PRINCIPAL’S CORNER

The happy news is that Mrs. Stewart is expecting her first child in July!  The sad news is that she will not be returning next year in order to be a full-time mom.  I have already begun interviewing for her replacement and will be able to have you meet the new teacher before you leave for summer break.

 

Mrs. Stewart will be missed beyond words.  She has been most instrumental in keenly assessing the more finite learning needs of students.  Her students adore her as she has truly made each and every one of them her personal goal to make them a success.  Replacing her will be a challenge.  I’m most grateful to Mrs. Stewart for her wisdom, great organizational skills, her passion to teach, her high standards, and her wonderful rapport with all students.  The only other good news is that we still get to enjoy her for three more months!!!

 

I wanted to let you know that we’re looking at doing something new next year called “Peer Mediation.”  This is a wonderful program in which 6th, 7th, and 8th graders volunteer to be trained in conflict resolution and mediation skills to help other students who are struggling with social problems.  In April, students who have volunteered to do this will go through an all-day training with Mrs. Cree and Mrs. Monahan .  We will tell you more about this program as we begin to implement it in September, 2005.

 

This is standardized testing this week.  It’s imperative that your child (grades 3-8) get a good night’s sleep, a good breakfast, report to school on time, and have a good morning snack.  This just insures that each student’s  smart juices” are working at optimum!  The results of testing will be sent to you in May.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DR. SUESS!

We had a fabulous time celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday last week.  The students listened to Dr Seuss stories during their library time with Mrs. Napoli, and played a Dr. Seuss Trivia game. The big highlight, of course, was our Green Eggs and Ham lunch.  The students had a great time eating those green, scrambled eggs.  Many of them were reciting the story as they gobbled them up!  A huge thanks to Roberta Miller and all her helpers for a grand celebration in honor of Dr. Theodor Seuss Geisel!  At left, Mrs. Napoli, Trent Werner and Wyatt Neff enjoy a “Cat In The Hat” moment!

 

NORTHWEST FAMILY SERVICES PRESENTS…….

Northwest Family Services will present Mother-Daughter and Father-Son Adolescent Development Programs at Providence Portland Medical Center on Sunday, April 3rd, 2005.  The Mother-Daughter Program, for girls ages 9-12 and their mother or guardian, is from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. 

 

The Father-Son Program, for boys ages 10-13 and their father or guardian, is from 6 to 8:00 p.m.  These programs help families prepare for the physical, emotional, and social changes that adolescents experience.  The cost is $10.  For more information or to register by March 28th, please contact Northwest Family Services, 503.215.6377 or go online to www.nwfs.org. 

 

You may also pick up copies of registration forms in the school office. 

 

FIRST GRADERS SEND THANKS

The First Graders would like to thank everyone for a great food collection on Friday’s “Wear Free Dress - Bring a Can of Food” day.  291 cans were collected, counted and delivered to St. Vincent de Paul.  That makes more than 1,600 cans so far this year!  Great job everyone!

 

The Feinstein Foundation is again issuing its challenge to feed the hungry.  Any food or money collected during the months of March and April, and given to local agencies (we usually donate food to St. Vincent de Paul, and Pennies for the Poor to Downtown Chapel) count toward the Feinstein Challenge.  The top 50 schools collecting the most food or money for local agencies are each awarded $1000 from the Feinstein Foundation.  St. Clare has been among those top 5 schools for the last two years.  The $2000 has gone toward tuition assistance.  We would like to accept the Feinstein Challenge again this year.  So remember, “Wear Free Dress—Bring a Can of Food  Thank you!

Mrs. Laurie Price, First Grade Teacher

 

 

DATES TO REMEMBER

Don’t forget to download your application form for the Parent Teacher Council Openings in 05-06.  Go to our website, under forms, and get your application today!

Lenten Soup Suppers continue each Tuesday after the 6:00 Mass.  Come join us.

March 15 - Deadline for tuition aid

March 19th - St. Clare’s Annual Irish Dinner will be held in the parish hall from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

April 12th - Spring Plant Sale.  More information to follow.

April 16th - St. Clare School’s debut of “Casino Night”.  Mark your calendars.

June 4th, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. - Mom’s Martini Party at Molly Kalomiris’ home.  More info will follow - but keep that date free.

June 17th - Summer break starts at noon!

 

WaMoola (another way to earn cash for St. Clare School)

Last Spring, Washington Mutual introduced a new program to support schools called WaMoola for Schools.  In this program customers choose a school to support, and then every time they make a purchase with their enrolled Washington Mutual Check Card, they earn a point for that school.  At the end of the calendar year, Washington Mutual converts those points into cash and sends a check to our school. 

 

St. Clare School has been chosen by one or more Washington Mutual customers to receive WaMoola for Schools and we received a check this week in the amount of  $114.80.  If this sounds like a good way to earn extra money for our  school from you visit www.wamoolaforschools.com and sign up.  They also have a special hotline phone number of 1-888-354-7099. 

 

 

PENNIES FOR THE POOR

We continue with our collection of  Pennies for the Poor”.  Please have your child bring in their pennies and deposit them into their classroom jug.  We will be needing the pennies transported to the Downtown Chapel at the end of the drive so if you are so inclined to help out in this area please contact Mrs. Cree or Mrs. Kollars and let them know you can help. 

