In true Seattle-fashion, the St. John community did not let a little rain stand in the way of friends, food and fun! Close to 700 parents, guardians, students, faculty, staff and neighbors came out to School’s Out-Grill’s Out BBQ to celebrate the end of the school year. And celebrate, we did! Thank you to Karen Bombino, Paul Kelley, Jonna Skokan, Chef Michael, the Kitchen Crew, Josh Stutzman, the Maintenance Team, and the many, many volunteers who made this event happen. A special thank you to Ethan Stowell, Ethan Stowell Restaurants, Chris, Nutty Squirrel Gelato, the Seymen Family, Fremont Brewing, Chateau St. Michele and Fulcrum Foundation for the delicious feast.
Speaking of thanks, I would like to thank the Covid Response Team, Dora Hall, Lee Rolfe and Paul Kelley, for keeping our community informed in the changing landscape of the pandemic. Recall that the Covid Response Team will not provide updates during the summer. However, the school will continue to provide rapid test kits, which can be picked up any weekday from the Extended Daycare (XDC) main office in the Quigley Building. As COVID-19 is here to stay, the school will continue to follow guidance from the Department of Health (DOH) and PHSKC and will share updated DOH K-12 guidance once we receive it. For more detailed information, see last week’s COVID-19 Update.
The entire school turned out to thank Mrs. Dahlgren for her thirty years of service to St. John. She walked a lap of honor between rows of parents and students yesterday as we held a “Hats off to Mrs. Dahlgren” gathering on the asphalt. Mrs. Dahlgren, our very special Lady of Perpetual Asphalt, will be sorely missed. I am still hopeful that one or two of you will feel ready to step into the Playground Supervisor position in September.
In other faculty announcements, we are delighted to announce that Mrs. Meghan Villanueva, current intermediate music teacher, will be our full-time K-8 music teacher. New parents, Mrs. Baber, Mrs. Olsen, and Mrs. Edwards, will be back for the 22-23 school year, in part-time positions to allow them to spend time with their children.
We also welcome Mrs. Mollie Overa. A parish member and school parent, she will join the middle school team. Mrs. Overa has broad experience, having taught middle school at Our Lady of Fatima and special education at Greenwood Elementary.
Do note that this is the last NewsViews for the 2021-22 school year. NewsViews will return in mid-August as we usher in a new academic year. To help you plan, take a look at Dates to Note, which has important dates for next year.
We talk about ‘community’ a lot at St. John. It’s integral to who we are, and that is apparent in the last two and half years, where the collective efforts of our families, faculty and staff kept the school open and the community healthy. Thank you to each and every one of you.
Stay healthy. Be well. Enjoy the summer, and God bless you,
Bernadette O’Leary
