November 1, 2006

Dear Families,

Today is All Saints Day and we have been emphasizing how we are called to be light for the world. In particular, we are trying to see the ways that we can, in a sense, shine the warm light of caring and concern on those who might not have that. One of the most striking moments for me in Africa, after another traveler, Sean Brennan, and I visited with a group of people in their slum home was when an elderly woman said, “It means so much to know that there are people in America who care what happens to us.” We can help our children be that caring light.

Sixth grade teacher, Kathi Hand, has established a connection over the last couple of years with alum and Peace Corps volunteer, Zoe Malley, who is working in Lesotho, South Africa. Sixth grade students not only offer support, but they also have the experience of getting a glimpse into the real work of serving the poor. Third grade students visit Ida Culver House and this year the structure of their visits has been changed to insure that students and residents interact in ways that deepen their understanding and appreciation of one another. And seventh and eight grade students continue to come before school this year on Friday mornings to make sandwiches for the poor who will come to Francis House later in the day.

Young people can and should have the opportunity to experience themselves as making a difference. We call them to service in a variety of ways. Our all school prayers over the last month have included the following:

• “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is sadness, let me bring joy. Where there is loneliness let me bring friendship. And where there is wrong, let me stand up for what is right.”

• Jesus, you told us that we are the light of the world. Help us to have the courage and the willingness to let your love and your power shine through us into the world. Amen

I encourage you to find ways to call your children’s attention to people who are that light of Christ in the world and to find ways that they can reflect that love to others.

You know, there are so many of you who have multiple opportunities to share reflections about service with your kids because you do so much. Even selling gift wrap, working on the Halloween carnival, buying scrip, working on the auction, driving on field trips, working in the classroom, and doing traffic duty can become occasions when you help your kids understand that being part of a community is providing service to the community. The needs of the community, including funding, you have made “your problem” to address when you volunteer. You don’t leave it for someone else to do. That can be the basis of a very productive conversation with your kids. What would happen if you didn’t respond to our plea for exceptional participation in gift wrap or if parents did not volunteer to work at the carnival? How would our community be impacted? From here you can move to discussing opportunities for your kids to step up to leadership and service in their own lives at their own levels. Our faith calls us, including our children, to make a difference in the community, in society and in the world. It is who we are as Catholics.

An update: the strategic planning continues. The School Commission has taken all of the recommendations from the self-study task forces and the visiting committee and are developing priorities and action items. These will be formalized at the November 7 meeting. From there committees and timelines will be established and the five year plan will go to publication. I will keep you updated on the process.

And I want to make an aside here. Scrip certainly is a direct benefit to us and we appreciate those of you who are so diligent in using it. And I am especially grateful for those of you who use it for corporate gift-giving when your generosity to your employees and clients also benefits ASB. (On that note, I want to let you know that neighborhood favorites, Valarmos and Sand Point Grill, are both offering ASB 20% on their gift cards, so please think about using them for holiday giving.)

Thanks for everything that you do. And special thanks to everyone who made the Halloween carnival fun and successful.

October 25, 2006

Dear Families,

In Catholic social teaching, solidarity speaks to the belief that we all belong to one human family-beyond the boundaries of race, culture, nationality, ideology or geography. In an increasingly interconnected world, loving our neighbor has global dimensions. The social mission of the Church is an essential part of our Catholic faith. The central message of Catholic social teaching is simple: We cannot truly be called “Catholic” unless we hear and heed Jesus’ call to serve those in need and to work for justice and peace.

As a Catholic school and community we have a responsibility and an opportunity to help our students develop a sense of solidarity-that is, to hear the Gospel call to love as Jesus loves-at home, in school, in the community and beyond our own local “borders”. This is an essential part of Catholic identity and formation so we are making renewed and visible efforts to raise the awareness of our students (and their families) of ways that we can reach out and stand together with those who need us to do just that; going beyond simply providing service and deepening our understanding that being Church means hearing the Good News through Scripture, celebrating and worshiping through the Eucharist, sacraments, prayer, etc. and undertaking actions for social justice.

The challenge is to appreciate the need that surrounds us. For example, some of us from school attended an auction for the University Food Bank and were astonished to learn that the food bank fed 39,724 households last year using 1.4 million pounds of food? Twenty-two percent of the people served were infants and children. That is right here in our midst. How do we bring ourselves, much less our children, to understand that this is our problem? We have several efforts underway to help us understand and to support our local community.

When word came that the St. Joseph Baby Corner was vandalized and burglarized, kindergarten parents mobilized and sent in thousands of diapers. The kindergartners understand the importance of diapers and experienced themselves as responding to help people. They will continue this throughout the year. The fourth graders can’t imagine not being able to go to high school because their parents don’t have the thirty dollars to send them so they are making cards to sell to raise money to send sixty kids to high school in Nambitembo. A scout troop will hold a bake sale to send money to Nambitembo. They are making this problem their problem. Soccer balls continue to come in as well because, if the kids of Nambitembo play soccer (football) with balls made of rags, people have made that their problem. And sixth graders continue to work each week at Northwest Harvest helping those who provide food to the poor and deepening their understanding that hunger and poverty are issues in Seattle.

Help us to help your children understand that, if people suffer, have needs or lack justice, that is our problem. We will support 24 boys at the Children’s Home, six families at Childhaven, and young adults at Sand Point transitional housing over the holidays. We will have our toy drive for Francis House as well. Please talk to your children about how our faith calls us to service and to share what we have. And this is not just because we have so much. The gospel accounts of the loaves and the fishes or the widow’s mite were all about people sharing what they had, not from their excess but from what they needed.

