St. Louise School Weekly Bulletin

School News for Dec 7-13, 2023

A Note from Mr. Fuerte

Dear Families,

Below are a couple of reminders and some important information for this week.

Mass on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception – Friday, December 8^th, 2023. All school staff and families are invited to the 9:00am Mass tomorrow morning. Thank you to 3A for leading our mass.

Charger Cards – Advent and Christmas Season: Do you need to buy Christmas Gifts? Don’t know what to buy? Gift Cards are the best gifts as loved ones can purchase items for themselves. The Charger Card team will be available tomorrow, Friday, 12/8 and Monday, 12/11 from 8:30am-9:30am to take your special orders for the Christmas and Advent Season. This Friday the Charger Card Office will be open an additional hour from 2:30pm-3:30pm since it's FEE FREE FRIDAY. It is also a great opportunity to buy Charger Cards for your child’s teacher, the administrative staff, and school staff. Let them know how much you appreciate all of the hard work they have done since the beginning of the school year. Check out the Charger Card Faculty wish list HERE.

The 4 Weeks of Advent

During the first two weeks of Advent, we light purple candles. The Third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday. On this day we celebrate that our waiting for the birth of Jesus on Christmas day is almost over. Rose is a liturgical color that is used to signify joy, so we light the single pink candle on the third Sunday of Advent.

Then on the fourth Sunday of Advent, the final purple candle is lit to mark the final week of prayer and penance, as we wait expectantly for the soon-coming birth of the King of Kings.

Traditionally, each of the four Advent candles have a deeper meaning:

The 1st Sunday of Advent symbolizes Hope with the "Prophet’s Candle"- reminding us that Jesus is coming.
The 2nd Sunday of Advent symbolizes Faith with the "Bethlehem Candle" - reminding us of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.
The 3rd Sunday of Advent symbolizes Joy with the "Shepherd’s Candle" - reminding us of the Joy the world experienced at the coming birth of Jesus.
The 4th Sunday of Advent symbolizes Peace with the "Angel’s Candle" - reminding us of the message of the angels: “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.”

Advent Prayer for the week

Gracious Savior, this week, we begin the journey of Advent. This is a season of expectation and anticipation, a time of preparation and confession. And so it is that we bring to the Lord a broken and contrite spirit which we know our God will honor. We take this time to prepare for the coming Savior truly. Rejoice greatly, shout for joy! See, your King is coming to you. He is righteous and brings salvation. Thanks be to God. Amen!

Have a Blessed Weekend,

Mr. Mike Fuerte

Principal

Announcements

Lost & Found

The Lost & Found is overflowing! If your child is missing a coat, lunchbox, shoes, or eyeglasses, please come look through the Lost & Found to claim your missing items! The week of December 11, all items will be on tables in the School Lobby. Items not claimed by Friday, December 15, will be donated to Used Uniforms and/or Goodwill.

Hot Cocoa Sale & Band Christmas Performance

Get to school early on Thursday, December 14 so you don't miss out hearing the band perform Christmas Music during carpool beginning at 8am!

Stay warm while you listen by purchasing Hot Cocoa from our 8th graders for $1.00.

Help us Raise Some Dough for the Summer 2024 Galapagos Trip.

The international traveling group is partnering with Krispy Kreme's Digital Dozens fundraising program to sell Digital Dozen certificates. These virtual certificates will NEVER expire and are redeemable at ANY participating Krispy Kreme location (except in CT or Puerto Rico). Each Digital Dozen certificate is only $15. Certificates are available until 12/14/23.

Buy your dozen here: Fund Details | OSV Hub

Certificates will be delivered via email by 12/16

Over the holiday break, it is the perfect time to countdown to Christmas, AND also celebrate the 12 days of Christmas with kindness and appreciation!

The 12 days of Christmas is the period that marks the span between the birth of Christ and the coming of the Magi (the 3 wise men). It begins on December 25^th (Christmas) and runs through January 6^th (the Epiphany - also sometimes called Three Kings Day).

The 12 days of Christmas Kindness Calendar is a perfect way to connect deeper with others and it’s easy to do! PLUS it’s true: Every act of kindness makes this world a better place.

What to do: Read the kindness activity each day and have fun! The whole family can participate!

Check your Red Envelope today for your family's copy of the Kindness Calendar!

New Bethlehem Advent Collection

During the Advent Season, St. Louise will be supporting New Bethlehem Programs with a donation drive to collect some of the organization's most needed items.

New Bethlehem Programs is part of Catholic Community Services and provides assistance, including shelter, for families experiencing homelessness on the eastside.

Please see the flyer in your Red Envelope today, and bring your donations to the school lobby by December 11.

