you.  I invite you to check out the calendar and all the sections below for all that’s happening this week at St. Patrick!

Go Irish!

Dr. Matt Buckley
Principal

Psalm 121:1-2: I lift up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

In a world of startling beauty and a universe of dazzling diversity, our hearts are to be drawn back to the One who made it and now sustains it. He knows us and will help us if we will but believe what he has tried so many ways to say: “I love you as my child and I deeply care what happens to you and those you love.”

Almighty Creator, Majestic Architect and Eternal Engineer, it absolutely bewilders and delights me to know that you care for me. With all the things of such vast importance, I find your desire to know and love me humbling and assuring. Today I will worship, work, and witness, aware of your presence and care. Thank you, dear Father, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Byers, Chaz
Fayard, Taylor
Mcclure, John
Nguyen, Duy Anh
Nguyen, Peytan
Powers, Mary
Rizzo, Lillian
Tran, Adam
Mr. Kyle Brookins
Mrs. Emily Cloud

Monday, September 12
Partly Cloudy | 89° | 65° | 24%

7:30am Holy Half – Eucharistic Adoration
7:45am Arts and Crafts Club Meeting
8:30am Logistics Team Meeting
9am Leadership Team Meeting – Operations
2:15pm Leadership Team Meeting – Advancement
3:05pm Drama Guild Auditions
3:05pm Robotics Meeting
5pm JH Volleyball vs. Gautier (Home)
6pm JV Football vs. St. Stanislaus (Away)

Tuesday, September 13
Sunny | 87° | 61° | 3%

7:30am Homecoming Court Meeting
3:05pm Chick-fil-A Leader Academy Meeting
3:05pm Drama Guild Auditions
3:05pm Quiz Bowl Meeting
3:15pm JH Cheer Practice
5pm JV Volleyball vs. West Marion (Away)
6pm Varsity Volleyball vs. West Marion (Away)

Wednesday, September 14
Mostly Sunny | 88° | 63° | 3%

7:30am Holy Half – Eucharistic Adoration
7:45am Art Honor Society Meeting
8am Discipleship Retreat – 7th Grade Boys – Kerygma 1
8:30am College and Career Fair
3:05pm Choir Practice
3:05pm Key Club Meeting
5pm JH Volleyball vs. Creekbend (Away)
5pm Swim Meet @ Biloxi

Thursday, September 15
Sunny | 90° | 67° | 5%

We will follow the liturgy bell schedule today, and students should dress in their liturgy uniform including blazers and ties.
7:30am Choir Practice
7:45am Mu Alpha Theta Meeting
7:45am Students for Life Meeting
9:40am Mass
11:30am Student of the Month Luncheon
3:05pm MathCounts meeting
3:05pm Mock Trial Meeting
3:10pm Key Club Meeting
5pm 7th Grade Football vs. Bay (Away)
5:30pm JV Volleyball vs. Tylertown (Home)
6:30pm 8th Grade Football vs. Bay (Away)
6:30pm Varsity Volleyball vs. Tylertown (Home)

Friday, September 16
Mostly Sunny | 89° | 68° | 24%

We will follow the pep rally bell schedule today.
Progress Reports will be emailed out today.
7:45am English Honor Society Meeting
7:45am Science Olympiad Meeting
8am NHS Officers – OLF Honor Society Induction
9am Leadership Team Meeting – Operations
2:30pm Pep Rally
3:05pm Film Club Meeting
4pm Volleyball – Marlin Volleyball Tournament
7:30pm Varsity Football vs. Ben Franklin (Home)

Saturday, September 17
Mostly Sunny | 89° | 69° | 22%

8am Volleyball – Marlin Volleyball Tournament
8am Pro-Life MS Walk
8am Cross Country Ocean Springs Invitational
6pm Junior High Dance + Parent Social

Monday | Hot Lunch: shredded BBQ chicken on a bun, corn on the cob, hashbrown casserole; Fresh salad bar; Loaded baked potato; Fresh ham, turkey, and cheese sub sandwich with chips; Grill Items: pizza, french fries, hamburger, spicy chicken sandwich

Tuesday | Hot Lunch: chicken parmesan, green beans, garlic toast; Fresh salad bar; Loaded baked potato; Fresh ham, turkey, and cheese sub sandwich with chips; Grill Items: pizza, french fries, hamburger, spicy chicken sandwich

Wednesday | Hot Lunch: red beans and rice with sausage, coleslaw, cornbread; Fresh salad bar; Loaded baked potato; Fresh ham, turkey, and cheese sub sandwich with chips; Grill Items: pizza, tater tots, hamburger, spicy chicken sandwich

