Out Lady of Fatima Parish School

Newsletter

• Principal's Letter

  02/09/2012
  
  

  Dear Families,

  
  

  I so appreciated seeing so many of you, and so many students, at the Masses this past weekend. Our faith is the cornerstone of our school and of the education of our students. Weekly attendance at Mass provides such a perfect base for all we do. It is a life-long gift we give to our children.

  
  

  Thank you to parents attending last night's informative PTC meeting. I so appreciate the teachers sharing their math methods and resources as they relate to the Common Core State Standards.

  
  

  As we approach spring, it is time to look at next year's Parent-Teacher Club Board. PTC President Hilary MacGillivray and Communications Director Marie Groark will finish their terms at the end of this school year. I am so grateful for their commitment of time and energy, and their willingness to serve! It is time for us to search for a new Vice President (the current V.P., Kym Otte, will be President for 2012-2013) and a new Communications Director. Please look in the Volunteer section below for job descriptions.

  
  

  We continue to address respect in our building. I encourage all of us to listen to our children and guide them toward empathy and compassion in their words and actions. During Lent we will be looking at the 4th Level of Happiness through the Parable of the Prodigal Son (or the Forgiving Father).

  
  

  On Friday, March 2, teachers will be at school all day to meet with parents. If you want to meet with a teacher, please e-mail him or her directly to get on the schedule. This is an opportunity to re-group as we are in the second half of the year.

  
  

  As next weekend is a long one, we will not have a family newsletter next Thursday. What announcements we have will be sent to you via e-mail. I hope your time away from school is both restful and renewing.

  
  

  Blessings,

  
  

  Susan

  
  

  
  

  Announcements

  
  

  CYO Baseball 2012 Registration Closes February 17 - Sign Up Today! OLF CYO Boys Baseball is open to students and parishioners grades 5-8.

  Fee: $80.00. Registration and fee deadline is February 17, 2012.

  Go to the OLF CYO blog for links to registration: http://school.olfatima.org/cyo

  Registrations after February 17 will have a $15 late fee added.

  
  

  Archbishop Murphy High School presents its Spring Musical Annie Get Your Gun on Friday, February 24, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, February 25, at 7:00 p.m.; Sunday, February 26, at 2:00 p.m .; Friday, March 2, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, March 3, at 2:00 p.m. All shows at the PUD Auditorium, 2320 California St., Everett. Ticket Prices: Adults: $13; Seniors 62+, Students, and Children under 10: $11. For more information and to order tickets, please visit the school website www.am-hs.org.

  
  

  Any weather-related delays or closures will be posted on our school website and recorded as a "Special Announcement" when you call the school office phone number (283-7031). Please check our website, phone, or the news channel of your choice for delay or closure announcements.

  
  

  
  

  Volunteer Opportunities

  
  

  The Auction is coming up. Please think about what you'd like to do to help and sign up with Jenn Wathen as soon as you can! Everyone's help is needed and appreciated.

  
  

  We are in need of parents to help us celebrate "pi day" on March 14th. Students are being challenged to memorize the decimal for pi. We would love parents to bake pies in honor of pi day so we can all celebrate. If you are willing to bring a pie on March 14th, please let either Mrs. Kellogg or Mrs. Burdett know. Thank you!

  
  

  CYO needs volleyball coaches. Please contact John McDowall at 206-276-8200.

  
  

  The North Deanery Science Fair (in which OLF students participate) is looking for judges for Thursday, March 15th, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The task is to judge three to four middle school science projects and fill out the scoring rubric. Food will be provided. If you have a science or engineering background, or an interest in science, please contact Mrs. Raman at jraman@olfatima.org or ScienceFairJudge@gmail.com.

  
  

  As part of our overall growth in mathematics, Mrs. Bever and Mrs. Ebel are helping students to compete in our State Math Olympiad Competition held in May. We are in need of parent support to make this opportunity successful. Please contact them (mbever@olfatima.org; jebel@olfatima.org) if you can help.

  
  

  Open PTC Leadership positions for 2012-2013 are as follows. For more information, please contact Hilary MacGillivray, Kym Otte, or Marie Groark. Assuming a leadership position does fulfill the yearly 30 hours of volunteer time required of each parent.

  
  

  Vice President. This is a two-year commitment, so would cover both 2012-2013 as V.P. and 2013-2014 as President. First year duties as V.P. include Labor Day set up for Coffee Hour; Coffee Hour on the first day of school; helping organize quarterly PTC meetings; recruiting chairs for PTC committees (SCRIP, room parents, teacher appreciation, etc.); identifying and overseeing after-school enrichment programs; and Field Day. The second year duties are as PTC President, and include coordinating Labor Day set up for Coffee Hour and obtaining the key from the Parish; Coffee Hour on the first day of school; helping organize quarterly PTC meetings; attending monthly School Commission meetings (they do not meet in the summer and the V.P. can attend if the President is not able to); and Field Day.

