ST. LOUISE SCHOOL PARENT BULLETIN

March 29, 2018
Dan's Blog
The public school down the street is spending this week wondering if the next teacher walkout will coincide with the next student walkout.
 
The private school across town is spending this week reading a story about how the little kids painted spring eggs and then hid them so the spring bunny could find them.

But your children's Catholic school is busy with teachers reading stories to their students about Jesus's Passion, with students recreating the Last Supper and the Stations of the Cross in their art work, and with lessons that explain the human life cycle and the Christians' belief in heaven after death. In other words, St. Louise School is spending this week in an all-out, unabashed, hyper-mode feeling and actions of we-love-being-Christians and we-love-that-it's-almost-Easter!

Can you tell that I get excited about Holy Week & Easter, and that I love having an occupation where my job during these days allows me ...no... compels me to talk-up Holy Week & Easter?!

There is still time for YOU to "talk-up" Holy Week & Easter among your family members. Tomorrow morning is our annual outdoor Stations of the Cross, so surprise your child by showing up at school a few minutes before his/her classroom is going to walk the Stations. (You'll see the timeframes listed in the article below.) If you can't make the school's Stations, you can always return to the parish's indoor Stations at 3PM tomorrow, or try to attend the 6PM Liturgy of the Lord's Passion tomorrow night in church.

Then of course, we have the various Easter Masses taking place Saturday night through Sunday morning at St. Louise and all the various parishes. There is nothing better than the beautiful flowers, bright vestments, and triumphant music at Easter Masses, after these past 40+ days of dark, dreary barrenness.

I wish for you and your family a blessed Easter where you will feel the love of Christ and celebrate the new life that He promises for us who believe!

* * * * *

I have known Trina Legnon ever since her first born, Kyle, came her for his kindergarten readiness assessment in 1997. She began here doing her parent volunteer hours pushing her second born, Nyree, in a stroller while supervising recess. Little did she or I know back then that her volunteer role would eventually morph into a paid position as a full time instructional assistant and playground supervisor that would expand into 13 years as a school staff member. Why am I reminiscing about Trina's years at St. Louise? Because 2018 will be her last, as she has announced to my anguish that she will be resigning this June and moving to Spokane to be closer to her aging, ailing extended family members. She will be sorely missed next year.

I was similarly saddened when two other instructional assistants also sat down with me recently to tell me they wouldn't be returning to St. Louise after the school year ends this June - our two PreK instructional assistants, Colleen Lowell and Sheila McAllister. Colleen started at St. Louise as a parent 13 years ago when her oldest, Katie, enrolled. Six years after that, Colleen began working here, as she and Karen Salmon helped start our new Pre-K program. Colleen has been here for all seven years of our Pre-K program, and it will certainly be the end-of-an-era this June with her and Karen leaving. Also deciding for the similar "it's just time I stopped working outside the home for now" reason, Sheila is not going to come back to work at St. Louise after this year. Sheila began assisting in PreK and morning Kids' Club three years ago. But did you know that I have know Sheila longer than anyone else on the staff? You'll have to ask her how it's possible that she and I have known each other for over 50 years! So definitely, it's going to be different to not have Colleen and Sheila here in 2018-19. 


You will have an opportunity to say thank you and goodbye to Trina, Colleen, and Sheila, and to our two teachers who previously announced their departures - Mary Talevich and Karen Salmon - at our end-of-year liturgy on the last day of school in June.

Currently, I am
posting  the position of a new instructional assistant for PreK. If you or someone you know is interested, please act now. (We don't have plans to replace Trina's i.a. position, but instead will reorganize the existing responsibilities of our other assistants.) We have started interviews for the two open teaching positions, and I plan to make those joyful hiring announcements later this spring.

* * * * *

Speaking of joyful, we get to sing the "A- - - - - - -" word in less than 72 hours!!

Thanks for reading,   
Mr. Fitz
p.s.
Do you realize there are just TEN weeks of school remaining to make sure your family has earned the minimum 40 hours of volunteering!? If you believe you might be falling short of getting this minimum number completed by June, even if you can show up on our next two Saturdays in April and May to help with the Spring Spruce-Ups (see the article below), please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Marinell Zevenbergen, and she can help you find other ways to rack up volunteer time. We certainly do appreciate your help!
Upcoming Calendar of Events  
 
Today
  • All-School Holy Thursday Liturgy at 9AM; parents should meet students outside classrooms at 8:45

Friday, March 30
  • Good Friday Stations of the Cross; see article below for times of each homeroom beginning their walk of the stations (times are approximate, so please arrive at least 5 minutes earlier than posted times); grandparents and family members are welcome to join us
  • NOON DISMISSAL FOR ALL
  • Afterschool Kids' Club is closed; school office closes at 12:30

Sunday, April 1 - Alleluia! He Is Risen!
 

Monday, April 2, through Friday, April 6 
  • SCHOOL CLOSED FOR EASTER VACATION

Friday, April 13
  • All-School Mass to celebrate the Easter Season, 9AM

Sunday, April 15
  • Auction's Mother/Daughter Tea Party on the deck, 2PM
     
Thank You, Coaches!
         
          We appreciate the CYO volleyball coaches who coached our grade 4-8 St. Louise teams this winter. Joni Hoffman was the CYO volleyball coordinator, and the coaches were: Gary Schoenlein, Tyler Wilkin, James Szrama, Peter Newton, Glen Doggett, Val Cervantes, Elwell Baradi, Julie Kennedy, Renee Craddock, Ingrid Flaat,  Hernando Silva, Brian Tribolet, and Colleen Nowak. Also coaching were St. Louise School alumni Amelia Aitken, Francesca Conte, Lauren Carels, Elijah Baradi, and Jeremy Lim.

