“Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:16
In this newsletter you can read about Pumpkin Carving Winners, playground angels, wreath sales, SWAG is open, ND high school update, Bright Futures Annual Appeal, candy donations for military, Cathcart Baby News, coffee & donuts this weekend, conference schedules available, collecting books for Christmas Bazaar, Lost and Found, middle school academic help, Ride needed for Anacortes religious sister, mandatory Study Hall for Middle School, Mass on Friday & altar servers, Confirmation news, saint question of the week, Service is the virtue of November, and much more!
Thank you for reading!
We will host an Open House on Sunday, November 9, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm, with an emphasis on our preschool and kindergarten programs. Current Assumption families are welcome, and we encourage you to share the information with your friends and family who may be interested. Parent and student ambassadors will be on hand to provide tours and answer questions.
Remember that if you refer a new family who enrolls for 2026-27, you’re eligible to receive a tuition credit of $275 (registration for one child)! The new family must remain enrolled through November, at which time your account will be credited (December 1). Please contact the office if you have any questions about this incentive!
PreK families- please look for the special invitation to visit kindergarten in your yellow envelopes. Thank you!
GET IT WHILE IT’S HOT!
STORE CLOSES MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10!
Our PTC wants to help you display your Assumption pride! The ONLINE pop-up shop is NOW OPEN! And orders are shipped to your home. Get your tees, sport bags, hoodies, hats, license plate frames and coffee tumblers now and be ready to show your Assumption Catholic School spirit this school year! Remember, all apparel with an ACS logo can be worn on casual uniform Wednesdays. Click the “SWAG STORE” tab in our school website banner or https://stores.inksoft.com/assumption_catholic_school/shop/home
Wreaths & Poinsettias for Sale!
Christmas is just around the corner. The class of 2026 are selling these beautiful poinsettias and wreaths from our local Van Wingerden Greenhouse. Order now for yourself, family and friends! Don’t forget to collect orders from local businesses and your place of work. Supporting this fundraiser will help the class fund for our retreats and graduation celebrations. Hard copies are in your Wednesday envelopes today!
Or use the link here for ordering online. Thank you, 8th grade class and parents.
https://vwfundraiser.com/org/assumptioncatholic
Calling Playground Angels!
We continually need helpers on the playground.
Thank you for your help in keeping recess fun and safe!
House Keeping Info:
- Large Connect Four game from the Harvest Fest is in the office.
Please pick up ASAP and email the office to let us know who owns the game.
- Photos from Trunk or Treat can be sent to the Yearbook committee chair, Emily Hoza at yearbook@assumption.school
- November 21st, Grandparents Day has been changed to an EARLY RELEASE DAY! School will be dismissed after mass at 11:45am. We hope that families will be able to spend time with their grandparents and/or grandfriends.
Middle School Academic Support
Is your middle schooler struggling with understanding a certain concept or needing help catching up? More Tuesday Tutoring sessions have opened! Sessons start at 3:20 pm in Ms. Zech’s room (third floor) and pickup is at 4:00 pm by the office. NEW INFO: We are now asking parents, who are interested in signing up their middle schooler, to first register for EDP by the Monday prior to the Tuesday they wish their child to attend. This provides a safe space for their child to go to in the event that they cannot pick up their child by 4:00 pm. Extra EDP forms can be found in the office. With limited slots, take advantage of this FREE, small group support by signing up with this LINK!
After School Tutoring for Students in Grades 1-5th
Mrs. Williams is working with the student ambassadors to offer “Tuesday Tutoring” for students needing extra support on homework. Families, contact your child’s teacher and Mrs. King if you would like your child to attend. Sessions will run from 3:15-4:00 each Tuesday. Any questions can be directed to Mrs. Williams at bwilliams@assumption.school.
Mandatory Study Hall Tuesdays
Part of our mission at Assumption Catholic School is to help your child achieve academic excellence and put systems in place to help your child if falling behind.
This year, outside of class time, several staff have come together to provide ways to support your child in this effort. In addition to each teacher’s office hours and Tuesday Tutoring, we are adding one more component.
