In this week’s news, you’ll find a reminder of this year’s school scriptural theme, shared FAQ’s regarding volunteering, self screening advice for home, where to direct your COVID-related questions, an EDP reminder and posting for staff, a need for a cross country coach, rewards for summer reading, a return to regular scrip selling hours, this week’s school Mass schedule, a request to confirm you reviewed the Parent-Student Handbook and Technology Use Agreement, drop off/pick up reminders, a guide for office communication this year, PTC news including how to get a delicious lasagna dinner to bring home on Sept 18th, various volunteer opportunities included the always-needed Playground Angels, and upcoming calendar events. Thanks for reading!
Scriptural theme for the year
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
As we prayed on this year’s theme and received feedback from teachers and staff in their votes, this passage was clearly a good reminder for everyone this year. St. Paul is writing to the Corinthians about the “thorn in his flesh” which he has asked God to remove three different times. In Paul’s resolution, he realizes that God has left the thorn for a reason, that he must “delight” in the insults, the difficulties, and the persecutions. No matter what challenges are thrown our way in another unpredictable beginning to the school year, God’s grace will suffice. We look forward to a fantastic year of blessings, gifts, friendships, and learning!
FAQ’s re: COVID protocol
We’ve received several questions regarding the state vaccination requirement for school volunteers and want to share for everyone’s benefit.
Are we able to volunteer until October 18th if we are not fully vaccinated?
The spirit of the mandate is to have students in the lowest-risk environment when they return to school. We are so grateful for all of our volunteers, but with the current outbreaks in many schools we are limiting the necessity of parent volunteers in the building at this time (vaccinated or unvaccinated). To that end, only necessary volunteer needs will be filled with vaccinated adults starting from the first day of school.
If parents or grandparents are not vaccinated, will they be able to attend Mass with their children on Fridays?
Yes! The items stated in the newsletter applied to volunteering. The language in the governor’s mandate is around “workers,” and allows for parent participation in events. We will do all we can to stay within the mandate while giving opportunities to be involved parents! Because of the way we are arranging seating in the church this year, we are asking that parents and visitors (regardless of vaccination status) sit in the north and south transepts instead of with the students.
What about school functions (if there are even are going to be any) such as the Variety Show/sports/Christmas Program? Will unvaccinated parents or grandparents be able to attend?
Yes! See above. As alluded to, we’re not sure what those events will look like yet, but there is nothing in the mandate that would apply to being part of an audience/not in direct contact with the children.
If you have other questions not addressed here, please don’t hesitate to contact Mrs. Dennis: ddennis@school.assumption.org.
Volunteer considerations
Due to the new vaccine requirement for volunteers, we will do our best to give preference for work at home or after-hours volunteer opportunities to parents who are not vaccinated. Please let us know if you want to be considered for this. If you have questions about this information, please call the school or email Mrs. Dennis: ddennis@school.assumption.org
Self screening guide for home
Assumption is following the lead of PeaceHealth and other healthcare facilities by asking our families to self-screen for wellness each day before coming to school, rather than screening on site. We sent a hard copy of this at-a-glance guide home in today’s envelope. We ask that you post it at home where it will be noticed and refer to it often.
Please remember that sending children to school with even mild cold symptoms can translate into many students having to be tested and missing school. If you’re at all unsure of your child’s wellness in the morning before leaving for school, err on the side of caution and keep him/her home. Thank you for your partnership to keep our students, teachers and staff healthy and able to attend school in person.
COVID questions and concerns
Mrs. Dennis will once again serve as our school COVID Supervisor this year. Due to an ever-growing number of demands for Mr. Anderson’s time, please send all your COVID-related questions and concerns her way. She’s been working with the Whatcom County Dept. of Health for the past year and is well-versed in their guidelines as well as school policies and testing requirements. If necessary, she will escalate issues to Mr. Anderson, but we want to preserve his time as best we can for duties only he can fulfil. Thank you for honoring this request.
NOTE: Emails sent Thurs-Fri will be answered on Mondays, so if you have a time-sensitive question please call the office to relay a message. Thank you!
EDP
We will begin offering our Extended Day Program (EDP) on Thursday, September 2nd. If you need this service and have not yet filled out an EDP registration form, please do so as soon as possible. Feel free to email Miss McIntosh (our new director) with questions: amcintosh@school.assumption.com.
EDP Staff Needed!
We are looking for qualified college students or other child care professionals who want to work with children and have the flexibility in their schedules to work from 3 pm to 6 pm, Monday through Friday. Ms. McIntosh and Ms. Brumfield will be our permanent EDP staff this year, but we need at least two more employees to make it run. Please get the word out and let people know that Assumption is hiring for these positions. Thank you!
