“I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
In this week’s newsletter there is information pertaining to Allied Arts, Archery, Basketball, Christmas Mass Choir Survey, Mass Thursday is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Christmas Bazaar updates, the Annual Fund is more than 50% of the goal now, Auction happenings, the saint of the week and much more! Thank you for reading.
ALLIED ARTS FESTIVAL HAPPENING NOW!
We are all set with our art exhibit for the Allied Arts Festival. Our students have a selection of their favorite photos and artist statements on display – beginning the night after Thanksgiving and extending it until Christmas Eve. Here is a link to the festival information. Holiday Festival of the Arts – Allied Arts
Advent Prayer Services
We will be starting each Monday morning at 8am in the church during Advent (Dec. 12). We will gather together, light the Advent Wreath, and learn about this liturgical season. Please feel free to join us right at the drop off and it should be no longer than 15 minutes. Advent Blessings!
We are only a few months away from our Growing Great Kids Auction and Gala. Thank you to all the families and businesses that have already donated.
We are looking for volunteers for some auction positions. Please use the link below for a list and descriptions of roles that need to be filled. If you have already signed up for a position on the first day of school, no need to sign-up again. ACS Growing Great Kids Auction Sign-Up
Just a reminder that procurement of items and sponsorships for our auction continues. Please visit the auction page on our school website for forms. https://school.assumption.org/auction/
Auction Timeline
Gala Tickets Go on Sale early January 2023
$200 Family Obligation due January 27th, 2023
Annual Fund Update
FACT: The Annual Fund reduces every Assumption student’s tuition by approximately $500 each year.
If your family can share any portion of that gift back, others will also benefit, furthering the investment in the future of our community and world!
The common good is reached when we work together to improve the wellbeing of all, and we are blessed to be part of a school community that lives that Catholic teaching.
Our deepest gratitude goes to the many families who have already given so selflessly to this year’s fund! We are humbled by your generosity and belief in the mission of our school.
Co-curricular Programs
Archery Club starts this week!
We will begin club meetings this Thursday, Dec. 8 at 7:00 am! Please note the splitting of students into two sessions in order to accommodate all who registered. If you have any questions or concerns, please email Mrs. Eusebio (ceusebio@assumption.school) or Mrs. Dennis (ddennis@assumption.school) directly.
We will be splitting the season into two sessions (these apply unless you’ve made other arrangements with coaches):
December 8 – February 2: Fourth graders and their older, registered siblings
February 9 – March 23: All remaining fifth – eighth graders (who didn’t participate in the first session)
Please remember that only registered archers may attend the club. We do NOT have supervision for siblings.
Winter Ride Updates
Thank you for everyone who has turned the student conduct form and the field trip form for your child. If I am missing paperwork for your student, there is a copy going home in your child’s Wednesday Envelope. Please return those as soon as possible. For the students who are going to Mount Baker, here is the link to register and pay for the program. (Assumption Winter Ride Registration) If your child signed up to ice skate you will not need to use the link above rather, please send in a check for $20 made out to Assumption Catholic School. Feel free to email me if you have any additional questions.
Blessings,
Amanda McIntosh
PE Teacher & EDP Director
amcintosh@Assumption.school
Boys Basketball Season
This year the boys have one team for Middle School, and they have been working hard at practice. Their games start soon. Home games are in bold. Please come and support our team! Families are most welcome.
Here is the schedule for the season:
- December 12: 4:00 PM Home VS Lynden Christian Middle School
- December 14: 4:00pm Away @ Meridian Middle School
- January 5: 4:00 PM Away @ Nooksack Valley Middle School
- January 9: 4:00 PM Away @ Lummi Nation Middle School
- January 11: 4:00 PM Home VS Lynden Middle School
- January 17: 4:00 PM Home VS Horizon
- January 19: 4:00 PM Home VS Blaine
- January 23: 4:45 PM Away @ Mount Baker Junior High School
- January 25: 4:00 PM Home VS Vista Middle School – 7th
PTC News
CHRISTMAS BAZAAR
The PTC would like to extend a HUGE THANK YOU to Sarah Robinson and Melissa Hanson and all of our volunteers for the work that they put into making our Christmas Bazaar last Sunday an enormous success! We had a full house of vendors and an awesome shopper turnout! The Annual Christmas Bazaar raised over $4,000!
Thanks to all who had a hand in making it a great event!
SHOP FOR SCHOOLS
Shop Local for Christmas and support our school! Shop for Schools at Launching Success Learning Store is happening this week!
December 4-10 if you make a purchase at Launching Success (133 Prince Ave, Bellingham, 98226) 10% of the proceeds is returned to Assumption PTC! See flyer here!
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Continue to check the school volunteer website for volunteer opportunities. I know it’s cold outside, but we still need to keep the children safe, and we need our Playground Angels!
More Playground Angels Needed!
December sign up link
Beautiful Handwriters Needed for Christmas Cards!
please email the office@assumption.school to get hours working from home or Michele mking@assumption.school
Missoula Children’s Theater
Missoula Children’s Theater will be back at Assumption this spring! Mark your calendars for the week of May 1st, 2023. We are looking for a volunteer to assist the theater company in organizing the events that week as well as two host families for the guests to stay with during that week. If you are interested, please contact Tia Entrikin at duttontia@gmail.com
Other News
January 2nd is not a school holiday
Please note in the calendar that although January 2nd is a federal holiday observed, this is a regular school day for Assumption students. Many places (and other schools) will be closed on this day, but when we created our calendar last spring, we decided to leave that as a school day in order to end on the same date in June.
