Weekly Family Communication

Dear Holy Rosary Families,

As we move into springtime, we begin our serious planning for the 2026–27 school year. As part of this process, we anticipate some staffing transitions, and I’d like to share those we know of at this time. We expect to post several positions in the near future. Later this year, we will take time as a community to honor and celebrate these incredible staff members and their many contributions to our school.

Margaret Whetham (7th & 8th Grade Religion)

After decades of devoted service to our school, Margaret has decided to retire at the end of this school year. Her grace‑filled presence, deep love of the Catholic faith, and steadfast model of service in our junior high have been true gifts to our community. She will be deeply missed.

Thalia Kuentzel (Spanish)

Our wonderfully boisterous Señora Kuentzel will also retire at the end of this year. She has brought tremendous zeal and joy to our Spanish program, and we are so grateful for her years of service.

Kate Tyler (4B) Miss Tyler has made the decision to move on from Holy Rosary at the end of this year. Early in her teaching career, she is excited to explore new opportunities beyond our school. We will miss her leadership and calm, steady presence.

Dawn Holmes (Kindergarten Assistant, Dance Elective) With her daughter graduating this year, Mrs. Holmes has decided it is time for her to “graduate” from Holy Rosary as well. Her energy, artistic talent, positive spirit, and creativity have been gifts to our community.

Mary Lawrence (Preschool Assistant) Teacher Mary has been a joyful and loving presence in our preschool. Her can‑do spirit and warm heart will be missed as she leaves us to continue her education.

Please join us in praying for each of these staff members as they prepare for their next steps. We look forward to celebrating them properly later this year.

In Christ,

Anna

This month we are continuing to learn about managing our emotions and self-regulation in our counseling guidance lessons. One of the most important skills children can learn—both in school and at home. Simply put, self-regulation is a child’s ability to notice their feelings, manage big emotions, and respond to situations in a thoughtful way rather than reacting impulsively. This skill doesn’t develop overnight, and it isn’t something children are born knowing how to do. This is learned through supportive relationships, especially with parents and caregivers.

The lifelong benefits of self-regulation are significant. Children who develop strong emotional regulation skills tend to have better relationships, stronger problem-solving abilities, improved focus in school, and greater resilience when facing challenges. As they grow, these skills support mental well-being, decision-making, and the ability to handle stress in healthy ways. If you would like more information on how to support your child, please explore this article from the Child Mind Institute. If you ever have questions or would like additional resources, please feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to partner with you in supporting your child’s growth.

One of the most powerful ways children learn the faith is not in a classroom, but by watching it lived at home in small, ordinary moments.

Here are a few simple ways to bring our Catholic faith into your home this week:

Make prayer part of the rhythm of the day

• Let your child lead grace before meals.
  
• Play soft worship music while getting ready for school.
• Pray a Hail Mary in the car on the way to activities.
• Bless your child with the Sign of the Cross on their forehead before bed.

Consistency matters more than length.

Teach gratitude as a faith habit

• Keep a “Blessings Jar” and add notes during the week.
  
• Each night, name one thing you’re thankful to God for.
  
• Write thank-you notes as a family and pray for the recipient.

Talk about where you saw God this week
At dinner or in the car, ask:

“Where did you see something good today?”
Help children recognize God in everyday life.

Faith at home is built in small moments, repeated often. It’s not about doing everything — it’s about doing a few things consistently with love.

• Feb 13th - Noon Dismissal
  
• Feb 16th - Presidents Day, No School
• Feb 17th - Mid Winter Break, No School
• Feb 18th - Ash Wednesday
• Mar 7th - Auction
• Mar 14th - Multi Parish Day of Service

2025/26 School Calendars

Friday is a free dress day. Wear your Valentine colors. It is also a noon dismissal with no school on Monday or Tuesday. Enjoy an extra long weekend!

We have received some questions on how the school might respond in the event that ICE is seen in the area. The Archdiocese has issued guidance to parishes and schools on how to respond in the unlikely event this would happen. Parishes and schools are considered private property; therefore, anyone must have a signed judicial warrant before entering our property. Only the pastor or principal are authorized to speak with them, and should this happen outside of school hours, staff have been instructed to contact me, our Pastor, or Director of Operations if I'm not available.

Here is the Archdiocese page with information on our Archdiocesan resources.

Here is the FAQ page that we've received on how to respond.

We will continue to be diligent and do all we can to keep our community safe. Above all, we continue to pray that God will guide us in a peaceful resolution and that our society will protect the most vulnerable and those on the margins, as our Catholic social teachings model.

