05/17/2012

Dear Families,

Thank you to everyone who came to our State of the School meeting last night, and again to our PTC Leadership who have done such a wonderful job organizing interesting meetings, managing fundraising, and keeping communication flowing: Hilary MacGillivray, Kym Otte, Marie Groark, and Tiffanie Ranta.

Once faculty decisions are made and we have a plan for 2012-2013 class configurations, I will be letting you know. Thank you to everyone who has talked with me about our ongoing ideas.

We're looking forward to this year's musical, Guys and Dolls Jr.! It promises to be a lot of fun, with plenty of good music. Thank you to all involved, students and parents alike, and especially to Ariel Bradler and Eric Bradler for their professionalism and dedication. Performances are today at 4:00 p.m. and tomorrow and Saturday at 7:00 p.m. in the school gym.

Confirmation for high school students is on May 24th at 7:00 p.m. Many of the students are graduates of our school. This is a beautiful celebration and all are welcome!

This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of Jesus into heaven! It is a wonderful feast as we all are united with one another in Christ.

Enjoy the weekend!

Blessings,

Susan

Fall CYO Soccer Registration is now open. OLF CYO Soccer is for boys and girls grades 4 to 8. Visit the OLF CYO web page for more information. Register by June 8th to get a $10 Early Bird Discount (discount appears at checkout).

The Junior League of Seattle presents the second annual Touch-A-Truck. This is a fun event offering children a hands-on opportunity to explore heavy machinery and meet the people who build, protect and serve the Greater Seattle community. Vehicles on display may include construction trucks, utility vehicles, emergency responders, tractor-trailers, buses, and semi trucks. Children of all ages are allowed to creatively explore the trucks of all sizes with guidance from the respective professionals who explain the equipment and discuss the work they accomplish with such machinery. The event also includes activities such as food vendors, games, crafts, and other local vendors.

DATE: June 3rd, 2012

TIME: 10:00 am-1:00 pm

ATTENDANCE: The community-at-large is invited to attend

LOCATION: Magnuson Park -7400 Sandpoint Way NE, located off the 65th street entrance

WEBSITE: http://www.jrleagueseattle.org/?nd=touchatruck_2012

The Campbell and Scott families are leading both walking and running teams in the 30th Annual Nordstrom Beat the Bridge to Beat Diabetes on May 20th. To join and support Matty and Patrick and The MighT1's in finding a cure for type 1 diabetes, please go to http://www2.jdrf.org/goto/teammattyandpatrick.

Magnolia's Bookstore in the Village offers an easy way to give to Fatima. Set up an account the next time you're in, and name "OLF School" as the recipient of credits received each time you shop. Fatima will be able to use those credits to buy books!

Summer Camps:

The University of Washington offers some wonderful summer courses for students in middle school and those entering high school. They are held on the UW campus and last from one to two weeks with fees ranging from $300 to $400. There is an array of interesting subjects, from writing workshops to architecture to fashion design. Parents can go to University of Washington Summer Youth Programs at http://www.summer-camp.uw.edu/ to learn more.

Registration for this summer's Vacation Bible School in Magnolia is now open. Please contact the school office for an application form.

Registration forms are available in the school office for the Sauvage Brothers Basketball Camps for kids entering 2nd-8th grades. The camps will take place at St. Joseph School, Seattle, the last two weeks of June. Forms are also available for the Our Lady of Fatima Hoop Camp that will take place in the OLF gym in July. The camp for boys entering grades 5-7 will be held July 16th-19th. The camp for girls entering grades 5-8 will take place July 23rd-26th.

Summer Prep for Incoming 7th and 8th Graders: Classes are filling up! Don't miss this exciting opportunity to send your incoming 7th and 8th grader to Seattle Prep's Summer Prep program! Our week-long, interactive workshops are taught by Seattle Prep faculty. Sign up today for Musical Theatre, Digital Movie Making, The Human Body, Writer's Workshop, Smart but Scattered, Hip Hop Dance, Screen Printing (t-shirt designs), Game Fest and many more! Visit www.seaprep.org/summerprep for details and online registration or email Jenell Kheriaty at jkheriaty@seaprep.org.

Bishop Blanchet High School has a number of summer camps for incoming 4th through 8th graders, including basketball, non-contact football, soccer, and volleyball. The camp registration forms are available on the BBHS website at www.bishopblanchet.org under the sports tab. Contact Athletic Assistant Laura Fieser for more information: 206-527-7746 or lfieser@bishopblanchet.org.

Holy Names Academy has a number of summer camps available for girls: Basketball, June 18th-22nd for incoming grades 4-6 and June 25th-28th for incoming grades 7-9; volleyball July 24th-27th for incoming grades 6-9; and soccer July 9th-12th for incoming grades 6-8. Crew will also be available at various times for girls aged 12-17. Please contact the Fatima office for registration forms.

We are looking for parents interested in being on the School Commission. We are also looking for a parent for the PTC Leadership's Communications Director position. Please call or email Susan Burdett for more information.

Dear Families,

It's that time to make decisions about the coming school year. I have been talking with faculty about some ideas that need your attention and input. I've enclosed a special letter in this packet that I'd like you to read. I encourage you to email or talk with me about your questions and comments about it prior to next week's State of the School meeting. Please do plan to attend this meeting. Childcare will be available, courtesy of the Fathers' Club.

The Auction item Bingo event is tomorrow beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the gym. If you're joining us, please park and enter the school through the front doors as the Katie McKay Circle will be using the parking lot to set up for their plant sale on Saturday.

Congratulations to Math Club members who competed in last Saturday's Math Olympiad: Alex Arce-Torres, Jackson Brown, Tor'zhae Cummings, Grace Ebel, Alex Oishi, Daniel Redfern, Patrick Scott, and Isabella Yuson. Thanks also to Jessie Ebel and Mary Helen Bever and to the parents who assisted the students in so many ways this year.

Last week, Jode Garbe spoke to our students about Rwanda. She grew up in our parish and now spends much of the year in Rwanda working with animals and helping the people support themselves. We have beads, made by the people of Rwanda from paper and then covered with shellac. I am happy to be coordinating the sale of them for the people Jode works with. I have a limited number of rosaries, necklaces and bracelets, for purchase (rosaries, $10; bracelets, $5; necklaces, $8. a piece). Please see me if you are interested. Thank you for your support.

As we conclude Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week, I want to thank parents who so generously supported this week. We are all grateful for the commitment of our parents as we all have the same goal in mind: the growth of our students!

I'd like to wish all of our Fatima mothers a wonderful Mother's Day this weekend! Your love and support for your children cannot be valued highly enough. Thank you for all you do!

Blessings,

Susan

Announcements

Fall CYO Soccer Registration is now open. OLF CYO Soccer is for boys and girls grades 4 to 8. Visit the OLF CYO web page for more information. Register by June 8th to get a $10 Early Bird Discount (discount appears at checkout).

The Junior League of Seattle presents the second annual Touch-A-Truck. This is a fun event offering children a hands-on opportunity to explore heavy machinery and meet the people who build, protect and serve the Greater Seattle community. Vehicles on display may include construction trucks, utility vehicles, emergency responders, tractor-trailers, buses, and semi trucks. Children of all ages are allowed to creatively explore the trucks of all sizes with guidance from the respective professionals who explain the equipment and discuss the work they accomplish with such machinery. The event also includes activities such as food vendors, games, crafts, and other local vendors.

DATE: June 3rd, 2012

TIME: 10:00 am-1:00 pm

ATTENDANCE: The community-at-large is invited to attend

LOCATION: Magnuson Park - 7400 Sandpoint Way NE, located off the 65th street entrance

WEBSITE: http://www.jrleagueseattle.org/?nd=touchatruck_2012

Five spots are open for the Tuesday Lego Class for grades 2 to 5. This runs from 3:25 p.m. to 4:55 p.m. Please contact Bill Kounellas for information.

