Hello St. Catherine Preschool-8th Grade Families,

This year is the kickoff of our two-year accreditation process through the Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA). As the start of the self-study process, we are gathering feedback in the form of surveys and other data. Your participation and feedback are greatly appreciated, even if this is your first year at our school. The self study is based on a model of continuous improvement and will ultimately contain school-wide growth areas complementing our Strategic Plan to guide the next six years of school improvement. The accreditation process will culminate with a three-day accreditation committee site visit February 10-12, 2026. Thank you for your participation in this process.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS SURVEY. PLEASE COMPLETE BY 10/5/2024.

This year, our Tiger Fund Campaign Leaders are excited to help host a special party for the class with the highest participation in the Tiger Fund Campaign! A huge thank you to the Kuder family for helping us kick off this year’s campaign with a “popping” good start. Together, we can demonstrate the Power of Participation!

We are truly grateful to all who have already made their pledge to the Tiger Fund. Your continued support and generosity fuel the strength of the STC community. To reach our goal of 100% participation, we need everyone’s involvement.

Please remember, all pledge forms are due by October 18th. Thank you in advance for investing in our students and their bright futures!

The Kuder family, Tom, Cyndi, Lily (6th grade) and Annie (5th grade), are privileged to be this year’s annual Tiger Fund Campaign Leaders. Please read a message from the Kuder family here.

Our Tiger Fund goal for the 2024-25 school year is $75,000 and 100% participation by all school families. No gift is too small. Remember, participation in the Annual Tiger Fund is part of the school contract signed by all school families. Please remember to look into a matching gift from your company and watch your dollars double, even triple! View our Matching Funds Guide here.

You can donate through FinalSite by filling out the pledge form here or by credit card here. Thank you in advance for your generosity!

FORWARD TOGETHER! HEAR THE ROAR!

The tuition assistance process for the 2025-2026 school year will open on October 1st. If you think that your family may be in need of financial aid for next school year, please complete an application. Tuition assistance is available for Kindergarten-8th Grade students only.

The entire process is completed online through FACTS. All applications are first reviewed by the Fulcrum Foundation, a fundraising arm of the Archdiocese. Once Fulcrum determines their assistance awards, then the St. Catherine Tuition Assistance Committee will review the applications and distribute financial aid for the 2025-2026 school year. Some families may qualify for assistance from both the Fulcrum Foundation and the St. Catherine program, but only one application is submitted.

The application deadline is December 31st, 2024. This is a firm deadline - all completed applications AND required tax documentation must be submitted by this date for consideration. You can access the application here. And FACTS charges a $35 application fee.

If you have any questions about the process or application, feel free to email Kathy Cox or you can access the FAQ page on the Fulcrum Foundation website here.

Our counselor, Mr. Tom, teaches a Social-Emotional curriculum in the primary grades called Roots of Empathy. It is a unique program that uses a baby and caregiver as "teachers," helping kids gain empathy through learning about taking care of the baby. Mr. Tom is seeking a parent and 2-4 month old baby who would be interested in volunteering once monthly as the centerpiece of the curriculum.

Please let Mr. Tom know if you are a new parent, or know someone who is, who would be interested in participating. This is a unique and very affirming experience! The commitment works out to approximately once monthly, for 40 minutes, over the course of the entire school year.

At Ordo Lunch we are on a mission to make our next menu even more awesome, and we need your help. Parents, please fill out the Ordo survey that went out recently. Your feedback really helps us whip up some tasty changes! Here’s the link to the survey.

Thanks for your support!

Fall MAP Testing began last week and goes through the first week of October. Makeups will take place throughout the testing period. Students in 2nd-8th grades will take these tests in reading, math, and language. Data from MAP tests is important for monitoring student progress, assessing growth, and providing instruction that continues to meet individual student needs.

Please help make sure your child gets a good night's rest the night before each test and a filling breakfast that morning. Please see testing dates below. Please let your child's homeroom teacher know if your child will be absent, late, or leaving early on any of these days. Please let Ms. Elsner (celsner@stcatherineschool.net) know if you have any questions.

Math - Wed 9/18 and Thu 9/19

Reading - Mon 9/23 and Tue 9/24

Language - Thu 9/26 and Fri 9/27

Come Join us on Friday, September 27th at 6:00 p.m. for the kickoff parent event of the school year. It is a great way to meet everyone and hang out with the St. C’s community. The cost is $40 per person, and includes drinks, spaghetti dinner, and snacks. Registration closes tomorrow, Thursday at 12pm.

Bunco is a game that takes no skill. Plus we teach you the rules that night. There will even be some St. C’s trivia thrown in as well. So get you babysitters lined up, as this is an adult only event.

We look forward to hanging out and rolling dice!

If you have any questions please text or call Betsy Hill at 410-591-1053.

St. Catherine is pleased to announce an after-school academic support option for students in grades 2nd and 3rd! Parents may register their students to attend academic support from 3:15-4:00 PM on Tuesdays (starting 10/1). This is an opportunity for students to complete homework or class projects while receiving needed support from St. Catherine’s staff. The sessions will be facilitated by Ms. Cox and Ms. Elsner.

A Sign-up Genius will be sent out each month to indicate days you’d like your child to attend. Space will be limited so register early! Cost will be $14 per session and will be billed to your billing management account. The sign-up for October is here. The sign-up for November will be emailed to 2nd and 3rd grade parents on Monday 10/28, 3:30pm. Please contact Ms. Elsner if you have any questions.

