Family Communication 9/29/22

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The mission of Holy Rosary School is to help each child discover and fully develop their God-given talents. As a Catholic School community, we strive for excellence in our students’ spiritual, academic, physical, mental, aesthetic, and social-emotional growth. It is our intention that those who attend this institution mature into active citizens leading a committed faith life and reaching out to help others locally, nationally, and internationally with their wisdom, time, talent, and financial resources.

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PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

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Dear Holy Rosary Families.
What a wonderful Westfest we had!  The time to be together in community is just what we needed to round out the exceptional start of the year we’ve had. Thank you to the many, many volunteers that made this event a success!  As we enter October, it feels like we’re really in the full swing of things.  
We now continue our work on our work gathering data as we engage in our Self Study year.  For the next four weeks, I wanted to take the time to draw your attention to the four domains we will be using to assess our school and set goals for the future.  This week, Catholic Identity.  
Domain 1:  Catholic Identity 
This domain is where we will take a deep dive into our school’s Catholic Identity and look at how well we are supporting our students in developing and deepening their relationship with Jesus Christ.    Our Catholic Identity is at the core of all that we do and teaching our students how to live their faith as part of our larger society is central to our mission.  Through this domain we will:
1)  Assess and review our Mission and Philosophy
2)  Review our religion programs, the Catechetical Certification of our staff, and how faith formation is integrated within all subject areas
3)  Examine how Catholic Social Teachings permeate our programs 
4)  Look at opportunities for prayer within our daily programs and where this can be further enhanced 
5)  Assess the ways we are assisting adults within our community in further developing their faith.  
You can learn more about all of the benchmarks for this domain here. 
In Christ, 
Anna 

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PASTOR’S MESSAGE

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Today is the Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.  These angels have a special role in salvation history.  It was Michael who led the angels of God against those angels who rebelled.  He is a protector to us all.  Gabriel brought the good news to Zechariah that he was to be a father, and again to Mary that she was to be a mother.  Gabriel is God’s great messenger to us all.  Raphael watched over and helped Tobias on his perilous journey, and brought great healing.  Raphael accompanies us, as well.  Angels are God’s gifts to help us on our way to Heaven.  This coming Sunday we will celebrate the feast of the Guardian Angels, those whom God has appointed to watch over us individually.  The Prayer to the Guardian Angel is one the children learn early on.  I myself learned it as a priest visiting school classrooms.  And is a good one to return to as a family if it is has fallen into disuse as we entrust ourselves to the care and ministry of these helpers of God.

Angel of God, my guardian dear,
to whom God’s love commits me here,
ever this day, be at my side,
to light and guard,
to rule and guide. Amen.
In Christ,
Fr. Matthew Oakland

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UPCOMING DATES

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• October 14th – No School (Teacher In-Service)
• October 18th – Parents Club Meeting
• October 22nd – Open House
• November 1st – All Saint Mass
• November 3rd – Picture Retakes
• November 11th – No School (Veterans Day)
• November 21st-23rd – Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences

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NOTES & REMINDERS

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Pizza Lunch

Great News!! Pizza Lunch is back! This amazing fundraiser helps pay for the many events throughout the year for the graduating class. Events include retreats, fun day, baccalaureate dinner, graduation, and the graduation reception. We appreciate your support! Pizza will be provided by Domino’s and the options will be cheese, pepperoni, or gluten free cheese or pepperoni. There will also be an option for one slice or two.
Orders will be processed through the SchoolAdmin payment system. More information on pricing to come soon! This year, we’d love to have families sign-up for the whole year. It will help with the ordering process. Below are the dates for the dates for the 2022/2023 pizza lunches:
Oct 21st
Nov 4th
Jan 20th
Feb 24th (Cheese Only)
March 17th (Cheese Only)
May 12th
June 2nd

Westfest Reimbursements

If you have reimbursements for Westfest, please turn these in as soon as possible so we are able to finalize our Westfest numbers. These can be dropped off in the school office or emailed to office@holyrosaryws.org (original receipts are preferable).

Help Us Be A Good Neighbor- Alley Reminders 

Remember that the alley behind the school is a public alley.  Please do not stop in the alley and do not block the driveways of our neighbors.  Pull all of the way forward to load and unload.  The alley is for active loading and unloading only.  If your child is not there for pick up when you drive through, please circle around the block.  Please do not exit your vehicle while in the alley. 

