Wednesday Parent Newsletter 01.31.24

In this week’s newsletter you can read about our Catholic Schools Week and activities, Growing Great Kids Auction, Auction tickets on sale, February playground angels, PTC news, the Spring Open House, volunteer opportunities, yearbook ordering, chess club information, school reenrollment for 2024-25, Faith Community Scholarships, Boy Scout breakfast, blanket drive for Hope House, Menchie’s fundraiser, pick up times reminder, Penny Wars, the Knights and Catholic Daughters “Fat Saturday Dance”, Superbowl party presale tickets, the saint trivia, calendar updates and much more. 

Thank you for reading!

State of the School Wednesday February 7th

At least one parent is required to attend this event to receive enrollment information for the 2024-2025 school year. Mr. Anderson will begin at 7pm in the school gym. Updates for the current year and financial picture for the school will be provided.

There will be childcare provided in the school library for those families that need it. It would be helpful if you could email the office at theoffice@assumption.school for planning purposes.

Pick-up Times in the Afternoon

You may have noticed that there is more traffic entering the parking lot in the afternoon. As a reminder, K-4 students should be picked up at 3:05 pm, and middle school students at 3:10 pm. (If you have children across both groups, please come at either time.) This staggers our pick-up traffic and keeps the street clear for neighbors.

If you do arrive before 3 pm, thank you for parking and walking in to get your child from his/her sign. Once the first car stops at the gate, other cars begin to line up behind so that also creates more traffic. Thank you for your help with this.

Spring Open House

On Sunday, February 4, from 11:30 to 1:30pm, Assumption will be hosting our spring open house. Current families are welcome to attend with a friend.Those who bring an interested family will receive a FREE DRESS ticket for their child(ren)!  

Catholic Schools Week

Please look in your envelope for the calendar of events next week. Things for parents to remember:

1. We need a volunteer to help count the money at the end of each day from our Penny Wars. (every day, January 30 to February 9^th) If you can do this, please email theoffice@assumption.school.

Playground Angels Needed!

Please remember to sign up for at least one playground time in February. We are so grateful for those that come on a regular basis, yet we need many volunteers to help through the month.  We also have our lunch recesses broken down into smaller times if that helps those parents with short lunches. Thank you for supervising the playground!

February Sign up

Blanket Drive for Hope House

Second grade students are collecting new and gently used blankets for Hope House this year as their service project. Please bring blankets to the office starting Thursday, January 25^th through Friday, February 9th.  Thank you for helping the needy and homeless in our community.

Tuition has been established for the 2024-2025 school year

Thank you to the Finance Committee, School Commission, and PTC Executive Board for their help in determining the initial budget draft for the 2024-2025 school year. The justification for revenue and expenses will be explained at the State of the School on Wednesday, February 7 at 7 pm in the gym. However, since re-enrollment begins this Friday for all current families, it’s important you know what tuition will be for enrollment and for your application for the Faith Community Scholarship (see below).

Based on our enrollment projections of 224 students for the 2024-2025 school year, next year’s tuition will be $8320 per student. This is a 2% increase from the 2023-2024 school year tuition of $8150. However, in School Admin (when you fill out your enrollment paperwork), you will see the “Tuition Collected” amount is $9562. You will then see “discounts” applied for which all students benefit. These include the PTC Scholarship, Annual Fund, and Foundation. Families can also apply for tuition assistance separately and may receive multi-child discounts, as well.

Faith Community Scholarships now open

These applications are now available on the school’s website and a paper copy will be coming home in this week’s Wednesday Envelope (Spanish and English versions). If you are a member of the Church of the Assumption, please read Fr. Moore’s digital letter to school families about the process for Faith Community Scholarships. If you belong to one of the other parishes in Whatcom County, please use the FCS application provided for now. If we receive a letter from other parishes with further explanations or a change in the application, we will make these available on the website.

These applications are due by March 1, 2024. Extra paper forms will be in the office.

Many of you may be waiting to see what tuition assistance you are receiving from the school and/or from the Fulcrum Foundation before you can specify your need from the parishes. Since you will be receiving all of this information in the same letter in April, please estimate these amounts based on what your family received in the 2023-2024 school year. (Note: If you are new to the school this year and have applied to the Fulcrum Foundation for the first time, contact the office and we can provide you with the Fulcrum amounts directly as soon as we have that information.)

