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Weekly Newsletter
9.20.2023
Important Safety Announcement
Afternoon Parking Lot Pick-up Procedures
We have electives and PE running every afternoon and the parking lot needs to be available. In order to keep all students and staff safe, the gate will open and the cones will be moved at 3:05pm (2:20pm on Wednesdays). Please do not move the cones or open the gate. A staff member will do this, and at that time you may enter the parking lot.
Due to the updated bell schedule for this school year, students are in afternoon homeroom right up to 3:10pm (2:25pm on Wednesdays). Please expect your child/ren to be in the parking lot no earlier than 3:12pm.
A few other reminders to ensure a smooth afternoon dismissal:
- Do not block the driveway entrance. This backs up traffic on NE 85th St and on Roosevelt Way NE.
- If the carpool line is full, please pull into an open spot in the parking lot to wait for your child/ren.
- Please use the passing lane to exit the parking lot and do not turn left! Right turn only towards 8th Ave NE.
Fall Spirit Gear Store is Open!!
The fall spirit gear collection includes STC hoodies & full zip-ups for adults and youth only. We must reach an order minimum of 24 for each item. Please check sizes carefully before ordering, and consider sizing up for students. The store will close on October 9th so get your order in now!
We have several spirit gear items in stock at the school, including soccer socks, golf umbrellas, coffee tumblers, beanies, and baseball hats. If you have any questions or would like to purchase any of these items, please reach out to Tammy Matusak.
Check out the Spirit Gear FAQ's on our website!
From the School Office
Back to School Forms
Using your SchoolAdmin Parent Portal, please complete the following back to school forms right away!
- Family Handbook Verification Form
- Media Release Form
- Walking Field Trip Form
Attendance Procedures
If your child/ren will be absent from school, please notify the school office at attendance@stcatherineschool.net, as well as your child's homeroom teacher, no later than 8:30am on the day of the absence. Advanced notification of the absence (2-3 days before) is also greatly appreciated. The safety of our students is our number one priority and the office will call home to verify the student's absence if a parent/guardian has not called or emailed.
If you know your child will be tardy due to a medical/dental/personal appointment, the office must be notified. A parent/guardian must accompany a tardy student in to the school office to sign them in for the day.
If your child/ren will be absent from school for 2 or more days of school, please complete a pre-planned absence form and send it to attendance@stcatherineschool.net at least 2 weeks prior to the absences.
Regular attendance is important to the success of our students. Normally, illness, medical appointments and family emergencies are the only acceptable form of excused absence.
Buddy Families
St. Catherine School is bringing back a popular pre-covid program pairing new-to-the-school families (grades K-8) with current families as a resource to ask questions and be welcomed to the St. Catherine community! Buddies/Mentors will be assigned to families with a child in the same class as their child and introductions will be made in early October.
Mentor families will receive five volunteer hours applied to the 2023-2024 school year! To learn more and apply to be a mentor, please complete this form. New families (K-8) will automatically be assigned a mentor.
Upcoming Events
Fall MAP Testing
Fall MAP Testing began this week and goes through the first week of October. Makeups will take place throughout this testing period. Students in 2nd-8th grades will take these tests in reading, math, and language. Data from MAP tests is important for monitoring student progress, assessing growth, and providing instruction that continues to meet individual student needs.
Please help make sure your child gets a good night's rest the night before each test and a filling breakfast that morning. Please let your child's homeroom teacher know if your child will be absent, late, or leaving early on any of these days. Please let Ms. Elsner (celsner@stcatherineschool.net) know if you have any questions.
Parent Club News
ROCKIN' the JOG!
Way to go Tigers! Parents and Students have raised OVER $50,000! We are SO close to meeting or beating our $60,000 Jog-A-Thon record. What an amazing community we have! Kindergarten is still in the lead, but the 4th grade class isn't too far behind. Which class will be winning the Pizza or Ice Cream party?
PARENTS
Did you know? You are IN IT TO WIN IT too! For the first time in St. C Jog history, we are challenging our parents to join in the Fun Run. You are all doing an amazing job with your pledges! Parents have raised almost $2,000. Our top parent fundraiser will win a grand prize. We welcome all parents Tigers to run with our student Tigers on Friday September 22nd. Click here to see the Event Schedule.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!