I want to highlight efforts that we are making in our middle school to help our students develop a sense of solidarity with others beyond our own community. My son, Kevin, is teaching in a very poor, urban school located in housing projects just outside Birmingham, Alabama. Some of our eighth graders and seventh graders (not all because his classes are small) have begun a pen pal project. One of our goals is to help our students develop a connection with, some understanding of and a relationship to people of their age whose lives, in many ways, are radically different. Yet, they began by looking for similarities and common interests among themselves. We had to write longhand because the St. Mary’s students do not have access to computers at home or at school. We had to be aware that the perception of St. Mary’s students, because we are primarily white, is that our students are smart, rich and life is easy. We had to understand that these students, many of whom are very bright, have not had the educational benefits that ASB students have and that might appear in their ability to express themselves in writing. The students in both schools are very excited about this project and my hope is that it will lead to a deepened commitment to reach out to and to understand other people in a relationship-to form a sense of solidarity with one another.

The second opportunity that we have occurs this week. The sixth, seventh and eighth graders viewed a documentary entitled the Paper Clip Project about a little middle school in Whitwell, TN that undertook a project to understand the Holocaust. The goal of the school was to open up the worldview of the kids in this small and very homogenous community. The documentary shows how, through collecting a paper clip to represent every one of the six million Jews who died, transformed their worldview, their school and their community. (That is all that I am going to say because I really recommend you get this at Blockbuster and view it yourself). It is a testament to solidarity and to how kids can make a difference. On Friday David Smith, vice-principal from Whitwell, will speak to our students about his transformation and his community’s at 9:00 A.M. in the gym. You are most welcome to attend. I am hopeful that this will give us some ideas about responding in solidarity, both here and in Nambitembo.

Finally, I want to bring another opportunity to your awareness. I have no words to adequately explain to you the devastation we saw that A.I.D.S. has brought to Africa. There are 1.5 million A.I.D.S. orphans in Kenya alone and this number is growing. I met, talked to and held some of those children. And Africa is not the most critical A.I.D.S. crisis today. India is. Poverty, social mores and cultural attitudes, lack of education and effective infrastructures all contribute to this staggering disaster. If you consider that the death rate is highest among 15 to 39 year olds, then you realize that the viable workforce, parents, and leadership are effectively being eliminated. What does it mean for these countries, continents and the world? In a global economy and with global politics, what does that mean for us? There will be a visiting display coming to our region called “The Children Left Behind” about the needs this epidemic has created. It will be in Bellevue in December and at Rainier Square. World A.I.D.S. Day is December 1 and I will come back to this topic.

The virtue of solidarity: a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good; that is to say, to the good of all…because we are really responsible for all.” (Pope John Paul II) Think of what the ASB community will be like among ourselves, in the community and in the world when we all embrace this virtue and consciously choose to live it everyday!

Dear Families,

One of the principles of Catholic social teaching is the call to solidarity with all people, especially the poor and the disenfranchised across the globe. We certainly only have to look at the labels on our clothing, the produce in the supermarket and the cars on our freeways to recognize that our lives and lifestyle depend upon our relationships with and the work of other people in other places. If you have traveled to a developing nation, Mexico, for example, perhaps you have had the opportunity to move beyond the confines of tourist attractions to see how the majority of people must live. How do we work for solidarity with the poorest of the poor of the world?

At the Elephant Stampede, vice-principal, Kathi Hand, asked Fr. Phillip what he thought of the event. He commented something to the effect that “I am overwhelmed to see such a large number of people coming together to do something so important for people whom they have never and, most likely, will never meet.” That event, in fact, is an act of solidarity, not only because it raises much needed funds, but because it brings our community together to achieve a higher good than something that simply benefits ourselves. We recognize, respond to and celebrate our commitment to share our resources, including time, to build up a community. I would like to think that this is a recognized and deeply held commitment of our ASB School and parishes’ community. You certainly have shown interest and enthusiasm for what we can and will do for the children of Nambitembo this year in addition to what we will do for the poor in our own community. Please talk to your children throughout the year about why this is so important for us as Christians and Catholics. It is a part of who we are. It is what we do as a sign of our faith and as our response to the gospel.

Do you think that sometimes it is easier to stand in solidarity with or reach out to (to love, the gospel would say) the people of Nambitembo, Francis House, Childhaven, St. Vincent de Paul or Sacred Heart Shelter than it is to try to understand, forgive, reach out to or try to get to know people in our own community? Do we teach our children to have the same compassion for, let go of stereotypes of, reach out to, or try to get to know all the children in their class or kids in general? Do we show our children that life is not about entitlement and the expectation to be served but about service to one another, especially within the community? Is that how we live ourselves? After all, our actions and decisions provide our children with their most powerful lessons. In his first letter, St.

John says we really are kidding ourselves, but no one else, when we say that we love God, whom we can’t see but don’t act with love to the people we do see. (Actually, he says it a bit more strongly 1John 4:20-21).

In our school this year, we will emphasize, in different ways, the call to solidarity. And that will include with one another. We invite you to make that a part of your conversations with your children and with one another this year as well. On a related note: this is National Hispanic Heritage month, which holds many opportunities to reflect upon and talk about solidarity. And, as an update, the young Mexican teenage boy whom many of you helped financially this year still has his deportation case pending but he currently is attending a Catholic university on full-scholarship. We will continue to support his living needs. His mother was moved to Salem, Oregon (it took some time and investigation to find out that she had been moved and where) and her detention conditions are not good. Please continue to keep the family in your prayers.

