Letter from the Principal

Tuesday, August 13, 2024

“It will come as a surprise, what arrives to welcome you through the door, making a place for you at the table and calling you by your name.” from the Painted Prayerbook

Dear St. Pius X School Community,

As mentioned last week, we are welcoming new staff members to the 2024-2025 school year. I am pleased to introduce the following new staff members: 3^rd grade teacher, Ms. Maeve Sandeen, 7^th grade and middle school math and science, Mr. Christopher Robertson, part-time Music teacher Mrs. Jura Litchfield, and in our prekindergarten we welcome Mrs. Ruth Morris as our new classroom preK aide. You will find their bios below.

A quick reminder from our volunteer school nurse, Mrs. Jennie Smither Ryan, that the new school year also means updating your vaccination requirements. If you need the full list of childhood immunizations please visit

Preschool and Pre-K

https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-01/348-425-ChildcareImmReqforParents2023-2024.pdf?uid=64c29be8e8524

K-12

https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-05/2022-2023%20Parent%20School%20Chart.pdf?uid=64c29be8f3555

Peace,

Mrs. Farewell

New Staff Bios

Mrs. Ruth Morris

Pre-K Instructional Aide

Hi! My name is Ms. Ruth and I am incredibly happy that I am going to be your Pre-K Instructional Aide! I have been a member of St Pius X since 2017 and belonging to this amazing community has been a blessing for me and my family. I have a great passion for working with children and helping them grow, learn and have fun. My love for the Church made me pursue a certification from the USA Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) in order to serve children between the ages 3 and 6. I am so grateful and humble for this opportunity to work with your children and as you can see I take great pride in providing the best and beyond for them. I am so excited for this new school year and I can’t wait to know and spend time with all of you!

Ms. Maeve Sandeen

Third Grade Teacher

My name is Maeve Sandeen and I hail from the great state of Minnesota! I graduated this past spring with a degree in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame- Go Irish! As someone who has been wholly formed by Catholic school education, I feel blessed to have the opportunity to give back my gifts and talents to this community. My hobbies and interests include anything involving arts and crafts, singing and music, and I am always down for a thrifting outing. I will be starting in the fall teaching third grade, and I am so excited to get to know and form friendships with the bright kiddos of St. Pius X!

Mr. Christopher Robertson

7^th Grade Homeroom and Middle School Math and Science Teacher:

I was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia and attended the University of Virginia (Go Wahoos!) I then moved to Tucson, Arizona where I began my teaching career. After moving to Washington in 2003, I began working in the Seattle area teaching both math and science. I enjoy watching the Sounders and Seahawks and am learning how to play tennis. I played soccer for many years and have also been a coach and referee. I also like cooking for my family and friends.

Mrs. Jura Litchfield

Music Teacher

Jura Litchfield has spent much of her adult life singing, directing choirs, and teaching music in various settings. She attended Catholic schools K-12 and taught in several. Jura earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Columbia University and later taught music in private schools in New York City. She directed liturgical music in New York State and Maine parishes including conducting handbell ensembles, training cantors and organizing concerts and church liturgies. She moved to Washington in 2016 when her twin grandsons were born so she could help with their child care and became a conductor/teacher with the Northwest Girlchoir based in Seattle. Now she looks forward to getting to know the St Pius X School community and learn all about the students, their families and their musical interests.

From the School Office

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 11:50 AM.
5-8 Lunch is at 12:25 PM.

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.
Please note: the domain for all emails has changed for Finalesite. Please save our new address to your contacts <info+stpx@fsenrollment.com>.
Click Here: Classroom Supply List 2024-2025
Order Here: Uniforms on www.dennisuniform.com

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 order link!

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:

Visit Team Sideline.
Create an account if you don’t have one.
Add your child’s name to your account.
Click "Register Now" on the homepage.
Scroll down to select "Soccer K-8 Soccer 2024 - Fall 2024" or "Cross Country".
Click "Enroll".
Choose your child’s name from the "Enrollee" tab.
For Enrollment Type, select "player".
Under the "Program" tab, choose "Soccer K-8 2024" or "Cross Country".
For "Offering", select "St. Pius X CYO Fall Soccer" or "Cross Country".
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 News

Join the Fun!

Parent Association Car Wash Fundraiser

Sunday, August 25^th

Roll up your sleeves and make a splash at our Parent Association Car Wash Fundraiser! After Mass at St. Pius X School, we’re hosting a fun and lively event featuring our Parent Ambassadors, the Multicultural Group, and the Parent Club. Not only is this a fantastic way to give back to our parish community, but it’s also your first chance to rack up volunteer hours. Plus, all funds raised will help bring exciting community events to life throughout the school year.

Can we count on you to join us for the event?

LOCATION

St. Pius X Catholic School

DATE AND TIME

08/25/24 8:00am - 08/25/24 2:30pm US/Eastern

Support our community by volunteering for the Parent Association Car Wash Fundraiser! We need 6 volunteers per shift. Thank you!

Yes! Grades: K, 4 & 8 - 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM

Yes! Grades: 1, 3 & 7 - 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Yes! Grades: 2, 5 & 6 - 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM

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.

Can we count on you to join us for the BBQ?

LOCATION

St. Pius X Catholic School

DATE AND TIME

09/06/24 5:30pm - 09/06/24 7:30pm US/Eastern

Back to School BBQ!

Yes! I'll be there!

Maybe!

I Can't Make It

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!

Can we count on you to join us for the Meeting & Potluck?

LOCATION

St. Pius X Catholic School

DATE AND TIME

10/01/24 5:30pm - 10/01/24 7:30pm US/Eastern

1st Parent Association Meeting & Potluck!

Yes! I'll be there!

Maybe!

I Can't Make It

Fundraising

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

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 12:00 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– 8:40 AM to 3:20 PM
Friday, August 30: Half Day – 8:40 AM to 12:00 PM. No ESS.
Monday, September 2: No School (Labor Day)
Tuesday/Friday, September 3-6: Full Days – 8:40 AM to 3:20 PM

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 29, 2024: STPX Cross Country Meet #2