Students in grades 6-8 are invited to join the St. Catherine Middle School Speech Team. Speech Team is a fun way to learn valuable public speaking and presentation skills. Members of the Speech Team compete against other Catholic and private schools at local Speech Tournaments throughout the winter months. Eith grade students can compete for high school scholarships at the hosting school.

Please join us for an information session on 10/1 at 7 pm via Zoom - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87213208510?pwd=2SBogaEmUU0GjMubMvgVweRuc6XQPw.1.

I will give a brief overview of the program and what you and your child can expect as a member of this team. Students who are new to the Speech Team will have their first practice on Wednesday, October 2nd from 2:30-3:30 pm.

I am also looking for parent volunteers to help coach the team. No previous experience is required.

Feel free to reach out to me at wendy.rychwalski@gmail.com with any questions.

Wendy Rychwalski

Speech Team Coach and Coordinator

LITTLE CODERS: INTRO TO CODING
Grades 1-2
Tue, 3:15 PM-4:15 PM
Oct 8 - Dec 10
$259 / 10-week session

Tailored for early readers, this course helps students boost their computational thinking while having fun with friends! Beginners learn coding basics like Loops and Conditions. Returning students tackle new challenges, such as debugging. All students build exciting games, stories, and animated characters.
REGISTRATION: www.codingwithkids.com/session/68915

ROBOTICS: INTRO TO CODING
Grades 3-5
Tue, 3:15 PM-4:15 PM
Oct 8 - Dec 10
$269 / 10-week session

In this course, students use visual programming to learn computational thinking and core coding concepts, such as code structure, variables, and loops. They apply these concepts to tackle mission challenges like obstacle avoidance, path following, and maze navigation.
REGISTRATION: www.codingwithkids.com/session/68916

AI: INTRO TO MACHINE LEARNING
Grades 6-8
Thu, 3:15 PM-4:15 PM
Oct 10 - Dec 12
no class on Oct 31, Nov 28
$209 / 8-week session

Discover how AI works by learning key AI and ML concepts such as neural networks, computer vision, and image recognition. You'll learn how to use modern AI tools effectively, like DALL-E, for tasks like generating images. You’ll create your own AI models that will be used to build Scratch projects, including video filters and touchless games.
REGISTRATION: www.codingwithkids.com/session/68917

QUESTIONS? Email Coding with Kids at info@codingwithkids.com

With the CYO soccer season underway, the CYO basketball season is just around the corner. Practice will start the second half of October. St. Catherine is still looking for coaches for the 4th grade girls, 7th grade girls, and 8th grade girls. If you are interested in coaching any of these teams, please contact basketball coordinator Marc Cote at cote.marc@gmail.com.

ParentEd Talk with Jonathan Haidt, social psychologist and author of “The Anxious Generation”
Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024
Noon–1 p.m. PT

Childhood itself has gone missing. As childhood migrated online in the early 2010s, rates of mental illness among US adolescents surged, and kids' daily opportunities to learn and play independently disappeared. But it's not too late to change.

Join ParentMap and St. Catherine School for an important virtual ParentEd Talk on Oct. 15 with renowned social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, author of “The Anxious Generation.”

What began with a book launch, The Anxious Generation has since transformed into a three-year campaign to reclaim childhood, inviting teens, parents, schools, tech and policy leaders to take collective action — from inside their own families and homes, at school, to the halls of Congress — all across the globe.

Whether you've already given your child a smartphone or you're trying to delay it, there's a role you can play to protect your children. Learn what’s happening to our kids and, more importantly, what we can do to help.

In celebration of St. Francis of Assisi feast day, we will be having a pet blessing for all our St. C pets! Please join Fr. Duc and the rest of the St. C school community on Friday, October 4th at 3:20pm on the plaza. Bring your cat, dog, fish or frog, or any friend you'd like to have blessed.

For the safety of others, please be sure your animal is socialized. All pets are to be leashed/contained, and please advise your child/ren to approach animals with caution.

An initial meeting for the parents and children interested in Sacramental Preparation will be held this Sunday, Sept. 29, from 9:15 AM to 10:15 AM. Children will meet in the church basement; the

Parent Orientation Meeting will begin at 9:30 AM in the school gym.

In addition, we are still seeking volunteers to help with children’s faith formation.

Middle school students are welcome to volunteer; service hours will be provided. Please

contact Ivy Wong at parenting105@gmail.com with any questions.

ST. PHOEBE FEAST DAY CELEBRATION

In honor of St. Phoebe's Feast Day on September 3rd, we will feature female reflectionists at all six Masses in our parish family on the weekend of October 5th and 6th. We extend our gratitude to the members of our Phoebe Circle, who are planning and organizing this event. The Phoebe Circle meets monthly to harness the inspiration sparked by St. Phoebe and to continue uplifting female voices in our community. If you have any questions or are interested in joining, please contact Liz Jackman via email.

October 5th, 6pm-8pm

St. Catherine School, Victoria Hall

Please come celebrate past and present St. C students who will be on the runway with many others who have special needs.

St. C's Dad Steve Hill from the Men’s Room is the emcee for the evening.

Tickets can be purchased via the link below.

https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6414367

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.