“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 digital newsletter you will read about the FUN RUN update, Playground Angels for May and June, Volunteer of the Year Award, altar server training Wednesday May 31st, First Communion students, boxes still needed, Agape Pre-help in June, Care Solace Program, Agape service week in August, ACS “Year of the Arts” and Multicultural Potluck thank you, welcome our new Spanish teacher, the saint of the week winners, Buddy Families needed, PTC updates, School Choir at graduation, library book returns, Catholic Daughters Education contest winners, altar server training next week, Bellingham Chamber Chorale Concert, NO SCHOOL Monday, upcoming events and much more!
Thank you for reading.
SURPRISE FREE DRESS FOR ALL AND FUN RUN T-SHIRT DAY: THURSDAY, MAY 25TH
REMEMBER TO TURN IN YOUR FUN RUN PLEDGES!
FUN RUN 2023!
Wow! What a fantastic Fun Run! Beautiful weather and smiles everywhere! We want to thank all the volunteers for helping to make this event memorable! We couldn’t have put together such a great event without you all!
Thank you to all the parents, friends, and family who purchased shirts and donated either personally or through their businesses. You still have time to bring in those donations and pledges. The deadline is TOMORROW!
The 5th grade class is still in the lead with a total of $1601 with 7th grade coming in close at $1545 followed by 6th grade at $1275. Who is going to win that sub sandwich lunch?
We have now raised a TOTAL OF $14,301.70! Let’s see if we can get closer to our goal of 20K!
REMEMBER TOMORROW IS OUR DEADLINE TO COLLECT THOSE PLEDGES!
You can wear your Fun Run T-shirt tomorrow! Please follow dress code rules.
Night of the Arts and Multicultural Potluck
We want to offer a huge thank you to Mrs. Santos, Dr. Mabalot and Mrs. (Liza) Beshara for a wonderful Night of the Arts last week! The compliments keep rolling in and parents have expressed how pleased they were with the overall event.
Care Solace- Mental Health services starting in 2023-2024
Assumption is now contracting with an organization called Care Solace starting on June 1, 2023, that provides mental health and substance use care coordination for ALL students, staff, and families connected to our school 24 hours a day / 365 days a year on behalf of schools for their students, staff, and families.
- All levels of need from individual therapy to medical / residential treatment services.
- No limits on number of or types of care that are coordinated.
- Appointments within 1-2 weeks of referral (the Care Solace national average is 5 days).
- Help for families with insurance navigation and appointment booking; specializing on cultural and language needs aligning them with care that fits their family needs.
- A robust provider pool – all of which go through a quarterly verification process with Care Solace.
- A school dashboard that tracks student progress – counselors or admin have a timeline of student appointment times and attendance to allow for more impactful conversations and outcomes.
- Follow-up with family for assurance of satisfaction with their provider.
- Option for anonymity if families want to use the service without the school knowing.
- Multiple languages are available if translation is needed.
Once the service begins, we will share the phone number and website with all of our families and staff members to access right away, as needed. The contract is for one year at this time, with the chance to renew.
Buddy Families needed!
We are blessed to be supporting many newly-enrolled families for the 2023-24 school year! We need the help of our current families to make them feel welcomed into our warm and caring community. This is an easy way to get volunteer hours and a great way to connect with new families. We are looking to fill this need at all grade levels. Please click the link and fill out the online survey to share your interest and be contacted in mid-June.
Let’s show our newest community members the supportive and loving “Assumption Way”- thank you! https://forms.office.com/r/XuVRHMcktR
New Spanish teacher
After interviews and sample lessons, Anna Wittmershaus has accepted the K-8 Spanish position for the 2023-2024 school year. She has most recently been teaching at Lowell Elementary (K-5 Spanish) and is new to Bellingham this year after living in places like Wisconsin and Colorado. She is a member of Assumption parish and will be a great addition to our community. Please join us in welcoming her.
Congratulations to our First Communicants
This is our list of students that are making their first communion this Easter season!
Blessings to all 20 of them from Assumption, Sacred Heart, St. Joseph’s-Ferndale and St. Peter’s Parishes. Assumption Parish will have 1st Communion on June 4th.
