Weekly Newsletter

Registration for the Summer 2025 program will be opening soon. This year we will offer 2 programs:

1. Current Preschool & PreK students

2. Rising 1st-4th Grade Students

Be on the look-out for more information in the coming weeks right here in the Weekly Newsletter.

St. Catherine School families are set up on a rolling admissions schedule. Existing K-7 families who will "opt out" for the 2025-2026 school year must notify the school by filling out the opt-out form by January 10, 2025. Parents can access the opt-out form via their FinalSite Parent Portal, located in the Optional Checklist section. Notice of families not returning for the following school year after the January 10, 2025 date will be charged the non-refundable $250/child registration fee.

Our next Parent Ed Speaker on January 16th at 12pm PST is Edward (Ned) Hallowell, M.D. who is a board-certified child and adult psychiatrist and world authority on ADHD. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Tulane Medical School, and was a Harvard Medical School faculty member for 21 years. He is the founder of The Hallowell ADHD Centers in Boston MetroWest, New York City, San Francisco, Palo Alto and Seattle.

Dr. Hallowell has spent the past four decades helping thousands of adults and children live happy and productive lives through his strengths-based approach to neurodiversity, and has ADHD and dyslexia himself.

Winter MAP Testing begins Tuesday 1/14/25 and goes through the end of the month. Makeups will take place throughout the testing period. Students in 1st-8th grades will take the math test and students in 1st-5th grade will also take the reading test. Data from MAP tests is important for monitoring student progress, assessing growth, and providing instruction that continues to meet individual student needs. You will not receive a report with your child's winter MAP test scores, but will see these scores included on the report sent in Spring 2025 after spring testing.

Please help make sure your child gets a good night's rest the night before each test and a filling breakfast that morning. 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. Email Ms. Elsner (celsner@stcatherineschool.net) if you have any questions.

2nd-8th Grade Math - Tue 1/14-Wed 1/15

1st Grade Math - Tue 1/21-Wed 1/22

1st Grade Reading - Tue 1/28 and Fri 1/31

2nd-5th Grade Reading - varies by class, week of 1/20

Date: Saturday, February 8th, 2025

Time: 5:00 - 8:30 PM

Location: St. Catherine Gym - Victoria Hall

To attend your child must be at fully potty trained and able to use the bathroom by themselves.

Use the button below to register:

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. 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!

We are reaching for the stars and Soaring to New Heights! We need YOU to help us get there!

It's time to contribute exciting auction items that will help us soar to new possibilities for our school. Your generous donations make a huge impact — we can’t do it without you!

Aim high! Think of fun experiences - special dinners, sports tickets, vacation homes.

Be Creative: Have a hidden talent, craft, or connection? Offer something that reflects the spirit and energy of our school. Your creative and generous donations make all the difference!

Mark Your Calendar: All donations need to be submitted by March 8th.

With your help, we can elevate our fundraising efforts and continue to provide an outstanding educational experience for all our students. Let’s make this year’s auction truly take flight!

We can’t wait to see the amazing items you’ll donate! The Sky's the limit!

Donate today! | Sponsor Today!

MINECRAFT MODDING
Grades 3-5
Mon, 3:15 PM-4:15 PM
Jan 13 - Mar 31
no class on Jan 20, Feb 17
$259 / 10-week session

Calling all Minecrafters! Join us in this course to build Minecraft mods (modifications) while learning coding. With a drag-and-drop coding environment, students learn coding concepts, such as Variables, Conditionals, and Loops. They apply the concepts to personalize the game with custom world maps, new items, chat commands, and mini-games! It will be an exciting journey of coding and creativity!

REGISTRATIONS: www.codingwithkids.com/session/71386

LITTLE CODERS: MINECRAFT MODDING
Grades 1-2
Tue, 3:15 PM-4:15 PM
Jan 14 - Apr 1
no class on Feb 18
$285 / 11-week session

Unleash your creativity while customizing your beloved game, Minecraft! In this course, students will learn fundamental coding concepts like Sequence and Loops. They'll apply these skills to create exciting projects, such as building their own zoo, aquarium, dazzling diamond house, and even code a magic wand. Get ready to embark on a journey to code your very own Minecraft mods!

REGISTRATIONS: www.codingwithkids.com/session/71385

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

This Saturday January 11th @ 6:00PM in Victoria Hall

All current sophomore and juniors are encouraged to participate in the summer service trip to Tijuana July 27 - August 5th with Esperanza International.

Students will learn about Mexican culture and participate in the building of homes. Esperanza envisions a world in which communities across borders work in solidarity toward a common dream of sustainable, dignified housing for all people.

Contact St C volunteer Katie Fleming for more trip info kjfleming1239@gmail.com or 206-354-5161. Check out www.esperanzaint.org for program details.

Registration for BBHS Summer Camps is open! Thanks for spreading the word about BBHS Summer Camps in your networks and communities beyond Bishop Blanchet. Check out the BBHS Camps website for full class descriptions and camp schedules, but here are a few:

• Athletic Camps - various weeks in June and August - including cross country, cheer (K-8), basketball, flag football, freshman football, lacrosse, soccer, and volleyball.

• Discovery Learning Camp - August 11-14 - a full-day immersive experience where students choose from 3 class sessions - options such as STEM, art, music, social justice, outdoor activities, and more.

• Musical Theatre Camp - August 18-21 - students study singing, dancing, and acting while rehearsing a few theatrical production numbers, culminating in a final performance on the last day.

• Middle School and Incoming Freshman Study Skills Camp - August 4-7 and 11-14

These camps are a great way for young athletes to learn new skills, build confidence, and experience the welcoming community at Bishop Blanchet.

Families can register and find more details on our website: Bishop Blanchet Athletics Camps.

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.