ST. LOUISE SCHOOL PARENT BULLETIN

September 21, 2017

Dan's Blog
Next Thursday, September 28, is our annual "Mass of the Holy Spirit," which is the joyful celebration at the beginning of every school year, not just at St. Louise but at most other Catholic elementary schools, high schools, and colleges. At this Mass, as a school community we will pray together, invoking the Holy Spirit upon all our efforts throughout this year. It is the Holy Spirit who gives the diversity of gifts that are so needed to help your children grow spiritually, socially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually from now through June. As with every school Mass this year, we encourage parents to please try to attend, as you model for your children the importance prayer has in your and your family's lives.

Attending Mass and your children's experiences in church have certainly changed over the years. When Mass was said in Latin 70 years ago, children didn't have much to do but keep quiet and daydream. And even when the Latin Mass went away, what I remember about proper church etiquette as a kid when I started elementary school in the mid-1960s was that our parents would never have brought their coffee cups into church, ladies had to cover their heads, and if someone was seen chewing gum in church, they might as well head straight to the confessional. However, these days at Sunday Mass in many churches, you often see a more laid-back attitude from both the parents and their children. In fact, there often seems to be just as much socializing as praying among the congregation.

Therefore, every fall, St. Louise teachers spend some time reminding their students of the piousness that should be displayed by all when in "God's House." To this end, I'd like to also remind you parents of the various procedures all the teachers follow with their students when entering, leaving, and praying in church. Our hope is that you will team with us in following our liturgy-guidelines when you attend a school Mass or prayer service and, thus, you will model for your children the proper, respectful way to behave in church.

I realize your procedures at your house of worship might be slightly different. Heck, I realize even here at St. Louise Parish, the expectations on Sunday from our 7:30AM "traditional" Mass to our 1:00PM Mass in Spanish to our 6PM LifeTeen Mass all differ. Below are the customary guidelines that all St. Louise teachers teach their students, and that we'd like parents to also follow when attending school liturgies:
A. When entering the church quietly, one blesses him/herself with the holy water using the right hand, bows before entering the pew (genuflecting is also acceptable), and then immediately kneels to spend some quiet time with God before the liturgy officially begins.
B. Students are expected to actively participate in the liturgy, which means responding and singing strongly, as modeled by their teachers... their principal...and of course any parents in attendance.
C. During the distribution of Communion, when coming forward to receive a blessing (if the child hasn't yet made his/her First Communion) or to receive the Host (the Bread/the Body of Christ), all should walk in a reverent and respectful manner with hands folded in front or across their chest. Students should then bow their heads prior to receiving Communion, as a sign of reverence for the Eucharist. As they proceed back to their seats, students are to keep their hands folded and walk in a respectful manner.
D. Throughout Communion, all are to remain standing, joining in the Communion songs. We will be seated only when the presiding Priest sits down.
E. When dismissing after Mass, the teacher directs the entire class to all bow together or have each student bow individually as exiting, and then quietly proceed out of church single file.
One other guideline not mentioned above is solely for parents and visitors to observe. We ask that any socializing with fellow parents and friends takes place outside the church, and that once you enter the worship section of the church, you limit your conversing to a few, polite whispers. In this way, when your children enter with their class, they will observe you demonstrating the proper, pious reverence that all should display when in church.

When you do attend a school liturgy and you want to sit with your child in the pews, it's best for you to wait outside your child's classroom about 15 minutes prior to Mass. (Next Thursday's Mass of the Holy Spirit begins at 9:00, so parents attending should be outside classrooms no later than 8:45.) You may then walk with your child to church and sit with him/her. Please note that grades K-5 sit together with their "buddy classes," so please allow your child to sit directly next to his/her buddy in the pew, and then you can sit on the other side. This allows the older "buddy" to be the model of proper behavior to his/her younger "buddy." (Sounds familiar with how you are the "older" model for your child!)