Drama Program News
Go Grease Lightening
We are so excited to be beginning our 2023-2024 musical, Grease! This program is open to all 4rd-8th grade students. There are roles for singers, non-singers, and technical crew. Please see below for more info! The sign up link can also be found at the bottom of this message!
Mark your Calendars!!
10/24 Tue. - 3:15 - 5:15 –4th and 5th grade Auditions - Music Room
10/26 Thurs. – 3:15-5:15 – 6th, 7th, 8th grade Auditions - Music Room
10/27 Fri. – Callbacks - 3:25- 5:00 - Music Room
Rehearsals will be held every Tuesday and Thursday starting on Tuesday, November 7th. There will be no rehearsals called in the month of December due to the Christmas program and in observance of the holiday season. If your child is interested but cannot attend either audition date, please contact Ms. Clara or Ms. Jones.
Cost: $200/child (½ price for 2nd/3rd child in a family) for Cast T-Shirt and show expenses! There are payment plans available. Please reach out to Amanda Lucero for information on payment plans. There will be a Musical Behavior Contract for you and your child to sign, sent home after auditions.
Interested in Tech Crew? We want to continue to build a stronger behind-the-scenes crew in our theater department this year! If your child is interested in working in stage management, lighting, sound, props, costumes, or anything else backstage, please select “crew” on the registration form so we can build our team!
Needed!!! Drama Volunteers – Whether it’s monitoring during rehearsal, helping with costumes, or trying your hand at stage makeup come March, we have lots of opportunities and needs, both big and small, so please send a note to Clara or Ava if you are interested in helping out! We can’t do it without our volunteers!
Sign up Link: https://forms.gle/bae3dZeg1fGBp4CZ7
Looking forward to a fantastic production!
Enrichment Opportunities
Middle School Speech Team
Students in grades 6-8 are invited to join the middle school Speech Team. Speech team is a fun way to learn valuable public speaking and presentation skills while representing St. Catherine School. Members of the Speech Team will have the opportunity to compete in speech tournaments with other Catholic school students throughout the winter months. Eighth grade participants can compete for high school scholarships at the hosting school.
If your student is interested, please join us for an informational meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, September 27th from 7-8 pm. Feel free to reach out to the Speech Team Coordinator Wendy Rychwalski at wendy.rychwalski@gmail.com with any questions.
NPH Club (Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos)
Calling all students in grades 3-8! Please consider joining NPH! Our first meeting is Tuesday, October 3rd at 8:00am in the first grade classroom.
We are a club that does fundraising to support our godchild, Yhon, who is a boy in Bolivia. All money raised is sent to NPH National which distributes funds to help pay for food, clothing, housing, and education for children under their care. We also learn about the many children around the world who benefit from NPH, their life stories and cultures. When possible, we share what we learn with our school community. Our obligation is $360 a year. We raise this through contributions from club members and a few fundraisers throughout the year. Being a member requires that you come to the monthly meetings, make a small contribution each month, and help with fundraisers. As godparents, we become part of Yhon's extended family. For more information, please contact Ms. Arthur, Mrs. Katsandres, Ms. O'Donnell or check out the website: www.nphusa.org Join us!
Kindergarten Mini Movers
Attention Kindergarten Kiddos, please join Ms. Tammy and Mrs. Bell for our first ever Movement Class! This is the perfect opportunity for your child to get their wiggles out while also learning controlled motions, form, and balance. We will practice dance moves, coordinated movements, and spatial awareness; key milestones in their development.
This after school enrichment opportunity will be offered on Mondays 3:15-4:15 beginning October 16th and running through the end of the year (December 11th).
The cost from this class is $225/child, and a minimum enrollment of 8 kiddos is required for the class to take place. Register online: https://forms.gle/VcsAx6KYiUPuFFL8A
Coding with Kids
LITTLE CODERS: MINECRAFT MODDING I
Grades 1-2
Mon, 3:15 PM-4:15 PM
Oct 9 - Dec 11
$249 / 10-week session
Calling all young Minecrafters! In this course, you will learn to code your own Minecraft mods (or modifications) with Minecraft Education Edition! You will express your creativity to customize the game you love, Minecraft! Using a simple drag-and-drop coding environment, you will learn and practice basic coding concepts, such as Variables and Loops. You will apply these concepts to build projects, such as a zoo, an aquarium, a diamond house, a magic wand, and many more custom mini-games! Start creating your own personalized Minecraft mods!