Highly Capable Learners program at BSD
Bellingham School District screens any student in January for the Highly Capable Learner program (formerly, “Gifted and Talented”) in grades 3-12 who have been referred before December 31st by a teacher or a parent. Please click on the link below if you would like your child(ren) to be screened for this program. There are no additional resources provided by the district or school but having this designation will help teachers to identify and provide additional material for these students. Additionally, he/she will be flagged when they get to a public high school so that teachers and counselors know how to provide additional support and enrichment for students at this level. The following links can also be found on the Bellingham School District website.
Parent HCL referral link: https://bellinghampublic.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8tPKl9VpLtjUSSW
Staff HCL referral link: https://bellinghampublic.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eM50z5ylPZkZOHc
Ready for A Date Night? Parents’ Night Out is Coming….Please Register
Assumption Gym – 5pm-9pm The days are shorter but Parent’s Night Out is 1 hour longer! Shop, wrap, celebrate or hibernate. Just drop off the kids and the Class of 2023 will take care of the rest – games, crafts, pizza and more. Proceeds will help fund the 8th grade trip to Washington, DC.
1 child – $40, 2 or more – $60
Register on Eventbrite at bit.ly/3GZWbqy
JOIN OUR CHRISTMAS YOUTH CHOIR!
Our School Choir is singing for the 5:00 p.m. Mass on Christmas Eve, December 24th.
Membership is open to students in Grades 4-8. NO AUDITION. ALL ARE WELCOME!
REHEARSAL SCHEDULE
Thursday, December 22nd from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the church
[It will be a long rehearsal, so there will be breaks and snacks provided! BYO snacks if your child has specific food allergies/restrictions.]
Saturday, December 24th, the choir will meet at 3:30 p.m. in the church.
Please take the survey here for Dr. Mabalot so he can plan appropriately.
Lost and Found Reminders
Please check the lost and found items in the first-floor hallway before Christmas Break. Remember to put names inside the sweaters and sweatshirts so that staff can return them more easily. Check to make sure that your child has the right name on their sweaters and/or jackets. Finally, the office will be putting items not claimed into the Used Uniform bins or donate other items before we close for winter break.
Thank you.
Walking in Holiness With the Saints
We hope that you will enjoy learning about how saints are a great example of holiness, strength, and courage one day at a time. Below is a description of a saint but his/her name is withheld. See if you can guess who the saint is and get your name put in for a prize drawing. See Mrs. King in the office if you have a guess.
Last week: St. Nicolas
Congratulations to Finley and Emery Shoff!
New Saint: She was born in Lourdes, France on January 7, 1844. Her parents were very poor, and she was the first of nine children. As a toddler, she contracted cholera and suffered extreme asthma. Unfortunately, she lived the rest of her life in poor health.
On Thursday, February 11, 1858, at 14, she was sent with her younger sister and a friend to gather firewood, when a very beautiful lady appeared to her above a rose bush in a grotto called Massabielle.
The woman wore blue and white and smiled at her before making the sign of the cross with a rosary of ivory and gold. Bernadette fell to her knees, took out her own rosary and began to pray. Though her sister and friend claimed they were unable to see her.
Three days later, she, her sister Marie, and other girls returned to the grotto, where she immediately knelt, saying she could see the lady again. She fell into a trance and one girl threw holy water at the niche and another threw a rock that shattered on the ground. It was then that the apparition disappeared.
On March 2, at the thirteenth of the apparitions, this young girl told her family the lady said, “a chapel should be built, and a procession formed.”
During her sixteenth vision, which this saint claims to have experienced for over an hour, was on March 25. She claimed she had asked the woman her name, but her question was only met with a smile. So she asked again, three more times, and finally the woman said, “I am the Immaculate Conception.” Finally, she asked the local priest to build a chapel at the site of her visions and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is now one of the major Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world.
Who is this saint? ________________
Christmas Prayer
(starting on the Feast of Saint Andrew, November 30 until December 25th)
Hail and Blessed be the hour and moment
In which the Son of God was born
of the Most Pure Virgin Mary, at Midnight,
in Bethlehem, in piercing Cold.
In the Hour vouchsafe, I beseech thee,
O my God, to hear my prayer and Grant my Desires,
(here mention your request)
Through the merits of OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST,
and of HIS BLESSED MOTHER, Amen.
Care and Concern Ministry
We are thankful and blessed for each new baby, especially those in our school families!
Babies are a gift from God!
The Zech Family
Holly and Ky welcomed baby number 3, Mattias, into their family earlier than expected and here is an update with a few pictures with big sister and brother too.
We are well. Mattias was quick to catch up in weight despite his early arrival. We are embracing everything newborn and catching up on sleep when we can! Thank you to those who have offered their help in this time of transition for our family!
The Richmond Family
Michelle and Clint Richmond welcomed baby Maren into their family on November 29th, 2022. Baylen, Andrew and Joseph are excited to have her home.
Here is a link to the meal train for the Richmonds: https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/k0nzwv
Upcoming calendar items:
- December 8th – Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception Mass @ 12:30pm
- December 10th – Parents Night Out in the Gym
- December 13th – PTC meeting 3:30pm
- December 15th – Christmas Program 7pm
- December 16th – Early Release Day (A) Day/NO EDP