Thursday | Hot Lunch: chicken tenders, broccoli rice casserole, roll; Fresh salad bar; Loaded baked potato; Fresh ham, turkey, and cheese sub sandwich with chips; Grill Items: pizza, french fries, hamburger, spicy chicken sandwich

Friday | Hot Lunch: egg rolls, fried rice, stir fry vegetables; Fresh salad bar; Loaded baked potato; Fresh ham, turkey, and cheese sub sandwich with chips; Grill Items: pizza, french fries, hamburger, spicy chicken sandwich

We are pleased with how our students are progressing through the start of the year, and hope that they are enjoying learning within all of their courses.  On Friday, progress reports will be emailed to all students and parents.  If you have any questions or concerns from these please contact your child’s teacher or the administration.

The new Promethean Boards have been a highly effective teaching tool throughout these first five weeks, and we hope the students have enjoyed having this new technology in all of their classrooms. Teachers are implementing more and more ways to utilize this new tool!

Remember to access your child’s Canvas account to monitor progress in all classes. Between Canvas and FACTS, you are able to access all academics, attendance, behavior and instructional requirements. This is an invaluable resource for parents to monitor their children and we want to make sure all are familiar and using this resource. If you ever have any questions, please let us know.

All our faculty are here to serve your family’s educational needs. Please reach out when you have questions regarding your child’s experiences. The classroom teacher or coach is your quickest resource for information. When necessary, know that the leadership team; guidance, academics, student management, athletics, finance, and administration are here to answer any questions you may have or address any issues of concern.

Encourage your child to access Canvas to develop a plan of action for accomplishing all that is required each week. Often students can prevent themselves from being overwhelmed one night, by working in advance each night to stay ahead of requirements. This is a wonderful skill to teach our students as this will aid in their success after high school.

Ninth through twelfth grade students are reminded to bring their Chromebooks, fully charged, to school every day.  This is a student supply item that is necessary to have in each class period.

Due to working conditions surrounding the Biloxi Visitors Center, our Nativity BVM bus pickup and drop-off location will be changed beginning Monday morning to the Nativity BVM Elementary School. If your student rides to and from this location, please make sure you go to the school from this point forward.

Thomas Salloum, Otis Brooks, and John Michael Moran were named Top Performers by the Sun Herald for their performances in the Fighting Irish’s 42-0 win versus St. Andrews on September 2. Thomas Salloum was also nominated for Sun Herald Player of the Week for his performance in the game. Thomas was listed by Capital Sports MS as a Top Performer for Week 3 as well. Congratulations to the team and each player on their success!

On Monday, our Junior High Volleyball team will be at home vs. Gautier, while our Junior Varsity Football team will be on the road at St. Stanislaus.

On Tuesday, our JV and Varsity Volleyball teams will be at West Marion.

Junior High Volleyball will be on the road Wednesday at Creekbend, while our Swim team will be at the Biloxi Natatorium for a meet.

Thursday, Junior High Football will be away at Bay, while the JV and Varsity Volleyball teams will be at home vs. Tylertown.

On Friday, we will have our first Pep Rally and home Varsity Football game vs. Ben Franklin High School out of New Orleans. Game time is 7:30pm!  We wish our varsity football team, cheerleaders, dance team, and band an excellent evening!

Our Cross Country team will have their first meet at the Ocean Springs Invitational on Saturday morning. Please show your support to Coach McDaniel and our teams!

Our Extracurricular Activities have a full slate of meetings this week, with Arts and Crafts, Robotics, Drama Guild, Chick-fil-a Leader Academy, Quiz Bowl, Art Honor Society, Choir, Key Club, Mu Alpha Theta, MathCounts, Students for Life, Mock Trial, English Honor Society, Science Olympiad, and Film Club.

Mrs. Wilkinson and our NHS Officers will be at Our Lady of Fatima Elementary School on Friday morning to help with the induction of their National Honor Society.

Below are the scores from our various teams for last week:

9/6 JV Volleyball vs. Perry Central (Away) – St. Patrick 2-0
9/6 JV Football vs. Bay (Home) – Bay 22-7
9/6 Varsity Volleyball vs. Perry Central (Away) – St. Patrick 3-0
9/7 JH Volleyball vs. North Woolmarket (Home) – 7th Grade (North Woolmarket 2-0); 8th Grade (North Woolmarket 2-0)
9/8 7th Grade Football vs. Pass Christian (Home) – Pass Christian 20-0
9/8 JV Volleyball vs. Greene County (Away) – St. Patrick 2-1
9/8 Varsity Volleyball vs. Greene County (Away) – St. Patrick 3-1
9/8 8th Grade Football vs. Pass Christian (Home) – Pass Christian 30-6

We are excited for our College and Career Fair this Wednesday. This year, we have close to 40 vendors. Students will be able to meet with college representatives from across the southeast, as well as industrial and corporate businesses to discuss job opportunities after college.

