As we transition into our new website in the new year, we would like to take this opportunity to recognize and thank Mike Go for all the hard work he has put into making our website look professional. Mike has spent the past decade tirelessly creating, updating and maintaining our school’s website. On top of maintaining the entire website, he has always met our weekly eFC deadline!

Over the years, he has calmly fielded innumerable phone calls and emails, expertly edited thousands of announcements, and solved tricky technical glitches - all with graciousness, humor and patience. There are no words to adequately describe the depth of appreciation we feel toward Mike for his tremendous gift of time and expertise over these past many years.

Mike, you are truly a jewel in our Holy Rosary community. Thank you for your selfless service!

-George Hofbauer & the HRS Staff

(Thank you for all of your kind words. I’m happy I was able to be of service to the community. It has been a great experience, and one I will look back to with fond memories! - Mike)

A Blessed & Merry Christmas to All of You!

It is hard to believe that we are already approaching our Christmas break. It can be an exhausting time of the year. It can be hectic and filled with pressure. It can be expensive and filled with social responsibilities. However, I do not think that is the way we want it to be. I do not think that is the way it is supposed to be. But that seems to be the direction it has evolved in — or some would say devolved in. So how can it change? What should we do? What can we do?

Well, I guess that is up to each of us. It is probably different for each of us. But I have some simple ideas.

Would it not be miraculous if everyone, for the next two weeks greeted everybody they met with a real smile, truly embracing the humanity and glory of God in that other person? Would it not be great if everyone refused to be negative and only offered compliments for the next two weeks? Would it not be awesome if every human being took just ten minutes every morning or every evening to pray for a different person they know, or even someone they do not know, asking God to help them in whatever way they need help. Would it not be a way to make the world a better place if everyone just thanked one person they knew — even if it was anonymously — for something they had done? Would it not be truly holy if each person were to visit the gravesite of a loved one and simply reflect on their lives and their gifts to the world? Would it not be following in the steps of the Carpenter if every person engaged in an act of unexpected generosity?

These simple thoughts would actually change the world. And they would launch us into the New Year on sure footing and in the right direction. I thank each of you for the gift you are to the school, for the gift you are to me, for the gift you are to each other. We are a community — each to a different degree. But that connection allows us to be more — to do more — to receive more.

May the joy, glory, and peace of the Christmas Season be with you and may the New Year offer you health, prosperity, life in the Spirit, and great adventures. May you renew old relationships and create new lifelong ones. I thank you for all you do, and I thank you for all I know you are about to do! See you next year!

- George

Friday, December 18 is a free dress, Red and Green Day! Students may wear Christmas-themed garb. No face paint or hair color, please! It is also a half-day!

We will have a school-wide Christmas Sing-A-Long in the School Hall at 11:30AM. We’re inviting parents and families to this traditional and rousing send-off into the Christmas Break!

The School Commission has decided upon the following tuition schedule for the 2015-16 school year.

K-8 Tuition

We have rounded monthly fees up to the closest dollar to cover periodic monthly administrative and secretarial costs amounting to between 7 and 87 cents.

Preschool Tuition

• Registration Fee $175

* This is the fee if a sibling is enrolled in the school (Pre-8).

As of December 15, $162,900 has been pledged and $96,324 has been received in payments towards our goal of $200,000 and 100% participation of school families and staff.

We are three quarters of the way there. Thank you to all who have pledged thus far! Your generous gifts go a long way towards covering the gap per student between tuition charged and the true cost of educating each student.

Payments to pledges must be received by June 30, 2015.

To make a pledge email Development Office or download the pledge form (PDF). To make a payment, click here.

Thank you. YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Did you already pledge? Thank you!

Please remember to sign in to the online payments system to set up your payments if that is your preferred payment method. Many families have noted that they want to pay in December 2014. Reminder letters will be mailed this week. Can’t remember if you fulfilled your pledge yet? Feel fee to email us.

Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and will match any charitable contributions made by their employees. If you made a donation to the Annual, Centennial or Endowment fund please consider checking with your HR department to see if your employer will match your donations. Here is a list of companies (PDF) to help you and a matching guide (PDF).

After submitting for a corporate Match to Holy Rosary School, please notify .

In the Spring of 2013, Holy Rosary began an exciting initiative: one that will have tremendous impact on students in our school, now and into the future: The Centennial Campaign.

The Centennial Campaign will allow Holy Rosary School to address, among other things, critical capital needs, provide faculty with additional professional development opportunities and ensure future financial aid assistance by growing the Father James Mallahan Endownment Fund.

The goal for the Centennial Campaign is $2,000,000 during the course of 5 years.

The funding areas for the Centennial Campaign are as follows:

Pledges Range From $500 To $100,000.

