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ST. LOUISE SCHOOL PARENT BULLETIN
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If you RSVP'ed to attend the Auction, you're receiving your catalog today. Please take time before Saturday night to post-it note the pages containing all the great items on which you'll want to bid. If you don't plan ahead and enter the Westin hotel "blind," the large amount and amazing spectacle of items up-for-bid will make you so awestruck that you might not be able to "strategize" on the spot with your spouse.
Of course, if you really are interested in an item up for bid during the Silent Auction, but you don't want to take the chance you'll be outbid by a wily, competitive, fellow parent, simply do a guaranteed-bid. Guaranteed bidding is when you commit to pay the highest-asked price for the item. Once you do that, the item is yours - no need to sweat over if you'll be the winning bidder at the end. Yes, you may pay a little more than you thought, but you'll assure yourself the purchase, and in addition you can write off any excess amount you paid over the valued-amount as a tax-deductible donation.
Regarding bidding on items at the silent auctions, please note this special change we're implementing this Saturday...
This year we are going to mobile bidding for all silent auction items! That means you won't be grabbing a pencil and writing your bid amount on a bid sheet on the table. Instead, you'll be grabbing your cell phone and clicking on the bid amount you'd like to make. By going to mobile bidding, once you virtually bid on an item, you'll be sent instant texts if you get out-bid by a fellow auction-goer. Then you can quickly re-enter a higher bid on your phone. Just think of how great mobile bidding is! Instead of in the past when you had to try to figure out on which table in which room is the item you wrote down a bid on, and then to keep walking back to that table to check on your bid status, you can now just up-the-bid with a click of your phone while standing at the bar ordering another drink. ;-)
We're also using mobile bidding
for the "Almost Live" section of the auction, which we formerly called "Bid-o-Gram." This is when you are seated for the Live Auction but doing some silent bidding on the side. So as our auctioneer is announcing the next item up for bid during the Live Auction, if it's not something you'll be bidding on, turn to your phone and check out what is being sold on "Almost Live." You can be the winning bidder with your cell in one hand and your steak knife in other.
So now that we've implemented mobile bidding, we are increasing the chance you'll never lose out on a Silent Auction item - because you'll be notified when someone is bidding higher, giving you a chance to submit the winning, highest bid before the Silent Auction close. But what about the Live Auction. When bidding starts later in the evening for the Live Auction, how can you increase your chance you'll be the winning bidder? Well, we've created two opportunities for you to "win" when you raise your bid card during the Live Auction in the Westin ballroom. These two times are when the auctioneer will ask you to raise your bid card at your chosen bid levels to give to Fund-a-Need #1 and Fund-a-Need #2.
This year we have two Fund-a-Needs - the first is to raise funds so we can purchase more science programs and more wi-fi access throughout the classrooms, and the second is to raise funds to add to our tuition assistance endowment fund. (I wrote about this in more detail a few weeks ago HERE.) If we raise $40K on Saturday night for Fund-a-Need #1, we'll purchase an eight-year license for new science curricula and install more wi-fi radios throughout the school building. And our goal for Fund-a-Need #2 is to raise $50K to increase our endowment fund, thereby creating more interest income to distribute in the form of tuition assistance scholarships.
If you raise your bid card in the Westin ballroom when we are asking for donations to our Fund-a-Needs, you will indeed be called out by the auctioneer as a "winning" bidder - generously giving to two important causes! By the way, if you cannot attend the Auction this year, you can still donate to these Fund-a-Needs. Please contact Julianne Read or Cindy Wagner and let them know how much you'd like to donate to one or both Fund-a-Needs. Thank you in in advance for your generosity!
The school faculty and I are so appreciative of all the generous bidding you'll be doing to support St. Louise! We also are grateful for all the wonderful fellowship we will get to enjoy Saturday night with fellow St. Louisers, and applaud all the unbelievable efforts coming from our Auction volunteers! Our auction director, Julianne Read, and I want to thank those parents who took on the big tasks of being committee chairpersons. Your commitment to the school and assistance to Julianne is much cherished!