And, on a much more mundane note: thanks for your support of the scrip program, which is off to a great start this year. We really would like 100% participation of our school families. And, please, do all that you can to sell gift wrap. Bluntly speaking, we are counting on that money in the budget. We do all that we can to raise tuition as little as possible and still do all that we think is important to do for our students.

Finally, thanks for the support and enthusiasm that we have already experienced this year. We have had a tremendous start.

Sincerely,

Mike Foy

September 12, 2006

Dear Families,

What if a 12 year old had a bright idea to hold a family dance to start the school year and to benefit a charity? What if a couple of parents and a teacher thought it was a great idea and helped him carry out his plan? What if his classmates’ parents were asked to provide treats and they responded generously? What if his classmates, while disappointed that they could not attend a middle school dance at another school, focused their energy into decorating and trying to make the dance a success? Would anyone come?

I guess you know if you were here on Friday night. What a great success! The crowd was huge. Kids and adults had a wonderful time. Seventh graders were dancing with first graders and everyone seemed to be smiling and laughing. “We have to do this every year!” exclaimed more than one person. Thank you, Chris McCarthy, and seventh graders! Thank you, Andy and Betsy McCarthy, Jane Davis, and seventh grade parents! Thank you, Kathi Hand and school staff! Now who has a great idea for our next community celebration? Can each of us ask: What can I do to make this a great community?

I hope that you will find the opportunity to celebrate with the community this Sunday at the Elephant Stampede at Sand Point at 1:00 P.M. I can tell you from my first hand experience now that we are doing tremendous good in Nambitembo, Malawi, especially through the schools. We now have nine sister schools! The parish has seven elementary schools and two secondary schools as well as a trade school. All were either refurbished or built from proceeds from the Elephant Stampede as well as houses for the teachers, the youth center and the parish center. Yet, there is still much to be accomplished and your assistance is appreciated.

Today, Fr. Phillip from Nambitembo visited our classes and I hope that you will ask your children about his visit. He will celebrate the Mass of the Holy Spirit with us on Monday at 1:00 P.M. in the gym and you are most welcome.

In upcoming letters I will share with you some ideas that we have for helping to give children in Nambitembo a chance at a future in ways that our own students can make a big difference.

August 17, 2006

Dear Families,

Jambo! (Greetings!) Habari? (How are you?) Mizuri (I am fine.) And now I have exhausted my repertoire of Swahili from Kenya. Sometime I will share the Chechewa I learned in Malawi but it isn’t as extensive as my Swahili. While my language skills don’t show much from spending a month in East Africa, my worldview certainly has altered. And in ways that I would not have expected.

While there are many experiences and impressions that have left and continue to leave their mark, one of the most significant involves how we were welcomed into people’s homes, villages, work places and missions. So many times having someone take (not just shake) my hand, hold on, look directly at me and repeat, “You are most welcome” made me feel honored to be in this person’s presence, whether that was the archbishop of Mombassa or the woman in Kibera slum (one million people) in Nairobi welcoming us into her corrugated metal home or the leper woman in Bamba village into her mud hut. There is a way that kind of welcome touches one’s soul. How would it transform our community if each of us reverenced those who come into our lives by “most welcoming” them sincerely and completely?

One of the characteristics of Catholic parishes (which are huge) that we encountered was the existence of small Christian communities as they are called. People within the parishes form smaller groups to support one another spiritually, socially, personally, and, if needed economically. They see and believe that their “success” and happiness depend upon their working together toward their common goals and dreams. It is so striking because we are talking about people who have virtually nothing but understand that each person needs to contribute all that he or she can. That is a spirit and an attitude that we as a community can enhance among ourselves. Whether it is your family, your parish, and, most certainly, the school, unless each member of the group responds generously and consistently, we will fall far short of doing what we need to do. In the school this means to do the work that we need to do to educate our children effectively.

And the most significant impression all, of course, was left by the hundreds of children whom we encountered in the schools, in the slums, on the streets, and in the villages. While you will be hearing more from me on the children of Africa, most immediately you will hear that we (all of us together) must do our best with our time, talents, and resources to educate our children so that they can be people who can and will make a difference in the world. We cannot take for granted the education our children receive now and in the future. And we must insure that those children coming behind have the same or even greater opportunities. I suppose for a parent and a teacher, there is nothing like spending time with children, who simply have no future, to scrub your soul a bit and to focus your thinking.

So, we launch ourselves into the 2006-2007 school year with a full six year term of accreditation from the Northwest Association of Independent Schools/Western Association of Catholic Schools. We have many intriguing and challenging projects before us and more will develop out of the follow up work from the task force recommendations. Frankly, with several of the schools (private and public) in north Seattle struggling and facing some serious difficulties, we are fortunate to be strong and to have a plan for the future. I cannot tell you too many times (although it may feel like it) how important it is to have all of the parents contributing time, talents and resources. We like your ideas but we really need people doing the work, providing the revenue and resources, and spreading the word about our school to keep us growing and strong. We cannot take our successes for granted. You are a tremendous parent community and I rely on you to help us build a strong school and future.

Enclosed in today’s packet is information about ordering hot lunch this year, Scrip, gift wrap (60% to the school), auction, school store hours, and the driver information form. Please take time to read them all carefully. There is also a flier for a Back to School family dance. This great idea is student initiated and will be a delightful way to kick off the school year. And here are some other dates that you will want to have.

• Class lists posted Saturday August 26
• Kindergarten picnic is Sunday August 27 at 5:00 PM at Bryant Park
• Open house to visit classrooms Thursday August 31 2-4 P.M.
• Sixth grade orientation Thursday August 31 6:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M.
• Kindergarten parents only Thursday August 31 7:30 P.M.-8:30 P.M.

