In this week’s news, you’ll find an abundance of news from our hard-working elves in the PTC, including this weekend’s Christmas Bazaar and help needed, a last call for Take and Bake dinner orders, a way to support ACS and a local business through your Christmas shopping, how to enjoy our Christmas Program, a way to share holidays tidings with our teachers, directions for picking up your wreath and poinsettia orders, a call for someone to coordinate this year’s Variety Show, two job postings, celebrating an ACS family baptism, a way to share your thoughts and ideas via our parent survey, a deadline for tuition assistance for 2022-23, and progress made toward our Annual Fund goal. Thanks for reading!
PTC News
Sunday, December 5th from 9 am until 3 pm in the gym!
Time to deck the halls and share some Christmas cheer! Join us for the PTC Christmas Bazaar! There will be something for everyone- handmade goods from nearly 40 vendors, a used book sale, a bake sale, and a Christmas photo booth!
We are still in need of volunteers to make this event a success! Earn fundraising hours! Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4ca5aa23a1fec25-holiday
Email Sarah at fergygirl2001@yahoo.com with any questions.
Donations of Baked Goods are needed can be dropped off on Saturday from 10-3 in the gym. Earn volunteer hours baking at home!! Baked goods can be cakes, pies, breads or cookies by the dozen. All baked goods need to be packaged to take home. Please add your name to the SignUpGenius above, so that we know what to expect.
We will accept donations of gently used books until Friday. There is a bin in the school foyer.
Tired of cooking? Let the PTC help! We will be offering our next Take and Bake meal on December 9th. Chicken Pot Pie, Salad and Dessert for your family! See the flyer in today’s Wednesday Envelope. Orders are due Monday, December 6th. Check the school volunteer page for the SignUpGenius if you’d like to help prepare meals. These count as fundraising volunteer hours! https://school.assumption.org/parent-resources/current-volunteer-opportunities/
Shop Local this Christmas and help Assumption Catholic School. During Shop for Schools week December 5-11, Launching Success Learning Store is offering a 10% reward to the school for all purchases in store or online. See the flyer for more details!
Continue to check for volunteer opportunities like SCRIP, Playground Angels, the Holiday Bazaar and Take and Bake on the school volunteer website Current Volunteer Opportunities – Assumption Catholic School
Second Sunday of Advent
This Sunday, December 5th, marks the second Sunday of Advent and its purple candle represents “love”. We pray its light will be a sign of the unending love of God and His promise to bring us salvation through Jesus Christ, our Savior. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel — Bless us!
Celebrate Saint Nicholas Day! –https://www.stnicholascenter.org/who-is-st-nicholas
Read the story of St. Nicholas on his Feast Day, December 6th! Set your children’s shoes out by the fireplace or door and place small chocolate coins in their shoes. (The school will celebrate this on Monday with all our students who have the root of “Nicholas” in their first, middle, or last names.)
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. The recording will be available by the week of December 20th to share with family and friends through our Vimeo channel.
Staff Christmas Scrip
If you’d like to show your appreciation for a faculty or staff member this Christmas, this special Scrip order form may be just what you’re looking for! Contribute any amount (minimum $1) to an individual’s account and they can use it to purchase the Scrip they most enjoy. Your recipient gets what he/she wants for Christmas and 10% of your total purchase is credited to your annual commitment! Deadline to submit these orders is Friday, December 3rd.
Volunteer Hours from Home
We’re hoping for a few parents (with neat penmanship!) to help us address and stuff school Christmas cards next week. An envelope containing approximately 50 cards and envelopes would come home with your child on Wednesday or Thursday (7th or 8th). We’d ask you to return them ready for postage the following day. Please call the office or email ddennis@school.assumption.org if you’re able to help. Thank you!
Poinsettia & Evergreen Pick Up
The 8th grade class would like to thank everyone who purchased poinsettias and greenery for their support. We’re thrilled to have the funds for our spring retreat and graduation expenses.
You can pick up your items at the covered entrance to the gym in the traffic loop at the following times:
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7th: 7:45 – 8:15 am and 1:45 – 2:15 pm
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8th: 7:45 – 8:15 am and 1:45 – 2:15 pm
If these times conflict with your schedule, please email Natalie Milligan at natstravels99@gmail.com to make other arrangements. Thank you again for your support of our school!
