Principal Update

St. Catherine of Siena Parish School is an inclusive community, rooted in the Catholic faith and dedicated to leading with compassion, igniting curiosity for learning, and serving faithfully.

Dear St. Catherine Families,

As we reflect on the past few weeks, I find myself holding both sorrow and gratitude. In light of the recent school shootings in Bend, we pause to grieve for the families and communities impacted by these tragedies. Moments like these remind us of the tremendous responsibility we carry in keeping our students safe. We continue to reflect on our practices, assess our preparedness, and remain vigilant in making the safety and well-being of our students and staff our highest priority.

At the same time, I am filled with gratitude for the incredible generosity of our St. Catherine community. Our Jog-a-Thon was a wonderful example of what we can accomplish together! There is something especially meaningful about giving children an opportunity to actively participate in supporting their school in a way that is accessible and empowering for them. Watching our students celebrate not only reaching but exceeding our fundraising goal was a joyful reminder of the power of working together toward a shared purpose. Thank you for supporting your children in this effort and for the generosity that made it possible.

Grieving and celebrating may seem like opposites to share in the same breath, yet both remind us of the importance of community. In difficult moments, we lean on one another. In joyful moments, we celebrate together. Both are part of what makes St. Catherine such a special place, and I am deeply grateful for the community we share.

Warmly,

Kathy Cox

Principal

Throughout September and October, our classrooms have been filled with meaningful opportunities to celebrate diversity, deepen understanding of different cultures, and strengthen our commitment to inclusion and belonging.

In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, students across grade levels explored the rich traditions, histories, and contributions of Hispanic cultures. Our preschoolers learned about artist Frida Kahlo and created their own self-portraits, while first graders explored influential Hispanic figures, created traditional Mexican papel picado, and welcomed a parent who shared Chilean culture and traditions. Our middle schoolers researched influential Hispanic individuals through creative one-page projects. Preschool students also explored Mexican folktales and Día de los Muertos traditions through literature.

Our Catholic faith continues to be an important foundation for this work. Preschool students learned about St. Mother Teresa, St. Vincent de Paul, and St. Francis of Assisi, connecting their lives of service to Catholic Social Teaching principles of human dignity, solidarity, and care for those in need. They also explored the many ways families are formed and celebrated what makes each family unique.

Beyond the classroom, our 7th and 8th graders participated in team-building and inclusion activities at Camp Orkila, strengthening relationships and fostering a sense of belonging.

These are just a few examples of how diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are woven into our learning experiences, helping students grow in empathy and appreciation for others.

We have some overdue thank-yous from the summer and a whole lot of gratitude to share! Our St. Catherine community is INCREDIBLE, and the generosity of our families, alumni, and volunteers makes so much of what we do possible.

Summer Campus Improvements: A big thank you to the Talge, Ellingwood, and Matusak families for loaning us wheelbarrows, Karen Talge for assisting with safety training, and Joe Tobiason who helped spread wood chips.

Back-to-School BBQ: What a wonderful way to kick off the school year! Thank you to Katie Brewer and Lisa Brennan for donating our new grill, George Murray for getting it cleaned and ready, and alumnus Luca Hamilton for putting his grilling skills to work! A huge thank you to all who helped make the event a success: Katie Brewer, Cyndi Kuder, David Marks, Ivy Wong, Merrill Manza, Dorian Manza, Jaclyn Christianson, Kim Kihlstrom, Olha Bilobran, Elizabeth Rudd, Shannon Thompson, Becky Francis, Priscilla Wright Fellows, Alexis Wood, Heidi Stender, Jessica Bratrude, Luke Hamilton, Yvonne Hamilton, Caroline Daniel, Chris Daniel, Karen Talge, Christine Tubb, Scott Stender, Andrew Brewer, George Murray, Aaron Henningsgaard, Kristin Litke, Guy Antilla, and Sean Chang.