 

A small “please” from the office

When filling out forms that require your student’s name, i.e., the lunch menus,  may I ask  (with a smile) that you include your child’s last name on the form.  There have been a few times this year that I have had to go searching for which “John Doe” belonged to which menu.  Thank you very much!

 

 

SCRIP News:

March “Special Orders” are due this coming Friday, March 11th

If you are still working toward the $600 family fund-raising goal, SCRIP is a very easy way to get there!  Check out the backpack order!

Plan ahead for Spring Break:  Regal Cinemas, Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Subway, Jamba Juice, Burger King and Starbucks!

 

Attention all 3rd through 8th grade Track and Field Athletes

CYO track sign ups are March 14th at 5:00 at Jackson Middle School. Practices will be on Monday and Wednesdays from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.  The first track meet is April 9th.  Registration fees are $60 and an additional $10 for t-shirts.  Parent volunteers are needed.  If you would like to help, please contact Dave Hagmeier at 503.244.3181 or email him at Hagmeier@bigplanet.com.

 

Registration forms will also be made available in the school office.  It would be a great convenience if these forms could be filled out and ready to hand in the evening of March 14th. 

 

SCIENCE FAIR

We inadvertently omitted some science fairs winners and would like to send out congratulations to the following students for outstanding displays and research in designing their science projects:

 

8th Grade                     

1st Place: Katey Houck & Kate Burnham (Grand Prize Winners!)

2nd Place: April Bell

3rd Place: Noah Johanson, Andy Kiyokawa, Oliver Marsh

 

7th Grade                                                                              6th Grade

1st Place: Zack Cramer & Addison Melzer  1st Place: Melissa Wong

2nd Place: Claire Trily & Matt Seguin                              2nd Place: Kyle Milligan

3rd Place: Katie Zweber & Alice Erbling                          3rd Place: Sean Alvey

 

 

HONOR U.S. SOLDIERS WHO HAVE DIED IN IRAQ

The Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon is inviting St. Clare Parishioners and community to participate in “Arlington NW”, an event patterned after the “Arlington West” Iraq War Memorial created by the Veterans for Peace on the beach at Santa Monica, CA.  Each Sunday, volunteers place crosses with the names of US soldiers who have died in the Iraq war in a military cemetery formation in the sand. 

 

The event will begin with an interfaith memorial service for all of the dead in Iraq on Sunday, March 20th at 2:00 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ at 1137 SW Broadway in Portland.  Following the service, a solemn procession carrying symbolic grave markers with the names of each service person whose life has been lost will proceed north on Broadway to the area of the park blocks north of Market Street where a temporary memorial will be set up, accompanied by a tolling bell and the reading of the names.

 

St. Clare congregation is invited to make 50 of the grave markers with the names of dead soldiers (names, white cardboard, markers and a pattern will be provided).  They would also like to sign up volunteers to come to the church early to be in front of the procession carrying the grave markers and placing them in designated positions.

 

For more information please contact Jan and Roger McLain at 503.624.7481 or email them at mclain@easystreet.com. 

 

Celebrate Youth at St. Clare, April 16th, 2005 at the 5:00 p.m. Mass

We need musicians, instrumentalists, vocalists, ushers, greeters, lectors, Gospel dramatists, servers and Eucharistic Ministers.  Please contact Kim Julien, 503.768.9304; Vicki Beasley, 503.244.7209; Austin Waltz, 503.625.3083 or Kathy Kowash, 503.244.1037 if you are able to help with this Liturgy.

 

Parishioner, Lourdes Johanson, will be directing the youth choir and orchestra.  She welcomes all students who wish to sign or play an instrument.  She has 14+ years experience preparing youth to celebrate Liturgy.  Come help us celebrate!

 

ST. CLARE IRISH DINNER

Wear your green and join us Saturday, March 19th from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. for an evening of friends, food, dancing, singing and fun.  We’ll be sure to have a grand time!  The Irish menu includes: Traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage, Parsley Potatoes, Baby Carrots, Irish Soda Bread, St. Patrick’s Dessert, Leprechaun Punch, Coffee and Tea.  Beer and Wine will be available for an additional cost and the Pot of Gold, as always, will be available at the end of the rainbow. 

 

Cost:  $8.00 per adult/$4.00 for 10 and under

Advance tickets can be purchased at all Masses on Sunday, March 13th

and during the week at the parish office.

 

Volunteers are needed throughout the day and evening. Please contact Bill and Joanne Taylor for more information, 503.579.1918. 

 

 

HOLY WEEK MASS SCHEDULE

March 19th, 5:00 p.m. -

                Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

 

March 20th, 7:30a.m., 9:00a.m., 11:15 a.m. -

                Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

 

March 24th, 7:00 p.m. -

                Mass of the Last Supper

 

March 25th, 7:00 p.m. -

                Good Friday Service (church will also be         open from noon to 3:00 p.m.)

 

March 26th, 8:00 p.m. -

                Easter Vigil

 

March 27th, 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., & 11:15 a.m. -

                Easter Sunday (Infant Baptisms) Procession begins in gym