Weekly Bulletin - School Information
1/20/2022
COVID Updates
As most of you are aware, we have been experiencing a higher than normal number of Positive COVID Cases and Close Contacts here at St. Louise since we've returned from Christmas Break.
With such a large volume of calls and emails to the office each morning, and in an effort to ensure that we are staying on top of each case as quickly and accurately as possible, please help us by following the important absence and COVID reporting procedures below.
- Please email the office [email protected] and Mrs. Reynolds [email protected] when you know your child will be absent, along with what symptoms they have.
- If your child tests positive for COVID, or is determined to be a Close Contact, please also email the office and Mrs. Reynolds so they can help determine next steps for your child and family.
- We appreciate you checking your email and voicemail often in case we have an urgent COVID matter to let you know about.
We know this is such a stressful time for everyone, but we THANK YOU you partnering with us to keep St. Louise safe and open for in-person learning.
Marian Festival at Mary Queen of Peace
Mary, Queen of Peace would like to invite the families of St. Louise Parish School to join in the celebration of Mary through our Annual Marian Festival January 21st-24th.
There will be events throughout the weekend for you to attend.
- Friday, January 21st: Multilingual Living Rosary at 7pm
- Saturday, January 22nd: 5pm Vigil Mass with Bishop Elizondo in honor of Mary followed by refreshments and guest talk by Joan Watson.
- Sunday, January 23rd: Masses in honor of Mary at 9am and 11am.
- Monday, January 24th: Guest Speaker, Joan Watson at 7pm. Topic: Is Holiness Weird? What does our call to holiness mean in real life? The saints, such as St. Francis, give us examples – but how can we imitate the radical life of the saints when we have a job, families, or other responsibilities?
Click here for more information.
CYO Volleyball Registration - Now Open for Grades 4-8
Welcome to St. Louise - Get to know our New Families!
Welcome to the Little Family who's son Henry (3rd grade) started at St. Louise right after Thanksgiving.
(clockwise) Adam, Jennifer, Harper, Henry & Cooper
"We are originally from Spokane, WA. Lived in Portland, OR for 3 years then moved to Bellevue in January of 2021. We enjoy going on family adventures - From exploring our new home town or going somewhere out of state, finding new playgrounds or places to go hiking or paddle boarding, heading out on a scenic drive, attending events in our community (go Mariners and Seahawks!), eating at new restaurants, going to art or music shows and visiting the zoo or aquarium. Our favorite places to travel are Disneyland, Hawaii and Cannon Beach. When it is rainy out, we like to play board games, bake treats and read books together.
Henry enjoys learning about animals, building with Legos, and drawing and his activities are lacrosse and swimming. Harper likes to do crafts and draw and participates in gymnastics and swimming. They both aspire to learn how to ski and play piano this upcoming year. Adam is a Regional Executive with Merrill Lynch and Jennifer is a Human Resources consultant. Both enjoy traveling, cycling and running. We all adore our 2 year old Golden Retriever named Cooper. He goes on most of our family adventures too. We feel blessed to have found St. Louise as our parish and school!"
Call for Donations - Can you Help?
Dear STL Community,
I work with Catholic Community Services (of which New Bethlehem Project is a part). Several of our 170+ programs help people experiencing homelessness. And as the COVID cases continue to sky-rocket, keeping our clients safe gets more challenging. Many of our clients are needing to quarantine and isolate. We typically have used I&Q facilities run by King County to safely house our clients while they recover and isolate. Currently, we are struggling to get our clients into these County facilities due to lack of capacity and staffing.
We are responding to this challenge by establishing rooms in some of our facilities for Covid positive CCS clients to isolate. These rooms do not have televisions. This will make it difficult for people to isolate by themselves. We want to support these people to remain in their rooms and provide them with as much as we can to make it comfortable.
We are seeking 5-10 donated TV's to put in these quarantine rooms.
· Smallish tvs (24-32 inches) only that can be transported by a single person. These rooms are not big.
· TV’s must have stands – we can’t wall-mount them.
· Smart tvs are ok, these rooms have access to wi-fi.
We are responding to this challenge by establishing rooms in some of our facilities for Covid positive CCS clients to isolate. These rooms do not have televisions. This will make it difficult for people to isolate by themselves. We want to support these people to remain in their rooms and provide them with as much as we can to make it comfortable.
We are seeking 5-10 donated TV's to put in these quarantine rooms.
· Smallish tvs (24-32 inches) only that can be transported by a single person. These rooms are not big.
· TV’s must have stands – we can’t wall-mount them.
· Smart tvs are ok, these rooms have access to wi-fi.
I'm hoping some of our school families who got new TV's over the holidays have an old TV sitting in the basement or donation pile. Please feel free to email me with any questions or if you have a TV to donate, I will arrange pick up.
Thank you so much!
Rebecca Nightingale
(STL Parent to Samantha and Ellie)
Rebecca Nightingale
(STL Parent to Samantha and Ellie)
Email - [email protected]
CYO Summer Camp - Registrations Begin Feb 1
Thinking about summer camp for your kiddos? Why not consider CYO Camp this year!
CYO Camps challenge those who experience camp with us to live, learn and grow in the Catholic faith.
CYO Camps inspire campers to learn respect and dignity for themselves, others and the environment… all through Catholic teachings.
