Weekly Family Communication

Dear Holy Rosary Families,

This week marks the beginning of Advent, a season of prayerful waiting as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus at Christmas. We light the first candle on the Advent wreath, the candle of Hope. We hold fast to the hope Christ offers us—both in His promises and in who we are called to be as His disciples.

The Archdiocese of Seattle has prepared a variety of Advent resources to help support your family’s prayer and reflection during this holy season. I encourage you to take a look!

We also invite all families to participate in our schoolwide Advent diaper drive in support of Prepares, a ministry of our parish family. Prepares, a program of Catholic Community Services, walks closely with young families in our local community during the early years of a child’s life. Diapers are one of the most needed—and least available—items in food banks and community agencies.

Prepares is especially in need of sizes 4, 5, and 6 diapers and size 5 and 6 pull-ups, but diapers of all sizes and wipes are gratefully accepted. Donations can be brought to school and placed in the front hallway.

Thank you in advance for your generosity. Let’s see if we can fill the hallway with hope and support for those in need in our West Seattle community!

Happy Advent.

In Christ,

Anna

Don’t forget! December 6 is the Feast of St. Nicholas Day. Be sure to put your shoes out.

St. Nicholas was consecrated bishop of Myra in 317 and is remembered as a good and faithful bishop who helped the poor and needy with a special love for mariners and children. He attended the First Council of Nicaea and signed the Nicene Creed that we still say at mass each Sunday. St. Nick and Father Christmas are the same guy. He is a saint, so he lives in heaven with Jesus. He loves Jesus, so he wants to bring birthday presents to all the good boys and girls on Christmas Eve to help celebrate Jesus’ birthday.

Ideas on ways to celebrate the St. Nick’s Day:
*Get your picture taken with Santa/Father Christmas!
*Put out your shoe the night before 😊
*Read a book about St. Nicholas

• Dec 12th - 1st Trimester Report Cards, Pizza Lunch
  
• Dec 16th - Preschool Christmas Program (6:30pm)
• Dec 18th - K-8 Christmas Program (6pm)
• Dec 19th - Noon Dismissal
• Dec 22nd-Jan2 - Christmas Break
• Jan 5th - School Resumes
• Jan 19th - No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day

2025/26 School Calendars

Students have been working hard to prepare for the whole school (K-8) Christmas Program the evening of December 18th. We ask all families to bring your children and stay the entire time. Families will drop off for the Christmas program between 5:30 and 5:45 on Thursday, December 18th in your child's classroom. The program starts at 6pm. It'll be livestreamed as well, if you want to send the link along to family and friends.

This week's big storm is a reminder that we can sometimes have weather that will necessitate closing school or starting late. In case of a need to close school or have a late start due to the weather, we will notify families as early as possible. Keep an eye on the West Seattle Blog, Facebook, and on our website. We will also send an email to all families notifying you of any closures or late starts. If we start late, there will be no AM BASE, and if we close due to snow, there will be no BASE care on campus during the closure.

Holy Rosary School has the opportunity to join other local Catholic schools to host a Japanese exchange student for one week in March between their academic years, from March 21st - March 29th. Last year we had two students who were hosted by Holy Rosary families spend a week in our school. It was a wonderful experience for everyone! The students joining us will likely be in sixth, seventh or eighth grade, and families receive a small stipend to offset the expenses of hosting a student for the week. The students would then attend classes here at Holy Rosary School during the week. If you might be interested in learning more about this opportunity, and possibly hosting a student for the week, please email principal Anna Horton at ahorton@holyrosaryws.org.

Our Advent Giving Tree will be up in the Church from November 29th - December 15th! We will be collecting $25 Safeway and Target gift cards for St. Vincent de Paul and PREPARES Ministry! Your gifts directly support children and families that these ministries serve. Gift cards can be placed in collection baskets or dropped off at the Parish Office. Please do not leave gifts under the trees. Thank you for your generosity!

For families in need of tuition assistance, financial aid application through FACTS are open for 2026/27. Information about tuition assistance can be found here. Applications are due by Dec. 15th.

AUCTION (March 7, 2026, Brockey Center, South Seattle College)

Our largest fundraiser of the year is the annual Auction. Last year we raised over $450,000. Each K-8 family is committed to procuring/donating a minimum of $225 in auction items or cash so the committee may build fantastic packages to be bid upon.

