Dear Families,

Thank you to those of you who have quickly returned your re-enrollment paperwork and paid your annual registration fee - you beat the price increase from $125 to $250, which will be instituted next Tuesday, February 7th, 2023. If you have yet to re-enroll for the 2023-24 school year, please do so by no later than Monday, so to save yourself $125!

We had a successful Open House last Thursday Night and appreciate all of you that referred families to St. Louise. Our 8th grade ambassadors were amazing, and we received countless compliments on their poise and knowledge of St. Louise School. A big thank you to all the parent and student volunteers who helped make it such a great event. 

As we conclude Catholic Schools’ Week, I would like to give a BIG Thank you to all the parent volunteers who helped in the classroom during our Parish/Staff Lunch and CSW Masses. Also, I would like to recognize the Room Parents for organizing gifts and treats to make sure the faculty and staff feel appreciated. 

Preview Week and School Auction: Saturday, February 4th, 2023, at the Bellevue Westin

I am looking forward to seeing many of you at our Annual School Auction at the Westin this Saturday Night, February 4th. It will be a fun-filled evening celebrating our theme, “All the World is my School, and All Humanity is my Teacher”. 

Tomorrow is the last day to check out items in the Main Lobby. Here is a glimpse of some items to bid on during preview week and during the auction:

• Class Art Projects
• Teacher Experiences
• Fun Packages
• Instant Wine Cellars
• Wonderful Trips
• International Dinners
• Father Phil Endowment
• Teacher for the Day

Partners in the Gospel

As many of you may have heard at Mass, or in the local news, the Archdiocese of Seattle is embarking on a plan to consolidate many parishes in Western Washington by grouping two or more parishes together in “families” that will share resources. In a Seattle Times article from January 22, Archdiocese Chief Operations Officer Caitlin Moulding says, “The purpose of this is a re-envisioning…” “How do we go out to those who need our help more effectively? How do we enhance our faith formation? How do we bring young people back into the faith?”

You can read more about the five-year plan – Partners in the Gospel – on the St. Louise Parish website, the Archdiocese website and in this overview and timeline, also from the diocese. I hope that you take some time to learn about Partners in the Gospel, and when the time comes, get involved to help revitalize our Parish and our Catholic Faith. 

Updates on School Personnel

Our KB Teacher Mrs. Razuri’s last day will be tomorrow, Friday, February 3rd, 2023. Mrs. Razuri informed me that she is stepping down as the KB Teacher to take care of her family. During the last few weeks we have had a number of teachers come in to shadow with Mrs. Razuri and starting Monday, February 6th, 2023, we will have Ms. Kaitlin McKenna as our Long Term Substitute in KB for the remainder of the year. You are probably thinking, we already have a teacher named McKenna, but now her daughter Kaitlin will be joining us too! Kaitlin has been substitute teaching at St. Louise since the beginning of the school year. She will be a great addition to KB and will work with Mrs. Isaksen, along with Mrs. McIntosh and Mrs. Kirby, to make a great Kindergarten Team. Please welcome Ms. Kaitlin McKenna.

Mrs. Zambrano has been working at St. Louise this year as our SEL Specialist, Pre-K Teacher with Mrs. Blank, and Director of Extracurricular Activities. Starting next week, Mrs. Zambrano will be cutting back to just 3 days a week so she can help her sister take care of her ailing mother. Mrs. Blank will teach a full day on Thursdays and Fridays while Mrs. Zambrano is away. 

Volunteer Needed – Nurse needed on Thursdays

St. Louise School is looking for a volunteer nurse to work in the office on Thursdays from 10:30am-1:00pm. Once or twice a month is needed and would be greatly appreciated. If interested please contact Mindy or Tracy at office@stlouiseschool.org or Jane at janer@stlouiseschool.org.

Have a Blessed Weekend,

Mr. Fuerte

Principal

A Word From the Office

Fundraisers

Parish

Dear Friends at St. Louise,

Even before the pandemic our parish staff had several discussions about the possibility of transmitting our Masses online, especially for our homebound parishioners. After the shutdown, we had to pivot overnight to offer remote instruction for our school students at home and remote Mass for parishioners who were sheltering in place. Now, our school instruction is completely in person (except for snow days), but our Masses online continue. You probably noticed in the parish annual report that people from 43 countries viewed the Mass at St. Louise last year!

Many people have expressed their appreciation for our continuing to offer Masses online. Just recently, a man who needed to be traveling in the Middle East on a Sunday, and so would not be able to attend Mass in person, expressed his gratitude that he will be able to view Mass at St. Louise from wherever he is. Numerous people who are homebound also appreciate that they can feel such a strong connection to the parish by viewing our Masses (they can also receive communion at home from a trained lay minister, deacon or priest). My own mother watches our livestreams at St. Louise. Her parish did not have the resources to continue offering Masses online once restrictions were lifted on the number of people who can attend Mass – and of course she likes to keep up on what her son is up to!

Remember that Mass is meant to be an in-person gathering of the People of God, and viewing Mass online is a substitute, a second choice, to be used only when needed. It might be easy for healthy people who aren’t traveling long distances, etc., to get in the habit of viewing Mass online out of convenience rather than real need. As we approach the Lenten season (Ash Wednesday this year is February 22), I want us all to be clear about the importance of attending Mass in person for those who are well or have no legitimate reason to miss Mass. The Mass is an active, communal celebration of thanks and praise to God. Much of the meaning of the Mass is embodied in the People of God gathered together, in person, to rejoice in our salvation and receive the very Body of Christ.

If you know someone who has been holding back from attending Mass from concern about getting sick, please let them know that at the height of COVID we installed an air filtration system that eliminates most contagions from the air in the church. In addition, we have maintained a generous “socially distanced” seating section in the church (in front of the Marian wall) – people who need or want to take extra precautions may sit in the socially distanced sections of the church, and everyone is welcome to wear face masks in any seating section if they choose.

If you know someone who is holding back from attending Mass, or even if you yourself have been hesitant to return, remember that our church building is a safe place to gather – and Lent is a good time to come back.

Fr. Gary Zender

“No Catholic school can be effective without dedicated Catholic teachers.”

– A quote from the Message of John Paul II to the National Catholic Educational Association of the United States, April 16, 1979

Speech team had their end of the year banquet celebrating their many accomplishments.

KA had PJ day!

PA took a class picture with our new preschool sign, created by our very own art teacher, Mika Walker.

On Monday, students enjoyed Free Dress Day for Catholic Schools Week!

Catholic School Weekend Masses. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped spread the St. Louise Way.

To see more of what your children are doing during Catholic Schools Week, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

On Monday, Safety Patrol had a movie party - they watched the adventures of babysitting.

On Tuesday, all grades decorated their door with the theme of Faith, Excellence, and Service.

On Wednesday, each class wrote prayers and cards for local government officials such as the Bellevue Police Department, the Fire Department and City Officials.

Widodo Karli Family

Morris/Herber Family

Antezana Garvizu Family



Coles Family