August 31st Newsletter

August 31, 2017

Dear OLG Families, 
What an amazing week around school!  Staff inservice began with a retreat, reflecting on our school theme this year: We are the Hands and Feet of Christ.  It was thrilling for me to see the staff together for the first time and really recognize what a wonderful, talented, and exceptionally normal group we have here at OLG!  I say “exceptionally normal” because the staff have all the normal things going on in life that all sons, daughters, parents, spouses, (and a few grandparents) face, while also bringing exceptional focus, inspiration, humor, and passion to the art of teaching, learning, and supporting the education of our OLG children.  What a fabulous group!
Wednesday evening I was also able to greet many of you, the OLG children and families, at the School Supply Drop-Off night.  I saw the focus and concentration needed to juggle bags of supplies, paperwork and multiple kids while making your way to classrooms and the front office desk.  Then the joy of finding friends, released of your bundles, and enjoying a Parent Org Popsicle!  Don’t forget to connect again with fellow parents on the first day of school:  Coffee and chat with P.O. reps and fellow friends before AND after our 9am School Mass.
I look forward to walking together along our journey of faith, academic, and personal growth this year.  Lets get our feet on the ground and start moving!  See you all on Tuesday morning!
      Yours in Christ,
       Anton Kramer

 

First Day of School
Tuesday, September 5th
8:25 AM to 12:00 PM
  • Full uniform the first day of school!
  • Drop off time is between 8:15 – 8:25 AM
  • Tardy bell rings at 8:30 AM
  • Mass is at 9:00 AM – Please join us!
  • Extended Day Care (EDC) is available starting at 7:00 AM for students who need an earlier drop-off time, as well as 12:00 – 6:00 PM
  • NEW!  Coffee and pastries in the Walmesley Center/Gym stage area.  Meet new friends and reconnect with old friends at the Parent Org sponsored “Coffee & Pastries” from 8:15 – 9:00 AM, during drop off, and again after mass from 10:00 – 11:00 AM. OLG spirit gear available for purchase.
  • Noon pick up – the first day is a half day – Your child will be ready to be picked up at noon!
What does full uniform mean?
The formal full dress uniform must be worn with the logo sweatshirt, vest, cardigan sweater or polar fleece. Formal full dress is required for all school masses.

 

School Lunch Options
UPDATE!  NO pizza available Friday, September 8th.  Please pack a lunch on the first Friday.  Pizza service will begin September 15th.
Find our school lunch options under QuickLinks on our web site.

 

Band Starts September 8th
The first day of band practice (grades 6th-8th) is Friday, September 8th.  There will be a band presentation to the 5th graders on that same day.
Instrument Rental Meeting is Saturday, September 16th at 10:00 AM at the Parish Hall.  More information will be handed out to all fifth graders.
Change in Band Fee:  The monthly band fee will continue to be $20 per month, but it will be charged October to May (8 months, instead of 10 months).

 

Curriculum Nights 
Save the Date!  Curriculum nights are coming soon.  Please mark your calendar and find out the great plans our teachers have in store for your children.
  • Kindergarten – 5th Grade
  • Preschool / Pre-K: Thursday, September 14th 6:00 – 7:00 PM – School Hall
  • Middle School: Thursday, September 14th 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM -Starting in the Walmesley center, then moving to the classrooms

 

Changes to the Family Communication Envelope (FCE)
We are moving toward less paper handouts, and encouraging electronic communications.  Most information is available electronically via email, newsletter, and web site.  The FCE will still be used on occasion.  Please remember to return the FCE to school the following day.

 

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!

