Weekly Bulletin - December 15th, 2022

Dear Families,

A couple of reminders and upcoming events:

Lost and Found Items

A friendly reminder to check the Lost and Found Box located by the 4th and 5th grade classrooms. There are plenty of red fleece, coats, and water bottles. If you are missing anything, please check out the Lost and Found Box.

Afternoon Carpool Flow

A friendly reminder from Mr. Evans and Mrs. Jaster that the afternoon flow of traffic is one direction and that you may not exit on to 156th. Please look over the Carpool Traffic Regulations HERE.

Annual Fund/End of Year Gift

As we approach the end of the year, I want to take a minute to thank you for your support, volunteer hours, prayers, and generosity. Without your help, we could not enjoy the academic excellence with a Roman Catholic foundation, that we are so proud of at St. Louise School. The Annual Fund is one of the major fundraisers that contribute to this excellence. As the tax year ends, please consider making a tax-deductible donation in December towards the Annual Fund. Donating to the Annual Fund is a commitment made by all families within the community as part of the St. Louise parent contract. Get this done early and included on your 2022 tax donations!

Annual Fund Donation Link https://www.osvhub.com/stlouiseschool/giving/funds/annual-fund

As always, your commitment to the Annual Fund helps us…

• Keeps tuition affordable and accessible for all families

• Purchase additional school supplies and new curriculum

• Invest in technology, student enrichment

• Keep teacher salaries competitive

• Fund operating expenses not covered by tuition

In short, your donation to the Annual Fund is an investment in the students of St. Louise.

Friday, December 16th, 2022

A fun tradition we have on the last day of school before Christmas vacation, is having our school band play Christmas music outside during morning carpool drop-off. You can also purchase hot chocolate to enjoy from the 8th Grade. Hot chocolate costs $1.00 per cup and proceeds go to help cover costs of graduation events. Tomorrow, plan on arriving between 7:55-8:10 to make sure you can hear the band and purchase your cocoa before they sell out. Thank you to the 8th Grade Room Parents and their children for helping with the hot cocoa sale. Thank you to Mr. Nazzal and the St. Louise Band for performing before morning carpool.

We will also have “Christmas Themed” Free Dress on Friday. Students may wear Christmas attire, Holiday Hats, and Light-up necklaces. Regular 2nd Trimester Free Dress rules apply.

Friday is also a Noon Dismissal for Christmas Break and there will be no Kids’ Club. School will resume Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023.

Advent Prayer to Prepare My Heart for Christ’s Coming

Father, just as You sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for Jesus, help me to clear the path in my heart, too. Show me the distractions in my life that block me from all-out worship of You this Advent. Lord, I await Your coming! As I celebrate the first Advent––the first coming––I look toward the day where I will see You face to face. I imagine what it will be like. Give me a heart, Lord, that looks for Your coming on a daily basis. Help me to live my life where I'm constantly seeking Your presence. My offering to You today is my righteous life for I know I am only clean because of Jesus. Show me today how I need to be refined, purified, forgiven. Give me the strength to ask for forgiveness and to then change my ways. Amen.

Thank you from the St. Louise Faculty and Staff

"'Tis the season for giving," they say, and the teachers and staff are so grateful this week to receive gifts from the Parents’ Club on behalf of the entire school parent community. The Parents' Club presented each faculty member a generous supply of each of their favorite Charger Cards. Your fund raising via the Walk-A-Thon, Charger Cards, Charger Gear, and the Auction generated the funds which made these Christmas presents possible. So, thank YOU, school parents, for these wonderful gifts!

Question of the Week

The first and third parent that answers the following question correctly will receive a Charger Card for Christmas.

1) In Christian Theology, what do the 12 days of Christmas represent?

Blessings for a Wonderful Christmas & New Year,

Mr. Mike Fuerte

Principal

Announcements

Treat Sale

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15TH

No PM Kids' Club

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16TH

Noon Dismissal

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16TH

Christmas Vacation

MONDAY, DECEMBER 19TH - MONDAY, JANUARY 2ND

Enjoy your break and Merry Christmas!

New Year's Day - No School

MONDAY, JANUARY 2ND

Happy New Years!