What better way for your children to grow up understanding liturgical participation and appreciating the specialness of the Mass than by not only attending a school liturgy with their classmates every few weeks, but by having their parents occasionally join them. Even more importantly, Mass attendance needs to be a routine on weekends. It would be the equivalent of a teacher promoting reading, and the student getting in a lot of reading at school, but then when the child goes home and asks mom and dad if they can go to the library to get some books, the parents reply, "Nah! We don't read at home. Our family isn't into that. You can do that at school."

For a listing of our weekday Masses and prayer services, check out the special sheet I'm sending home in today's red Family Envelope. It will look great posted up on your refrigerator at home. For a listing of St. Louise Parish weekend Masses, please look here.

If you'd like to learn more about the Mass, for those of you who are non-Catholics, or for those who want to refresh your memories and teach your kids at home, here is a video guide to the Catholic Mass that does a good job explaining each unique part.

Thanks for reading,
Mr. Fitz
p.s.
How are you doing with collecting Walk-A-Thon donations? With our famous Walk-A-Thon event occurring next Friday, September 29, that's also the date we'd like all the pledges finished being donated online HERE. If you need more information on the Walk-A-Thon, you can find that HERE, including the contact information for our hard-working W-A-T chairpersons, Laura, Erika, Jolla, and Michelle. The students have so much fun walking (and many even jogging) to the music on W-A-T day, especially with their teachers on the course with them, and their parents cheering along the sidelines.  Your kids on Monday will be bringing home their W-A-T t-shirts to color in their grade level colors and decorate if they'd like. [By the way, please make sure we keep the t-shirts as "t-shirts." We don't want them transformed into "tank tops."] Remember, we need to raise $60,000 though the Walk-A-Thon so the Parents' Club will have enough revenue to fund the various ways they are helping support the school this year: Enrichment Grants (such as visiting authors and assemblies); new p.e. and recess equipment for all grades; new laptops for many of the teachers; new math and reading books in the primary grades; new Bibles for the 4th graders; subsidizing part of the 6th graders' environmental education camp; and much, much more! Thanks for working hard to get those W-A-T donations in by next Friday! 
pre-order
Upcoming Calendar of Events

Monday the 25th
  • Spirit Week begins as we work our way toward Friday's Walk-A-Thon; classes will create a grade level Spirit Poster today; some students (see names below) will get to wear free dress today if they brought in $175+ of pledges by Sept. 15; W-A-T tshirts will be given to students today (wear them to school on Friday!)
  • Chess Club begins Monday sessions - 2:00-3:00PM; still time to register HERE
  • SCREENAGERS movie for ALL PARENTS (and grade 5-8 students) - 6:30PM in the parish hall
Tuesday the 26th
  • Silly Socks Day - Spirit Week continues as we work our way toward the Walk-A-Thon; all students (and staff) can wear the silliest, most colorful, and/or mismatched socks today
Wednesday the 27th
  • Spirit Week Continues - grade levels create their "cheer" today; they'll be chanting it during Friday's Walk-A-Thon
  • Grades 7 & 8 have their JH Retreat at Camp Sambica today; junior high students are to be dropped off and picked up directly at Sambica
 
Thursday the 28th
  • Mass of the Holy Spirit - 9:00AM; parents are encouraged to attend; you may meet your child's class outside their classroom at 8:45 and walk with them to church
     
Friday the 29th
  • WALK-A-THON - grade levels are walking/jogging on the course (parking lot) at the following times: Gr. PK-2 from 10:00-10:45; Gr. 3-5 from 11:15-12:30; Gr. 6-8 from 1:00-2:15; parents should park off-site and come cheer on the kids (or volunteer to help - contact walkathon@stlouiseschool.org); arrive early as we'll begin prior to the times above with prayer and grade level "cheers"
  • Free Dress - but students are to wear their W-A-T t-shirts and dress in their grade level colors; wear athletic clothing and athletic shoes; dress for the weather (we walk even if it's raining)
Thursday the 5th
  • All-School PHOTO DAY - all students in all grades must come to school in full school uniform (red sweater or fleece); please pre-order school photos
Friday the 6th
  • NO SCHOOL - Teacher Retreat Day
Monday the 9th
  • NO SCHOOL - optional Parent/Teacher Conference Day; teachers will contact parents with whom they would like to conference; if you would like to set up a conference with the teacher, please contact the teacher now