Who Do I Contact?

We have a number of support staff here to help at any time.  
To reach our office:  office@holyrosaryws.org
To reach our school counselor, Megan Choitz:  mchoitz@holyrosaryws.org 
To reach our Vice Principals:  
Lauren Tipton (grades K-6):  ltipton@holyrosaryws.org
Ted Mohrbacher (grades 6-8):  tmohrbacher@holyrosaryws.org 
** Our Vice Principals are here to help in a number of ways.  If you have a problem that has not been resolved after speaking with the homeroom teacher, for a sudden or immediate need, or a need of a serious nature that needs more support, please reach out to one of our Vice Principals at any time.  Note- there is some overlap with the VPs with grade 6.  You are welcome to contact either and they will work with each other. 
Principal Anna Horton can be reached at any time at ahorton@holyrosaryws.org 

Playground Use After School

The Holy Rosary School playground is a popular place after school.  Most days we have over 100 students a day in our BASE program and it is important that we are able to safely supervise BASE students while out on the playground.  Therefore, the playground is open for general use/play (supervised students only please) for half an hour after school each day.  At 3:30 each day (2:30 Wednesdays, 12:30 on noon dismissal days) the playground will close to general use and be available only for BASE student use.  Thank you for your understanding with this.  

COVID And Health Screening

Please find the latest COVID screening flowchart on our website and linked here. We have testing available on site and can test any student, parent or family member if needed.  NOTE- parent permission will always be obtained prior to testing at any time. This permission slip can be found here and should be returned to the school office. 
Please contact the office as soon as possible if anyone in your family tests positive at any time at office@holyrosaryws.org or COVID@holyrosaryws.org.  Kristin Bentler will work with you then on protocols and next steps.  
Students who have a family member test positive may remain in school, but should engage in a Test to Stay Protocol testing prior to attending school each day.   Per the Department of Health (DOH) guidance, students are asked to mask at school if a family member tests positive until that family member is no longer contagious.  If a student tests positive, he/she should wear a mask until day 10 even if returning to school on day 6, per DOH guidance as well.  
Due to the disruption it causes to the learning environment, Zoom instruction will not be offered building-wide this year.  Individual teachers will share protocols for addressing COVID-related absences.  Number of new COVID cases in the school this week (as of Thursday am) = 6

Holy Rosary School and Parish Are Hiring!

Holy Rosary is currently looking for a Custodian- 40 hours/week, Monday-Friday, shift hours are negotiable

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ACTION ITEMS

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West Seattle VFW Essay Contest

Young writer(s) in the house? Need college money? This year’s VFW essay competition – three categories, for 3rd graders through high-school seniors. See rules and awards here. Entry forms are in the school office and must accompany the essay. Turn into the school office by October 28^th.

We Need Your Forms

The office needs your help. It’s a new year, so new forms are needed. Please submit the following forms to the office.
Volunteer Agreement form
Family Handbook Acknowledgement form
Rapid Covid Test Permission
Photo/Media Form (new families only)

Red Cadet Collar Sweatshirts

The Main Office currently has the red Cadet Collar sweatshirts in stock in ALL sizes.  An order form must be completed to pick up a sweatshirt.

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EVENTS & FUNDRAISING

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WestFest

What a weekend!  WestFest returned and was the most successful financially to date.  Beyond the dollars though it was great to assemble as a community.
Thank you to Marianne Wintermute, WestFest chair, and all the coordinators for an amazing event.  Also, thank you to all the parent volunteers  who gave up their weekend working various shifts.  Couldn’t have done this without YOU!.

Magazine Drive

So far we have sold over $60,000 in magazines!!!

NEW INCENTIVE: Sell 5 between 9/26 – 10/3 and be entered to win a $25 Curious Kidstuff gift card.
New subscriptions and renewals count towards our goal. Even renewals that weren’t initially purchased through HRS count towards our goal of $125,000.
CASH DONATIONS                                                      
Cash donations, in lieu of magazine orders, are welcome!
$25.00 donation = 1 magazine order.