The day after Thanksgiving the TREE LOT opens to sell trees, wreaths and garland to the West Seattle community. In addition to raising over $170,000 for HRS, this fundraiser donates a portion of all sales to two local charities: Salvation Army Hickman House, and West Seattle Food Bank/Clothesline.

💛 🧥 🧤👖👚 🧣 💛 Donate new or gently used clothing items to those in need!

As the cold settles over Seattle, many of our neighbors are struggling just to stay warm. Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission is a donation based organization offering shelter, hot meals, and hope to those facing homelessness.

This season, you can make a difference in a simple, meaningful way. We’re collecting gently-used coats, hats, gloves, and sweatshirts to help keep men, women, and children warm through the winter months. Need more donation specifics/ideas? Look here.

Every item you give — and every act of kindness — brings warmth, comfort, and dignity to someone who needs it most. Together, we can show our neighbors they’re not forgotten.

✨Drop off your gently used coats, hats, gloves from your homes for donation at the Christmas Tree Lot that runs from Nov 28- Dec 16 or school main office. ✨

Please join us for the 4th annual Gator Bowl (21+)!!

• When: January 23, 2026
• Time: From 5-8pm
• Cost: $390 for a lane -- up to 6 bowlers ($65/bowler)
• What: 3 hours of bowling and shoe rental with the best community in Seattle
• Where: West Seattle Bowl
• Theme: Seattle Sports
• Why that theme: Because Seattle is kind of good at all sports right now!
• Proceeds: Go to Father Mallahan Scholarship
• How to Register -- click this link: https://holyrosaryws.org/giving/gator-bowl/

We are looking for a lunch volunteer. Hours are Thursdays from 10:35-12:05. Please reach out if you are interested. klawson@holyrosary.org

Business Procurement Team Member

Goal: Connect with local businesses to help secure funding to support the Holy Rosary Auction!

How: Become a procurement team member and run your own Neighborhood Zone. Send procurement letter, email, walk-in, etc. to local businesses asking for their support to donate to the HRS auction. Follow up and provide tax documentation to each business. Track progress and confirm procurement. Auction items can come in various forms i.e. gift cards, wine/beer/liquor, art, cooking classes, merchandise, etc.

When: Procurement will take place now – January.

Hours Earned: 10-20+ hours (Fundraising)

Contact: Bente Madtsen: (bente.madtsen@outlook.com) or Jenna Cohen: (jenna.cohen.jn@gmail.com)

The job consists of computer data entry, communicating with donors, collecting physical gift cards, and preparing them for distribution. Work usually begins in December and goes until the auction. It can mostly be done from home and is a very flexible way to complete volunteer hours. This job earns around 25-30 hours. It's detail oriented work. Contact Michelle Hunter 206-679-7148 or michellecapron@hotmail.com if you're interested or would like further information - training for this position could begin anytime in the next month or so with becoming the lead next year.

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.

Registration is now open for 4th-8th grade volleyball! Please register your athlete prior to January 23rd, 2026, in order that we may register for the appropriate number of teams.

Coaches must register and complete all requirements of the Archdiocese.

Practices will start in earnest the first week of February. Coaches may have the option to start practicing the week of January 19th; gym availability will depend on how many of our basketball teams are in the playoffs. Games start the weekend of February 21st.

In order to keep costs reasonable, we are using the same shirts we used last year. If your athlete still has one that fits, there is no need to order a new one. Families are encouraged to share shirts they no longer need with other families.

Families in need of financial assistance are encouraged to contact Athletic Director Brendan Kolding atcyo@holyrosaryseattle.org.

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

Order your Baked Alaska here www.shugssodafountain.com

Bishop Blanchet Drama proudly presents The Music Man, May 1-3. Auditions start on Tuesday, December 9th.If you are interested in auditioning, Please click here.

Come celebrate the season with us!

Join us on Tuesday, December 16 at 7:00 PM at the Highline Performing Arts Center for the Kennedy Catholic Christmas Concert. Enjoy beautiful performances from our choir, band, orchestra, jazz band, and percussion ensemble as we share the joy and spirit of Christmas through music.

Admission is FREE – all are welcome!

Come enjoy the spirit of the season with family and friends.

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.