Almsgiving and fasting are two of the pillars of Lent (see article directly below), and so on Ash Wednesday this coming Wednesday the 26th, everyone in the school - teachers, staff, and students will partake in these two disciplines. We will fast from our typical, filling lunches and instead eat a simple bowl of white rice and pinto beans.

Please note that every student is expected to forego their usual lunch on Ash Wednesday and partake in the Rice & Beans fasting/lunch. Only a medical or allergy reason should preclude a student, and in that case, we ask that the parent send a letter to the teacher explaining this unique situation, and substitute a bare-bones, simple lunch.

The money that would have probably been spent to create a filling lunch on February 26th will be donated by each person when they pick up their bowl of rice and beans. We suggest a minimum $5 donation.

These donations will be sent to Seattle's Union Gospel Mission. As you recall, the Union Gospel Mission was here a couple of weeks ago, educating the students on the ways they help feed the hungry and help those without shelters. We've already collected almost $500 in donations to the UGM through our recent Faculty Bake Sale, where the teachers baked treats and your kids purchased them, with 100% of donations earmarked for the UGM. Thank you for your support at that sale, and thank you in advance for your donations via the rice and beans lunch!

We want to thank Papaya Restaurant and the Chinh Vu & Kristy Nguyen family, who are making, delivering, and donating all the rice for our lunch! Papaya is located at the Renton Landing.