More School News
Current Family Re-Enrollment for the 2022-23 School Year & Kids Club Begins 1/27
Beat the rush and save your spot for next school year! More information to follow next week on our early Re-Enrollment Incentives.
Now Hiring!
Want to come work at St. Louise? We are currently hiring for two part time positions - Development Director & Communications/Marketing Specialist. Please email Mr. Fuerte if you are interested and check out the job postings here for more details.
Has your child received their COVID vaccine?
If so, please email a copy to Mrs. Reynolds so she can keep their immunization records up to date. This is also helpful for contact tracing purposes, since fully vaccinated students are not required to quarantine due to exposure.
Now Accepting Applications for Siblings for Next Year!
We are accepting applications for new siblings for the 2022-2023 School Year. Please click here to apply. If you have questions please email Tracy Brown or Mindy Morgan at [email protected] or call the office at 425-746-4220.
1/13/2022
Library Class Update
Each month in Mrs. Green's Library Class the students study different genres.
Last week our 4th and 5th graders completed a genre sorting and matching activity with their table groups.
Students are learning about poetry and biographies during the month of January. Students enjoyed picking out and taking home a poetry scroll with winter-themed poems by Robert Frost and Shel Silverstein.
Marian Festival at Mary Queen of Peace
Mary, Queen of Peace would like to invite the families of St. Louise Parish School to join in the celebration of Mary through our Annual Marian Festival January 21st-24th.
There will be events throughout the weekend for you to attend.
- Friday, January 21st: Multilingual Living Rosary at 7pm
- Saturday, January 22nd: 5pm Vigil Mass with Bishop Elizondo in honor of Mary followed by refreshments and guest talk by Joan Watson.
- Sunday, January 23rd: Masses in honor of Mary at 9am and 11am.
- Monday, January 24th: Guest Speaker, Joan Watson at 7pm. Topic: Is Holiness Weird? What does our call to holiness mean in real life? The saints, such as St. Francis, give us examples – but how can we imitate the radical life of the saints when we have a job, families, or other responsibilities?
Click here for more information.
CYO Volleyball Registration - Now Open for Grades 4-8
Welcome to St. Louise - Get to know our New Families!
Welcome to the Campbell Family who's son Chase (7th grade) started at St. Louise right after Thanksgiving. Todd, Rebecca, Lawson-15 and Chase -13
"Our family is a silly bunch, together we enjoy playing football and watching our favorite teams (Go Dawgs! Go Hawks!). Our oldest son is a Freshman at Interlake HS and an avid musician. Chase is an athlete all around and loves to win, even in the gaming world.
As a family, we love entertaining friends at our home and goofing around with nerf and footballs flying through the house…on the flip side, our favorite times are Friday night movie night with popcorn and treats. We have two little poodle puppies as well and they fit right into and are sometimes the cause of our chaos. We look forward to being a part of the community at St. Louise and bringing our family fun to the mix".
Call for Donations - Can you Help?
Dear STL Community,
I work with Catholic Community Services (of which New Bethlehem Project is a part). Several of our 170+ programs help people experiencing homelessness. And as the COVID cases continue to sky-rocket, keeping our clients safe gets more challenging. Many of our clients are needing to quarantine and isolate. We typically have used I&Q facilities run by King County to safely house our clients while they recover and isolate. Currently, we are struggling to get our clients into these County facilities due to lack of capacity and staffing.
We are responding to this challenge by establishing rooms in some of our facilities for Covid positive CCS clients to isolate. These rooms do not have televisions. This will make it difficult for people to isolate by themselves. We want to support these people to remain in their rooms and provide them with as much as we can to make it comfortable.
We are seeking 5-10 donated TV's to put in these quarantine rooms.
· Smallish tvs (24-32 inches) only that can be transported by a single person. These rooms are not big.
· TV’s must have stands – we can’t wall-mount them.
· Smart tvs are ok, these rooms have access to wi-fi.
We are responding to this challenge by establishing rooms in some of our facilities for Covid positive CCS clients to isolate. These rooms do not have televisions. This will make it difficult for people to isolate by themselves. We want to support these people to remain in their rooms and provide them with as much as we can to make it comfortable.
We are seeking 5-10 donated TV's to put in these quarantine rooms.
· Smallish tvs (24-32 inches) only that can be transported by a single person. These rooms are not big.
· TV’s must have stands – we can’t wall-mount them.
· Smart tvs are ok, these rooms have access to wi-fi.
I'm hoping some of our school families who got new TV's over the holidays have an old TV sitting in the basement or donation pile. Please feel free to email me with any questions or if you have a TV to donate, I will arrange pick up.
Thank you so much!
Rebecca Nightingale
(STL Parent to Samantha and Ellie)
Rebecca Nightingale
(STL Parent to Samantha and Ellie)
Attendance Reminders from the Office...
- Call or email the office AND your child's teacher as soon as you know they will be out - we both need to know.
- Please let us know why your child will be absent - especially important are any COVID symptoms they may have.
- Need to schedule your kids a dentist/ eye/immunization appointment during school hours? Let us know ahead of time so we can help have them ready to go.
- Bad weather/traffic/hair day? Just give us a call to let us know you'll be late!
More School News
Current Family Re-Enrollment for the 2022-23 School Year & Kids Club Begins 1/27
Beat the rush and save your spot for next school year! More information to follow next week on our early Re-Enrollment Incentives.
