Hail Mary, full of grace, pray for us.
On Monday, May 1, we will celebrate the crowning of Mary and recite the Rosary in her honor. The children will process into the church and place flowers at her statue. Students in fourth grade and preschool will lead us in this meditative prayer. Remind your children this is a dress uniform day and send them with a flower from your garden. Of note, Stephanie Singler, Stephen Brashear and Loren Skaggs from the Fulcrum Foundation will also be joining us to celebrate the crowning of Mary and photograph our community for the Fulcrum Foundation’s Annual Drive “YES” Campaign.
Do remember that it is also dress uniform day tomorrow. There is so much going on: Superintendent Ford’s visit, middle school Mass, the Seattle Opera performance for students in grades K-5 and Middle School Drama Elective and the Kids Heart Challenge Assembly for grades K-5. Thank you to Melissa Reddington, second-grade parent, for organizing the performance by the Seattle Opera of Frida Kahlo, the Bravest Girl in the World. And thank you, too, to our Kids Heart Heroes, Chad Brown, fifth-grade parent, and Mili G., eighth-grade student, who will tell us about the important and impactful work the American Heart Association is doing. Our challenge is to support that work by donating to the fundraiser and exercising – in this case, let’s jump rope!
Thank God for the sunshine! It arrived in time for so many activities. Thank you, teachers, for giving your time to host so many Auction events tomorrow afternoon! Parents, if you signed up, you will already have received notification. The weather improved in time for Bike to School Day next Wednesday, May 3. If you don’t have a bike, consider walking – even part of the way. Exercise is so good for hearts and brains. And speaking of brain exercise, Family STEM Night is on Thursday, May 4. Thank you, teachers, for even more time! The St. John community is so grateful. And we teachers are grateful to you, St. John parents, for the monthly treats, the coffee, cookies, breakfast bars, cake, pastries and boba tea; we enjoyed it all! You are so kind!
Your generosity reaches all corners of the campus. The new fire alarm system in Egan Hall, a portion of which was funded by last year’s auction Fund-A-Need, is now live and active. The hardware for the smoke and heat alarms has been installed. The Fire Marshal was in Egan Hall this morning to test the new system and confirmed the system is ready to go live for Fire Department notification. On Monday, all students participated in a fire drill during their lunch period to practice exiting Egan Hall and lining up at the corner of 1st Ave. and N. 79th Street. Thank you again for your support of this project through Fund-A-Need! The students are also asking for your support. Middle School Students are leading a diaper drive, “Fill the Truck,” for Westside Baby. Donations of diapers and wipes will be accepted before and after school on Friday, May 5. Thank you!
Thank you, too, to the Parent Association, Sara Dean, Allan Quiaoit, Madelyn Pennington, Pablo, Chef Michael and the Kitchen Team, the Maintenance Team and the parent/guardian, middle school and alumnae volunteers who made the Family Decade Dance a tremendous success! What a grand way to celebrate 100 years of St. John!
Thank you so much to this vibrant and giving community,
Bernadette O’Leary