Enrollment Deadlines for 2024-2025

• January 24– Faith Community Scholarship applications will be available online at https://school.assumption.org/faith-community-scholarship/
• January 26– Re-enrollment begins for current families and applications for new students can now be accepted.
• February 7– State of the School at 7 pm in the gym. Hear from Mr. Anderson about the school’s financial status and learn about projections for 2024-2025 expenses.
• March 1– Re-enrollment deadline for current families. Non-refundable registration fees are due. This is a hard deadline so we can open spaces for new students.
• March 1– Faith Community Scholarships are due to parishes.
• April 5– Families receive a tuition assistance letter from the school with awards for 2024-2025. This includes Fulcrum Foundation, tuition assistance from school, and Faith Community Scholarships. Appeal requests are due by April 20.
• (Note: Registration fees may be refundable after March 1 if tuition assistance and scholarships are not sufficient to keep tuition affordable.)  

Growing Great Kids Auction News

Email growinggreatkidsauction@assumption.school if you are interested. 

Volunteer Sign Up Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805044FA4A92CA3FE3-45225537-growing#/

Auction Website: https://assumptionschool.ejoinme.org/growinggreatkidsauction

Auction Timeline:

• RSVPs due February 14th
• Auction & Gala on March 2nd

PTC News  

Teacher Appreciation Lunch:  PTC would like to thank each of the parents and students who participated in making cards and bringing lunch items for the teacher lunch on Monday. We especially would like to thank Otherlands Brewery for making the delicious Pierogis and Fujisan for the incredible variety of sushi dishes. They were delicious and the teachers want to be sure that both businesses know they greatly enjoyed their meal, thank you! 

Volunteer Opportunities:   

• Gym Cleanup – PTC is hosting a gym storage cleanup event during Catholic schools week. On Saturday, February 3^rd from 10AM-2PM. During these hours we will be sorting and cleaning the storage room above the stage where many items from some of our school events are kept. In a showing of appreciation for the facilities provided to our school, we would like to encourage parents to help with this cleanup effort.  

• PTC Recruitment – Would you like to join the Assumption Parent Teacher Club? PTC is looking for a Vice-President for next year. This is a two-year position (VP the first year, followed by a Presidential role for the 2025/2026 academic year). We are also looking for a new Treasurer to join our committee. Please let us know if you are someone with accounting experience or know of an accountant who might be interested. These are both very important roles contributing to the excellence of our program. If you have any questions or are interested in either of these positions, please reach out to our volunteer coordinator, Tia, at volunteer23@assumption.school.  

• Used Uniform Sale – Please donate your gently used uniforms to the office to ensure we are well-stocked for our upcoming winter sale in February. You won’t want to miss out on our large inventory of heavily discounted uniform items. Our Used uniform sale will be held on Friday, February 23^rd. It will be in the gym from 9-3pm.

Co-Curricular Activities

Chess Club Begins February 2^nd

Please meet at 3:15pm on the third floor in Mrs. VonFeldt’s classroom for some instruction, play time and fun in the chess club.

Thank you to Mr. Herron, our chess lead volunteer, and several other parents to make this club happen for a few weeks this year.

8^th grade fundraiser at Menchie’s!

Dan Anderson Event

https://www.facebook.com/events/355892133910696

Overall Event

https://www.facebook.com/events/1503624643824103

NOTE: Families will need to show the image above with the dates to the Menchie’s employee to count the transaction.

It can either be printed or digital or be the one from the facebook event as well.  Looking forward to a big turnout!  It is a win-win for all! 

Boy Scout Pancake Breakfast Feb. 4^th

Please join us in celebrating Scout Sunday on the 4th following the 8:00 and 10:00 am masses. 

We will be serving pancakes, eggs, biscuit and gravy, sausage, OJ and coffee.

Event location: Gym @ Assumption Church

Yearbook Ordering is now OPEN!

Please follow the directions carefully below to order your copy of the 2023-2024 yearbook.  All books are $30 each.  And you will need to purchase by April 19^th, 2024.  Please order as soon as possible.  If you want to purchase one for each child in your family, you can do that too.   

This is the link that will take parents to the online pay site: https://shop.memorybook.com
School Code: 189029M

All users will have to Register the first time they access the site.

Please send your photos or questions to: acsyearbookphotos@gmail.com

Thank you, Emily Hoza, for helping work on this for the school students and community.

