PARENT BULLETIN
February 9, 2017
DAN'S BLOG

As you know, we have been searching - with no luck - for new co/tri-chairs to take the 2016 Auction reins from Julianne Read and Esther Magnotti and lead us into planning our 2017 Auction. This gets harder each year to find parents willing to chair, and once we get commitments, there is always a big learning curve in taking on such a big task. Thus, we've decided to move in a different direction in how St. Louise Auctions will be led starting this year.

After consultation with the Parents' Club Board, six former Auction chairpersons, and the School Finance Committee, and with approval from Father Gary, St. Louise will be moving from volunteer Auction co/tri-chairs to a paid Auction Director. The money that would have normally been an expense to cover partial tuition stipends for the tri-chairs will now be used to pay this permanent, part-time position.

By having a permanent Auction Director, the learning curve each winter eventually will drop to a flat line, as the Director will understand how to annually tie up the loose ends with one Auction while begin planning for the next year's Auction. Many private high schools have moved to this plan of hiring their Auction Director instead of relying on parent volunteers to be the head directors, and I believe more elementary schools will soon follow our lead.

Under our new plan, the Auction Director will be the head organizer/planner, and then directly under him/her will remain the committee heads of the various Auction committees - such as "accounting," "auction night workers," "item display," "black & white photos," and "raffles" - to name just a few of the approximate two dozen committees. Thus, we still will rely on these volunteer committee heads to rally and train their volunteer teams, and get their tasks accomplished, but no two or three parents will have the weight of the Auction all on their shoulders.

We've posted this Auction Director job listing online. Please pass on the news of this new position to anyone you know with the desire for a part time job and the skillset St. Louise needs. And then - after we hire this new Auction Director next month - I'd ask each of you to be ready in early spring to seriously consider heading a committee or at least committing to be a committee member, as we start planning for our 2017 Auction - under the guidance and overall planning of this new Director.
 
Sincerely,
 
Mr. FITZ

p.s.
Last Thursday you received re-enrollment paperwork in the Family Envelope and received an email that gave you the log-in information for the electronic-part of the enrollment process. If you have questions about enrollment for 2017-18, please contact Mindy and Lola in the school office. Remember to get this enrollment process completed by next week! The re-enrollment fee is only $75 if completed by February 17. It increases dramatically - to $200 - if you wait until after the 17th! (Note that school is closed on Feb. 17, so you will need to have your paperwork, with the enclose check, postmarked by that date if mailing to us, or more smartly - turned in to the office before it closes at 4PM on Thursday the 16th. The electronic portion needs to be completed by the 17th.)

School Calendar
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THIS WEEK
Tonight
  • Grade 3-4 "Of Cedar and Salmon" potlatch, 7PM in the parish hall
Tomorrow
  • Kindergarten's "Donuts with Dad", 8:35AM
  • Grade 6-8 "Crowd Social", 7-9PM in the parish hall
Saturday
  • Speech Team at Archbishop Murphy HS Tournament

COMING UP NEXT WEEK
 
Monday, February 13
  • Chess Club begins - meeting Mondays from 2-3PM
 
Tuesday, February 14
  • Happy Valentine's Day
 
Thursday, February 16
  • Bake Sale
  • Reconciliation Service Only for Grade 3-5 Students, 10:30AM
 
Friday, February 17
  • No School - both the school office and Kids' Club are closed; the 4-day weekend continues on Monday, Feb. 20, with no school for George Washington's Birthday
  • Today Is the Early Admissions Deadline for Re-Enrolling Current Students & Enrolling New Students; Re-Enrollment Fee Increases to $200 after Today 
  • Note: with the school office closed today, if you have any hard-copy enrollment paperwork to turn in at the last minute or have your re-enrollment check to turn in today, the parish office will be open from 9AM-3PM.
CYO News

Our St. Louise middle school  teams lost in the CYO BASKETBALL playoffs this past weekend, but they all gave valiant efforts. We want to thank all our hoop coaches for the time they gave this year to teach and lead our 4th-8th grade teams: Jon Sharp, Peter Zevenbergen, Henry Mah, Jim Goett, Mark Salmon, Tyler Wilken, Peter Tran, Tim Rausch, Ray Oen, John Davidson, John Gillespie, David Utz, Julie Kennedy, Rodney Thomas, Gretchen Gaylor, Chris Hoffman, Gina Tylutki, Toby Richards, and alumni Gavin Dayment & Cameron Stockwell.


