We’ve Got Spirit, Yes We Do! By Kristen Okabayashi
Most of our 5th – 8th grade students and their families travelled down to Portland during mid-winter break for our annual Lutheran Elementary Schools Tournament (LEST), hosted by Concordia University. This year, nineteen schools attended LEST, including schools from Washington, Oregon, northern California, Idaho, and even British Columbia. Competitions include athletics (basketball, cheer, and swimming), academics (math, chess, spelling, etc.), fine arts (music and drama), and personal character/service.
This year was my family’s 9th LEST, if you can believe that! Each year has a slightly different feel to it, and I have to say that this year’s tournament was one of my favorites. Our students represented themselves very well in terms of character and performance, with many awards given to our school and students (see list in the communication envelopes). Another fun part of LEST is that over the past two years we have all stayed at the Embassy Suites, which is super fun because it has large gathering areas where adults and students can hang out in the evenings together.
However, my biggest highlight this year was that our school won the much coveted “Spirit Award”! This particular award is granted to just one school per year. The judges look at criterion such as cheering loudly at competitions, good character and spirit at each event, and high attendance, but it can also include smaller things such as cleaning up a mess after someone or retrieving the basketball for a referee after another player chucks it at the basket for a potential buzzer beater. Many of our students worked really hard to win the spirit award for us this year, with a special shout out to Sarah in 8th grade for losing her voice from all the cheer leading she did for us. I am thankful and appreciate everyone’s work in achieving this award. Congratulations to our school!
Calendar of Events – Click Here
Wed. 2/24: 8:40 AM Chapel led by Mr. Kopecky
Wed. 3/1: 8:40 AM Chapel led by Pastor Peter
Wed. 3/9: 8:40 AM Chapel led by Grade 4
Thur. 3/10: Noon Dismissal for Parent Teacher Conferences / ESC “XTRA” Open
Fri. 3/11: No School for Parent Teacher Conferences / ESC “XTRA” Open
Sports Events Calendar – Click Here
Track Coaches Needed!
Hope is on the search for a set of adults to help run our track team this upcoming season. Coaching is a great way for parents to become involved with the kids. It is also an opportunity to earn your PIP hours! Season runs from April 11th until May 24th and includes 4 Saturday meets and 1 Tuesday Meet. Positions needed: Throwing coach – Louis Couwenberg, Long Jump Coach- Needed, Running Coach – Needed, Additional Coach –Needed, Head Coach – Needed (can be one of the above). Please contact Brett Kapels if you are interested! Bkapels@hopeseattle.org.
Great Gatsby Gala – April 9, 2016
THANK YOU for all the great donations that have come in for the Great Gatsby Gala April 9! We appreciate your generosity and support of Hope School! And thank you to parent volunteer, Alicia LaJoie for diligently recording all the gift certificates, trips, wine tastings, tickets and more. To help Alicia and the auction team stay on track, we ask that all donations be in by March 18th. So, if you are thinking about donating or have a procurement slip ready to turn into the school office, now is the time to do so. No time like the present!
Box Tops Treasure Chest Campaign Continues
Thank you for all your support to the school with Box Tops! The treasure chest has been refilled with some new prizes so please bring in your completed Box Top sheets to the office. New sheets are being sent home today. Box Tops help buy much needed supplies for our preschool program.
Afterschool Activities – Click Here
Auction News & Opportunities – Click Here
Parent Involvement Program Opportunities – Click Here
Auction Help – ongoing
Check out PTH’s signupgenius page and search by the general PTH email address (pth@hopeseattle.org) for other opportunities.
Mite Boxes – Thank you
A special thanks for returning your Mite during Lutheran Schools Week. Mite boxes can continue to be brought in throughout the school year. Through your generosity and extra change, we raised $90.79! Great job in sharing the Hope of Jesus with children all over the world!
Palm, Pigs n’ Pancake Breakfast, Palm Sunday, March 20, 7:00 to 11:00 AM
Hope Church’s delicious Easter Breakfast is a week earlier! This event is a fundraiser for our Youth Program. Help support the youth of Hope, meet new people, and have a delicious meal together. Join us for the Palm, Pig n’ Pancake Breakfast on Palm Sunday! Free will donation.
Shake off winter and visit Camp Long for a day of fun outdoor experiences!
Camp Long is celebrating its 75th birthday and what better way to celebrate than to put the camp through its paces. Youth Outdoor Adventure Day will be a free day of fun activities open to the public, for boys and girls aged 10-20. Planned activities include: archery, high-wire challenge course, rock climbing, rifle shooting, dutch oven cooking, orienteering, fire building, tomahawk throwing, geocaching, robotics, and s’more! Bring your friends to the event and have a great time. March 5, 2016, 10am – 3pm, Camp Long, 5200 35th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA 98126.