Has your child received their COVID vaccine?
If so, please email a copy to Mrs. Reynolds so she can keep their immunization records up to date. This is also helpful for contact tracing purposes, since fully vaccinated students are not required to quarantine due to exposure.
Now Accepting Applications for Siblings for Next Year!
We are accepting applications for new siblings for the 2022-2023 School Year. Please click here to apply. If you have questions please email Tracy Brown or Mindy Morgan at [email protected] or call the office at 425-746-4220.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
We are in need of some help getting ready for Catholic Schools Week and Open House Season! Do you have a little free time to stuff goodie bags, run a few errands, put out Open House signs? Many of these tasks can be done from home too! Please email Mindy or Tracy in the office if you'd like to help out with some of these tasks.
1/6/2022
Holiday Wrap-Up - St. Louise Style
The last week of school before break was a busy one!
The teachers got things started with a Gingerbread House building contest. Students voted on the anonymous houses all week and the winners were Mrs. Kirby and Mrs. Isaksen, our awesome K/1st Instructional Assistants. A very close 2nd place was awarded to Mrs. Cervantes and Dr. Cruickshank.
Music was in the air all around campus with concerts performed by Kindergarten one day, and the 5th & 6th graders a separate evening. The end of the week was puncuated with a morning carpool serenade by our Band! Thanks to the countless number of people who helped make the Christmas Season at St. Louise an extra special one this year!
New After School Clubs for Winter
Art (Mrs. Walker):
This club will focus on creative expression, artistic growth, and problem-solving skills as children craft, invent and create!
Dates: Tuesdays, January 11 - February 15 (6 week session)
When: 3:00-4:30
Who: Gr. 3-6
Where: Art Room
Fee: $150.00
Registrations at: Art Club with Mika Walker
Art (Smart with Art):
New Artists, new cultures, new year! Join Smart with Art for a fabulous after school art program as we discover artists and cultures.
Dates: Weds. Jan. 12 – Feb. 23rd
When: 3:00-4:15
Who: Gr. K-5
Where: Art Room
Fee: $144
Registrations at: AMAZING CULTURES IN ART - WINTER 2022 - Smart with Art
Lego Club (Mrs. Tubb):
Bring your creativity and love for Legos to this class. Students will plan, build, and share Lego builds based on weekly themes!
Dates: Fridays, January 14 - February 25 (6 week session)
When: 3:00-4:00
Who: Gr. 1-5
Where: 1A class
Fee: $150
Registrations at: LEGO Club
Chess (Chess Wizards):
Play chess while developing and improving cognitive brain functions. Regardless of a child’s ability Chess Wizards makes chess fun for all!
Dates: Monday 1/10, 1/24, 1/31, 2/7, 2/14, 2/28, 3/14, 3/21, 4/4, 4/11 No Class 1/17, 2/21, 3/7, 3/28. (10 week session)
When: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Who: K-8
Where: St. Louise Room
Fee: 190
Registrations at: www.chesswizards.com or call +1(866)-949-4386
STEM – EN Español (Ms. Zambrano):
Crazy about Dinosaurs - Part I! – Learn Spanish while going on fossils explorations, making ice excavations, creating dinosaur skeletons and much more!
Dates: Tues. January 11 & 18
When: 3:00-4:05
Who: Gr. K-3
Where: Pre- K Extended Care room
Fee: $55
Registrations at: STEM - EN ESPAÑOL
Ski Club (Alpine West Ski & Snowboard School): The Ski Club is not a school sponsored or organized event
There are a few spots left for this ski club. This ski club is exclusively for St. Louise students, open to grades 2-8 – unless child has previous skiing or snowboarding experience and is with an older sibling. No prior experience is necessary and your child can sign up for ski or snowboard lessons. There will be approx. 4 students per class! Gregg Smith (Alyssa and Sarah’s dad) organized this ski club for their previous school the last 4 years through Alpine West Ski & Snowboard School. Gregg is now bringing the club to St. Louise!
Here are some additional details regarding this fun club:
Lessons are offered by Alpine West Ski & Snowboard School. Click here to register
Price: Charter Bus ride and lessons for 4 weeks is $288 per student (Note: season passes are purchased separately from The Summit - you'll receive information for getting a season pass once you register, ski/snowboarding gear is purchased or rented separately as well).
Dates: There will be 4 lessons on Mondays (the short day): Jan 10, 24, 31, Feb 7
Time: The program will run from 2:45pm – 7:00pm (with pickup and drop-off at the Eastgate Safeway off I-90 – see below)
Lessons: Lessons will be held at Summit Central and are two hours long
Lessons: 3:45pm to 5:45pm
Chaperones: We will need 4 volunteer chaperones to ride on the bus roundtrip. Chaperones will receive a free lift ticket for that day and can ski (or relax) while the kids are in class.
Logistics:
Bus arrives at the Eastgate Safeway parking lot (150th Ave SE & 37th St) and begins loading at 2:15 pm and departs at 2:45 pm. Please drop your child off as quickly as possible.
Bus loads at Summit Central parking lot and leaves around 6:15pm. Bus arrives back at the Eastgate Safeway parking lot between 6:45 – 7:15pm (depending on conditions). We will notify parents when we leave the pass and are headed home so you can plan accordingly.
Notes:
This is not a school sponsored or organized event.