DONATE TO THE MAGAZINE DRIVE

ONLINE FAMILY REGISTRATION WITH FUNDERWORKS

1. Go to www.funderworks.com
2. Click on REGISTER A PARTICIPANT
3. Enter ROSARY in the code field and submit
4. Follow the steps to create the account
5. Once account is created, familiarize yourself with the various selling tools available. These include avatars, e-mail blasts, printable flyers, social media, etc.

Our goal is 100% participation.  Additional questions, contact Beth Martin or view the Magazine Drive web site.

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ADMISSIONS

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Open House

Mark your calendars and help spread the word about our Open House on Saturday, October 22 at 9:30AM.  Parent & 8^th grade volunteers will be needed, so watch the eFC for a sign-up.

Harvest Fest

HRS will once again be participating in the Junction’s Harvest Fest on October 30^th. Parent & 8th grade volunteers will also be needed again this year.

Seeking Applications For Preschool – 8^th Grade

Our new inquiry and application portal is coming.  Spread the word to friends and family that HRS is the place to be.  Watch the efc for a launch notice.

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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

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Volunteer Hours

The volunteer hours portal is ready for the 22/23 school year.

• Go to ‘Report Volunteer Hours‘ (also a red hyperlink on our home page.)
• New families:  If you haven’t set up a volunteer log-in yet, you will need to do that first, use the same link!  Remember, only one account per family, NOT per parent

Covid Volunteering Protocols

The COVID Protocols for volunteering in the school and around children have been updated for the new school year. COVID vaccinations are not required, but ALL volunteers working with or around children will need to complete the School Volunteer Agreement. Whether you are volunteering in the next few weeks or in the next few months, please fill out the School Volunteer Agreement now and return it to the school office.

Safe Environment Training

There are many opportunities to help out this year. All of our volunteers are required to take Safe Environment training prior to volunteering with the school or church. If you have not taken the class, please sign up as soon as possible. There are in-person as well as online classes. **It can take a couple of weeks after you’ve taken the class for you to be cleared to volunteer.**

Auction Project Volunteer

Need a creative and fun way to engage with your child and their classmates, documenting the memory of the 2022-23 school year as well as, fulfilling your fundraiser hours? 

As we plan for the 2023 Heart Auction, we are seeking out individuals interested in leading each grade’s auction project. These are important fundraising projects that, year over year, bring in a sizable amount of fundraising dollars while also delivering beautiful and memorable art and experiences created by your child and their classmates. If interested or have questions, email the Action Project Coordinator Brittiony Borges @ brittiony@gmail.com.

Traffic Patrol

We are looking for parent/guardians to do traffic patrol duty this year for volunteer hours. You would need to be fully vaccinated, and available to arrive on time and stay until your duty is complete. This would be a trimester obligation.
Start Date:
September 12^th – December 9^th
December 12^th – March 24^th
March 27^th – June 16^th
Times:
8:00-8:40am
2:45-3:15pm   1:45-2:15pm (Wednesdays) 11:55-12:20pm (1/2 days)
You could choose to do one day per week, AM or PM, or both AM & PM on the same day if you wish. Please contact Maggie Judd if you are interested.

Playground Volunteers

We are looking for playground volunteers to help us during lunch recess. Shifts are Monday through Friday from 10:55am to 1:05pm. If you have one or two days available each week, please contact Maggie Judd. Prompt arrival and a full shift are needed. Covid vaccination is not necessary.

REMEMBER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES ARE ALSO LISTED HERE!

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EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

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CYO Referees

We are excited to kick-off our 2022 CYO soccer season. We are in search of enthusiastic and qualified referees for our 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th grade games. Starting pay is $35 an hour. An entree level referee license is required. Age level is 14 and above. This is a great opportunity for high schoolers to use their soccer experience and give back to the game. Please reach out to the Jihanna Ness at CYO Athletics if interested and to find out more information: Jihanna.ness@seattlearch.org. 