I look forward to this school year tremendously. My time in Africa did not make me want to do something different (and I had anticipated that it might) but rather it impels me to do what I do differently. I believe that what we, school and families, are doing is so important and can be so far-reaching. And I really find life being here. That is what I want for all of our students, for our teachers and staff and, if possible, for all of the parents. The powerful experiences that I had in Africa were not because it was an easy place for people to live-far from it-but what came from those people who were determined about what they were going to do and who they were going to be. And I think that is who we are as well so let’s once again open our minds, our hearts and our souls to let God’s Spirit blow through here and accomplish incredible things in, for and among us!

God bless!

Mike

P.S. I did not know where to put this but I need to say it. We raised tuition very modestly this year and we are counting on your full and generous support of gift wrap, scrip, and the auction. We need this revenue to pay our bills. Tuition falls far short of what we need but we are trying to provide ways for people to contribute outside of raising tuition. That being said, I would ask you to revisit your annual fund pledge to determine how close it comes to making up the difference between tuition and actually educating your children. Is it possible to increase your contribution? Are you in a position to give even more than the difference? Whatever you can do will help, whether that is your financial support or your time and I appreciate all of your efforts.

May 9, 2006

Dear Families,

This week has been designated as National Teacher Appreciation Week. I want to take this opportunity to recognize the commitment, the hard work and the expertise of the individuals and community of professionals who have dedicated themselves to your children.

As we reflected in our registration meetings in March, we give over our children, who are the most important focus in our lives, into the care of and under the direction of teachers everyday. Not only do we expect our children’s teachers to prepare them for whatever the future holds, but we also want them to create an environment in which the students feel safe, valued and supported. We want our children challenged and motivated to excel. And we want them lovingly guided and supported as they move through their studies. We want a rigorous, meaningful academic program and we want every child to succeed. We want our children to develop the skills needed to succeed and we want them to have the opportunities to develop and explore their own interests and potential. We want high expectations for our children and we want sensitivity and compassion toward them when they face struggles or crises. And we want our children’s particular learning needs, whether that is for acceleration or remediation or differentiation, addressed effectively. Finally, we want teachers to model and uphold the values, ethics, and faith that we want our children to develop.

Is that too much to expect? I really do not think so because that is what ASB teachers commit themselves to each day. This commitment demands that the teachers engage in ongoing education and professional development. Most teachers have or are completing at least one master’s degree. The entire primary department is engaged in developing a comprehensive program for early identification of and remediation of reading difficulties. This has meant numerous hours of study and class work beyond their teaching responsibilities. All teachers participate in professional growth teams aimed at enhancing instruction, assessment and lesson planning. These teams not only consult and study together but they also observe and provide feedback on one another’s teaching. And they spend countless hours consulting about their students learning, their struggles, their needs, and their talents. Not a day goes by that one or more teachers does not ask me or another administrator for suggestions or resources aimed at meeting the needs of individual or groups of students.

I receive many notes from parents or copies of notes to teachers from parents recognizing the extra effort that has gone into a child. What parents do not see so readily are the moments when teachers share their worries, upset or concern about what is happening with particular kids or groups of kids. Teachers moved to tears over kids is more common than you might think. And it may not have occurred to parents, but many teachers hate to see their classes go at the end of the school year. They become very attached because teaching is, in fact, a labor of love.

Now all of this does not mean that teachers do not make mistakes, do not have failures, and do not miss the mark at times. Teaching provides a venue in which one’s mistakes and shortcomings can receive a very public showing or become fodder for field side conversations. That is why the relationship that teachers have with parents is so important. We have to continually reaffirm together our mutual commitment to what is best for every child. That means that our teachers have an ongoing involvement in professional development. And, unlike in public schools, the days and hours that your ASB teachers put in beyond actual school days and hours are not compensated, e.g. for every day beyond the 180 school days calendar that a public school teacher works or for every hour beyond those proscribed in the contract the teacher receives extra compensation. Your ASB teachers’ commitment to professional growth and excellence is directly related to their dedication to their students. Their contract calls for working from 8:00 AM until 3:30 PM for 186 work days but you can be sure that they work far beyond that.

So, I am taking a moment to show my appreciation for the outstanding individuals and professional community with whom I am privileged to work each day. After thirty-plus years and many faculties, I know how blessed we are here today. I expect that you do as well so let’s each take a moment to appreciate what we have, even if it is not perfect or always how we want it to be, because we know that our kids are the direct beneficiaries of what their teachers strive to do and be each day.

Sincerely,

May 2, 2006

Dear Families,

May has arrived! And we enter one of the busiest times of our year. ITBS and WASL testing, overnighters, retreats, graduation planning, learning celebrations, the reading rodeo, Mariners games, national parks reports, LRS celebration, American history projects, and more compete for our time as we diligently work to accomplish all that we have set out to do this year. At the same time, parents continue to give incredible amounts of time to our efforts including all of the parents working on the task forces, the plant sale (thank you to Aimee Jacobson and crew who got drenched on Saturday), in classrooms, driving on field trips, coaching, preparing the St. Bridget auction, working on the Assumption memorial garden, and more! And then there are all the things that staff and parents are doing to prepare for the coming year!

Attached to this letter you will find forty developmental assets identified by the Search Institute (www.search-institute.org) as the “building blocks of healthy development that help young people grow up healthy, caring and responsible.” These assets have been grouped into external assets, or those provided by the adults in the young person’s life, and internal assets, or those that have developed within the young person as a result of his or her interactions with the adults in his or her life. I share these with you because I think they give us some clear and concrete direction in raising our kids to become the kind of adults Catholic/Christian schools and families aim to produce. And they highlight the importance of home, school, parish and community working together in the development of our children. It has become cliché to say “it takes a village” but the reality is that, as parents, we need our children’s lives to be filled with adults who share a commitment to helping us raise children who grow up to be good people. And we need to actively promote opportunities, expectations, skills and attitudes that lead to happy, productive, moral and courageous lives. More than ever, the need for us to work together in the formation of our children and that the school, especially a Catholic school plays a crucial role. And the school needs parents like you, who have invested themselves in all aspects of our mission.