REGISTRATIONS: www.codingwithkids.com/session/57574
MODDING WITH MINECRAFT EDUCATION: INTRO
Grades 3-5
Tue, 3:15 PM-4:15 PM
Oct 10 - Dec 12
$249 / 10-week session
Calling all Minecrafters! Building Minecraft mods is a great way to learn programming, harness creativity, and enhance problem-solving skills while making your favorite game even better. Each student will have their own Minecraft server where they can customize the game with their own world maps and features. Students will be coding mods to create new items, environments, non-playable characters, game modes, and more! Using a simple drag-and-drop coding environment, campers will accomplish exciting results with their one-of-a-kind Minecraft features!
REGISTRATIONS: www.codingwithkids.com/session/57575
PYTHON CODING
Grades 6-8
Mon, 3:15 PM-4:15 PM
Oct 9 - Dec 11
$249 / 10-week session
Join us to learn Python, a programming language widely utilized in the professional world. For beginners, we'll provide a user-friendly introduction to Python and cover core coding concepts, such as variables and functions. Returning students will delve into more advanced topics, including Arrays. Students will create a diverse range of fun games, such as space invaders.
REGISTRATIONS: www.codingwithkids.com/session/57576
QUESTIONS? Email Coding with Kids at info@codingwithkids.com
Study Hall | 4th-8th Grades
Hi families! After school study hall for students in grades 4-8 has begun. Study hall is held after school in the library on Tuesdays and Thursdays with Mrs. Anderson. She will provide a safe and studious environment for your student(s) to complete their homework and receive assistance as needed.
If you’d like to sign up your student(s), please read and complete this form. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Anderson.
Volunteering at St. Catherine School
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
Home Together Family Dinner
Last year, the St. Catherine Community came together to support the Maple Leaf Foundation, now named Home Together, to collect household items to support families moving to Seattle for treatment at Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Family Dinner 2023 is an Oktoberfest-themed celebration and Home Together’s biggest fundraiser of the year! Please consider supporting this very important evening on October 7th, 6-9 pm in Victoria Hall at St. Catherine.
Raise a glass and break some bread while generously supporting Home Together's mission of creating affordable housing for families seeking long-term care at Seattle Children's Hospital. We will be hosting a silent and a live auction, a short program, and a lively dessert dash. You won’t want to miss it! Buy your tickets: https://givebutter.com/c/6CfApU
Parish News
Partners in the Gospel
Join us for the Partners in the Gospel Listening Session and Dinner!
When: September 23, 2023 after the 5pm Mass
Where: Victoria Hall
Partners in the Gospel is the next stage of the strategic pastoral planning effort taking place across the Archdiocese of Seattle to re-invigorate and renew our local Catholic Church. It will bring most parishes together into a new structure with two or more other parishes. Parish groupings will be announced in September and this listening session is our parish and school community's first chance to respond to the groupings. You do not need to be a member of the parish to attend - the school community input is valued as well. A simple dinner will be provided to participants.
Faith Formation Kickoff Breakfast
Sunday, September 24, 2023, 10:30 AM
Location: Victoria Hall
Join us to kick off our Sacramental Prep programs for the 2023-2024 school year after the 9:30AM Mass. This event is for both St. Catherine and St. Benedict parishes for Confirmation and First Eucharist students. All are welcome! Come and support our students and catechists!
Please sign up to help out at this year's Faith Formation Kickoff Breakfast. We are looking for pastry donations as well as set up and clean up crew. You can purchase pastries, every $25 spent counts as 1 volunteer hour. You do not have to be participating in any Faith Formation or Sacramental Prep for your children to earn the volunteer hours. Contact Francine at fshammami@gmail.com with any questions.
Altar Servers
If you are between the 4th and 8th grade and you want to become an Altar server. Please come to the altar server training on September 27th at 3pm in the church. Altar serving is not just a good way to get service hours but is a great way to learn and grow more with God. So please save the date in your calendar. If you and questions or comments, please contact MJ Price at m.price@stbens.net.
Youth Choir
If you are between the 2nd and 8th grade and you want to sing at church. Please come to the first Youth Choir Rehearsal of the school year on September 27th at 6pm in the church. This is a great opportunity for you to learn how to sing at church and have a lot of fun doing it. So please save the date in your calendar. If you have any questions or comments, please contact MJ Price at m.price@stbens.net.
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.