Alpine West Ski School will be following CDC guidelines for COVID – see details on their website.
If you have any questions you can contact Gregg Smith [email protected] or 206-795-0597).
Welcome to St. Louise - Get to know our New Families!
Welcome to the Tran Family who started at St. Louise right after Thanksgiving. They are (from left to right) Josh (1A), Linsey, Max (3 years old), John and Kennedy (3A).
The Tran family lives on Cougar Mountain in Issaquah. Some of their favorite things are playing board games, going to the park, Hillsong United tunes, arts and crafts, salmon fishing, pizza, and Disneyland.
Attendance Reminders from the Office...
- Call or email the office AND your child's teacher as soon as you know they will be out - we both need to know.
- Please let us know why your child will be absent - especially important are any COVID symptoms they may have.
- Need to schedule your kids a dentist/ eye/immunization appointment during school hours? Let us know ahead of time so we can help have them ready to go.
- Bad weather/traffic/hair day? Just give us a call to let us know you'll be late!
More School News
Has your child received their COVID vaccine?
If so, please email a copy to Mrs. Reynolds so she can keep their immunization records up to date. This is also helpful for contact tracing purposes, since fully vaccinated students are not required to quarantine due to exposure.
Deadline Approaching for Fulcrum Tuition Assistance Grants - January 7, 2022
St. Louise Commitment to Affordability
Tuition accounts for less than 75% of our school income. In addition, financial assistance is available to ensure that tuition is not a barrier for any family desiring a St. Louise education for their children. The tuition assistance grants are based solely on financial need. We are able to offer tuition assistance grants to approximately 12% of our students.
If you are interested in applying for Tuition Assistance for the 2022/2023 School Year, click here to learn more about the process. Note that the general application deadline is 4/15/2022 but if you apply before January 7th, you can qualify for an additional grant from the Fulcrum Foundation.
Now Accepting Applications for Siblings for Next Year!
We are accepting applications for new siblings for the 2022-2023 School Year. Please click here to apply. If you have questions please email Tracy Brown or Mindy Morgan at [email protected] or call the office at 425-746-4220.
12/16/21
New Bethlehem Supply Drive - HUGE Success!
We are so grateful to everyone who donated items to our annual Holiday Supply Drive benefitting New Bethlehem Project.
Congratulations to our 1st Trimester
Honor Roll Students!
Becca Blank, Ellison Brown, Briony Brown, Anthony Caso, Jane Clinton, Aliana Cruz, Sam Cuevas, Alaina Harris, Ramona Kaukl, Christina Kehdy, Ocean Kincaid, Raneisha Lagunero,
Kayla McCulloch, Luke Mervin, Kylie Mineiro, Pia Munar, Elina Nartates, Ellie Nightingale,
Brooke Nowak, Elina Phan, Katelyn Rabon, Sarah Tano, Emmanuel Vimal, May Wang,
Dhani Widodo, Blake Wilken
Thank you to St. Louise Students Olivia, Matthew and Angel who participated in the dance for the celebration of the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe at mass last weekend.
Christmas is a time of giving... consider giving the gift of Catholic Education
There are just 15 days left to make 2021 tax-deductible donations!As a reminder the Cares Act tax donation benefits have been extended into 2021 allowing for more gifts to qualify - check with your tax advisor.
Please consider a donation to the St. Louise School Annual Fund or the Fr. Phil Wallace Endowment Fund. Click here to give now.
A gift to either of these funds helps St. Louise provide an excellent Catholic education at an accessible
More School News...
Bishop Blanchet Speech Tournament Results
Congratulations to the St. Louise Speech Team who performed exceptionally well at the 2021 Bishop Blanchet Speech Tournament! This tournament took place virtually via the Tabroom platform. We are proud of our 6th, 7th, and 8th graders for all their hard work. The tournament featured 302 total competitors from 16 different schools.