Registration for the 2017 St. Louise BASEBALL season is now open for all 5th-6th grade boys HERE.  The deadline to register is February 19. CYO baseball practices start in late February, and games run from mid-March to June. Specific game dates and additional information may be found at the CYO website. If you have any questions, please contact Dan Kirchner.
Thank You, Volunteers!
 
We appreciate Jeff Kujath, a member of our volunteer Tech Committee, for helping out Dan Kirby in repairing the hardware failure that brought down our email and internet at school last week.
       
The school and parish staffs both enjoyed a delicious lunch - and a rare chance to take an entire hour to eat - as part of our Catholic Schools' Week events. Thanks to all the parents who cooked for and served at the lunch: Kristy Charles, Victoria Bermel, Rebecca Nightingale, Edna Hewett, Angeleigh Gregorios, Trinette Kuester, Rochelle Lagunero, Maria Lei, Kristie Rorie, Arlene Isakson, Evelyn Oen, Megan Kirk, Katie McCaslin, Sarah Darboe, Paula Hollerbach, Suzie Sollars, Mercy Jayakaran, Alice Shaw, Maria Rotar, Anh Phan, Jennifer Magnusen, Wendy Blank, Phil Macino, Jennifer Engle.
  
We would also like to thank the following people for helping at and/or baking for last Thursday night's Open House:   Shawna Shaules, Kristy Charles, Diane Sloss, Kathleen Lund, Jenifer Magnusen, Paula Hollerbach, Mercy Jayakaran, Angela Thompson, Jennifer Engle, PT Scukas, Suzie Sollars.

Our marketing committee spent the last few weeks promoting our Open House through yard signs and posters, and then members greeted visitors last Thursday night. Thanks to all of these parents for helping Cindy Wagner and Laura Leach:
Tom Brennan, Nancy Tribolet, Erin Aitken, Alice Shaw, Lee Macatangay, Abigail Eala, Kristy Charles, Jen Sharp, Esther Magnotti, Rayme Teders, Wendy Blank, Amy Wilken.

Thanks to these parents for supervising classrooms last Wednesday so the teachers could enjoy a rare 1-hour lunch during Catholic Schools' Week: Jennifer Engle, Claudia Tejeda, Edna Hewett, Phil Macino, Van Trinh, Eleanor Malabanan, Sherri Brouwer, Darlene Kraft, Arlene Isaksen, Carolyn Yepez, Seema Lukose, Trinette Kuester, Jen Yarnell, Maria Lei, Teresa Brosche, Jennifer Sharp, Alice Shaw, Michelle Bomberger, Palma Conces, Stasia Kehoe, Katie Rempe.

Looking for Volunteer Hours?
          School nurse Jane Reynolds need 14 volunteers to help her with the annual vision and hearing screenings on Tuesday, March 7, from 9am-3pm (with a break for lunch). This is a great opportunity to earn volunteer hours, and no experience is needed.  Contact Jane if interested. 
Sign Up Now for the Annual Father/Daughter Dance
          This year's Father/Daughter Dance is Saturday, February 25, and the theme will be "Dancing through the Decades." So get your Flapper Dress, Poodle Skirt, Go-Go Boots, Tie-Dye Jumpsuits, or Parachute Pants ready, as you dads and your girls will come dressed in your favorite dancing attire from the 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, or 90's!  Our DJ will be spinning all the top hits from the past & present as we dance our way through the decades! Prizes will be awarded for the Best Dressed & Best Dance Style from each decade! Food will be provided by J&J BBQ Company.  The dance is from 6:30-9:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall, and you may register online HERE. The cost is $65 per family if you register by February 16.  Late registrations will be accepted but will include a late fee of $10.   You'll find more information in today's red Family Envelope.  If you have any questions or are interested in helping with the planning for this fun event, please contact Teresa Brosche or Rebecca Ort.
 
