Family Communication 10-19-17

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Dear Holy Rosary Families,

The rain has finally descended upon us, and it finally feels like fall to me!! And with the fall, we’ve come to the end of our first major fundraiser of the year, our magazine drive. I want to thank Beth Martin our Development Director, Jennifer Wong and Jennifer Rowley, our co-chairs, and all of the volunteers who supported this drive. I am so appreciative of all of your hard work!

I would also like to thank every one of you who helped sell magazines as part of this year’s drive. I recognize it is not an easy endeavor to assist in selling and I know it’s not always fun to go out and sell. So your dedication to this is appreciated- and notable! Holy Rosary School, this year, remains the highest grossing school selling magazines through American Publishers in the country! Isn’t that incredible!!

Fundraising is a necessary piece of how we keep our tuition affordable for you, our families; and money raised through fundraising and development accounts for approximately 20% of the revenue we bring in each year. So thank you again, for all of your support of our fundraisers throughout the year.

You may recall that each year we set a gross sales goal for the magazine drive, and we tie an added 1/2 day off of school to meeting this goal. This year, the added 1/2 day off of school is set to the Friday before the MLK holiday weekend, with a noon dismissal on January 12. This year, we fell a bit short of our revenue goal. But the good news is that we had over a 93% participation rate in the magazine drive, the highest participation we’d had in a fundraiser in a very long time. That’s a huge success, as we consistently strive for 100% participation in all of our fundraising activities. Reaching 93% participation is incredible- something to celebrate, and something I know we can build upon in future fundraisers as well. Because of this incredible participation rate, we will still have the extra 1/2 day off of school this year on January 12th. Congratulations on another successful magazine drive!

Have a wonderful rest of the week,

Anna

REMINDERS ABOUT ABSENCES AND TARDIES – We’ve had a few questions regarding attendance procedures lately, and thought it would be a good opportunity to review the Holy Rosary Absence and Tardy policy as outlined in the student and family handbooks. In accordance with Washington State Law, the following types of absences and tardies will be excused by the school:

  • Personal Illness
  • Injury
  • Medical or Dental Appointment
  • Legal Appointments/Court Proceedings
  • Funeral
  • Family emergencies or special circumstances as approved by the principal
  • Disciplinary Action

Specific information regarding consequences for continual tardiness can be found in the Holy Rosary Family and Student Handbooks. We do ask that you accompany your late student into the office and sign them in, when they arrive after the 8:25 tardy bell. Likewise, we will require that you sign out all students leaving early for appointments in the office as well. Thank you for your support!

DROP OFF REMINDER – As a courtesy to our Holy Rosary community, our neighbors, and the neighboring businesses, please do not use the alley behind the church as a throughway. Please do not park on 42nd Avenue if your child needs extra assistance getting out of the car or needs help getting to the school. Parking on 42nd Avenue significantly slows the traffic flow, which causes many students to be tardy. Thank you for your support!

PICTURE RETAKE DAY OCTOBER 26 – Picture retake day will be on October 26. Your child may wear free dress if they are doing a retake. Please have your child return the original pictures and retakes will be free of charge. Retake forms can be found in the office. Click here to purchase pictures if you missed the first picture day.

PICTURE DAY VOLUNTEER – A volunteer is needed to help on retake day. The time commitment is at the most four hours. If you can help, please contact the school office.

UPCOMING DATES

  • October 20 – Mother/Son Glow Bowl
  • October 21 – Open House
  • October 26 – Picture Retake Day
  • October 27 – First Pizza Lunch!
  • October 27 – Trick or Treat Open House for Preschoolers
  • November 10 – Veteran’s Day – no school – NO BASE
  • November 17 – Book Fair Opens
  • November 20-22 – Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences (regular school not in session) BASE Open
  • November 23-24 – Thanksgiving break – no school

SCHOOL ACTION ITEMS

Pizza Lunch

Last chance to sign up for pizza lunch! This sign up link will close Friday. There is an option to sign up for all 10 lunches on set dates throughout the school year or pick and choose dates you would like to participate – $4 for a single slice, $6 for two slices of cheese pizza. Each lunch includes pizza, chips, drink, and a treat that are delivered to classrooms by our eighth grade students. Proceeds go to support eighth grade events (retreats, Fun Day, Baccalaureate Dinner, Graduation Reception, etc.).

Priority School Application For Current Families

2018-19 priority application period is 9/15 through 11/15. We will be accepting applications from current school and parish families for preschool and kindergarten beginning 9/15. There will be an Open House on October 21 from 10-1. Please help spread the word!

Now Accepting Financial Aid Applications

Applying for a Fulcrum Foundation tuition grant and Holy Rosary financial aid for the 2018-19 school year is open and available through FACTS. Click here to sign-in/or create an account to begin the application. Applying for Fulcrum aid and HRS aid uses the same FACTS application, please check Fulcrum to be considered for Fulcrum Foundation aid. Please complete your application before December 15. Any questions, please contact Jennifer Kokkonis at jkokkonis@holyrosaryws.org.