Past school parent Mary Comstock was the original creator of the following poem that I've slightly updated. As you know, we're only two days away from this fun and vital event! So with apologies to the inspiration behind the poem, Clement Moore, and apologies to Mary if I've butchered it with my changes, I present for you to enjoy reading...
'Twas the Night Before the Auction
'Twas the day before the night before the auction, when all through the school,
Every creature was stirring, knowing Saturday would be so cool.
The Grade Projects stood gleaming in the school lobby with care,
In the hopes that to someone's home they soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug at their desks,
While visions of a new science curriculum danced in their heads.
With Mr. Fitz in his tie and Mr. Fuerte in his vest,
Having just settled their brains for a "the 3:00 bell's gonna ring soon!" rest;
When from the Auction Office there arose such a clatter,
They sprang to their door to see what was the matter.
Away to the north wing Mrs. Morgan flew like a flash,
Grabbed up the walkie-talkie, and said, "I've heard such a crash!"
When what to their wondering eyes should appear,
But Julianne Read and her sixty-eight volunteers!
With so many volunteers, so joyful and keen,
They were sure in a moment it must be Auction 2019!
More rapid than eagles those helpers, they came,
They whistled and shouted, they called each other by name!
"Now Accounting! Now Decorations! Now Item Display and Set-up!
On Auction Night Workers! Oh, don't forget Clean-up!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!
To the Bellevue Westin," was the call!
Driving to the Lincoln Garage these workers they flew,
With raffle baskets and black and white photos, too
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And we heard them exclaim as they drove out of sight,
"Happy Auction to all! Can't wait for Saturday night!"
Don't forget to bring your catalog to the Westin (600 Bellevue Way). Parking is complimentary in the Lincoln Square Parking Garage. Park on level P4 or P5 near the south elevators. See you at 5PM Saturday!
Enjoy God's blessings today,
Mr. Fitz
p.s.
This Monday is Veterans' Day, and we're beginning the day right at the 8:30 bell with all the classes gathering outside around our flag pole. We'll sign patriotic songs ("America the Beautiful" and "God Bless America"), pray a thanksgiving prayer for all our veterans and active military who give so much for our nation, and applaud any veterans or active military who are in attendance. Then we'll raise the US flag and recite the Pledge of Allegiance together. Please park your car on the basketball court or along the soccer field and come join us at 8:30 before you head to work.
Your kids can wear free dress Monday - provided they are sporting red/white/blue colors in their clothing. (But leave the Uncle Sam hat or the American Flag tattoo at home.)
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Upcoming Calendar of Events
- Auction Preview Week in the school lobby
- Come inside at the start or the day today or Friday, or you can also come at the end of today. (There is no afterschool preview on Friday).
- You'll be able to buy raffle tickets, sign-up for parties, and buy Black & White Photos of your kids with their friends
- You can also come inside to get a sneak peek at the grade level art projects
- And your kids can come with you to purchase raffle tickets for the KID raffles that are taking place this week - with the winners announced on Friday
Tomorrow
- Final day of Auction Preview Week
- Come inside at the start or the day.
- Kid raffles' winners announced today.
- Fun Dress Day - students allowed a non-uniform day as long as they are dressed in Sounder's green & blue colors
Saturday, November 9
- We Are One Auction at the Bellevue Westin
- Doors open at 5PM (VIP ticket holders should arrive at 4:45)
- Directions can be found here
- Parking is free in the Lincoln Square parking garage; park on level P4 or P5 near the south elevators; take the elevator up to the hotel lobby
- Need help deciding what to wear? Check this out!
Monday, November 11
- Veterans' Day ceremony at flagpole outside front entrance of school, 8:30AM; parents invited as are any family members or friends who are or were in the military
- Fun Dress Day - students allowed a non-uniform day as long as they are dressed in red, white, and blue clothing
Wednesday, November 13
- Photo retake day
- Special sales day for Charger Cards and the Credit Card Fee-Free offer; the sales-window is open this morning from 8:15-9:00 am!