As you read over the list of assets you may want to consider which areas are ones that as parents, as a family, or even as a group of families that you will emphasize or encourage in your children. You may want to thank those “other adults” from whom your child receives support or who role model “positive and responsible behavior”. And, perhaps most importantly, you could identify and commend your children when you see or hear of them exhibiting some of those internal assets like reading for pleasure; acting upon his or her convictions and standing for what he or she believes; telling the truth even when is not easy; showing empathy; resolving a conflict peacefully; taking personal responsibility; planning ahead; or demonstrating a sense of purpose. The examples do not have to be grand or dramatic. Help them discover these assets within themselves in the daily activities and choices of their lives.

In looking over these assets it is important for us as parents and school staff not to feel overwhelmed about having to do all of these all of the time. These are guidelines and goals to help us to think about raising our children and about what is most important when making decisions about time, activities and relationships. And it can provide an opportunity to sit back for a moment and reflect upon the lives of our kids and where those external and internal assets are evident and where we may want to make some adjustments.

In the envelope this week there is also an announcement for the Catholic schools celebration at the Seattle Center on Saturday. This is a part of the 150^th anniversary of Catholic schools in the Seattle Archdiocese. A number of school groups will be performing as well as a number of schools having booths. We encourage you to take a little time and visit the celebration on Saturday. (I decided that we simply have had too much on our plates this year, including the accreditation process, professional development programs in which people have been involved as well as all the items to which I referred at the start of this letter, and this is entering an intense time of rehearsal for the spring musical so it was unrealistic to ask students and adults to take on another commitment right now. We sometimes have to say no to all that is asked of us.) Part of the purpose is to raise the public’s awareness of Catholic schools. Frankly, I depend upon you to spread the word about ASB and to encourage people to apply.

We have hired two new staff members. Michael Szott (zot) will teach 8^th grade block and 6^th grade social studies. He taught for two years at St. Luke and has most recently been teaching middle school in the Highline District and completing his master’s degree in special education. He comes extremely highly recommended from both Highline and St. Luke School. Lori Landes, our new counselor, is spending this year in Germany, but previously has been a counselor in middle school in Federal Way as well as the counselor of the Seattle Hebrew Academy. We are especially pleased that, she not only comes with excellent recommendations, she will also provide an invaluable partnership with Kathy Kane in teaching 6^th grade Old Testament because she is active in her Jewish faith. We are also making another adjustment. Mary Patneaude has moved to office support in the school and Chris Axelson will direct extended care.

Enjoy these beautiful May days (and I hope the sun lasts for awhile) and thanks again for all that you have done, do now and will do for the students at ASB School.

Sincerely,

Mike

P.S. Our parent ed meeting next Tuesday about raising and dealing with the issues of teenagers is aimed at middle school parents, but all are welcome even if their kids are in other schools.

Also, we have had strep reported in our school and around the area so be aware if your child complains of a sore throat.

Happy Catholic Schools Week in America!

We are celebrating 150 years of Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Seattle!

February 1, 2006

Dear Families,

And today we observe the feast of St. Bridget! I hope that you have had the opportunity to read the winter newsletter, which you received this week. All of us should have some basic understanding of the development of our school over nearly sixty years. We stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us and future generations depend upon us to continue this important work. We live in a tradition of education that strives for excellence in academics infused with a commitment for living out the gospel in the world, especially in terms of peace and for justice for all people.

During the hundreds of years that Catholic education has touched thousands upon thousands of students across the world, there have been times that we lost our focus in some schools, in some places and at sometimes. Yet, the essence of the Church’s mission to spread the good news of Jesus through the education of young people with an aim to sending them into the world to make a difference continues unabated. And this happens through the power of God’s Spirit inspiring the hearts and minds of adults-teachers, parents, pastors, parish members, alumni, benefactors, friends-to come together to insure that the legacy of Catholic education continues. I know that this sounds very ethereal and all, but I really believe that is what happens. God’s Spirit is alive in us.

In our history, the Benedictine priests were able to convince the Dominican sisters of Tacoma to establish the school. Our tradition began with two religious communities with a strong tradition in education over centuries around the world. In the early 1970’s, the Holy Names sisters, again a community renowned for their schools, took charge of the school. And then, in the mid-70’s the first layperson became principal at the school. Throughout all of our years, there were many lay teachers staffing the school as well. Just as we do today, our school depended upon the commitment and expertise of men and women, religious and lay, and pastors and community leaders to insure that our students thrived.

Of course, the school never would have survived, much less excelled, without the commitment of parents to provide time, resources and talents to the school community. While the forms of that service has changed and evolved over the years, the fact remains that the parents’ energy for and commitment to Catholic education insured the success and future of our school.

On Thursday we will host an open house throughout the morning, meeting with a number of the sisters who taught here, guests who are interested in the school and family members who just want to celebrate with us. Please feel free to join us. At 1:15 we will honor the Dominican sisters, who taught in our school, and the entire Dominican community that answered the call to establish our school and to provide a superior education for parish children. They represent all of those in our past to whom we owe a debt of gratitude. We will also honor the graduating parents of 2005, who have established the graduating parents’ endowment fund. They represent all of those in our present to whom we owe a debt of gratitude for working to insure our future. We would love to have you join us.

