"Our Lady of Guadalupe School fosters Gospel values, inspires academic excellence, and develops service and leadership. We face this as a sacramental community united and empowered by the Holy Spirit."
Dec. 18th Newsletter
December 18, 2015
Dear OLG Families,
As we head into break, eagerly anticipating the celebration of Christmas, I want to thank everyone who made our Feast Day celebration last Friday so memorable! From the kindergarteners and 8th graders processing in with paper roses and banners, accompanied by the middle school band, to the 4th grade chorus festively leading us in song, it was a true celebration! This year’s Student Council portrayed the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe appearing to Juan Diego beautifully and in such a heartfelt way. The 8th grade added to the prayerful atmosphere with the traditional Mary Dance, and it was delightful to see some of the pre-k students in the front pew joining in the motions joyfully! Thank you to everyone for the enthusiastic participation in our Feast Day Mass, and to Lauren Hobbs, Barbara Zbaracki, Ann Sager, Frances McKamey and JC Santos for all of your work preparing our students! Thank you, as well, to the wonderful team of volunteers, coordinated by Shelley Bradley, who baked and hosted our reception!
Celebrating Advent
Tomorrow, we’ll have our last 2015 Advent prayer service in our hallways, in anticipation of the 4th week of Advent. Special thanks to Mrs. Hoch for planning these services, bringing in seasonal Gospel readings, carols of the season, and a call and response prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours. It’s a special time of lighting candles to signify the light coming into the world as we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Christ child. Our students enter into these opportunities with great Advent spirit and reverence.
VFW Essay Contest Winners
Congratulations to the following students who had winning entries in this year’s VFW essay contest.
Sophia P.
4th Grade Contest Winners:
Sydney B.
Charlotte C.
Josie D-C.
Sophia N.
Danny V.
Read more about the connection with our 4th grade service focus…
In addition, the VFW and Knights of Columbus awarded Catherine Wilson funds to support her class service projects for veterans.
Trivia Night!
Mark your calendar now for our very first OLG Trivia Night, sponsored by the Parent Org and planned by OLG parents, Cassie Jenkins and Jessica Burris. This is an event not to be missed and will be family fun for all ages. Check out the flyer for info about the early registration incentive (a copy was also sent home with students today).
Wishing your family a joyous celebration of Christmas!Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!
The Fund Drive is well underway, and thanks to our generous supporters the 8th grade classroom will have new windows installed over Christmas Break! It will be a welcome change for our oldest students to return to a classroom that actually stays comfortably warm during the winter. We would love to be able to move forward with
another classroom this year as well, but we need your help to do that.
To date, we have raised $76,000, but there is still a long way to go. With a goal of $100,000 every single school family needs to participate. We are hoping to have some grant makers help with the expense of replacing our old, single-paned windows but they won’t help us if they don’t see us first helping ourselves. As of today, less than 50% of all school families have made a pledge. With that participation rate, we will not qualify for any grants.
In addition to helping the school, did you know that contributions to the Fund Drive are 100% tax deductible? As the end of the calendar year quickly approaches, it is a great time to get those last-minute write offs!
OLG School is a wonderful community of vibrant, involved families coming together to build the next generation of leaders. We truly appreciate all that you do to make it such a creative and supportive community. Please take a few minutes to consider what your family can contribute to the Fund Drive and make a pledge today.
Middle School Humanities and Religion/7th Grade Homeroom
Seventh Grade Religion
The seventh graders are truly living out the Catholic Social Teachings of “Option for the Poor and Vulnerable” and “Life and Dignity of Human Person.” Each month, with the help of dedicated parent volunteers led by Lissa Baier and Natalie Trius, they prepare, deliver, and serve 150 lunches to Angeline’s Day Center for homeless women in Belltown, a division of the YWCA.
Students learned about homelessness this fall, and in particular the stereotypes associated with it. They explored some root causes and the danger, uncertainty, and indignity of living on the streets. By serving the lunches students develop a sense of respect for the dignity of all, and a sense of responsibility towards their larger community.
Click here to read some of their post-visit reflections.
Each morning the Kindergarteners gather around the Advent wreath. We light the candles, hear stories about Jesus’ coming into the world, learn about Christmas traditions, and finish with a Christmas carol. The children also reflect on the meaning of each candle. Click here to read what they have shared.
Last year at this time, I wrote an article for the newsletter. In it I shared childhood memories of Christmas in Spokane…I described the rich flair my mom had for decorating I told of family and friends gathering to ski, play in the snow, simply enjoy one another’s company. Christmas dinner at our stretched to capacity table was warm, beautiful, silly. Wonderful memories. This year I’d like to share something I noticed recently.
Running errands in last week’s wild wind and rain, I was caught in a slow herd of cars, winding through a Capitol Hill neighborhood. Stuck on a side street, I tried to funnel my way back onto a main street. All traffic came to a standstill.
The rain pummeled my car, as Nate King Cole sang “Silent Night” on the radio. But oddly, the longer I hung on that hill, the more I relaxed and gave into the moment. With Nat singing, windshield wipers flapping, I was warm, snug, self-contained. People went by, holding onto hats and one another, wrestling with umbrellas. Traffic did not budge.
I leaned forward and looked up at the older apartments around me. Several displayed flashing lights. A red-nosed reindeer was poised to take flight. Next door the image of Santa waved, with a full bag of goodies on his back. But high up, in the window of a corner apartment, I noticed a single light. It didn’t flash, it didn’t move. It was a warm golden speck, so small, so seemingly insignificant. Yet there I was, captivated, gazing up at it, and wondering…
I wondered who lived there. Were they folks with little money, unable to contribute to the Christmas noise and flash? Or were they celebrating the simple beauty of the season? Maybe that light was hope, one light, one simple hopeful light… Or, perhaps a sign, reminding us of the happiness there is in simply being grateful.