Fall Sports- Coach Needed for Cross-Country
We are planning for a full year of sports for our middle schoolers with the above-mentioned protocols starting with tennis (5th through 8th grades) and cross-country (6th through 8th grades) this fall. We are in need of a cross-country coach! The practices usually run from 3:15 to 4:15 pm each day and the season typically goes from the first full week of September through the end of October. If you have a love of running and would like to be the lead coach this year, parents can receive volunteer hours or you can choose to receive the stipend that accompanies the position. For more information about coaching, please email Mr. Anderson directly at danderson@school.assumption.org.
Summer Reading forms
We’re so proud of our great Assumption readers! If your child(ren) met the summer reading requirement for their grade level, please fill out and return the confirmation form on the back page of the “Summer Reading List K-8″, shown here. If you don’t have your copy handy, extra forms can be found here.
Students who return their completed forms will receive a celebratory treat at lunchtime on Friday, August 10th!
Scrip Office Grand Re-Opening
For your convenience, a Scrip order form and information to purchase online or through the Raise Right app went home in today’s physical envelope.
In addition to the options listed, we’re happy to report a return to regular Scrip selling hours on campus! Hours will be posted as soon as a team of sellers is assembled. If you’re interested in selling scrip at either school drop off or pick up times, please contact our Scrip Coordinator, Tam Bratt: sparklingstar81@hotmail.com. Thank you!
School Mass this Friday
This Friday, Sept. 3rd, Kindergarten, 1st, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades will go to Mass so that Kindergarten and 1st can sit in the pews with their older buddies. Whether attending in person or streaming to classrooms, all grades should wear dress uniforms.
Parents are welcome to attend the weeks that their children are attending, and community members are also welcome to Friday School Masses. We ask that visitors sit in the north and south transepts instead of with the students. Masks are required of everyone, regardless of vaccination status.
Parent-Student Handbook
The Office of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Seattle has required all schools to use a standard format for the Family Handbook. You’ll notice that this year’s handbook is much more comprehensive than last year’s and includes a number of policies and procedures that are additions. We apologize, in advance, for the legal language and the overall strict tone of this new document, but it is something that all families will need to review and sign. This is posted to the website , so please review it and sign the paper form included in this week’s Wednesday Envelope (also provided here).
Please arrive as close to 3 pm as possible in order to keep traffic on Virginia and Ellis Streets to a minimum. If you are on the street, remember not to block driveways or intersections. As a reminder, students will not be able to walk to cars in the parking lot this year. If you want to park, please walk into the traffic loop (on the sidewalk) and meet your child at his/her sign and then walk back to your car in the lot.
Students who are biking or walking should exit through the Cornwall gate only. We need consent on this form if you give your child permission to walk or bike home.
Office communication
As you know, we are welcoming Mrs. Jessica Sidhu into the Office Assistant position to help share the work with Mrs. Dennis this year. Mrs. Dennis will continue as the Office Manager, working Monday through Wednesday. Mrs. Sidhu will work Thursdays and Fridays. To best serve our school families and ensure no communication slips through the cracks, please use the following guide for emailing:
Attendance, including absences, tardies, and planned appointments: please email attendance@school.assumption.org. This ensures all office staff get your message regardless of scheduling.
All other communication (questions, concerns, messages to children or teachers)- please do your best to email us according to our regular days but know that we will have auto replies set up directing you to the person on duty. Once again:
Monday – Wednesday: ddennis@school.assumption.org
Thursday – Friday: jsidhu@school.assumption.org
Alternatively, you may always call the school and anyone in the office will be happy to help you. Thank you so much for supporting this new structure!
PTC News
If you weren’t able to attend the PTC Volunteer Fair this morning you can still enter our drawing for a $25 Amazon Gift Card or two $10 Starbucks cards by signing up to help with any of our PTC events this year! Visit our virtual Volunteer Fair here. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4ca5aa23a1fec25-volunteer
Our Italian Dinner Take and Bake meal is coming up in a few short weeks on September 18th! Get your orders in early! We will be limiting orders to 250 lasagna’s this year. There will be a hard copy order form coming home and you can print extra copies for friends and neighbors. Orders are due by Monday September 13th!
Looking for volunteer hours from home? Consider donating wine or an item for our Italian Dinner Fall raffle basket in exchange for a volunteer hour or two. There are specific guidelines for item donation this year. Please contact Lynette Machinski (lynette_machinski@yahoo.com) if you are interested.
Stop in and see your child at recess! Be a Playground Angel and earn volunteer time while supervising recess. See the links for available days.
Upcoming calendar items:
September 2nd– First day of preschool; EDP begins
September 3rd– First day of PreK
September 6th– NO SCHOOL, Labor Day
September 15th– Early Release at 11:45; Curriculum Night (6:30 pm via ZOOM)
September 18th– Italian Night To-Go!
September 23rd– Individual Picture Day, Preschool & K-8
September 24th– Individual Picture Day, PreK