In an effort to keep our students safe at drop off and pick up, please follow the rules of the road. Students exiting or entering a vehicle in the middle of the street creates a dangerous situation for the child and creates confusion for other drivers. Thank you for your help in keeping all of our students safe.

We are hard at work putting next year's school calendar together. It should be released in early March after Archdiocese approval. For now, we can give you the basic dates for the school year.

Aug 31st - 1st Day of School

Dec 21st-Jan 1st - Christmas Break

Mar 29th-Apr 2nd - Spring Break

Jun 11th - Last Day of School

Holy Rosary School is hiring for a before/after school crossing guard, to assist with crossing students in front of the school and in high traffic areas. Though the hours of this position are limited, it has the potential to have a large impact on student safety. If your schedule allows for this, and you are interested in discussing what this employment might look like (an hour to an hour and a half/day), please reach out to Principal Anna Horton (ahorton@holyrosaryws.org).

Join Catholic schools throughout the Archdiocese in our first ever 5K, as we continue to stand in solidarity with Annunciation Catholic School. Date: March 28th, Magnuson Park. More information can be found here!

We have been informed that some phone carriers have flagged our phone number as spam. The office would like to always be able to reach you, incase of sickness or injury. Please add the school number 206-937-7255 to your contacts.

Baseball & softball season is coming. If you need to have a form signed by the office, please fill it out completely and bring it to the office.

Don't miss out on the the 47th Annual HRS Auction.

Date: March 7

Time: 5-10pm

Location: Brockey Center @ South Seattle College

Theme: Denim & Diamonds

If you are cleaning out your closet, the auction committee is looking for old denim. Adult sizes preferred, but kids will do. Preference for blue denim. Drop off at the school main office. Thank you!

The Parish sent out tax documentation this week. If you donated to the Annual Fund through Finalsite re-enrollment or through the Parish giving site (OSV) your tax receipt will include this amount.

If you donated through the Annual Fund Fall Drive in October you received tax documentation at the time of your donation, please search for support@boostmyschool.com or subject Thank you for your support!

Auction donation receipts were sent in March 2025, please search for noreply@online.greatergiving.com or subject 2025 HRS Auction Receipt.

Volunteer Opportunities for Parents and Youth (6th grade-high school) at our Holy Rosary Lenten Gathering

Need HR School volunteer hours? Looking for a way to volunteer during Lent? Join us by volunteering at ourLenten event on February 22, 2026, in Holy Rosary School Hall. There are set-up slots on Friday evening, February 20, 2026, as well as several different time slots for helping with Lent activities/crafts and Coffee and Donuts on February 22, 2026. This counts for Student and Parent Volunteer hours. Signup linkhttps://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4AA5A82AA02-62311396-holy. For questions, email Deyette atDSwegle@holyrosaryseattle.org.

Volunteer opportunities are abundant on the day/night of the event. Please sign up to work a shift. Need:

-Raffle Sales: Perfect for an outgoing personality. Prizes sell themselves...who wouldn't want 5k toward tuition or a $1000 Canlis gift card?

-Dessert Dash Runner: Encourage guests to bid on the fabulous donated desserts.

-Live Auction Recorders: Sit at the front of the room and take in the fast pace of the Live Auction. Perfect for detailed oriented individuals with quick note-taking skills.

-Spotters: Watch the action and encouraging bidding in your area. Notify the auctioneer when bidding occurs. Great for those that like to cheer!

We will be collecting lunches and items for St Martin de Porres Men's Shelter again this year. If you are interested in delivering lunches, please reach out to Kristin Bentler. The dates we will be delivering are 2/27, 3/6, 3/13, 3/20 and 3/27. Students would load the lunches in your vehicle at around 9am. Then you would take them to the shelter. An SUV or minivan is usually the best way to transport the lunches and other items.

Take a few minutes to log into your Safe Env account and check your status. You may need a refresher course. Checking your status now will save staff time in contacting you before you can volunteer.

New families: Please complete your background checks and SE training before volunteering! If you haven't set up a volunteer log-in yet to record hours, here is the link! One parent must be the main account user, a 2nd parent can be added to the account as a sub-account. Instructions will be on the main account user’s page on how to add a sub-account.

Join us for our Lenten Gathering, Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 9:30am-1:00pm, Holy Rosary School Hall

All are welcome! Join us as we prepare for Lent on Sunday, February 22, 2026, in Holy Rosary School Hall. Stop by after Mass or anytime between 9:30am-1:00pm for Lenten activities and crafts for children and adults, Lenten Pretzels, Coffee and Donuts and more! For questions, please email Deyette at Dswegle@holyrosaryseattle.org.

