Celebrating the beginning of spring at the K/1st Grandparents' & Friends' Day today.

It has been another exciting week at St. John School.  I am very grateful to Mr. Tim Flanagan for making our celebration of St. Patrick's Day so special! The lilt and drone of the bagpipes and the rhythm of the drumbeat lifted our spirits: 

St. Patrick's Day 2014

Today, we had another treat as grandparents and special friends came to visit their children in Kindergarten and Grade One. The children kept us all entertained as they sang proudly!  Preschool children welcomed their visitors yesterday. 

Two weeks to the auction and excitement is building! The class auction projects have been coming in and they are fantastic. Make sure you drop by Greenwood Library this afternoon to see them unveiled! They will be on display there until the day before the auction.

Yesterday, I received a message from Fr. Rowan, Superintendent of Catholic Schools. He conveyed his sense of concern for all those impacted by the national tax fraud scam - the fear of loss of anticipated income, the inconvenience, "the weakened trust in the institutions on which we rely, and the frustration at an evil we cannot see." He hopes that the information we forward you (see link in Action Items below) and special sessions that will be scheduled will provide practical steps that we can take to regain a sense of peace and relative security.

Each morning, the teachers gather for prayer. We pray for all of you, for your health and welfare. We have been praying for those of you who have been struggling with with the IRS tax fraud. This morning, I came upon these words from the prophet, Jeremiah:

"I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord..."

We are not alone, and as Lent continues, let us spend more time in the company of Jesus. He will listen.

Decorating for Palm Sunday (4/13/14)

Work Done: Saturday, April 12

Time:  10:00 am - Noon

3-4 able-bodied adult decorators (in addition to Environment Team)

Job Details: Arrange palms in 2 large, 2 medium brass containers for altar and tabernacle, also 4 white containers of palms needed for tables at front and side entrances.  Lynn has  usually decorated the Processional cross with red carnations and a few small palms.  Lynn will likely have plans for decorating the arches with fan palms, and also adding small fan palms to the altar brass containers (holding regular palms).  Red cloths and palms need to go over to Egan for the Sunday Processional of Palms to the church at 10:30AM Mass.  Contact Marguerite Young, marge@u.washington.edu or Suzanne Fairchild, suzfairchild@hotmail.com.

Decorating for Easter (4/20/14)

Work Done: Saturday, April 19

Time: 9:00 - Noon

Number of Volunteers: 4- 6 able-bodied adult decorators (in addition to Environment Team)

Job Details: Move plants from Quigley chapel to the church.  Remove pollen sacs from all the lilies.  Soak all the plants thoroughly.  Add gold cloths to plants if the plastic covers are not golden.  Arrange plants around tabernacle, statues, altar, Baptismal trough, and tables by doors,  Lynn Gough will likely have arrangements for the arches to be put in place. Contact Marguerite Young, marge@u.washington.edu or Suzanne Fairchild at suzfairchild@hotmail.com.