ST. LOUISE SCHOOL PARENT BULLETIN

January 25, 2018
Dan's Blog
This weekend begins our weeklong celebration of national Catholic Schools' Week - a time when all the Catholic schools throughout America celebrate their successes and broadcast to their parish communities and wider communities why Catholic education is such a wonderful institution.
 
You might have heard before that my association with Catholic schools began when my widowed mom enrolled me as a 1st grader at Sacred Heart School - following in the footsteps of my four older brothers and sisters - and then I continued with high school at the Catholic Bishop Blanchet, and at the Catholic Seattle University where I earned both my Bachelor's and Master's degrees. My wife followed a similar path, being enrolled in Catholic elementary and high schools, and then meeting me at Seattle University. We sent our two kids to St. Brendan School in Bothell and then Bishop Blanchet. My daughter went on to the Catholic Gonzaga University for college, and my son...well, my son broke the string! He went on to Texas Christian University. But at least TCU has a Catholic priest leading weekly Masses for Catholic students in their student body. So, I didn't have to disown my son.

For my teaching and administration career, I taught and coached at Eastside Catholic High School, taught and administrated at the Catholic Assumption School in Seattle, and have administrated for the past 28 years here at the best of them all - St. Louise!

So "WHY?!," you may ask, "Why has your entire life been fixated on Catholic school education?!"

Well, I can't give you a reason. ...But I can give you 10 reasons!

MR. FITZ'S TOP TEN LIST
 
The top 10 reasons why I love Catholic Schools & St. Louise...
 
No. 10: Cool uniforms.
Catholic schools often require school uniforms, which provide a sense of order and discipline. Fashion-wise, they also level the socioeconomic playing field, and they give the entire student body a whole new appreciation for McDonald-plaid.
 
No. 9: Splendid celebrations.
Children from government-run schools miss out on wonderful communal activities such as May Crownings, All Saints Day Masses, Ash Wednesday Liturgies, and Stations of the Cross.
 
No. 8: Three letters: C-Y-O.
What's more community-building and fun that watching teams like the St. Louise Chargers against the St. Anthony Roadrunners in volleyball or soccer? Such interfaith rivalries - which start with both teams gathering for a pregame prayer - provide contexts for learning sportsmanship, teamwork, the feeling of winning and/or losing, and the benefits of hard work.
 
No. 7: Affordability.
Private school tuition can be expensive, but Catholic schools are the best financial deal when compared to private, secular schools. And with St. Louise in particular having the least expensive tuition on the entire Eastside - combined with our generous tuition-assistance programs for parish families who need help - what a "cheap" way to invest in your children's future!

No. 6: Discipline.
Of course, not all government-run schools are chaotic, but it's obvious that the "bad-behavior incidents" at St. Louise are much fewer in severity and total number of occurrences than at other schools. Actually, I often joke that the only disciplining I have to do some weeks is to tell some students to tuck in their shirts.

No. 4: A second family.
Throughout my years at St. Louise, I've seen school families in distress due to illnesses, divorces, and even deaths. Fortunately, these awful incidents have always been immediately followed by fellow school families rallying around the distraught families. Parents in need have never felt so embraced by a community as at St. Louise.
 
No. 3: Dedicated teachers and staff.
Where else will you find such talented (and yet underpaid) individuals entrusted with the academic and moral formation of your children? The St. Louise faculty who share their gifts of teaching with your child will be among the most influential persons in your child's life - and they're not in it for the money, I assure you.

No. 2: Better academics.
It's a fact - Catholic school students, even those from the poorer neighborhoods, perform significantly better in standardized tests, graduation rates, and college admissions than public school students. It's no secret that a St. Louise education provides a structured, disciplined, and vigorous academic curriculum.  When I peek into teachers' lessons on my bi-weekly visits to all the classrooms, I marvel at what our students are learning in 8th grade math, 6th grade reading, 3rd grade science, and even PreK religion!
 
No. 1: Planting seeds and helping to set a moral compass.
Today's children are faced with many temptations and therefore need, more than ever, a strong moral foundation. There is a strong connection between having Catholic school teachers and building within oneself an ethical foundation. Ten years of Catholic education do not guarantee a virtuous life. Nor does a Catholic education automatically prevent your child from straying off the right path, leaving the Church, or even spending the night in jail. What Catholic education does do is plant a seed of the Catholic faith. And a well-formed conscience, even if neglected in your children's future early-adulthood years, may someday experience a rebirth of grace that leads your future adult-child back to the full embrace of the Church and the road to salvation that it promotes.
 
