December’s Virtue of the Month is Purity, keeping your soul free of sin. Our Guessing Jar Saint this month defended her purity with her life, but not before forgiving her attacker and eventually leading him to ask for forgiveness and reconciliation. St. Maria Goretti was truly a wonderful example of living Christianity. Read about St. Maria and check out the ways you can practice the virtue of Purity at HOME this month.

St. Nicholas Day is December 6^th. A tradition on St. Nicholas Day is to that St. Nick puts treats, traditionally oranges, in shoes overnight. This is where the idea of stockings by the fire filled with candy and toys comes from! St. Nick could use a few parent elves to help with our own St. Nicholas Day celebration on Tuesday, December 6^th, at 8:50 AM. 

We are halfway through the first week of Advent, the week of Hope. Next week is the week of Peace. There are many ways to celebrate advent, Jesse Trees, Advent Wreaths, St. Nicholas Day, and more. Hallow has a Pray25 Challenge for Advent that has just begun and is an easy way to spend a little extra prayer time, focused on the coming of Christ. Check out what is happening at St. Brendan Church with their Advent Calendar.

Week 1, Hope:

Dear Jesus, you are the hope in our messy world. This Advent, help us slow down, listen to your voice, and focus on what’s really important. We place our hope in you as we prepare our hearts to celebrate your birth on Christmas. Amen.

• Week 2, Peace:

Dear Jesus, you entered our world on Christmas as the Prince of Peace. This Advent, as we thrive to become the-best-version-of-ourselves, fill us with a deep and abiding peace. Help us share that peace with everyone we encounter, especially those who need it most. Amen.

Thank you to everyone who attended the State of the School Address. We enjoyed sharing our latest updates with you. You can review the slides below.

COVID Weekly Data Dashboard (11/16-11/30)

• Students and Staff who have tested positive: 0

In the past few months, our Covid infections have been at a low level; which is excellent! We have had several students who have been out ill with colds, flu, and other respiratory illnesses. As we are heading into flu season, please continue to be diligent in monitoring for symptoms, testing for Covid and keeping your students home when they are not feeling well.

The Christmas Program is next week.

Christmas Program on Friday, 12/09/22 at 7 PM in the church. Students need to be in their classrooms at 6:30 PM. The Christmas Program will be about an hour long. Students will be picked up by their parent in the church. Classes will remain seated as parents check their child out. 

• Students K-8 are to participate and stay for the ENTIRE program as part of their music grade. Performing, listening, and appreciating music are essential elements to their music education. Students will sit with their classes for the duration of the program. Plus, all students (K-8) will perform at the end of the program.
• What to wear – Christmas best! It would be lovely to see the children in the best Christmas attire! Please know that it may get warm in the church, so boys in full suits might be too uncomfortable.
• Christmas best – Christmas colors! Dresses, skirts, slacks, nice shoes. Please no t-shirts, jeans, yoga pants, or dirty shoes.
• Extended care will close at 5 PM the day of the concert to allow parents to dress and feed their children prior to the program.

December Birthdays

12/1 – 12/7

12/1    Evelyn Griffin    1^st Grade

12/2    Anela Engle    4^th Grade

12/2    Maxine France    6^th Grade

12/2    Charlotte Mayans    PreK

12/3    James Demeter   Kindergarten

Parents Night Out!!

December 2nd, 5:00 Pm - 9:00 PM

• Drop your kids off at school for a fun evening of holiday activities and a Christmas movie!
• Do some Christmas shopping have a date night or sit on your couch alone!
• Register here: https://forms.gle/LjKFv5xNx2NEfco47

*Fundraiser hosted MS students/families for their DC Spring Break trip*

Registration for the winter session of chess club is now open. K-5 students can register at www.chesswizards.com.

The annual St. Vincent de Paul Food Collection is upon us. The collection will take place from November 15th through December 2nd. We hope each family will donate a suggested $10 or more to make this a huge success for families in need this year; our school goal is $1,400. Please remember that we can only accept financial donations for this collection; no food, please. The hope is to collect money for 21 deserving families in need.

We hope that you can be generous in donating money to this important collection this year. Please contact 6th grade homeroom teacher, Mrs. Wenzl, with any questions (rosemaryw@school.saintbrendan.org). Thank you for your generosity and support!

How to Shop at Christmas Store

1. All students must have their cashless payment permission form completed by Monday, Dec 5th: Christmas Store Shopping Authorization
2.  Students shop by class in the gym during their assigned time during the school day
3. There is a 4 GIFT LIMIT PER STUDENT. This ensures enough inventory for all.
4. Students may only purchase gifts for friends and family - not themselves.
5. Student helpers and volunteers wrap gifts and your payment is charged to your FACTS account.
6. Gifts are sent home with your student! 



We're looking for a few good volunteer elves! Sign up here: bit.ly/xmas-store-22. For questions or if you have items to donate, please email Camarin and Lili: [email protected] and [email protected]

Just in time for the chilly winter weather - St. Brendan Scarves!

Show your school spirit and stay warm in this stylish two-sided scarf. This will make a wonderful Christmas gift for a special student, teacher, or family member in your life. The scarves are $20 each and we only have a limited number in stock. Proceeds benefit our Fr. Mike Schmitt Tuition Assistance Fund. Order forms will go home in the weekly envelope.

Go Irish!!!

Hello from the St. Brendan School Lunch Program!    

Please note: This Friday is Cheese Calzones, a new offering for lunch.

Upcoming dates to remember: Any students with a negative lunch balance on 12-14-22 will have their report cards held in the office. See upcoming email from the lunch program for more details.