📸  Photo Gallery: Varsity Volleyball vs. Our Lady Academy
📸  Photo Gallery: Junior High Volleyball vs. Bayou View
📸  Photo Gallery: Junior High Football vs. West Wortham
📸  Photo Gallery: Grandparent’s Breakfast
📸  Photo Gallery: Senior Luncheon

All available scholarships have been updated on the website. To access the scholarships, please click academics. Then, on the left hand side, there will be college scholarships. Look at the due date. The date at the bottom is the date the scholarship was first entered. You may also click here to access the scholarships webpage.

The PSAT is Wednesday, October 12. This test is optional for juniors and sophomores. The cost is $75, which will include preparation with Huntington Learning Center. Mrs. Erin Gibson, the director of the center, will present the workshop on Wednesday, October 5. Please email Ms. Wilkinson and let her know if you are going to participate in the PSAT this year. If you want to take the test, the workshop is required. The deadline to register with Ms. Wilkinson is Monday, September 12, 2022. The $75 will be added to your FACTS account.

Students should check their emails for information about the following essay contests:

Maryknoll Essay Contest – Grades 7-12
Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest – Grades 7 and 8
Voice of Democracy Essay Contest – Grades 9-12

Students wanting to register for an upcoming Saturday ACT test session should go to ACT.org and complete registration. Students participating in a Saturday ACT test session should bring the following items:

Admission Ticket – Print a copy of your admission ticket to bring to the test center. If you forget your ticket on test day, your scores may be delayed. If you have lost your ticket, you can print another through your MyACT account.

Acceptable Photo identification – Acceptable photo identification is required to be admitted to the test center. You will not be admitted to test if your ID does not meet ACT requirements.

Number 2 pencil – Bring sharpened, No. 2 pencils with good erasers (no mechanical pencils or ink pens). Do not bring any other writing instruments; you will not be allowed to use them.

Watch or Other Timing Device – You may bring a watch, timer, or stopwatch to pace yourself during testing, but it may not have an alarm. Your watch or other timing device must be removed and placed on your desk while in the test room, so that it remains visible to staff during the test. If an alarm sounds, you’ll be dismissed and your test will not be scored.

Calculator – Bring a permitted calculator to be used on the mathematics test only. You are not required to use a calculator at all, but if you do, it is your responsibility to know whether your calculator is permitted.

Snacks – to eat outside the test center on break.

Thank you to all of you who have sold raffle tickets so far! We are excited about our 2022-23 Luck of the Irish Raffle presented by C.F. Gollott & Son, our school-wide fall fundraiser! The Luck of the Irish Raffle supports all of our athletic teams and student activities at St. Patrick.

Our goal for the 2022-23 school year is to raise $150,000 through the Luck of the Irish Raffle. To accomplish this goal, we are counting on each student to sell at least 1 booklet of tickets (10 total tickets). When you sell a booklet, your hard work provides resources for nearly 50 different programs at St. Patrick.

Every student and staff member who sells a booklet of tickets will be allowed to dress in spirit wear (St. Patrick shirt, jeans, and any closed-toe shoes) every Friday throughout the school year.

Let’s keep selling! Tickets are $20 each, and a lucky $1,000 winner will be drawn each month from October through May.  Each month, the winning ticket remains in the drawing, so those who purchase tickets have a chance to win up to $10,000.  Our first drawing will be Friday, October 7, so get your tickets turned in to the front office by October 5 so they will be included in the first drawing.  Tickets may also be purchased online at stpatrickhighschool.net/irishraffle. If you need additional tickets to sell, please give us a call or stop by the office.

Have you joined the St. Patrick Gold Club?  Members of the Gold Club are some of our biggest fans and supporters of the Irish Fund. When you join the Gold Club, you give to ensure students at St. Patrick Catholic High School have all they need to be successful in our athletic programs and extracurricular activities.  As we continue to support champions, we know you’ll be at the tailgate and in the bleachers cheering on our student-athletes!  You may find the link to the Gold Club membership form here: Join the Irish Fund’s Gold Club.