Weekly Newsletter

This week's class standings:

Kindergarten is still in the lead, with 37% participation

3rd Grade is in 2nd place, with 35% participation

And tied in 3rd place, 6th grade & 8th grade, with 34% participation each

This year, our Tiger Fund Campaign Leaders will help us host a party for the class with the highest participation percentage in this year's Tiger Fund Campaign. Thank you to the Kuder family for helping us kick off this year's campaign with a popping good time. There is Power Through Participation.

Thank you to all those who have already made your pledge to the Tiger Fund. We are grateful for the continued support and generosity of the STC community. We need everyone’s support to reach our 100% participation goal. All pledge forms are due by October 18th Thank you in advance for investing in our students.

The Kuder family, Tom, Cyndi, Lily (6th grade) and Annie (5th grade), are privileged to be this year’s annual Tiger Fund Campaign Leaders. Please read a message from the Kuder family here.

Our Tiger Fund goal for the 2024-25 school year is $75,000 and 100% participation by all school families. No gift is too small. Remember, participation in the Annual Tiger Fund is part of the school contract signed by all school families. Please remember to look into a matching gift from your company and watch your dollars double, even triple! View our Matching Funds Guide here.

You can donate through FinalSite by filling out the pledge form here or by credit card here. Thank you in advance for your generosity!

FORWARD TOGETHER! HEAR THE ROAR!

No study hall on Thursday, October 10th.

Please note the change to the Family Handbook with regard to Uniform Infractions:

All school staff monitor student appearance. If a student has a uniform infraction that can be corrected in 30 seconds or less (such as removing a non-uniform sweatshirt or hat), staff will simply remind the student to take off the item. However, for infractions that cannot be immediately corrected (such as wearing a skirt that is too short, pants or socks of the wrong color), parents will receive a notice from the St. Catherine uniform policy email address. The first email to a student's parents will serve as a warning, and a second communication, if necessary, will issue the infraction. This same email address will also send a reminder to a student's parents if a student will miss an upcoming non-uniform day due to the infraction. In any debatable or recurring situation, the school principal will make the final judgment.

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#/

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.

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.

This year every 2nd Wednesday of the month until February, 8th grade will be having a Student Sweet Shop to raise money for their DC trip. It will be after school in the plaza so send your kids with a few dollars to get a treat. The first one is today, October 9th.

We will have candy, drinks, chips, and all things you would find in a vending machine. This way

allergies can be voided since it is all prepackaged and everyone can find something they like.

St. Catherine is pleased to announce an after-school academic support option for students in grades 2nd and 3rd! Parents may register their students to attend academic support from 3:15-4:00 PM on Tuesdays (started 10/1). This is an opportunity for students to complete homework or class projects while receiving needed support from St. Catherine’s staff. The sessions will be facilitated by Ms. Cox and Ms. Elsner.

A Sign-up Genius will be sent out each month to indicate days you’d like your child to attend. Space will be limited so register early! Cost will be $14 per session and will be billed to your billing management account. The sign-up for October is here. The sign-up for November will be emailed to 2nd and 3rd grade parents on Monday 10/28, 3:30pm. Please contact Ms. Elsner if you have any questions.

St. Catherine’s annual book fair will be held during conferences on Thursday, October 31st and Friday, November 1st. This year we are hosting a fair by Paper Pie Publishing, formerly know as Usborne Books. More information will be provided soon!

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

ParentEd Talk with Jonathan Haidt, social psychologist and author of “The Anxious Generation”
Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024
Noon–1 p.m. PT

Childhood itself has gone missing. As childhood migrated online in the early 2010s, rates of mental illness among US adolescents surged, and kids' daily opportunities to learn and play independently disappeared. But it's not too late to change.

Join ParentMap and St. Catherine School for an important virtual ParentEd Talk on Oct. 15 with renowned social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, author of “The Anxious Generation.”

What began with a book launch, The Anxious Generation has since transformed into a three-year campaign to reclaim childhood, inviting teens, parents, schools, tech and policy leaders to take collective action — from inside their own families and homes, at school, to the halls of Congress — all across the globe.

Whether you've already given your child a smartphone or you're trying to delay it, there's a role you can play to protect your children. Learn what’s happening to our kids and, more importantly, what we can do to help.

Join us on Tuesday, October 15th, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Assumption Fellowship Hall for a special ASB Parent Board presentation, "Preparing Your Child to Thrive in High School."

The session will be led by Jenell Kheriaty, a seasoned Catholic school educator and parent of ASB alumni. Drawing from her extensive experience as both a teacher and school administrator, as well as her perspective as a parent, Jenell will offer valuable insights to help you guide your child through the transition to high school. She’ll share strategies and skills your student can develop to succeed during these crucial years. We hope you can join us!

Come on out and support Home Together!

Some of you may recall our household supply drive spring 2023.

Since then Home Together has furnished 8 homes for families in town with sick kiddos at Children's Hospital.

Now they can use our support by attending their Oktoberfest fundraiser Oct 19th and/or helping with set up and take down in Victoria Hall that weekend.

Check out www.home-together.org/events for tickets or contact Katie Fleming if you would like more information on how you can help kjfleming1239@gmail.com

Starting Soon: Labor of Love Auction

Coming soon to your computer and smart phone: The ACC's 22nd annual Labor of Love online auction! Starting at 10:00 a.m. Sunday, October 20, 2024, a delightful array of items will be available online at: https://LaborofLove2024.ggo.bid. The auction ends Sunday, October 27th. Sponsored by Advocacy and Caring for Children, proceeds will benefit children and families in need across Western Washington. Accepting online donations at: Labor of Love Auction (advocacyandcaringforchildren.org). Be a winner by being a bidder!

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.