“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 you will read about the 8th grade Graduation, Graduation Choir, 2 different videos this week(Mr. Anderson’s and the 8th grade slide show at the end of the newsletter), the Bellingham Chamber Chorale concert, playground Angels needed in June, “Moving Up” ceremony last day of school, registrations for sacraments in 2023-24, Beginning Band 5/6th graders, First Communion students, ACS counseling update, summer reading programs, Agape Pre-help in June, Used Uniforms Sale in August, Agape service week in August, lost and found is full again, volunteer help needed with summer jobs, Field day help on Tuesday, summer prayer card, and much more!
Eighth Grade Graduation
The extraordinary young men and women of our eighth grade will be graduating from Assumption tomorrow (Thursday) night, many of whom have been here since preschool. We have fifteen “graduating parents” in this group who have supported multiple children through ACS for as many as 18 years. We want to thank them for their tireless dedication and support of our school over the years.
Please keep these students in your prayers as they venture out into a new, wide world; that their time at Assumption and the relationship they’ve built with God here will guide them through the next exciting chapter of their lives. Congratulations, Eighth Graders- we are proud of you!
School Choir(3rd-7th) will be at Eighth-Grade 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
One More Week on the Playground!
Our children’s safety is a top priority!
Your help in keeping recess fun and safe is so appreciated!
Summer Reading
ACS Summer Reading Lists went home in last week’s envelope. Check out these great reading programs in our community as well. Prizes include free books and more! Check the websites below for more details and have fun reading!
Bellingham Public Library: Summer Reading – Bellingham Public Library
Whatcom County Libraries: Summer Reading – Whatcom County Library System (wcls.org)
Barnes and Noble: Summer Reading Program | B&N INC (barnesandnobleinc.com)
Get volunteer hours early this year!
The school has a number of important projects this summer and we can use all the help we can get. Please let us know by clicking this link if there are times you are available to help us move furniture, assemble bookshelves, tear out carpet, and more! Many hands make light work.
Gently Used Uniforms
Please bring in your gently used uniforms in good condition that no longer fit! We are always in need of navy dress sweaters, ties, and quarter zip sweatshirts for our sales! Office hours during June will be from 8-3pm. Drop them off any time.
The dates for Used Uniform Sales this summer will be August 9th/10th in the school library. Thank you for your donations- all profits come back to the school!
Registration Open for Sacraments 2023-24
Registration Now Open for First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion Prep at Church of the Assumption. All ACS families who are parishioners at Assumption and have a child/children who are baptized Catholic and will be in grades 2-6 in the 2023-2024 school year, are welcome to register for sacramental prep. (If you attend a different parish, please contact that parish directly about their first reconciliation & first holy communion prep process.)
Or if you are interested in exploring a Catholic baptism for your child in Pre-K through 8th grade, please contact Gina DePalma at ginad@assumption.org with any questions. Thank you!
Field Day 2023
On Wednesday, June 13th, we will be having an afternoon of activities, fun, and community to celebrate all the accomplishments for our students, teachers, and staff this year! Field Day will begin at 12:45 and last throughout the afternoon. We are looking forward to a great afternoon!
Parents, if you’d like to get a jump on earning volunteer hours for next year, please email Miss McIntosh for a few jobs she could use help with: amcintosh@assumption.school. Thank you!
We Still Need Buddy Families!
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. You are also welcome to email Mrs. Dennis at ddennis@assumption.school
Let’s show our newest community members the supportive and loving “Assumption Way”- thank you!
PTC Connections
THANK YOU PTC board for a great year of hard work keeping everything running! It was a pleasure working with all of you. Being on the PTC board was a great experience, pushing me to stay organized and pressing on every day. Stay the course for 23-24!
THANK YOU Event Chairs for your dedication to produce quality events for our whole school community to enjoy! This is part of what keeps our families here at ACS. Your hard work does not go unnoticed! Thank you!
Finally, we are always looking for new people to join our team and help make next year’s events equally successful. The PTC is a fun way to get involved, meet other parents, and contribute to the school in a meaningful way. If you have any questions or would simply like to discuss what any of these roles entail, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer.assumption@gmail.com.
Welcome to our new staff!
Caitlin Creech has been hired as our full-time first-grade aide for the 2023-2024 school year. Mrs. Creech has been a band director and teacher in Texas and is now moving with her husband to Bellingham this June. We are excited to announce that in her role, Mrs. Creech will also be teaching our first ever Beginning Band Class to 5th and 6th graders starting next year. Look for the sign up to come by email, but for now she has created a flyer to generate interest. Please join us in welcoming Mrs. Creech next year. ( pdf flyer here)
Moving Up Ceremony/Prayer Service
On the last day of school next Wednesday, June 14th, we will have our traditional “Moving Up” rite of passage. For our new families, this is when our students ceremoniously move from their current teacher/class to their rising grade level teacher for next school year. Parents are welcome to join us for this prayer service in the church and this wonderful tradition starting at 10:30 am. It will be incredible to share it in the church together again after a two-year absence! Parents are welcome to sit in the back pews of the nave or the north transept. Please save all other pews for students and staff.
The end-of-year slideshow will play just after the prayer service in the gym. Parents are also welcome to join students and staff in the gym starting at approximately 11:15 am to view this final tribute to the school year.
First Communion for Assumption Students!
Congratulations to Assumption students that made their first communion this Easter season!
Blessings to all of them from Assumption, Sacred Heart, St. Joseph’s-Ferndale and St. Peter’s Parishes.
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. And also, Emery Shoff and Clara Segel! (They were accidentally left off the list when posted.)
OTHER NEWS
Year End Counseling Report
Mission statement: to address students’ social and emotional needs and help them be the best versions of themselves so they can focus on their academic performance, reach their full potential, and make a lasting difference in the world.
Today in your Wednesday envelopes you will read about all the positive things that are happening in our school with the help of Mrs. Caulfield. Here is a pdf link if needed: Link
Life Changing 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 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
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
Planning For the Harvest Festival Starting!
Planning is beginning now for the Harvest Festival and Spaghetti dinner next fall! If you are interested in kickstarting your fundraising volunteer hours for 2023-24 we have all levels of jobs for you! Currently we are looking for help at the planning level and specifically with advertising, raffles, bake sale and bounce houses. Please contact Lynette Machinski if you are willing to help make next year’s event an even a bigger success!
Thank you. Lynette_machinski@yahoo.com.
Thank you for “WALKING WITH THE SAINTS”
Last week: St. Justin Martyr and unfortunately there was no winning guess. And I hope that everyone enjoyed learning a bit more on how saints lived out their faith.
Family Summer Prayer Card
Inside the Wednesday envelope today is a special summer prayer for families. We encourage you to place it on the fridge or another prominent place. Let us keep each other in prayer while away from school and come back refreshed for the new school year. We wish all of you a wonderful summer filled with blessings and God’s Grace.
UPCOMING CALENDAR ITEMS:
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 (EDP limited from 11:45 to 5pm only)
June 9th – Roller Skating Bash Fourth Grade 6-8pm
June 10th – Roller Skating Bash Third Grade 6-8pm
June 12th – Students have lunch with next year’s teacher at their regular times between 11:30 and 12:30pm. They will also get to spend a little bit of time in the classrooms.
June 12th – Fun Run Free Dress (#2of2)/ for students that earned $100+
June 13th – Field Day K-8th @ 12:45pm
June 14th – Prayer Service and Moving up Ceremony @ 10:30am
Last Day Of SCHOOL! Early Release @ 11:45am/ No EDP today