Only ONE MORE WEEK to Collect Pledges
Parents are encouraged to attend and cheer on the kids next Friday, September 29, when their kids walk (or run) at the following times:
  • Gr. PK-2 from 10:00-10:45
  • Gr. 3-5 from 11:15-12:30
  • Gr. 6-8 from 1:00-2:15
Although the Walk-A-Thon will be a magical day on the last Friday in September to come together as a community to celebrate fun, fitness, and our great school, NOW is the time for you and your kids to gather Walk-A-Thon pledges from family and friends. You only have 8 more days to collect pledges here online! The deadline is next Friday, September 29th!
 
Your family's minimum required contribution to the Parents' Club is as follows:
  • For a 1-child school family, $85;
  • For a 2-children family, $170;
  • For a 3+ children family, $200.
Beyond these minimum requirements, there will be special prize rewards given for those who go above and beyond!
  • The boy and girl in each of the 10 grade levels who walk or run the longest distance during the Walk-A-Thon will be recognized by having his/her name engraved on a perpetual plaque to be hung in the gym. Plus, those top distance-traveling students will each receive a $25 Amazon or Target gift card.
  • The top fundraising student in each of the 10 grade levels* will get to select from the prize list sent home in an earlier red envelope.
      *t o qualify, must have a minimum of $250 in donations per student
  • For each student who had $175 donated in his/her name by September 15, he/she will be rewarded with a free dress day this Monday, September 25. See the names of these students below.


 
For more information on Walk-A-thon procedures and prizes, and for the online link to gather pledges, please go to the  Walk-A-Thon page. 


For added fun, if your child - or you parents - would like to purchase this St. Louise hat to wear on Walk-A-Thon day, all proceeds will help us reach our goal of raising $60,000 for the Parents' Club. If...when...we reach $60,000, the student body will have a fun reward day party in October! As an added incentive to purchase these "Property of STL Hats" for your kids, the hats will be allowed to be worn by students indoors - in class - on selected Fridays throughout the school year! The first day will be next Friday. More STL Hat Days will be announced throughout the school year.
 

This Monday, students will be given special Walk-A-Thon t-shirts (to take home and decorate in their grade level colors if they'd like) and then bring back to school and wear to school on Friday the 29th. It's a free dress day on W-A-T day on the 29th, and besides the t-shirt, on that day students must wear appropriate athletic-style clothing and shoes that will help them accomplish the most laps possible. Students must also dress for the weather - we go outside and walk regardless of if it's raining or not.

Assigned Grade Level Colors in Which to Decorate the T-Shirt
and Wear As Much Colored-Clothing as Possible on W-A-T Day:
·  Pre-K = light blue
·  K = purple
·  1st = red
·  2nd = green
·  3rd = yellow
·  4th = white
·  5th = blue
·  6th = grey
·  7th = orange
·  8th = black

 
Please contact the Walk-A-Thon chairs if you have questions: Erika Mervin, Michele Baker, Jolla Sumido, Laura Dark: Walkathon@stlouiseschool.org.
   We have 34 new school families joining our St. Louise School community this fall, and below are a few of the new parents. Each week, we'll show you a few more...but don't worry...there won't be a test!
        As you see these newest St. Louisers around school, and see the other new parents whose portraits we'll be showing you in upcoming editions of the Bulletin, please reach out to welcome them!