Let me summarize why I have been a student in, parent of kids in, or educator in Catholic Schools for now going on 50 years. It can be explained from the sign hanging on the wall in our school office, greeting visitors. The sign reads:
 
Be it known to all who enter here that
Christ
is the reason for this school.
He is the unseen but ever present teacher in its classes.
He is the model of its faculty
and the inspiration of its students.

Thanks for reading,
Mr. Fitz

p.s.
Here is a family prayer, suitable for this time as we kick-off national Catholic Schools' Week. It would be wonderful if you could say this with your children around the dinner table sometime in the coming days.

Dear Lord,
We thank you, especially during this Catholic Schools' Week, for St. Louise School.
         
We thank you for all who share their goodness and wisdom with us here at St. Louise. Thank you for the teachers- they help us to learn more about you and the world we live in. Thank you for our priests - they help us grow in our Catholic faith. Thank you for our classmates - their friendship makes for special times.
         
Thank you for the buildings and classrooms where we gather together to help each other learn; for the books and computers we use; for the music we sing and instruments we play; for the recess and p.e. times when we can play and help our bodies grow strongly.
  
Thank you, God, and for all the wonderful things about our school community.
We are very blest here at St. Louise!
Amen.

Upcoming Calendar of Events  
 
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. (Regular rules apply for a non-uniform day; see page 17.)
  • No (next day) homework will be assigned by any teachers.

Tuesday, January 30 - Day of Giving
  • "National Day of Giving" to promote to the general public about an opportunity to donate to St. Louise School and all Catholic schools in the nation. Thanks for promoting this special opportunity for your friends and family to give to the grand and glorious institute of Catholic education - and specifically to your very own kids' school - by posting THIS LINK on Facebook, Instagram, and your social sites today.

Wednesday, January 31 - 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 - 6:30-8:30PM in the parish hall; see the article below.

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

Invite Someone to Next Thursday's Open House
         
 
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.


Here's an idea!
How about inviting that prospective school parent you know to meet you at St. Louise one week from tonight - on Thursday the 1st at 6:30PM - and offer to give them a tour through the school during our Open House? Find out more about the Open House HERE.


Thanks for helping to market St. Louise School!

Our Hospitality Committee Could Use Your Help
          
          During Catholic Schools' Week, we love to show appreciation to our wonderful teachers by treating them to a special homemade lunch at school. Teachers rarely get to spend more than 25 minutes eating their lunches, so this coming Wednesday the 31st will be special, as they will be allowed twice as much time to eat a meal together in the parish hall. And it's extra-special in that the teachers don't even have to pack their own lunch this Wednesday - we, the parents, will be feeding them!
         We need your help! There are still several food items we need brought in, and some set-up and clean-up volunteer spots as well. Please visit this SignUp Genius site  and sign-up if there is an item you are able to bring in or some time that you are able to help with this special lunch for our teachers. If you have questions, please contact our Hospitality co-chairs, Shawna Shaules or Liz DeBord. Thank you!

Earn 6 Volunteer Hours in 1 Day
           Are you l ooking for volunteer hours? Our school nurse, Jane Reynolds, needs 14 volunteers to help with Vision and Hearing Screenings of students on Tuesday, March 13. You'd be working from 9-3.  This is a great opportunity for volunteer hours and no experience is needed.  Please contact Mrs. Reynolds.
          
 
Thanks to Marinell Zevenbergen and Kristy Charles for hosting the "Ladies Only Dance Party" - an Auction-purchase event - and raising $5,000 for St. Louise!  Moms from every grade level were there for this great community builder and fun night! If you weren't able to purchase entry to the party this past November, get ready to be one of the bidders at our 2018 Auction.
Consider Working at St. Louise
          
A part-time AUCTION DIRECTOR position is available at St. Louise School. This position begins in February, with a flexible schedule averaging about 20 hours per week - with minimal work in the summer but increased hours as the school's annual November Auction approaches.
 
A candidate is desired who is an initiator, a creative problem-solver, detail oriented, and has these qualifications:
* A minimum two years' experience leading auction events and/or fund raising;
* Expertise in using auction software (e.g. Greater Giving) and a basic understanding of budgeting and accounting principles;
* Superior organizational skills and ability to effectively manage multiple tasks;
* Demonstrated ability to positively coordinate, supervise, and motivate volunteers;
* An aptitude to successfully work both independently and in a team environment;
* Excellent oral and written communication skills.
 