Thursday, November 14
- Bake Sale
- School Commission meeting, 6:30PM in the faculty room
Friday, November 15
- Last chance to take advantage of the Charger Cards' Credit Card Fee-Free offer! The sales-window is open this morning from 8:15-9:00 am, and the offer ends at 9.
Saturday, November 16
- Speech Team tournament here at St. Louise
Sunday, November 17
- Deadline for "Parent Homework" :-) (see article below)
Wednesday, November 20
- Thanksgiving Baskets Collection Drive - thanks for your donations!
Thursday, November 21
- School's Open House, 6:30-7:30PM - please see the article below about how we need your help to promote this event!
Save the Date:
Saturday, December 7 - St. Nicholas Breakfast and Christmas Bazaar
+ In the St. Louise Parish Hall
+ Breakfast Served from 8-11AM
+ Craft Vendor Sales from 8AM-12PM
+An event for the whole family, including grandparents and neighbors
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WE ARE ONE
Auction News
Finally, Preview Week ends tomorrow morning, so you have just this morning and Friday morning (8:00-8:45) or this afternoon (2:30-3:30) to stop inside the lobby to buy raffle tickets and buy Black & White photos of your kids with their friends. Note that the adult raffle tickets will continue to be sold on Saturday night, with the winners announced in the Westin Ballroom, but the kids' raffle tickets will only sell through tomorrow morning. The kids' raffle prize winners will be announced Friday afternoon by Mr. Fitz over the school intercom. Prepare your trunk! You might be taking home a giant, electric, ride-on Land Rover at 3:00 tomorrow!
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Our 2nd graders created prayer boxes in Mrs. Walker's art class. These beautiful prayer boxes can be purchased individually by parents at the Auction and used to house special cards or mementos after each child completes their First Holy Communion in the spring. The students painted, designed, and crafted the intricate details for each box. They worked hard to create a special prayer in their classroom which was adhered to the inside lid of the box. T
hey also had Fr. Carlos come to the art room and bless all 32 boxes. Bid on your 2nd grader's prayer box in the lobby today or tomorrow!
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Please remember to park on level P4 or P5 in the Lincoln Square Parking Garage and enter the south elevators to the Westin. We start signing in guests and opening up bidding at 5:00.
Cannot wait to see you this Saturday!
~Julianne Read
St. Louise Parent & Auction Director
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Math Team Finishes 2nd
Last Saturday, over a hundred 7th and 8th graders in the Seattle Archdiocese - representing 15 Catholic schools - competed in the annual Bishop Blanchet Mathematics Contest. Our St. Louise team finished 2nd out of all the teams, thus giving us one 2nd place finish and three 1st place finishes over the last four years in a row!
Special recognition is due Patrick Blaha, our 8th grader who scored the highest of all the participants! Another St. Louise 8th grader, Nate Eala, finished 2nd overall! Both boys won scholarships to Blanchet HS. Furthermore, 7th grader Melissa D'Costa came in 5th place in her grade level competition.
Congratulations to our hardworking junior high math team (pictured below), under the leadership of Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Bannick!
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Yes, Even Parents Are Assigned Homework
...BUT You Might Make $ for Completing Yours
As we all know, St. Louise School is an awesome school!
Our fall OPEN HOUSE is scheduled for Thursday, November 21, at 6:30 pm, and WE NEED YOU to help spread the word about our awesomeness!
*As a thank you for your help, we do have a referral bonus program: one free month of tuition for one child for any current family who refers a newly-enrolling family!
There are many excellent school choices in our area, and we believe there are some things that just can't be put into words - that's why we want prospective new families to EXPERIENCE St. Louise School.
For your "PARENT HOMEWORK" :-) we are asking you to please advertise our Open House by passing out the cards we are sending home in today's red envelope to:
- Neighbors on your street;
- Other parents at your kids' activities (ballet lessons, taekwondo, sports teams, etc.);
- Friends and family members;
- Co-workers with children.
Along with sending home 4 cards for your to give to 4 of the above people, we're sending you a small flyer and would love for you to place this on a bulletin board at work, on the public display board at your favorite restaurant, club, or store, etc.
