 
December 15, 2011
St. John School will not be in session December 19, 2011 through January 2, 2012.
School will resume on Tuesday, January 3, 2012.
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Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
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from Psalm 89
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Message From the Principal
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 St. John School Schola at Ida Culver House
Although we are still in the Advent season and anticipating the birth of Christ, we have been celebrating the glad tidings and feeling the wondrous joy as the children raised their sweet voices in song. On Tuesday evening, the preschoolers, kindergarten, and first grades sang and lifted our hearts with their fervor and sincerity. The second graders presented the play, Celebrating the Real Reason for the Season. Their delightful singing and acting reminded us that Christmas is about the greatest gift of all, Jesus.
I am looking forward to the intermediate grades' performances tonight at 7:00pm in Egan Hall.
The most important way of all to celebrate the miracle of Christ's birth is to attend Christmas Mass. The Children's Mass will take place on Christmas Eve at 5:00. The children are invited to bring their baby photographs and they will be blessed during the Mass.
Faculty news
Pauline Klein and her family are relocating at the beginning of the New Year. We will all miss the family but I know that the preschool community will really feel the loss of Mrs. Klein. She is a nurturing and caring teacher and an incredible support to the faculty of the preschool. We wish the Klein family all the best as they prepare for their move - a New Year and new adventures.
Mrs. Klein's departure leaves a vacant position in the preschool. Mrs. Rodgers-Daly will take over the five-day morning position and we will be hiring a new person for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings. The position has been posted on the Archdiocesan website, www.seecelebrateandlive.org. If you are interested in applying, check it out.
Nollaig Shona Dhaoibh - Merry Christmas!
Bernadette O'Leary
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Schola Visits Ida Culver
I was so proud of our Schola Choir on Wednesday! They gave an extraordinary Christmas concert for the residents of the Ida Culver retirement home. Forty-eight seventh and eighth graders represented St. John School with poise, kindness, and wonderful singing!
The highlight was meeting 100 year old "Centurion" Mr. Starr who sat beaming in the front row during our entire performance.
What a joy and honor it is to watch our amazing students SHINE!
I encourage EVERYONE to try out for "Music Man!" Auditions will be held January 3, 4, and 5. Schola rehearsals will end earlier January through March, at 3:15pm, to accommodate rehearsal time for those involved in the musical.
Have a blessed Christmas and a joyous new year!
"Christ is Born! Glorify Him!"
Mrs. Pat Tsagalakis
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 Amigos de Peru
All Amigos and supporters of our Amigos de Peru program: Please join us for the 5pm Vigil Mass this Saturday, December 17. The Mass will be concelebrated by Padre Narciso Valencia Parisaca, the Pastor of our Sister Parish, San Miguel de Ilave, Peru. Padre Narciso has met many of our delegations and has been involved in our Sister relationship for many years. Don't miss this opportunity to see him.
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 Tuition Assistance Grants Available
Fulcrum Foundation Tuition Assistance Grant applications are now available for the 2012/2013 school year. Please visit the Fulcrum Foundation to apply. Grants for parish members participating in Fair Share help offset the difference between the actual cost to educate and the amount of the family's pledge. Grants for out of parish students reduce the amount of tuition owed by the family. Apply online and provide a copy of your application and supporting documents to St. John School, attention Diane Crockett not later than Friday, February 17, 2012. |
 Ring In The New Year With St. John For Kenya Well on New Year's Eve!
New Year's Eve party tickets will be on sale in the courtyard on Friday from 2:45-3:10pm, or see the attached reservation form and return to the school office.
Give the most basic gift ever - fresh, clean water. Every day we take clean water for granted, but many people do not have this luxury. We are stepping up and taking action and you can help us give an entire village in Kenya clean water. All you have to do is have a good time. Gift Certificates also available (donate any amount to the Well fund and give a gift certificate to a loved one). Contact Sue Pope, susan@kenyawell.com or Nan Houston, erikandnan@msn.com. Thank you for your support.
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 Annual Benefit Poker Tournament
Friday, January 27,
7-10:30pm
Blue Ridge Clubhouse
Mark your calendar and plan to get in the game! Texas Hold'em/Progressive Minimum/Double Blind. Instruction available for beginners - a great event for novice and expert alike! All proceeds benefit the financial aid fund for the 2012 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C. Complete and return the attached registration form.