Congratulations to the following category winners and finalists:
Congratulations to the following category winners and finalists:
Vasonia Nguyen and Kalei Kagetsu – 5th Place, Novice Duo
Java Macatangay and Raneisha Lagunero – 4th Place, Novice Duo
Kylie Ledesma and Phoebe Guattare – 2nd Place, Novice Duo
Blake Wilken – 1st Place, Novice Humorous and 3rd Place, Novice Editorial Commentary
Raneisha Lagunero – 4th Place, Novice Expository
Mika Cam – 7th Place, Novice Humorous
Mackenzie Kirsch – 6th Place, Novice Humorous
Leila Miller – 2nd Place, Novice Impromptu and 4th Place, Novice Humorous
Samantha Nightingale – 4th Place, Novice Humorous
Jane Clinton – 2nd Place, Open Impromptu and 5th Place, Open Dramatic
Ellie Nightingale – 3rd Place, Open Dramatic
Brooke Nowak – 1st Place, Open Dramatic, 3rd Place, Open Expository, and receives $1,000 scholarship to Bishop Blanchet High School
Luke Mervin – 3rd Place, Open Editorial Commentary and 5th Place, Open Humorous
Jensen Muller – 5th Place, Open Expository
Alaina Harris – 6th Place, Open Humorous
Michael Charles – 4th Place, Open Humorous
Sarah Tano – 1st Place, Open Humorous, and receives $1,000 scholarship to Bishop Blanchet High School
Emmanuel Vimal – 7th Place, Open Oratory
Kayla McCulloch – 5th Place, Open Oratory
Java Macatangay and Raneisha Lagunero – 4th Place, Novice Duo
Kylie Ledesma and Phoebe Guattare – 2nd Place, Novice Duo
Blake Wilken – 1st Place, Novice Humorous and 3rd Place, Novice Editorial Commentary
Raneisha Lagunero – 4th Place, Novice Expository
Mika Cam – 7th Place, Novice Humorous
Mackenzie Kirsch – 6th Place, Novice Humorous
Leila Miller – 2nd Place, Novice Impromptu and 4th Place, Novice Humorous
Samantha Nightingale – 4th Place, Novice Humorous
Jane Clinton – 2nd Place, Open Impromptu and 5th Place, Open Dramatic
Ellie Nightingale – 3rd Place, Open Dramatic
Brooke Nowak – 1st Place, Open Dramatic, 3rd Place, Open Expository, and receives $1,000 scholarship to Bishop Blanchet High School
Luke Mervin – 3rd Place, Open Editorial Commentary and 5th Place, Open Humorous
Jensen Muller – 5th Place, Open Expository
Alaina Harris – 6th Place, Open Humorous
Michael Charles – 4th Place, Open Humorous
Sarah Tano – 1st Place, Open Humorous, and receives $1,000 scholarship to Bishop Blanchet High School
Emmanuel Vimal – 7th Place, Open Oratory
Kayla McCulloch – 5th Place, Open Oratory
Many thanks go out to the parents who served as coaches this fall, as well as Rebecca Nightingale for her extraordinary Speech Team leadership. Also, a big thank you to the following people who judged at the Bishop Blanchet tournament: Kristy Charles, Ellie Charles, Kat Caso, Sharon Victor, Vimal Stephen, Erika Mervin, Carol Guattare, Marta Masferrer, Sam DeBord, LeRoy Munar, Khadyja Johnson, Ed Nightingale, Rebecca Nightingale, Alex Gallant, and Nancy Franco.
Deadline Approaching for Fulcrum Tuition Assistance Grants - January 7, 2022
St. Louise Commitment to Affordability
Tuition accounts for less than 75% of our school income. In addition, financial assistance is available to ensure that tuition is not a barrier for any family desiring a St. Louise education for their children. The tuition assistance grants are based solely on financial need. We are able to offer tuition assistance grants to approximately 12% of our students.
If you are interested in applying for Tuition Assistance for the 2022/2023 School Year, click here to learn more about the process. Note that the general application deadline is 4/15/2022 but if you apply before January 7th, you can qualify for an additional grant from the Fulcrum Foundation.
Now Accepting Applications for Siblings for Next Year!
We are accepting applications for new siblings for the 2022-2023 School Year. Please click here to apply. If you have questions please email Tracy Brown or Mindy Morgan at [email protected] or call the office at 425-746-4220.
4th Grade Science - Not for the Faint of Heart...
Our 4th graders just completed an awesome Science Experiment - Cow Eye Dissection! Be sure to check out the gallery below for some great - albeit a little gruesome - pictures of the process.
12/9/21
St. Nicholas Visits St. Louise
The long standing tradition of celebrating the Feast of St. Nicholas at St. Louise continued this past Monday. All our students placed one shoe outside their classroom and it was filled with a treat during the day. Some classes even got an in person visit from St. Nicholas himself!
Saint Nicholas was a Christian bishop who helped the needy. After his death, the legend of his gift-giving grew. Saint Nicholas transformed into the legendary character called Santa Claus, who brings Christmas presents to children around the world.
St. Louise Honor Guard - A Meaningful Ministry
Congratulations to Mary Herridge and our Jr. High Staff & Students who were recently featured in NW Catholic Magazine - highlighting an important ministry that many people are unaware we provide - Honor Guard.
Below is the text from the article written by Nathan Whalon. You can view the original article on their website here.
BELLEVUE – At the conclusion of Sharon Haggerty Anderson’s funeral in 2020, students from the parish school lined the sidewalk outside St. Louise Church, remaining at attention as the family, carrying her urn, and some 400 mourners walked by.
“It’s such a warm send-off when you’re leaving the church after the memorial,” said Haggerty Anderson’s daughter, Maureen Haggerty Blum.
The students are participants in St. Louise School’s honor guard, a ministry of presence at the funerals of people with a connection to the school.
Being in the honor guard helped eighth-grader Becca Blank realize how tiny things can help.
“You don’t realize it means that much to people,” she said.
“The best thing you can do sometimes is just show up,” said fellow eighth-grader Michael Charles. “It makes a big impact.”
Students often are thanked by people attending the funeral, who sometimes shake their hands or acknowledge them with a nod, Charles said.
Religion teacher Mary Herridge started the St. Louise honor guard in 1995, soon after she experienced a student honor guard at her father’s 1994 funeral at St. Paul Church in Seattle.
“It felt like a warm hug from a familiar community,” Herridge said.
At St. Louise, honor guard members are usually seventh- and eighth-graders, who wear their school uniforms when participating. It’s a way for them to practice the corporal works of mercy and Catholic social teaching, Herridge said. “They see the real-life connection,” she said. “We are standing in solidarity and support of those who are grieving.”