Campaign Numbers Update:

• $479,561 Pledged
• $220,753 Paid
• 165* Donors

*Included are staff members, 1 foundation grant, corporations that matched multiple gifts and the net proceeds from the Centennial Gala last Fall.

We ask for your support.

To inquire about the campaign or make a pledge, please contact the Development Office or Mr. Hofbauer directly.

Visit the Centennial Campaign page on the school website for further information.

To make a pledge today, download the form here.

Many heartfelt thanks for your support of our incredible Holy Rosary School!

Dust off your blue suede shoes and break out your poodle skirt, because the Holy Rosary Heart Auction is taking you back in time to the nifty fifties! Brush up on your dance moves, ‘cause we’re gonna jump, jive and twist the night away.”

Auction date: April 25, 2015

Donate To The Auction Now!

To DONATE money or DONATE an item, just click on this link and continue through the steps.

Family donations will be open until January 23rd.

If you choose to shop from the wish list:

• Buy an item from the wish list.
• Ship the item to your home.
• AND, Enter/log donation(s) through the link at the top of the page before Jan 27th.
• Bring item to school no later than Feb 27th.

Have a great donation idea in the works? Let us know!! If you are working on a potential live item, let us know now. We can work with you! !

Remember that the minimum family donation to the Auction is $175. However, you can procure* an item or two in this amount of more.

How to Procure Your Auction Item

Procuring does not mean purchasing but rather generating. Unless you are so inclined, you need not purchase items to donate to the auction. Should you choose to buy an item or gift certificate, ask the merchant to match your purchase and you have twice the donation.

If you plan to stop by a local business and “procure” an auction item from them, please let the ‘business follow up team’ know at . That way we can avoid “hitting” businesses twice.

Remember to use your student(s) last name. That will avoid confusion.

Any questions? Contact us at .

Charise Addicks & Jody Maas, Heart Auction Procurement Chairs

Auction Volunteer Opportunities:


Get your FUNdraising hours support the school auction!!!

• RECEIVING (procurement team) - needs to be available to come into the school office every couple of days to check on auction items and enter paper submissions into auction software. Two mornings in February when auction items are dropped off are also required. This an ideal position for someone very detail oriented. As we get closer to the auction labeling and sorting items will also be part of the job. The job is 30 to 40 hours from start to finish.
• TEACHERS BOOKS Coordinador - last year we started a lovely tradition to have books autographed by the teachers for sale to order at the auction. WE are looking for someone to oversee the process.
• LIVE AUCTION DATA ENTRY - This is NOT a position that would allow you to regularly “attend” the Auction. An Ideal job for a couple or two friends. The family who did this for years while their kids were at Holy Rosary is willing to teach the next family on the process.

A.P.Hearst Customer Service is the best place to start:

• By phone:(1-800-284-9711)
• Through their website. Customers can also check the status of their order online at www.aphearst.com. Go to “Check on your order” on the lower right hand side underneath the Facebook information on the A.P.H. Home page.

If there are still issues, don’t hesitate to contact us here in the office. Be sure to leave a message or . 425-483-6713

The Christmas Tree Lot was a big success and surpassed last year’s sales. Thanks to all of you!

The trees and wreaths were fresh and sense of community was wonderful as usual. A big thank to all of the volunteers for the endless hours and dedication.

A BIG THANK YOU also goes to the Tree Lot sponsors:

• Velling Dental
• Alki Lumber
• Sorensen Orthodontics
• Edward Jones - Jon Gerhardt

Thank you and Merry Christmas!

- Bill Skibitzke, Russ Foisy & Pat Galvin

Another great start to the Amazon fund raising competition, as we have raised 20% more then the first three weeks last year! Congratulations to 4B for raising the most money in week three. The kids received a prize on Monday. As a reminder, we have 1 more week of weekly class prizes based only on the sales from the prior week, and then the grand prize winner from all the weeks will enjoy a PJ and Pizza Party in January.

Top 5 overall classrooms right now are: 4B, 7B, 1B, 4A, 2B

Classroom links can be found in 3 locations:

The Amazon Flyer, Classroom Links below, or on each classroom home page:

As a partner in Catholic education, Seattle University is excited to announce Catholic Educators Night at Key Arena on Sunday, December 21. We would like for all Seattle area Catholic schools teachers, administrators, and classroom volunteers to be our guests for the game. To do so, we are providing FREE admission to all Catholic Educators and their immediate family members. The Redhawks will host the Sacramento State Hornets, and there will be no shortage of family fun. The items below are the planned game festivities; check out this 30 second video:

• Bounce House from doors until end of halftime (section 103)
• Balloon Artist from doors until end of halftime (section 103)
• Santa Claus will be available for photos until the end of halftime (section 103)
• Kids dance to Ice Cream and Cake in the second half (on Elgin Baylor Court)
• Kids shoot postgame free throws (on Elgin Baylor Court)
• Kids get postgame player autographs (on Elgin Baylor Court)
• Kids get free posters and bookmarks
• #SUMomSpa giveaway ($100 gift certificate giveaway)
• And, there will be lots of exciting in-game promotions

To redeem free Catholic Educators Night admission, please following this link.

