Tuesday, August 6, 2024

“Ubi caritas est vera, Deus ibi est”

Dear St. Pius X School Community,

Happy August! Welcome to a new school year! You will notice we have a new format for our school newsletter. We are thrilled to provide you with the St. Pius X School information you need in a clear and easily accessible platform through Constant Contact. Please let the front office know what you think, if it’s working for you, or if you’d like to see something added—your feedback matters. Look in the sections below for the many terrific opportunities we have coming up. Here at St. Pius can’t wait to get started!

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the meditation song, “Ubi caritas,” which translates to “Where true charity is, God is there.” Translations can sometimes fall short, and this is one such case. The translation of caritas to charity doesn’t quite capture the essence of the phrase, which is closer to meaning love and compassion. Regardless, acts of charity, love, or compassion all speak to how we are called by God to be with others and with ourselves. Both the song and its message remind us of the ways in which God enters our lives. I feel this deeply when I see our teachers and staff coming in over the summer to get their classrooms or the school ready for our families, or when parents come to volunteer to beautify the campus, or when alumni share their talents with our students. All of these acts of "ubi caritas" are precious gifts.

Finally, I am excited to announce that we have made all of our 2024-2025 hires. You will read more about our new staff members in next week’s newsletter. We are welcoming a new third-grade teacher, seventh-grade homeroom and math and science teacher, music teacher, and preK aide. Stay tuned for the introductions next week.

Peace,

Mrs. Farewell

Office Hours Information

• Summer Hours: August 6 to August 16, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
• Regular Hours: Starting August 19, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

School Hours Information



• Morning ESS (Extended School Services) opens at 7:00 AM.
• Afternoon ESS ends at 5:30 PM.
• School Doors Open at 8:30 AM; late bell rings at 8:40 AM; back gates close at 8:40 AM.
• School Dismissal is at 2:00 PM on Mondays and 3:20 PM Tuesday through Friday.
• K-4 Lunch is at 12:15 PM.
• 5-8 Lunch is at 11:45 AM.

Reminders 

• We are a nut-free school; please no nuts of any kind in snacks, lunch, or classroom treats.
• One of the special parts of being at a Catholic school is the opportunity to pray and attend Mass together as a school community on Wednesday. All are welcome to join us! Remember Mass days are full dress uniform days.
• To ensure your student is ready for the new school year, please complete or upload any pending items through your Parent Portal Account by August 19th. You can access the portal here: https://stpx.schooladminonline.com/portal.
• Click Here: Classroom Supply List 2024-2025
• Order Here: Uniforms on www.dennisuniform.com

Beginning of School Dates & Times

Preschool and PK ONLY:

• Thursday/Friday, August 22/23: Drop in any time between 10 AM -1 PM to meet your teachers and drop off supplies.
• Monday, August 26: No School
• Tuesday, August 27: Half Day – Preschool: 8:40-11 AM; PK: 8:40-12 PM
• Wednesday/Thursday, August 28/29: Full Days
• Friday, August 30: Half Day
• Monday, September 2: No School (Labor Day)
• Tuesday/Friday September 3-6: Full Days

Kindergarten through 8th grade:

• Thursday/Friday, August 22/23 OR Monday, August 26: Orientation Days for New Students. Your child's classroom teacher will contact you to schedule a time.
• Tuesday, August 27: First Day of School – 8:40 AM to 2:00 PM (Early Release). No ESS.
• Wednesday, August 28: Second Day of School – 8:40 AM to 3:20 PM. All School Mass at 9 AM. Students should wear full school uniforms and volunteer as readers, greeters/ushers, or gift bearers. All are welcome to join us!
• Thursday, August 29: Full Day
• Friday, August 30: Half Day. No ESS.
• Monday, September 2: No School (Labor Day)
• Tuesday/Friday, September 3-6: Full Days

Safe Environment Training

We are always grateful for the help you provide us here at school. In order for you to volunteer here on campus you will need to complete your Safe Environment training. This consists of providing information for a background check as well as completing an online course. Please go to www.virtusonline.org to begin. If you need ANY help please contact Joan Sullivan at jsullivan@stpx.org. 