The Magnolia Theater School of Drama presents a musical workshop, Bye Bye Birdie, that features several OLF students. Catch a performance on May 10th at 4:00 p.m., May 11th at 7:00 p.m., or May 12th at 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 either through pre-order or at the door: 3555 W. McGraw, 356-1342. Please go to www.themagnoliatheater.com for more information.

The Katie McKay Circle will have its 17th Annual Plant Sale at Fatima (parking lot and lunchroom) on Saturday, May 12th, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Association for Catholic Childhood's charities for children and women. Please contact Laurie Hozack (281-8384) or Suzan Hruska (286-9379) for information.

The Campbell and Scott families are leading both walking and running teams in the 30th Annual Nordstrom Beat the Bridge to Beat Diabetes on May 20th. To join and support Matty and Patrick and The MighT1's in finding a cure for type 1 diabetes, please go to http://www2.jdrf.org/goto/teammattyandpatrick.

Magnolia's Bookstore in the Village offers an easy way to give to Fatima. Set up an account the next time you're in, and name "OLF School" as the recipient of credits received each time you shop. Fatima will be able to use those credits to buy books!

Summer Camps:

Registration for this summer's Vacation Bible School in Magnolia is now open. Please contact the school office for an application form.

Registration forms are available in the school office for the Sauvage Brothers Basketball Camps for kids entering 2nd-8th grades. The camps will take place at St. Joseph School, Seattle, the last two weeks of June. Forms are also available for the Our Lady of Fatima Hoop Camp that will take place in the OLF gym in July. The camp for boys entering grades 5-7 will be held July 16th-19th. The camp for girls entering grades 5-8 will take place July 23rd-26th.

Summer Prep for Incoming 7th and 8th Graders: Classes are filling up! Don't miss this exciting opportunity to send your incoming 7th and 8th grader to Seattle Prep's Summer Prep program! Our week-long, interactive workshops are taught by Seattle Prep faculty. Sign up today for Musical Theatre, Digital Movie Making, The Human Body, Writer's Workshop, Smart but Scattered, Hip Hop Dance, Screen Printing (t-shirt designs), Game Fest and many more! Visit www.seaprep.org/summerprep for details and online registration or email Jenell Kheriaty at jkheriaty@seaprep.org.

Bishop Blanchet High School has a number of summer camps for incoming 4th through 8th graders, including basketball, non-contact football, soccer, and volleyball. The camp registration forms are available on the BBHS website at www.bishopblanchet.org under the sports tab. Contact Athletic Assistant Laura Fieser for more information: 206-527-7746 or lfieser@bishopblanchet.org.

Holy Names Academy has a number of summer camps available for girls: Basketball, June 18th-22nd for incoming grades 4-6 and June 25th-28th for incoming grades 7-9; volleyball July 24th-27th for incoming grades 6-9; and soccer July 9th-12th for incoming grades 6-8. Crew will also be available at various times for girls aged 12-17. Please contact the Fatima office for registration forms.

Dear Families,

Huge thanks to our Fundraising Events Chair Jennifer Wathen, the invaluable assistance provided by Leslie Simons, our parent emcees Amy Clancy and Matt Campbell, and the many, many school families and friends who sponsored, donated, created, and arranged items for our wonderful Auction this past Saturday! From my heart, I thank you for your generosity to our sister school (and my alma mater!), St. Paul, and especially to our own Our Lady of Fatima. We raised $286,000, with $20,000 going to St. Paul and $61,000 going toward our own fund-an-item. With the need for tuition assistance so high, we made that our only OLF fund-an-item this year. We will be further building our science program and if you wanted to make a specific donation to that you are welcome to do so.

Our annual student-led Celebration of Learning is this evening. Please join your child(ren) in the classrooms at any time between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Thank you to our faculty members who have worked so hard with our students this year and who have helped them prepare the presentations you will see tonight! It is a wonderful opportunity to visit all of the children's teachers, including their specialists!

The State of the School will be the topic at the May 16th PTC meeting. You will want to attend to hear firsthand what is being planned for next year. Childcare will be available, courtesy of the Fathers' Club.

Next week is National PTA Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week. I am very grateful to our Parent-Teacher Club for their support during this wonderful week. We appreciate every staff member daily, and take this time express particular thanks.

My thanks to our Math Club parents and to Mary Helen Bever and Jessie Ebel for their work in supporting a team of students competing this Saturday in Normandy Park at the Math Olympiad!

Blessings,

Susan

Announcements

Five spots are open for the Tuesday Lego Class for grades 2 to 5. This runs from 3:25 p.m. to 4:55 p.m. Please contact Bill Kounellas for information.

The Magnolia Theater School of Drama presents a musical workshop, Bye Bye Birdie, that features several OLF students. Catch a performance on May 10th at 4:00 p.m., May 11th at 7:00 p.m., or May 12th at 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 either through pre-order or at the door: 3555 W. McGraw, 356-1342. Please go to www.themagnoliatheater.com for more information.

The Katie McKay Circle will have its 17th Annual Plant Sale at Fatima (parking lot and lunchroom) on Saturday, May 12th, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Association for Catholic Childhood's charities for children and women. Please contact Laurie Hozack (281-8384) or Suzan Hruska (286-9379) for information.

The Campbell and Scott families are leading both walking and running teams in the 30th Annual Nordstrom Beat the Bridge to Beat Diabetes on May 20th. To join and support Matty and Patrick and The MighT1's in finding a cure for type 1 diabetes, please go to http://www2.jdrf.org/goto/teammattyandpatrick.

Magnolia's Bookstore in the Village offers an easy way to give to Fatima. Set up an account the next time you're in, and name "OLF School" as the recipient of credits received each time you shop. Fatima will be able to use those credits to buy books!

Summer Camps:

Registration for this summer's Vacation Bible School in Magnolia is now open. Please contact the school office for an application form.

Registration forms are available in the school office for the Sauvage Brothers Basketball Camps for kids entering 2nd-8th grades. The camps will take place at St. Joseph School, Seattle, the last two weeks of June. Forms are also available for the Our Lady of Fatima Hoop Camp that will take place in the OLF gym in July. The camp for boys entering grades 5-7 will be held July 16th-19th. The camp for girls entering grades 5-8 will take place July 23rd-26th.

Summer Prep for Incoming 7th and 8th Graders: Classes are filling up! Don't miss this exciting opportunity to send your incoming 7th and 8th grader to Seattle Prep's Summer Prep program! Our week-long, interactive workshops are taught by Seattle Prep faculty. Sign up today for Musical Theatre, Digital Movie Making, The Human Body, Writer's Workshop, Smart but Scattered, Hip Hop Dance, Screen Printing (t-shirt designs), Game Fest and many more! Visit www.seaprep.org/summerprep for details and online registration or email Jenell Kheriaty at jkheriaty@seaprep.org.

Bishop Blanchet High School has a number of summer camps for incoming 4th through 8th graders, including basketball, non-contact football, soccer, and volleyball. The camp registration forms are available on the BBHS website at www.bishopblanchet.org under the sports tab. Contact Athletic Assistant Laura Fieser for more information: 206-527-7746 or lfieser@bishopblanchet.org.

Holy Names Academy has a number of summer camps available for girls: Basketball, June 18th-22nd for incoming grades 4-6 and June 25th-28th for incoming grades 7-9; volleyball July 24th-27th for incoming grades 6-9; and soccer July 9th-12th for incoming grades 6-8. Crew will also be available at various times for girls aged 12-17. Please contact the Fatima office for registration forms.