Each Friday, if your child is assessed at under 73% for any of their classes by 4pm Friday each week, they will need to attend a mandatory, in-school Study Hall the following Tuesday from 12-12:30. If your child is to attend, a confirmation email will be sent to you and your child by the office on Monday.
If your child manages to catch up over the weekend, they are still to attend this Study Hall to work on skill-building necessary to help prevent this occurrence again.
In addition to attending this mandatory Tuesday Study Hall, students will not be allowed to play in registered, after-school ACS sports for that entire week.
Each Friday, unless announced otherwise, the same process will follow.
As a reminder, if your child has any questions about their work or marking of particular assignments, they are encouraged to talk to their teacher first. Parents and guardians, along with their children, are encouraged to check their child’s FACTS account on a weekly basis. Thank you for your understanding of our commitment to support your child.
Become a Parent Ambassador!
As we look ahead to the next couple of years, the majority of our wonderful parent ambassadors will be graduating out of the program. We’re looking for a new group of warm, welcoming, and knowledgeable parents to help us continue making Assumption feel like home for new and prospective families.
Parent ambassadors assist with:
- New Family Orientation (held the day before school begins)
- One of our annual Open Houses (November or February, on a Sunday)
- Occasionally offering support to families who join mid-year
Volunteers will be contacted ahead of time for availability. These duties count as fundraising volunteer hours as they are considered marketing efforts for the school.
If you’re interested in joining this special team, please reach out to Dayna Dennis at ddennis@assumption.school. We are so grateful to our current ambassadors for making the program what it is and look forward to growing our ranks with more amazing Assumption parents!
Pumpkin Carving Winners!
Our student ambassador team was thrilled to receive a record 22 great submissions for our annual pumpkin carving contest this morning! We wish we had more prizes to award as they were all spook-tacular! Here were the standouts:
- Creative- Zoey Z., 6th
- School Spirit- Macie P., 7th
- Spooky- Kate N., 8th grade
- Funny- James R., 2nd
- Best in Show- Maddie D., 6th
Maddie won the entry fee money collection of $42. Congratulations and thanks to all who helped!
Archery Club Paused for 2025–26
We regret to inform our Assumption families that due to how NASP (National Archery in Schools Program) now qualifies schools for program participation and eligibility for competing in the state tournament, we will not be able to offer Archery Club this school year.
While this is disappointing news, we remain committed to keeping archery alive at Assumption. Ms. Eager is working to incorporate a brief archery unit into the 6th grade P.E. curriculum this year. This step will help us meet the new requirements and pave the way for the club’s return in the 2026-27 school year.
We appreciate your understanding and support, and we hope next year’s 5th–8th graders will be excited to pick up their bows once again!
Spirit Weekend Nov.1/2nd
Students Host Coffee & Donuts + SCRIP Sales
It is here again, students and families from ACS will be hosting coffee and donuts in the gym and showing are school spirit! Scrip Sales will take place too between the 8 and 10am masses. And there are spots open for helping this weekend and the three dates scheduled in 2026. It is better to have 3 families to assist with the set up and clean up process. Someone will pick up and deliver all the donuts from Haggens for you. The 2026 dates are:
- February 1st, 2026
- April 12th, 2026
- May 3rd, 2026
Please sign up to help here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084FAFAB2CA02-51780392-hosting#
Conference Schedule Sign Ups
Each homeroom teacher and specialist has a sign-up schedule for you to use through this link to the pdf. Our fall conference dates are November 24th and 25th.
Please email the teacher if you have any questions about the process.
Lost and Found….Come find your items!!!
The lost and found has actually doubled now. There are hundreds of dollars’ worth of water bottles on the shelf. Please come and look through or ask your child because all items will be thrown away or donated to hope house by December 31st, unless we can use clothing for the used uniform sale!!!
Dia de Los Muertos Celebration
We are pleased to inform you that, as part of our annual celebration of the Day of the Dead, we will be preparing a beautiful altar at the school’s main entrance in honor of Mexican families and celebrating the lives of our dearly departed.