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Endowment News
As you may recall, the St. John School Endowment is managed by CommonFund along with the Fulcrum Foundation Endowments and other Seattle Archdiocese school funds. I recently attended a meeting regarding the investment strategy going forward. Fulcrum and the Archdiocesan schools will be switching to Mercer Investment in 2012. Mercer serves as investment managers for a number of educational institutions including Carnegie Mellon, Oregon State University Foundation, and Washington State University Foundation. There is more to be decided on the part of each school beginning in January. I will continue to update you as the process continues. Meanwhile, I am grateful for the professional advice and support that both Fulcrum and the Catholic Schools Department provides us. Michele Thornquist, Director of Development and Admissions
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Alumni News
Six of the twelve girls on Bishop Blanchet's Varsity Basketball team are St. John graduates - Maddie C., Kelly K., Lauren M., Ali T., Laura W., and Taylor T. Congratulations girls and good luck with your season! If you have alumni news to report, please send it to Michele Thornquist. |
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Youth Confirmation/Sacramental Prep
Confirmation for high school students is scheduled for May 31, 2012. Candidates must be at least sixteen years of age by May 31, 2012 or in 11th grade. Sessions will begin Sunday, January 8, following the 10:30 mass. Please fill out a Registration Form attached and return to the parish. Or contact Anne Merklin at 782-2810, ext. 305 or amerklin@stjohnsea.org. for more information. |
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 Parish Christmas Schedule
Saturday, December 24 5pm Children's Mass
8pm Christmas Eve Mass
Sunday, December 25 Midnight Mass, 12am
Christmas Day Mass, 9am
Saturday, December 31 Vigil Mass for Mary,
Mother of God, 5pm
Sunday, January 1 Mary, Mother of God
8:30am and 10:30am Mass
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In This Issue
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Fulcrum Foundation Tuition Assistance Grant Application
Annual Poker Tournament
Alumni News
Funeral Help Needed
Library News
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Important Dates
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Dec. 16 No lunch service
Dec. 16 Green & Red Dress Day!
Dec. 16 Awards Assemblies
in classrooms
Jan. 3: School resumes
Jan. 3,4,5: Middle School Play
Tryouts, 3:15, Egan
Jan. 7: Cantionis at 5pm Mass
VIEW THE 2011-2012 CALENDAR
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 Funeral Volunteers Need The parish Funeral Committee is in need of additional help with a funeral to be held on Friday, December 16. If you have some time to help with this vital mission tomorrow between 12 and 3pm, or any part of that time, please go to Egan Hall. This is an urgent need, especially between 2 and 3pm. Thank you!
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Hot Lunch
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Tuesday, January 3
Turkey hot dogs, Sun Chips, mini apple (no "no meat option" available today)
Wednesday, January 4
Breakfast for Lunch
Thursday, January 5
Chicken Noodle or Vegetable Soup, Oyster Crackers, Homemade Rice Krispies Treat
VIEW FULL MENU AND ORDER
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Scrip News
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Thanks to all that have been purchasing gift cards through the Scrip program. Sales have never been better. We are receiving more inventory this week and will have plenty to choose from - iTunes, Barnes and Nobel, Regal Theaters, Amex cards, Claire's, Gap, Starbucks and more. By purchasing a gift card through St. John you give back to the school that gives to us all year.
Ordering is easy...simply send an email to scrip@stjohnsea.org or send an order form into the school office. We are selling every morning at school, as well as after coffee and donuts this weekend.
Thank you for supporting St. John!!
The Lisa's
SCRIP ORDER FORM Reproducible Scrip Gift Certificate! |
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Library Improvements
Recently students in grades three through eight were given user names and passwords to our WebPath site. This subscription comes to us through Destiny - our new library system. There are so many things to investigate! Please encourage your student to find time over the holidays to explore this new tool!
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Thank You Corner Compiled by Sandy Grimm
Miss Lovejoy would like to thank the following for their superb help in the classroom: Reading Groups-Jennifer Wade, Katie Burckhardt, and Brandi Dagg; Centers-Julie Sylvester and Wendy Bevilacqua. Thanks again for the wonderful faculty lunch, 5th grade parents!!
Miss Schifferman would like to thank Jill Campos and Carin Brown for helping with listening stations.
Thank you to Mr. Servito for his help with 3rd grade tech and to Mrs. Mansfield, Mrs. Servito, and Ms. Sue Kelly for all the wonderful work at Mezzanine art.
Mrs. Hendrickson would like to thank Meg Deines, Margaret Kineman, and Ida Henricksen for helping with the grade 2 Christmas play practices. Also, a special thank you goes to Michelle Sorrick and Meg Deines for their great help in the library every week.
Mrs. Tsagalakis would like to extend a huge thanks to volunteers who helped with the Elementary Christmas program:
"THE GREATEST SOUND CREW EVER!"
Fred Servito and Tim Flanagan
OUR MAGNIFICENT PARENT VOLUNTEERS:
Ida Hendricksen,Margaret Kineman, Sue Pope, Meg Deines, Karen Smiley, and Amanda Miller.
We would also like to thank those who helped with our Schola field trip to the Ida Culver House: Marianne Wells, Sue Gleeson (helping to coordinate Schola Choir and Pizza for Kenya lunches), Seņor Pablo Kelly, and Steve Berlage.
St. John School would like to thank Sandy Grimm for faithfully coordinating this column each week!
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