December 13^th is Breakfast for Lunch. Extra parent volunteers are needed that day to help with toppings. Please consider volunteering for the fun!

The lunch menu is located on the school website and will be updated monthly. You can reference it here: Lunch menu.

Lunch this Week:

Thursday 12/1: Pizza Day

Friday 12/2: *NEW*

Cheese Calzone!

Monday 12/5:Chicken w/Pita and Hummus

Tuesday: 12/6: Happy St. Nicholas Day!

Chicken Nuggets and Smiley/Emoticon Fries

Wednesday 12/7: Ham 'n Melted Cheese Croissant

To add money to your child's account, https://www.schoolpaymentportal.com/

Who do I contact for questions?  

Please contact Eileen Warner at: [email protected] .

Upcoming on Lego Robotics Calendar:

https://sites.google.com/view/stb-lego-robotics/fll-teamsschedule

• 12/1, Thursday – Competition Team Dry-Run and Mock Judging (STB).
• 12/2, Friday – Last Fall session! All teams meet (STB) if the classes are not cancelled due to inclement weather.
• 12/3, Saturday, 8 to 5 PM – Competition Team Qualifier Event at Glacier Peak High School! Stop by to cheer on St. Brendan’s as they go up against regional schools to advance to the Semifinals!
• 12/5, Monday – All sessions cancelled due to volunteer staffing. 

Priority registration for Winter Trimester 2022 is open!

https://forms.gle/hxDvAo9xTYe9n6wk8

Lego Robotics volunteers wanted for weekday &/or weekend help! Coaching and non-coaching roles available! Please reach out to [email protected] for more information.  

Play Like a Champion Today (PLACT) Training should be completed by parents and coaches prior to the start of the season.

Both coaches and parents can sign up at the TeamSideline link: Seattle CYO Athletics (teamsideline.com). You register the same way you registered your player for the team, but select the “Parent Like A Champion Workshop Registration - Fall 2022” rather than selecting “basketball” for instance.

Parent Like a Champion Today Training Dates: 

• Wednesday, December 7th 7:00pm

Click here to register: Seattle CYO Athletics (teamsideline.com)

We are seeking pictures from our basketball teams in action to include in the yearbook. Please send pictures to [email protected].

Volunteers are an integral part of our community. Your enthusiastic volunteerism helps keep operating costs low, fundraisers successful, and is a wonderful way to connect to the school community.

Volunteering opportunities at St. Brendan School are vast and varied. Be kind, and volunteer; currently, we have need for volunteers in the following areas:

Miss Sims is seeking walking sticks or staffs and stuffed sheep for the Christmas Concert. Please contact [email protected] if you can donate these items.

Lego Robotics volunteers wanted for weekday &/or weekend help! Coaching and non-coaching roles available! Please reach out to [email protected]for more information. 

Financial aid applications are being accepted through  FACTS Management  for the 2023-2024 school year.

Fulcrum Foundation Tuition Assistance Grants

• Available to parish and non-parish families
• Open for entering K-8th grade families
• Income/needs based grants

St. Brendan School Financial Aid Awards/ Fr. Mike Schmitt Grants

• Available to parish and partner-parish families
• Open to entering preschool -8th grade families
• To be considered for St. Brendan School aid, families must also apply for the Fulcrum Foundation grant through FACTS.
• Income/needs based grants

Documents Required

• W-2s from 2021
• Documentation for child support, DSHS, rental receipts, other miscellaneous income
• Any other pertinent documents

Deadline

• Application deadline is January 6, 2023
• All documents must be submitted online by the deadline. If you need assistance scanning and uploading, please contact Christen Lambert in the school office.

St. Brendan Parish puts on a large giving tree program every year. It supports multiple organizations in the community. Many organizations rely on our support to sustain them through the entire year. Please take a tag and help someone in need.

Please click here for the Parish Advent Calendar.

Children's Choir - Christmas Mass

If you have a student who would like to join the St. Brendan Youth Choir for the Christmas Vigil Carols and Mass (Dec 24), please contact Miss Sims as soon as possible: [email protected]

Christmas Mass Schedule

December 24th—Christmas Eve

• 5:00 pm Mass

• 8:00 pm Mass

• Midnight Mass

December 25th—Christmas Day

• 9:00 am Mass

• 11:30 am Mass (Spanish)

6th Grade St. Vincent de Paul Drive (monetary donations)

Drive ends Friday, December 2nd

St. Brendan Giving Tree (grab a tag from the Giving Tree)

Now thru December 4th

Consider buying a Scrip Gift Card from St. Brendan for the Giving Tree!

Parents Night Out - hosted by the 7th & 8th Grade Class

Friday, Dec. 2nd

FIRST Lego Robotics Competition Team Qualifier Event at Glacier Peak High School

Saturday, Dec. 3rd

Mass Uniform Weekend

Dec 3-4

Christmas Store (free dress and Santa Hats)

Wednesday, Dec. 7

Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mass (holy day of obligation)

Thursday, Dec. 8

Mass at 9:00 AM

End of 1st Trimester - EARLY DISMISSAL, 12:45 PM

Extended Care Open until 5:00 PM

School Christmas Program (all grades attend)

Friday, Dec. 9

Bishop Blanchet Speech Tournament

Saturday, Dec. 10

7th Grade leads Sunday Mass

Sunday, December 11

Fr. Wichert's Birthday!

Monday, December 12

Staff Christmas Party - Extended Care Closes at 4:00 PM

Thursday, December 15

Early Dismissal (12:45) & No PM Extended Care

Friday, December 16

Christmas Break

Dec. 17 - Jan. 2