St. Vincent de Paul & Westside Interfaith Network (WIN)—Food & Toiletry Drive for Lent, February 22, 2026, HR School Hall, 9:30am-1:00pm

• Drop off non-perishable food for our St. Vincent de Paul Food.
• Make a cash donation which is used for Emergency assistance for rent, paying a utility bill, car repair, etc.
• Drop off toiletry items (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, small shampoos, lotions, etc.) or socks.
• Thank you for your support to those in need!

If you are interested in having your child baptized at Holy Rosary, contact Deyette Swegle.

Are you interested in assisting us in our Soup Kitchen? Please contact Chris Dormaier.

https://holyrosaryseattle.org/rcia-for-older-children

See our Flyer for more information.

https://holyrosaryseattle.org/1st-reconciliation-1st-communion

srstella@holyrosaryseattle.org

https://holyrosaryseattle.org/rcia-adults.

We offer Children’s Liturgy of the Word year round at Sunday 10:30am Mass.

• Parish Children’s Choir YouthChoir! (Grades 3-6) | Holy Rosary Catholic Church | Seattle, WA (holyrosaryseattle.org)
• Altar Serving (5th -High school)–email Paul Dolejsi at Pdolejsi@holyrosaryseattle.org for more information.

https://holyrosaryseattle.org/confirmation

BSharp, Kennedy Catholic’s Arts Booster Club, warmly invites families from our partner Catholic elementary schools to Melodies & Masterpieces—an evening of student performances, hands-on art making, food, and community. Everyone is welcome!

When: February 20 at 7:00 PM

Where: Kennedy Catholic High School

Tickets are available here (https://givebutter.com/SXIBiQ)

Seattle Prep offers a variety of academic and enrichment programs for rising 5th–8th graders. Explore offerings and register at:www.seaprep.org/summer-onthe-hill

Our camps are open to rising K–9th graders and we offer a wide variety of programs in athletics, music, art, and academics. This year, we are especially excited to introduce two new camp offerings:

New for 2026:

• Busy Bears Creative Art Camps
  Drawing & Visual Journaling (June 15–18)
  Mixed Media, Collage & Doodling (June 15–18)
  For rising 5th-8th graders, hands-on creative experiences led by BBHS Fine Arts faculty, including outdoor drawing sessions and mixed-media studio work.
  
• Band Camp (August 17–20)
  Open to rising 8th–9th graders with at least two years of band experience. This camp provides ensemble skill-building, musicianship training, and fun performance-based activities.

In addition to our new programs, we continue to offer a robust lineup of athletic camps—including basketball, soccer, baseball, football, cross country, and cheer—as well as our Freshman Study Skills Camp, helping our incoming 9th graders prepare for the transition to high school.

Registration for all 2026 summer camps is open!

Check out the camp catalog and register at: www.bishopblanchet.org/camps

To stay on top of all things Blanchet, please join our mailing list.

O’Dea camps offer students a fun, welcoming experience where they can try new things, build confidence, make new friends, and get a true taste of the O’Dea community. From high-energy athletic camps to hands-on enrichment programs that spark curiosity and creativity, there’s truly something for everyone.

Our camps are open to boys and girls, with sessions running from Easter Break through summer, making it easy for families to find a camp that fits their schedule.

Camp details and registration can be found using the links below.

Camp Catalog

Register Today

West Seattle Little League (WSLL) Spring 2026 registration is now open for softball (ages 7-15), baseball (ages 4-13), and our Challenger program (adaptive baseball for players with physical and intellectual disabilities).

The WSLL spring season will run from March to June, featuring fun activities like the jamboree, sandlot days, and end-of-the-season bash. Become part of our amazing community and make some memories on and off the field.

Each year, we want to make sure all kids have the opportunity to write the next chapter in the Little League story, regardless of their situation. No child will be denied a chance to play due to financial reasons. If you need a full or partial scholarship, please visit our scholarship page for more info. We are dedicated to finding a confidential financial solution for families.

Check out westseattlelittleleague.com for more information and to register.

The mission of Holy Rosary School is to help each child discover and fully develop their God-given talents. As a Catholic School community, we strive for excellence in our students’ spiritual, academic, physical, mental, aesthetic, and social-emotional growth. It is our intention that those who attend this institution mature into active citizens leading a committed faith life and reaching out to help others locally, nationally, and internationally with their wisdom, time, talent, and financial resources.