Please encourage your neighbors, friends, and coworkers to COME SEE for themselves what we have to offer. Meet teachers and students, explore our classrooms, learn about after-school programs (mock trial, Girls Who Code, speech team, robotics, choirs, band, debate, etc.) and our cross-country, soccer, basketball, track and volleyball sports offerings.
Even better if you tell them you'll join them at our November 21st Open House to introduce them to Mr. Fitz, Mr. Fuerte, and your kid's teachers.
Here are some great reasons to celebrate St. Louise School with your neighbors, friends, and co-workers:
- 1st or 2nd Place in Blanchet Math Tournament four years in a row!
- 54% of our graduates received a Merit Scholarship when admitted to local Catholic high schools.
- CYO Cross country champions - five consecutive years!
- Student to teacher ratio is an impressive 11:1.
- Over $100,000 distributed in financial aid annually.
- Jr. High students perform over 5,000 hours of service collectively.
Thanks for all you can do
to spread the word regarding St. Louise School and our fall Open House! Don't forget to use your social media accounts. Share our Facebook page and Instagram page.
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School Photos Retaken for Some Next Week
If you bought a photo package from our school photographer, Yuen Lui, you should have received your child's individual photos. (Class photos will be sent soon.)
If you are not satisfied with your child's print, or if your child was absent on the original Photo Day - October 3 - we have Photo RETAKE Day coming up on Wednesday, November 13. If you are retaking photos due to dissatisfaction, please return the complete photo package on the 13th. If you have questions, please contact Cindy Wagner.
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Confirm Your Conference
Last week, your child's teacher sent you the November Conference Confirmation Letter. You were to verify you can conference with your child's teacher at the time he/she scheduled for you, and should have returned the bottom of the letter to the teacher by now. Thank you for doing this.
Thanks in advance for 2-parent families making every effort to have both mom and dad at this upcoming conference. Remember that we also want grade 1-8 students to attend at least part of the conference. We'll have adult supervision in the library on November 25 (from 11AM-8PM) and on November 26 (from 8AM-12PM), so children can wait there and watch a movie during their siblings' conferences. (Please note this childcare is for school-age children only. Please find a babysitter for your toddler.)
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Here's Your Big Chance
Charger Pride in Every Stride! While the Walk-a-Thon is still months and months away (May 1st), we're looking for the next Walk-a-Thon (WAT) chair or co-chairs! This is a great activity to partner up with a couple of pals, or like last year, husbands and wives can team together. You'll take the lead on the festivities of this key fundraiser while inheriting lots of great documentation on how to run the event, both leading up to and including the day of. So you don't need WAT experience. Last year's chairs are available and very willing to coach you and help make the event a smashing success! The WAT is such an amazing event - full of Charger Pride and school spirit! Please contact Jen Sharp for more information.
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Looking for Leaders
We're looking for a green thumb to take over chairing the Adopt-a-Garden program. Actually, you don't even need a green thumb! Just some enthusiasm around creating a nice looking environment on the school and parish grounds.You'll coordinate volunteers who want to "adopt" a section and tend to the plantings in that area. This is a great volunteer opportunity that can be done outside of work hours, such as evenings or on the weekend. Everything is already organized for Adopt-a-Garden, thanks to outgoing chair, Eric Lund. Eric will hand you the list of adopters and the map of the adopted plots of gardens on campus. Please contact Eric if you are interested.
A rare opportunity has just come up - to take on the Room Parent Coordinator role, one of the most sought after volunteer chair positions at St. Louise! Harness your organizational and communication skills to lead the Room Parent volunteer group. It's an excellent way to get to know parents in various grades along with the teaching staff and administrators. The big plus about this role is that you can do most (if not all!) of the work on off-school hours! Score! Current coordinator, Nancy Tribolet, has everything all prepared for you, so no experience is necessary. Please contact Nancy if you are interested.
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St. Louise Students Are Life-Long Learners and 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.