Applicants are asked to please send a cover letter and resume directly to Dan Fitzpatrick.

**********

We are saddened that one of our afterschool supervisors, Mrs. Peggy Kirk, has announced she will be leaving us at Kids' Club in order to take another job. Peggy's final day at Kids' Club is February 5. The children in Kids' Club will celebrate her farewell at that time. You are welcome to send in your messages of Best-Wishes too. We will miss Mrs. Kirk, and want to thank her for her three years of service to Kids' Club! We have immediately posted a job opening, and if you know of someone interested for this part-time position, which begins immediately, please direct them HERE.
                  
Mr. Fitz caught up with two of his favorite students, Ruby and Brandon, on the playground earlier this year.

By the way...lest you think Mr. Fitz is singling out these two, he says Ruby and Brandon actually tie as his favorites --- they tie with the other 373 students on the playground with last names ranging anywhere between "Abueg" to "Zope."

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" is 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.
Annual Soup Lunch Coming Soon
          
          With Lent arriving early this year, we'll be observing Ash Wednesday on February 14, with our annual Ash Wednesday all-school liturgy at 1:45 and our annual Soup Lunch. Instead of students and teachers eating a typical, substantial and filling lunch, all will forego this type of lunch for a simple soup lunch.
         
We will be serving a cup of broccoli-cheddar soup, a dinner roll, and a half-pint of milk. 
The broccoli-cheddar soup is meatless, so it satisfies the requirement that those Catholics 14 years-old and older must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday. Even if your grade K-8 child doesn't care for soup, we still expect him/her to participate. (PreK will not be participating in the Soup Lunch.) Only a food allergy or medical condition should keep any K-8 student from our Soup Lunch day. In this case, please send a note to the teacher and pack for your child a small, very simple lunch that contains no treats. (See the ingredients of the soup HERE to confirm your child is not allergic.)
            Although we won't want your child to bring a lunch on February 14, we will ask to have him/her bring a cash donation that day that we will turn over to Catholic Relief Services (CRS), whose "Operation Rice Bowl" program helps feed the hungry in our state and in at least 40 countries throughout the world. Find out more about CRS HERE. The usual cash donation is around $5 - about the cost of purchasing a hot lunch online or packing a typical, filling sack lunch.
          Soup Lunch on Ash Wednesday will help your children develop self-discipline and make them feel the hunger for just a few hours that the less fortunate feel every day. In addition, donating money to Catholic Relief Services develops in your children the love that Jesus asks of His followers. Soup Lunch day is a great Catholic school tradition that we hope you'll enthusiastically support and praise your child for participating in it when he/she comes home with a growling stomach that  Ash Wednesday afternoon.

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 that came home in last Thursday'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. 


 

 Thank You for Fulfilling Your ASGC Commitment
          
We purposely have the Annual School Gift Campaign calendared at the same time as Catholic Schools' Week, as what better way to celebrate Catholic school education and show your support of St. Louise School than to donate?!  If you haven't yet gotten around to make your one-time donation to, or your first gift of a bigger pledge to, our 2018 Annual School Gift Campaign, please go here to our ASGC page and you can use your credit card. If you'd rather send in a check, please make checks payable to "St. Louise ASGC." Thank you for fulfilling this fund raising commitment!

You may be hearing about a "National Day of Giving to Catholic Schools" - for the 24 hour period of 6AM on Tuesday the 30th, through 6AM on Wednesday the 31st. This special one-day giving-event is for schools which don't hold their annual giving campaign at this time, or in the case of St. Louise, we'll be using this "National Day of Giving" to promote to the general public about an opportunity to donate to St. Louise School.
 
Thanks for promoting this special opportunity for your friends and family to give to the grand and glorious institute of Catholic education - and specifically to your very own kids' school - by posting THIS LINK on Facebook, Instagram, and your social sites the morning of Tuesday, January 30.



Pictured are four of our St. Louise School families who attended the March for Life in Olympia on Monday, rallying the politicians to build pro-life platforms and vote for pro-life legislation. .
At St. Louise School,
Students/Parents/Staff Are Family

         Most of us adults remember the 70's disco song, "We Are Family." Did you know that your children know it too?! Don't believe us? Then check out THIS!
         We  want to thank Mrs. Cervantes for producing this video, which shows the positive spirit of our St. Louise students...and staff!

See what's happening on our St. Louise Facebook page