Weekly Newsletter

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.

6th-8th Grade: Thursday, September 10th @ 6pm

K-5th Grade: Tuesday, September 15th @ 6pm

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming Curriculum Nights. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to learn more about the exciting educational journey your child will be embarking on this year.

Please arrive at the gym by 5:30pm to start the night with St. Catherine Connect. Enjoy a sparkling water or glass of wine and light snacks as you catch up with other parents. The Curriculum Night program will start at 6pm with an introduction from Ms. Cox and Ms. Elsner, then parents will be dismissed to classrooms for class specific presentations.

Your involvement is crucial to your child’s success, and we look forward to partnering with you to make this a fantastic school year. We can't wait to see you there!

Need childcare while you attend K-5th Grade Curriculum Night? We’ve got you covered!

Childcare will be available on Tuesday, September 15th for preschool-3rd grade students starting at 5:25pm, giving parents the ability to attend St. Catherine Connect from 5:30-6:00pm before the Curriculum Night program begins at 6:00pm.

Childcare Details:

• Drop-off Location: 8th Grade Homeroom Classroom / Church Basement
• Drop-off begins at 5:25 PM
• Ages: Preschool-3rd Grade
• Children must be potty trained
• Parents should plan to pick up their children following the Curriculum Night program.

Please take advantage of this childcare option so you can join us for St. Catherine Connect and Curriculum Night!

Below you'll find all the information needed to sign your child up for after-school study hall. If you're interested, please complete the form or return the hard copy sent home with your child.

Study Hall runs from Tuesday, September 8th - Thursday, June 4th.

There is NO STUDY HALL on 11/24, 12/17, 2/11, 5/27.

What is study hall? Study hall is a safe, supervised place for students in grades 4-8 to work on homework (including projects and missing in-class assignments) and to develop successful study habits after school. Teresa Thornton will supervise on Tuesdays and Keely Bell will supervise on Thursdays.

When and where is study hall? Study hall is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15-4:15 PM in the 6th grade classroom.

How much does it cost? Study hall is $7.00/student per session. Your FinalSite Billing Management account will be charged each trimester for your child/ren’s attendance. Attendance is taken each session so you will only be charged for those sessions that your child attends.

Please contact Ms. Thornton tthornton@stcatherineschool.net or Mrs. Bell kbell@stcatherineschool.net with any questions.

Picture day information, online ordering, and the Dorian customer advocate team are all at your fingertips. Visit mydorian.com, search for "St. Catherine School - Seattle, WA", and click on the green order button or yellow help button associated with the September 25th picture day. Paper order forms are also available in the school office.

Early Learning Students: If your Early Learning student does not attend school on Fridays, please feel free to bring them to Victoria Hall/the gym between 8:40-9:15am on Picture Day. They will have their picture taken and then you can head home afterward.

This year, we warmly invite parents and families to join us for Mass on Thursdays at 9:00 AM. Once each month, a class in grades 1-8 will take the lead in preparing and participating in the Mass, while on other Thursdays, students and staff from across the school will help lead different parts of the liturgy. We hope you’ll join us whenever you’re able - everyone is welcome!

We are blessed to be part of a community that is diverse in many ways, including in the faith backgrounds represented among our families. That diversity is part of what makes St. Catherine uniquely special.

Recently, a couple of parents have asked how they can feel most comfortable attending Mass if they are not Catholic. First and foremost: please join us! Our school Masses are a special part of who we are as a community, and all are welcome.

Before Mass, students gather in their Faith Families, small groups made up of students from across grades K-8, led by two or three staff members and named for a particular virtue. When families join us in the church, please feel free to sit wherever you are most comfortable. Our students and staff are very accustomed to welcoming parents, parishioners, and other guests into the pews alongside us.

We also want families to have a sense of what we ask of our students during Mass. Students enter the church reverently as a way to settle themselves and prepare their hearts for worship. They leave behind water bottles and other school items, recognizing that Mass is when we focus on prayer and participation in the Mass.

To help everyone feel comfortable following along, we have prepared a worship aid for our Thursday Masses. Please take one as you enter; it includes the flow of the Mass, responses, and songs.

Again, all are welcome. We are grateful to gather together and look forward to celebrating Mass with you throughout the year.

Back to school forms for the 2026-2027 school year should have been completed by Friday, September 4th. They are still are available in your FinalSite Parent Portal and should be completed ASAP!

• Family Handbook Acknowledgement
• Early Learning Handbook Acknowledgement
• Student Emergency Information Form
• Technology & Acceptable Use Consent Agreement (students may not use any technology at the school until this form is completed)
• Media Release Form
• Walking Field Trip Form
• Student Walker Permission Slip (Grades 5th-8th)
• Family Income Survey (oldest child only)
• K-8 Extended Care Registration

Please log in to your FinalSite Parent Portal and complete the Rock Wall permission form to allow your child to participate in this PE activity. Students must have a completed permission form on file before they can participate.

