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ST. LOUISE SCHOOL PARENT BULLETIN
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We are already preparing for admissions for prospective new school families for the 2019-20 school year. Even though we employ various marketing ideas such as road-sign advertising, online ads, and Church bulletin inserts, when it comes right down to it year-after-year, our best promotional product is YOU, the current school parent!
When we ask prospective new school parents how they heard about St. Louise, the most popular answer is, "
My neighbor/friend/co-worker/ goes here and said I should check it out." It is with that reality that we have a few incentives to encourage you current school parents to continue to market St. Louise School to those you know with children approaching the ages of 4-14.
Our first incentive is to provide one-month's free tuition (valued at our in-parish 1-child rate) to a school family who refers a new family to us who end up enrolling here. There is a place on a new parent's enrollment form which asks if a current school parent referred them. If your name is listed as the referral-source when they apply for admissions later this winter or next spring, you get that free tuition (valued at over $600)!
Another incentive is tied to our Open Houses. We hold three Open Houses throughout this admissions season, and we suggest that you current school parents not only encourage a prospective new school parent to visit, but that you accompany or meet that new family here on Open House night and give them a tour yourself. If you personally bring a prospective new family to an Open House (or tell them you'll meet up with them here once they arrive), we have a $10 Starbucks card for you. The idea of giving you this card is for you to continue the conversation of considering enrolling at St. Louise with the prospective family the following week over a cup of coffee. You're asked to help "close the deal," so to speak, and Starbucks is known for being a place for "business deals." ;-) And as I said, if you do indeed help, you'll not only have assisted in getting another great family in our school, but you'll be thanked with that larger reward of free tuition.
Our first Open House is this Wednesday, November 14, from 6:30-7:30PM. Please consider asking your neighbor/friend/co-worker with an upcoming preschool to 5th grade student to attend the Open House with you. You can drive them here or meet them in the parking lot at 6:30. Your and their kids are encouraged to come too. Once here, make sure you introduce the new family to Cindy Wagner, our development director, who will be greeting you at the front door inside the lobby. Cindy will jot down your name and make sure you get your Starbucks card the next day.
Note that this November 14th Open House is focusing solely on grades PreK through 5. Then on January 10 (6:30PM), our second Open House of the admissions season will focus solely on grades 6, 7, 8. Finally, the January 31st (6:30PM) Open House will be for everyone - grades PreK through 8 - and that ends up being our biggest event.
Whether you can get prospective parents here at one, two, or all three Open Houses, or whether you can be a big reason why someone ends up deciding to enroll here, Cindy and I thank you in advance for your help in marketing St. Louise School.
Pax et bonum,
I can't wait to see many of you on Saturday night at the Marriott for our Auction fundraiser! Try to arrive as close to the 5PM door-opening time as possible, so parking will be easier and you can buy a Kendra Scott mystery box before they sell out. (Last year there were many disappointed moms!)
We'll be holding a special Fund-a-Need bidding time during the live auction in the ballroom right after dinner ends. Every single one of you in the Marriott ballroom will be able to raise your bid card high and get called out by the auctioneer as a "winning" bidder, based on the giving level you choose for this Fund-a-Need.
Please note: if you cannot attend the Auction, but want to donate to the Fund-a-Need, please contact Julianne Read.
This year's Fund-a-Need focuses on facility upgrades:
1) Helping St. Louise School pay the bill for our recent addition of a security door, camera, and parent keycards;
2) Helping us pay for our upcoming plans to enhance our parish hall stage area for student performances.
For more information on this year's Fund-a-Need for these two key areas of facility upgrades, please watch
our slideshow.
Thanks in advance for all the remarkable bidding and purchasing you'll be doing Saturday night and to all our super volunteers who will be setting up that morning and/or working that night!
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Upcoming Calendar of Events
Tomorrow
- Auction Preview Week ends with this morning's 8:00-9:00AM viewing; kids' raffle winners announced
Saturday, November 10
Monday, November 12
- All-School Mass and Veterans' Day observance; please plan on attending Mass with your children at 9AM; if you or a family member is a Veteran, please attend Mass (in or out of uniform) for a special blessing during Mass
- School photo packages coming home today
Tuesday, November 13
- The previously scheduled School Commission meeting on November 8 was moved to tonight - November 13 - at 6:30PM
Wednesday, November 14
- Open House highlighting grades PreK-5; all current families are invited to attend to say hello to next year's teachers and/or to bring along a neighbor/co-worker/family member who might want to consider future enrollment at St. Louise for their kids; the Open House runs from 6:30-7:30PM
- Photo Retake Day (see article below)
Friday, November 16
- All-School Collection Drive for Thanksgiving Baskets - your child's teacher has provided more information; thanks for your donations!