In addition to Catholic Educators Night (December 21), we will also be hosting our annual Catholic Basketball Classic on Saturday, January 17 at Key Arena. We will be squaring off against the New Mexico State Aggies, 7:30 pm tip. We will forward additional information just after the New Year, but please mark your calendars. The Catholic Basketball Classic is one of our favorite games of the year!

Doors open at 6 pm, and we look forward to see you, and all Catholic Educators, on December 21 for the game.

Thank you for all that you do!

Clean out your Dress-up Box for a good cause!

The students of Drama elective are working hard to prepare for this year’s school play, Fairy Tale Network. We would appreciate any and all dress-up box, costume and prop donations, as we are hoping to not only find costumes for this year’s play, but expand our costume repertoire for all future school plays!

Here are a few suggestions: animal costumes, animal ears, fairy wands, fairy wings, black bow ties, black vest/French waiter costume, wigs, poofy skirts, etc. These are just suggestions: We will graciously accept the donation of any and all dress-up or prop items! Please put your items inside a bag, labeled “Drama costumes,” and drop them off in the school office at your earliest convenience. THANK YOU for your support!

Curriculum Reflections, November 2014

I am sending you something that I hope you will enjoy. But I also hope you will help me with its distribution. It is a little review of the school that the staff put together. Brett Conway, who is both a parent and Vice Chair of the School Commission, performed a little magic and put it together in a nice brochure.

You will really, really, really be helping the school if you write a little note and send it to everyone you have email addresses for and ask them to do the same. Since we have no money for printing or for postage this is a wonderful way (and a green way) to get the word out to friends, alums, potential donors, perspective parents—ANYBODY.

I hope you will enjoy it.

- George Hofbauer

• Download the publication (PDF).

Registration For CURRENT Students

Please mark your calendars: 2015-16 Registration Packets will be coming home during the first week of January. The registration timeline for current students has been moved up from March to January. This allows us to confirm placement of current students for next year prior to accepting new students. Tuition Contracts and the Registration Fee of $275 per student will be due to the main office by January 23rd.

Registration for New Students

Do you have a NEW student applying to Holy Rosary School next year? Please let us know if you have a Preschool - 8th Grade student NEW to Holy Rosary that will be applying for the 2015-16 school year. Please complete an Intent to Register Form (PDF). This form provides us with a head count for planning purposes as we go into the enrollment season in January. Please complete this form by December 19. Thank you for your assistance.

Applications for NEW students are available in the main office and online. If you have questions regarding our enrollment process, please contact Kimberly Tish, Registrar.

***Please note, do not complete this form for currently enrolled students. Registration for current students will begin in January 2015. Thank you.***

The Application for Tuition Assistance for the 2015-16 School Year will be available on-line on November 3, 2014. Please follow these instructions and note that in addition to submitting an application on-line to Fulcrum, paper copies of the completed application must be delivered to Rufina at Holy Rosary School by January 20, 2015.

Online Application Procedure

1. Be sure your computer is connected to a working printer. You can test this by pressing the print button below and printing these instructions for future reference.
2. Make a copy of page 1 and 2 of your 2013 Federal IRS 1040, 1040A, or E-file printout for the financially responsible parent(s) or guardian(s). Note: 2013 W-2 forms are not acceptable. Do not send originals. If you do not have 1040 documentation, have your school principal approve a letter of special circumstances (see Part D-3 of the application). Be sure to sign your tax forms. This is often overlooked, especially with E-filing. Fulcrum will not accept un-signed forms.
3. If you have Non-Taxable Income (Part C-3), copy the applicable documents such as 1099, federal or state aid, alimony or child support.
4. Under ‘School,’ select Holy Rosary, Seattle and enter your information in Part A to D. A printout is produced at the end of the submission process. If you discover an error after submission, submit a new application and destroy the incorrect printout. Please do not enter names in ALL CAPS.
5. Sign the online printout in Part E.
6. Staple the signed application, in front of copies of the financial documents from step 2 and 3.
7. Make a copy for your records, if desired. Copies will not be returned by the Fulcrum Foundation.
8. Deliver or mail the complete application package to Rufina at Holy Rosary School by January 20, 2015.
9. If you have students in both elementary and high school, you will need to complete the elementary (K-8) and high school (9-12) application forms. These grants are awarded separately by the Fulcrum Foundation.

* Fulcrum does not accept handwritten applications. If you need help completing the application or you have questions, ask Rufina Miller to assist you. She may be contacted at (206) 937-1488, ext. 211 or . Thank you.