To make this commemoration more meaningful and personal, we invite you to contribute photographs of your beloved deceased family members for display on the altar. If you are willing to share a photograph, kindly bring it to the office with a frame Thursday 10/30 or Friday 10/31. Please include student’s name and grade in the back.
We understand the sensitivity of this request and want to assure you that these images will be handled with care and respect. They will be displayed lovingly and returned to you after the event. Your contribution will not only honor your family member’s memory but also create a sense of unity and shared support within our community during this time of remembrance.
*History: This is a Mexican holiday celebrated in Mexico and elsewhere associated with the Catholic celebrations of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day and is held on October 31, November 1 and 2. The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pray for and to remember friends and family members who have died.
Winter Ride Parent Meeting!!!
There will be an informational parent meeting on Monday, November 3rd at 7pm in the Gym. This is a mandatory meeting for parents and all middle school students in 6th through 8th grade. Only one parent needs to attend. Thank you! Any questions, please email Coach Eager.
Students must choose either skiing/snowboarding or ice skating.
Christmas Bazaar Used Book Sale!
The time has come to begin collecting books and puzzles for this year’s Christmas Bazaar – Book & Puzzle Sale! Donations accepted at the school through December 5th. Contact this year’s bazaar chair, Susie Anderson, at bazaar@assumption.school, for additional questions, or schedule a book pickup for larger book/puzzle donations.
Let’s Fill Up Mr. Ramos’s Office!
Hope House serves those in need in Bellingham and Whatcom County.
Next Monday, we will also start collecting non-food requests and non-perishable food items for Hope House. We hope to collect so much that Mr. Ramos has to work in the staff room!! A complete list of items will be sent home in your Wednesday envelopes next week. At the end, we will be able to have our HUMAN FOOD CHAIN be a witness to our school community’s generosity on Tuesday, November 18th!!!
Whatcom Catholic News
For all the news around Whatcom County and the Catholic Church:
https://www.whatcomcatholic.org
School Mass Friday 10.29.25
This Friday, October 31st, our Kindergarten class (Mrs. Russell) will be leading Mass. All K-8 students should wear dress uniforms and parents are welcome and encouraged to attend each Mass!
Servers at mass should arrive by 7:30am to help with Benediction and incense that begins at 7:45am. Your sacrifice to come early and help at Mass is greatly appreciated.
Altar Servers are Graedon Wolf, Bentley Sebens, and Blake McGuire
** Trainings for new servers interested in this ministry took place during lunch recess on Tuesdays in October. The 5th graders were very excited this week and nervous about all the instructions but asked for another training.
- 5th grade altar servers – 2nd training will be 11:30am during recess on November 18th.
Cathcart Baby News!
Rosemary Olivia Cathcart arrived 10/27. She is happy and healthy! Big sisters Molly and Audrey are in love with her. Assumption families have been asking about a meal train sign up which is so kind and thoughtful.
Interested in helping with dinners:
Vocations Week Volunteer Need
As part of National Vocations Week, we are blessed to have Sister Genevieve joining us as one of our guest speakers this Monday November 4th! Sister Genevieve currently serves at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Anacortes and will be speaking with our students about her vocation and life as a religious sister.
We are looking for a volunteer who can provide a ride to and from Assumption Catholic School on the day of her visit. Sr. Genevieve attends morning mass and then can be ready for a ride at 9:45am. She will need to arrive by 11:00 a.m. and her day will conclude at 2:45 p.m.
If you are able to assist or have any questions, please contact Miss Copeland at zcopeland@assumption.school.
Thank you for helping make this special week possible for our students!
Middle School Youth Ministry Update
Dear Middle School Families,
I hope you’re all doing well! Here are a few important updates for the coming weeks:
🕊️ Confirmation Reminder
If your 7th–12th grader wishes to be confirmed this year, they must attend the youth meeting on Wednesday, October 29th, from 6:15–7:45 PM at Sacred Heart Church.