 Joe & Shawna Pacheco
(new kindergartener)


  
Tarun Ratnam & Sangeetha Kanickadass
(new 5th grader)
 
 
 
James Geiger & Paulina Geiger Lazo-Aquino (new 8th grader)
 
 
 

Tyler & Meghan Green

(new preschooler & kindergartener)
 
 
 

Denny & Jennie Liao

(new kindergartener)

 
 

Mari McMenamin

(new 5th grader & 6th grader)


 

Sean Muller & Michele Rasmussen

(new 2nd grader & 4th grader)
Final Reminder : Set Up a Standing Order for Charger Cards & Earn a FREE Starbucks Card 


If you place a "Standing Order" before September 30, and include at least one "Groceries or Gas" category store, you will receive a $5 Starbucks gift card with your first order!

Find the Standing Order Form on our webpage: www.stlouiseschool.org/chargercards.


With the school year beginning, Charger Cards would like to help you with plans to reach your minimum rebate and/or earn rebates to reduce next year's tuition. Email us at chargercards@stlouiseschool.org or stop by during office hours to make an appointment to help you understand the program and the many options to purchase. We will be happy to help you make a "plan" for your family based on your current shopping habits and budgeting!


      
We Have Childcare Openings
 
          Kids' Club is St. Louise's before-school and/or after-school childcare program. Currently, we have openings in after-school care Kids' Club, which runs until 5:45PM each school day. The activities in which children engage while outside of school hours are critical to their development. That is why when school is out, you can trust Kids' Club to provide experiential, hands-on learning choices in a safe and familiar setting.  Our goal is to ensure a smooth transition between the school day and the before-school and after-school program. Activities are designed to spark academic interests, recreation, physical fitness and nurture social-emotional growth. We also provide the time, the place, and the assistance to ensure your children have enough time to complete their homework. Please contact Kids' Club director, Maria Zambrano to inquire about our program.  Maria and our entire Kids' Club team (Marilu De La Torre, Peggy Kirk, Sheila McAllister) would be happy to assist you.
Auction News
         
         
Join this List - Our Generous Sponsors and Underwriters
 
Our event simply would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. We are grateful for the following businesses and families who have underwritten much of the cost to offer this fundraising event! If you'd like to join these amazing businesses and families, please email
call Sue Richards at 425-746-5457.
  • Fairway Independent Mortgage
  • Advanced Orthodontics
  • A. Luis Aviles, DDS Endodontics
  • Bruce Company
  • EDCA Roofing
  • Honda Auto Center of Bellevue
  • Parker Smith & Feek
  • Rayme Teders, Windermere
  • iSpot.tv, Inc.
  • Charles Schwab 
  • CougsFirst/Glenn Osterhout
  • The Richards Family (Will '10, Riley, Jack '17)
  • The Teplicky Family (Allie '07, Joey '10, Dominic '14)
Procurement Donations Past Due
 
In case you forgot, we need you to have turned in your procured,
tangible items to the Auction Office or Main School Office already. Thank you!
 
 

New at This Year's Auction - Kendra Scott Jewelry Pull
 
Kendra Scott Jewlery is all the rage, and for the first time at this year's auction we'll have 50 various pieces of beautiful Kendra Scott jewelry available to purchase, with 100% of the purchase price going directly to St. Louise! Each of the 50 pieces will be beautifully wrapped - for just $65 you choose one of the packages to open and take home. Each piece is unique and ranges in value from $65 to $250. Buy a box or two for yourself as well as a few for Christmas gifts! Thank you to Kendra Scott Jewelry for this amazing donation to our school! Check out the beautiful collection at KendraScott.com .