- Today is the end of the 1st trimester; grade K-8 report cards will be sent home in December
Saturday, November 17
- Speech Team Tournament at St. Louise
Monday & Tuesday, November 19 & 20: NO-SCHOOL DAYS
- Parent-Teacher Conferences run both days; students must also attend conference if in grades 1-8; siblings may wait in library under teacher-supervision while conferences are taking place (please no babies/toddlers); if you were unable to schedule a conference for these two days, please contact your child's teacher immediately to set up a before-school or after-school conference
Wednesday thru Monday, November 21-26: NO-SCHOOL DAYS
- Happy Thanksgiving!
- Teachers' workday on report cards on Monday the 26th; school and Kids' Club closed on Monday
Tuesday, November 27
Saturday, December 1
- Saint Nicholas Breakfast and Christmas Bazaar: pancake breakfast in the parish hall from 8AM-11AM; arts and crafts vendors in the parish hall from 8AM-1PM; please sign-up here to volunteer for Friday set-up or Saturday help
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Amazing St. Louise Math Team Does a Three-Peat!
Our 7th and 8th grade math team won the Bishop Blanchet High School Math Tournament for the third year in a row! Last Saturday, 15 of Mrs. Williams' and Mrs. Bannick's math students competed against 105 other junior high students coming from 16 other Catholic schools, and the Chargers came away with the championship trophy once again.
In addition to the team (pictured above) taking 1st place overall, the following St. Louise students earned special honors:
- Nate Eala won 1st place among all 7th graders Archdiocesan-wide.
- Patrick Blaha came in 2nd among all 7th graders Archdiocesan-wide.
- Cole Allemand came in 5th place among all 8th graders and won a $2,000 scholarship to Blanchet.
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Congratulations, Chargers!
Congratulations to our boys' 6th grade soccer team who won the CYO Championship last Saturday! We applaud the talents of our 6th grade boys, and thank parents Jon Sharp, Chris Read, and Jim Goett for coaching!
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Hello, St. Louise Families!
Preview Week ends tomorrow morning at 9AM in our school lobby. That will be the last chance for your kids to purchase kids' raffle tickets! The winning kids' raffle names will be announced by Mr. Fitz tomorrow afternoon.
If you are not able to attend the Auction this Saturday, you may till buy adult raffle tickets at tomorrow morning's Preview in the lobby. The winning adult raffle names will be announced at the Auction, but you need not be present to win. Here is what you can win if your raffle ticket is drawn:
It's finally arrived! I cannot wait to see you at the Seattle Marriott Bellevue at 5:00 this Saturday!
As mentioned previously, limited valet parking is available at the hotel. The best way to arrive is using Lyft/Uber. There will be limited garage parking (cash only) at the Atrium Lot just south of the Marriott on 110th. You could also try your luck at the old Toys-R-Us parking lot also south of the Marriott on 110th...but no promises that their parking lot will be accessible.
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Veterans Invited to Monday's All-School Mass
This Monday, November 12, the entire school will attend a special Mass where we recognize Veterans' Day and pray for all our military - past and present. If you or a family member is a Veteran (or active military), please invite them to the 9AM Mass, where they will receive a special blessing.
In addition, at Monday's Mass we will announce our 2018 Distinguished Graduate - Braden Schoenlein - who will receive this award and speak to the student body about her years at St. Louise and how it impacted her life. Braden (pictured below) was a graduate of the St. Louise Class of 2006 and is a graduate of West Point. She has just returned from deployment in Qatar.
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This Thanksgiving We Can All Perform a Corporal Work of Mercy - Feeding the Hungry
Next Friday, November 16, 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 25 bountiful, traditional Thanksgiving feasts to deliver to needy families in our community. Here's how your family can help.
Your child has discussed 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 Friday, November 16 (November 15 for Pre-K). 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 the 16th. Please contact Cindy Wagner if you can volunteer from 8:30-10:30 next Friday.
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Get Ready to Enjoy a Delicious Breakfast and to Shop for Crafts
St. Louise Parish School is hosting our annual St. Nicholas Breakfast and Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, December 1st. This annual event is a wonderful Advent/Pre-Christmas experience, so please plan on stopping by on December 1st between 8:00 and 11:00 for a delicious breakfast, followed by Christmas shopping with all the crafters until 1:00.