Welcome Back Coffee: Thank you to the wonderful volunteers who helped us welcome families on the first day of school with coffee and pastries: Casey Golden, Aaron Henningsgaard, Irisi Millo, Katie Caldwell, Caitlin Dill, Sri Grevich, Tanya Smith, Caroline Daniel, Jenny Churas, Anna Calcagno, Katie Brewer, Francine Shammami, Natalia Fior, and Monique Alkire. What a warm and welcoming start to the year!

Athletics and Enrichment: A big shoutout to Garrett Kelly for coaching Cross Country and to Jeremy Fellows and Scott Stender for leading and coordinating our Seattle Prep Math Games team. We are grateful for the time, energy, and enthusiasm you bring to our students!

Rosary Reflection: A special shoutout to Karen Talge and Bernadette Thomas for helping bring guest speaker Sam Estrada to St. Catherine! Sam shared his incredible illustrations with our 3rd–8th grade students, guiding them through a beautiful experience of praying the Rosary and reflecting on its mysteries. We are grateful for this meaningful opportunity to deepen our students' faith through prayer, art, and reflection!

Jog-a-Thon: A tremendous thank you to Lauren Gordon and Caitlin Dill for leading one of our biggest fundraisers of the year! Your creativity, energy, and enthusiasm made Jog-a-Thon a fantastic event for our students and community.

And finally, to the many volunteers whose names we may have missed, please know how much you are appreciated! Whether you're helping behind the scenes, lending your expertise, or showing up to support an event, you make a difference. We simply couldn't do all that we do at St. Catherine without you. Thank you!

This school year, our School Commission is taking an active role in advancing two important priorities identified through our recent accreditation process. Both are rooted in our commitment to justice, equity, belonging, and ensuring that our school's policies and practices remain strong and sustainable through future leadership transitions.

Two subcommittees will focus on specific areas of our accreditation action plan:

• Uniform and Dress Code Policy: Conducting a comprehensive review of our current policy through the lens of justice, equity, belonging, and our Catholic mission, with the goal of developing thoughtful recommendations for future revisions.

• Inclusion and Student Support: Reviewing and strengthening our existing model of inclusion and student support to ensure it continues to meet the diverse needs of our learners, reflects our Catholic values of human dignity and justice, and remains sustainable for years to come.

These two initiatives will be a significant focus of the Commission's work throughout the 2026–27 school year, alongside its ongoing responsibilities. Families can anticipate a survey later this school year seeking input and perspectives to help inform the work of these subcommittees. Your feedback will be a valuable part of this process as we consider how best to strengthen our policies and practices for the future.

We are grateful for the thoughtful collaboration of our Commission members and look forward to engaging our broader school community in this important work.

One question we are frequently asked, whether for state data reporting, facilities planning, or by prospective families, is: What is the enrollment capacity for each grade?

The quick answer? Our capacity is fluid and defined by the needs of our students, not simply by the physical space in our classrooms.

As a school deeply committed to inclusive enrollment practices, we welcome students with a wide range of learning needs and abilities. Some students need additional academic support. Others benefit from enrichment, accommodations, or adjustments to their learning environment. Our goal is to create classrooms where every student belongs, is supported, and has the opportunity to thrive. We take great care in balancing the unique needs of each classroom, recognizing that there is a practical limit to what teachers and instructional assistants can effectively deliver while meeting the needs of all learners.

When a prospective family applies, we look well beyond the number of desks available. We carefully consider the current classroom composition, invite the prospective student for a shadow day, meet with the family, and gather insights from the student's current teacher. This thoughtful process helps us develop a fuller picture of the student's needs and determine whether we have the capacity to provide a successful learning experience while continuing to meet the needs of students already enrolled.

Sometimes, this means making the difficult decision not to offer enrollment, even when there appears to be physical space in a classroom. It is not simply about whether we can fit another student in the room, but whether we can responsibly meet the needs of every student in that room.

Equally important, when we welcome a new student, families can feel confident that we have thoughtfully considered how that child will be supported, included, and positioned for success.

Ultimately, defining capacity this way is an intentional reflection of our mission. It allows us to honor our commitment to inclusive education, maintain the integrity of our instructional program, and ensure that belonging is more than a value we talk about. It is something we thoughtfully put into practice every day.