First Day Back from Christmas Vacation

TUESDAY, JANUARY 3RD

Absences Reminder

Please remember to call (426-746-4220) or email the office (office@stlouiseschool.org) AND your teacher, when your student will be absent and/or arriving late or leaving early. Additionally, please let us know the reason for their absence. You can also report this information using our new SchoolPass system and it will automatically notify your teacher and the office. If you haven’t used it yet, or need instructions on how to use it, please email us and we’ll get you all set up!

Flu Season Reminder

Since we are fully into cold and flu season and seeing many students out sick, please remember that your child needs to be fever free for 24 hours without any medication before they can return to school. Additionally, if your child has vomited, they also need to be home for 24 hours before returning. We appreciate you being cautious with your children so we can reduce the spread of the assorted viruses currently going around.

Reported COVID Cases

St. Louise had 0 reported COVID case this past week.

St. Louise Parent Survey

For the upcoming school year, we are striving to fill both of our pre-kindergarten classes. We would like to invite families searching for pre-kindergarten education to our upcoming open house on Thursday, January 26th, 2023. We will use the results of this survey to help us extend personal invites to neighboring childcare centers.

This survey will only take a few minutes to complete. Thank you for your response.

Daycare Survey

First Trimester New Family Survey

After the first Trimester of the school year, we reach out to families who are new to our school community with a survey to determine how things are going for you and your child(ren). Please take a few minutes to provide some valuable feedback for us as we work to make this year the best possible for your child(ren) and you.

New Family Survey

It’s that time of year to make gifts to earn your end of year tax deduction for 2022.

WHY do we have and Annual Fund?

The Annual Fund is crucial to the finances of St. Louise School. Because of generous donors we are able to keep our tuition at an accessible price point –St. Louise is one of the most affordable Catholic Schools on the Eastside.

WHO makes it happen?

We need support from EVERY family at St. Louise School. We expect 100% participation (as noted in your contract). Additionally we receive generous gifts from our alumni, alumni parents, and friends of St. Louise School to help us reach our goal. The Annual Fund provides “budget relief” to fund the difference between tuition and the true cost of educating each student. (i.e. we spend MORE educating your child than you pay in tuition).

HOW do I participate?

There are a variety of ways to give: on-line one time or recurring gifts via credit or debit card, cash or check. You may also make a donation of stock which has additional tax advantages if the stock has appreciated significantly.

Questions? Linda Bowers lindab@stlouiseschool.org

2022 Bishop Blanchet Speech Tournament

Congratulations to the St. Louise Speech Team who performed well at the 2022 Bishop Blanchet Speech Tournament last Saturday, December 10th! We are so proud of our 6th, 7th, and 8th graders for all their hard work. The tournament featured 265 total competitors from 16 different schools.

Congratulations to the following category winners and finalists:

Liam C.– 1st Place in Novice Impromptu
Mika C. – 2nd Place in Novice Humorous
Dhani W. – Finalist in Open Oratory and Finalist in Open Humorous
Bodie S. – Finalist in Novice Humorous and Finalist in Novice Impromptu
Raneisha L. – Finalist in Open Expository
Leika K. – Finalist in Novice Impromptu
Liam C. and Ashley C. – Finalist in Novice Duo

Many thanks go out to the parents who served as coaches this fall, as well as Rebecca Nightingale for her extraordinary Speech Team leadership. Also, a big thank you to the following people who judged at the 2022 Bishop Blanchet Speech Tournament: Rebecca Nightingale, Sam Craig, Kristy Charles, Sharon Victor, Khadyja Johnson, Ed Nightingale, Kelly Reed, Julie Sturgill, Tara Craig, Marta Masferrer, Connor Kirsch, Patrick D’Ambrosio, Kelly Miller, and Kati Fitzgerald.

The St. Louise Speech Team will next compete at the Seattle Prep Speech Tournament on Saturday, February 4th.

Advent Week 4, 12/19

Archbishop Etienne: ULTIMATE GIFT

Events

Christmas Concert performed by grades 3-4

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15TH

6:30 PM - 7:15 PM

Advent Cocoa & Carols

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16TH

5:30 PM

Parents' Club would love to see you at Cocoa & Cookies at 5:30 pm and Lessons & Carols at 7 pm. Please RSVP. Join us for this all-school pre-Christmas gathering!