This will be their final opportunity to join the Confirmation program this year.
There are still a few spots available to meet with me before the 29th — please schedule your family meeting as soon as possible using this link:
👉 https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040549AAA92FA6FE3-59318306-confirmation
✨ Saturday Small Groups Update
Due to scheduling conflicts, our Middle School Saturday Small Groups will now begin on Saturday, December 6th, starting as a special Advent Small Group series.
These sessions count toward Confirmation small group participation for those in the program.
If your child is interested in joining, please contact me at daniel@assumption.org so I can plan for group size (you do not need to be a part of the confirmation program to participate).
Northern Deanery High School Info
The next family info night for the regional Catholic high school is at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6, at 6 p.m.
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All families interested in learning about the progress of the regional Catholic high school are invited to attend an information session at 6 p.m. On Thursday, Nov. 6, in the Assumption gymnasium. Andy Remien, the school’s director of implementation, will give updates on the school’s initial location, tuition, curriculum, and progress toward opening in the fall of 2026. If you cannot attend but have questions about the school, please contact Andy at andy@assumption.org or at (206)605-9827.
Peacemaker Virtue for November- Service
Service, also called the “Works of Mercy,” is Love in action!
It flows from the theological virtue of Charity—Love for God and neighbor—and shows itself in two ways: Care for the body (Corporal Works of Mercy) and care for the soul (Spiritual Works of Mercy). When we serve others, we are sharing God’s Love that He pours into our hearts through divine grace. Every act of service is our way of saying “yes” to God’s Love and sharing it with someone else.
Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:
“The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities.
- Spiritual Works of Mercy: Instructing, advising, consoling, comforting, forgiving, and baring wrongs patiently.
- Corporal Works of Mercy: feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned, and burying the dead. Among all these, giving alms to the poor is one of the chief witnesses to fraternal charity: it is also a work of justice pleasing to God.” (CCC 2447)
This month let’s pray together:
Dear God, show me and my family where you are calling us to serve.
Open our eyes to see the needs around us- both body and soul.
Open our hearts to respond with Love.
Help us to use the gifts and talents you have given us
to share your Love with others. Amen.
NEW SAINT QUESTION OF THE WEEK 10.29.25
Many options for guessing who this Solemnity and Holy Day of Obligation is about. This second day of the Hallowtide Triduum is a special day for Catholics. It is celebrated on November 1st each year. On this day, we honor every Saint. These include well-known saints and those not officially recognized. These saints lived holy lives and followed Jesus. They are our examples and guides.
Put your answer in the jar by the Discipleship Board.
Last Week: St. Simon and St. Jude
Winners are Giuliana Peralta and Caroline LeTellier….Congratulations!!
Upcoming calendar items:
Oct. 29th – Orange and Black Dress Up Day/Pumpkin Carving Contest 8am
Oct.31st– Halloween Day/ Dress Uniform for Mass @8:15am
Nov. 1/2nd – Spirit Weekend – (wearing your uniform to Mass) and Hosting Coffee and Donuts at the 8am and 10am Masses!
Nov. 3rd – All Saints Costume Day or Free Dress from Spirit Weekend & WINTER RIDE MEETING REQUIRED AT LEAST ONE PARENT PER FAMILY 7PM:GYM
Nov. 6th – School Mass at 8:15am (Thursday)
Nov. 7th – NO SCHOOL- Teacher Accreditation Work
Nov. 9th – Fall Open House Kindergarten and Preschool 11:30-1:30pm
Nov. 10th – Veteran’s Day Prayer Service Honoring Veterans in our Community 8:15
Nov. 11th – NO SCHOOL DAY!
Nov. 18th – Human Food Chain and Prayer Service
Nov. 21st – Early Release at 11:45am/GRANDPARENTS DAY
Nov. 24/25th – Teacher Conferences (add link)
***Items for the newsletter need to be turned in to Mrs. King and Mr. Ramos by Monday at 2pm for the Wednesday Digital and/or Wednesday Envelopes. The office needs time for review and printing if needed.