Preschool Information Gathering

We are continuing to investigate whether there is sufficient interest to pursue licensing our pre-K program and offer a full-day option to run concurrently with the K-8 school schedule.

We are looking to gather input from families who either have preschool children or will in the coming years. If your family falls into this category, we’d appreciate it if you could take this brief survey! Thank you!

EVENTS & FUNDRAISING

Development Directives

WOW! What a magazine assembly. Congrats to the TOP SELLING classes; dates of the parties will be coordinated with the teacher.

  1. Grade 4 wins the mini doughnut food truck
  2. Grade 6 wins the ice cream party
  3. Grade 7 wins the popsicle party

Congrats to the TOP SELLING students!

  1. Maddy A.
  2. Jacob L.
  3. Luke P.

Congrats to the TOP SELLERS BY CLASS![bs_row class=”row”]
[bs_col class=”col-sm-6″] KA     Alex R.
1A     William D.
2A     Emalyn E. & Luke M.
3A     Jack P.
4A     Maddy A.
5A     Nolan W.
6A     Blake H.
7A     Zach B.
8A     Jacob L.[/bs_col][bs_col class=”col-sm-6″] KB     Lucille N.
1B     Elijah W.
2B     Joseph D.
3B     Lilly P.
4B     Siobhan S.
5B     Liz R.
6B     Emmy L.
7B     Sophia K.
8B     Adam C.[/bs_col]
[/bs_row] Family Fun Center permission slips will be sent home Friday. They are due the following Friday, October 27. We’re still in need of 15 volunteers to accompany students to the Family Fun Center on November 3. This is a special prize for individuals selling 25 subscriptions or families that reach 40 or more subscriptions. Please contact Beth at bmartin@holyrosaryws.org immediately to volunteer.

Remember that friends and family may order/renew magazines year around using the ApMags.com web site and the code ROSARY. We still receive 51% of sales, although selling for prizes has concluded for this year.

Typically the Magazine Drive half-day off is reserved for if we meet our goal of $125,000. Although we were just shy of that goal, we did have 93% of families participate, so we will celebrate with Friday, January 12 being a half-day. THANK YOU to all those that participated!!!

Gator Gear

Have you geared up for sports? Order your Gator Gear and duffel bags to hold all your gear. Make sure you place your Christmas orders early! All orders must be received prior to the 15th of each month. Thank you for supporting our Gators! Gator Gear order forms can always be found on our CYO page here or our Forms and Downloads page here. 

Please note that CYO Sport-Tek Gator Gear and the cotton Gator sweatshirts/pants orders are run separately. Please do not combine orders or checks for accounting reasons. All CYO Sport-Tek proceeds benefit the CYO scholarship program for students in need.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Cub Scout October Pack Meeting

Pumpkin carving on October 25 at 6:30 in the school hall! Bring your carving tools, scrapers, lights and anything else you need to make the BEST carved pumpkin. The pack provides the pumpkins and you bring the tools and creativity. Prizes will be awarded and refreshments served. Wear your Class B shirts as it might get messy. Family and siblings are welcome and extremely encouraged to attend. For anyone interested in scouting, this is a great opportunity to participate in a pack activity and learn more about Pack 793. Please direct any question to Eddie Osten at eosten@outlook.com.

Cross Country News

Congratulations to our Holy Rosary cross country team. Our fifth grade boys took first place in the championship cross country meet and the school took second place overall in the AAA division! Congratulations to these boys on the fifth grade team:  Zach H., Adam K., Will M., Connor D., Ryan B., Maks K., Jonah P., Go Gators!

CYO Holy Rosary Ski Bus (through Mohan Ski School)

Holy Rosary School ski bus is here! Departing Saturday mornings at approximately 7:15 from Holy Rosary and returning in the late afternoon/early evening. We need a minimum of 30 skiers registered to commit. We are working with a local ski outfitter to organize equipment rentals.

  • Kindergarteners through fifth graders must have a chaperone (one parent to three kids maximum). That parent is responsible for their skiers, their equipment, and their lunches.
  • Sixth graders can ride the bus without a parent chaperone, but without a designated chaperone, they must take a lesson at the mountain and be able to carry and manage their equipment and dinner.
  • Seventh and eighth graders can ride the bus without a parent chaperone and do not need to take a lesson.
  • Some parent organizing suggestions – Buy one bus ticket between three parents and trade off weeks. Carpool with other parents, and meet the bus at the mountain.

Click here to register. Thank you!

Discovering Chess

Once again this year I’m pleased to teach an after-school chess class. I keep seeing studies where chess playing is linked with Academics; helping kids with spatial ordering, forethought, and pattern recognition. I personally enjoy the mix of right brain creativity and left brain logic and order. It has been fun for me to see the kids at Holy Rosary steadily improve as they grow.

