WOH, Tuesday November 21, 2023
Thanksgiving Joy by Christina Figgins, Preschool Teacher and Director
What is Thanksgiving to a preschooler? Is it turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, or pumpkin pie? Well, the Sea Stars are pretty into pumpkin pie. Since the first day of school the special helper in our class gets to choose what they are thankful for, and when they choose it, we give it up to God. Often the kids choose rainbows, unicorns, monster trucks…Mom and Dads are thrown in there too, and sometimes even teachers.
As we learn the days of the week we label each day: Move-it Monday, Taco Tuesday, Wonky Donky Wednesday, Thankful Thursday and Fun Friday. Thankful Thursday is a favorite because we sit on the floor together and go around the circle sharing our hearts with each other. As each child shares I see them beam with pride about what they love.
As Thanksgiving gets closer we have a Thankful Tree in our classroom that the kids have decorated with leaves they colored. They told us what they are thankful for and we added it to the tree. Here are their responses: flowers, blue Spiderman, the whole world, Teachers, all the colors of the leaves, Daddy, butterflies and unicorns, Momma, Mommy, my Sissy, Griffy, Mom, Dad, and Harlyn, and cheese (dear to my heart as well).
The Friendzy curriculum has been such a gift to learn and teach. Our class especially enjoys learning the sign language that goes along with the units. So far we’ve learned the signs for encouragement, friends, and taking turns. Throughout the day I’ll see the kids using these signs with each other. Recently I was talking to the class during circle time about something that made me sad, when I looked up the kids were showing me the sign for encouragement. Thankfulness = spending time with the amazing preschoolers! Trust me, you’ll forget all your worries.
Happy Thanksgiving! And remember there is ALWAYS something to be thankful for.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Tues, 11/21 2:30-4:00pm: Greenery pickup
Tues, 11/21 6:30-7:30pm: Auction Mtg
Wed, 11/22 2:30-4:00pm: Greenery pickup
Wed, 11/29: Photo Retake Day; Times TBA
Thurs, 11/30: Auction Class Art Project Ideas due
Fri, 12/1 5:30-9:00pm: Parents Night Out
Mon-Fri, 12/4-12/8: Scholastic Book Fair
Tues, 12/5 6:30pm: Christmas Concert (Grades KG-4)*
Fri, 12/8 6:30pm: Preschool Christmas Concert*
Sat, 12/9 4:00-8:00pm: Hot Cocoa at the Junction Holiday Night Market
Tues, 12/12: Christmas Performance (Grades 5-8)*
Fri, 12/15: Early Dismissal (K-8); PS/ESC all open
Sun, 12/24 5pm & 7pm: Christmas Eve Services
Mon, 12/25 10am: Christmas Morning Service
*PTH will have a photo area set-up in the Commons after the Christmas concerts to help you take a DIY family picture
SCHOOL NEWS
Hot Cocoa at the Junction – December 9
Ring in the Christmas season with hot cocoa at the West Seattle Junction! Hope Student Council will be handing out cups of hot cocoa and candy canes at the tree lighting from 4 to 8 pm. Last year we served over 600 people! We need volunteers to help set up and take down, manage the hot water production at Hope Church, cart water from the church to our location and prepare and serve the cocoa. PIP hours apply for parents. To sign up, click here.
IMPORTANT LINKS:
Payment Portal
Sports, Milk and Bible Link- https://bngn.blackbaud.school/?id=xnxrcid4vjy
SCHOOL EVENTS
Photo Retake Day – Wed, 11/29
Retakes are no charge for anyone that wants a retake. Hellriegel Fotos asks that you return the original photo package (you can keep the class photo) and they will photograph the student again and print up a new photo package.
If you did not order on the original day, you may go online and place an order the night before retake day (so we don’t miss photographing your student again). If they were absent, we should photograph them anyway for the yearbook and you can place an order online. Preschool class pictures will also be available to order here.
https://HellriegelsFoto1Inc.simplephoto.com/prepay/47212818?code=HL2023
If you would like to look at your child’s original, uncropped, unretouched images in the password protected photo gallery and then order, please go to the link below. Please be aware that you will see photos of all students, so be respectful.
https://hellriegelsfoto1inc.pixieset.com/hopelutheranschool-westseattle/
Password: HL23
Hope Praying Parent Group
This group will meet on Thursdays at 2:30-3:00 pm. Can you come a little early before pickup and join us as we pray for our Hope students and teachers? You don’t have to be an expert at praying out loud to come. You can listen and pray silently as well. We will gather in front of the church office entry and meet in the Fireside room. Questions contact patramueller@hopeseattle.org.
