Principal Update

Dear STC Parents,

It’s been a fun and full season here at STC—rich with opportunities for our community to come together! From the amazing Newsies musical performances, to our beautiful Grandparents and Grandfriends Mass and lunch, to the creativity blooming through class auction projects, the energy of the Jog-a-thon, and so much more, we’ve truly felt the joy of being in community.

As we continue our Lenten journey, our students have been thoughtful and intentional, keeping the meaning of this sacred season at the heart of their actions and reflections. With Trimester 3 now underway, classrooms are buzzing with new learning and fresh enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, as the parishes in our Family work together to continue navigating Partners in the Gospel, efforts are being made to form a Facilities Committee for the entire parish Family. If you’re interested in serving in this way, please reach out to Torrie Smith, our Director of Operations, at tsmith@neseattlecatholic.org.

Wishing you all a joyful start to spring as we look ahead to the hope and renewal of Easter!

Warmly,

Kathy Cox
Principal

A huge thank you to the incredible student cast of our Newsies musical production! Your talent, dedication, and hard work were truly inspiring—we are so proud of you.

We are also deeply grateful to our amazing drama co-directors, Ms. Jones and Ms. Clara, whose time, passion, and unwavering commitment brought this show to life in such a meaningful way.

To the many parents who supported this production in a million small (and not-so-small!) ways—thank you. And finally, thank you to all the families and students who came out to enjoy the show and support our drama program. Your presence means the world.

We are thrilled to announce a new partnership with Seattle University through their Catholic Schools Teacher Corps (CSTC) program. This initiative, launched in collaboration with The Ferry Family Charitable Foundation, the Fulcrum Foundation, and the Office for Catholic Schools, supports aspiring Catholic school educators as they pursue their Master of Education at Seattle University while serving in local Catholic schools.

As part of our commitment to supporting this mission, St. Catherine will provide community housing in the Siena Center, similar to what we previously offered for the University of Portland’s PACE program. The CSTC program covers tuition, offers shared housing (in groups of 4–8), and provides a modest living stipend to participants.

Educators in this program are required to live in the provided community housing and will be placed in Catholic schools to both teach and support essential staffing needs.

We are so excited to be part of this mission to form and support the next generation of Catholic school teachers!

After a thoughtful search for our next front office assistant, we are thrilled to welcome Tali Malott to the team. Tali brings a wealth of experience and already knows our community well as a current parent. Her wide-ranging skills and warm presence will be a wonderful addition to our busy front office. We’re so excited to have her as part of our daily school operations—welcome, Tali!

As Mrs. Lynch prepares for her maternity leave at the end of the school year, we are pleased to welcome Lisa Lanctot as her long-term substitute. Lisa brings many years of teaching experience, most recently in the Mercer Island School District. She will begin on May 19, working alongside Mrs. Lynch to get to know the students and routines of 3rd grade. In the fall, she’ll start the year with the class and stay through Christmas break. Welcome, Lisa!

We’re also excited to officially announce that Ms. Clara Cimino will be stepping into a new role next year as our Librarian/Middle School Religion/Math Support teacher. Fresh off the completion of her master’s degree, Ms. Cimino is ready to bring her energy and skills to this multifaceted position—and don’t worry, she’ll still be co-directing our drama productions!

We’re happy to welcome Avery Hamby as our new 3rd Grade Instructional Assistant. With a long-term sub in place for the fall, Avery will support 4th grade and while Ms. Shawna will swap to assist in 3rd grade. Around mid-year, she’ll transition fully into the 3rd grade IA role. Avery brings great experience working with children and is thrilled to be joining the STC community.

Lastly, we are pleased to share that Michael Gates has joined us as our full-time campus custodian. Since starting a couple of weeks ago, he has already made a big impact in keeping our campus looking fantastic. We’re so grateful to have him on board—welcome, Michael!

• ParentEd Talk with Joe Newman From Chaos to Calm:
  Compassionate Discipline for Spirited Kids | Apr. 1, 2025 12:00 PM-1:00 PM Register here.

No updates at this time.

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.

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.