School Picture Day

Wednesday, September 18^th 

Our friends at KidsPhotography will be taking this year's school pictures on Wednesday, September 18th, during school. Students must be in their full school uniforms for pictures. Stay tuned for more information on presale orders!

Join the Fun Fall Soccer Registration!

Thank you to all the families who have registered for soccer over the summer. We’re excited to announce our coed Kindergarten & 1st grade team is back! Limited spots are still available—register by August 15 to secure your child’s place. Click here for the Soccer Flyer

4th Grade Girls: We invite you to join the Holy Rosary Edmonds team! Our 3rd grade girls enjoyed it last fall, and we’re thrilled to offer this opportunity again. Sign up through the CYO link for St. Pius X.

Older Students: If you registered for soccer, look out for an email from our STPX CYO Athletic Director about playing with neighboring parish teams. 

Volunteer Soccer Coach Needed!

Help Coach Our Kindergarten & 1st Grade Soccer Team!

We’re looking for volunteers to coach our CYO soccer team. This is a great chance to get involved and earn volunteer hours. No prior experience is needed—CYO offers plenty of training opportunities. Register as a volunteer when signing up your player for the season. Join us and make a difference!

Join the Cross Country Team!

Registration Now Open!

Cross Country is open to boys and girls in Kindergarten through 8th grade. The season is short and no prior experience is needed. This inclusive sport focuses on personal improvement, and all you need are running shoes.

Running Distances:

• Kindergarten–2nd Grade: 0.4 miles
• 3rd Grade: .6 mile
• 4th & 5th Grades: 1 mile
• 6th & 7th Grades: 1.35 miles
• 8th Grade: 1.5 miles 

Practices: After school at the track across the street (schedule will be announced in early September).

Meets: Held on Sundays at Woodland Park 

• Meet 1: September 22, 2024
• Meet 2: September 29, 2024
• Meet 3: October 6, 2024 (Championship)

Team Sideline Online Registration Made Easy! Follow these simple steps to register:

1. Visit Team Sideline.
2. Create an account if you don’t have one.
3. Add your child’s name to your account.
4. Click "Register Now" on the homepage.
5. Scroll down to select "Soccer K-8 Soccer 2024 - Fall 2024" or "Cross Country".
6. Click "Enroll".
7. Choose your child’s name from the "Enrollee" tab.
8. For Enrollment Type, select "player".
9. Under the "Program" tab, choose "Soccer K-8 2024" or "Cross Country".
10. For "Offering", select "St. Pius X CYO Fall Soccer" or "Cross Country".
11. Add enrollment to your cart and proceed to checkout. The registration fee will be billed during the season once the team is confirmed.

For questions or to volunteer, please contact CYO Athletic Director Shawn Taylor at CYO@STPX.ORG.

Parent Association Car Wash Fundraiser

Sunday, August 25^th

The Parent Association, which includes Parent Ambassadors, the Multicultural Group, and the Parent Club, will be hosting a car wash fundraiser at St. Pius X School after Mass services. This is a fantastic opportunity to start collecting volunteer hours while giving back to our parish community. The funds raised will be used by the Parent Association to offer community events throughout the school year.

Back to School BBQ

Friday, September 6^th

All St. Pius X school families are invited to our Welcome Back to School BBQ in the courtyard on Friday, September 6th, starting at 5:30 PM.

We’ll provide hotdogs, hamburgers, condiments, and drinks, along with fun activities. To celebrate our multicultural community, we ask families with last names A-N to bring a side dish (serving 6-8 people) that represents a favorite traditional food, and families O-Z to bring a dessert. This is a great chance to reconnect after a long break.