Volunteer Opportunities

Teacher/Staff Appreciation week is May 7th to 11th, and help is needed both with activities at school as well as with some preparations before (that can be done in the evening at home). Please contact Jenny Roben at mjroben@comcast.net if you would like to help.

Dear Families,

We enter in this next week the month of May, which is dedicated to Mary, who is par excellence the model of faith for all of us!

The Archdiocese of Seattle has announced that Father Stephen C. Rowan, Ph.D., has accepted the position of Superintendent of Catholic Schools. He is currently the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Portland. His new duties as superintendent will begin after Labor Day.

2011-2012 Yearbook orders are being taken now. This will be our first color issue! Please go to https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/index.cfm by tomorrow to order. A few additional copies will be available to purchase later in the year, but will be limited and will cost extra. Please contact Brian Frederick if you have any questions.

Only two more opportunities this year to purchase gift cards through PTC fundraising! See the enclosed form -- orders are due tomorrow! Thank you!

We look forward to our "We Are Family" Auction this Saturday! Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this special event and to all who are working hard to transform the gym for the evening. Our sister school in need this year is St. Paul's, which was my Catholic grade school growing up. I know we will be able to help them. Our own fund-an-item is twofold: to continue to build our tuition assistance program and to enhance our science curriculum. I look forward to seeing many of you Saturday night!

The 2011-2012 blue volunteer hours cards are due Tuesday, May 1st. Make sure the card you turn in is for 2011-2012. Unfilled hours will be billed. Cards for the 2012-2013 school year are in this week's packet. They will be due May 1, 2013.

Remember that the Celebration of Learning is next Thursday, May 3rd. Students are excited to share with parents their work so far this year. You are encouraged to come at any time between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

The 2012-2013 School Calendar is in this week's packet. We will have it on the website shortly.

All outstanding OLF Partnerships pledges for 2011-2012 will be due June 1st. Reminders will be going out shortly. Thank you to all who participated this year. Your donations, which help us keep tuition manageable, matter in ways you can't imagine. I am so grateful to you!

Congratulations to Matty Campbell, a winner in the University Book Store bookmark contest!!

Blessings,

Susan

Announcements

Seattle Prep is hosting the first-ever Catholic Schools Robotics Extravaganza this Saturday, April 28th, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Seattle Prep Gym. Middle school students are showcasing their robotics projects, and you'll be able to see the Port of Seattle Bomb Disposal robot, look under the hood of a 120-pound robot that makes 40-foot basketball shots, and more. Admission is free.

Registration forms are available in the school office for the Sauvage Brothers Basketball Camps for kids entering 2nd-8th grades. The camps will take place at St. Joseph School, Seattle, the last two weeks of June. Forms are also available for the Our Lady of Fatima Hoop Camp that will take place in the OLF gym in July. The camp for boys entering grades 5-7 will be held July 16th-19th. The camp for girls entering grades 5-8 will take place July 23rd-26th.

St. Matthew School acquired a huge number of inventory items when the Barnes and Noble store at University Village closed: books, greeting cards, furniture, office supplies and more. A cash-only sale open to the public will be held this Saturday, April 28th, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the St. Matthew Community Center, 1240 N.E. 127th St.

The Katie McKay Circle will have its 17th Annual Plant Sale at Fatima (parking lot and lunchroom) on Saturday, May 12th, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Association for Catholic Childhood's charities for children and women. Please contact Laurie Hozack (281-8384) or Suzan Hruska (286-9379) for information.

The Campbell and Scott families are leading both walking and running teams in the 30th Annual Nordstrom Beat the Bridge to Beat Diabetes on May 20th. To join and support Matty and Patrick and The MighT1's in finding a cure for type 1 diabetes, please go to http://www2.jdrf.org/goto/teammattyandpatrick.

Holy Names Academy has a number of summer camps available for girls: Basketball, June 18th-22nd for incoming grades 4-6 and June 25th-28th for incoming grades 7-9; volleyball July 24th-27th for incoming grades 6-9; and soccer July 9th-12th for incoming grades 6-8. Crew will also be available at various times for girls aged 12-17. Please contact the Fatima office for registration forms.

Magnolia's Bookstore in the Village offers an easy way to give to Fatima. Set up an account the next time you're in, and name "OLF School" as the recipient of credits received each time you shop. Fatima will be able to use those credits to buy books!

Volunteer Opportunities

Teacher/Staff Appreciation week is May 7th to 11th, and help is needed both with activities at school as well as with some preparations before (that can be done in the evening at home). Please contact Jenny Roben at mjroben@comcast.net if you would like to help.

Dear Families,

I hope each of you had a good Easter break. My trip to Paris was truly wonderful. A highlight was Easter Mass at St. Sulpice! Thank you to faculty and staff for keeping things running efficiently while I was gone. Let us all begin this fourth and final quarter of the school year with energy and enthusiasm!

My thanks also to Father Johnson for his message to you all about Mary Helen Bever's new position as principal of St. Catherine of Siena School. We congratulate her and know we will miss her at Fatima. I will keep you informed about plans for next year as they are developed. Do note that our annual State of the School meeting will take place on May 16th, at which we will cover a number of items you'll want to hear about.

2011-2012 Yearbook orders are being taken now. We are doing this completely online this year. Please go to https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/index.cfm by April 27th to order. A few additional copies will be available to purchase later in the year, but will cost extra. We have an opportunity this year for advertising and message space, but a very tight timeline: messages or ads must be in by tomorrow afternoon (please click here for space sizes and costs). Please contact Brian Frederick in the school office if you have any questions.

One more week until this year's "We Are Family" Auction! Please be sure all RSVPs and items are turned in and your volunteer help is underway. This is our biggest fundraiser each year. I thank you for your participation!

The 2011-2012 blue volunteer hours cards will be due May 1st. Everyone committed to 30 hours in the Tuition Contract; unfilled hours will be billed. Cards for the 2012-2013 school year will be in next week's packet.

The annual Celebration of Learning is scheduled for Thursday, May 3rd. Families meet in classrooms where students present highlights of this year's schoolwork thus far. You are encouraged to come at any time between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Finally, but very importantly, we wish our second graders and their families a meaningful First Eucharist this weekend. Thank you to Maureen Tellefson for preparing our Fatima children for this most important sacrament.

Blessings on us all as we begin Spring quarter,

Susan

Announcements

Last chance to register for Track and Field. Practices have started. Please go to https://www.secure-sam.com/olfsports.bonzidev.com/sam/registration/reg_list.php or to the link under CYO on the school website.

The Katie McKay Circle will have its 17th Annual Plant Sale at Fatima on Saturday, May 12th, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Association for Catholic Childhood's charities for children and women. Please contact Laurie Hozack (281-8384) or Suzan Hruska (286-9379) for information.

The Campbell and Scott families are leading both walking and running teams in the 30th Annual Nordstrom Beat the Bridge to Beat Diabetes on May 20th. To join and support Matty and Patrick and The MighT1's in finding a cure for type 1 diabetes, please go to http://www2.jdrf.org/goto/teammattyandpatrick.

Magnolia's Bookstore in the Village offers an easy way to give to Fatima. Set up an account the next time you're in, and name "OLF School" as the recipient of credits received each time you shop there. Fatima will be able to use those credits to buy books!

Holy Names Academy has a number of summer camps available for girls: Basketball, June 18th-22nd for incoming grades 4-6 and June 25th-28th for incoming grades 7-9; volleyball July 24th-27th for incoming grades 6-9; and soccer July 9th-12th for incoming grades 6-8. Crew will also be available at various times for girls aged 12-17. Please contact the Fatima office for registration forms.

Very few CYO jerseys have been returned this year. Please get these in! Contact Deborah Pisano (478-4010) or John McDowall (276-8200) if you have questions.

If you have group pictures of students you can share, Brian Frederick would like to have them in DVD format for the yearbook. Please drop these off for him at the school office.