Proceeds from the Breakfast and Bazaar benefit the St. Louise Parents' Club and
student enrichment programs. Contact the Breakfast co-chairs,
Janelle and JT Taasan
, if you have any questions.
If you would like to earn volunteer hours by helping with set-up on Friday the 30th or serving, cooking, greeting, and/or cleaning on Saturday the 1st, please sign-up here. There is much work that needs to be done the day prior and the day of, and we'd love to have as many volunteers as possible!
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Photo Retake Day Is Coming Up on Wednesday
This Monday the 12th your child will be bringing home his/her photo package if you ordered prints from our school photographer, Yuen Lui. If you are not satisfied with your photos, or if your child was absent on October's Photo Day, we have a Retake Day this Wednesday, November 14. If you are retaking photos, please return the complete photo package, and make sure your child is wearing his/her complete school uniform on Wednesday, including the red sweater or fleece. If you have questions, please contact Cindy Wagner.
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Volunteers Needed for Some "Light" Work
Come help St. Louise Parish decorate for Advent and Christmas on Saturday, Nov. 17, at 9 AM. All are welcome to string lights and enjoy hot chocolate, coffee, & cookies while we work! Be sure to dress for the cool weather and meet outside the Church. Visit https://stlouise.org/outdoorlights to sign-up. See you there!
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Credit Card Fee-Free Week Starts on Monday; Sales Window Open Two Extra Days
If you use your credit card for Charger Card purchases anytime between this Monday, November 12, through next Friday, November 16, there will be no fee for the transaction! Use your credit card to buy Charger Cards for Christmas shopping! Use your credit card to buy Charger Cards in preparation for Black Friday shopping! Earn credit card rewards AND support St. Louise!
Details:
- Pay in person at the window. We are open extra days this coming week: from 8:15-9:00AM on Monday the 12th, Wednesday the 14th, and Friday the 16th!
- Or skip the line and submit your order online or paper order, then pay by credit card online when we send you an invoice for payment
- Either way, don't wait! This promotion ends Friday the 16th at 9:00 am.
- Coming home in today's Red Envelope are a variety of Charger Cards flyers, including the credit card form, the drop-off form, and a complete list of all cards in stock.
Special Sales on the Weekend
Each year at this time, the parish's Faith Formation classes participate in a service project of assisting families in financial need. This year the project has requested gift cards from QFC or Target. Since Charger Cards carries cards for both these stores, in varying denominations, Faith Formation families can stop by the front entrance of the church, where Charger Cards will be on sale after and before the Sunday morning Masses on November 10. The following weekend, Charger Cards will sell at the front entrance of church before and after the 5PM Mass on Saturday the 17th, and before and after the morning Masses on Sunday the 18th. Even if you're not a Faith Formation family, you're still welcome to purchase your Charger Cards outside of church on these Saturdays and Sundays.
Find Gifts for Everyone on Your Christmas List While Raising Funds for Our School
Shop while using gift cards from over 750 top brands, including Best Buy, Amazon, Nordstrom, Macys, Target, The Home Depot and more. Charger Cards has in stock special bonus rebate cards and holiday season cards of $5, $10, and $15 for a variety of popular stores and restaurants. Whether you buy the gift cards to give as presents to family and friends, or to use them to buy your Christmas presents, St. Louise School earns with every gift card purchased!
As you're planning your Christmas gift lift for school teachers and staff, and you want to know what your child's teachers prefer in gift cards, see this
Faculty Wish List.
It's simple, it's thoughtful and it's truly the gift that keeps on giving! Of course, you may always purchase 24/7 at
www.shopwithscrip.com or
myscripwallet.com for ScripNow, Reload, or Reload Now cards.
For more information on Charger Cards and online ordering,
or email chairperson Marsha at chargercards@stlouiseschool.org
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Thanks to alumni Dani Castillo and Ellie Read (above) for helping last Sunday prepare for Auction Preview Week. Also helping set-up Preview Week were alumni Hayden Kosiara and Joaquin Galindo-Navarro (below). Preview Week ends tomorrow after the 8:00-9:00AM session.
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Prayer Inspiration for the Week
"Every one of us needs a half an hour of prayer each day, except when we are busy...then we need an hour."
~
Saint Francis de Sales
PARENTS in PRAYER
All parents are welcome every Wednesday-schoolday at 8:15 a.m. to pray with fellow school parents in a small-group setting. Please check in at the school office.
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See what's happening on our St. Louise Facebook page
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