“Fat Saturday” Sweetheart Dance February 17^th

Church of the Assumption’s Knights of Columbus Council #829 and Catholic Daughters Court #243 are hosting a “Fat Saturday Dance for Sweethearts” on February 17th, 2024. 

If interested in attending, please call Don Baldwin @ 509-979-0956.  Thank you. 

Assumption’s Epic Superbowl Party

Look in today’s Wednesday envelope for your chance to purchase tickets to this awesome event.  There is a raffle, square game with a chance for Seahawk tickets, food, beverages, and fun for the whole family. Bring friends, family, and neighbors! All proceeds help the 8^th grade trip to Washington D.C. in the spring. 

2pm Doors Open

3:30pm Game Starts

Chiefs vs. 49ers!

“Walking with the Saints” Trivia!

If you think you know who this saint is below, then write your name, grade, and guess on a piece of paper and turn it in to Mrs. King in the office.  This is a great way to learn about saints and their lives. Each saint is unique, just like each one of us.  And maybe one or two saints may inspire you as you grow in your relationship with Christ. 

Last Week: It was St. Sebastian and Emery Shoff had the correct answer.  Congratulations!    

New Saint/Blessed:

(August 16, 1815 – January 31, 1888)

This kind saint’s theory of education could well be used in today’s schools. It was a preventive system, rejecting corporal punishment and placing students in surroundings removed from the likelihood of committing sin. He advocated frequent reception of the sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion. He combined catechetical training and fatherly guidance, seeking to unite the spiritual life with one’s work, study, and play.

Encouraged during his youth in Turin to become a priest so he could work with young boys, he was ordained in 1841. His service to young people started when he met a poor orphan in Turin and instructed him in preparation for receiving Holy Communion. He then gathered young apprentices and taught them catechism. After serving as chaplain in a hospice for working girls, he opened the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales for boys. Several wealthy and powerful patrons contributed money, enabling him to provide two workshops for the boys; shoemaking and tailoring.

By 1856, the institution had grown to 150 boys and had added a printing press for publication of religious and catechetical pamphlets. John’s interest in vocational education and publishing justifies him as patron of young apprentices and Catholic publishers. His preaching fame spread and by 1850 he had trained his own helpers because of difficulties in retaining young priests. In 1854, he and his followers informally banded together, inspired by Saint Francis de Sales.

With Pope Pius IX’s encouragement, this saint gathered 17 men and founded the Salesians in 1859. Their activity concentrated on education and mission work. Later, he organized a group of Salesian Sisters to assist girls.

Reflection

He educated the whole person—body and soul united. He believed that Christ’s love and our faith in that love should pervade everything we do—work, study, play. For him, being a Christian was a full-time effort, not a once-a-week, Mass-on-Sunday experience. It is searching and finding God and Jesus in everything we do, letting their love lead us. Yet, because he realized the importance of job-training and the self-worth and pride that come with talent and ability, he trained his students in the trade crafts, too.

He is a patron saint of:
Editors, Educators/Teachers, and Youth

Multiple Choice this week:

1. St. John Nuemann
2. St. Francis de Sales
3. St. John Bosco

Parent Satisfaction Survey Results 2023-2024

Thank you for your participation in this year’s survey. We ended with 74 replies, PS through 8^th grades. Attached is the summary of results (Link to survey results here) to include your statements about what you love about Assumption and a variety of things you would recommend changing.

Upcoming calendar items:

Feb. 2^nd – Chess Club begins 3:15-4:15pm

Feb. 4^th – Open House for prospective families in 1st-8^th grades, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm

Feb. 7^th – State of the School starting at 7 pm in the gym

Feb. 11^th – Superbowl Party Fundraiser 2-8pm in the gym

Feb. 13^th– Red, Pink and White Day, Valentine’s Day celebrated today.

Feb. 14^th– Ash Wednesday, School Mass at 12:30 pm-dress uniform

Feb. 16^th – No school/ Curriculum Day for staff

Feb. 19^th and 20^th – No school for President’s Day and Midwinter Break

Feb. 23^rd – Used Uniform Sale in the Gym 9-3pm

Feb. 26^th – Pizza Lunch

March 1^st– Enrollment for New Families Begins

March 2^nd – Growing Great Kids Auction and Gala -5pm Hotel Bellwether