Hope North Banks: 11/29 Chapel Service
Students in every grade made a Hope North Bank in class. Students are invited to save money in their banks as a way to support updating the Hope North building. Students can bring their banks to the last chapel (11/29). Thanks so much!
Chapel Offerings for November and December
Thank you for your chapel offering donations during the months of September and October! $554 was raised for Maui wildfire relief, and was sent to Emmanuel Lutheran Church and School in Maui. Chapel offerings for November and December are being donated to Living Water International. Living Water provides clean water to communities throughout the world that do not have access to clean water by building wells.
SCHOOL CLUBS
Newspaper Club
Students in grades 5-8 may join the newly formed newspaper club! The next meeting will be Tues, 11/21, at 3:00 PM in the View Room. Led by Hope parent Jennifer Kharrazi, newspaper club will meet on the first and third Tuesdays of the month.
Robotics Club
5th through 8th grade students are invited to join the Robotics Club, meeting on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5:00 PM. Led by Hope alumni Josh Davenport, students will learn to build and code robotics, with a focus on developing a robot to compete at LEST in February.
EAST COAST TRIP FUNDRAISING EVENTS
Holiday Greens Pickup
Please remember to pick-up your Holiday Greens order today and tomorrow! Pickup is available from Hope North Gym from 2:30-4pm on November 21 & 22.
Parents Night Out – December 1 from 5:30-9pm
Need to go Christmas shopping? Date night overdue? Hope School is hosting a fun evening event where kids 5 to 12 can enjoy pizza dinner, arts & crafts, games and a movie with friends while parents have the night off. Event proceeds support the 7th and 8th grade East Coast Trip in 2025. Drop off in the Hope Commons.Tickets are on sale now and space is limited, so be sure to purchase by Wednesday, November 29. https://form.jotform.com/232996525079066
Do you want to raise money towards your East Coast Trip in May 2025? Sign up to volunteer for the Parents Night Out event on Friday, December 1st from 5:30-9pm at Hope Commons & Hope North Gym. Lots of slots are available! Sign up here:
ECT Volunteer Opportunity – Fri, 12/1
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084BA4AE29A7FCC43-45743816-parents
More fundraising opportunities are coming soon. If you want to be added to the ECT volunteer email list, please email ECTFundraising@hopeseattle.org.
PTH EVENTS
Thank you for attending the PTH Sponsored Family Movie Time on Saturday! We hope everyone had a great time!
Next Auction Meeting: 11/21 at 6:30pm – 7:30pm in the Commons. Come help us plan our auction and earn your PIP hours! (Auction will be on March 9, 2024). The Auction Committee meets on Tuesdays (unless otherwise posted).
Auction Art Project Volunteers needed: We need YOU parents. All classes are required to create an art project to be included in the auction. If you are artsy or crafty, please consider volunteering. Class Art Projects Ideas are due November 30th.
Class Art Project Sign-up (Masquerade Auction 2024)
Pinterest Idea Board- Class Art Project Ideas
Auction Volunteers needed: Many hands (and hearts) make light work, and we need many volunteers to have a successful auction. There are many opportunities to work from home as well. Please use the link to sign up to help. https://hopeseattle.ejoinme.org/volunteer
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES – Earn your PIP hours!
Scholastic Book Fair
It is time for some holiday book shopping at our Scholastic Book Fair in December. We are needing volunteers to help set up and cashiers to help students and families pick out the just right books. Times and dates are on the signup genius link. This is a great opportunity to earn PIP hours.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F054CACAA23A4FA7-45745464-scholastic
Hope Church Reader Board Changer
Earn PIP Hours!! We are looking for an individual who can fill in when needed and change and update the Reader Board for the church. We have one changer who may need a sub at times. Please contact Patra Mueller @ patramueller@hopeseattle.org
CHURCH EVENTS
Thanksgiving Worship Services – Sun, 11/26; 9am & 10:45am
Thanksgiving Services will take place on Sunday, November 26 with a Traditional service at 9:00 am and Contemporary service at 10:45. Children’s Church as well as a staffed nursery is also available during the 10:45 service.
