Weekly Newsletter
11.22.2023
Happy Thanksgiving!
Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful Thanksgiving!
We are grateful to the many families and individuals (listed below) who have donated to the Annual Tiger Fund during this current school year.
The following donor roll reflects gifts and pledges received:
July 1, 2023 - November 22nd, 2023
If you have not had the chance, please take this opportunity to make a tax-
deductible gift to this year's Tiger Fund to support all the students of St. Catherine.
Chris and Jill Acker
Stephen and Lisa Anacker
Steven and Monique Alkire
Brian and Jodie Anderson
Matt and Melissa Anderson
Rob and Julie Anderson
Jennifer Arthur
Debi and Mark Backstrom
Allie and Chris Bailey
Leslie Barich
Erin and Jeremy Bartram
Hannah Beighle
James and Annie Bell
Keely and Michael Bell
Kathleen Seltzer and Eric Berge
Joe Binder and Katie Steffl
*Rose and Aaron Blankers
Jeff and Mariana Boden
Anthony and Esther Bolante
Lily Silva and Nick Bolthouse
Houston and Mary Bradley
Craig and Ariel Bradley
Jessica Bratrude and Mark Braseth
Nathan and Emily Brauer
*Ryan and Lisa Brennan
Andrew and Katie Brewer
Robert Murray and Josie Briggs
Emily Budinich
Michael Buschmann
Anna and Steven Calcagno
Mark and Katherine Caldwell
Adam and Megan Callow
Hannah Capinpin
Brian Carlson
Caleb and Erica Cates
Keliikai Castillo and Tricia Soares
Brian Cheung and Alice Kim
*Todd and Jaclyn Christianson
*Terri and David Chudzik
Clara Cimino
Katie and Jason Clack
Katherine and Jamie Clark
Sarah Coglianese
Lynn Colella
Emma and Brent Conley
Dieu and Mark Conrad
Marc and Katie Cote
Kathy Cox
Kate Friedenbach and Paul Currier
Agnes Ravion Daout
Angela Doyle
*Caitlin and David Dill
Gretchen and Daniel Dill
Tom Doggett
Tarrie Eckhart
*Scot Eckley and Devin Fitzpatrick
Ben Eisman
Jana and Brian Ellingwood
Beth and Martyn Ellis
Caitlin Elsner
Mike and Jodi Elsner
Aaron Pederson and Stephanie R Euzebio
Erin and Matthew Evans
Courtney and Christopher Farah
Priscilla and Jeremy Fellows
Mercedes Cantisano and Martin Fernunson
Maria and Troy Finlayson
*Dennis and Karen Fitzpatrick
Kari Frizzell
*Jason and Lauren Garfield
Kosta Gennaios
David Gent
Katherine and Blake Golden
Jon and Kim Gonzales
Evan and Lauren Gordon
Liz and Frank Grant
Samantha Hallock
Heather Heinzen
Karin and Dave Herman
Steve and Betsy Hill
Jim Hochstein and Ivy Wong
Chris Hollis and Tanya Zagumenov
James and Maggie Hoy
George Hsieh and Olha Bilobran
Alain and Julia Huynh
Hank and Jennifer Jacky
Nick and Courtney Juhl
Grace and Garrett Kaiser
Larry Spyridis and Constance Katsandres
Hadley Kelly
Lauren and Garrett Kelly
Beth and Dylan Kilpatric
Tim and Bethany King
*Marjorie and David Korkowski
Adrienne and Matt Kortas
Tom and Cyndi Kuder
*Richard Kreisberg and Jennifer Cullmore
Edith and Brendan Lang
Ann and Trenton Lipscomb
Mike and Kristin Litke
Dakota Malberg-Loen
Chris and Lori Low
Vincent and Amanda Lucero
Brendan and Leanne Lynch
Michael Lufkin and Erin Hawkinson
Dorian and Merrill Manza
Richard and Marissa Maloney
Corina Matson and Justin Walden
Liz and John Mares
Julia and David Marks
Joseph Matthew and Gale Sebastian
John and Tammy Matusak
David Mayer and Wendy Rychwalski
Marcus and Aline Milanez
Blair and Brian Mills
Joshua and Lauren McCaffrey
Casey and Nicole McCoy
Brianna and Nathan McDonald
Caitlin and Craig McGrath
Joanna and Jay McGrew
Kristi and Tim McQuillan
Shawna and Frank Molitor
Malia and Alex Morrison
Sean and Jill Murphy
*Francine Shammami and George Murray
Jen and Dave Muzia
*Chris and Noelle Nelson
Sean O’Neill and Lissa Krawczyk
Erin O’Donnell
Nicole Pattamanuch
Lissa Payne
Scott and Diana Pearson
Aaron Pederson and Stephanie R. Euzebio
Mary and Kerry Person
*Aaron and Kariss Peterson
Dave and Siobhan Piechowski
Reece and Kendra Powell
Rabiatu Abdulai Baba and Justice Quame-Amaglo
Suzanne Richmond
Michele and Aaron Rimmer
Elizabeth and Neal Rudd
Herbert Sauro and Holly Sawyer
Jenny Seay
*Carl and Kelly Sens
Greg Schell
*Matt Schemmel and Sarah Korkowski
Phyllis Schemmel
Jamie and Jessica Scola
John Schwager
Michael Schwager and Maria Agapova
Jeff and Bree Sievers
Adam and Tanya Smith
Josh and Erica Snow
Stimson Munasque and Christine Soriano
Clare and Nick Spano
Scott and Heidi Stender
Emma Summer
Charles and Paige St-Pierre
Jordan and Karen Talge
Lilla C. Talge
Edward and Shannon Thompson
Teresa Thornton
Maddie and Michael Tremain
Nick and Christine Tubb
Sharath Udupa and Savitha Swaminathan
Joseph & Allison Vallinski
Geoff and Ashley Van Dragt
Charlotte and Chris Van Hollebeke
*Brad Vieau and Madelyn Sheldon
Cathy Wagner
Carlos and Yvonne Walker
Mark and Tracy Waterman
Jason and Katherine Wax
Mary and Guy Welch
Darcie and Alex Wells
Katie and Jake Wham
Clay and Elena White
Margaret and Steve White
Mary White
Devin and Marissa Williams
*Alison and Kirby Winfield
Tiffany Lundeen and Michael Wilson
Alexis and Nolan Wood
Gloria Youngblood and Thomas Nemeth
* Indicates $1000 donation and above
Thank YOU from your St. Catherine School Family.
