As we kick off the new school year, teachers and students will be honing their routines both in and out of the classroom. This practice is essential for setting the stage for a successful year. Similarly, classes might begin at a slower pace to help students transition back into school mode. This could involve a lighter homework load or a review of material in class. While this might initially feel a bit "easy" or "boring," it's all part of our strategy to ensure a strong start. Before long, we’ll be back into our regular rhythm and tackling exciting challenges ahead.

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 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. If the gate is closed, please continue moving around the block until the gate has been opened - do not wait on NE 85th St as this blocks traffic on Roosevelt Way NE.

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:

• One child families, please arrive at the school for pick-up at 3:10pm (2:25pm on Wed)
• Two or more child families, please arrive at the school for pick-up at 3:17pm (2:32pm on Wed)
• 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.

From now until Friday, September 22nd, please log into your Alma parent account and review your contact information. If you need to make changes, please do so now to ensure that the information on file is accurate.

Once logged into Alma, click on your initials in the upper right hand corner, and select "My Info." From there, you can update your contact information - phone number(s), email(s) and address(es). Please also verify, and update (if necessary) your child's emergency contact information.

Alma Directory: By opting into the directory in Alma your information will be shared with other parents who have also opted in, and you will be able to see theirs. In "My Info," you can toggle the little button in the section below your contact information to share your information with other parents.

Picture day information, online ordering, and the Dorian customer advocate team are all at your fingertips. Visit mydorian.com, search for "St. Catherine School - Seattle, WA", and click on the green order button or yellow help button associated with the September 17th picture day. Paper order forms are also available in the school office.

We are looking for 2 parent volunteers to help on picture day from 8:40am to 12pm. Duties include: being a runner to classrooms to get students for their picture timeslot, help keep kids in line and calm, assist photographer with student photos. If interested, please contact Amanda in the office.

Does your student need a quiet space to focus or the gift of time to complete homework?

St. C Study Hall for grades 4-8 will be held on Tuesdays & Thursdays in the church basement this year. Ms. Kelly will supervise and support.

Please turn in the attached form ASAP to reserve your spot! First session is Tuesday, September 17th.

Contact Ms. Kelly with any questions at hkelly@stcatherineschool.net.

Parent Club will be offering large cheese or pepperoni pizza slices for $3 a slice on Tuesdays from Zeeks Pizza and it's time to sign up!

This sign up is for the first half of the year (17 weeks) and will start on Tuesday Sept 17th. Please have your orders in by September 13th. We will have a second sign up for the remaining half of the school year towards December/January. A friendly reminder that your child may need some sides to go along with their pizza - we don’t want any hungry kiddos.

Click here to sign up: https://st-catherine-parent-club.square.site/product/pizza-tuesdays/59

Looking forward to being your pizza lady this year! Email Priscilla Fellows if you have any questions

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.

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!

Fall MAP Testing begins Wednesday 9/18 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. Next week, we will send the specific dates for testing within the testing window. 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.

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 are happening this week, and the first games of the season are this weekend 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!

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.

Registration is now open for enrolling children in First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion preparation for the 2024 – 2025 school year. To register, please complete the form found at https://stcatherineparish.net/first-sacraments-form-page.

Please contact Anakaren in the parish office at reception@stcatherineparish.net with any questions.

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.