  
  

  Communications Director duties for 2012-2013 include maintaining the PTC blog; overseeing the biennial PTC survey of Fatima parents; crafting e-mail communication on behalf of the PTC; summarizing meetings; and sharing information with parents via the PTC blog and other platforms as appropriate.

  
  

  
  

  
  

• Principal's Letter

  02/02/2012

  
  

  Dear Families,

  
  

  February marks the end of ski bus season and the beginning of Lent. In our liturgical year, until Ash Wednesday we are in Ordinary Time, where we are between the great feasts of Christmas and Easter. We are encouraged to use this time to grow and mature in our faith. We can do this by thinking about the life of Christ, both in its wondrous aspects and in those parts that were, as in our own lives, about his day-to-day relationships with family and friends.

  
  

  Today in our Catholic Schools Week schedule is Parent Appreciation Day. We are so grateful that you have chosen Catholic education for your children and thank you for all you do throughout the year for our students and our school. Please find a gift of greeting cards featuring student art in your packet this week.

  
  

  I was delighted to see a number of parents in attendance at last week's ITBS meeting! More about Common Core Standards will be included in the PTC meeting next week, where the focus will be on math. Childcare will be available during the meeting. Please also note that the next fundraising OLF Gift Card order (SCRIP) will be due February 24th.

  
  

  All Auction donation forms, gift cards, and gift certificates should be turned in as of this week. The Auction handbook is online for easy reference. Volunteer opportunities abound and go a long way toward fulfilling your yearly 30 hour commitment. Do sign up as soon as you can!

  
  

  The final ski bus will be February 24th to make up for the Friday missed due to snow. Lessons will held tomorrow, February 3rd, and on the 10th. The final day, Friday the 24th, will be a "fun day." Remember to keep Dravus St. in front of the school clear of cars on those Friday afternoons.

  
  

  This is the time of year for our Endowment Fund appeal. A letter was mailed this week to parishioners (those who are not current school parents) and alumni. A letter from me just to our school parents is enclosed in this packet. Please take a moment to read through it. Any extra of the blue business reply envelopes can be returned to the office.

  
  

  A reminder from a parent to those in afternoon car line that being away from your car once students start lining up causes delays that inconvenience others, particularly if it is raining on the children who are waiting. Thank you for keeping the line in motion!

  
  

  Many of you have asked about making up snow days. My response is that it depends -- winter is still underway! I will assess where we are and what we might do once the possibility of more snow and ice is fully behind us.

  
  

  Report cards go home today along with math progress reports for grades 3-8 that include the specific standards being taught. I encourage you to go over the report card with your child(ren) and set goals for this second half of the year. We have a day of optional parent-teacher conferences on Friday, March 2nd. Teachers may contact you or you may contact teachers to schedule a time between 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The best way to contact teachers is through email.

  
  

  Finally, I will be speaking at all of the Masses this weekend as we conclude Catholic Schools Week. I look forward to seeing many of you there! All of the students are asked to come to Mass in full uniform. This is a tremendous witness to our parish!

  
  

  Blessings and many thanks for your support of Catholic education,

  
  

  
  

  Susan

  
  

  Announcements

  
  

  Archbishop Murphy High School presents its Spring Musical Annie Get Your Gun on Friday, February 24, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, February 25, at 7:00 p.m.; Sunday, February 26, at 2:00 p.m .; Friday, March 2, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, March 3, at 2:00 p.m. All shows at the PUD Auditorium, 2320 California St., Everett. Ticket Prices: Adults: $13; Seniors 62+, Students, and Children under 10: $11. For more information and to order tickets, please visit the school website www.am-hs.org.

  
  

  Any weather-related delays or closures will be posted on our school website and recorded as a "Special Announcement" when you call the school office phone number (283-7031). KING, KIRO, and KOMO TV will list school delay and closure information during the morning broadcasts. Please check our website, phone, or the news channel of your choice for announcements.

  
  

  Volunteer Opportunities

  
  

  The Auction is coming up. Please think about what you'd like to do to help and sign up as soon as you can!

  
  

  We are in need of parents to help us celebrate "pi" day on March 14th. Students are being challenged to memorize the decimal for pi. We would love parents to bake pies in honor of pi day so we can all celebrate. If you are willing to bring a pie on March 14th, please let either Michele or I know. Thank you so much!

  
  

  As part of our overall growth in mathematics, Mrs. Bever and Mrs. Ebel are helping students to compete in our State Math Olympiad Competition held in May. We are in need of parent support to make this opportunity successful. A flyer is enclosed with more information. Thank you again!