Kennedy Schuman, Zola Vargas, Carson Hoza, Mozelle Glenovich-McLeod, Eugene Antonio, Cambria Entrikin, Adele Jones, Breandan Kennedy, Koda Lane, Luz Lane, Caroline Letellier, Jacob Letellier, Camila Miller-Posas, Nicholas Patelli, Giuliana Peralta, David Pozas- Cortes, Andrew Richmond, Eva Sicairos, Kenzo Wachira, and Renee Wachira.
Join Us on the Playground!
There are only three weeks left of school. Our children’s safety is a top priority!
Your help in keeping recess fun and safe is so appreciated!
PTC Connections
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
It was a busy week last week with not only the FUN RUN, but also the MULTICULTURAL POTLUCK. Both were a huge success! Thank you to all the volunteers that made those events seamlessly successful. Special thanks to Jhoanna Antonio and Jennifer Sheafor with guidance from Eloisa Townsend, for organizing another wonderful Fun Run last Thursday. The weather was perfect!
Friday evening, the Multicultural potluck was a great success along with the Night of the Arts. Thank you Meryluz Duque for your thoughtful coordination and tasty treats while the school families enjoyed the artwork on display.
INTERESTED IN BEING AN EVENT CHAIR?
We will need Event Chairs for the 23-34 school year for the following events. Don’t be shy! You will have the support of the PTC and the Volunteer Coordinator to get the job done in the best way possible! Please email jrharbick@comcast.net and susiemoore18@hotmail.com if you are interested!
1) Missoula Children’s Theater
2) Multicultural Potluck
3) Movie Night coordinator
4) Talent Show parent assistant
5) SWAG
This is just to name a few. We would be happy to give more details if you have any questions.
Volunteer Appreciation: We will be celebrating our school volunteers on Friday, May 26th! That means YOU! Every parent (and grandparent, sibling, friend volunteer, etc.) plays a vital role in our school community, and we’d like to honor each one of you. There will be a special blessing at our Volunteer Appreciation Mass and a reception with refreshments to follow at 9:15 am in the gym.
School Choir will be at Graduation
Our School Choir is singing for Graduation Mass on Thursday, June 8th at 5:00pm. All students in Grades 3-7 are welcome to participate. There will be a rehearsal on Thursday, June 8th at 3:00pm. Light food will be provided at the beginning of practice before rehearsal begins. School Dress uniform is required for the graduation.
For questions, please email drmabalot@assumption.org
The Sweet Countdown to the End of the Year!
Celebrations and special days make the end of the school year light and bright. For new and veteran families, here are endnotes on the fun, final school days at Assumption.
Friday, May 26
After the 8:15 school Mass, come to the Volunteer Appreciation & Award Reception at 9:15 am. This celebration is for ALL parents because all parents generously give time as school volunteers. Enjoy baked goods, coffee, and tea, provided by teachers and staff.
Thursday, June 8
Graduation rehearsal from 10-11:30 am in the church (graduates only).
Graduation luncheon for eighth graders and their parents, hosted by the current seventh-grade students and parents (seventh grade helpers and eighth graders only).
Eighth-grade graduation Mass will be in the church, 5-6 pm. The school choir will also be present and help celebrate with song at the Mass. While graduates and families will fill all the front pews, all Assumption families are welcome.
Monday, June 12
Last day of PreK.
Tuesday, June 13
Last day of preschool.
Wednesday, June 14
Last day of school for K-8. On the official last day of school, the End of Year Prayer Service, Teacher Farewell & Moving-up Ceremony at 10:30 am, presented in the church, is perfectly scaled, providing a fitting endpoint for this year as well as a new harbor for the year ahead. Come to the church (with Kleenex!), as your child says good-bye to this year’s teacher and moves up, greeted by the next teacher for the coming year. Don’t miss this lovely, wrap-around, Catholic-Christian send-off to summer. EARLY RELEASE at 11:45 am, following an end-of-year slideshow in the gym that all are welcome to attend.
The Preschool/PreK End-of-the-Year Picnic is also on Wednesday, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Library Book Returns
It is time to start rounding up any books checked out from the school library. I will be sending home a list of all books currently checked out to your child(ren) in today’s parent envelope. All items are due back by Friday, May 26. If there are any items not returned by the end of the school year, you will be billed a replacement fee. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at nsmith@assumption.school.
