"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."
Oct. 1st Newsletter
October 1, 2015
Dear OLG Families,
Happy October!
Teacher Excellence Day – No School for Students Friday
Tomorrow, our faculty will be off to an Archdiocesan Teacher Excellence Day – an opportunity to connect with other educators across our archdiocese, share “best practices” for curriculum and instruction, and glean some new ideas to bring back to OLG! We’ll celebrate our Catholic identity with a Mass and have the opportunity to explore new curriculum materials with the educational vendors. We hope your children enjoy their 3-day weekend – much deserved after a great first month of school.
“It’s a Brand New Day…Whatcha Waitin’ For?”
This morning, our 8th grade class took on a leadership role for our October all-school Mass, focusing on their class theme, leading us in celebration of this new year and making it the best that it can be! Our kindergarten class joined us for their first time and brought a great sense of joy! As always, our chorus was wonderful and brought a real spirit of celebration. Many thanks to Mr. JC Santos, Ms. Ann Sager, Fr. Jack, our wonderful OLG Eucharistic Ministers, and the Class of 2016!
Early Dismissal Wednesdays
Early Dismissal Wednesdays (2:15 pm for staff meetings) begins next Wednesday, October 7th! Students who are registered for EDC may attend at no charge between 2:15 and 3:00 pm on Wednesdays.
Fall Extra-curriculars
Our Smart with Art visual art class is well underway! Most of our other classes begin in early October. A few spaces remain in each class. Please see the flyer for extra-curricular options and register here. (Please note the eligible grade levels for each class!)
Additionally, we need volunteers to assist as our extracurricular program grows! Find out how to earn double commitment hours!
Speech Screening
Speech and Language screening will be offered at OLG on Monday, October 19th (and Thursday, October 22nd for the T/Th preschool class). Please complete and return the permission slip, indicating whether or not you would like to have your child participate. A hard copy of this form will also be sent home in next week’s FCE. Thanks to Katie Richmond, OLG parent, who is sharing her professional expertise and making this possible!
School Fund Drive: How much should I give?
By now, all school families have received a mailing asking you to give to the School Fund Drive. You’re getting emails from class table captains inviting you to the Fund Drive Benefit Dinner on Oct. 10th. And you’ll get more reminders right after that, asking you to pledge during our three-day campaign Oct. 11th – 13th.
You’ve been asked. Now what? What’s expected? Here’s the handy two-step guide!
Grasp your pledge card (or your device, if pledging online) firmly in hand and:
1. Pledge. Every gift helps and participation counts – especially this year, as we seek grant support to replace our single-pane windows. We need to demonstrate strong community buy-in. That means every school family should give, as they’re able.
2. Make the school a priority. While your child is here, please make OLG School one of your top charitable recipients. That means different things for different households — $75 for some, $2,500 or $5,000 for a few. If your household can afford to give $1,000 or more, please do that. Small schools like ours depend on every household giving at capacity.
Remember that you can pay a pledge in installments over 10 months. And check to see if your employer will match!
Questions? Contact Carrie Morrissey, OLG School Director of Development and Marketing, (206) 935-0651 ext. 124.
Bienvenidos a la CLase de Español – Welcome to the Spanish Class!
I am very excited and blessed to be teaching Pre-K through 5th and 7th grades this year at Our Lady of Guadalupe School. I am delighted to be part of the language learning experience for your children and look forward to helping them on their journey to becoming excited, motivated, interested and to look forward to learning the Spanish language. My approach to teaching Spanish to the students this year will be with watching videos, singing songs, playing games, working on worksheets, projects and repetition to help the students develop the four basic skills of communication: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Read more…
Regional Catholic High School Information Night at OLG
On Monday, October 12th, OLG School will host an informational evening featuring representatives from all of the Catholic high schools in the Seattle area. This will be open to all middle school students and their parents/guardians. The evening will begin at 7:00 pm with an overview presentation in the School Hall, followed by three sessions by individual schools upstairs in the classrooms, concluding at 9:00 pm.
OLG Halloween Carnival is on Saturday, October 24th from 4-8pm.
Volunteers – Calling all classes and all volunteers: there are still various shifts, set-up and clean-up spots available for volunteering at the carnival. Sign up early to reserve the best shift or job that works for your family. You will not need to register for an account or keep a password.
Haunted Hall & The 6th Grade Scream for your help!
If you hear the call of the night, hair-raising shifts are available. Monster builders and families from the crypt are needed to rise up the night before the carnival, October 23rd. Monster builders are needed 5-8 pm and crypt family decorators 6-8 pm (kids welcome to help). Our masters of fright, aka The Sutton family, summon all the school for 32 adult ghouls & 24 middle school goblins. There 3 different shifts of frighteningly good work as characters & guides the night of the event. Kids younger than middle school may participate with prior approval from Mrs. Sutton. Come all and haunt the hall. Contact Josh Sutton for more Haunted Hall information.
Cake Walk – Lastly, cakes, cakes, cakes are still needed. Did you know $5 cakes are on sale at Safeway on Friday nights? A cake = 1 commitment hour. It’s the OLG Cake Walk – everybody wins!
(Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten you, 8th grade!! More Taqueria details are coming soon.)
Coming soon…
Advanced Ticket Purchasing – Take advantage of discount prices and purchase your wristbands and tickets early. Advanced purchase for discounted Wristbands and Tickets! Pricing is $13 for 1 wristband & $11 for each additional wristband. Tickets are $.50 each or buy 10 get 2 free. Wristbands include even more activities this year! With Wristband: Unlimited Bouncy Houses, Games, Prizes, Speed pitch, Mini-golf, Vomitron & The Amazing Zoltar. The wristband is a value purchase with activities for any age group. This year’s Special Attractions include: Haunted Hall, CakeWalk, Zoo, Treasure Panning, Photos, Beauty Parlor, iScream, & more. These attractions require 1-4 tickets for participation. Single game & single bounce are available for 1 ticket.
