ST. LOUISE SCHOOL PARENT BULLETIN

January 11, 2018
Dan's Blog
Do you want the good news or the bad news? The bad news is Catholic schools throughout our state and nation plan to continue in 2018-19 to have an increase in tuition in order to generate necessary revenue to provide a quality education. The good news is Catholic schools throughout our state and nation plan to continue to provide this quality education at a "bargain" tuition rate, much less expensive than other private schools. The reason Catholic schools' tuition is the least expensive private school option has a lot to do with past history when the bar was set so low.
 
Years ago, parents didn't have to pay much in tuition because all it took to run Catholic schools such as St. Louise in the '60s was enough money to pay the room and board of the nuns who were teaching, pay for basic school equipment such as a record player and mimeograph machine, and pay the heating bill. Moreover, the parish could turn over a large percentage of its Sunday collections to run the school, since there weren't many other parish programs to support. This simple way to fund Catholic schools changed in the '80s when the sisters were replaced by lay teachers, who took over the jobs of teaching and needed to be paid reasonable, higher salaries. At the same time, school curriculums demanded much more to be spent on equipment, such as networked computer systems. Also, parishes couldn't give as much of their Sunday collections to support the school since they now had more parish programs to support.

When you put together all the expenses it takes to run St. Louise School - salaries, textbooks, technology enhancements, utilities, building maintenance - and divide our total expenses by the number of students we serve, the average cost to educate one of your children is around $9,000. However, most of you pay just $6,750 in tuition for one child to attend our school. And you pay even less per child if you have two or more children enrolled! What a bargain!
 
Our low tuition rate is possible in part because of parishioner-parents' stewardship-contributions to the parish, which in turn subsidizes some of our budget. The tuition rate is also lower because of your participation in our four major fund raisers at St. Louise: the Walk-a-Thon, the Auction, Charger Cards, and the Annual School Gift Campaign. These fund raisers, along with parish support connected to your Sunday stewardship, make up the difference of approximately $2,250 per child between tuition and the actual cost of educating your child. Each of the fund raisers is essential to the school's well-being. If we took away one or two of these fund raisers, we would need to increase each family's tuition substantially each year.
 
The fund raiser in the spotlight at this time of year is our Annual School Gift Campaign, or "ASGC" as it is commonly referred to. This week, you will be receiving in the US Mail the ASGC appeal information. You'll find it inside the Annual Report that we mailed to all school families, past donors, and St. Louise parishioners.
Since, as a school family, you have already committed in your Parent Contract to donate to this fundraiser, I know I don't need to ask you to "consider" participating, as I do with our other patrons, such as parishioners. Instead, I need to ask that as a school family you thoughtfully consider how much you can give.
 
It's my strong hope that many of you will be able to move up a level in your giving amount. Most school families in 2017 gave at the "Patron" level (starting at $250), but we're hoping more of you can move to the "Investor" level for 2018 (starting at $750). What a great name that is... "Investor." After all, your donation to the ASGC is an investment in your child's future.
 
If it helps to spread out your gift to the ASGC instead of making one payment this month, we offer the option of having a portion donated each month. For example, instead of paying $750 in one lump sum now, you could pay $75 over the next 10 months. And to make d onating at a higher giving level even that much better for your family budget, you also have the option of charging your ASGC donation on your credit card. So not only will you receive the benefit of giving a tax-deductible donation, but you have the added benefit of earning mileage on your credit card. Please go to our online-giving page to donate now via your credit card (or bank account automatic-withdrawal).
 
Remember, your donation to the ASGC isn't just a "bonus" gift. It's a basic requirement that is crucial to the continued excellence of St. Louise School. And unlike other charitable donations you may make where you never quite know how the money is used, you know your child will get the direct benefit of your ASGC donation. He/She gets to be educated by the outstanding St. Louise teachers whose salaries will be increased in the fall of 2018, thanks not only to your tuition payments but also because of your ASGC donations.
 
Please respond as soon as possible to your ASGC appeal packet that is inserted in your postal-mailed Annual Report. Thanks in advance for your investment in your children's education, and for your financial support of St. Louise School.

Thanks for reading, 
Mr. Fitz
p.s.
The all-school art project, a tile-pieced cross
created by students on September's Passport Day under the direction of our art teacher, Mika Walker, is now displayed in the school. The first school parent to email me , and name the exact location of where this is displayed in the school, will win a $10 Charger Card!