Volunteers Needed

Can you help deliver donated items from school to New Bethlehem in Kirkland the morning of Wednesday, 12/13? Email Ann Marie Sweeney if you can help.

Clubs & After School Activities

Winter Chess Clubs Begins January 8th

Registration Open Now

Questions, contact Coach Lane at ChessCoachLane@gmail.com.

Parents' Club News

Thank you to Tasha Grondal and Marta McCraw for leading such a wonderful St. Nicholas Christmas Party last weekend!

A big THANK YOU to the many volunteers who helped them make it possible:

Elaina Morris, Makena Herber, Jax Herber, Janicia Monteiro, Heena Binukumar, Harry Sanchez, Yulieta Sanchez, Molly Price, Bill Price, Yorley Garcia, Tony Jeparatnam, Amanda Swanburg, Shiji Varuthattil Das, Doan Do, Juan Gonzalez, Paul Davie, Daisy Mendes, Ricardo Coronado, Laelah Avalos, Maria Coronado-Barbeyto, Daniel Barros, Jane D'Ambrosio, Lauren D'Ambrosio, Mika Hewett, Oliver Ogilvy, Audrey Palmquist, Hope Renners, Blake Russell, Jaden Sequira

Parents' Club Meeting TONIGHT at 6:30 via Teams.

All parents are welcome. We encourage you to attend and get involved!

Meeting ID: 287 375 397 762

Passcode: WnVPN7

Join the Parents' Club Meeting

Charger Cards

Need a Christmas gift for your teachers? Check out their Charger Card Wish List here!

Last day to order cards to ensure delivery before break is December 11 at 9am. Cards sold after that date will be limited to in stock and e-cards only.

Mark your Calendar!

December 7 - Grade 7/8 NO SCHOOL for H.S. Application Prep
December 7 - Kindergarten Christmas Concert - 8:30am
December 7 - Parents' Club Mtg 6:30pm
December 8 - Immaculate Conception Mass at 9am
December 8 - Ice Cream Treat Sale at Lunches
December 8 - Report Cards Sent Home
December 13 - Grades 5-6 Christmas Concert 6:30pm
December 14 - Band & Hot Cocoa at morning carpool

Subscribe to the School Calendar Here

Friendzy Update

2B students engaged in a Friendzy learning project. When we love others, it often has a ripple effect. This lesson is a visual demonstration of how love can have a ripple effect on our friends, classroom, and community. When we show our love in words and actions, it starts as a single act, but then spreads outward, affecting many more. Our acts of love and kindness don’t only affect the people we do kind things for, but for many other people who we many never even come into contact with.

Our learning project included items that each had a meaning and a purpose. The tub represented our classroom. The table represented our community. The water represented our students, people and places within our community. Each item we choose to tow into the tub represented an action of loving others. We had small items (grains of rice, coins, and marbles) that represented an action in a small way: sharing a smile, holding a door, or showing encouragement through words. We also had large items (marshmallow, corks, and rubber balls) that represented an action of love in a large way: donating to a fundraiser or volunteering at a food bank.

A small loving action can cause happiness in a single person. That person feels happier and is more likely to spread love and kindness to someone else. A large loving action causes a greater impact in the community. Our large items created big ripples and splashes that effected our classroom and also the surrounding community. We also noticed the ripple effect of several small items together made a large impact. We noticed that even the smallest action (a grain of rice) created a ripple. A smile can create a ripple of love.

We LOVE our Volunteers!

Playground Help Needed!

Tuesdays from 11:50 am – 1:00 pm. Weekly or Every-Other Week shifts available! Email Ann Marie Sweeney if you can help.

Parish Happenings

Ask Fr. Nehnevaj!

Is Judas in heaven?

This is a question that has come up a few times while I’ve been visiting various classrooms at the school. Each time it has led to a really good discussion with the students. I usually respond by asking the inquirer what they think. Typically, they will say something to the effect of...

See What Happened this Week - 7th Grade Mission to Mars Field Trip, Middle School Online Safety Presentation & St. Nicholas Visit

Last week the 7th graders took a field trip to the Muesum of Flight where they each performed successful missions from Phobos to Mars. They achieved their mission goals of keeping everyone alive, searching for signs of water, and looking for signs of life.

Bellevue Police Officer Rachel Serna visited the 6-8 grade classrooms on Monday. She talked to the students about online safety which includes: chatting, social media accounts, and other forms of online communication. She also presented to the class the importance of internet safety and accessing inappropriate websites.

Yesterday, St. Nick visited the classrooms and spoke to the children about the meaning of Advent and how to prepare their hearts to receive Jesus this Christmas. Kids left their shoes outside their classrooms and when they went back to get them they found a sweet surprise inside!