Thank you! All your support makes this OLG Halloween Carnival what it is-the OLG Parent Organization premiere fall evening of family fun. Looking forward to another great year and hoping you’ll bless us with your big-hearted participation once again. Contact Chloe Nichols with Carnival questions.
Next Parent Org Meeting: Tuesday, October 13th @ 6:30 pm. All are welcome!
Logging Volunteer/Commitment Hours
Commitment hours accrue from May 1st through April 30th. To log your volunteer hours, click HERE! Questions? Email Laura Campbell for answers.
Class Covenants
At this morning’s Mass, this year’s class covenants were shared. Please join us in praying for each of our classes as they strive to live out their commitments to each other, making the kingdom of God ever more present here at Our Lady of Guadalupe School.
Are You Interested in Learning More About the Catholic Faith or Becoming Catholic?
You are invited to participate in the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), a process of initiation into the Catholic community of faith. It encompasses the study of Scripture, Catholic teaching, and Christian values – the development and deepening of a life of prayer and action – all with the support and involvement of the parish community. You are welcome to come and just check it out, with no strings attached! We meet on Wednesday evenings, 6:30-8:00 pm in the Pastoral Center. For more information, please contact Helen Oesterle at 206-935-0358, x 108. You can also find more information at our parish website.
Take Another Look
Are you a Catholic who has been away from the Church or just come to Mass occasionally? Has Pope Francis piqued your interest in the Church again? Is it time to “take another look?” You are invited to join other adults who are also interested in the Catholic faith and preparing for confirmation. This is a wonderful opportunity to share your experiences, ask questions about the Catholic faith, and/or begin to discern where God is in your life, and whether or not you might wish to become a more active part of the Church once again. Classes begin on Tuesday, October 20th from 6:30-8:00 pm in the Pastoral Center. Information, Helen Oesterle, 206-935-0358, x108 or find more information at our website.
A Parish Study of the Pope’s Document on the Environment (“Laudato Si”)
During the coming months, our parish will be providing many different opportunities for you to learn more about the Pope’s recent encyclical on the Environment. Our RSVP small groups program will study, reflect and share on it. In addition, those same resources will be available to parishioners who are unable to participate in RSVP but would like to do a more in-depth study of the document. And lastly, there will be additional information and resources in our bulletin and on our website. Everyone is encouraged to participate in some way to learn more about the Church’s long tradition of advocating for the care of the environment, its implications for people – particularly the poor, and how we can make a difference in little and small ways as stewards of God’s creation. For more information, please contact Helen Oesterle at 206-935-0358 or check out our website.
Catholic Relief Services is on the ground working to provide humanitarian relief to refugees coming into Europe. Visit their website to learn more about their response or to make a donation towards their work. CRS’ Catholics Confront Global Poverty advocacy network is also asking Congress to do more to help refugees from Syria and Iraq. Click here to take action using their easy, pre-written and editable alert.
CROP Hunger Walk: Last-Minute Walkers and Donors are Welcome!
Join Fr. Jack and staff for the CROP Hunger Walk this Sunday, Oct. 4 as we walk with other congregations to end hunger around the world. The walk starts at 1pm (registration at 12:30pm) at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds). The walk is approximately 5K, close to the average distance a woman has to walk to get water in many places in Africa and Asia. Strollers, wheelchairs, pets-on-leash are all welcome! Click here to register online with our team or to donate. This is a little like “Rice Bowl with legs”. Just like Rice Bowl, 75% of the money you raise goes to overseas hunger alleviation projects while 25% stays local to fight hunger at home. Church World Service organizes the CROP Walk, but they partner with Catholic Relief Services so donors can request that donations be shared with CRS if they prefer. If you collect actual checks, they can write “Catholic Relief Services” in the memo line. On the first page of the online donation form you can type “Catholic Relief Services” into the “Alternate agency” field/box. A limited number of paper donation envelopes/registration forms are available on the table in the narthex.
Last Weekend to Donate to Lettuce Pray
Thank you for donating fresh produce to the West Seattle and White Center Food Banks through the Lettuce Pray program. This Sunday, October 4th, is the last day that produce will be collected.
Who will Speak for you when you Cannot?
During Respect Life Month, OLG’s Life, Justice and Peace Commission is co-sponsoring a special event with Holy Rosary’s Voices for Life group called “Who Will Speak for you when you Cannot?”. The evening will address what the Catholic faith says about end-of-life care, what a Health Care Directive is and why you need one, and other general, common questions. Sr. Sharon Park, the Executive Director of the Washington State Catholic Conference will be the presenter. The event is on Tuesday, October 20th from 7:00 – 8:30 pm in Holy Rosary’s School Hall: 4142 42nd Ave SW, Seattle 98116. Sr. Sharon is willing to stay until 9pm to answer questions after her presentation.
Please pray for Mrs. Kristin Dixon and her family. Mrs. Dixon’s much-loved sister, Mary, passed away this week.
Please pray for Michelle Carlson, cousin of Lauren Hobbs. Michelle passed away last Friday. Pray for her husband, Andy, and her four children: Andrew, Chloe, Grace and Sam.
For the Joe family, EDC staff. Mrs. Joe’s mother passed away earlier this fall.
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.