Volunteer Opportunities

The Auction is coming up! Please contact Jenn Wathen (jwathen@olfatima.org) for more information or to sign up to help. The Auction Handbook is online on the school webpage.

Teacher/Staff Appreciation week is May 7th to 11th, and help is needed both with activities at school as well as with some preparations before (that can be done in the evening at home). Please contact Jenny Roben at mjroben@comcast.net if you would like to help.

Dear Families,

We celebrate Palm Sunday this weekend. On Monday morning, our 8th grade students will be leading our school community in the Stations of the Cross. All are welcome! As we move ever closer to the great celebration of Easter, let us take advantage of these remaining days of Lent to strengthen our resolve to be closer to God and more open to His plans for us. I encourage you and your family to be present at as many of the Holy Week services as you can. There is no better way to celebrate Easter.

Coffee With the Principal is scheduled for tomorrow morning. Do come if you can. I'll be talking about learning differences among children.

Tuition contracts and financial aid forms are due tomorrow. Please look at both sides of the contract to see what is due, to whom, and when. Thank you to everyone for considering the Partnerships program!

The last OLF gift card order form before Easter break is enclosed. This is such an easy way to support Fatima. Please take a moment to order cards from your favorite retailers and theaters.

Gift cards will be delivered next week via the family packet envelopes. ONLY if you ordered gift cards will your child bring home a family packet envelope next week. We will not have a regular family packet on April 5th.

Report cards will be sent home with students on April 5th. Our fourth and final quarter of the year begins after Easter break.

Thank you to everyone who filled out the recent After-School Care questionnaire. At this time, we don't have wide enough interest in a program to justify setting one up.

I will be out of the office beginning this coming Wednesday, April 4th, and will be back full-time the week of April 23rd. Many opportunities have come along recently that allow me to fulfill a life-long desire to visit Paris, France. In my absence, Mrs. Mary Helen Bever will cover for me. Please pray for a happy and safe trip! You will be in my prayers as I celebrate Holy Week in that historic city.

Blessings on you all for a wonderful Easter and break,

Announcements

Volunteer Opportunities

Dear Families,

Thank you to Mrs. Raman for her tremendous work with the 7th and 8th Grade Science Fair. The students were well-prepared and faithful to the scientific method of inquiry!

Coffee With the Principal is scheduled for a week from this Friday. Please join us if you can. I'll be talking about learning differences among children. Please note in the Announcements the invitation from Carla Greenan. I always thought it would be wonderful to have this support in our community!

The spring session of the PTC enrichment program, Mad Science, started yesterday. A few openings remain. Please contact Kym Otte for more information. Thanks also to Kym for organizing this program!

Remember the OLF gift card program as Easter and spring break get closer! An order form is in the packet. Thanks to Lisa Gustaveson and her team for all of their work on this fundraiser!

The quarter is coming to an end. Report cards will be sent home on April 5th. It is a great time to review progress before we start the fourth quarter after Easter break.

With no school tomorrow, remember to get these packets returned on Monday. Thank you!

Blessings,

Susan

Announcements

2012-13 OLF Speech Team Informational Meeting for all incoming 7th and 8th graders and their parents Tuesday, March 27th, at the Fatima Parish Center at 7:00 p.m. Come ready to hear all about OLF Speech, witness our OLF finest speeches presented, and sign up to be a part of next year's speech team. We hope to see you there!! If you have any questions prior to the meeting, please contact Mia Hays or Elizabeth Kardokus.

Has your child been diagnosed with ADHD? Or do they demonstrate the classic symptoms, such as: inattention, distractedness, impulsivity, and restlessness? If you are interested in being part of a group that discusses common challenges, treatment approaches, and the impact that ADHD can have if gone untreated, please email Carla Greenan at carla.greenan76@gmail.com. Anyone interested is welcome, regardless of whether or not your child has a formal diagnosis. Part of the success in treating ADHD is sharing information and ideas with parents, teachers, family, and others who impact our children's lives.

Seattle Prep would like to invite all current 6th and 7th grade students to participate in Summer Prep! Summer Prep provides students with an opportunity to experience Seattle Prep's tradition of Jesuit education through inspiring, stimulating, and interactive classes. Students will step out of the traditional classroom format and experience transformational courses that will open their minds and challenge them in new and exhilarating ways. Don't miss out on these unique summer opportunities including Musical Theatre, Digital Movie Making, The Human Body, Writer's Workshop, Smart but Scattered, Hip Hop Dance and more! Visit www.seaprep.org/summerprep for the schedule, course catalog, and online registration. Please also check out Prep's athletic camps which can be found at http://www.seaprep.org/page.aspx?pid=381. Email Jenell Kheriaty with questions.

Spring Break Soccer Camp with Pete Fewing: Pete Fewing Soccer Camps will be providing their Catholic Spring Break Soccer Camp* again this year during the week following Easter, April 9th through April 13th, at Lower Woodland Park. Click here for registration information. (*Please note: this organization is independent and is not part of the Corporation of the Archbishop of Seattle. They are not sponsored, directed, administered or managed by the Archbishop of Seattle, pastors or archdiocesan staff.)

Volunteer Opportunities

The Auction is coming up! Please contact Jenn Wathen for more information or to sign up to help. The Auction Handbook is online on the school webpage.

Have a good camera and know how to use it? The school yearbook is in need of photos of school clubs. Times to take pictures will be scheduled on Tuesday, March 27th. Please contact Brian Frederick, bfrederick@olfatima.org, if you can help.

Remember: 2011-2012 Volunteer Hours will be due May 1st

Dear Families,

As we journey through Lent we celebrate a number of feast days: March 17th, St. Patrick; March 19th, St. Joseph; and March 25th (celebrated on the 26th this year), the Annunciation. St. Patrick preached to all of of Ireland; St. Joseph responded to God through a series of dreams; Mary gave her full "yes" that allowed for the incarnation of Jesus. As we look at each feast, may we be reminded of our own responses to God's call.

Thank you to Mrs. Mary Helen Bever for organizing yesterday's "Pi Day" and to those parents who provided pies and came to help pass them out. We had a great time with this.

I am pleased to announce that we have a staff in place for the 2012-2013 school year for Good Shepherd Preschool at OLF: Kathy Harmon and Gina Sheh. An informational evening about the preschool will be held in the library this coming Tuesday. See the enclosed flyer and do pass it along to anyone you know who may be interested.

Remember the OLF gift card program as Easter approaches. Cards available will cover most of your shopping needs, whether for meals or Easter baskets. This is an important fundraiser for us this year, so do take a look to see which of the cards offered are for where you'll be shopping anyway.

Blessings,

Announcements

Volunteer Opportunities

Dear Families,

As we celebrate the third Sunday of Lent this weekend, it is a good time to ask ourselves how we are living our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Thank you all who attended the Re-registration Meeting on Tuesday. We were able to share important and interesting information, and were so grateful to hear from Joe Womac and OLF alums Spencer Ramquist and Alaina Bever. Make-up sessions for those who missed it will be held this afternoon at 3:30 in the library and tomorrow morning at 8:30 in the Spanish classroom near the stairs to the Auction Office.

Enclosed is a half-page form for you to fill out if you are interested in an After-school Care Program at Fatima. Please return these tomorrow if you can.

Please send in your RSVPs for the Auction! We are very short on certain Auction Committees: Bar and Beverage Service, Check Out and Event Finance, Live Spotters, and the Silent Closing and Bagging Team. Remember that Volunteer Hours will be due soon; helping out here is a great way to meet people, support your school, and fulfill this commitment. Also, your Auction donation needs to be in! Please call Jenn Wathen if you have questions or would like to sign up to help.

See the enclosed order form for Gift Card Orders. Easter is coming and you'll be shopping anyway -- please support Fatima at the same time!

