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Weekly Newsletter
11.15.2023
SVDP Give Drive
Between now and November 30th, please help support families in our North Seattle neighborhood who are in need this holiday season.
Preschool - 4th Grade: Gift Wrap Drive
We need to assemble gift wrapping kits, one for each family that SVDP is helping with Christmas gifts. Items for the kits should be new and unopened, except when larger packaging is broken down to smaller units.
Please have your child bring to their classroom one of the following items:
- Non-religious gift wrap. It can have a general holiday or children’s theme, but should avoid religious wording or symbols. This is to avoid offending non-Christian families we serve.
- Small bag of stick on bows OR one roll of ribbon
- Gift tags
- Scotch Tape
5th - 8th Grades: Food Drive
We need non-perishable foods that haven’t passed their expiration dates. Popular canned items include: Soups, chili, fruit, tuna, chicken, ready to eat pasta. Some of our neighbors are homeless and for them cans that open with a pull-tab are better than ones that require a can opener. We can also use peanut butter, applesauce, granola bars, breakfast cereal.
Non-food items are also important because they cannot be purchased with SNAP (food stamp) benefits. This includes: toilet paper, toothbrushes and toothpaste, hand soap, paper towels.
Tiger Fund
St. Catherine School is a community defined by giving - a community that grows stronger through the participation of every member. With each gift, we are reminded that our shared commitment to education is the driving force behind our mission's success. Fundraising and volunteer activities celebrate, honor, and preserve this spirit of giving. Your gift to the Tiger Fund supports the talented staff and enriching programs that make St. Catherine School special.
Our Tiger Fund goal is 100% participation by all school families. Remember, participation in the Annual Tiger Fund is part of the school contract signed by all school families. No gift is too small, and all contributions are 100% tax deductible.
Donations can be made through SchoolAdmin by filling out the form here, or by credit card here (be sure to select "School Annual Fund"), and by check.
Thank you for your generosity!!
Upcoming Events
safeTALK: A Suicide Prevention Workshop
Please join us for safeTALK, a suicide intervention workshop facilitated by high school students from the Archdiocese of Seattle’s Catholic Lifesaver Corps.
When: Saturday, November 18th 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Where: St. James Cathedral – Pastoral Outreach Center – Holy Names Room
907 Columbia Street, Seattle, WA 98104
More information and registration can be found here.
Wednesday, November 22nd
Noon Dismissal Day for All Students
No After School Extended Care
No Full Day or PM Pandas Preschool Program
Thursday, November 23rd & Friday, November 24th
No School for All Students - Happy Thanksgiving!
Christmas Program
As noted on the calendar, the Christmas Program will now take place on Wednesday, December 13th at 6:30pm.
From the School Office
Lost & Found
Is your child missing a jacket, lunch box, water bottle or sweatshirt? The lost and found is overflowing with many unclaimed items. Please come check out the lost and found located in the gym foyer the next time you are on campus. Any unclaimed uniforms will be given to the used uniform sale and all other items will be donated to Goodwill in the next upcoming weeks.
Yearbook Photos Needed
Attention Parents! 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. This year, we are excited to include a Summer Adventures page! Please send us pictures of your student or family during the summer of 2023. 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!
Tuition Assistance Program 2024-2025
The tuition assistance process for the 2024-2025 school year has begun - the application officially 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 2024-2025 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, 2023. 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.
CYO Sports
CYO Basketball
Registration for grades 1-3 is now open. Please register here: https://www.teamsideline.com/sites/seattlecyo/home. If you are interested in coaching or have any questions, please email Carol at karolra24@yahoo.com
Grades 4th-8th have started practicing. CYO is finalizing game scheduling, but first games should be on the weekend of Nov 18-19.
Auction Planning
St. Catherine's annual auction will be on April 20th, 2024.
We need our community to come together and help plan our biggest fundraiser of the year!
Please join us for an auction planning meeting on
Thursday, November 16th @ 7pm in the Learning Commons.
Questions? email auction@stcatherineschool.net
8th Grade Class DC Fundraising
Come & join the 8th Grade Class at the St. Catherine Holiday Bazaar this weekend – November 18th-19th
The 8th Grade Class will be hosting:
Bake Sale and Cocoa Bar
“Big Cookie” Raffle
Brown Bear Car Wash Stocking Stuffers
Santa Selfies
Additional tables hosted by 8th Grade Students include homemade crafts such as:
3D Printer Gifts
Candles, Cards, and Candy
Fleece Blankets for People and Pets (and Dog Treats too)
Handcrafted Earrings
Proceeds go to support the St. Catherine’s 8th Grade Class DC Trip.
Volunteering at St. Catherine School
Calling any builders/woodworkers!
St. Catherine's music program is in desperate need of choir risers! If you are interested in building choir risers our school can use for performances, assemblies, and other events please contact Ava Jones at ajones@stcatherineschool.net.
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
Parish News
St. Vincent de Paul Holiday Program
Thanksgiving Meals for Neighbors in Need
The SVDP Holiday Program is serving 25 neighborhood families this year. A grocery
voucher will be given to each family to plan, shop, and prepare a meal of their choice.
The voucher will be worth $30 per member; a family of four will receive a $120
voucher. Will you please help by feeding one family or contributing what you can? We
appreciate early donations so families have adequate time to plan and shop.
Please make checks to the SVDP Holiday Program and place them in the collection basket or mail them to the parish office:
814 NE 85th Street
Seattle WA, 98115
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.