Eagle's Edge
January 5th, 2024
Lent, Sun, Outdoor School...feels a lot like spring peaking through!
One of the many perks of having Father Gabriele at St. Therese now is more active involvement with the other parishes and people in the East Portland Vicariate. For example, for our school mass this week, presented beautifully by the 5th grade class by the way, was a visit from the pastor of Ascension, Father David Jaspers.
His homily was about the meaning of repentance, and he delivered it with joy and energy, which was great, especially for our small kiddos. He explained that repentance means to change one's ways. While we often think about what we are sacrificing during Lent, Father Jasper said that the changes can be active, and positive. Maybe it looks like being a good neighbor, encouraging others to be kind, help the poor, or turning your Lenten sacrifice to God and praying more. Father Jasper also encouraged the kids to go home and remind mom and dad to go to mass, so if they do, you know where it came from!
In the spirit of thinking of others first instead of dwelling on our personal sacrifice, I found the following simple meditation which seems appropriate.
”May I stand in solidarity today with all my brothers and sisters around the world who are suffering. May we be united in your love, and may I work to build your kingdom here on earth.”
I have loved checking out what the students are learning for Black History Month. In middle school, Mrs. Baumbach is teaching about civil rights in America, and beyond. Mrs. Kenfield and the 3rd Grade students put on a beautiful living history museum, in which students chose one person to research, and then presented "in character" as that person. Many of those chosen by our kids were notable African Americans from American history. I was able to sneak a peek in 1st Grade to see Mrs. Estes' students working away as they learned about Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and legacy. This is a good resource for continuing those studies at home, or just to learn more in general.
I don't mind being a broken record about the summer tutoring program at University of Portland. (Secret hack: if you follow the links to the registration website and show interest in financial aid, the cost can be reduced by $50.) Each year I am amazed by the offer from U of P, at such a reasonable price! Check it out below!
We are getting really excited to prepare for our first annual Tech Fair with Mr. Rymer. We are shooting for the evening of March 14th, but we will adjust necessary based on CYO basketball tournament schedule. Please stay tuned. It is going to be a great night for all involved in the community. Please invite anyone you wish. I assure you, you will be astonished at what Mr. Rymer has students doing, ranging from our littles all the way up to our 8th grade students. (If you know anyone at CYO, give them a friendly, courteous, polite, but firm nudge to release the schedules!)
I hope everyone is enjoying the sun and warm weather! Fingers crossed that this keeps up, and the folks mentioning snow are only joking. Wishing continued Lenten blessings to all!
Enjoy your weekend,
Principal Schoning
Fasting During the Lenten Season
Let us pray that as we begin the Season of Lent we embrace the opportunity to:
Fast from hurting words and say kind words.
Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
Fast from worries and have trust in God.
Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.
Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
Fast from bitterness and fill our hearts with joy.
Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.
Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
Fast from words and be silent so we can listen.
We pray that
our only desire
and our one choice
is to choose
what better leads
to the deepening
of God's life in us.
-Attributed to Pope Francis, offered by Tim Reilly.
Upcoming Dates and Events
- Monday February 26th - 8th grade is selling coffee and donuts before school, as a fundraiser.
- February 29th - Virtues Assembly @ 2:30
- +++++++++++March 4th Monday - Make up school day for snow days. 1/2 day with noon dismissal.
- March 17 - 22 - Outdoor School for 6th grade students
- March 25 - 29 Spring Break, no school.
Recurring Events
****Holidays, inservice days, early release days, and other special events will affect these days.
- Choir Practice : Mondays 3:30 - 4:30
- Student lead school Masses: Wednesdays 8:30 a.m. (Holy Days of Obligation will affect these mass times)
- Student Store: Thursdays at dismissal
- Pizza Fridays: for all students, at lunchtime on the last day of the week (Friday)
- Vietnamese Enrichment Classes: Fridays after school
Outdoor School is coming up!
Sunday March 17th - Friday March 22nd
6th grade students will be headed to Camp Namanu this year for a week of studies and fun in the great outdoors! Mrs. Baumbach and Mrs. Wright will be accompanying students this year and you can expect communication from Mrs. Baumbach soon! This is only the second year since the pandemic that students are able to attend for a full week! Pretty exciting!
Update on 2024 - 2025 School Year Tuition
This year current families will be automatically re-enrolled for the 2024-25 school year, and should contact the office if they do not wish to continue at St. Therese. The annual $200 registration fee will be applied to your FACTS account.
We are committed to keeping tuition affordable to all our families and financial aid is available for those who qualify. Our tuition rates are still among the lowest of K-8 Catholic schools in Oregon. Due to inflation and cost of living adjustments for all, our tuition rate for the upcoming school year has gone up to $8,600, which we intentionally kept under a 4% increase.
Please use the link to the school website for more information on registration, forms etc.
https://www.stthereseschool.org/grades-k-8
Please call the office at 503-253-9400, or email Mrs. Barnett, barnetta@stthereseschool.org.
These beautiful plaques are still available for sale from Mr. Rymer's class!
First Grade Art Projects with Mrs. R.
Hey Parents, if you don't read anything else in the newsletter, read this!!
Incredible Rates for Summer Tutoring at University of Portland & Scholarships are Available
University of Portland is offering this great deal to our St. Therese students. If you've ever looked into tutoring and associated costs, you know that it can be cost prohibitive for most of us. U of P is offering a great solution to this, in their School of Education. This is open to all students 2nd grade and up, for only $125, for 2 hours per day, 4 days per week. They have scholarships available as well.
(****Please find the red button below for the registration info.***)
Game Night:
Join us for an exciting evening of fun and games. From classic board games to spike ball, ping pong, crafts, bingo, and more, this event is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant community and spirit of La Salle.
Who: All applicants to the Class of 2028!
Date & Time: Thursday, February 29th, 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Where: La Salle Campus
RSVP: Register in your admissions account.
Arrival & Departure: This is a drop-in style event. Check-in will remain open throughout the event in case applicants arrive late or must leave early. Parents may drop off their student(s) at the main entrance.
The Athlete's Foot: Notes from the Athletic Board
Go Blazers! Go St. Therese!
If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Baumbach. cbaumbach@stthereseschool.org
Hi everyone,
Registration for St. Mary’s Academy 2024 summer camps is officially open! Please share the attached flyer and below information in your family newsletters.
St. Mary’s Academy camps are filled with adventures, hands-on activities, and a variety of fun games to pique every girl’s interests. All camps are for girls entering grades 3-4, 5-6, or 7-8 this fall 2024, so please share this with your current 2nd-7th grade families.
Summer 2024 camp topics:
- Visual Arts
- STEM
- Theatre
- Music
- Life Skills (Babysitting & Cooking)
- Gaming Design
- Anatomy
- Fashion Design
- Athletics
- Writing
- Crafting
Please click here to view our camp website and online registration page. Feel free to share my contact information with your families. I am happy to answer their questions.
Thank you for supporting summer enrichment opportunities for girls!
Warmly,
Sophia
Sophia Vallada
Director of Admissions
1615 SW Fifth Ave | Portland, OR 97201
O: 503.721.7730 | W: stmaryspdx.org