During this week, I want to take a moment to say that, based upon my experience in education (which is getting alarmingly long) that I have never worked with a finer group of educators. I marvel at the commitment of these people, young and…experienced, who continue to seek training, knowledge, skills and information to make them more effective in teaching your children. I have never worked with a more passionate group. Nor have I worked with people who care more about their students personally. You are very fortunate to have them with your children all day.

As for the kids, I want you to know what a delight they are. In so many ways, they make teaching a joy because of who they are and what you have helped them to become up until now. Your influence is the most powerful force in their lives. Thank you.

And your insights, experiences and participation are still vital to building the life of our school. Following up on our notice in the winter newsletter this week, you will soon receive an invitation to volunteer or nominate members of the community, parents and non, parents to participate in the task forces for the developing our next five-year plan. We really need your input.

Finally, our thanks to Fr. Oliver and Fr. Connole as well as the entire parish communities for the unswerving support of ASB School they continue to provide to the school. I cannot stress enough that is not the case everywhere, so thank them when you next see them.

Blessings and thanks to you again and again and again. And thank God for all that we have together. May that same Spirit that energizes us here, motivate us to generously share what we have beyond our own community.

Sincerely,

Mike

December 14, 2005

Dear Families,

As we scurry into the Christmas break, I want to thank you for your generosity on so many levels over the past few weeks. We share an abundance of life in the ASB School community and it is gratifying that you so freely extend yourselves and your resources.

The auction was a huge success thanks to Margaret Newman, Margaret Havens and all of you who worked so hard to make it happen. Once again, Sherry Shefts’ magic transformed the gym into a lovely setting for the evening. Joanne Poggetti and crew restored the facility to normal as they labored throughout the night after we all went home. And so many others, who worked on procurement, set-up, invitations, organization, the bank, and on and on, contributed hundreds of hours. Thank you! And your generosity made this our most successful auction yet with the gross income of nearly $280,000. Fund-an-item is nearing $55,000 so we will have a new play structure, new laptops and (with the added help of a private donation) we are able to send $6,000 to St. George School (and they are ecstatic). This does not include any matching gifts that we will receive from those of you who have a matching gift program at your work.

Your tradition of generosity at Christmas continues with the support that you are providing to Francis House, Childhaven and Sand Point transitional housing families. The sixth grade bake sale for Northwest Harvest made over $526. I want to especially thank those of you who are helping me with the high school boy and his younger sister that I wrote about a couple of weeks ago. Your QFC cards have been a critical help. As we are also trying to keep their rent and utilities paid any contributions are most appreciated. If you make them to ASB School and designate them for this charitable work, your gift is tax-deductible.

I have to say that working to support this young man has had a tremendous impact on me. If you were to meet him, you would have no clue about what he labors under each day. I look at the kids in our school from a new perspective in that I wonder if they each have the support and resources that they need. I work not to assume that I know so much about who they are and what might be going on in their lives. I want to attempt to approach each one with a manner that will allow me to be and do for them what they need from me. For most in our school it won’t be material things that they need but rather the intangibles that come from relationships. I need to develop a generosity of spirit that forces me to strive to see who these kids can become and what they can contribute rather than simply classifying them by what they are or are not doing today. And together, parents as well as teachers, need to understand that we are mentors and resources for all of the kids who come into our lives. Not to take that role very seriously cannot be a choice for us. It just is not who we are as the ASB School community.

Have a wonderful Christmas with all those whom you love.

November 30, 2005

Dear Families,

December snuck up on me this year! The auction is Saturday and we have the highest hopes that it will be a tremendous success in not only providing the funds that we need to provide all that we do, but also by enabling us to build a new big toy structure and to increase the availability of lap top computers for our students. The auction reservations are a sell-out, the items look tremendous, the auction chairs, Margaret Newman and Margaret Haven, with their incredibly generous and hard-working team have given it their all. Thanks to each person and family who has contributed to this important effort.

You all do so much in so many ways for so many people. And this year we face so many requests for help and once again I am turning to you for your support. First of all, through fund-an-item at the auction, we will ask you to help us not with just the big toy and technology, but also to help purchase math books for the students at St. George School. They do not have the books they need for their 3^rd through 5^th grade students. It is hard to imagine.

St. George is not the only school in need. In this 150^th anniversary year of the archdiocese, the Fulcrum Foundation (the development arm of the Catholic Schools Department) is in the silent phase of a $35 million campaign to ensure that all Catholic schools will have a secure future and that they are affordable and accessible to all who want a Catholic education for their children, in short, to have what our children have. All Catholic schools have been asked to participate in this campaign. Teachers, staff members and I have been asked to contribute to the endowment for schools in need. Students are being asked to contribute to an endowment for tuition assistance for students in need. There is a “schoolhouse mite box” in each classroom. Students are asked to contribute their own money from chores, gifts, etc., perhaps $1.50 in honor of our 150 years as a diocese. The school campaign ends January 13.

These are not the only requests and needs that have come our way. Francis House once again is depending upon us to provide new toys from which parents, who have no other resources, can select Christmas gifts for their children. We are asking grades K-3 to help us meet this need. Childhaven, which aids families in crisis, has opened a branch at the Ryther Child Center site not far from us and has asked us to help to provide Christmas for some families. We are asking grades 4-6 to help us do this. Once again, we are asking grades 7 and 8 to help us to provide Christmas for kids 11 years old to 18 years old, who are living at the Sandpoint housing complex and go to school in the neighborhood. And the sixth graders will hold a bake sale next week to raise money to assist Northwest Harvest, where they volunteer each week. As you may have heard, food banks all over the region have found their donations down and the need for food increasing. And we are trying to ensure that an 18 year old boy who is on his own and caring for his younger sibling while going to high school has ongoing support in terms of food, clothing, etc. This could last awhile.

