Weekly Newsletter

Mr. Tom will be hosting a Zoom drop-in tomorrow for parents who wish to check in with him about their child(ren). Link will be open from 7:30-8:15 pm: Zoom Link

Cake walk

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0849ACA82AA1FEC16-45016495-harvest#/

Chili

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0849ACA82AA1FEC16-45016526-harvest#/

Harvest Festival volunteers

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0849ACA82AA1FEC16-45016554-harvest#/

Please join us on Thursday, November 14th from 6:00-7:00pm in Victoria Hall at St. Catherine School for an In-Person Parent Education night with Dr. James Knight.

James Knight is an educator, coach/mentor, consultant, author, itinerant speaker/teacher, and equity and inclusion strategist. Much of his work revolves around leading with humility and partnering with other leaders to build dynamic and inclusive communities/spaces where people collaborate, innovate, and engage in fearless dialogue.

As an author, James has written numerous books and his latest release is entitled Heart: A Journey Toward Cultural Humility. This book is a manual and guide for any leader, student, or person looking to develop greater awareness and increase their emotional and cultural intelligence.

James’ passion is people and he sees himself as a servant-leader. His personal mission by which he does everything is “education + empowerment = elevation.” James’ number one goal in everything he does is to elevate those he serves through education and inspiration.

A quick reminder about Halloween costumes at school: No inflatable costumes, no masks, no fake weapons, no fake blood, no gore. Costumes should be appropriate for the school environment

and students should be able to comfortably navigate the school day. Thanks!

It’s Book Fair time! The PaperPie Learning book fair will be open in the Learning Commons Wed Oct 30 – Fri Nov 1 during conferences. Shop a selection of Usborne and Kane Miller chapter books, non-fiction, activities, puzzles, holiday items, and SmartLab Toy’s STEAM activities! 50% of all sales will benefit the St. Catherine School Library and classrooms!

Want to get a sneak peek and start shopping early? Go to the eFair at: https://paperpie.com/brandpartner/L3466/event/4038202 to order online and books will ship to you! See you at the book fair!

October is National Animal Safety and Protection Month as well as the month of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of Animals. Our Middle School Leadership Elective is starting a drive for the Seattle Humane Society to help the pets get the food and care they need. They are looking for various kinds of dog and cat food, pet toys, paper bags, food bowls, litter boxes, and so much more. With your help, we can give these pets what they need to live the best life possible.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Jones at ajones@stcatherineschool.net! Donations will be accepted until October 29th.

Did you miss picture day or want to take a new picture? Retake day is quickly approaching. If we did not see you on picture day or you would like a new image, Dorian Studio will be taking pictures at St. C's again on Wednesday, November 6th. Do not miss out on ordering pictures of your student!

Orders may be placed online by searching for "St. Catherine School" at mydorian.com and selecting the green Order button next to the retake date of Wednesday, November 6th. Online orders are available up to 2 days after retake day.

If you already ordered and want a new picture taken, please email Amanda in the office to be added to the list for the day, and be sure to bring the original picture packet to school on retake day.

Disney’s Newsies JR. is playing at St. Catherine School from [27, March 2025] through [29, March 2025] at 7pm, 7pm, 11am, and 7pm. The inspiring 60-minute musical, designed for middle school-aged performers, is based on the 1992 Disney film Newsies and the 2012 Broadway production of the same name. The program is open to 4th - 8th grade students led by Miss Clara and Ms. Jones!

It’s time to carry the banner with Disney’s Newsies JR.! You’ll be doing flips for the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of young newsies in Manhattan. When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsies’ expense, Jack rallies young workers from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what's right! Adapted especially for young performers, this musical features a Tony Award®-winning score by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award® winner Harvey Fierstein, and includes rousing songs like “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day,” and “King of New York.” Newsies JR. is packed with nonstop thrills and a timeless message perfect for the whole family and every audience.

Auditions: Thursday, December 12th & Friday, December 13th

ON STAGE: $180* for Cast T-Shirt and Theater program support

*1/2 price for 2nd/3rd child in a family

CREW: $100 for Cast T-Shirt and Theater program support:

Payment Plans Available! Please reach out to Kathy Cox or Amanda Lucero for more information.