Thank You, Uniform Sellers!
         
          Last Friday, our head Used Uniform coordinator, Marisa Riffe, ran a special spring sale of used uniforms along with her sales team: Jayana Saldanha, Veronique Tano, Kristina Yumul-Abueg, Victor Phan.  Thanks for their help and your purchases, the Parents' Club was able to profit approximately $1,000. Remember, as your kids grow out of their uniforms, if the pieces are still in nice condition, please wash them and then send them to the school office to the attention of "Used Uniforms/Marissa" and we'd love to sell them at the next sale.
          We also sold Charger Gear last Friday, and we thank our Charger Gear coordinator, Joy Tran, for running this sale, along with Angie Ogilvy.

 

Take One Final Bow, Cast & Crew of HONK, Jr.!

 

Join the CYO St. Louise Track & Field Team

Registration is now open HERE for all 4th through 8th graders to join the St. Louise Track & Field team.  If you need a track t-shirt please mark the applicable box when registering.  The t-shirts are $10 and are needed for the meets.  They are the same as last year, so if you already have one from last year, you don't need to purchase another one.  
 
Track practices will begin on Tuesday, April 24, and will be every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:00-6:30pm at Odle Middle School. 
 
Track Meets will be:
  • Preliminary: Saturday, May 5
  • Relay Meet: Saturday, May 12
  • 8th Grade Pentathlon: Sunday, May 13
  • Qualifying: Saturday, May 19th
  • Championship: Saturday, June 2
If you have questions, please contact Amy Wilken, CYO track coordinator.

Charger Cards Drive for New Bethlehem Project
 
  • The New Bethlehem Project assists homeless families on the Eastside.  These families have no place to store groceries and often must eat out, and they struggle to afford the gas and/or bus passes they need.
  • Through the end of March, Charger Cards is collecting cards to donate to the New Bethlehem Project, where they will given to the families who need them.
  • Place your order on paper, online, or at the Charger Card window by tomorrow - March 30.
  • Your cards will be delivered to the New Bethlehem Project Shelter.
  • See below for more information.

Sign Up Your Kids for St. Louise's Summer Camps

          St. Louise School is starting summer camps this July and August. Under the direction of our Kids' Club and extra-curricular programs director, Maria Zambrano, CHARGERS' ADVENTURE SUMMER CAMPS will run in weekly sessions each Monday through Friday from July 30 through August 24. Kids entering grades K-5 in the fall are eligible to sign-up, and camp is open to both our school students and other kids who go to church here and/or live in the neighborhood. Perhaps you can encourage one of your child's neighborhood or sports-team friends to attend?
          Whether you need one week of camp to "keep your kid busy" this summer, or if you could use all four weekly sessions so your child is cared for when you're at work throughout August, you can register your child for St. Louise's Chargers' Adventure Summer Camps HERE.
          For more information, please see our website and/or contact Maria.

 
          Will (center back) and Hailey (center front) were the "Principals for the Day" last Wednesday. Included in their many privileges, responsibilities, and powers was to be able to invite classmates to come to their principal's office to raid the Skittles machine.
          If you are interested in purchasing "Principal for the Day" for your child for next year, it will again be up for bid at November's Auction.

Our 40 Days in the Desert Are Finished


Almighty Father,
 
Your Son has suffered so much, shed so much blood. I was born with so many faults, and my nature is so full of weakness, and yet your Son Jesus has died on the cross.

...For me.

I know your grace has the power to cleanse me of my many sins and to make me more like your Son. Thank you for your goodness and love for me.

I ask you, Father, to watch over me, bless and protect my family from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
 
Amen.
 
 
 
  
Tomorrow, Walk the Stations with Your Child
 
Parents, grandparents, and family members are invited to walk the Stations of the Cross with students on Good Friday. The prayerful walk, reflecting on Jesus's Passion, will take about 30 minutes. (Remember, tomorrow isa noon dismissal day for the entire school.)

Please wait outside the homeroom 5 minutes prior to the time listed below or wait outside under the deck near the main entrance 5 minutes prior. (Under the deck is where the first station will begin.) Dress warmly as many of the stations will be outside. 
 
8:45 - 6A; 8:50 - 6B; 8:55 - 4B & 1A; 9:05 - 2B; 9:10 - 7B; 9:15 - KA;
9:20 - 5B; 9:25 - KB; 9:55 - Recess Break; 10:40 - 4A; 10:45 - 3A;
10:50 - 3B; 10:55 - 5A & 2A; 11:05 - 7A; 11:10 - 1B; 11:15 - 8A & 8B

          Spring Spruce-Up Rescheduled
    
          Due to last Saturday morning starting with frost on the ground, we thought we'd be more productive with yard work if we postponed it until the weather cooperated more. Thus, March's Spring Spruce-Up is being rescheduled to Saturday, May 12, at 8AM.
          We still have the other Spruce-Up Saturday still scheduled for April 28, also at 8AM. Please consider attending both Spruce-Ups to help us beautify the parish and school grounds with weeding, pruning, digging, raking, and planting. You'll earn volunteer hours, and Mr. Fitz will feed you lunch at noon!
          Please RSVP to our volunteer head landscaper, Jeffrey Hummer, to let him know if you will be at our next work day - on April 28th.

 

We welcome Jillian and Simon Cambridge to the St. Louie School community! Their son has joined our kindergarten class.

 

See what's happening on our St. Louise Facebook page