We want to thank the Matt & Jackie Munson family for purchasing this cross at the Auction and then turning right around and donating it back to school!
Upcoming Calendar of Events  
 
Today
  • Parents' Club Meeting at 6:30 PM (in the faculty room; all parents invited to attend)
  • Bake Sale at lunchtime (proceeds benefit Junior High Activities and Events)

Saturday, January 13      
  • Speech Team at Seattle Prep Tourney
  • St. Louise marketing our school at the Eastside Preschool Fair from 9:30-12:30 at the South Bellevue Community Center (14509 SE Newport Way)

Monday, January 15 - Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday
  • NO SCHOOL; school office and Kids' Club closed in honor of the holiday

Wednesday & Thursday, January 17 & 18
  • Free Dress Coupons will be handed out during morning and afternoon carpool to students in vehicles with "St. Louise Logo Clings/Decals" on their back windows
Friday, January 19
  • Kidd Valley Lunch Day - a burger, fries, and vanilla shake are being delivered at lunchtime today to all students whose parents purchased this lunch during the Auction (or online at the Auction website); please do not order an online lunch or have your child bring a lunch this day if he/she is a "Kidd Valley kid."
  • CYO Volleyball registration for 4th-8th graders ends today (see more information in article below)
Sunday, January 21
  • St. Louise School will be promoting our school at St. Teresa Parish in Woodinville after their 9:00 and 11:00AM Masses; any child who attends a Mass in full St. Louise uniform will receive a free-dress-day bracelet to be used on the 29th.

Saturday & Sunday, January 27 & 28 - Catholic Schools' Week Begins
  • Students encouraged to attend any of this weekend's St. Louise Parish Masses in full school uniform (Saturday at 5PM; Sunday at 7:30, 9:00, 11:00AM and 1:00, 6:00 PM); those who do will receive a bracelet, entitling them to a free-dress-day on the 29th.
  • Some 4th, 6th, and 8th graders will be performing ministry-tasks in these St. Louise Masses.
  • The school's Chorale choir will be leading the singing at the 9:00AM St. Louise Mass.
  • Coffee & Donuts will be served in the school lobby Sunday morning after the 7:30, 9:00, 11:00AM St. Louise Masses, with student art work on display throughout the school hallways.
  • Additionally, St. Louise School will be promoting our school at some neighboring church's Masses, and any child who attends in full St. Louise uniform at these parishes will also receive a free-dress-day bracelet: St. Jude (Redmond) on Sunday at 9:00AM; Holy Innocents (Duvall) on Sunday at 10:30AM.
 
Monday, January 29 - Student Appreciation Day
  • Free Dress Day ONLY for students wearing the weekend-Mass bracelets.
  • No (next-day) homework will be assigned by any teachers tonight.
 
Wednesday, January 30 - Teacher & Staff Appreciation Day
  • Grade 6-8 parents and their middle schoolers go out to lunch from 11:15-1:00. 
  • Today is "Teacher & Staff Appreciation Day"; consider sending thank-you notes to your kids' teachers and/or treating them to something in appreciation for their ministry in Catholic education; note that this week is the only, official time for an "appreciation day/week" for Catholic school teachers (the "appreciation day/week" you hear about in the month of May was created for public school teachers).

Thursday, February 1
  • Open House, 6:30-7:30PM - invite your friends, coworkers, and neighbors to attend and find out about the school!
  • Re-Enrollment for the 2018-19 school year begins; you will receive information on the paperwork & $75 fee needed for re-enrollment, with a deadline of February 15.

Friday, February 2 - Parent Appreciation Day
  • Mr. Fitz & Mr. Fuerte want to show appreciation to parents by handing out coffee and cinnamon rolls in the main lobby from 8:30-9:00AM this morning; park the car, come in for a treat, and talk to our two administrators over coffee and a roll about school topics ...or about their picks for the Super Bowl.
  • Grade K-8 students will be bringing home appreciation-letters they wrote to their parents.
 
Saturday, February 3
  • Father/Daughter Dance - save the date for this 6:30-8:30PM event; this year's theme is a luau; sign-up form in today's red envelope

Sunday, February 4
  • Chorale choir performs at the Mary, Queen of Peace (Sammamish) Mass at 11:30AM


Please Spread the Word
         
 
Current school parents are our best marketers of St. Louise, and we would appreciate you spreading the word to your neighbors, co-workers, and extended-family-members living in the greater-Eastside who have upcoming 4-14 year-olds, that St. Louise has started their Admissions season!
  
Interested prospective school parents for the 2018-19 school year should contact the school office at 425-746-4220 or email our secretaries Mindy and Lola directly to ask to set up a Tuesday-Tour date.  On Tuesday mornings this month and next, we give tours of the school by our 8th grade student ambassadors, and well as opportunities for prospective school parents to sit in on a class in session and watch our fabulous teachers in action.
  