The honor guard attends about 20 funerals a year, drawing 20 to 80 students, depending on the time of a funeral and what’s happening in the classroom, Herridge said. Occasionally the honor guard is requested for people with a connection to the school whose funerals are at parishes in Bellevue, Kirkland and Sammamish.
“I think it’s a great witness [to] how we can be with each other in presence,” said St. Louise’s pastor, Father Gary Zender.
The students take their duty seriously. “They show a deep level of respect in their posture,” Father Zender said, and their school uniforms provide “a powerful presence.” It also reminds families of their connection to St. Louise School. “They were once part of the community,” Herridge said. “They are always part of the community.”
“I think it’s a beautiful witness to have the students,” said David Gehrig, St. Louise’s pastoral assistant for pastoral care, who helps plan funerals and asks eligible families if they would like the honor guard present.
Haggerty Blum said her mother — a founding and active member of the parish who sent all six of her children to St. Louise School — always thanked the honor guard students at funerals she attended and wanted the honor guard to be present at her own funeral.
On occasion after a funeral Mass, Gehrig has seen St. Louise alumni, now adults, join the students in the honor guard line. “It’s a great blessing and a real gift,” he said.
Participating in the honor guard is a good time for the students to reflect that life isn’t forever, Father Zender said: “The goal is to get into heaven.”
St. Louise's Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) - BASKETBALL REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR 6-8 GRADE
Basketball is now open
to everyone in the St. Louise Community
in grades 6th-8th
(5th graders are allowed to play up on 6th grade teams)
Basketball is now open
to everyone in the St. Louise Community
in grades 6th-8th
(5th graders are allowed to play up on 6th grade teams)
Register for CYO sports on the St. Louise Parish website: www.teamsideline.com/sites/seattlecyo/home
Registration Deadline is Friday, December 10th
Games begin on Saturday, Jan 8, 2022 will run through the middle of February 2022.
Volunteer coaches are needed for all grades. Parents can sign up to volunteer through the same link. All volunteers are required to be vaccinated. Players can either be vaccinated or be tested twice weekly.
If you have questions or are interested, please contact the Kjersten Baker:
Now Accepting Applications for Siblings for Next Year!
We are accepting applications for new siblings for the 2022-2023 School Year. Please click here to apply. If you have questions please email Tracy Brown or Mindy Morgan at [email protected] or call the office at 425-746-4220.
Mark Your Calendars for these upcoming events:
December 10th - Kindergarten Christmas Concert
December 10th - CYO Basketball Registration Deadline
December 16th - Bake Sale
December 16th - 5th & 6th Grade Christmas Concert
December 17th - Noon Dismissal - Enjoy the Christmas Holiday Break!
December 16th - Bake Sale
December 16th - 5th & 6th Grade Christmas Concert
December 17th - Noon Dismissal - Enjoy the Christmas Holiday Break!
January 3rd - Welcome Back Pre-K - 6th Grade!
January 3rd - No School for 7th & 8th Grade for High School Admissions Paperwork
January 8th - Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament - gr. 2-8
12/2/21
Volunteer Call - The Library Needs You!
Are you looking for a few volunteer hours? The St Louise School Library is the answer! We are looking for parents and grandparents to help check in, check out, and reshelve books. No experience is necessary and Mrs. Green will give you instructions on how the library is set up.
We are looking for a weekly volunteer every Friday from 2:05 – 2:40. We are also looking for volunteers on other days (not a weekly commitment), when there are larger reshelving projects (often at the end and beginning of the month). Email Mrs. Green with questions and thank you for considering!
St. Louise's Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) - BASKETBALL REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR 6-8 GRADE
Basketball is now open
to everyone in the St. Louise Community
in grades 6th-8th
(5th graders are allowed to play up on 6th grade teams)
Basketball is now open
to everyone in the St. Louise Community
in grades 6th-8th
(5th graders are allowed to play up on 6th grade teams)
Register for CYO sports on the St. Louise Parish website: www.teamsideline.com/sites/seattlecyo/home
Registration Deadline is: December 10th, 2021
Games begin on Saturday, Jan 8, 2022 will run through the middle of February 2022.
Volunteer coaches are needed for all grades. Parents can sign up to volunteer through the same link. All volunteers are required to be vaccinated. Players can either be vaccinated or be tested twice weekly.
If you have questions or are interested, please contact the Kjersten Baker:
Now Accepting Applications for Siblings for Next Year!
We are accepting applications for new siblings for the 2022-2023 School Year. Please click here to apply. If you have questions please email Tracy Brown or Mindy Morgan at [email protected] or call the office at 425-746-4220.
New Bethlehem Shelter Supply Drive
Continues thru December 9th
Each year, our amazing St. Louise families work to fill the supply rooms at the New Bethlehem Shelter in Kirkland, which serves our most vulnerable families on the Eastside. Let's get the center well-stocked for the winter ahead. NBP serves families with K-12 children experiencing homelessness. Most needed items are:
-
- 2-Ply Toilet Paper
- Diapers (size 4, 5, 6)
- Pull Ups
- Adult Socks
St. Louise Speech Team Update - Team Performs Well in November!
Our Speech Team hosted its annual “warm-up” tournament here at St. Louise on Saturday, November 13th. Speech team students competed against one another in a mock tournament that helped prepare students for the upcoming high school hosted events throughout the winter months. We are so grateful to Anais Fawcett for her tireless efforts in organizing the St. Louise Speech Tournament each year!