We will be offering large size pizza slices from Zeeks Pizza in pepperoni or cheese for $3.25/slice (+ credit card fees) on Tuesdays starting September 15th. Please have your orders in by Thursday, September 11th.

A friendly reminder that your child may need some sides to go along with their pizza - we don’t want any hungry kidos.

Looking forward to being your pizza lady this year! Email me if you have any questions PriscillaFellows@gmail.com

Show your St. Catherine Tiger Pride on the sidelines, around town, and everywhere in between!

The ROAR STORE is filled with fun STC Spirit Gear for students, families, and fans. Please remember that these items are spirit wear and are not part of our daily school uniform.

Wear your ROAR STORE gear for sporting events, weekends, and school activities. On Spirit Days, students may wear ROAR STORE spirit items on top with their uniform bottoms.

And parents, there are no uniform rules for you! We hope you’ll show your Tiger Pride every day! 🐯

Gear up. Show your pride. LET’S ROAR!

The secret is out! We are excited to announce that St. Catherine School’s next musical will be The Addams Family Young@Part! We are looking forward to bringing this fun, quirky, and delightfully spooky show to life with our students.

NEW: Introduction to the Show All Actors

Tuesday, October 13 | 3:15–4:30 PM

We have added a full cast introduction meeting for everyone who has signed up to participate on stage in the show. This meeting is an opportunity for students to:

• Learn more about The Addams Family Young@Part

• Meet the characters and learn about the different roles

• Learn what auditions the following week will look like

• Review drama program expectations

• Ask questions and get ready for auditions!

Auditions

4th-5th Grade Auditions

6th-8th Grade Auditions

Students should attend the audition date for their grade level.

Sign-ups close Friday, October 9 at midnight.

Students who are interested in participating should be signed up by the deadline, whether they are interested in being on stage or joining the crew.

Participation Costs

ON STAGE: $180*

*The cost is half price for the second and third child in a family.

CREW: $100

Performance Dates

Mark your calendars now for our performances:

Thursday, March 18th — 7:00 PM

We are excited to get started and can't wait to see our students bring The Addams Family to the stage!

September 24, 12:00-1:00 PM

Parenting a child with ADHD can be exhausting, frustrating and unexpectedly joyful — sometimes all before breakfast.

The forgotten assignments. The emotional whiplash. The intense focus on exactly the wrong thing at exactly the wrong time. Families living with ADHD know that the same brain that creates real challenges can also bring creativity, humor, energy and a distinctive way of seeing the world.

In this lively and refreshingly honest ParentMap Talk, viral creators and New York Times bestselling authors Kim and Penn Holderness share what they have learned from living, parenting and working with ADHD. Both diagnosed with ADHD, they bring firsthand experience, plenty of hard-earned perspective and the humor that has made The Holderness Family a favorite of millions.

Drawing from their book “ADHD Is Awesome,” Kim and Penn will unpack what is actually happening inside the ADHD brain, why common parenting approaches can backfire and how families can work with ADHD instead of constantly fighting it. This is not about pretending ADHD is easy. It is about understanding the hard parts, dropping the shame and recognizing the strengths that too often go unseen.

You’ll learn:

• Why the ADHD brain struggles to choose what deserves attention
• How to reduce conflict around routines, schoolwork and everyday responsibilities
• Ways to support emotional regulation without shaming or escalating
• How to recognize and nurture the creativity, energy and strengths of an ADHD mind
• What parents can do when the strategies that “should” work simply don’t

Come for the tried-and-true strategies and stay for the stories. Reserve your spot for the live Zoom Talk and get access to the recording to watch anytime.

To redeem your complimentary tickets ($80 value), register here and enter promo code STCATHSCH.

First Day of School: Tuesday, September 1st 2026 (Noon Dismissal Day)

Last Day of School: Wednesday, June 16th 2027 (10:30am Dismissal, after Moving Up Mass)

No School Days

9/7/2026 Labor Day

10/29-10/30/2026 K-8th Grade Fall Conferences (No School for K-8 Students Only)

11/6/2026 Archdiocesan In-Service Day & Early Learning Conferences

11/11/2026 Veteran’s Day

11/25-11/27/2026 Thanksgiving Holiday

12/21/2026-1/1/2027 Christmas Break

1/18/2027 MLK Jr Day

2/12-2/16/2027 President’s Day Break

3/5/2027 Curriculum Development Day

3/29-4/2/2027 Easter Break

4/26/2027 Archdiocesan In-Service Day

5/31/2027 Memorial Day

Noon Dismissal Days

9/1/2026 First Day Of School Early Release

10/7/2026 Accreditation Goals Work Day (K-8 Students Only)

10/28/2026 Fall Conferences (K-8 Students Only)

12/2/2026 Teacher Report Card Prep (K-8 Students Only)

12/18/2026 Christmas Break Early Release*

2/24 & 2/25/2027 Spring Conferences (K-8 Students Only)

3/17/2027 Teacher Report Card Prep (K-8 Students Only)

3/26/2027 Good Friday*

4/16/2027 Grandparents/Grandfriends Day

4/28/2027 Accreditation Goals Work Day (K-8 Students Only)

5/28/2027 Memorial Day Weekend Early Release*

6/9/2027 Teacher Report Card Prep (K-8 Students Only)

*No After School EC/Full Day EL or PM Pandas Programs

A copy of the PDF calendars are available below. Please note all event dates and times are subject to change. Any changes will be communicated via the Weekly Newsletter.

