Life is busy (as usual) at Holy Rosary. We are starting to get everything put back in the Pre-K room now that the BEAUTIFUL new floor is in. Also, we are launching the Fall Fundraiser on Friday, with a special assembly this afternoon at 2 pm. I know this is a long newsletter, but it has a lot of very important information about the fundraisers, so please make sure to read it carefully and ask us if you have any questions. On that note, a few of our parents have graciously offered to be contacts for any new parents/families who are trying to learn all of the ropes. We understand that it can be confusing and feel overwhelming when you start a new school, especially when this is your child's first year of schooling...and then there is fundraising! If you need anything, please feel free to reach out to any of the school staff or these wonderful parents who have offered their assistance:

Colleen Thomson (Volunteer Committee Chair/Safe Environment Coordinator)

casmt@comcast.net

253-389-9606

Nina Tatum (Social Committee Chair)

nina.tatumm@gmail.com

253-882-7113

Cecilia Gonzalez (Volunteer Hours Coordinator)

cecihamp1503@gmail.com

You can contact the parents about any topic or question, not just their area of expertise! Also, if you need to talk with the teachers, they are happy to meet with you but want to make sure they have uninterrupted time and focus to discuss your child. So, please send them a note or an email so that you can both schedule a good time to talk. Having impromptu mini-conferences in the halls or even the classrooms is not desirable because information can be confidential or because the teacher needs to be focused on the children. Please just send them a note or email and they will be happy to respond as soon as possible.

Have a wonderful week!

Blessings,

Katie Dempsey

Principal

Thursday, 9/13 - Communication Envelopes due back to the office, Spirit Gear can be worn (Seahawks or HRBA Hawk Gear with jeans), Notify the office if you are buying out INSTEAD of receiving chocolate boxes.

Friday, 9/14 - All School Mass at 9 am. Fr. Martin is on vacation, so Fr. Isidro is our guest priest. Please join us!! Chocolate goes home today (2 boxes per family).

Reminder: Change for Back to School Night!! Due to our flooding issue in the Pre-K Room, we have to postponed our Back to School Night. Instead of Sept 12th, it will be held the following Wednesday, Sept. 19th from 6 - 8 pm.

Chocolate Fundraiser:

This year, we are also trying something new for spring fundraising. We are trying a Spring Fundraiser in the Fall...wait, what??? That's right. We are giving parents the option of doing a catalog fundraiser in the fall INSTEAD of doing a spring fundraiser. Some parents are excited to knock their fundraising "out of the park" nice and early in the year! :)

So what are the details??

This will be a catalog sale, where you will have the option of mixing and matching sale items in 4 different catalogs (miscellaneous gift items, sports flags, magazines, and >>>>>). We want to make sure families know that this second fundraiser is completely OPTIONAL. If your family likes the catalogs (which will be in the Communication Envelope today) and wants to sell products, you may do this instead of the spring fundraiser. If you choose to do the catalog fundraiser, however, you will need to sell $250 in product. There is a 40% return on these items. Families cannot turn in partial amounts. If you are choosing to do this fundraiser to get a jump start on your year, you must sell AT LEAST $250 in product. If you do not want to do this, no worries...just recycle your catalogs!

What if I only want to do the chocolate fundraiser??

Only doing the chocolate fundraiser OR buying out at $100 is all you need to do for the Fall.

Just to clarify, here are your options for the spring:

1) Now: Sell $250 or more in catalog sales and you are all done with the spring fundraiser requirement.

2) Spring: Take part in the spring fundraiser, raising $100 for the walk-a-thon or other spring fundraiser.

3) Spring: Get billed $100 in the spring and not take part in the fundraiser.

What if I don't want to do ANY fundraisers??

As is stated on the Parent Commitment Form, you can skip ALL fundraisers for the year and buy out by paying $350 by Sept. 15th. Then, you are 100% done...no chocolate, no catalogs, no walk-a-thon, no auction (winter) requirements!! DONE!! Yeah!!

Thank you so much to all who had Birth Certificates and Immunizations in before the year started AND all who got them in by the 2nd deadline this week. We really appreciate your efforts!

Fall is often the best time to complete your safe environment requirements, since many of the area churches/schools offer the live training sessions at this time. Training is offered sporadically throughout the year, but there tend to be more options in this fall period. Here are a few upcoming sessions offered nearby in September:

September 15: St. Frances Cabrini School (Lakewood)--9:00 AM

September 15: Church of the Vietnamese Martyrs (Tukwila)--4:00 PM *This is offered in Vietnamese*

September 16: Church of the Vietnamese Martyrs (Tukwila)-- 1:30 PM *This is offered in Vietnamese*

September 17: St. Theresa Catholic Church (Federal Way)--6:00 PM

September 18: St. Theresa Catholic Church (Federal Way)--6:00 PM *This is offered in Spanish*

September 20: St. John of the Woods Catholic Church (Tacoma)--4:00 PM

September 24: St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church (Federal Way)--6:30 PM

Any of these training sessions can be registered for when you complete your Virtus enrollment online, and there are also many other locations/date from which to choose. Check out more information below on volunteering requirements!

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO VOLUNTEER AT THE SCHOOL?

All volunteers working with or alongside children at the school are required to complete Safe Environment requirements, as mandated by the Archdiocese of Seattle. This would include any volunteers assisting in the lunchroom, at recess, in the classroom, accompanying classes on field trips, etc. New volunteers should go online to VirtusOnline.org to register. Here is the procedure:

1. Go online to Virtusonline.org to create an account
2. Register for a local safe environment class
3. Read and acknowledge policy documents
4. Complete the steps for a background check to be performed.

Thank you for your cooperation with this process and for your commitment in keeping our school safe and healthy for our children. Please feel free to contact Colleen Thomson at casmt@comcast.net or 253-389-9606 if any questions regarding this process or if you have other concerns regarding volunteering, whether you be a new volunteer or are a returning volunteer. We value all of our volunteers!

Hello CC families,

We have our first normal week of practice this week which means PK-3rd graders will practice on M/F and 4-8th graders on M/W/F. We will have our first meet in less than 2 weeks (Sept. 23rd)! It is fun for the kids to run their races! Because we have such a short season, please make sure your kids run at home some if they will not be able to make practice.

Thanks,

Coach Pickles