  
 
Charger Cards for Valentine's Day
Let Charger Cards make your Valentine's Day shopping super easy this year! We are carrying cards for that special someone in your life.

Great Gift card suggestions for Mom include:
  • Amazon.com - $25 or $100
  • Crate and Barrel - $25 or $100
  • Gene Juarez - $25, $50 or $100
  • Jo Ann Fabrics or Michaels - $25
  • Macy's - $25 or $100
  • Nordstrom - $25 or $100
  • Pottery Barn - $25 or $100
  • See's Candies - $25
  • Ulta - $25
  • Starbucks - $10 or $25

Create a Valentine Package:
  • From Dad and the Kids to Mom ($50): $25 Gene Juarez & $25 See's Candies
  • The Mom's Day Out package ($60): $25 Gene Juarez, $25 Macy's, $10 Starbucks.
  • The Spoil Mom ($100): $100 Gene Juarez.
  • The Couples package ($200): $100 Gene Juarez, $100 Daniel's Broiler.
  • Dinner and a movie at Crossroads or Factoria ($45): $25 Regal or AMC, $20 Chipolte
  • Dinner and a movie at Lincoln Square ($75): $25 Lincoln Cinema, $50 Maggiano's
  • Evening of Coffee and Books ($35): $10 Starbucks, $25 Barnes and Noble
  • Or get creative and make your own, we'd be happy to customize any package! Nothing says "I love you" more than buying a gift that also helps your kids' school!  Take that extra step to show them you care!
Charger Cards also offers gift wrap to make your life even easier! Charger Cards has lots of cards in stock! Special order cards ordered by Monday, February 6, at 9am will be sent home the afternoon of February 10.


Charger Cards Seeking New Co-Chairs
Parents' Club is looking for two new Charger Cards co-chairs for a minimum commitment of two years (the 2017-18 and 2018-19 school years). Attention to detail, strength in working with numbers are a plus (e.g. know Excel and QuickBooks), as are organizational skills. These chair positions earns a partial scholarship for tuition, and is a great way to interact with our St. Louise community and make a positive impact in an important school program. Shadowing of current co-chairs would take place this spring so that you are well prepared to step in to the role of co-chair this fall. If you are interested or have any questions, please contact current chairs, Darlene Kraft or Kathy Hueffed at chargercards@stlouiseschool.org .


 February is 'Reload' Month
          To Reload a card, purchase a plastic gift card from the Charger Card office. You can add funds to that same card and reuse it over and over each month. Reload any Charger Card during the month of February and be entered for a chance to win a $25 card of your choice! Will your prize be $25 at Nordstrom? $25 at Safeway? $25 on Amazon? Each Reload is a chance to win! Enter as many times as you like! Once you set it up, you'll see how easy it is to reload!

  
Office Hours
+ Charger Card office hours are from 8:15-8:45 on every Friday school morning.
          + Available for online purchases 24/7 at www.shopwithscrip.com.
                    +For questions or more information on Charger Cards, please email      
                      chargercards@stlouiseschool.org or visit the school website.



Some of our 6th graders enjoyed dessert at Crossroads Mass after having a special parent/child lunch last Wednesday afternoon during Catholic Schools' Week.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
If you have a photo of your kids in a school or community event and/or at a CYO game, send it to Dan Fitzpatrick for possible publishing in an upcoming Parent Bulletin and/or to Catherine Saffel for possible inclusion in the end-of-year School Yearbook.