In this week’s news, you’ll find a food collection to support Hope House, plans to share our annual Christmas Program, an update on our Growing with Grace Annual Fund and ways to help, a shout-out to our Girls’ Basketball team, a way to get that Halloween candy out of your house, the tuition assistance application deadline for 2022-23, parent volunteer needs to ensure school safety, COVID vaccine resources, news from our Care & Concern Ministry in support of two school families, PTC news including ways we plan to honor Grandparents, several volunteer opportunities, an invitation to our Christmas Bazaar, and upcoming calendar events. Thanks for reading!
Grandparents’ Day- November 19th
We’ll be holding another virtual Grandparents’ Day this year on Friday, November 19th because we don’t have the Book Fair and we are still limiting the number of people in the church and school. However, grandparent cards will be created by your children for their grandparents starting this week and will come home with envelopes in the Wednesday Envelope on November 17th. It will be up to you to send these to your child’s grandparents or hand the cards to grandparents in person. The Grandparents’ Day Mass will be streamed online starting at 8:15 am on Friday, November 19th and all grandparents will be celebrated by our Kindergarteners as they lead us in worship that morning. To stream the Mass (and share it with grandparents), please visit the school’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AssumptionEagles.
Veterans and Scouts welcome at Mass on November 12th
All scouts, please come in uniform on the day of our Veteran’s Day celebration, Friday, November 12th! After Mass, you will be able to lead the flag into the church to honor our veterans.
Christmas Program scheduled for December 16th
We knew this year that we wouldn’t be able to fit all parents and guests in the church at once for the Christmas Program on the evening of Thursday, December 16th. The plan had been to do two performances- one in the afternoon and one in the evening so that they could be done in person. However, when working through the logistics, it became very complicated and created a lot of additional coordination. We decided, instead, that we can do a better performance and allow singing if it if we recorded the program instead. Therefore, the students will begin recording on Friday, December 10th at 12:30 pm and if another day is needed, they will record again on Wednesday, December 15th. Children will be invited to bring their “Christmas outfits” and change for the recording if they choose. More details will follow, but for now please expect that there will be one recorded program with performances by the orchestra, choir, and songs for each grade from K-7. Eighth grade will be writing the play and performing that part of it. The recording will be available by the week of December 20th to share with family and friends through our Vimeo channel.
Development News
Our Growing with Grace Annual Fund has begun! We are so grateful for the generous contributions from our great community of families, friends & supporters. Our goal is $100,000 and 100% participation from the Assumption School families and staff. We only ask that you consider giving at whatever level is right for you– we are just as grateful for $5 as $500. Coming together with a shared commitment is our goal. No amount is too small.
Girls’ Basketball
Congratulations Assumption girls’ basketball team on their first win against Nooksack Valley M.S.! We had excellent defense from Daliah, Ava, Grace, Genevieve, Sophia, Ngansi, and Molly. And excellent shooting arms from Mary, Jolie, Uma, and Stella. The final score was 31 to 6. Way to go Eagles!!
Halloween Candy Donations!
Our third-grade classes are preparing care packages for military men and women shipping out of Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. They are asking for donations of Halloween Candy to include in these boxes. All donations can be brought to the school lobby or sent directly to Mrs. Williams or Mrs. M-Z. A collection bin will be out beginning tomorrow. We will be collecting these until November 19th.
Thank you for your generosity!
Tuition Assistance for 2022-2023
The portal is now open in FACTS for those wanting to apply for tuition assistance in the 2022-2023 school year. Applications must be completed by January 7, 2022 to receive Fulcrum Foundation assistance, but Assumption will be accepting applications past that date. If you think you might qualify for Fulcrum assistance, please complete the application by January 7. To learn more, you can visit their FAQ page on the Fulcrum website HERE.
COVID Vaccine Resource
The Whatcom County Health Department has issued a press release and they have created a section of their website to include resources for families who are interested in vaccinating children ages 5-11. If you’d like to find where the vaccines are being offered or you have questions about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, you can visit the following webpage, Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccines, to learn more. You can make appointments at various pharmacies and locations around Bellingham by visiting VaccineLocator.doh.wa.gov.
Care & Concern Ministry
Congratulations to Jaimee, Gabe, Chloe, and the entire Twining family! Emily Aryn was born October 7th, weighing 7 lbs. 10 oz and 20 inches in length. The family is doing great! We hear that big sister, Chloe (preschool), loves her new sister so much that she gets upset when she needs to sleep!