Disney’s Newsies JR. is presented through special arrangement with and all materials are provided by Music Theatre International. For more information about licensing Newsies JR. or other Disney shows, please visit www.DisneyMusicals.com.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email Miss Clara Cimino (ccimino@stcatherineschool.net) or Ms. Ava Jones (ajones@stcatherineschool.net) for more information. Now is the time to Seize the Day!

The tuition assistance process for the 2025-2026 school year 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 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.

Hello Boarders and Skiers! We're excited to kick off the Annual St. Catherine Ski Bus.

Key Details:

- Who: St. Catherine Students Middle School Grades 6-8 (Please note, there are a limited number of spots. We will prioritize by grade, starting with 8th grade, and fill accordingly)

- Experience Level: All (beginners to experts)

- Type: Ski or Board

- Dates: Friday nights: Jan 10, 24, 31; Feb 7, 21, 28

- Time: Bus departs right after school and returns around 10:00-10:30 pm

- Where: Alpental Ski Area up at the Summit

- Transportation: A charter bus through Puget Sound Coach Lines

- Lessons: Lessons are required and go from 5:15 to 7:15 for 5 weeks with free skiing after. The last night is free ski/board.

Learn more and confirm your interest by 5pm on November 6th using this link: https://forms.gle/M86HZ27xFkt7bNKp9

If you have additional questions, please reach out to Aaron Rimmer at AaronRimmer@gmail.com.

Registration is now open for 4th through 8th grade basketball. Practice will begin in late October. The first games will be the weekend of November 9, and the season runs through mid-January. Teams practice twice a week at Victoria Hall, and games are scheduled for Saturdays and Sundays. Please use the following link to register your player: https://www.teamsideline.com/sites/seattlecyo/current-programs.

More information on our Intramural Program for 1st through 3rd grade will follow soon.

If you have any questions, please contact Marc Cote at cote.marc@gmail.com.

Welcome to Act Up!’s Drama Club at St. Catherine School! Open to students in grades K-3. We will meet Mondays, November 4th – March 24th from 3:15-4:15 PM and an extended final class (and performance) on March 31st from 3:15-5:15 PM.

In this class series, students will create and cast themselves as a character they’ve created from their very own imaginations. Together the students will fit each of the characters into a world premiere play which will be performed for family and friends at the end of the class series.

Act Up! offers high quality training for young actors. Our focus is to empower our students to reach their full potential in every area of their lives, not just create better actors. In Drama Club students use improv and scripted theatre to learn how to better express themselves. They will increase their self-confidence, practice working with others as part of a collaborative team, expand their capacity for empathy and compassion, and most importantly have FUN.

HOW DO I SIGN UP? Sign up is fast, easy! Simply go the Act Up!’s website and click on “Student Sign Up” or use this direct link: https://actuptogether.com/student-sign-up

PAYMENTS Cash, Venmo, Checks and Credit/Debit Cards are all accepted. Simply go the Act Up!’s website and click on “Pay for a Class” or use this direct link:

https://actuptogether.com/pay-for-a-class

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. We look forward to working with you and your child(ren)!

Sincerely,

Logan Mecklenburg

Creative Director & Teaching Artist

For the 20th consecutive year, the women of the ACC Marjorie Ryan Circle will be delivering locally grown mixed noble fir wreaths and garland from Hood Canal Evergreens to St. Catherine School and Parish. All profits directly benefit the charitable organizations that Advocacy and Caring for Children supports.

Remember to order for your friends and family this holiday season. We truly appreciate your annual orders and we are happy to bring a little tradition and joy to the Christmas season. Thank you for sharing our vision, and helping us carry out Advocacy and Caring for Children’s 106-year tradition of service and compassion in the greater Seattle area.

You’ll find our order form below. Please return order forms and/or checks to the school office, by US Mail, or email by November 12th. Payments can be made by check or Venmo (@accwreathsale). Orders will be delivered to the St. Catherine parking lot and be ready for pick-up the week before Thanksgiving on Wednesday, November 20th between 11:30-3:30. Questions? Gayle Kaplan gayle@kaplan1.com or (206) 714-9258.

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.