Back to School Newsletter

We hope you had a fantastic summer and are feeling refreshed and ready for the new school year. As we kick off another exciting year of learning, growing, and discovering new things, we want you to know that we’re thrilled to have you back!

This year promises to be filled with opportunities to challenge yourselves, make new friends, and explore your passions. Remember, every day is a new chance to shine and make the most of your time here. Whether you’re stepping into a new grade or a new school, know that you’re part of a community that supports and believes in you.

Let’s make this year amazing together. Welcome back Tigers, and here’s to a fantastic school year ahead!

-St. Catherine Teachers & Staff

Please join us at our annual Back to School BBQ tomorrow, Thursday, August 29th!

We are so excited to welcome everyone to the 2024-2025 school year. A few details are below:

• The BBQ will run from 5:00-7:30pm at St. Catherine School in the plaza
• Teacher Meet & Greet: Classrooms will be open from 5-5:30pm to say hi to teachers and drop off school supplies (please no food or drink in the school buildings)
  
• Parent Club will provide hamburgers, hot dogs, sides, cookies, and beverages
• 8th Grade will be hosting the bar to raise funds for their DC trip
• Used Uniform Sale & Drop-off: There will be a used uniform sale set up at the BBQ & gently used uniforms will be accepted for drop-off (plaid items and sweatshirts only)

Below you will find volunteer opportunities - take a look and get started on your hours!

• Back to School BBQ: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0849ACA82AA1FEC16-50449089-back
  
• Welcome Back Coffee: we will reach out to all bakers on the baking list. If you would like to join the baking list, please fill out the volunteer interest form below!
• Volunteer Interest Form: https://forms.gle/PnDQwybZYUep1TJ2A

The Summer STC Sweatshirt order has arrived. You can pick up your order at the Back to School BBQ on Thursday, August 29th, starting at 5 p.m. or on the first day of school in the gym. We will also have some in-stock spirit gear items for sale. All purchases will be added to your Parent Portal billing management account.

Please read the family handbook at the start of each school year.

It is expected that each student and parent/guardian read the handbook and will make a sincere effort to comply with the regulations, and will support the values of St. Catherine School.

Once you have read the handbook with your child/ren, please log into your Parent Portal and complete the verification form for each of your children. This verification is to be completed by Friday, September 13th.

All Preschool families are also required to read the Preschool Parent Handbook and sign the appropriate handbook agreement in their Parent Portal.

Using your FinalSite Parent Portal, please complete the following back to school forms by Friday, September 13th:

• Family Handbook Agreement
• Preschool Handbook Agreement (Preschool families only)
• Technology Agreement
• Acceptable Use Consent
• Media Release Form
• Walking Field Trip Form
• Family Income Survey
• Extended Care Registration (if your K-8 child/ren needs before or after school care)
• Milk Form (if your child/ren wants milk for the school year)
• Student Walker Permission Slip (Grades 5th-8th)
• Field Trip Chaperone and Driver Agreement
• Volunteer Driver Form

We look forward to welcoming you and your children on September 3rd for the start of the year.

SCHOOL STARTS: September 3rd 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM - Drop your kiddo off for their first day of school. *Note: Noon Dismissal/No PM Pandas

REST OF THE FIRST WEEK: September 4th-6th

Normal School Schedule: Tigers 8:30 AM-3:10 PM & Lions 8:30 AM-12:30 PM

Slow Start: Cubs 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM

First Day of School: Tuesday, September 3, 2024 (Noon Dismissal)

Preschool Last Day of School: Thursday, June 12, 2025 (Noon Dismissal)

K-8 Last Day of School: Friday, June 13, 2025 (10:30am Dismissal, after Moving Up Mass)

The full calendar for the 2024-2025 school year, as well as the specific Preschool calendar, is available to print by clicking on the appropriate button below. Please note that dates are subject to change and any changes will be communicated in the Weekly Newsletter.

We are happy to welcome back Ordo as our hot lunch provider for the 2024-2025 school year.

Hot lunch service will begin on Wednesday, September 5th. The menu for the first week of school is now available. All orders for the following week must be placed by the Friday before so please be sure to order hot lunch for your kiddos by Friday, August 31st if they want hot lunch that first week of school.

Please help us keep our campus looking its best! We kindly ask that everyone stay out of the garden beds at all times and avoid walking on or disturbing the plants. Outside of school hours, please be sure you are monitoring your child/ren while on campus.

Additionally, let’s all do our part to keep the campus clean by disposing of trash properly and picking up any litter you might see. Your cooperation helps us maintain a pleasant and welcoming school community for everyone!

