"Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of thy love!" Pope Benedict VXI, Pentecost Mass, June 4, 2006

Make sure you have your running shoes ready, grab a light jacket; we are lining up for the Jog-a thon!   The students will be running laps, getting fresh air and exercise tomorrow in support of a playground for our sister school in Peru and our own school garden.   Thank you for encouraging them and for your sponsorship. By the way, you are very welcome to come along and jog with us!

We would also like you to join us as we honor Mrs. Sherry Grandorf at the 10:30 Mass on Sunday, May 19.    Mrs. Grandorf, our loving librarian, is retiring this year. She began teaching at St. John School in 1981 and very quickly became involved in many areas of school and parish life including primary classroom teacher, Children's Liturgy of the Word director, Eucharistic Minister, RCIA, preschool singing teacher, and school librarian.   After Mass, we will gather for coffee, cake and donuts and an opportunity to chat with Mrs. Grandorf.

The next few weeks will be busy! We have the Geography Bee on Wednesday, May 22.   The primary teachers are hosting their auction party this Friday and the fifth grade teachers lead the auction Scavenger Hunt next week. Thank you to all the teachers for giving their time and treasure in support of the auction and St. John School.   Many classes are finishing exciting final projects and in the upper grades, students are preparing for final assessments.  The eighth graders are counting down the days!

Help the children - and yourselves - through these hectic last weeks of school by practicing the Habits of Mind with them.   Spring is in the air and we are all giddy with thoughts of the lazy days of summer ahead. Hold the children accountable with empathy and understanding, help them to manage their impulsivity, remind the children that school is not out yet and they should persist with their efforts, find humor in simple delights each day and respond with wonder and awe in these children who are created in the image and likeness of God.

Blessings,

Bernadette O'Leary

In the coming school year (2013-2014) we will be celebrating the St. John School 90th Anniversary all year long! We need everyone's help in reaching St. John School graduates to bring together memories and stories from the first 90 years of St. John School.

If you ARE a graduate of St. John School, KNOW a graduate of St. John School, are RELATED to a graduate of St. John School, or can get in touch with a graduate, we need YOUR HELP! Additionally, you don't have to be a graduate to "like" our new Facebook page: www.facebook.com/stjohnschoolseattlealumni. By 'liking' us, your own Facebook page will come up as a fan of ours and you will be helping to spread the word!

St. John School graduates are encouraged to email us their special memories, along with their contact information, to stjohnmemories@gmail.com.

THANK YOU for your help. If you have any questions, please contact Michele Thornquist at mthornquist@stjohnsea.org  or Jen Bergman at the-bergmans@comcast.net.