Thanks for spreading the word NOW - whether it be through your Instagram and Facebook posts, or through good old-fashioned, face-to-face announcements - so prospective school parents may set up their visits to check us out!
  
BONUS!
You can get a tuition reduction - valued around $600! - for referring a new family to St. Louise School! If a new family enrolls in our school next fall and listed your name in their admissions paperwork as having referred them to St. Louise, you get one month's free tuition next school year (at the 1-child rate). This  Referral Award Program is in place to show our gratitude for your help in recruiting new families to our school.

Another simple way you can promote our school is by applying a St. Louise
School decal to the back window of your car! If you don't already have a decal (i.e. window cling, as shown at right), you can get a free decal sent home with your child if you simply send a request to Laura Leach in our development office: laural@stlouiseschool.org. Or the next time you're at school in the coming days, stop by the office and ask Mindy Morgan or Lola Bazan at the front desk for a free decal.
  
To show our appreciation for your support, we will be handing out "Free Dress" coupons at morning and afternoon carpool next Wednesday and Thursday, January 17 and 18, to all the students in any car displaying the St. Louise decal/cling. These coupons may be cashed in by your kids on Monday, January 22 - a day of free dress reserved only for them!

If you have a decal/cling in your car window, but will not be driving to school during these Wednesday, January 17th or Thursday, January 18th carpool dates, please email to Laura a photo of the decal on your car by no later than January 18, and let Laura know how many students ride in your carpool. She will then send home in the school mail your January 22nd free dress coupons.

Thanks for helping to market St. Louise School!

Is There Something You Should Tell Us?
          
          We know there are current school families who have children who aren't attending St. Louise School this year, but are going to apply for admissions for the 2018-19 year.  Please contact Mindy and Lola  in the school office if you have:
  1. An upcoming 4-year-old interested in our Pre-K for next year;
  2. An upcoming Kindergartener who will be 5 before September and currently is in preschool elsewhere;
  3. A child in the other grade levels who would like to transfer to St. Louise for 2018-19.

For current school parents with children who will be new to St. Louise School next year, we need this information now. You will receive paperwork to enroll them starting February 1. We will be excited to have new siblings joining us in September!

Eighth Graders Give You Something to Ponder
 
Inspired by the statue-on-a-bench they saw when they recently visited Christ Our Hope Church in downtown Seattle (photo on bottom left), Mrs. Herridge's 8th grade students created their own version of the statue right outside St. Louise
Church yesterday (photo on bottom right).  With the sign at right displayed near the bench which was holding the "homeless person" (an 8th grader under a blanket, with a fake stigmata painted on both feet), parents and students who walked toward the front doors of the church for our Epiphany Mass stopped to look and read. They read this on the sign:

"This is not just your average 'bum on the bench.' If you look closely, the man has holes in his feet, which means that he is none other than Jesus Christ, our Savior. As we take a step back, the first thing that comes to mind are the Catholic Social Teachings of 'solidarity' and 'option for the poor and vulnerable.' The message we'd like you to leave with today is that the next time you pass a 'bum on the bench,' realize you two aren't that different. Jesus Christ is your neighbor, and He lives in both of you."

 

                    
Yet ANOTHER First Place Finish for a St. Louise Team
                  
          Last month, we announced that our St. Louise Speech Team competed with 18 other schools at the Bishop Blanchet High School Speech Tournament, and we listed our students who were finalists or winners of their respective speech categories. This week, Bishop Blanchet has announced the school which was the overall team champion, and St. Louise won that 1st place prize!
          Congratulations to our hard-working and talented students on our Speech Team, along with their parent coaches and the Speech Team leaders (Shannon Wallis, Paula Patterson, Alex Gallant). The Speech Team will next compete at the Seattle Prep Tournament this Saturday.

Hey, Dads! Registration Is Now Open!
          
          Come join us for the annual Father/Daughter Dance on Saturday, Feb. 3, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall!  This year's theme is a Wiki Wiki Luau!  Grab your Hawaiian prints and flip flops, and join us for a night of great food, dancing and fun!!  We look forward to celebrating this fun night with you. Oh, and get ready to get your hula on too!
          Be sure to register online or refer to the flyer coming home in today's red Family Envelope.  All registration forms are due Wednesday, January 31.  The price is $65 per family, and will go up to $75 for any late registrations.
          When registering online, be sure to select "Father/Daughter Dance" and include the name of the Dad and daughter(s) in the "Special Intentions" box. 
Charger Cards for Catholic Teachers' Appreciation Day

Wednesday, January 31, is "Teacher & Staff Appreciation Day," as part of national Catholic School's Week. Remember, as a Catholic school, we take this last week in January to celebrate our school and honor the teachers. (The May date for "Teacher Appreciation" was created for public schools.) Take advantage of Charger Cards if you'd like to treat your child's teachers and/or any staff members to a thank you gift on the 31st. You'll find their school faculty's Wish List of their favorite Charger Cards HERE.

