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PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

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Dear Holy Rosary Families,
Perhaps it is the fact that we’ve returned to a more typical flow of things in the school these days, but it feels as if we moved through Lent in record time this year.  By the time you receive this eFC message we will be approaching Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday as we commemorate Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem.   We know what comes next, as we prepare ourselves to enter the Paschal Mystery:  being  present with Christ during His final days and experiencing His resurrection on Easter Sunday.    On Good Friday we will have a “dark” day in the school with minimal use of electronics and lights dimmed as we acknowledge the meaning of the day.  Please have students come in perfect uniform (no free dress) as all students will go to the church to watch the Living Stations of the Cross performed by our Leadership Elective (available via livestream for you to watch from home at 9:30 and 11:00 am).  We will have a silent dismissal at 11:55 and 12:05 following the same dismissal groups as usual.  
I know we are all eagerly awaiting spring break, and I know many of us are traveling.  We’d like to suggest, if you are traveling during the break, that your child be COVID tested prior to returning to school the Monday after break.  I know many families have access to rapid tests now and can test from home before sending kids back to school.  If you do not have tests at home, you’re welcome to bring your child through the office on the first day back.  Additionally, after consultation with the School Commission, we have amended our travel policy after the break.  If your child is traveling and is unvaccinated, we will not require a quarantine post travel. Instead, we’d ask you to work with us to engage in a test-to-stay protocol, where we will COVID test your child in the office a few times that first week back prior to sending them off to class (with parent permission).  If this might be applicable to your family, please reach out to Kristin Bentler (kbentler@holyrosaryws.org) to coordinate.
I do hope this end of Lent is prayerful for you and your family.  It is hard to believe that when we come back May will be nearly upon us!  Where is the time going?
In Christ, 
Anna 

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COUNSELOR’S CORNER

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In this week’s Counselor’s Corner, I have included some helpful calming and mindfulness strategies; these tools can support students that are struggling with anxiety. Keep reading…

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UPCOMING DATES

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• April 15th – Noon Dismissal, Good Friday
• April 18th-22nd – Easter Break
• April 26th – Class Pictures
• May 5th – Open School Commission Meeting (6pm)
• May 7th – Auction
• May 18th – Parents Club Meeting

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NOTES & REMINDERS

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Lands End Sale

Sale on Lands End uniform items. Order early and be ready for next year.
SALE!!!
Just in time for families to stock up on fresh products and sizing, we are launching a 40% sale on all uniforms – the sale will take place April 14 through April 27. This link is to marketing assets you may use to share across your platforms. I’ve also included the PDF flyer for the sale with this email.
CODE: LEARN
PIN: 2731

Cub Scout Pinewood Derby

Holy Rosary School families in Kindergarten through 4th grade are invited to race in the Cub Scout Pack 793 annual Pinewood Derby! There’s nothing better than crafting the coolest, fastest, car around and racing it at top speed against all your buddies. Girls and boys are invited to a fun day of competition and prizes against other racers. Prizes will be awarded for the top three finishers in each grade. Food and other fun prize opportunities will also be available.
To participate, pickup a free Official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby kit after school any day next week (April 11-15) in front of the school. Then shape, color, and attach the wheels to your car, and get ready for the exciting race in the Holy Rosary Gym on April 30th at 11am. You don’t need to be a Cub Scout to participate.
Please contact George Panger 206-579-9329 glpanger@hotmail.com if you have any questions.

Summer Band

Join The Musical Fun!  July 11-15/ Elementary Summer Band!!  12:15 – 2:00P.M.  Just click the link to sign-up!!

Student Phones And Smart Watches

Phones and smart watches are not allowed to be on during school hours. Students should not be texting or calling while school is in session. Please use the “school setting” on your child’s device to turn it off during school hours. Smart watches will still function as a watch while using this setting.

Missing Chromebook Chargers

Parents of students in grades 5-8, please check your house for Chromebook chargers. We are missing many from our classrooms. They usually have a Holy Rosary School sticker on them. Return to the classroom if you find any. Thank you!

Playground Use After School

On a trial basis, we have adjusted our after-school playground policy and will allow non-BASE students to play on the playground after school on Thursdays and Fridays until 4:00, on days when our BASE numbers are lower.  We are trying this until Spring break (with the exception of Good Friday) and are hoping this will work well for everyone.  We want everyone to be able to share the space and gather together and know the importance of this!   We also must ensure that we have a safe playground area and that the number of people out there are manageable, so everyone is able to safely play and be supervised.   All students playing on the playground who are not in BASE must have a parent or adult present actively supervising them at all times.   Parent volunteers will be present to ensure that all non-BASE students have someone there providing supervision and to answer any questions you may have about these adjustments.  

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ACTION ITEMS

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Medical Supplies For Ukraine

Tetyana Silva, mother of a 1^st and 5^th grader, is working with a Christian organization out of Fife to collect donations that will be shipped to Ukraine. They have been very successful in collecting clothing and now need medical supplies. Below is a list of items that desperately needed. They can be dropped off at Holy Rosary.