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PARISH NEWS

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Funeral Reception Volunteers Needed

Funerals are a difficult but important time as families and friends grieve the loss of a loved one.  After coming together with the Lord in the Funeral Mass, receptions are an important opportunity to share the stories of happier days.  We are in great need of volunteers to help with funeral receptions, to make this possible for our parish families.  We have about 15 a year, using during the day during the week, and a list of people we call to see if they are free and able to assist.  We have two coming up in the middle of October.  Volunteers come a little early to get things ready, set up the food when it arrives and dish up if needed for the guests, and handle cleanup when everything is complete.  It is usually a 3-4 hour commitment.  If this is something you might be interested in helping with when able, please reach out to Melissa in the Front Office of the parish atmtuthill@holyrosaryseattle.org.  These can count as service hours.  We are also looking for one or two Funeral Coordinators, a paid position, to help lead the volunteers and handle initial preparations.

NEW Fall Women With Purpose Study Session-The Friendship Project 

Looking to deepen your friendships? Want to explore your faith life with other women? Please join us for our Women with Purpose Fall 2022 session on a personal journey with authors, Michele Faehnle and Emily Jaminet, as we discover in their book, The Friendship Project, how to develop and deepen Christian friendships. Renew your faith life as we study scripture, discuss the book, learn about friendships among Saints, and pray.  The Friendship Project Study Session will meet on Thursday Evenings starting September 29 thru December 1 at 7:00-8:30pm.  More information at https://holyrosaryseattle.org/wwp  For questions email Deyette at DSwegle@holyrosaryseattle.org.

Friday Morning Women With Purpose

In addition to the Thursday evening Women with Purpose group, we are looking to begin again a Friday Morning Women with Purpose group. Friday meetings would take place from 9:15-11:00am in the Parish Center Reception room. At this time, this would not include childcare.  For interest or questions regarding a Friday Women with Purpose group, please email Deyette Swegle at DSwegle@holyrosaryseattle.org.

Altar Server Training

Use this SignupGenius link to sign up early and reserve your place!  
Time for Altar Server training! This is for new and returning altar servers. Training is required in order to serve. Girls and boys in grades 5, 6, 7, 8 and High School can serve the holy people of God during Mass. When we join in the Mass, we remember Jesus and give thanks and praise for all the good things that God does for us. Altar Servers assist the whole church in praying. They carry the crucifix, candles and books at Mass. They prepare the altar so that bread and wine can become the Body and Blood of Christ!
The priests and the other ministers who help us celebrate the Mass rely on the altar servers so that we can all receive Christ by hearing the Word of God and receiving the Eucharist. Servers are trained after school or in the evening. Current altar servers receive follow-up training. Older altar servers can learn to lead the other servers at Mass!
Altar Server Training (One class from each session required)

Training Session 2

• Fri, Sept 30th – 3:15-5:15 pm
• Sat, Oct 1st – 9:30-11:30 am
• Sun, Oct 2nd – 1-3 pm

We will train all altar servers together–new and old. This helps the new servers learn quicker and helps refresh older servers. We’ll sign up about 10 servers per session.
Location: Church Sacristy

Sacramental 2 Preparation

(First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion)

Holy Rosary parish follows the guidelines of the Archdiocese of Seattle regarding children’s preparation to receive the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. Children must have one year of religious instruction before being prepared for the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.

Children who are Baptized Catholic and in Grade 2 can receive the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. Registration is open online: 2022-2023 Sacramental 2 (formsite.com)

If you have older children who have not yet received either of these sacraments or for information about First Reconciliation/First Communion Preparation, please contact Sr. Stella at srstella@holyrosaryseattle.org or 206 – 937-1488 ext. 252.

Youth Confirmation

Youth Confirmation kicked off last Sunday September 11^th. We have received some feedback that Mondays were very hard for school families to attend. To make things more convenient, we will meet on Sundays before Mass. Youth Confirmation will meet Sundays from 9:30 am till the end of 10:30 Mass. Registration is now open.

Adult Confirmation

Adult Confirmation will start November 3^rd and will meet Thursdays from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. And for anyone interested in becoming Catholic or wanting to learn more about the Catholic Faith, RCIA kicks off on September 14^th and will meet on Wednesdays from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.RCIA Flyer

Rite Of Christian Initiation Adapted For Children

Holy Rosary Church welcomes children 7-18 years of age who have never been baptized, along with their families, on a journey of preparation for initiation into the Catholic Church. If you or your children are interested to know more about RCIA, please contact Sr. Stella at srstella@holyrosaryseattle.org or 206-937-1488 ext. 252 or you can register online: RCIA for Children (formsite.com)