A meal train has been set up to support the Smith Family: Emma, Jason, Micah [8th], Arianna, Isabella [3rd], and Benjamin [PreK] as Emma transitions into bed rest, awaiting the arrival of Baby Liam at the end of January. Your gift of a meal will be greatly appreciated!
https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/mqq289?intro=true
Earn Volunteer Hours by Assisting in the Assumption Parish Office
The parish office needs volunteers willing to answer the doors and phones, and sometimes complete small tasks, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The preferred shift times are 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and/or 1:00 – 4:00 p.m., but adjustments can be made. Covering a specific shift weekly is preferred but we are happy to work out a different arrangement.
This is a great opportunity for school parents–especially those unable to volunteer around the school children–to cover their required five church hours, AND any volunteer hours in the parish office worked beyond those five will count toward non-fundraising hours, too!
Please contact Gina DePalma at ginad@assumption.org with any questions or to sign up. Thank you!
Food Needs for Hope House by Monday, November 22nd
The students are preparing for the Human Food Chain on Monday, Nov. 22nd and Cheri from the Hope House has requested the following items to be donated. The school has provided so much wonderful food in years past, so thank you for your contributions again this year.
Please do not bring glass jars of spaghetti sauce, etc. Too fragile and heavy. They do NOT need beans of any kind right now, thanks so much! You are also encouraged to bring stuffing mix, pumpkin for pies, etc. for holiday cooking. A lovely poster adorns the drop off area in the entryway- if we cover it entirely with donations, students will receive free dress!
Canned:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Chili
- Soup
- Tuna
- Tomato sauce and diced tomatoes
Dry Goods:
- Cereal
- Spaghetti noodles
- Mac and cheese
- Packets of cheese or peanut butter and crackers
- Small packs of cookies
- Tuna or chicken salad kits
Other:
- Bottled water/juice/non-refrigerated milk
- Fruit cups
- Pudding cups—non refrigerated
- Ramen noodles
- Granola bars
FREE entry to concert at Assumption Church
Bellingham Chamber Chorale, under the direction of Assumption School’s Choir teacher Dr. Mabalot, is offering FREE entry for ALL Assumption School students to their concerts this Saturday, November 13th at 8PM and Sunday, November 14th at 5PM in Assumption Church. Students must be accompanied by parents who would need to purchase tickets for entry to the concert. Tickets can be purchased here in advance: https://www.bellinghamchamberchorale.org/tickets or available at the door on the day of the concert.
The concert entitled I AM LOVE will present sacred and secular choral music that delves into the various manifestations and expressions of love. The choir has not performed since November 2019, so they have been so inspired and working hard to share the healing power of music to our local community. We hope that you will come and support BCC and Dr. Mabalot. If you have any questions, please email drmabalot@assumption.org
Traffic Loop at pick-up
We’ve noticed that some cars are entering the parking lot in the afternoon on the Kentucky St. side (across from Belllingham H.S.). Please remember in the afternoon and in the morning, that all traffic should enter the parking lot from Virginia Street in order to help with the flow and avoid congestion. Thank you!
Playground Angels
We have an ongoing need to keep these safety positions filled. Thank you for your help in keeping recess fun and safe!
PTC News
Spread the word for the PTC Christmas Bazaar December 5th from 9 am until 3 pm in the gym! Please see the flyer for details. We are still looking for:
Vendors! Please share the registration form with family and friends. The early registration price expires this Friday November 12th!
Gently used books – especially adult fiction. There is a bin in the school foyer for donations.
Tables – We need 6-8 foot rectangular folding tables. Earn one volunteer hour for each table loaned to the PTC for the weekend. Please contact Sara Rush (sara.m.rush@gmail.com) for information on table loans.
Baked Goods – Baked good should be whole cakes, pies, breads or cookies by the dozen. All baked goods need to be packaged for individuals to take home.
To sign up for the above and more volunteer needs: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4CA5AA23A1FEC25-holiday
Email Sarah at fergygirl2001@yahoo.com with any questions.
Continue to check for volunteer opportunities like Scrip, Playground Angels and the Holiday Bazaar on the school volunteer website: Current Volunteer Opportunities – Assumption Catholic School
Upcoming calendar items:
November 11th– NO SCHOOL, Veteran’s Day
November 12th– Veterans’ Day Mass (2nd-5th), 8:15 am. Boy and Girls Scouts may wear scout uniforms.
November 22nd– Human Food Chain/Prayer Service 8:15 am, Pizza Lunch
November 24th– Early Release for Thanksgiving (11:45 am dismissal), NO EDP today
November 25th-26th– NO SCHOOL, Thanksgiving holiday
November 29th– Boys’ Basketball begins, 6th-8th (registration forms due by Nov 24th)
December 5th– PTC Christmas Bazaar, 9 am – 3 pm in the gym
December 8th– Feast of the Immaculate Conception, all school Mass @ 12:15 pm
December 16th– Christmas program (details TBD)
December 17th– Early Release for break (11:45 am dismissal), NO EDP today
December 20th – December 31st– Christmas Break
January 3rd– Welcome back!