Magnolia Rotary is looking for new or gently used books for readers of all ages and old National Geographic and Smithsonian magazines for a Books Around the World Project. Magnolia joins other Rotary Clubs in the U.S., South Africa, and India to complete this project. You may bring your book donations to the office from now until March 22nd. Thank you!

The designated parking spots closest to the school were purchased at our last Auction. PLEASE DO NOT park in them, even if for a few moments. This is not fair to the parents who purchased them and really must stop. Thank you.

Another reminder is please do not allow your children to cross on Dravus except at the two corners. That is the safety rule here and we are put in a tough situation when parents are calling to their children across from the school and we are saying they may not cross except at 32nd and 34th. Please help us! Thanks!

We welcome to Fatima Shane and Rachelle McFetridge and their sons Ewan, grade 2, and Colm, kindergarten. We're happy to have you here!

Ms. JoEllen Gillmore is currently in Spain to be with her daughter who had a health issue. We pray for her and her daughter, Colleen.

The University Bookstore is sponsoring its yearly bookmark contest for students in K-8. Should students win, their bookmarks are published with their names, grade, and school. We have had a number of students' work published! Thank you, Ms. Van Tassell, for coordinating this

Lastly this week, a reminder that Daylight Saving Time begins this weekend. Set your clocks ahead one hour.

Blessings,

Susan

Announcements

If you have, or are about to have, a teenager in your life, here's a parenting seminar to consider. First Free Methodist, Bethany Presbyterian, and Bethany Community Church present a ParenTeen Seminar with Dr. Chap Clark, Monday, March 12th, 6:45 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the First Free Methodist Church, 3200 Third Ave. W., Seattle. For more information on what it means to see parenting as a stewardship, please go to www.parenteen.com.

Ballard High School's production of Bye Bye Birdie features OLF alum Charlee Magno! Performances will be held March 15th, 16th, and 17th and the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th. Please visit Ballard High School online for more information.

Villa Academy invites parents of 2nd to 8th graders to "Your Tween's Safety" on Wednesday, March 21st at 7:00 p.m. at 5001 N.E. 50th St. Kim Estes, of Savvy Parents, Safe Kids, will give practical tips and tools to confidently talk to your children about being more independent and keeping themselves safe without scaring them (or you!). The event is free; childcare is not provided.

Volunteer Opportunities

The Auction is coming up. Many tasks need your help. Please contact Jenn Wathen for more information or to sign up.

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!

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 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 if you can help.

Dear Families,

Pope Benedict XVI's message for Lent this year is a call to each of us to be concerned for one another. Concern for others entails desiring what is good for them from every point of view: physical, moral, and spiritual. How often do we take responsibility for others, both desiring and working for their good? Concern for others means being aware of their needs.

Tomorrow is an optional Parent-Teacher Conference day. The office will be open but classes will not be in session.

The mandatory re-registration meeting for the 2012-2013 school year is scheduled for Tuesday, March 6th. We are thrilled that Joe Womac, Executive Director of the Fulcrum Foundation, will be joining us. We will be passing out tuition contracts for 2012-2013 on that evening. Should you miss the meeting on the 6th, make-up sessions will be held on Thursday the 8th beginning at 3:30 p.m. in the school library and on Friday the 9th beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Spanish classroom (off of the lunchroom).

A few parish opportunities and events are coming up. If any of you have not been confirmed, Casey Karbowski will be conducting sessions for the Sacrament of Confirmation this spring. You may contact him through the parish office. This Sunday, the students in our religious education program will be celebrating the Stations of the Cross in the gym at 9:30 a.m. All families are welcome. Finally, the Mission Dinner, which helps support high school students on a mission trip this summer, is being held on March 24th. Information is available in the Sunday bulletins.

We welcome to Fatima Lynnette and Mike Frank and their daughter, Elaine, grade 7, who started school here on Monday. We're happy to have you here!

I look forward to seeing each of you next week.

Blessings,

Susan

Announcements

Archbishop Murphy High School presents its Spring Musical Annie Get Your Gun on 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.

Villa Academy invites parents of 2nd to 8th graders to "Your Tween's Safety" on Wednesday, March 21st at 7:00 p.m. at 5001 N.E. 50th St. Kim Estes, of Savvy Parents, Safe Kids, will give practical tips and tools to confidently talk to your children about being more independent and keeping themselves safe without scaring them (or you!). The event is free; childcare is not provided.

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. Many tasks need your help. Please contact Jenn Wathen for more information or to sign up.

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!

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.

Dear Families,

With Ash Wednesday yesterday, we are now fully in the season of Lent. I will be talking with students about the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the 4th Level of Happiness. In the 4th Level, we participate in giving and receiving ultimate meaning, goodness, ideals, and love. Our gratification becomes eternal as we are living a real relationship with God. We are seeking the good versus what we may want. Below, I have listed some Lenten resources for you.

The mandatory re-registration meeting for the 2012-2013 school year is scheduled for Tuesday, March 6th. We are thrilled that Joe Womac, Executive Director of the Fulcrum Foundation, will be joining us. We will be passing out tuition contracts for 2012-2013 on that evening. Should you miss the meeting on the 6th, make-up sessions will be held on Thursday the 8th beginning at 3:30 p.m. in the school library and on Friday the 9th beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Spanish classroom (off of the lunchroom). I very much look forward to seeing you at some point that week.

Auction invitations are in this week's packet. This is our biggest fundraising event each year and is a wonderful evening of camaraderie and fun. Please do RSVP as soon as you can! There are so many ways to participate and I look forward to seeing you!

Volunteer Hours for this school year will be due on May 1st. We will be collecting your filled-out blue cards that week. Everyone is expected to complete 30 hours; unfilled hours are billed at a rate of $50 per hour. If you need hours to fill, please refer to the Volunteer Opportunities section of this weekly letter.

I am so proud to announce that high school acceptance letters have been received and that 100% of those students in the OLF class of 2012 who applied to Catholic high school have been accepted. Well done!

Congratulations to all the 7th Graders who competed in the Eastside Catholic Speech Tournament! Thanks to everyone who helped out with preparation, support, judging, and snacks. We truly have a wonderful speech program and we are so grateful for the parents and students who make it happen each year. The tournament results are:

Jr. Dramatic - Superior Sarah O'Donnell		Jr. Humorous - Superior Bella Oishi
Jr. Expository - Superior Sara Simmons		Jr. Impromptu - Superior Chad Strazzara Aidan Hays
Jr. Oratory - Superior Sarah O'Donnell Ginger Markow

Math Club for grades 5 through 8 will meet every other Thursday afternoon from 3:30 to 4:15. Our next meeting is March 8th in the lunchroom. Please contact Mrs. Ebel or Mrs. Bever for more information.

The Rice Bowls for Catholic Relief Services are included in this week's packet. Your Lenten donation helps fund development programs designed to increase food security around the world. The is a wonderful way for each family to participate in the Lenten practice of almsgiving.

We have received some interest from parents in helping their children with keyboarding. The typing program we use at school is called Ten Thumbs Typing Tutor. It's available for all three major platforms: Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux.

A reminder that OLF gift card orders are due tomorrow for delivery on March 1st. You'll find an order form in the packet. Easter is coming, and you'll want to use these cards to support Fatima when you shop for groceries and new spring apparel. Many of the gift card choices will make nice additions to Easter baskets. Thank you to Lisa Gustaveson and all who help with this program, and thank you for your continued support of this fundraiser!

Last week I had the opportunity to chair an accreditation of a school in California. I always return with a greater realization of the gift of Catholic education as well as of how strong we are here at Our Lady of Fatima!

May this Lent draw you closer and closer to our Lord Jesus!

Blessings,

Announcements

Volunteer Opportunities

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!