Perhaps I was meant to get caught in traffic, to find myself quieted on that rainy side street…to look up and see that simple light…and to share this message with all of you…
Merry Christmas! Wishing you a time of simple blessings and peace
Thank You for a Wonderful ‘Light Up The Night’ Event!
I want to extend a huge thank you to Minerva del Rosario and Yen del Rosario for the incredible Light Up The Night event they organized for our community! It was a great evening filled with delicious treats, hot chocolate to keep us warm, wonderful caroling lead by The Starry Crowns and, of course, the amazing sight of all the beautiful lights turning on for the first time this season! It was a truly a wonderful night and a perfect way to ring in the Holiday Season.
I would also like to thank Tovee Delallana for all her guidance and organization. You were a wonderful mentor and this night would not have been possible without your assistance! Also, thank you to everyone who volunteered their time to help with set-up and clean-up and those donated cookies. Special thanks to the Jenkins family who purchased the “Flip the Switch to Light Up the Night” item at last year’s auction!
Trivia Night
January 23, 2016 6-9 pm
Get your team ready to win big prizes and reserve a table today!
Teams of 6-8 people
All ages are welcome
First five teams signed up will have a surprise waiting for them at their table
This Week’s Focus: OLG’s Jubilee Doors: On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception we blessed our Jubilee Doors as we begin our pilgrimage journey during this Holy Year of Mercy. As Fr. Jack prayed during the blessing, “Brothers and sisters, let us begin this journey together-as a parish community, as families, and as people in the world, asking for God’s grace and guidance. He is the way that leads us in the year of grace and mercy.”
You can learn more about the Jubilee Year and the many activities taking place at OLG by visiting our website.
What is a Jubilee Year and Why Does it Matter?
Sunday, December 20th between the masses (9:45-10:45 am) in the Walmesley Center. Come learn more about this holy year of mercy and the opportunities it offers for individuals, families and our parish to grow in faith and holiness. Hospitality will be provided.
New Year’s Resolution Walk
Please mark your calendars for Friday, January 1, 2016 from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm for OLG’s first annual New Year’s Resolution Walk at the Peace Garden and Labyrinth. This will be a great opportunity to set an intention or two and use the labyrinth as a tool to set your intentions in motion. Hot chocolate and cider will be served. Stop by anytime to take a turn through the labyrinth as well as to visit the St. Francis and Our Lady of Guadalupe areas of the garden for quiet reflection.
Thank you to the Knights of Columbus, OLG School Community, TheStarry Crowns, St. Anthony’s Guadalupe Dancers, and residents of the Santa Teresita Community for helping us celebrate our feast day! We are truly blessed by the many gifts of our community who help us come together for prayer, fellowship and fun! Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.Flyers
Please pray for Theresa Perales, cousin of Karen Fitton, who was recently diagnosed with cancer.
For the O’Keefe family – Linda, Conner, and Lauren, as they grieve the loss of their husband and father, Tony O’Keefe. May they find peace and comfort and be wrapped in the love of their OLG community.
Our Lady of Guadalupe School & Parish acknowledges that we are on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People past and present, and honor with gratitude the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe.
Christmas, I want to thank everyone who made our Feast Day celebration last Friday so memorable! From the kindergarteners and 8th graders processing in with paper roses and banners, accompanied by the middle school band, to the 4th grade chorus festively leading us in song, it was a true celebration! This year’s Student Council portrayed the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe appearing to Juan Diego beautifully and in such a heartfelt way. The 8th grade added to the prayerful atmosphere with the traditional Mary Dance, and it was delightful to see some of the pre-k students in the front pew joining in the motions joyfully! Thank you to everyone for the enthusiastic participation in our Feast Day Mass, and to Lauren Hobbs, Barbara Zbaracki, Ann Sager, Frances McKamey and JC Santos for all of your work preparing our students! Thank you, as well, to the wonderful team of volunteers, coordinated by Shelley Bradley, who baked and hosted our reception!
another classroom this year as well, but we need your help to do that.
of “Option for the Poor and Vulnerable” and “Life and Dignity of Human Person.” Each month, with the help of dedicated parent volunteers led by Lissa Baier and Natalie Trius, they prepare, deliver, and serve 150 lunches to Angeline’s Day Center for homeless women in Belltown, a division of the YWCA.
Each morning the Kindergarteners gather around the Advent wreath. We light the candles, hear stories about Jesus’ coming into the world, learn about Christmas traditions, and finish with a Christmas carol. The children also reflect on the meaning of each candle. 
Crowns and, of course, the amazing sight of all the beautiful lights turning on for the first time this season! It was a truly a wonderful night and a perfect way to ring in the Holiday Season.
during the blessing, “Brothers and sisters, let us begin this journey together-as a parish community, as families, and as people in the world, asking for God’s grace and guidance. He is the way that leads us in the year of grace and mercy.”
Please mark your calendars for Friday, January 1, 2016 from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm for OLG’s first annual New Year’s Resolution Walk at the Peace Garden and Labyrinth. This will be a great opportunity to set an intention or two and use the labyrinth as a tool to set your intentions in motion. Hot chocolate and cider will be served. Stop by anytime to take a turn through the labyrinth as well as to visit the St. Francis and Our Lady of Guadalupe areas of the garden for quiet reflection.
