Multiple groups are working to make the awesome St. Mike’s experience available to all parishioners who seek a Catholic education for their children. Our school tuition covers just over half of the actual cost of educating a student; the remainder is made up of small fundraisers, but mostly, our parish’s support of this ministry. As you fill out your commitment card for this month’s renewal of time, talent and treasure, consider that we are relying on the stewardship of our parish families to fund the school ministry.

The tuition freeze in 2020 and last year’s 10.3% decrease were made possible by parish (and especially school family) giving. If you are able to increase your weekly gift, know that it makes a difference in the lives of children who cannot otherwise afford coming to St. Mikes. All school families receiving Partner in the Mission tuition do have to have a commitment card for this year on file. If you were not able to fill one out last Sunday, take the opportunity to do so this Sunday. Cards are due December 1st.

The PACE team (Providing Access to Catholic Education) met last Monday to address the growth we’ve blessedly experienced this year, and to plan for responsible ways to grow, while keeping our focus on faith and learning for our current students.

Scrip is one of those smaller fundraisers that is used directly to help with field trips and special teacher needs. When you’re looking for regular spending like groceries, or looking for gift cards, think about purchasing scrip. Information on that is in this Thursday Notes.

Kathi Rafferty and Roseann Feldmann

Co-Principals

The scrip team is excited to announce the return of an easy way to purchase scrip gift cards. Now you can get physical scrip gift cards without having to make a trip to the office. Just complete the form linked below, send the form and payment with your child for delivery to the office, and you can select to have your cards delivered to your child. Orders can be placed as often as once a week. Every scrip gift card purchase earns money for PTSA which funds classroom activities. You can still stop by the office to order scrip gift cards or place an order online for electronic gift cards.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ou45nmyaeUNTmaA7E-zUFXklH0fLsLrI/view?usp=sharing

Questions: scrip@stmikesolympia.org

In addition to purchasing scrip, you can earn money for PTSA through everyday shopping. Fred Meyer and Amazon are two organizations that partner with schools and other non-profits to donate based on purchases made. See flier below for how to link your Fred Meyer Rewards card and how to shop at Amazon so that our school benefits from your purchases.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18ipQRuceI3fIksQuoljF3tlirvGUrl9T/view?usp=sharing

Since Governor Jay Inslee lifted the state of emergency related to COVID-19 in the state of

Washington on Monday, October 31, 2022, the vaccine mandate for volunteers in an

educational setting need no longer be enacted at St. Michael Parish School. Additionally, our

school will no longer need to use the “School Volunteer Agreement” from the Archdiocese of

Seattle. ALL Virtus/Safe Environment Training Requirements are still required of all volunteers.

Mrs. Lashley's 5th Grade class is excited to kick-off the school's Annual Christmas Wreath Fundraiser in support of their Shakespeare play "Romeo & Juliet" & class trip to Ashland, OR for the Shakespeare Festival.

If you are planning to purchase a fresh door wreath or advent wreath to decorate your home this Christmas, or to give as a gift to friends or clients, please consider supporting our 5th grade class.

Pre-orders are due by November 7th, and wreath pick-up will be after school on November 22nd & 23rd, or following all masses the weekend of December 3rd & 4th.

The order form is below - please have your child return the form with cash or check (made payable to "St. Michael Fifth Grade") to their teacher by November 7th.

Thank you for your support!

If a student or staff member is ill or COVID-19 positive:

Students and staff who have symptoms of COVID-19 are required to stay home and should get

tested. Any student or staff member who tests positive for COVID-19 is required to isolate at

home. Individuals may return to school on Day 6, if they have no symptoms and test negative

on that day (If there are symptoms, Day 0 is the first day of symptoms. Day 1 is the first full day

after symptoms developed. If there are no symptoms, Day 0 is the date being tested. Day 1 is

the first full day after the specimen was collected for a positive test.). If the individual tests

positive on Day 6, the individual is likely still contagious, and should continue to isolate and wait

24-48 hours to test again. If the individual tests negative on two sequential tests each

performed 24-48 hours apart and has no symptoms, the individual can end isolation and return

to school.

If a student or staff member is exposed to COVID-19:

The Department of Health no longer requires exposed students and staff to quarantine. To

protect the school, students and staff, regardless of vaccination status, who are potentially

exposed to COVID-19 should:

• Monitor for symptoms, AND
• Test as soon as possible after exposure and then repeat testing every 24-48 hours through at least the first 5 days after exposure AND
• Wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days after exposure.

COVID-19 positive cases and exposure cases need to be reported to the St. Michael Health

Office (rfeldmann@stmikesolympia.org). COVID-19 testing is available through the Health Office, if home testing is not available.

POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19

New loss of taste or smell

Sore throat

Congestion or runny nose

Nausea or vomiting

Diarrhea

Fever or chills

Cough

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Fatigue

Muscle or body aches

Headache

Ron Feldmann MD

St. Michael Parish School Health Office