School Volunteer Opportunities*
Get a jump on this year’s commitment hours!  Many hands make light work…the following positions are open:

clasped-hands-sky.jpg

Fix chairs – We need a handy-person ASAP to fix wobbly chairs as well as projects around the school. Contact Sal Pagan
Lost and found (weekly) – Track and sort lost and found items throughout the year.   Contact Shelley Bradley
Front desk help 8:30-9am (daily) – Help at the front desk with tardy slips.  1/2 hour volunteer credit per day! Contact Shelley Bradley
Recess monitors (weekly) – Have a few hours during the school day?  Help us at recess, see your child in action, and get to know the kids.  These are paid positions. Contact Heidi Ehrenberg
Student art display (Annual position, automatic 25 hours) – Coordinate with our art teacher to mount student artwork and display in the school hallways. Contact Shelley Bradley
Grant writing (periodic) – Have a talent for this detailed work?  We could use your expertise!  Contact Carrie Morrissey
EDC Assistant (periodic) – help at EDC on Wednesdays 2:15 pm to 4:00 pm and fill-in when we are short a staff member. Contact Kimmy Fulton
Kitchen cleaning & organization (monthly) – Give the school kitchen a deep cleaning.  Also hours for organizing/taking inventory of the school kitchen.  Contact Sal Pagan

 

* All volunteers must complete the Safe Environment Program managed by Virtus.  Our local Safe Environment Coordinator is Sandy Plummer (206) 935-0358.

The Parent Organization is thrilled to welcome you back to a new year! In fact, that is our theme this year – NEW! Watch for some new things happening with the Parent Org in regards to a new location for the Auction and a new twist on the Halloween Carnival! We have added some new faces to our board this year and are ready to work hard in our fundraising and community building this year! If you are interested in serving on the Parent Organization, please reach out as there are many opportunities available to get involved!

 

First Day of School Coffee & Pastries
Meet new friends and reconnect with old at the Parent Org sponsored “Coffee & Pastries” in the Gym reception area (Walmesley Center) from 8:15-9:00 AM, during drop off, and again after mass from 10:00-11:00 AM. We look forward to seeing you!

 

Fall Fundraiser Kick off! Charleston Wrap & Gifts
It’s ba-ack! Once again we have partnered with Charleston Wrap for our fall fundraising campaign this year. There are over 500 high quality items to choose from, and every purchase you make earns between 30-40% in much needed money for our school. Simply order from the catalog being sent home with your child, or visit the Charleston Wrap website to shop.  Watch the newsletter and the FUNDRAISING link for upcoming information! The sale will kick off the second week of school!

 

Volunteer Positions Available
Interested in becoming active in the school community while earning automatic volunteer hours? We ARE IN NEED OF AN AUCTION CHAIR & CO-CHAIR!!  For more information, check here!  Other open positions are Scrip Chair, Co-Chair, and numerous Auction committee roles.
There are also several classroom volunteer positions open in your class. Please read the emails from your Parent Org class rep.  To determine who your class rep is go here!

 

Save the Date!
First Parent Org Meeting (all are welcome!) 
September 20th @ 6:30 PM in School Math Lab
Halloween Carnival 
Saturday, October 28th
OLG School Auction – “Roaring 20’s theme”
March 3rd, 2018
(WE ARE IN NEED OF AN AUCTION CHAIR & CO-CHAIR!! Please contact Christa Callanan for more information)

 

If you have any questions about cross country, please contact Coach Daren directly or 206-853-7272.
If you have any questions about soccer, contact your coach or Bill Udall,OLG CYO Soccer Liaison.

An update on the Debt Elimination Campaign: During the many weeks this spring we focused on meeting our parish Annual Catholic Appeal goal, we did not focus on debt elimination. Currently, if we can assume payment of the outstanding pledges we have received to date, we only have $430,000 still owing on our Archdiocesan loan.  We have come so far and every gift goes to paying the loan principal. Thank you all for your pledges and gifts to help us meet the goal by the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in December.  When we are debt free we unlock the doors to the future.

 


 

Laudato Si: A Faithful Response to Climate Change featuring Jeff Renner
The “Season of Creation” takes place every year between the World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation (Sept. 1) and the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (Oct. 4).  During the Season of Creation, OLG and Holy Rosary are co-sponsoring an evening called “Laudato Si: A Faithful Response to Climate Change“.  Join us on Wednesday, September 13 at 7:00 PM in the Walmesley Center to hear fellow Catholic Jeff Renner discuss the changes he’s observed in our climate during 38 years as chief meteorologist and science reporter with KING-TV in Seattle.  He will also talk about the latest science and how it relates to Pope Francis’ encyclical “On Care for our Common Home“.  Can’t make it Wednesday?  There’s a similar event happening the next night at Seattle U at 7pm in the Pigott Auditorium.