It is incredible that all of these needs are right here. Yesterday I delivered the meals that had been prepared for the Orion Center, which serves homeless youth. The boys who were in the center when I arrived were working quietly at tables or reading. There were no obvious tattoos, piercings, unkempt clothing or haircuts, or odd behavior. I felt like I was looking at kids in the Blanchet, Prep or O’Dea library. I know that, if I saw them at the Village, they wouldn’t warrant a second glance. Where would these boys be when the Orion Center closed for the night? Homeless kids tend to sleep in the day when it is safer to let their guard down. What can I do?

So even as I encourage you to please generously support our auction and provide an exceptional school environment for our children, I am asking that we not forget those in need right here at home. As you anticipate Christmas shopping as well as helping with our charities, perhaps you could purchase an extra QFC card (which can also be used at Fred Myer) for Christmas families or one of the young people we are helping this year. There is a scrip party tonight (Wednesday) at St. Bridget, tomorrow night at Assumption, and next Tuesday at St. Bridget. Maybe you’ll even get a better idea of what you could do after seeing what is available from perusing the available gift cards.

I hesitated when I first considered laying these needs and requests before you because of all that you already do and with the auction coming up. However, last Wednesday when I met with that boy who is on his own trying to hold his family and school life together and when I looked at those kids in the Orion Center, the abstract ideal of helping those in need changed to real people, real kids, who need my help, who need our help, right now. So I am asking you to be generous at the auction, to be generous with your parishes’ Christmas giving trees, to be generous with our school’s Christmas charities, and to be generous with all that you have, including your time, with the poor. It is what Jesus asks us to do.

“Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we welcome you away from home or clothe you in your nakedness? When did we visit you when you were ill or in prison?” (Matt. 26: 37-39)

During this particular Advent maybe all of these needs and requests will actually become a blessing for us and keep us focused on what is important rather than on what drives us crazy about Christmas. Maybe we will benefit in ways that will be totally unexpected.

Sincerely,

Mike

November 16, 2005

Dear Families,

The visiting team for our accreditation last week could not stop talking about the incredible support for and presence that you provide in the school. The team encountered you working with kids in classrooms; working together for the auction and gift wrap as well as scrip; collating and distributing the family envelopes; meeting with the team on Tuesday evening during which time they discovered the breadth and the depth of the ways in which you involve yourselves in the life and structure of the school; in providing wonderful meals for the team and for the staff during the week (thank you!) and in personal conversations throughout their three days here. There was no question in their minds why the faculty and staff identified your support as one of the key strengths of ASB School.

In today’s envelope you will find the synthesis of the team’s findings. When we receive the formal report, we will post it on our website for all to see. The accreditation team could not have endorsed the school more strongly noting that, together, we set a very high standard for ourselves as we work to educate all of our children. The team affirmed that the collaborative efforts of faculty/staff, parents and parishes have created a culture of excellence and community. And, most importantly, the team noted that “ASB School shares a strong sense of Catholic identity…”

Interestingly, the team questioned several places throughout our self-study which we identified as areas for growth. Team members indicated that they perceived those same areas as strengths and asked why we put them in the growth column. Simply put, a student who does well in science or in writing needs to be challenged or encouraged to become even stronger or more skilled in those areas so as to maximize his/her potential. The same is true for us as a school. While we celebrate and enjoy our strengths as a school, resting on our laurels will never characterize ASB School. This kind of a review and response from other educators, the archdiocesan office of education and the state representative from the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools provides a renewed energy for us in pursuing the areas for follow up that we identified in our self-study and in developing our next five year plan. More than ever, it is clear that we have to all do this together if we will continue to build a legacy of community and excellence for ASB School.

The work of the faculty and staff during this process surpassed anything I have seen or experienced in a school. I cannot reiterate too many times how fortunate we are to have these people interacting with our children everyday. Thank God and thank them for choosing to spend their lives in education. Our kids’ futures depend upon them. And the students themselves brought to life what we are and do. They saw the quality of work being produced. They heard articulate and poised responses to their questions. They watched energetic, engaged and happy students. And they came to see the impact of ASB School’s emphasis on critical thinking in all that the students did. What happens here each day is amazing. We all have great reasons to feel pride in what we are accomplishing together. Let’s all keep that momentum going!

Speaking of good schools, I want to wish success to Villa Academy as they launch their capital campaign to purchase their site and to renovate their facility. I had the opportunity to serve on Villa’s board in the mid-1980’s as the school moved from the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart to an independent governing board. I know the great hope and hard work that went into establishing the Villa as an independent school that would maintain the legacy of Saint Frances Cabrini and her order, which no longer had the sisters to staff the school, and that would continue to provide a strong Catholic education. Certainly, the Villa has had a long collaborative relationship with St. Bridget Parish. Parents of students at Villa and ASB work together to make the parish strong. ASB certainly has benefited and continues to benefit from that relationship.

While the Villa has successfully operated as an independent school for many years, it has only recently been made possible for the school to actually purchase the property and to make the improvements and renovations that are so necessary for securing its future. This is important because there is simply no way that ASB School would be able to serve all of the families of Assumption and St. Bridget parishes who desire Catholic education. We need both schools and we need them both to be strong. So we congratulate the Villa on this next chapter in its history and wish them every success.

There will be no envelope next week so let me wish all of you and those you love a very happy Thanksgiving. I am thankful to be here at ASB with you. I hope that everyone can say the same.