LAST Brown Bag Friday For St. Martin De Porres Men’s Shelter

Over the years, as part of our Lenten Outreach, Holy Rosary School has provided lunches and additional items to the men at St. Martin de Porres shelter. Students are asked to help pack a lunch or bring an additional item on designated Fridays during Lent.  These lunches can be kept cold, so perishable food is fine. (Sandwiches and fruit are encouraged for this outreach).
Please note the collection dates and items below:  
Fri. April 8
     Gr. K-4:  brown bag lunches
     Gr. 5-8:  disposable razors and travel size shaving cream

Lenten Food Drive

Holy Rosary School will hold a schoolwide food drive this Lent, in addition to our ministry to St. Martin de Porres shelter.  This local food drive will benefit our neighbors most in need in the West Seattle Community through the Holy Rosary St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry. Help us stock the food pantry up for summer! Items can be brought directly into the school and left on the table in the front hallway.  Items they currently need are:
FOOD ITEMS:  Peanut Butter (16oz,), Canned Chicken, Canned Tuna, Tomato Sauce, Canned Fruit, Crackers (Saltines, Ritz) 
HOME AND PERSONAL CARE ITEMS:   Paper Towels, Liquid Dish Soap (small/medium size), Toothpaste, Single Packaged Toothbrushes,
Individually wrapped bars of soap (unscented if possible), Shampoo.
Thank you for your generosity as we take care of our neighbors!

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EVENTS & FUNDRAISING

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Online Auction

Thanks to all those that bid in the ONLINE AUCTION.  Hopefully you’ve picked up your items already, but if you haven’t please come to the school main office between 8:30-3:30.

Free Dress Passes

Free Dress Passes for those that made more than 5 bids will go home over the next week.

Teacher Books & Buy Backs

Teacher Books & Buy Backs will be sent home in May. If you haven’t purchased yet, then please do so by Friday, April 8 at noon.  After that it will be too late as the class parent volunteers need to work on creating the buy backs.

ORDER TEACHER BOOKS & BUY BACKS

Auction Tickets

Invitations were sent home with the youngest child in the family this week. This is a party over 2 years in the making.  Our last in-person auction was in March 2019. We hope to see YOU there!

BUY TICKETS NOW

Raffles

Tuition and 50/50 Raffles are back! Only 100 Tuition Tickets will be sold. Winner receives $5000 towards tuition. $100 per ticket. 50/50 Raffle winner receives half the pot of total sales. $25 per ticket or 5 tickets for $100. Complete the form that came home with the invitation and return to the main office.

Volunteers Needed

Volunteers Needed – contact Beth Martin (bmartin@holyrosaryws.org)
All positions are available as a multi-year commitment, not a requirement though. Training will be provided.
Thanks for the wonderful response for auction volunteers.  A few key positions left to be filled are below.
Volunteer Coordinator – Like managing people?  Want to know about the inner workings on auction day?  Then this position is for you.  You will spend the day/evening managing all the auction volunteers.  This position will earn at least 10 hours.
8^th Grade Tribute – Have an 8^th grader?  Gather/solicit large/small group pictures from the Class of 20200 throughout their time at HRS.  Assemble into a powerpoint.  Background slide will be provided.
Auction Volunteers Needed – Volunteering at the auction is a great way to be a part of the action, while fulfilling your volunteer hours.

SEARCH THE SIGN UP FOR THE PERFECT AUCTION JOB HERE

Westfest

Thank you so much for the responses that we’ve received regarding Westfest!! We are still in need of a lead for the Italian Booth (or could be something else). If you were previously in charge of something and will need a replacement because you have a graduating 8th grader, or if there is a position that you’d like to know more about, please reach out to Marianne Wintermute (mmwintermute@gmail.com).

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ADMISSIONS

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School Admin

School Admin accounts have been manually updated. Please log in and review your account under billing management.  Contact Beth Martin at bmartin@holyrosaryws.org with questions.
Pay attention to the following:
-payment plan start date
-discount for in-parish siblings
-financial aid, if applied this has been added to your account

Ambassador Families

Love HRS?  Want to share all you know about HRS? Then we need YOU! Volunteer and help welcome New Families to Holy Rosary School! Need families in all grades!  Earn volunteer hours during the summer for the 2022/23 school year.  Details here

FACTS Credit Card Fee Increase

Effective April 25th the fee charged to credit card payments on the FACTS system will increase to 2.95% from 2.85% (a FACTS company increase).  Billing for 2021/2022 through FACTS will end June 30th, after which all 2022/23 billing and payments should be occurring on our new SchoolAdmin system.  The only exception is that financial aid applications will still utilize the FACTS platform.  Any questions, please contact Beth Martin (bmartin@holyrosaryws.org).

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EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

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CYO Track

The Holy Rosary Gators took 1^st place in CYO Track and Field back in 2019, and we are ready to do it again! It’s been two years since we have been able to participate in a Track and Field season, but good news! CYO Track and Field registration is now open for parish students in grades 4-8!  No prior experience required!  Practices are tentatively scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:45pm-7:15pm, at Hiawatha Track. First practice is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, April 5^th. Come join us!  Meet dates are below (time & location of meetings to be determined):

• Preliminary: Saturday, May 7, 2022
• Relay: Saturday, May 14, 2022
• Qualifying: Saturday, May 21, 2022
• 8th Grade Pentathlon: Sunday, May 22, 2022
• Championship: Saturday, June 4, 2022 @ 10:00am (All-Comers) & 12:00pm 

We are still looking for a head coach, assistant coaches, and parent volunteers/high school students to help at practices/meets. Both coaching and general volunteering count toward your volunteer hour requirements. Without more coaches, we may not have a season. If you would like to help, email Libby Pickthorn at parishoffice@holyrosaryseattle.org. To register an athlete, click Seattle CYO Athletics (teamsideline.com) and select “Holy Rosary Seattle Parish”. We are looking forward to another great season!

All of these are excellent ways to fulfill your volunteer hours! 

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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

REMEMBER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES ARE ALSO LISTED HERE!