Just like past years, I will be teaching the class in my room (7A) from 3-3:45 on Thursdays starting today. The cost will be $15 per student. No need to send money; the school will bill your FACTS account at the end of the month. I am open to all ages, but I’ve noticed that many young kids really can’t sit and play a quiet game after a long day at school, so I leave that up to you to gauge. I’d like to keep it pretty informal — no need for an official sign-up. Just send your child when they want to start and we can go from there. Do email me with any questions here at mritscher@holyrosaryws.org. Thank you, Mike Ritscher, 7A

PARISH NEWS

Holy Rosary Women’s Shelter Opportunity

On Tuesday, November 7 we are having an open house in our shelter space on the third floor of the Parish Center to give you an opportunity to see the space and talk with us about what we do – and how you can use your time and talent to support the women who are our guests every Saturday and Sunday night from September to June.

Please take a few minutes and stop by before or after school drop off – from 8:15-8:45 a.m. and again from 2:45-3:15 p.m. If this does not work for your schedule, we will also have an open house after all three masses on November 11 and 12. More information is available on our website here or email us at shelter@holyrosaryseattle.com with any questions.

Parents! Faith Formation For Adults

Holy Rosary Parish offers opportunities for adults to continue growing in their faith. A few I’d like to highlight:

  • Becoming Catholic – the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a process for non-Catholics who are thinking about joining the Catholic Church as full and practicing members. We have changed our meeting time to Tuesday mornings at 10 in the Parish Office, and our next meeting will be October 24. If you have questions, please contact Robert King.
  • Adult Confirmation – Confirmation is a critical step in your life as a Catholic. It gives you grace and authority to live a fully Catholic life, including full participation in the liturgy and ministry of the Church, and being a godparent or sponsor for someone else. If you were baptized as a Catholic, but have not received the sacrament of confirmation, please fill out the online registration here and join us at our next meeting on Thursday, October 26 at 6:15 p.m. in the Parish Center.
  • Sunday School for Grown-ups – Each session, we’ll host a grown-up conversation on a different topic, focusing on real-world experiences of faith, thoughtful discussion of your questions, and how we can follow Jesus better in our lives. We meet first and third Sundays between the Sunday Masses (roughly 9:30 – 10:20) in room 7A in the school. Our topic for November 5 will be “The Christian Life as Pilgrimage” with a presentation by Virginia Radel.

For more information, please contact Robert King at evangelization@holyrosaryseattle.org or 206-937-1488 x203.

Holy Rosary’s Halloween Celebration, October 28, 6:15-8

All are invited to our Holy Rosary Halloween Celebration on Saturday, October 28 from 6:15 to 8 in the School Hall hosted by our Holy Rosary Youth Group. Halloween games, face painting, photo selfie booth, bob for apples, fun and spooky house and tasty treats and more. Suggested donation of $5 per person. All proceeds go to the Youth Group. Please come and invite your friend, neighbors and family! For questions, please contact Deyette at Dswegle@holyrosaryseattle.org or Youth Minister, Nicole Warren at youth@holyrosaryseattle.org.

Youth (grades 6-8), High School, And Adult Volunteers Needed

We need help with our Halloween Celebration, October 28 from 6:15-8. This is a super fun opportunity for your teen in grade 6 through high school to volunteer. This also counts as volunteer hours. Please click here to sign up.

If you can’t volunteer on Saturday but would like to help, we need a few volunteers from 6:30-9:30 on Friday evening, October 27. Please email Deyette at Dswegle@holyrosaryseattle.org.

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Northwest Boychoir

Auditions will be held on November 4 for boys aged 6-9. For more information, contact Northwest Boychoir at 206-524-3234.

West Seattle High Cheer Camp

The WSHS Cheerleaders will be holding a Mini Cheer Camp on Friday, November 10 in the West Seattle High School Gym from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Please see attached flyers for more details.

West Seattle Soccer Uniform Donations

Hello my name is Avery B. and I am the eighth grade. I am collecting West Seattle soccer uniforms and other soccer related items to donate to young soccer players in third world countries. A box will be set up in the main hallway for you to place your donations. I am collecting WSSC jerseys, shorts, and socks. I will also take shin guards, goalie jerseys, goalie gloves, cleats, soccer balls, and ball bags. Any items can be new or used. Your help is very much appreciated. Thank you, Avery B.

Here is the link to the passback organization website to tell you more.

After School Art Workshops!

Another fabulous six-week Art Workshop session (B2) is scheduled to begin on Thursday, November 2. This art workshop happens right next door to Holy Rosary School, at Seattle Lutheran High School, and is taught by Ms. Reuter (former Art Teacher at Holy Rosary). We’ll be creating ceramic totem poles, splatter paint masterpieces, balloon animals, illuminated manuscripts, and much more! Grades 1-6 are welcome to join. Please note that the Art Workshop is not a Holy Rosary School program. Register online here or email Ms. Reuter at info@rainbowparrotart.com.

Additionally, Ms. Reuter will soon be offering Art Nights for grown ups. That means you! It’s time to unleash your inner child and have some fun! Please show your support for Ms. Reuter programs by liking Rainbow Parrot Art on Facebook and help spread the word: www.facebook.com/rainbowparrotart/

Ingraham High School Open House For Private School Families

November 8 at 7 p.m. in Ingraham Library. This is a general information night open to parents and students new to the Seattle Public Schools. Ingraham staff will answer any questions about academics, sports, clubs and student life at Ingraham. More information is posted on the Ingraham website here.