Then, the following week, 15 returning Speech Team members competed at the Archbishop Murphy Speech Tournament. Students competed against more than 150 other students from 11 other schools across the region. St. Louise students took home numerous top 3 finishes, and were finalists across countless categories! We thank Rebecca Nightingale for leading the Speech Team again this year, as well as the many judges, coaches, and alumni who help make the season run smoothly!
We’d like to recognize below the following who placed well at Archbishop Murphy:
- Joila O. – Finalist, Novice Dramatic Interpretive
- Java M. & Raneisha L. – 3rd Place, Novice Duo Interpretive
- Raneisha L. – 1st Place, Novice Expository
- Rithika V. – 2nd Place, Novice Editorial Commentary and 2nd Place, Novice Humorous Interpretive
- Blake W. – 1st Place, Novice Humorous Interpretive
- Ellie N. – 2nd Place, Open Editorial Commentary and 3rd Place, Open Dramatic Interpretive
- Elina P. – Finalist, Open Expository
- Kayla M. – Finalist, Open Oratory
- Michael C. – Finalist, Open Humorous Interpretive
- Alaina H. – Finalist, Open Humorous Interpretive
- Luke M. – 3rd Place, Open Humorous Interpretive
- Sarah T. – 2nd Place, Open Humorous Interpretive
- Emmanuel V. – 1st Place, Open Humorous Interpretive and 1st Place, Open Oratory; receives $3,000 in scholarships to Archbishop Murphy
- Jane C. – Most Inspirational Award Recipient for St. Louise
St. Louise Students Perform in PNB's The Nutcracker
We are so excited to announce that this year two of our extremely talented 8th graders have the honor of dancing in the PNB Nutcracker. Congratulations to Annalise Dautricourt who is performing the role of the lead, Clara, and Elina Nartates who is performing roles of a mouse and candy cane! These girls have been successfully juggling their 8th grade class load all while practicing, and now performing, most nights each week in order to bring the magic of The Nutcracker back to the stage after a COVID hiatus.
If you are interested in attending a performance, you can buy tickets here. The Dautricourt Family has generously extended their family promo discount of 20% off to our School Community - just use their code "NutFamily" or take advantage of a Black Friday Special when checking out. THANK YOU Dautricourts for the discount code and for also already setting up show opportunities for the Jr. High and Kindergarten Families! If you'd like to ensure you see Annalise & Elina perform you can check the performance calendar here - they are in the "A" shows.
Mark Your Calendars for these upcoming events:
December 8th - Immaculate Conception Mass
December 8th - Parents' Club Meeting
December 10th - Kindergarten Christmas Concert
December 16th - Bake Sale
December 16th - 5th & 6th Grade Christmas Concert
December 17th - Noon Dismissal - Enjoy the Christmas Holiday Break!
11/11/21 and 11/18/21
Open House - Thursday, November 18th
On Thursday, November 18th, we will welcome prospective families to campus to visit during our Open House from 6pm - 7:30pm. We are asking for your help by referring friends, co-workers, family members, and people you know from your kids' activities to come and find out more about St. Louise. We ask that you share your St. Louise story with them! See today's Red Envelope for more details!
Now Accepting Applications for Siblings for Next Year
We are accepting applications for new siblings for the 2022-2023 School Year. Please click here to apply. If you have questions please contact Tracy Brown or Mindy Morgan at [email protected] .
Supply Drive for New Bethlehem Shelter Starts November 12th!
Each year, our amazing St. Louise families work to fill the supply rooms at the New Bethlehem Shelter in Kirkland, which serves our most vulnerable families on the Eastside. Let's get the center well-stocked for the winter ahead. NBP serves families with K-12 children experiencing homelessness.
Retake day is Friday, November 12
- Students who preordered photos for picture day and would like a retake can return their picture package in exchange for a complimentary retake. A new order of the retake will be issued and mailed to the school within three weeks after retake day; digital image orders will be sent via email within three weeks after retake day.
- Students who were absent on picture day or were photographed on picture day, didn't place an order, and would like a retake can preorder picture packages here: https://vando.imagequix.com/W9ETQ97?code=st.%20Louise&keyword=st.%20Louise. Orders will be mailed to the school within three weeks after retake day; digital image orders will be sent via email within three weeks after picture day.
- If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].
Veterans' Day Ceremony
Do you know a Veteran or Active Duty Military person?
On Thursday, November 11th, the entire school will be holding an outdoor ceremony at 8:30am in recognition of Veterans' Day. We will be praying, singing, saluting the flag, and thanking any military veterans or active duty military who are able to join us that morning. If you or a family member (or neighbor) is a veteran or active duty military, please invite them to join us at the flagpole that morning. We would love to recognize their service!
It is also a Fun Dress Day and you can wear free dress if you wear red, white, and blue!
11/4/21
Trunk or Treat Winning Trunks!
Congratulations to the Angus Family for winning the big prize this year with their Under the Sea designed trunk! They win a $100 Charger Card! And, in second place, the Campbell Family with their Mario-themed trunk! You win a $50 Charger Card! And finally, our third place winner, the Hewett Family, with their Harry Potter-themed trunk! You win a $25 Charger Card! Email [email protected] to claim your prizes!
Thank you to everyone who came out for Trunk or Treat! It was such a fun event and it was great to see everyone together!