 
 
Thank you for all your support - our Schoolhouse ROCKS!
~Sue Richards, Auction Director
 

Let's All Go to the Movies
           
          Our Parents' Club is hosting a screening of the movie Screenagers this Monday, September 25, at 6:30 PM in the Parish Hall. This is a one hour film that reveals how your children's time spent in front of a computer screen, a video game screen, or a cell phone impacts kids' development. Screenagers' filmmaker - a fellow parent and a physician - offers solutions on how parents can empower their children to best navigate the digital world and find balance. You can watch the movie trailer HERE.
          We want all St. Louise parents to attend Screenagers regardless of if you have a preteen or teenager who has a cell phone or is into video gaming. Because before you know it, your little one will be a bigger one, so it's good to get the information now. That way, you'll be prepared for the coming years of what rules and decisions your household will set up for cell phones, computer use, and screen time in the home.
          In addition, we are asking you parents with 5th grader or older children to bring your kids to the parish hall this Monday. The movie's content is too mature for younger children, but the content should be appropriate for students ages 11-14. (Watch the trailer above to judge if you think your 5th-6th grader is mature enough; definitely 7th-8th graders should attend.) After the movie, you and your 5th-8th grader can have great conversations at home about what you viewed. Again, no younger children are to attend Screenagers.
           And by the way, if you have a neighbor, co-worker, or sibling who would like to attend Screenagers with you, by all means, bring them to the Parish Hall. They don't have to have a child attending St. Louise in order to attend the viewing. The Parents' Club would love to host them too.
          The movie begins at 6:30 on the 25th, so please arrive on time to find a seat in the Hall up close, and so we can start on time so to get you home at an early hour. No, there won't be buttered popcorn or reclining seats. Yes, we will ask you to silence your cell phones.

Testing Has Begun in Grades 2-8

          MAP testing - the new computer-adaptive test being given to every grade 2-8 student in the Seattle Archdiocese, including St. Louise students, began implementation in some St. Louise classes this week and continues in certain classes into mid-October, with each grade 2-8 homeroom taking three tests, each lasting approximately one-hour, according to the following schedule:
  • Week of September 18-22: Homerooms 2A, 3B, 4B, 5A, 6A, 7A
  • Week of October 2-6: Homerooms 2B, 5B, 6B, 7B, 8B
  • Week of October 9-13: Homerooms 3A, 4A, 8A

         Homeroom teachers will send home more information to parents prior to your child's testing week. Results will be shared in the spring, which is the second time students take the MAP each year. In this way, results are shown as growth over time. We show parents and teachers a measurement of how much growth each child made in the three tested areas - math, reading, and language arts. You may find out more about MAP at this website.
 
Order School Lunches Online

          St. Louise and Lunch Ladies Catering has partnered with Orderlunches - now called Boonli -  to provide a secure, fast, and easy-to-use online ordering system that allows parents to view the lunch menu, order, prepay and manage student lunches on the web. Find out how to order school lunches online by going to http://www.stlouiseschool.org/lunch. If you have questions about the school lunch program, or run into problems with missed orders, need to cancel an order,  etc., please email w-szabo@hotmail.com or call 425-444-9573.

You May Start Now to Pre-Order School Photos
         
          Student photos are scheduled for Thursday, October 5th.  Throughout the day, every grade PK-8 student will have his/her individual photo taken in a complete school uniform, along with a class photo. Regardless if your child will be purchasing an individual photo, the photos need to be taken for the School Yearbook.
           The preferred method to pre-order school photos is
to go online at this time to www.mylifetouch.com  and use St. Louise School's code: LS117096Q0. When ordering online, the student's first and last name needs to match the name in our Skyward database.  A second option for ordering photos is to complete and return a paper-form which you'll find sent home in today's Family Envelope. You must submit a check if you don't pay online.
          All grade PK-8 students are to come to school on October 5th in their complete uniforms, wearing the traditional red sweaters or red fleece (no hoodies,  track jackets, or polo shirts not covered by the red sweaters/fleece). If you have any questions concerning school photos, please contact Cindy Wagner .
          If you would like to volunteer to help organize the students throughout the day on Photo Day, please contact Cindy.

 

Spread the word to alumni you know & parents of alumni.

Prizes to the Class with the most attendees!

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