St. Catherine Extended Care Program provides safe, nurturing, and affordable care for students in grades K-8. Our before and after school program offers time for homework, outdoor play, gym activities, snacks, and engaging enrichment opportunities.

We are dedicated to creating a welcoming environment rooted in family values, while supporting the needs of working parents. With a variety of flexible attendance options, our program is designed to fit the unique schedules of all families.

Please take a moment to read the letter below from the Extended Care team.

Check out the Extended Care page on our website for more information and attendance options. If you need to register your child, you can access the form in your FinalSite Parent Portal.

myhotlunchbox.com is back for another year at St. Catherine School!

• Lunch will be available to order from Chick-fil-A on Thursdays
• We are working to offer another day of lunch delivery - stay tuned and once all is confirmed we will make the annoucement
• Must order by 12pm noon the day before delivery

Before your first delivery, we ask a couple of things:

1. Create an account
2. Add Student/s to profile
3. Place your order/s **All orders must be placed, edited, or canceled before 12:00 PM (noon) the day PRIOR to delivery.**
4. Enjoy!

If your child/ren will be absent from school, please notify the school office at attendance@stcatherineschool.net, as well as your child's homeroom teacher, no later than 8:30am on the day of the absence. Advanced notification of the absence (2-3 days before) is also greatly appreciated. The safety of our students is our number one priority and the office will call home to verify the student's absence if a parent/guardian has not called or emailed.

If you know your child will be tardy due to a medical/dental/personal appointment, the office must be notified. A parent/guardian must accompany a tardy student in to the school office to sign them in for the day.

If your child/ren will be absent from school for 2 or more days of school, please complete a pre-planned absence form and send it to attendance@stcatherineschool.net at least 2 weeks prior to the absences.

Regular attendance is important to the success of our students. Normally, illness, medical appointments and family emergencies are the only acceptable form of excused absence.

Registration for CYO Cross Country is now open! Click the link below and scroll down to Cross Country to register: Seattle CYO Athletics Registration

Practices

Monday practices begin September 15th at Maple Leaf Park from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Extended Care pick-up and drop-off will be available. Because of the school calendar, practices start a little later this year, but I may schedule an earlier practice and will communicate that with registered families.

Wednesday practice will also be held from 6:00-7:00 p.m. for 4th-8th graders. Starting September 2nd. The season wraps up with our famous Slurpee Run on October 5th!

Volunteer Coaches Needed

We’re looking for volunteer coaches, ideally one per grade for Kindergarten-4th grade. It’s a great way to support the team and earn volunteer hours!

Meet Schedule

Meets will be held on Sunday afternoons, with exact times determined by our pool assignment. The good news is that meets will not interfere with CYO soccer games.

To be eligible to compete in the Ribbon Run/Championship Meet on October 4th, runners must participate in at least one of the first two meets. This year I want to see all runners participate in the championship meet!

• Meet 1: September 20th
• Meet 2: September 27th
• Meet 3: October 4th — K-3 Ribbon Run & 4th-8th Championship

Questions? Contact Garrett Kelly at garrettmkelly@gmail.com.

Go Tigers!

We have some good news to share as you start thinking about back-to-school shopping.

As part of our ongoing partnership with School Uniforms by Tommy Hilfiger, every family will be receiving a $50 Gift code — at no cost to you — that can be applied toward uniform purchases this summer.

If you are interested in this $50 Gift code, please email Amanda to obtain your family's unique $50 digital code and instructions for how to use it on the School Uniforms by Tommy Hilfiger website.

We look forward to making this back-to-school season a little easier for your family!

Chess Wizards offers challenging chess lessons, fun group activities, exciting tournaments and more!

Calling all K–3rd grade students! Join us for a fun-filled experience designed just for you. Come learn, play, and make new friends!

CLOW returns to St. Catherine on Sunday, September 13th, during the 11:00am Mass! All children are welcome to join us for a special time to hear and explore God’s Word in a way designed just for them.

We’re also looking for adult and teen volunteers to help make CLOW possible. Interested in getting involved? Contact Cathy Wagner at cwagner@stcatherineschool.net.

SATURDAY

Vigil Mass @ Our Lady of the Lake - 5:00 pm

SUNDAY

Sunday Mass @ Assumption Parish - 9:00 am

Sunday Mass @ St. Bridget Parish - 9:00 am

Sunday Mass @ Our Lady of the Lake - 11:00 am

Sunday Mass @ St. Catherine Parish - 11:00 am

Sunday Mass @ Assumption Parish - 5pm

All Are Welcome!