Dear Families,

With the snow last week and our technological challenges this week, I am very grateful to reach Thursday and have everything be business as usual! We have a lot to catch up on in this letter.

The Marchese Dinner and Dance was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who came to the event. The food was spectacular and the music by the RigaTones and by Mary and The Rave Band was absolutely wonderful. Thank you SO much to Joe and Mary Marchese and the Sons of Italy! Many thanks also to Erin and Steve Snorsky - appetizers, Corino and Lauren Bonjrada - dessert, Carol Brown - decorations, Matt and Jodi Cagnina - managing the bar, Joe Sauvage and Bill Kounellas - set up, Matt and Amy Campbell - coffee, Court and Lisa Touw - event sponsor, Mickey and Celeste McAloon - event sponsor, and the volunteers for the night: Jenny Roben, Audrey Schultz, Monica Scott, Dave Toll, Greg Hunter, David Arndt, Eric Johnson, Chris Casey, Matt Kopp, and Chad Gardner. Special thanks as well to Jenn Wathen!

Catholic Schools Week begins Monday, January 30th. Here is the schedule at Fatima:

Monday Assembly with information about this year's Service Project, a food drive for the Ballard Food Bank, which has huge needs. On Wednesday, students will be asked to bring in the following:

Kindergarten - boxes of powdered milk

1st - cans of chili, stew, bean soup, lentil soup

2nd - jars of peanut butter

3/4 - bags of rice

5/6 - bags of beans, lentils, or split peas

7/8 - cans of tuna, shrimp or meat

Monday Attire: Uniforms

Tuesday Appreciation Project Day

Students will make cards for guests tomorrow and/or for parents.

Tuesday Attire: Uniforms

Wednesday Grandparents and Special Friends Day. Bring in food donations.

1:00 p.m. - Guests arrive at school and check in at front office.

Guests go directly to chairs in the gym. (8th graders will be guides.)

1:10 p.m. - Students enter the gym.

1:15 p.m. - A brief program for all. Following this, guests and students meet and go to the classrooms.

2:15 p.m. - Dismissal

Wednesday Attire: Uniforms

Thursday Pajama Day and Read-in; Parent Appreciation Day. REACH Fair.

Thursday Attire: Students may wear pajamas or sweats

Friday Fatima Spirit Day

2:00 p.m. - Volleyball game, 8th Grade students vs. OLF Staff

Friday Attire: Blue and white clothes, optional crazy hair

Weekend Masses I will be speaking and look forward to seeing you!

Spanish teacher Lori Lipscomb is taking a two-month sabbatical to help with family needs. While she is away, Eileen DenAdel will be teaching Spanish. Homework information will continue to be posted in Senora Lipscomb's blog. You can reach Ms. DenAdel at edenadel@olfatima.org.

Our SCRIP gift card fundraising program will continue through the rest of the school year. Please see the enclosed information for due dates and ordering. You have to shop; please take this easy and important opportunity to support Fatima at the same time! Thank you to Lisa Gustaveson for her work in organizing this effort.

The Auction is coming up! Look in today's packet for the volunteer spreadsheet. This wonderful event needs all of our help. Many fun and social opportunities are available, as well as a number of behind-the-scenes things that can use your assistance. Thank you to all who have turned in the first Auction donation. The next one is due February 1st. Check out the Auction Handbook online for important information.

Thank you to Karen Rich, Program Manager for the "Take Winter By Storm" campaign, for the handouts on family preparedness in this week's packet. More information can be found at www.takewinterbystorm.org. Please take time to go over this very useful information.

Congratulations to our students who participated at the Seattle Prep Speech Tournament! Thank you again to Lucy Osborn, Patty Peterson, and all parents involved in this wonderful program. Here are the results:

Finally, we have had some discussion about an after school care program. If we were to implement such a program, would you/your family utilize it? Please clip from the hardcopy version of the newsletter and return it in the packet.

Blessings,

Announcements

Volunteer Opportunities

Dear Families,

As I write the weekly letter, the threat of snow looms and I'm getting ready for a quick trip to Sacramento, where I'll lead an accreditation team for a parochial school there. We'll cover the basics of what's coming up in this letter and look forward to a more normal schedule next week!

The Marchese Dinner and Dance is this Saturday. We had such a wonderful time last year, and look forward to another evening of good food, good music, and community! Thank you so much to Joe and Mary Marchese for their sponsorship, and Erin and Steve Snorsky and the Bonjrada family for appetizers and dessert. The RSVP form is in this week's packet. We look forward to seeing you there!

We will have the ITBS meeting on Tuesday, January 24. The ITBS (Iowa Testing of Basic Skills) was given to our 3rd through 8th graders in October. Our test results are compared with those from a number of other schools taking this same test nationwide, as well as with other schools in our Archdiocese. Parents have received information about how their own child(ren) did overall. As a result of this year's testing, we'll be fine-tuning the curriculum for the rest of the school year. All parents are welcome to hear our plans, which will include more information for you about the Common Core Standards we are adopting.

Grandparents/Special Friends Day will be during Catholic Schools Week on Wednesday, February 1st. Given the number of guests and students, our goal is to have this run smoothly. Here is the plan:

1:00 p.m. Guests arrive at school and check in at the front office.

Guests go directly to the chairs in the gym (8th graders will serve as guides).

1:10 p.m. Students enter the gym and are seated by class on the bleachers or the floor.

1:15 p.m. Brief program for all begins.

Following the program, guests and students meet and go together to the classrooms.

2:15 p.m. Dismissal.

Our SCRIP gift card fundraising program will continue through the rest of the school year. Please see the enclosed information for due dates and ordering. Much covers shopping you and your family do anyway; please take this easy opportunity to support Fatima at the same time! Thank you to Lisa Gustaveson for her work in organizing this effort.

The Auction is coming up! Look in today's packet for the volunteer spreadsheet. This wonderful event needs all of our help! Many fun and social opportunities are available, as well as a number of behind-the-scenes things that can use your assistance. Thank you to all who have turned in the first Auction donation. The next one is due February 1st. Check out the Auction Handbook online for important information.

Information about inclement weather is in Announcements, below. We will do our best to post what will be happening at Fatima online and record a "Special Announcement" on the school office phone number. Again, what we do may differ from other parochial schools given geography and staff availability, so please do check.

Blessings,

Susan

Announcements

The Marchese Dinner and Dance for friends of Fatima will be held Saturday, January 21st. Information is enclosed. Last chance to RSVP!! We thank Joe and Mary Marchese so much for their sponsorship. Thanks also to Erin and Steve Snorsky for appetizers and Corino and Lauren Bonjrada for the wonderful dessert!

Registration for CYO volleyball for girls in grades 5-8 is now open (until January 25th). Please go to CYO on the school website for information.

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

We need help with set up for The Marchese Dinner beginning Friday, January 20th, right after school and with break down afterward on Saturday night. Please contact Jenn Wathen as soon as possible (jwathen@olfatima.org).

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

The SCRIP program can use volunteers to help process orders on Tuesday or Wednesday evening before the cards are sent home via the family packets. Please contact Lisa Gustaveson (lisagustaveson@gmail.com or 795-9839).

Dear Families,

We celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday. His message of human dignity and the search for justice without violence continues to resonate. His dream was that his children be judged by the content of their character -- not by outside appearance. May we all strive to make the content of our characters as close as we can to what Christ asks of us.

The ITBS meeting previously scheduled for this week has been moved to Tuesday, January 24 to accommodate the memorial service for parishioner Patrick Sursely. The ITBS (Iowa Testing of Basic Skills) was given to our 3rd through 8th graders in October. Our test results are compared with those from a number of other schools taking this same test nationwide, as well as with other schools in our Archdiocese. Parents have received information about how their own child(ren) did overall. As a result of this year's testing, we'll be fine-tuning the curriculum for the rest of the school year. All parents are welcome to hear our plans, which will include more information for you about the Common Core Standards we are adopting.

