NewsViews
December 4, 2014
    Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
from Psalm 85

December Saints:  PK-2, St. Nicholas; Grs. 3-5, St. Mary Magdalene; Grs. 6-8, St. Maximilian Kolbe 
Decenber Virtue:  Generosity - Giving without counting the cost    
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Principal's Letter


Dear Families,

 

Advent is my favorite season at school.   Being a part of a school congregation at the lighting of the Advent candles is awe-inspiring. This morning I visited the Primary Department for their prayer service.   Six classes of children gathered in the kindergarten rooms and sang out, "O Come, O Come Emmanuel!" I wish you could all be there to hear them. Our teachers are making sure that we keep our eyes on Jesus as we prepare for His birth! I thank you so much for having your children come to school on time so that they can participate fully in prayer. On Monday, December 8, we will have Mass for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Children in grades 3 through 8 will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation on one of the days, December 10 through 12. On December 15, we will gather in the church again at 8:30 to rejoice at the lighting of the third candle - the rose candle. You are welcome to come and pray with us. The service lasts about 10 minutes.

 

Your children are bringing home their report cards for the first trimester. Students in grades 2 through 8 will also have their Iowa Assessment results.  Affirm the children's strengths and discuss the goals for improvement with your children. If you have any questions about either report, please call and set up an appointment to meet with us.

 

We have more glitter here at St. John besides the lights and candles. Congratulations, Miss Schifferman, Mrs. Quevedo and Miss Sullivan on their engagements!

 

Beannacht,

 
Bernadette O'Leary  
Principal
Dates To Note/Action Items
Today - December 4
*Report Cards home with students - parents, sign & return envelope
*Student Art Show, Egan Hall, 5-6pm

Green Banner

Monday, December 8 - DRESS UNIFORM
Liturgy, Immaculate Conception, 9am, Church
Wednesday, December 10
Parent Association Christmas Parties - 8:30am and 7pm, Egan Mezzanine
Thursday, December 11
Grades 3, 4, & 5 Christmas Program, Egan Hall, 7pm

Be sure to check the online calendar - updated regularly - for changes to the draft calendar distributed in July.  
Student Art Show
 

 Students participating in Kay's After School Art Club will present their work in the end-of-session Art Show.

Thursday, December 4, 5pm, Egan Hall

Everyone is welcome!  Refreshments will be served! 



Jackson S., Gr. 4

Parent Association


 
Parent Association Christmas Parties!
Wednesday, December 10
8:30am AND 7pm, Egan Mezzanine
Crafts for sale - do some Christmas shopping!
Refreshments

Children welcome at the morning event; adults only in the evening.

Contact Christine Craig if you would like to set up a craft sale table - deadline Sunday, 12/7.


Auction


Read the latest Auction Newsletter!

Winter Club Registration Begins
Intermediate Science Club for students in grades 3-5, will meet after school on Tuesdays for 6 weeks beginning January 13, 2015 (January 13, 20, 27, February 3, 10 and 24 from 3:15pm - 4:15pm). The Intermediate Science Club teachers and activities will be provided by Pacific Science Center's "Science on Wheels!" program.  The faculty advisor is Se�or Pablo, Assistant Principal.  The parent organizers are Lili Lengua and Betsy Roletto-Rivera. Due to classroom size and the availability of Pacific Science Center teachers, group size is limited to 24 students per section with one section for each grade (3rd - 5th).
 
Four parent volunteers per grade are needed to help each week from 3:00pm to 4:25pm.

The cost per student is $55.  Financial aid is available.  Please contact Se�or Pablo to request more information.

Electronic registration will be available through the
school website beginning Tuesday, December 9, at 7pm.

Participants will be taken on a first come, first served basis. Successfully registered participants will be notified, and permission forms distributed via email; forms and payment will be due by noon, Friday, December 19. 
Kay's After School Art Club
will be offered for students in grades 2-5 after school on Thursdays, beginning on January 8 and ending February 26. Space is limited to 15 students per session. The cost per student is $200 for 8 sessions and includes material fees. The art instructor is Kay Jang. Kay has a Masters Degree in Art Education, many years of teaching experience, and a passion for teaching children of all ages. All classes will be held in the Mezzanine.

Electronic registration will be accepted through the school website beginning on
Tuesday, December 9, at 7:00pm.

Participants will be taken on a first come, first served basis. Once the open enrollment period has concluded, a confirmation email will be sent, along with a registration form, to registered participants. Completed registration forms and payment will be accepted in the school office, due noon, December 19.
Scrip

Check your student's backpack for a special
Christmas Gift Guide  
coming home today!

Scrip makes the ideal gift for family, friends, teachers, hairdressers - the list goes on!  Make holiday life a little less hectic, delight those on your gift list, and support St. John School in one swoop!
 
St. John Scrip's email has changed -  [email protected].  Thank you.  

  

 

Using Scrip is part of your Fair Share Commitment to St. John School!   

