Principal’s Letter

No matter what the headlines say, there is still so much kindness, compassion, and service in our world today; for example, there is Adrian S. who organized a supplies drive for our neighbors living in the encampment at the Lutheran Church on Greenwood. Thank you, Adrian and all who donated supplies! May all of us be God’s instrument of peace through our daily interactions with one another. 

Archbishop Etienne has called on us to “strengthen our prayers as one family of God for an end to the war in Ukraine. Peace. Peace. Peace.” We pray for the people of Ukraine, for all the children and their families, for those who are supporting the refugees. You are also welcome to pray Stations of the Cross on Fridays at 6pm during Lent.

Please check the children’s backpacks today for their report cards. Help them to review and set goals for this final trimester! If you have some time to spare this Saturday, please join us for a Wood Chip Work Party to get the garden beds ready. The work party will run from 9:30am to 2:30pm; come for as long as you can. All ages are welcomed – this is a great opportunity for high school students to get their service hours – and a special lunch will be provided by Chef Michael.

Next week, on St. Patrick’s Day, the Highland Pipers will be here to welcome us to school! Two years ago they piped us out for what we all thought was to be two weeks of isolation as COVID hit Washington. Those years are another example of our community’s compassion, patience, and living our mission for the common good. Together we flexed through every phase and layer upon layer of mitigation strategies. Now we are feeling very hopeful as we begin to lift the layers, one by one. This year, the Pipers will be here for St. Patrick’s Day, and students will dance, mask optional!

Washington State Department of Health has released updated COVID-19 guidance. You can access the full document, or view the highlights specific to our St. John community in the COVID-19 post below. I want to again thank our faculty and staff, along with the COVID Response Team, for their perseverance and support of all students and families.

Don’t forget; daylight saving time starts this Sunday – be sure to “spring forward,”

Bernadette O’Leary