8th Grade Hot Cocoa Sale

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16TH

8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Come support our 8th graders as they raise money for graduation! Hot Chocolate will be for sale before school during carpool, outside the old pre-k classroom.

Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink

Fundraising Opportunity for a limited time only

Until Jan. 8th, for every paid admission the school will receive a $3 donation. Please notify the rink staff upon arrival that the school you are affiliated with is "St. Louise Parish".

Ice Rink

Donations & Drives

AmazonSmile

Are you planning on using Amazon for Christmas shopping this season? For every eligible purchase, Amazon donates 0.5% to a charity of your choice. Sign up on the mobile app to start giving today.

smile.amazon.com

St. Louise Charger Cards

Charger Cards Regular Window Hours

8:30am to 9:30am every Monday and Friday
We will be closed during the holidays and will reopen on January 6th.

Charger Gear

Order Today

Advent New Bethlehem Programs Supply Drive

Thank you to everyone who donated.

Auction Premium Wine Contest

The top two classes will be announced after the break. Thank you for your generous support of St. Louise.

Glassybaby Sale

COST: $100/EACH

Thank you for your generous support of St. Louise. A portion of the proceeds go to St. Louise. Looking Up, celebrates our auction theme and Charger Welcome, commemorates our expanded pre-k program.

Order Now

Volunteer Opportunities

Auction Volunteers Needed

Driver - we need help the night before the auction to transporting items to the Westin Bellevue. Strong arms and a larger vehicle would be great!
Preview Week volunteers – many hands make light work for preview week! Help us set up items for families to preview, sell raffle tickets, maybe run an errand or two…
Memento Photo assembler – we love creating a keepsake for our Auction attendees. Can you help assemble these special photo frames?
Photographer volunteers (no professional camera or experience needed!)

Reach out to

Social Chair

PARENTS' CLUB

Parent's Club is looking for a organized parent. This person will oversee all social events associated with Parents' Club. Please, reach out to Sara Jordan, syjordan03@gmail.com for more information.

Parish

Christmas Eve

4PM English mass in the church

(overflow set up in the hall if needed)

8PM English Lifeteen mass in the church

(overflow set up in the hall if needed)

Christmas Day

10AM English Mass in the church

(overflow set up in the hall if needed)

Noon Spanish mass in the church

(overflow set up in the hall if needed)

Please note that Christmas is on a Sunday this year so we will remove the following Masses from the weekend schedule:

no 5PM Saturday night Mass
no 9AM Sunday Mass
no 11AM Sunday bilingual Mass
no 1PM Spanish Sunday Mass
no 5PM Lifeteen Sunday Mass

A Message from Father Gary

Dear Parishioners,

Thursday, December 8, is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She is the patroness for the United States of America, and so this feast is important not only for Catholics throughout the world, but also especially for all of us who live in this great country of ours. If we lived in a Catholic country, this feast would be a national holiday. It is, for all Catholics, a Holy Day of Obligation, because on this day we profess our belief that Mary, at her conception, was given the same grace that we are given at Baptism. She was preserved from the stain of original sin to prepare her to be the worthy mother of the Son of God – so that, through him, we could have that same stain washed away at Baptism. These truths are so important to our salvation that we are all obligated to attend Mass on this day.

What are we saying, when we say that December 8 is a Holy Day of Obligation? Basically, that is just as important to attend Mass on that day (and other Holy Days of Obligation) as it is to attend Sunday Mass. It is “our duty and our salvation,” as we hear in the preface of almost every Mass. As with Sunday Mass, things like sickness, an unavoidable work schedule, etc. may prevent you from attending; however, everyone should make every effort to attend. If it truly is not possible for you to attend through no fault of your own, I strongly encourage you to at least view one of our Masses (our livestream Masses are recorded, so you can view them at a time that works for you).

I would love to see our Masses so full that we need to add another Mass for next year. Come! Let us together celebrate, with joy, this great mystery of our salvation!

Fr. Gary Zender