Questions? Contact Karen Bombino and the Scrip Team at [email protected]  
From the Parish 

Jambo,

 

We are fast approaching the glorious Christmas Season. I think that you will agree time passes more quickly year after year! Over the last few years it has been apparent that on Christmas Eve many parishioners along with their extended families come to worship at St. John. I am thrilled that we have such community on this very special night.

 

To accommodate the large volume on Christmas Eve we will be offering TWO children's Masses at 4pm and 6pm.

The ushers will have to strictly monitor the number of attendees for each Mass and only allow enough participants to fill all of the seats - there will be minimal standing room allowed. We anticipate that we cannot allow more than approximately 600 per Mass.  Please plan accordingly.  We want to be able to serve you - all are welcome!  However, we must adhere to city regulations as well.

 

We look forward to having our wonderful children lead us in worship on this very blessed night. We are so fortunate to have the Schola Choir join us for the 4pm Mass and the Cantionis Choir assist us in worship at the 6pm. There are additional masses at 9pm on Christmas Eve and 9am on Christmas morning.

 

In the coming weeks, please read the bulletin for additional information regarding the Masses for Christmas. The parish is making every effort to ensure that the Masses are a joyous celebration for everyone.

 

Baraka ya Yesu!

 

Padr� Crispin

 
Ellie Strigen, Holy Names Academy junior (St. John School Class of 2012) coordinates our Parish Giving Tree this year.

 

Three organizations dedicated to assisting the homeless, benefit from your gifts this season: Noel House, University District Youth Center, and St. Martin de Porres Shelter.  For more information about the Tree and the organizations benefiting, link here.  

 

Please take an ornament from the Giving Tree, return that item unwrapped, and place it under the tree by Sunday, December 14.  Thank you so much for your generosity in making this a wonderful Christmas for the homeless in our community.

Knights of Columbus
Annual Christmas Tree Sale

Saturday, December 13, 10am-7pm,
Sunday, December 14, 9am-3pm
St. John Parking Lot

Proceeds benefit the St. John Women's Shelter and CCS Noel House programs serving  homeless women in the Seattle area.
Basketball
CYO Basketball 
CHRISTMAS TOURNAMENT
begins 
Friday, December 26, at St. John School, Egan Gym - Games for Gr. 8 Boys will be held at O'Dea High School.  Contact Mike Manley for information.  
Middle School Youth Group

Have Fun Making Gingerbread Men and
See a Christmas Movie!

 

Middle School Youth Group will meet on Wednesday, December 10, 6:30-8:00pm, in Egan Hall to make gingerbread men! Each student will get to make and decorate two gingerbread men, one for themselves and one for someone they love or for a woman in the St. John Women's Shelter. During the baking process we will be watching "The Nativity Story" or "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Parents - please help chaperone this fun event by contacting Myke Folger at 206-612-0036 (cell/text) or [email protected].

Girl Scouts
 
    
    St. John Girl Scouts will hold their annual Craft Fair on Sunday, December 14, in Egan Hall from 9:30am-12:30pm.  Stop in after Mass and pick up holiday items and goodies that are sure to please!  Proceeds support Scouting.
 
NoJunk
   
Let's lead your child in a good direction!  Coming together is a beginning - keeping together is a progress - working together is a success!


The cost for convenience starts at $1.95.

Our own fresh-baked bagel with whipped fluffy
cream cheese (on the side).



Starting today and for the rest of December, our homemade
Gingerbread Cookies will be available at our snack menu.



Get your child excited about packing her or his lunch online
Neighborhood Bites
Athletic Heart Screening
Nick Of Time Foundation will screen students ages 14-25 for  a tax deductible donation of $25.00.  The tests performed typically cost between $125 and $1,500.  Grants are available:  [email protected].  For more information and to schedule a screening, visit http://nickoftimefoundation.org/programs/screenings/.


US Baseball Academy will be held at Seattle University beginning January 4, 2015.  Visit www.usbaseballacademy.com to register.
Thank You Corner
Thank you  all November shelter volunteers. We couldn't keep it open each weekend without all of your help.  Betsy Rivera, Chris Sayers, Laura Fraioli, Rosemary Curran, Doug Smith, Ida Henricksen, Kristin Kent, Joan Collins, Rachel Douglas, Ann Foley, Chris Pierard, Lisette Nenninger, Ann Amort, Tony Perucca, Betty Ericksen, Colleen O'Leary, Rosalinda Aguirre, Chris Butler, Mary Ellen Talley, Tamara Driscoll, Rachel Berryessa, Willow Berryessa, Kira Cha, Heather Varvaro, Elena Sandoval, Nicole Hardie, Molly Martinez, Karen O'Conner and Bridget Sevigny. Thank you, Suzie Burke for washing the towels, Hannah McDonald for supplies, Nancy Alton for food workers, and Joe Falk who spent his Sunday last weekend getting the blown out tire on the bus fixed in time to keep the shelter open that night. Please contact me if interested in volunteering - [email protected]. Volunteering time is a great way to contribute when cash isn't  always an option.   

 

Want to thank someone publicly?  Send your "thanks" to Diane Crockett at  [email protected] for publication in NewsViews.

 

The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others.

Mahatma Gandhi