The Charger Cards sale office in the central wing of the original school is open on school-Fridays from 8:15-8:45AM. For questions or more information on Charger Cards, please email chargercards@stlouiseschool.org or visit www.stlouiseschool.org/chargercards.
You Can Be a Part of Texas's Hurricane Relief
          
          This summer, Hurricane Harvey wreaked havoc on the Texas Coast, dumping more than 50 inches of rain and flooding thousands of homes. The devastation was swift, and the recovery is far from over.  Catholic Community Services of King County are sending staff to support the disaster relief efforts of a local Catholic Charities in one of the most affected areas, Beaumont, Texas.  Do you want to be part of Texas's hurricane relief?
         St. Louise Parish, Holy Family Parish, and Catholic Community Services are running a Phone Bank event on Saturday, January 20, from 10 AM to 1 PM here at St. Louise to support Catholic Charities in Beaumont as they respond to disaster relief calls.  We will do brief assessments calls with training and script provided.  CCS staff will be there to share stories about their recent deployment. Refreshments will be provided.
          Please gather shortly before 10 AM in the St. Louise School Library.  Please feel free to help the entire time or for as long as your availability allows, but kindly RSVP by sending an email to erinma@ccsww.org. 
Your School Nurse Wants To Remind You About Something
          
Dear Parents,

Flu Season has arrived and it is not too late to get your flu shot. Influenza (also known as the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the flu virus. Anyone can get sick from the flu and spread it to friends-even if you consider yourself to be healthy.  Getting the flu vaccine and washing hands is the best ways to protect yourself and your family from this serious disease. The CDC recommends anyone 6 months or older to get the flu shot annually.
 
People who have the flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:
* Fever or chills
* Cough and sore throat
* Runny nose and headache
* Muscle or body aches
* Vomiting and diarrhea (though this is more common in children than adults)
 
Most people who get influenza will recover in a few days to less than two weeks, but some will develop complications (such as pneumonia) as a result of the flu, some of which can be life-threatening.  Bronchitis, sinus and ear infections are also examples of complications from the flu.
 
Take these everyday preventative actions to stop the spread of the Flu:
  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.  Cough and sneeze into your elbow.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water.  If not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, as germs spread this way.
  • Practice good health habits:  clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. 
  • Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
We need all students to stay home for at least 24 hours after vomiting, diarrhea, or fever (without use of fever-reducing medication). Please see page 24 of our Policies online to view our complete "Illness" policy.
 
Let's stay healthy in 2018!

Sincerely,
Jane Reynolds, RN
St. Louise School Nurse

Sign-Up 4th-8th Graders for CYO Volleyball

          CYO Volleyball Registration is now open to all St. Louise students in grades 4 through 8.  To sign up please go to: https://reg.sportspilot.com/106300/leagues.  The registration fee is $95. Registration will close on January 19th. (Late registrations may be accepted depending the size of existing rosters.) For more information, please contact St. Louise volleyball coordinator, Joni Hoffman.
 
 
Students Are Expected to Be Community Members

          Student Learning Expectations - SLEs - are expectations that our students should know, understand, value, and be able to do by the time they graduate from St. Louise School. These 12 SLEs comprise four categories important to the development of a well-rounded student: an active Christian; a life-long learner; a well-balanced individual; and a community member. Each month, one or two different SLEs are focused on school-wide until the 12 expectations are covered by the end of the school year. 
         For January, the focus school-wide is on these "SLEs of the Month": 
  • #4.1 "A St. Louise student is a community member who honors the gifts of others and values the dignity of each person."
  • #4.3 "A St. Louise student is a community member who accepts leadership roles and collaborates with others."
          Parents can help reinforce these expectations by discussing the meaning at home and brainstorming ways you and your family members demonstrate these same actions in your personal lives.

Annie Writes about "Just a Little Act of Kindness"

          We previously told you about our own Annie Wilken, a 5th grader who won Northwest Catholic magazine's essay contest. She has now been published in Northwest Catholic, so take a look at her essay here. Congrats, Annie! We're proud of you!
 
 
 
See what's happening on our St. Louise Facebook page