The SnowSports program ski bus will be parked in front of the school on Friday afternoons until February 10th. We will have cones out and ask that you not park directly in front of the school on Dravus after 2:30 p.m. These Friday afternoons are chaotic as students and parents meet to either go home or get on the bus, so please plan accordingly.

Your first Auction donation was due this past Monday. Please consult the 2012 Auction Handbook on our website for information on due dates and preparation. The Auction is our biggest fundraising event each year and provides many creative and social volunteer opportunities. Thank you all for your involvement!

Blessings,

Susan

Announcements

The Marchese Dinner and Dance for friends of Fatima will be held Saturday, January 21st. Information is enclosed. This is a very popular event -- RSVP today, as space is limited! We thank Joe and Mary Marchese so much for their sponsorship. Thanks also to Erin and Steve Snorsky for appetizers and Corino and Lauren Bonjrada for the wonderful dessert!

Registration for CYO volleyball for girls in grades 5-8 is now open (until January 25th). Please go to CYO on the school website for information. Register by January 19th for a $10 discount at checkout.

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

We need help with set up for The Marchese Dinner beginning Friday, January 20th, right after school and with break down afterward on Saturday night. Please contact Jenn Wathen as soon as possible (jwathen@olfatima.org).

Dear Families,

Welcome back to school! As we start this new year, we continue to look at what truly makes us happy. It certainly comes from within us more than from without. Our attitudes, ways of dealing with one another, taking time for prayer are all means of growing in happiness!

Resolutions to do better are popular this time of year, and I'd like to review a couple of school policies that need attention:

School uniforms were mentioned in the last newsletter, particularly the length of skirts. Please consult the Family Handbook for our policy on dressing appropriately for school and for what it means to be in non-compliance.

Bypassing the car line in the parking lot in the morning is resulting in more near misses and back-ups when everyone merges into the alley to exit. Double parking on Dravus both before and after school also causes back-ups, as well as dangerous pathways for students. We have seen numerous potential accidents and injuries averted at the last minute. Car line information and diagrams are located in the Family Handbook.

ITBS results will be the topic of discussion at a meeting next Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in the parish center. We have some areas to focus on in the curriculum and you'll want to hear our plans. All parents are welcome.

Dennis Uniform will have a 10%-off sale for Fatima families at the school this coming Monday, January 9th, between 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Your first Auction donation is due this Monday, January 9th. The Auction Handbook provides great information as we prepare for this important event; you can find this on our website.

The Speech Tournament took place before Christmas break at Bishop Blanchet High School. I want to pass on the results to you. Congratulations to our Fatima participants and to the parents who helped so much!

We welcome back to Fatima Mr. Brian Cruess, who was our school counselor a couple of years ago. Mr. Cruess will be at the school Tuesdays and Fridays to help support faculty and facilitate class meetings, as well as to work with individual students. We are delighted to have the opportunity to have him here again!

Your children may have mentioned a different priest presiding at Mass on Wednesday mornings and visiting the school. He is Father Paul Grala of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity. Father Paul is at Fatima Tuesdays through Fridays as Father Johnson has been given more responsibility at the Archdiocese. Father Paul also is helping with grade 7/8 religion.

We have a new section in the newsletter called "Volunteer Opportunities." Available jobs with contact information will be posted each week. Please e-mail me with any opportunities you would like to have included. Remember your 30-hour commitment of volunteer time is to be completed between May 1 and May 1 of each year. Please be recording your hours on the blue card you received last spring, as this will be due May 1st.

We are continuing our tradition of bringing food every Wednesday to Mass for the Ballard Food Bank. It is a wonderful way to support the hungry of our community.

Wishing you a blessed start to 2012,

Susan

Announcements

Registration is now open for 2012 Girls Volleyball. OLF CYO Girls Volleyball is open to students and parishioners in grades 5-8. Registration and $60 fee are due January 25, 2012. Registrations after that date will have an added late fee. Early bird discount! Save $10.00 when you register by January 19th (discount appears at checkout). Please go to the OLF CYO blog for links to registration.

The Marchese Dinner and Dance for friends of Fatima will be held Saturday, January 21st. Information is enclosed. This is a very popular event -- RSVP today, as space is limited! We thank Joe and Mary Marchese so much for their sponsorship. Thanks also to Erin and Steve Snorsky for appetizers and Corino and Lauren Bonjrada for the wonderful dessert!

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

Help is still needed for the 8th grade Memory Book. Please see the insert if you are an 8th grade parent.

We need help with set up for The Marchese Dinner beginning Friday, January 20th, right after school; with bartending on Saturday evening; and with break down on Saturday night. Please contact Jenn Wathen as soon as possible (jwathen@olfatima.org).

Mrs. Bever's class needs an auction donation coordinator. Please contact Jenn Wathen.

Dear Families,

We take time in Advent to celebrate the Immaculate Conception, as we did at Mass today. As this Feast Day comes so close to Christmas, some confusion exists in our popular culture about whose conception we are celebrating. We believe that each of us is born with the stain of original sin, which we inherited from Adam and Eve's turning away from God. Our baptism cleanses us of this sin. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was conceived as we all are. However, her conception was without original sin: through God's grace, in anticipation of her role as the mother of our (and her) Savior, she was born immaculate. We pray, "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee," and on this day, honor the spiritual beginning of her exemplary life.

The weather outside is ever colder, and yet we have bare legs and no coats on the playground. Children often tell us they're warm enough, but I'm seeing shivering and hearing requests for spare sweaters and jackets. While I'm on this subject, skirts are getting shorter by the day. It is uncomfortable to have to respond to parishioners who comment on the skimpy skirts they see at our school Masses and it is time-consuming to address violations to our uniform policy. Jumpers, skirts and skorts are to be no shorter than 3 inches above the knee. Please make sure everyone leaves your house in the morning dressed as they should be for the day ahead.

A representative from Dennis Uniform will be at school on Monday, January 9th. Uniform items will be available for purchase at a 10% savings to you.

The All School Christmas Program is next Thursday, December 15th, at 7:00 p.m. in the church. Please have children in church by 6:45 p.m.

ITBS (Iowa Testing of Basic Skills) results are in for 3rd through 8th graders. Your child(ren)'s individual results and information on how to read them are in this packet. I have included below a chart summarizing total results. We will have a parent meeting on January 12th to go over what the results tell us and how we will respond. Do call me if you have any questions.

We have new Auction donation forms this year. One is enclosed in this packet (your first donation is due January 9th). All three copies need to be returned. You will receive a tax receipt from the Auction office. Class donation coordinators are still needed for Mrs. Raman's and Mrs. Bever's classes. Please contact Jenn Wathen asap if interested.

We continue to work on an online way to share and sign up for volunteer opportunities. Until this is finally up and free of bugs, beginning January 5th we will be posting jobs in a special section in the weekly newsletter. If you have a volunteer opportunity, please e-mail me. Remember that your 30 hours for this school year will need to be completed by May 1st.

We have a lot on our minds this time of year. Please be aware of others when dropping off and picking up children and follow the car line instructions as shown in the Family Handbook.

This is our last weekly newsletter for 2011. I wish each and every one a happy and meaningful Christmas and time to rest and recharge during the upcoming break.

Warmly,

Susan

Announcements

OLF ITBS School Summary: These scores reflect how our students scored in relationship to the rest of the nation taking this test. Also shown here is how each class scored last year for comparative purposes (as the test is not administered to 2nd grade students, we have only one year of results for this year's 3rd grade). Any score above the 50th percentile says that our students are proficient or advanced in a particular area. Ideally, classes would rise in percentile from the previous year.