In an effort to maximum our use of space on campus, three classrooms have been relocated:

• 8th Grade HR classroom has moved to the church basement: Students will line up along the church wall in the plaza, but not in the stairwell, during morning drop-off
• 6th Grade HR classroom has moved to the MS portable (former 8th Grade classroom): Students will line up between the main school building and the MS portable during morning drop-off
• Spanish classroom has moved to the main school building on the second floor (former 6th grade classroom)

Registration for fall CYO soccer is now open! You can register your child by using this link: https://www.teamsideline.com/sites/seattlecyo/current-programs

Practices will be starting soon. First games are the first weekend of school so get registered today!

Calling all Tiger Cross Country Runners! Registration is now open on the CYO website ... click on the link below and scroll down to Cross Country:

Seattle CYO Athletics (teamsideline.com)

Practice this year will take place on Monday's right after school at Maple Leaf Park starting September 9th. The last practice will be the famous Slurpee run on October 7th. Practices will last from 3:20 until 4:20pm. Pick up and drop off from extended care will be available. We will have a second optional practice Wednesday evenings from 6pm - 7pm for 3rd - 8th graders.

Meets are on Sunday afternoons (time TBD depending on our pool) and will NOT interfere with CYO soccer games. Kids need to run in at least one of the first two meets in order to compete in the Ribbon Run/Championship Meet on October 6.

Meet 1 – September 22, 2024
Meet 2 – September 29, 2024

Meet 3 – October 6, 2024, K-3 & 4-8 Championship

Please get in touch with Dave Mayer at dmayer25@hotmail.com if you have any questions or are interested in helping to volunteer coach!

Summer is a great opportunity for students to relax, recharge...and review! Summer 2024 Learning Expectations for students currently in grades K-7 can be found here! If you have any questions, please email Ms. Elsner.

All summer work on IXL should be completed between June 15-September 2.

We have electives and PE running every afternoon and the parking lot needs to be available. In order to keep all students and staff safe, the gate will open and the cones will be moved at 3:05pm (2:20pm on Wednesdays). Please do not move the cones or open the gate. A staff member will do this, and at that time you may enter the parking lot.

Due to the updated bell schedule for this school year, students are in afternoon homeroom right up to 3:10pm (2:25pm on Wednesdays). Please expect your child/ren to be in the parking lot no earlier than 3:12pm.

A few other reminders to ensure a smooth afternoon dismissal:

• Do not block the driveway entrance. This backs up traffic on NE 85th St and on Roosevelt Way NE.
• If the carpool line is full, please pull into an open spot in the parking lot to wait for your child/ren.
  
• Please use the passing lane to exit the parking lot and do not turn left! Right turn only towards 8th Ave NE.

If your child/ren will be absent from school, please notify the school office at attendance@stcatherineschool.net, as well as your child's homeroom teacher, no later than 8:30am on the day of the absence. Advanced notification of the absence (2-3 days before) is also greatly appreciated. The safety of our students is our number one priority and the office will call home to verify the student's absence if a parent/guardian has not called or emailed.

If you know your child will be tardy due to a medical/dental/personal appointment, the office must be notified. A parent/guardian must accompany a tardy student in to the school office to sign them in for the day.

If your child/ren will be absent from school for 2 or more days of school, please complete a pre-planned absence form and send it to attendance@stcatherineschool.net at least 2 weeks prior to the absences.

Regular attendance is important to the success of our students. Normally, illness, medical appointments and family emergencies are the only acceptable form of excused absence.

It is a requirement that all students are up to date with their immunizations by the first day of school. You can find out about how to check your child's immunization records here. If you have any questions please contact Charlotte Van Hollebeke at cvanhollebeke@stcatherineschool.net.

Immunizations Exemptions Policy: The policy issued by the Office for Catholic Schools, which falls under the umbrella of the Archdiocese of Seattle, does not allow St. Catherine (and all other Catholic schools in the area) to accept immunization exemptions due to religious, personal, or philosophical reasons. The only exemptions we are permitted to accept are those for medical reasons, which must be authorized by a licensed physician.

Mission & Philosophy

St. Catherine of Siena Parish School is a welcoming, Christ-centered community, rooted in the Catholic faith and inspired by Gospel values. As an extension of the parish and with Jesus as our model, we are dedicated to lifelong growth in faith, love, and learning.

We recognize that the care and education of the child begins with the family and that parents are the primary educators of their children. In partnership with parents, we work to promote our students’ achievement and spiritual growth. Together we are committed to developing responsible, ethical leaders who think critically, act justly, communicate effectively, and serve willingly.

Vision

We are committed to providing a faith-filled, inclusive, and welcoming learning environment for all our students. Through our rigorous academic programs, our students will gain the cognitive, technological, and social skills necessary to become ethical, innovative leaders who successfully navigate the complex challenges of today’s world.