Mr. Fitzpatrick announces to all the students the "SLE(s) of the Month" on a Monday intercom announcement at the beginning of each month. The students and their teachers the discuss the meaning of the SLE and come up with examples of how this expectation could be practiced, observed, and realized. They then work all month on improving their knowledge and understanding of this learning expectation, and some grade levels are even able to achieve it later that month or later in the year. Other grade levels will need more years of practice before they can confidently confirm they are able to satisfy this objective.
At the end of the month, each class informs Mr. Fitz what their class did that demonstrated the SLE(s) was accomplished, or is being initially worked on and hopefully will be achieved in the future. A few of these classrooms' reports to Mr. Fitz are announced over the intercom to the entire school and shared in this Family Bulletin to parents.
October had two Student Learning Expectations focused on throughout the school. They were:
- "A St. Louise student is a life-long learner who exhibits enthusiasm for learning, including the ability to connect learning with life experiences" (SLE #2.3);
- "A St. Louise student is community member who shows awareness of local, national, and international events" (SLE #4.2).
Below are highlights from some of the classrooms on how they have been working on achieving these SLEs.
In 7th
and 8th grade Spanish classes, students are currently learning about Day of the Dead (AKA "Dia de los Muertos). This tradition and celebration has its roots in the Catholic Church. The accouterments associated with Day of the Day - skulls made of sugar, toy coffins, bread with the shapes of bones baked on top, midnight vigils in graveyards - may seem ghoulish to some, but in Mexico the Day of the Dead is a joyous celebration of the lives of loved ones who have passed away. Our junior high students are being taught by Mrs. Lux that it is a wonderful and warm holiday; reflective - not sad. To attach their learning to real life experiences, our 7th and 8th graders brought in items for the ofrenda the classes are making. An ofrenda is like a shrine to a loved one who has died. Each student shares about the meaning of the item they have brought - who it is representing and the significance of the item to their deceased relative.
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To be aware of local, national, and international events, our 5th graders regularly explore a student-friendly news website - DogoNews. Each time they read the news online, they fill out a worksheet summarizing one of the articles of their choice, as well as explore others articles of interest.
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During October, the second graders in 2-B showed their enthusiasm for learning by creating their own skeleton hands. (See photo.) They used crayons and vegetable oil after feeling the bones, and cartilage in their hands. Then they answered the Mystery Science question: Why do our skeletons have so many bones? They also created a paper skull of their face after feeling the bones and cartilage on their face and answered the Mystery Science question: What would happen if you didn't have a skull? Please fine more information here and here.
An example of how the 7th graders
exhibited enthusiasm for learning, including the ability to connect learning with life experiences,
was their participation in a last month's Museum of Flight experience. During their field trip to the Museum of Flight, Dr. Cole's science students had the opportunity to engage in a Mars mission simulation which directly connected to their classroom learning about the planets of our Solar System and space exploration. By having specific jobs to perform as mission specialists during the field trip, the 7th graders gained insight into some of the tasks performed by actual astronauts.
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| Griffin, Debashish, and Annie working at their stations in the "Mars Transport Vehicle" at the Museum of Flight. |
Now that we've started a new month, schoolwide we'll be focusing on two new Student Learning Expectations. Our new SLEs for November, combining with the shortened school-month of December are:
- "A St. Louise student is an active Christian who knows Roman Catholic teachings and traditions and has a working knowledge of the Bible" (SLE #1.2);
- "A St. Louise student is an active Christian who actively participates in the service for which God calls us" (SLE #1.3).
Parents can assist their children in understanding and achieving these expectations by reading the Bible at home and participating in service work as a family.
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| In science class, Matthew and his 3rd grade classmates showed enthusiasm for learning when they recently studied mock rocks. They kept track of their investigations in a lab book and were able to compare how a rock is like a chocolate chip cookie. |
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Credit Card Fee-Free Offer Runs for One Week, Starting Tomorrow
If you use your credit card for purchases between tomorrow, Friday the 8th, to next Friday, November 15, there will be NO FEE for the transaction. Use your credit card to buy cards for Auction Night, Thanksgiving groceries, and Christmas shopping!