Be a part of Magnolia Village WinterFest 2011! This year, 22 Village merchants are participating on Friday, December 9th, from 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. and among those, half will be showing some of OLF students' art (thanks to Mrs. Debbie Hoover for helping coordinate this for Fatima)! This year's theme is "Giving" and features a food drive and fundraiser benefitting The Moyer Foundation. Come down and join in our amazing community during this special holiday event. Maps will be available the night of the event showing the participating merchants, or check out the website. See you there and Happy Holidays!

Our 8th grade students do not have coordinators for a Memory Book. It has been tradition that the students receive them at the graduation breakfast. This is a wonderful volunteer opportunity for anyone, not just an 8th grade parent, and is so meaningful for our students. Please contact any of the 7/8 grade room parents (located in the front of the school directory) if you are interested.

A mandatory SnowSports meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 13th, at 7:00 p.m. in the parish center. All students planning to ride the ski bus are expected to attend. Please contact Chad Gardner if you have questions.

The Marchese Dinner and Dance for friends of Fatima will be held Saturday, January 21st. Information is enclosed. This is a very popular event, and we thank Joe and Mary Marchese so much for their sponsorship! Thanks also to Corino and Lauren Bonjrada for the wonderful dessert. We need volunteers for set up and take down, and bartenders. Please call Jenn Wathen if interested.

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 any announcements.

Dear Families,

We enter the season of Advent with grateful hearts, ready to prepare ourselves for the anniversary of the Lord's coming into the world. We recognize this as a time to ask for His grace to renew our own relationship with Christ today even as we anticipate His final coming. We are reading a children's version of A Christmas Carol in our Monday assemblies and looking at Scrooge as he moves through different levels of happiness. He moves from level one to two and three. It is an interesting reflection and draws us to look at our own development: about what we want NOW, about where we are talented and skilled in responding to other's needs, and finally about being ultimately happy in our relationship with God. It is all about our motivations and decision-making.

Our goal for Penny Harvest was to collect 25 bags of coins and we have collected nearly 30! To thank everyone for their effort, we will have a non-uniform dress day tomorrow. This is such a wonderful program of learning and giving for our students, and we thank Mrs. Marion Bradley and Mrs. Mary Helen Bever for their ongoing commitment as faculty advisers. You can learn more by visiting www.commoncents.org/go/penny-harvest.

Our Magi Project Food Drive is underway. The need is great. We are collecting as much food as possible for St. Edward's Food Bank. Please remember also to bring non-perishable food to our weekday school Masses for the Ballard Food Bank.

The All School Christmas Program will be held in the church on Thursday, December 15th. Uniforms or dressy clothes are appropriate, reflecting that this is a special school event held in church. Thank you to Mr. Eric Bradler for the gift of music he shares with our students!

Blessings,

Susan

Announcements

OLF SnowSports reminder: Register now to avoid late fees. Late fees will begin to be charged on December 5th. Click Students on the school website and look under Activities for more SnowSports information, or please contact Chad Gardner.

Be a part of Magnolia Village WinterFest 2011! This year 22 Village merchants are participating on Friday, December 9th from 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. and among those, half will be showing some of OLF students' art (thanks to Mrs. Debbie Hoover for helping coordinate this for Fatima)! This year's theme is "Giving" and features a food drive and fundraiser benefitting The Moyer Foundation. Come down and join in our amazing community during this special holiday event. Maps will be available the night of the event showing the participating merchants or check out the website http://pjspawsandclaws.homestead.com/magwinterfest2011.html. See you there and Happy Holidays!

As temperatures get colder, remember that 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 any announcements.

Save the Date: The second annual Marchese Dinner and Dance will be held Saturday, January 21st. All parents, parishioners, and alumni are welcome. More information coming soon!

Dear Families,

We take time in November to give thanks. With the holiday rush before us, it is necessary to claim this time and to be sure our children, too, are able to reflect on the goodness of God. As we move into Advent, we at Fatima are more aware than ever this year of the higher levels of happiness: of compassionately looking outward to others and of sincerely understanding how God, in his deep love, wants to help us achieve our greatest, most lasting happiness.

Steve Deibert from the Archdiocesan consortium for PowerSchool gave an excellent presentation at the Evening Conversation With the Principal on November 3rd. Many thanks to the 10 parents who attended and for the helpful and informative conversation we had about grades, standards, and what to look for on PowerSchool.

We will be ending our Penny Harvest Drive next Wednesday and beginning our Magi Food Drive during the two weeks after Thanksgiving. It is such a gift to be able to help others in need and, with your support, to have our students grow in what it means to give of themselves.

In the event of snow, ice, or other inclement weather events, a reminder that 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). I also will contact KING, KIRO, and KOMO TV, each of which list school delay and closure information during the morning broadcast. Do bear in mind that whether we are open or closed is not dependent upon what other schools may decide. Please check our website, phone, or the news channel of your choice for delay or closure announcements.

We celebrate Thanksgiving next week. Join our parish Thanksgiving Day Mass at 9:30 a.m. At the collection, we will bring up food for the hungry.

With the start of Advent Thanksgiving weekend, be prepared for the change in some of our responses and prayers at Mass as well as many changes in the words of the celebrant. The Church in the United States is beginning the translation of the New Roman Missal. This translation is closer to the text of the original Latin. Advent wreaths will be available to build after all of the Masses. These weeks of Advent are an opportunity to draw each of us into the coming of Jesus not only as a baby on Christmas, but into our daily lives!

We did not have a packet last week and will not have one next week due to the holiday. Please do make it a habit to check our website for frequently updated information both on the home page and within the different sections.

Congratulations to OLF CYO cross country for winning the sportsmanship award at the final cross country meet!

In my own giving thanks, please know how grateful I am for each of you for your involvement, your support, and for what you bring to our community.

With blessings to all,

Susan

Announcements

The parish Magi project is underway. Gift tags will be on the Jesse trees Saturday, November 19th. The Magi donation envelopes will be in the church pews as well. The money that is donated by way of the Magi envelopes will be used to purchase grocery store gift cards to give to our Magi families. These grocery gift cards will be given to the families along with their gifts from the Jesse tree tags.

It is a humbling experience to review the profiles from the needy families that we will serve this Christmas season. The families only ask for basic items that we all take for granted. In this down economy, their needs are greater than ever. I hope that all of us will remember that we have many blessings and gifts that we can share with these people. If you have any questions about Magi, or how you can volunteer to help, please contact Diane Ulacia at dulacia@comcast.net or (206) 283-9094.

The Choir and Orchestra from Holy Names Academy will be providing the liturgical music at 5:00 p.m. Mass on November 19th for the Feast of Christ the King here at Fatima. HNA will provide prelude and postlude music as well as lead the hymns. HNA will also sing an Offertory and Communion meditation.

This coming Sunday, November 20th at 3:00 p.m., Handel's Messiah will be performed by the Fatima Chamber Choir and 18th Century Instrument Orchestra. This is an outstanding musical experience for both fans of the Messiah and those new to this music. Please call (206) 283-1456 for seat reservations.

An informational meeting for parents on the SnowSports program is scheduled for November 21st at 7:00 p.m. in the parish center. Please contact Chad Gardner for more information, or look for SnowSports on our website in the Students section. Remember to register by December 1st to avoid late fees.

OLF Pictorial Parish Directory Sign-ups: Please make your appointment now to have your family portrait taken for the new OLF parish directory. Portraits will be taken in the Parish Office until December 3rd. The portrait for the directory is free along with an 8" x 10" photo of your family. Additional prints may be ordered. Please sign up for your appointment time at our church website, www.olfatima.org, and click on the "Directory Signup" link. Directories are published only once every five years, so don't miss out on being a part of the 2012 directory!