Thank you,
Your Librarian, Nancy Smith
Assumption Winners in CDA State Education Contest
Congratulations to six of our students at Assumption that participated earlier in the year for the Catholic Daughters of the Americas Education Contest. The theme this year was “We Walk with Faith, Not by Sight”. Computer Art- 2nd place is Peyton Eberhardt, Art- 3rd place is Julian Dales, Essay Div.2- 2nd place is Taylor Rush, Essay Div.1 – 2nd place is Finley Twining.
Catherine Jones-4th grade (Division 1) and Angel Ngo-8th grade (Division 2) did take first place in Poetry. Their entries have been sent on to the national level and will compete against all the other first place winners from each state. Good luck to them. They were kind enough to share their poems with the school community. Thank you again to all the students that worked so hard on their entries.
“We Walk with Faith, Not by Sight” 2 Corinthians: 5;7
Though I have not seen Him, I believe.
My faith is strong so that sight cannot deceive.
The Holy Spirit will guide me, even if blind.
God shall guide me well, from front or behind.
I don’t have to see it to believe in it all,
God will love me either way and keep me standing tall.
What I see I will believe in too,
But I do not need sight to know what is true.
By Catherine Jones
OTHER NEWS
8th Grade Slide Show Pictures Needed
Eric and Aimee Bachmeier need your help to put on the traditional slide show for the graduating class at the Graduation Luncheon June 8th.
People can share photos at https://photos.app.goo.gl/13wAUmhXA7UiHGAeA
Or email them to laptopcartone@gmail.com
The deadline for sharing photos is 11:59 pm on Sunday, June 4th.
Thanks,
Eric and Aimee
Interested in Serving at Mass for the Lord?
There is an altar server training for any ACS student who wants to altar serve over the summer or next school year at Church of the Assumption. This would be open to any soon-to-be 5th graders and up (since we only allow 5th graders and up to serve at Mass). The training is on May 31st, Wednesday in the church. It would last from 3:15 until 4:30pm.
If you have questions about it, please email Fr. Moore at frmoore@assumption.org
Boxes Needed
The school needs approximately 12 medium moving boxes for storing books from one of the classrooms this summer. If you have boxes to drop off, please email the office first (so we don’t get too many) and let us know. Thank you!
The Agape Service Project Needs Help Preparing Food Bank!
Assumption has been asked to help the Agape staff prep and run their first Food Bank of the summer as their youth groups don’t arrive to help until the following week. Prep help is needed on Tuesday, June 20th from 9:30-11:45 am and Wednesday, June 21st from 8:30 am-6:30 pm. We are seeking any Assumption alumni or rising middle school students to help with this extremely rewarding service project. Parents are also welcome to pitch in! See the flyer Here!
- Please go to http://archseattle.org/registration
- In the drop-down menu under ‘Required Forms’ please download and fill out the following:
o Youth – Parent/Guardian Consent Form & Liability Waiver
o Youth – Code of Behavior & Norms
o Adults – Release of Liability/Medical Release
o Adults – Code of Behavior & Norms
Please send all forms and questions to Sara Rush at sara.m.rush@gmail.com (360-556-2271). More information to follow after signing up!
The Agape Service Week
August 6-10th
There are still five spots open for this summer’s Agape week for the Assumption/ Sacred Heart youth group. Would you like to be a part of something “life changing”?
Agape Service Project encounters the farmworker community of Whatcom County, facilitates weeklong middle and high school service-immersion, and empowers young adults to be servant leaders. Through service-learning experiences, participants learn about human dignity, issues affecting farmworkers and why we as Catholics are called to serve. Through our food bank, community support and time spent with the migrant families, we have the ultimate goal of building personal relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ. The Assumption and Sacred Heart youth group will be participating in the Agape Service Project 08/06/23-08/10/23.
