TO: Parents
FROM: George Hofbauer
REASON: Hofbauer’s Hot Hits
DATE: NOVEMBER 2013
CELEBRATIONS
The last Saturday of October was a wonderful success for the Dominican Sisters of Tacoma and the entire Holy Rosary Community. Our Pastor, Father John Madigan, hosted the sister’s 125th Anniversary Mass and celebration. Archbishop Sartain was the main celebrant and a number of Archdiocesan priests assisted on the alter. A wonderful reception followed in the Lanigan Gym. Smiles and laughter filled the building. The Dominicans were very happy and appreciative of all the community did for them, and the community demonstrated their appreciation for all the Dominicans had done for them over the decades.
The Holy Rosary School Centennial Gala will take place at the end of this month. Hundreds will be gathering together on Saturday November 30th at 5:00 in the evening at SODO Park to celebrate the 100 year history of Holy Rosary School. Hopefully you will be joining us at 5:00 for a wonderful celebratory evening. Tickets are $250 each. The event will be a fundraiser for the school.
Our Centennial Grandparent luncheon will take place on January 29th. Invitations will be going out soon. Please contact Kamila Kennedy if you want someone to be invited. Name, address, phone and email are appreciated. If you send them in as an email to Kamila, there is less likelihood of any mistake in interpreting letters or numbers. Her email is kkennedy@holyrosaryws.org. The event will be a little different this year. To cut down on the crowded conditions and the length of the day, the children will not be eating with their grandparents. Grandparents will be encouraged to arrive at 11:30. The program will begin at 12:00. There will be entertainment and lunch. A soft solicitation will take place which people can respond to in a basket at the table, or send in later. Grandchildren will come to get their grandparents when the lunch and entertainment are over ——and take them on a tour. It should all be over by 1:30 or so.
The Centennial Mass for the school will take place on Sunday, May 4, 2014. It will be our 11:30 mass at Holy Rosary Church. Archbishop Sartain will be our main celebrant with Father John Madigan. A reception will follow. Mark the date down. Encourage any alumni parents, staff, alumni, friends of the school, etc —– to come. It will be a special moment in our history.
CURRICULUM
Our new math program is going very well. It has an appropriately higher degree of challenge while being more engaging for our students. All the I Pads have come in for the third grade class. They are being thoroughly integrated into their work and activity. A special committee of the staff is studying our Language Arts Curriculum with the intent of adopting a new program for next year. It is the next scheduled area of revision in the White Paper. Preliminary investigation is indicating that a complete revision K thru 8 will cost around $100,000.
CHRISTMAS TREE LOT
One of our long time traditions and fundraisers starts this month. It is our Christmas tree lot —-which will be on site. Yes. That is right. It is that time of year. Halloween is over. Thanksgiving is almost here. Christmas is right around the corner. Hopefully you will find room in your home and your heart for a real live “Christmas Tree”. Bring a little bit of that fresh forest into your house. Santa will love it. Remember, it will be on the school parking lot/playground. The tree lot will officially open on “Black Friday” November 29 from 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. but ——-on Friday December 6th at 6:00 P.M. there will be a Christmas party, blessing and celebration in the school gym as part of the Christmas tree lot festivities.
WHITE PAPER UPDATE
The meetings and discussions on the “White Paper” are going well. A plan for the future is slowly evolving. Various committees and groups have voted on the first section of motions. That input and thinking was placed before the School Commission for their final consideration. Their decisions will then be given to the Pastor. The process has been good. It has helped to get the community to think about the present realities as they plan for the future. The most recent version — 13.1 — of the White Paper was put on our website last week. The only real changes were in the registration fee and the suggested dates for a suggested single tuition plan. Anyone who would like should feel free to call me (the Principal) if they have any questions or want to discuss the plan. The Parents Club Officers are, however, the official voice of the parent body in this process. Feel free to contact them also.
IS THIS NEWSLETTER A GOOD IDEA?
I am trying to send this type of communication out once a month. There are some parents who think this should just be added to the weekly e-communications that are sent out and that I should not be mailing it. And there are some who do not think it is really needed. Please call the office and let Jennifer know if you have any thoughts on this. I am just trying to clarify and inform, but if I am just giving you junk mail that is not that interesting I do not want to add to your mail burdens. Please feel free to let members of the School Commission, or the Parents Club, or Jennifer in the main office, or all of them know. I hope to serve and please —– well at least some of the time!
PRESCHOOL
Holy Rosary is considering the addition of one more day to our present Pre K program. This would mean that it would go from four days to five days. Presently the intention is to keep our three and four year old program the same. The total increase in tuition for moving into a five day scenario would be 10%. If you think you might be interested in this adjustment or if you have any questions please feel free to contact either of our teachers —- Tauna Evans or Meg Peterson.
NEW TUITION AND FEE COLLECTION SYSTEM
During the 2014-2015 academic year we will be automatically withdrawing your tuitions and fees from your accounts. This will be a much easier process for everyone than our present system. Right now mistakes are being made each month as people either forget to go in and make their payments or plug in the incorrect payment numbers, or assume that the school is automatically making a withdrawal for a pledged donation amount. So read your registration papers closely.
FAMILY CHRISTMAS CARDS
Many families have Christmas cards printed with their family photo and names. I would like to start a tradition this year of posting them on the doors of the staff room and in the hall outside the staff room. It will help us celebrate the season and get to know one another. If you would be willing to help with this undertaking please either mail one to Jennifer Hazzard in the office (4142 42nd Ave S.W. 98116) or have your child bring it into their teacher, or Jennifer — in the office. Your participation will be deeply appreciated.
A LITTLE DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (PLEASE RMEMBER THAT NUMBERS ARE NOT REALLY FINALIZED UNTIL THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR (JULY 1, 2014)
The School Development Committee is now fully functioning. Each of the members is now a part of our solicitation team. Please set aside a time to meet with them when you receive a call. This is very important for the future of the school. Positive response, which is tax deductible, helps prevent higher tuition increases while funding programs that cannot take place without adequate income from this source. Just as others are helping your children thru their donations —– you will do the same for their children.
Annual Fund
Amount pledged $126,957
Amount collected $68,313
Number of givers 276
Centennial Fund
Amount pledged $253,650
Amount collected $4,800
Number of givers 23
Westfest Net $16,585
Magazine Sale Net $65,077
THE FUTURE
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM 12/12/13
CHRISTMAS BREAK HALF DAY 12/20 — Resume School 1/6/14
OPEN HOUSE 1/26/14 9:30 MASS & 10:30-1:00 SCHOOL OPEN
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK 1/26 – 1/31
GRANDPARENTS LUNCH 1/29 Kamila Kennedy is contact 937-7255
KINDERGARDEN APPLICATIONS DUE 1/31/14
WINTER BREAK 2/17 AND 2/18
NO SCHOOL 3/21 CURRICULUM DAY
REGISTRATION 3/28
AUCTION 4/5
EASTER VACATION 4/18 AT NOON RESUME SCHOOL 4/28
TALENT SHOW 5/16
GRADUATION 6/5