WOH, Tuesday January 9, 2024
Reminders of Hope By Sabrina Chau, 1st grade teacher
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1
This scripture popped up on my phone right before my job interview with Mrs.Okabayashi in June 2023. During that time, I was struggling with the transition process as every other graduate was, and going through health issues. I was also facing difficulties in maintaining my visa in order to remain in the United States. My biggest hope was to stay in the United States for at least one more year, and that I could teach in a school here. I felt anxious, hopeless, and powerless when I focused on all the closed doors in my life.
One day, I received a call from my college professor. My professor said: “Sabrina, there’s a school called Hope. They have an open position for a 1st-grade teacher. You should try!” I was tearing up just by hearing that because I saw it as a direct reminder of hope from God!
Thankfully, everything worked as it should, and I became part of this community. I’m grateful to walk into this school and see a daily giant reminder (Hope) from the front door. I’ve received a lot of encouragement from students, families, and co-workers over the past few months. Building deep relationships with my students and embracing each other’s cultures brings so much joy to me.
After going through all these things this last year, I know this doesn’t mean I won’t face similar challenges or feel anxious about my life anymore. It does mean I can remain hopeful when the challenges come again because I experienced what leaning in hope and God did for my life last year, and I’m confident He will do it again this year. And I’m sure He will do the same for you too! Happy 2024.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Tues, 1/9; 6:30pm Preschool Open House
Tues, 1/9: 6:30pm Auction Meeting
Fri, 1/12: Preschool Programs Closed; PS Parent-Teacher Conferences
Mon, 1/15: No School – ML King Jr Day (all programs closed)
Tues, 1/16: 6:30pm – 7:00pm PTH General Meeting (updated time)
Tues, 1/16: 7:00pm – 8:30pm Parent Ed Talk (after PTH General Meeting)
Sun, 1/21:Lutheran Schools Week Sunday; 10:45am Service
Mon, 1/22-Fri 1/26; National Lutheran Schools Week
Tues, 1/30 3:00-4:00pm: 7-8 Basketball, then Cheer Team Photos
Weds. 1/31 7:45am – 8:25am Donuts with Grownups
SCHOOL NEWS
THANK YOU so much to everyone who donated to The Eagle Excellence Fund in support of the five pillars of excellence! We are so grateful for your continued support of the great work we do here at Hope Lutheran School and the talented, dedicated people that do that work tirelessly. A total of 24 donors along with the help of company matching raised $13,350! Amazing! Words cannot express how grateful we are to our current families, alumni, church members and friends of Hope for supporting Hope School in this way. These funds will be put to good use as we embark on expanding our preschool and middle school programs.
Prayer Request
Mrs. Okabayashi is having minor surgery tomorrow morning, January 10, 2024. Please pray for her surgeon and her recovery process as she heals from gallbladder removal. She will be away from campus most likely until Monday, January 22, 2024.
Snow Alerts: Please stay alert to any school notifications that may be sent out to you in the next few days. We will update you on any late starts or early dismissals.
Enter to Win $1000!
A new year has begun! You can help Hope School by writing a review on Niche.com and be entered to win $1000! Now wouldn’t that be a fun way to begin 2024 and help your child’s school!
4th & 5th Grade Bible Club beginning on Thursday mornings in January! All 4th and 5th grade students are invited to join the Bible Club beginning Thursday, January 11 at 7:55-8:20 am in the View Room. We will meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month. Students will be given the opportunity to study the Bible, participate in fun Scripture memory contests and pray together. Questions, contact our Family Life Minister patramueller@hopeseattle.org.
ADMISSIONS
TONIGHT! Preschool Open House – Tues, 1/9; 6:30pm
Our Preschool Open House for prospective families is January 9th at 6:30. We’ll be welcoming new families to our preschool classrooms and showing them what we do in our play-based preschool program. Please feel free to invite families in your neighborhood to attend. They can register to attend through this link. If you are a current family and have a child that will be ready for preschool next fall as a new student but haven’t applied yet, please do so through this link. It is important that we receive your application by January 31st at the latest as new family applications will be assigned open spots after January 31st.
Re-enrollment for Fall 2024 will begin January 16-31, 2024. Current families will re-enroll for the following year through GradeLink beginning January 16th and submit the $200 registration fee/child at the end of the registration process. If you need to enroll a sibling new to Hope, please fill out an application for them through this link. This would include students entering preschool or new to the elementary or middle school programs. Beginning February 1st, new applications will be processed and placed into programs, so in order to secure a spot for your child next fall, please make sure to apply or re-enroll them before January 31st.