We’ll need volunteers for set-up, grilling, serving, and clean-up. Set-up will begin after school. If you have any questions or would like to help, please contact the office at 425-778-9861.

Join Us for the 1st Parent Association Meeting & Potluck! Tuesday, October 1^st 

Join us for the first Parent Association meeting of the year on Tuesday, October 1st! This is a fantastic opportunity to get involved with our school community and stay updated on everything happening at St. Pius X School.

We’ll start the evening with a delicious potluck at 5:30 PM, followed by an engaging meeting at 6:00 PM. Bring your favorite dish to share and enjoy a great time with fellow parents. Plus, we’ll have a movie night for the kids during the meeting, so they can have fun too!

Don’t miss out on this chance to connect with other families, hear important updates about our children’s education, and be a part of exciting school projects and events. We can’t wait to see everyone there!

Scrip - Gift Card Fundraising Program

Welcome to the new school year! We are excited to continue our fundraiser program with gift cards, also known as scrip. This is the easiest way to support our school. Before you go shopping, to the movies, or out to eat, don't forget to buy gift cards (scrip).

To make it easier this year, we will be selling gift cards (scrip) in the school front office and in the social hall after Sunday Masses. Alternatively, you can download the RaiseRight app and create an account using the code D167D8F91L712.

Remember, each family is required to contribute either $250 or $125 by the end of the year. This is a great way to meet your contribution requirement without spending extra money out of pocket while also supporting St. Pius X School. If you have any questions, you can call the school office or visit our website at www.stpx.org. Go to "Give" and then "Scrips & Gift Cards" for all the information you need. Thank you for supporting St. Pius X School!

Join the Jog-a-thon Fun & Support Our School!

Friday, September 27^th

Our first school fundraiser of the year is on Friday, September 27, 2024, with an exciting goal of $12,000! If we reach our stretch goal of $15,000, the whole school will enjoy a special event!

This fun event will bring out friendly competition among the classes. Stay tuned for more details!

To volunteer or if you have any questions, contact the office at 425.778.9861 (ask for Paris Melton or Joan Sullivan) or email Chelsea Meyer-Misko at browniemms@yahoo.com.

Calendar Highlights

August 2024

• Sunday, August 18: St. Pius X Church Annual Parish Picnic at 12 PM
• Sunday, August 25: Parent Association Car Wash Fundraiser

September 2024

• Monday, September 2: Labor Day, No School
• Friday, September 6: Back to School BBQ Potluck
• Sunday, September 15: All School Sunday Mass at 11 AM. Students should wear their school uniforms and volunteer as readers, greeters/ushers, gift bearers, and sing in the children's choir. Students singing in the choir should arrive at 10am to practice.​
• Tuesday, September 17: Curriculum Night at 6 PM
• Wednesday, September 18: School Picture Day & All School Mass at 9 AM. Students should wear their full school uniforms. Students should wear their full school uniforms and volunteer as readers, greeters/ushers, or gift bearers. All are welcome to join us!
• Sunday, September 22, 2024: STPX Cross Country Meet #1
• Friday, September 27: STPX Fall Jog-a-thon Fundraiser 2024
• Sunday, September 22, 2024: STPX Cross Country Meet #2

The St. Pius X School's Full 2024-2025 pdf/printable calendar is here or on our website at www.stpx.org.

Welcome to St. Pius X,

Father Miguel & Father Lucio!

Our families look forward to getting to know you!

Parish Events

Come visit us at the St. Pius X School booth at the Annual Parish Picnic! We'll have back-to-school information, raffle prizes, and goodies to share!

Stay Connected with us!

Connect with us on social media to stay up-to-date on school happenings! Please follow us on:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stpxschool
• Instagram: @stpxschool

We look forward to keeping you informed! ✅

St. Pius X Catholic School is a diverse community providing a stellar academic education through Catholic discipleship and service.

Phone: 425.778.9861 | Email: Office@stpx.org