November 1, 2005

Dear Families,

After an amazingly beautiful fall, we certainly have jumped with both (wet) feet into a typical November in the Northwest. Not that I will complain because this past weekend I finally did plant all of those bulbs and plants that I bought on sale in September and now I don’t have to water. And it gives me an excuse to suspend all the weeding that needs doing.

Things move at a dizzying speed around here on most days but these past few weeks the pace has actually picked up and we can feel it in the air. The Halloween carnival delighted young and old(er) last Saturday evening and we thank Maureen Ridgeway and Maria Levis as well as their crew for all of the hard work that went into this event. It is important to create activities that are just for fun!

We kicked off the week with both Halloween and the gift wrap assembly.

Not only did you surpass our miracle goal, you beat last year’s record sales of $118,000. With over $122,000 in sales you surely will remain the top sellers in the country. Thank you so much. And the eighth graders sold the most gift wrap out of all of the classes. That says something remarkable when so many schools find it difficult to motivate middle school students to participate. We cannot thank Amy Pelly and Liz Suver enough for all of the hours, creative ideas, hours, tallying, hours, and energy that they have given to us in chairing this sale again.

In the midst of all of this we began conferences. I love conferences because they give me the opportunity to engage in conversation about learning and goals with the students and their parents together. I find that I learn so much from these interactions. This time also provides the basis for ongoing communication with a more focused plan for each student. After all of these years, I still end conference week tired but even more determined to teach each student more effectively. I know that I share this experience with the rest of the faculty. We place a high value on conferences and appreciate the time and effort that you give to make them productive and meaningful.

Of course, wouldn’t this be enough activity for November as we look ahead to the holidays? But noooo, next week the nine member visiting team for accreditation will come to school from Tuesday through Thursday. They will observe in every classroom, meet with teachers and administrators, pastors, students, and the members of various committees and consultative groups (i.e. School Commission, Governance Council, Parent Board). They will seek to verify the findings and recommendations in our self-study document (available to you on our web page). And they will issue a report of their findings as well as make a recommendation for our next term of accreditation (the maximum is six years) to the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools and the Western Association of Catholic Schools. Then we can breathe a sigh of relief and kick-back for the rest of the year, right?

Nope! In the spring we begin the process of developing our next five year plan in which we will more specifically address the goals, needs, concerns and hopes that we generated through our surveys of and meetings with parents, students, faculty and staff, and community. And we will continue to expand on the progress that we have made in our current plan. So I hope that you plan to participate in the forums and, perhaps, the task forces that we will conduct in the spring.

The next big event on our calendar is Grandparents/*Grandfriends Day on Monday November 21 from 9:00-noon. We moved the day to Monday at the suggestion of many grandparents who come from afar. This way they can attend this event and stay through Thanksgiving. That works for us and it ends the controversy about whether or not to let kids wear their Apple Cup colors on Friday when grandparents visit! (Oh, the complicated decisions that we have to make.) The morning ends with our Thanksgiving liturgy and you are most welcome to attend. Our liturgies have been awesome this year thanks to Linda Reid, Kathy Kane, Robin Hendricks, and faculty and student singers and musicians.

Thanks for all of the support for scrip this year. It is really picking up and this is necessary for us. The ISC (Incredible Scrip Committee) continues to dream about and work for participation from 100% of school families. You have the power to make their dream come true!

I hope that every family will do your utmost to make our auction a success as well. If you want to know what more you can do or if you have a great idea, please contact our chairs Margaret Newman or Margaret Havens and they will send you in the right direction. They and their procurement teams have been working extremely hard. The way that we show our appreciation is simply by making the auction successful.

A lot goes on around here. And we succeed because we have dedicated families, faculty and staff, and kids working together to make things happen. Thanks. Let’s continue to thank and pray for one another so we stay focused on what the Spirit calls us to be and to do.

Sincerely,

Mike

*I encourage your child to invite a “grandfriend” if no grandparent is available. We did this in our family and it really cemented some bonds between our children and important adults in their lives. It really became an unexpected blessing.

October 25, 2005

Dear Families,

Over the past few weeks in my letters I have been trying to reflect on the personal characteristics that we bring to our parenting and to the process of forming our children. It struck me, in one of my 3:00 a.m. musings, that, perhaps, some may think that I have a vision of our children becoming kind and saintly adults who willingly give their lives in service of their communities. Well, that is right-sort of-but not the kind of saints that we often see depicted in the art and stories of some of our childhoods. No one would want to spend any time with some of them!

To quote Chris Lowney (Heroic Leadership), “…when do children, students, athletes, or employees achieve their full potential? When they’re parented, taught, coached or managed by those who engender trust, provide support and encouragement, uncover potential, and set high standards.” (p.179) Lowney goes on to say that “innumerable triumphs of humanity occur every day when parents, teachers, coaches and others invest themselves selflessly in developing others.” (p. 201). To what end do we make this investment together? We have in our families and our school those individuals who have the capacity, the support and the aptitude to fill leadership roles in the future. How do we create in our children the passion, the vision and the commitment to the common good? How do we generate in our children the ingenuity, perseverance and the openness to new ideas and people that will help them to eagerly look forward to what lies around life’s next bend? (Lowney) What I see in our children are the civic and business leaders, the church and community volunteers, and the employers and workers who can make a dramatic impact for good in the world.

Perhaps there are some in our classrooms cut from the same cloth as Martin Luther King or Mother Theresa. Some may travel to faraway places to serve and some may rise to positions of political power. Some may have to face daily decisions that balance profit margins against the needs of workers or delivering quality to consumers.