IMPORTANT LINKS:
Payment Portal
Sports, Milk and Bible Link- https://bngn.blackbaud.school/?id=xnxrcid4vjy
SCHOOL EVENTS
NATIONAL LUTHERAN SCHOOLS WEEK
NLS Week is coming January 21-27! Students will participate in all kinds of special activities including an online Mission Trip to Australia! We will kick off the week at our worship services on Sunday, January 21. Students in grades K-5 are invited to sing at the 10:45 am service. All students that come to sing will receive a free dress pass from Mrs. Okabayashi. Mark your calendars and join us for this special celebration!
Hope Praying Parent Group: Thursdays, 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 the sanctuary to pray. Questions contact patramueller@hopeseattle.org.
PTH EVENTS
Auction Meeting, Today 1/9: 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).
Tuesday, January 16th: PTH General Meeting 6:30pm – 7:00pm in the School Sanctuary
Please join your PTH Board, room parents, teachers and staff for our second PTH General Meeting. We will be sharing information about the upcoming events and volunteer opportunities which you don’t want to miss. It will last 30 minutes, and you earn PIP credit! On hand SCRIP gift cards will be available to purchase by cash or check only.
Tuesday, January 16th: Parent Ed Talk (after the PTH General Meeting) 7:00pm -8:30pm in the School Sanctuary
After the PTH General Meeting we will have an informative Parent Ed Talk. We welcome our speakers Cynthia Tobias and Sue Acuña. Sue is a master Middle School teacher and expert in Learning Styles. She and Cynthia have worked together in seminars and with Focus on the Family many times as well as writing the Middle School book together . Their presentation will be a fun evening of encouragement and insight about: Strong Willed Child of all ages and Understanding Middle Schoolers.
Cynthia and Sue will share quick, practical ideas and strategies from the hearts and minds of strong-willed kids of all ages—this presentation can be a game changer for anyone who has to deal with a strong-willed child. They will also address why the middle school season of parenting is challenging and how parents can adapt to the changes in an effective way. Emphasis is made of the importance of keeping communication open through listening, observing and understanding. We are blessed to have these two outstanding women of faith and education knowledge lead our Parent Ed Talk.
Wednesday, January 31st: Donuts with Grownups Social Event 7:45am-8:25 am
Student(s) and their Special Grownups will gather in the Commons before their class starts to socialize and enjoy donuts (we will have coffee, tea and water). Grownups are invited to stay to attend Wednesday Chapel service after the event.
SIGN UP TODAY TO HELP WITH THE AUCTION – PIP Hours apply!
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: https://hopeseattle.ejoinme.org/volunteer
BUY YOUR AUCTION TICKETS NOW– Saturday, March 9th: Masquerade Auction 5:00pm – 11:00pm
Join us at the Hall of Fauntleroy in your loveliest cocktail attire and most gorgeous masquerade mask for an unforgettable evening of fun and fundraising! We will have silent and live auctions, dinner, dessert dash games, dancing, a photo booth and a marvelous after party!
https://hopeseattle.ejoinme.org/MasqueradeTickets
Thursday, February 1st: Deadline for the donation of an item or an experience to the Auction.
We are still looking for item & experience donations such as: gift certificates to your favorite restaurants, vacation homes, overnight hotel stays, theater/opera/symphony tickets, hosted dinners, buy-in parties, art or cooking class, gift certificates to your favorite restaurant etc…The list is only limited by your imagination.
https://hopeseattle.ejoinme.org/donate
CHURCH EVENTS
New changes at RüT! – Wednesday at 6:30 pm
We are joining efforts and creating a “midweek experience” and we are calling it, Wednesday CONNECT.
High schoolers will be invited to join us for Wednesday CONNECT, and at times we will have 4th and 5th graders, called “Club45”, on campus too. (They will be separate and do their own thing). However, high schoolers and RüT will be together for dinner, worship and prayer, and games. They will be separate for small group time.
The new thing: we will have DINNER! This week’s dinner will be a taco bar, starting at 6:30PM and going through our Lenten Services that starts February 14th. Then we will shift into our RüT/Lenten Season for 6 weeks.
The new times:
6:30 – Dinner (drop off Oregon St doors)
7PM – Worship, prayer, and message
7:30 – Small groups
8PM – Games
8:30 – Pick up at the Gym (Hope North Gym)
NEW MEMBER DINNER at the Mueller’s!
Are you new to Hope and would like to learn more about how to get connected and become a member? Join Pastor Peter and Patra for dinner in their home on Sunday, January 21 at 6:00 PM. Questions or to sign up contact patramueller@hopeseattle.org.
THURSDAY MORNING WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY
The God Who Sees A Six-Week Study on six different women in the Bible who were changed through an encounter with the living God! Join us beginning January 11 on Thursday mornings 9:00-10:30 AM. CLICK HERE for more details, to watch the trailer and to sign up!