 

Family Shelter Discernment Meeting
OLG has been invited to participate in a rotating shelter program for women and children run by Mary’s Place.  We are considering hosting several families for one week at a time, two to four times a year.  As a community, we would provide shelter, meals, activities for the children and some transportation. To get an exciting new ministry of this size going, we would need the support and volunteer power of many in our community.  Please join us on Saturday, September 16 at 9:30 AM in the Walmesley Center to learn more about this opportunity and help us in our discernment.  If you are not able to make it to the meeting but are interested in serving in any of the following ways, please let us know.  Volunteer opportunities: provide a meal, run activities for the children, drive guests on weekend days, sleep overnight in the shelter, be part of the organization committee.  Information, Jennifer Ibach, 206-935-0358 x120.

 

Stories from the Skagit Valley: Youth Migrant Project Presentation
This July, teens from OLG participated in the Youth Migrant Project.  They had an amazing experience of service, community, simple living and faith.  Thanks to tremendous support from the parish they were able to enter into this experience, learning a lot and having a great time while doing it!  Please join us for a brief presentation between the Masses on Sunday, September 24 in the Walmesley Center 9:45-10:45 AM to hear more about the experience and learn how your support made a tangible difference in the lives of those we encountered.

 

Parenting Strategies for a Faith-filled Home
Parenting a child is an awesome responsibility. It can also be an amazing gift for one’s faith. How can you effectively share your faith with your children? Join us for an informative and affirming interactive workshop where you will explore practical ways to live faith as a family, and meet others who are trying to do the same.  With humor and wisdom, Tricia Wittmann-Todd, MDiv, MSW will engage your faith and your imagination in a lively conversation about how to bring out the best in your precious family time. Bring your ideas and questions, and join us for this exciting workshop.  All parents and guardians are welcome.  Join us Saturday, October 7, 2017 in the Walmesley Center 9:30 AM – Noon.
To RSVP or Questions: Vicki Quinn 206-935-0358 x 115
Babysitting Available: RSVP required for planning purposes.
 
 
Seeking a place for your hands and feet to work in the parish?  Earn volunteer hours, or just learn more about what you can do to make our world a better place!

 

Volunteers needed for our Faith Formation programs*
What you do matters greatly to us all and we need your help as we are looking for Catechists to work in our Faith Formation programs starting in the fall of 2017.   You may have taught children professionally, or you may have never taught before. We will guide you with all the support and materials needed to be a truly inspirational catechist, sharing your faith and touching lives one child at a time.  Contact Marion Kari at 206 935-0358 ext. 113.

 

Volunteers needed for Parish Events*
If you are interested in helping with childcare for the Parenting Strategies event and others, the parish is looking for a few more adults (and 7th/8th graders) to call when childcare is needed at OLG Parish events.  Please contact  Vicki Quinn at the OLG Parish office for more details (206) 935-0358.  These positions are paid an hourly rate or families may choose to use toward their school commitment hours.

 

*Childcare providers must be up to date with their Virtus requirements prior to working.
CONTENTS

Important Info May 2012

First Day of School
Noon Dismissal
September 5th
Tuesday

 

Curriculum Nights
K-5th: September 7th 6:30 PM, Parish Hall
Pre-K: September 14th
6:00 PM, Parish Hall
6th-8th:September 14th 6:30 PM, Walmesley Center

 

Band starts
September 8th
Friday

 

Band Instrument Rental  September 16th
10:00 AM, Parish Hall

For our students, teachers, and families open to the joy of learning

 

For Maria Unite, great grandmother of  Demarco and Enrico Beza and grandmother of Chatrice Beza who passed away
For the Corpuz family and the health of their twins due in December