This is for 6th-12th grade. We still have five spots left for this week. There is a link below that will take you to a place to sign up. We need $50.00 from everyone now. The rest of the amount $350.00 will be due before the end of May for a total of $400.00 (Scholarships are available). Please send money to Assumption 2116 Cornwall Ave Bellingham, WA 98225 in care of Daniel Prenosil. Checks may be made out to the Church of the Assumption. If your child would really like to go, but there is a problem financially or you have any questions please contact me at daniel@assumption.org . Do not hesitate in signing up, space is limited, and it is first come first serve. To sign up use this link https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040549AAA92FA6FE3-agape.
Bellingham Chamber Chorale Concert
Led by Dr. Mabalot, our School Choir teacher and Assumption’s Music and Liturgy Director, Bellingham Chamber Chorale’s 2022-2023 season draws to a close on June 10 (8PM) and June 11 (5PM) in our church. They will perform Bach’s virtuosic motet for double choir “Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied” (Sing to the Lord a New Song!), performed with a 9-piece instrumental ensemble of strings and wind instruments, along with other deeply moving choral pieces. See the flyer for more details! Tickets are available here or at the door before each performance: https://www.bellinghamchamberchorale.org/tickets
Popsicle Sales!
Each Friday there will be cool treats after school for sale! Come support our current 7th graders as they kick off fundraising efforts for their own trip to Washington D.C. next spring!
Look for these entrepreneurs under the large cross outside at pick up. A variety of ice cream and popsicle treats will be available for the whole family to enjoy!
WALKING 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. Please remember that your name and guess of each week’s saint needs to be in by Tuesday afternoon. The drawing of all correct answers happens on Wednesday morning. Thank you to all the students submitting their answers.
Last week: St. Gregory VII
Congratulations: Baylen Richmond and Emery Shoff
New Saint:
Burned at the stake as a heretic after a politically motivated trial, she was beatified in 1909 and canonized in 1920.
Born of a well-to-do peasant couple in Domremy-Greux southeast of Paris, this saint was only 12 when she experienced a vision and heard voices that she later identified as Saints Michael the Archangel, Catherine of Alexandria, and Margaret of Antioch. In her youth, she did household chores, spun wool, helped her father in the fields and looked after their animals. Her mother provided the religious education for her.
During the Hundred Years War, she led French troops against the English and recaptured the cities of Orléans and Troyes. This enabled Charles VII to be crowned as king in Reims in 1429. Captured near Compiegne the following year, she was then sold to the English and placed on trial for heresy and witchcraft. Professors at the University of Paris supported Bishop Pierre Cauchon of Beauvis, the judge at her trial; Cardinal Henry Beaufort of Winchester, England, participated in the questioning of her in prison.
In the end, she was condemned for wearing men’s clothes. The English resented France’s military success–to which Joan contributed.
On this day in 1431, this young woman was burned at the stake in Rouen, and her ashes were scattered in the Seine River. A second Church trial 25 years later nullified the earlier verdict, which was reached under political pressure.
Remembered by most people for her military exploits, she had a great love for the sacraments, which strengthened her compassion toward the poor. Popular devotion to her increased greatly in 19th-century France and later among French soldiers during World War I. Theologian George Tavard writes that her life “offers a perfect example of the conjunction of contemplation and action” because her spiritual insight is that there should be a “unity of heaven and earth.” She is the patron saint of France.
UPCOMING CALENDAR ITEMS:
May 25th – Fun Run Tshirt Day/Free Dress
May 25th – Fun Run pledge money due
May 29th – NO SCHOOL, Memorial Day
June 1st and 2nd – Eighth grade Retreat
June 2nd – Donuts and Dads (5th gr) and Library field trip (1st gr)
June 5th– Eighth grade “farewell” assembly. Eighth-grade parents are invited.
10:30 am in the gym
June 5th – LAST Pizza Lunch Day!
June 8th Eighth-grade rehearsal at 10 am, luncheon at 11:30 am, and graduation Mass at 5 pm. All families are invited to graduation!
June 9th – Early Release Day “A” Day @ 11:45am
June 9th – Roller Skating Bash Fourth Grade 6-8pm
June 10th – Roller Skating Bash Third Grade 6-8pm
June 13th – Field Day K-8th @ 12:45pm
June 14th – Last Day Of SCHOOL! Early Release @ 11:45am