Open House - Thursday, November 18th
On Thursday, November 18th, we will welcome prospective families to campus to visit during our Open House from 6pm - 7:30pm. We are asking for your help by referring friends, co-workers, family members, and people you know from your kids' activities to come and find out more about St. Louise. We ask that you share your St. Louise story with them! See today's Red Envelope for more details!
Supply Drive for New Bethlehem Shelter Starts November 12th!
Each year, our amazing St. Louise families work to fill the supply rooms at the New Bethlehem Shelter in Kirkland, which serves our most vulnerable families on the Eastside. Let's get the center well-stocked for the winter ahead. NBP serves families with K-12 children experiencing homelessness. Please see the flyer in today's Red Envelope with the most needed items. Items can be dropped off in the school lobby starting 11/12.
Retake day is Friday, November 12
- Students who preordered photos for picture day and would like a retake can return their picture package in exchange for a complimentary retake. A new order of the retake will be issued and mailed to the school within three weeks after retake day; digital image orders will be sent via email within three weeks after retake day.
- Students who were absent on picture day or were photographed on picture day, didn't place an order, and would like a retake can preorder picture packages here: https://vando.imagequix.com/W9ETQ97?code=st.%20Louise&keyword=st.%20Louise. Orders will be mailed to the school within three weeks after retake day; digital image orders will be sent via email within three weeks after picture day.
- If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].
Veterans' Day Ceremony
Do you know a Veteran or Active Duty Military person?
On Thursday, November 11th, the entire school will be holding an outdoor ceremony at 8:30am in recognition of Veterans' Day. We will be praying, singing, saluting the flag, and thanking any military veterans or active duty military who are able to join us that morning. If you or a family member (or neighbor) is a veteran or active duty military, please invite them to join us at the flagpole that morning. We would love to recognize their service!
It is also a Fun Dress Day and you can wear free dress if you wear red, white, and blue!
Emergency Notification Procedure
St. Louise School uses TEXTING and EMAILING as our emergency notification procedure to parents and faculty in the event of an emergency such as heavy snow falling overnight which will cause school to be closed or have a late-start.
You will not find St. Louise’s notifications regarding closures or late-starts on TV or radio stations; you will only be notified via our group texting service through BrightArrow.com and/or through a group email from school.
So please….
opt-in to our emergency texting service:
Please text the word YES to 87569.
10/28/21
Open House - Thursday, November 18th
On Thursday, November 18th, we will welcome prospective families to campus to visit during our Open House from 6pm - 7:30pm. While we will fully launch our marketing efforts next week, we'll ask for your help by referring friends, co-workers, family members, and people you know from your kids' activities to come and find out more about St. Louise. We ask that you share your St. Louise story with them! More to come, but definitely start getting the word out now!
School Photos and Retake Day
School photos are going home today with your child. If you didn’t order, you will still be receiving a Student ID card for your child. It’s not too late to order pictures. Please contact Yuen Lui at https://yuenluischools.com/ or refer to the email you received from them in September with order details.
Retakes are scheduled for Friday, November 12.
Trunk or Treat is October 29th!
Mark your calendar for this awesome community event! If you want to volunteer, contact Tiffany Neuman. If you want to come and decorate your trunk, please sign up here!
Halloween Costume Guidelines
All students at St. Louise are allowed to come to school on Friday, October 29, wearing a Halloween costume.
When helping your child decide what his/her costume will be, please take into account these "Fun Dress Day" guidelines:
- Costumes must be appropriate for an elementary school and more importantly, a Catholic elementary school; therefore, themes or dress that are disrespectful and/or too "adult" need to stay home. This includes, but is not limited to:
- No dressing up as the opposite sex;
- No costume with a crude sense of humor.
- Violent themes are not allowed. This includes, but is not limited to, the banning of:
- Bloody makeup;
- Weapons (including fake ones);
- Costumes depicting devils or vampires;
- Costumes depicting violent characters such as Scream, Freddy Krueger, It/Pennywise, Dementor, etc.
- Mr. Fuerte has the final decision on which costumes are inappropriate. You may ask them, if you wonder if your child's costume will be considered appropriate or not. Or simpler yet - if you have to wonder...then the answer probably is you should choose another costume. ;-)
- Thanks for keeping the "Happy" in "Happy Halloween!" by making this a fun day with no hassles.
Veterans' Day Ceremony
Do you know a Veteran or Active Duty Military person?
On Thursday, November 11th, the entire school will be holding an outdoor ceremony at 8:30am in recognition of Veterans' Day. We will be praying, singing, saluting the flag, and thanking any military veterans or active duty military who are able to join us that morning. If you or a family member (or neighbor) is a veteran or active duty military, please invite them to join us at the flagpole that morning. We would love to recognize their service!
It is also a Fun Dress Day and you can wear free dress if you wear red, white, and blue!
Emergency Notification Procedure
St. Louise School uses TEXTING and EMAILING as our emergency notification procedure to parents and faculty in the event of an emergency such as heavy snow falling overnight which will cause school to be closed or have a late-start.
You will not find St. Louise’s notifications regarding closures or late-starts on TV or radio stations; you will only be notified via our group texting service through BrightArrow.com and/or through a group email from school.
So please….
opt-in to our emergency texting service:
Please text the word YES to 87569.