- Pay in person at the sales-window on Friday, November 8, and extra hours next week: Wednesday, November 13, and Friday, November 15.
- The Charger Cards window is open these three mornings from 8:15-9:00 am
OR
- Skip the line and submit your order online or on paper, then pay by credit card online when we send you an invoice for payment.
Either way, don't wait! This offer ends at 9:00 am next Friday.
Fee-Free applies if your total rebates are greater than 3%. There will still be a credit card transaction fee charged for orders at 3% or less of a rebate.
New this year...
skip the line at the Charger Card window during this popular promotion and pay online. How?
- Place your order on ShopWithScrip and pick "Pay by Check" instead of PrestoPay.
- Email chargercards@stlouiseschool.org to let us know you wish to pay by credit card.
- We will email you an invoice with a link allowing you to go online to enter your credit card payment.
Special Holiday Offers Are Here
We're stocking up on special bonus rebate offers and special holiday season cards to help you get ready for holiday celebrations. Special offerings of $5, $10, and $15 cards are available for a variety of popular stores and restaurants, so please stop by the Charger Card window or visit
www.shopwithscrip.com
to learn more. Before you purchase all the fixings for your Thanksgiving Feast, please get your Charger Cards!
2A Wins the Class Lunch Contest
Congratulations to Mrs. Woods' class, 2A, who won the October Online Ordering Contest! All the kids will get a pizza lunch with donut desserts! Thank you all for participating in the lunch contest. Please continue to support our St. Louise Charger Cards fundraiser with your
online orders!
The Charger Cards sale office in the central wing of the original school is open on school-Fridays from 8:15-9:00AM.
Charger Cards...It's simple, it's thoughtful and it's truly the gift that
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This Thanksgiving We Can All Perform a Corporal Work of Mercy - Feeding the Hungry
On Wednesday, November 20, the entire school will be donating food items and other goods for our annual Thanksgiving Baskets service project. We will be partnering with the parish and the St. Vincent de Paul Society to create 20 bountiful, traditional Thanksgiving feasts to deliver to needy families in our community. Here's how your family can help.
Your child will be discussing in his/her homeroom what he/she agrees to bring to school to add to the classroom basket. It could be food (e.g. flour, canned pumpkin, sweet potatoes), or it could be items (e.g. the basket itself - we carry these donations in new, plastic laundry baskets we gift to the families).
We suggest you then allow your child to select the designated item from your pantry or help you shop at the store. This assures your child will feel a connection to the service project.
Please have your child bring the food or item to the classroom the morning of Wednesday the 20th. If you have any questions, please ask your homeroom teacher.
If parents want to help even more, it takes many hands to sort your generous donations and create these bountiful baskets to hand out to the families. Volunteers are needed for assembling our offerings during the service project day on November 20. Please contact
Cindy Wagner if you can volunteer from 8:15-11:15 that day.
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Parents, You Can Help Your Children Develop the Instinct and Habit of Making Good Choices
- What is conscience?
- How can I help my children form true Christian consciences?
- How can I help my children make the best decisions when they faced with a new or unfamiliar situations?
- How can I explain the difference between following conscience and doing what "feels good at the moment" or what gets me "off the hook"?
Sister Carolyn Roeber will be at St. Louise next weekend to meet with parents and address these and other important practical issues that arise in the formation of your children as citizens of this world and the next. Sister's deep expertise and practical wisdom are sure to give you skills and support to address this critical dimension of your children's formation for Faith & Life. The event, sponsored by the parish's Adult Faith Formation Committee, begins at 6PM next Saturday, November 16, in the Parish Hall. Please pre-register HERE.
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St. Margaret of Scotland visited us at our All Saints Day Mass!
(Thanks to 4th grader Kate for making sure Saint Margaret was able to visit.) |
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S
AINT OF THE
W
EEK
please read this with your kids
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Thank you for patronizing the following businesses and thanking these families who, through their generous sponsorship, help underwrite the costs of St. Louise School's Auction, Walk-A-Thon, and other events...
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See what's happening on our St. Louise Facebook and Instagram pages
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