Volunteers needed for Variety Show on Friday, February 4th
We want to give students a chance to show off their talents, but we don’t have a coordinator for this. If you think that your child may be performing and you want to get your volunteer hours, please email theoffice@school.assumption.org to sign up to coordinate this fun event. The Variety Show Coordinator includes sending out the registration forms and scheduling auditions in December; scheduling rehearsals in January; checking costumes and appropriateness of the music/lyrics; and organizing the event itself on February 4th (This date may change to the Friday before depending on the availability of the gym). There will be a dress rehearsal in the afternoon and an evening performance starting at 7 pm that evening. Thank you, in advance, for your help! (Note: The Variety Show Coordinator will need to show proof of vaccination.)
Church of the Assumption job posting
Bilingual Receptionist–24 hour/week: New position, responsible for answering telephones and doors, greeting visitors, maintaining the parish calendar and providing clerical assistance. Ability to read, write and speak in both English and Spanish is required. See www.assumption.org for more information or contact karenz@assumption.org.
Job Posting for the Archdiocese of Seattle
We share with you the news that the Archdiocese of Seattle is seeking to hire for a newly created position: Environmental Program Manager. The new position will “support the Archdiocese in developing and executing a Care of Creation strategy reflecting Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si. The Archdiocese of Seattle aims to be one of the leading dioceses in the country to promote the Care of Creation, an important part of the Catholic Church’s mission.” For more information about the position and for how to apply please go here.
Congratulations to the Entrikin Family
We want to share in the joy of an ACS family that had all four of their children baptized on Saturday, November 20th in the Church of the Assumption! Tia and Andrew Entrikin are the proud parents of Assumption students Cambria (1st) and Courtland (PreK), as well as future Eagles Caoimhe and Carver. Fellow ACS parents Nicholas and Emily Hoza are their honored Godparents!
Please join us in welcoming the Entrikins into the Catholic faith and a prayer that God will bless their young family!
Parent Satisfaction Survey 2021
It’s that time of year when we ask families to provide feedback to the school staff regarding their experience at Assumption. This is important feedback and we use it to modify or adjust our long-term planning and to make short-term changes as needed. We typically receive 60-65 responses from the school community which is about half of our families. Please help us reach a goal of a 70% return this year by filling out the survey no later than Friday, December 17th. Thank you for your help. The survey results will be collated and summarized for families in mid-January. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Assumption2021
Growing with Grace Annual Fund
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.
Care & Concern Ministry
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 bedrest, 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
Photography on display at Allied Arts
Mrs. Evans has helped her seventh and eighth-grade students to curate their photographs to be on display for the Holiday Festival of the Arts which can be found at Allied Arts (1411 Railroad Avenue in Bellingham) from November 19 through December 24. Allied Arts is open seven days per week 10 am to 7 pm.
Rite of Christian Burial- Trisha Lewis
Fr. Scott Connolly would like Assumption School families to know that he will be celebrating the Mass of Christian Burial for Trisha Lewis on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at 10:30am. Trisha Lewis was an alumni parent who’s last of her four children graduated from Assumption in June 2020. Mrs. Lewis died from cancer in the spring of 2020, and the family is inviting all those who knew her to remember her at the Church of the Assumption on this day during Christmas break.
Playground Angels
Given the month-long gloomy weather, we’re beginning to have gaps in playground coverage. Even when it’s wet, duty can be a fun way to see your children during the school day and get to know their friends. If you’re able to fill any December openings (just 2.5 weeks!), we would all greatly appreciate it.
A huge thank you to our die-hard crew of regular volunteers who consistently sign up! We count on and are so grateful for you.
School Mass this Friday
This Friday, December 3rd, grades 2-5 will go to the church for Mass with our Fourth Graders leading. 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.
Upcoming calendar items:
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 10th and 15th– Christmas program recorded today from 12:30 to 3 pm in the church
December 13th– Pizza Lunch
December 17th– Early Release for break (11:45 am dismissal), NO EDP today
December 20th- December 31st– Christmas Break
January 3rd- Welcome back!