If you have made a donation to the STC Tiger Fund and you do not see your name
please contact the development office.
SVDP Give Drive
Between now and November 30th, please help support families in our North Seattle neighborhood who are in need this holiday season.
Preschool - 4th Grade: Gift Wrap Drive
We need to assemble gift wrapping kits, one for each family that SVDP is helping with Christmas gifts. Items for the kits should be new and unopened, except when larger packaging is broken down to smaller units.
Please have your child bring to their classroom one of the following items:
- Non-religious gift wrap. It can have a general holiday or children’s theme, but should avoid religious wording or symbols. This is to avoid offending non-Christian families we serve.
- Small bag of stick on bows OR one roll of ribbon
- Gift tags
- Scotch Tape
5th - 8th Grades: Food Drive
We need non-perishable foods that haven’t passed their expiration dates. Popular canned items include: Soups, chili, fruit, tuna, chicken, ready to eat pasta. Some of our neighbors are homeless and for them cans that open with a pull-tab are better than ones that require a can opener. We can also use peanut butter, applesauce, granola bars, breakfast cereal.
Non-food items are also important because they cannot be purchased with SNAP (food stamp) benefits. This includes: toilet paper, toothbrushes and toothpaste, hand soap, paper towels.
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, November 22nd
Noon Dismissal Day for All Students
No After School Extended Care
No Full Day or PM Pandas Preschool Program
Thursday, November 23rd & Friday, November 24th
No School for All Students - Happy Thanksgiving!
Christmas Program
As noted on the calendar, the Christmas Program will now take place on Wednesday, December 13th at 6:30pm.
From the School Office
Lost & Found
Is your child missing a jacket, lunch box, water bottle or sweatshirt? The lost and found is overflowing with many unclaimed items. Please come check out the lost and found located in the gym foyer the next time you are on campus. Any unclaimed uniforms will be given to the used uniform sale and all other items will be donated to Goodwill in the next upcoming weeks.
Yearbook Photos Needed
Attention Parents! The Yearbook staff needs your help. Please send any pictures you take throughout the school year to yearbook@stcatherineschool.net to be included in the yearbook. This year, we are excited to include a Summer Adventures page! Please send us pictures of your student or family during the summer of 2023. As always, we need your help documenting out of school events like CYO Sports, Harvest Festival, and eventually things like Ski Bus and the Christmas Program. Thank you for your help!
Tuition Assistance Program 2024-2025
The tuition assistance process for the 2024-2025 school year has begun - the application officially opened 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 2024-2025 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, 2023. 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.
Auction Planning
Auction planning is in full swing! Volunteers, we need you!
Are you interested in working with your kids' classrooms to create a masterpiece? Please reach out to auction@stcatherineschool.net if you would like to lead a Classroom Project that will be available to bid on at the St.Catherine Auction in April 2024.
Volunteering at St. Catherine School
Calling any builders/woodworkers!
St. Catherine's music program is in desperate need of choir risers! If you are interested in building choir risers our school can use for performances, assemblies, and other events please contact Ava Jones at ajones@stcatherineschool.net.
Safe Environment Program
The Archdiocese of Seattle requires all school volunteers to take part in the Safe Environment Program, through VIRTUS, in three ways. In order to be a Safe Environment approved volunteer you need to:
- Register at http://www.virtusonline.org/virtus/
- Read and approve policies
- Complete a background check
- Take the Introductory class, Protecting God's Children
All components of the Safe Environment Progam MUST BE COMPLETED before volunteering in any capacity at St. Catherine School.
If you have any questions about the Safe Environment Program or the requirements, please contact Charlotte Van Hollebeke at cvanhollebeke@stcatherineschool.net
Parish News
Partners in the Gospel Update
In response to your feedback during our summer sessions at our church and online, a new family of parishes has been proposed by the archdiocesan Partners in the Gospel Team.
The new family proposal includes the churches and schools of Our Lady of the Lake, Saint Bridget, Assumption, and Saint Catherine of Siena. Many of you expressed the desire to be placed into a different family than you were originally proposed to be in. Please continue the conversation!
The new family configuration is still a recommendation. Once more, your prayerful conversation and feedback will determine our future. Please attend a second parish wide listening and prayer session on December 9th, 2023, after the Saturday 5:00 pm Vigil Mass, in Victoria Hall. Please RSVP HERE to help us plan attendance for note takers and refreshments.
St. Vincent de Paul Holiday Program
Thanksgiving Meals for Neighbors in Need
The SVDP Holiday Program is serving 25 neighborhood families this year. A grocery
voucher will be given to each family to plan, shop, and prepare a meal of their choice.
The voucher will be worth $30 per member; a family of four will receive a $120
voucher. Will you please help by feeding one family or contributing what you can? We
appreciate early donations so families have adequate time to plan and shop.
Please make checks to the SVDP Holiday Program and place them in the collection basket or mail them to the parish office:
814 NE 85th Street
Seattle WA, 98115
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.