October 1, 2008
Dear Parents;
My role as principal at St. Joseph/Marquette encompasses many duties, of those, creating channels for
open communication with parents is a priority. Therefore, I would like to encourage each family to be open
about sharing their ideas, concerns, and/or issues with me. Our school will become stronger with your open
participation. Feel free to drop by my office, send an e-mail (sjmms-gpleger@charter.net), or call the
office –575-5557 or cell 949-5358. Your voice is important as we work together to strengthen our school.
BLESSING OF PETS!! This is one of the students' favorite celebrations of the year. On Friday,
October 3rd in celebration of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, we will pray together, thanking God for
our pets and their good health. To make this more special, parents are invited to bring the family pet to
school for the 2:30 p.m. prayer service and celebration. I respectfully ask that pets be under parents’
direct control – a leash or cage seems to work best. NO PETS MAY COME TO SCHOOL IN THE
MORNING. If your child does not have a pet or you are unable to bring your family pet to school, children
are welcome to bring a favorite stuffed animal for a blessing.
CAR RAFFLE: TURN-IN DAYS ARE MONDAY AND FRIDAY OF EACH WEEK!
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Please remember to write your child’s last name on the back of the last ticket of each book of tickets
assigned to your family. This makes the ticket ladies job much easier on turn-in days.
OCTOBER RAFFLE SCHEDULE: The Raffle Schedule has completed the first two weeks of October –
the schedule is enclosed. If you didn’t get a time slot this time – don’t worry there will be many other
opportunities to come. Look for a new sign-up sheet next week for the last two weeks of October. We
will also create a November Schedule. KEEP SELLING!
WEEKLY INCENTIVE DRAWING: For every book of sold tickets turned in students receive a ticket
to place in their grade level jar (PK to 2; 3 to 5; & 6 to 8) for the weekly incentive drawing held each
Friday afternoon. This week the owners of the winning tickets will earn a BBQ lunch for their class.
Next week the grade level winning ticket will earn Sports Shorts for a day for their class!
TURN-IN DAY INCENTIVES: In addition to the weekly drawing, students will have the choice of
receiving a small candy or a nickel for the Heifer Project Jar for each book of tickets they turn in.
What is the Heifer Project? It is a world wide project that purchases animals (oxen, cows, pigs,
goats, geese, chickens, etc.) to give to families in poor countries something that will help them.
For more information, please feel free to Google Heifer Project.
SALMON AUCTION/DINNER TABLES: It’s time to organize your group of friends or promote
your business by having a table at this year’s Salmon Dinner, Dance & Auction on Saturday,
October 25th at Queen Gym. Tickets are $40 a person, $320 for a table of 8, or be a “Green”
Sponsor with extra perks for $500. E-mail: stjoesyakima@hotmail.com or call (509) 575-5557.
AUCTION BUSINESS: Naturally, for any auction to be successful, procurement and/or donation
of auction items is a must. Therefore, our Auction Committee is making a plea to our school
community to help out. Please look at the WANTED POSTER enclosed for ideas.
LOOKING AHEAD: Mrs. Layton has begun working with the elementary students on the Christmas
Program songs they will be performing. The Christmas Program is scheduled for Friday, December 12th,
a week before our Christmas vacation begins. It is expected that all children will participate.
On a side note, students will be asked to wear their Christmas best for the program.
FROM THE ART DEPARTMENT: A BIG THANK YOU to all the parents who helped make the 5th
grade trip to the Burke Museum and Blake Island a huge success. A special thank you to those parents who
gave so generously making this experience possible for the 5th graders.
CAPITOL THEATER’S CAPITOL KIDS is hosting four wonderful theatrical shows for the school
children across the Valley. The first show, Lazer Vaudeville is on November 12th with following shows
on December 9th and January 13th. In the past our children have been able to attend due to very
generous donations from businesses and/or individuals from our school community. With this in mind,
I am seeking classroom sponsors (full or partial) for Lazer Vaudeville for these classrooms:
1st Grade:
2nd Grade:
3rd Grade:
4th Grade:
5th Grade:
6th Grade:
Miss Alkire ($80)
Mrs. Hines ($90)
Mrs. Hamilton ($125)
Ms. McKinney ($90)
Miss Hiefield ($80)
Miss Hubbard ($100)
Miss Pomada ($85)
Mrs. Town ($95)
Mrs. Velasquez ($90)
Mr. Trammell ($85)
Mrs. McAnally ($100)
Please note: to sponsor a class you do not need to have a child in that room 
Thank you for your generosity and willingness to support this wonderful opportunity for our children.
BOX TOP NEWS: For the month of September, Mr. Trammel’s class won the Box Top collection ice
cream party with 252 Box Tops and the runner’s up were Mrs. Knoebel’s class with 144 and Mrs.
Town’s class with 122. Many thanks to the students in these classrooms along with all the students
who are collecting Box Tops and/or Campbell Soup Labels for our school!
AFTER SCHOOL CARE: I would like to introduce our new After Care person – her name Eva Radillo.
Eva has experience working with children in a day-care setting, as well as, working with EPIC as a
teacher’s assistant. OPENING: Marcella Rios has accepted a new position at a local bank. We would
like to wish her well in her new endeavors. If there is anyone interested or knows someone who may
be interested in working from 2:45 to 6:15 p.m. on regular school days and from 11:15 to 6:15 p.m. on
early release days, please see Vicki for an application.
HAS YOUR CHILD OUTGROWN THEIR LEAPPAD? Mrs. Town is looking for gently used LeapPad Learning
systems and books with cartridges for her classroom. Thank you.
CONGRATULATIONS TO:
- Grant Schuler (4V) as he won his age division in the Yakima area Punt, Pass, and Kick Competition on
Sunday. He advances to the next round of competition to be held in Goldendale in November. Additionally,
Grant and his team won their age division championship in soccer and will compete in the state tournament in
Lacey in mid-October.
- Dylan Schuler (2H) and his team won their age division championship in soccer and will compete in the state
tournament in Lacey in mid-October.
PRAYERS FOR MEMBERS OF OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY:
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For Fr. Pope’s and his family as they mourn the recent death of his brother, William Hunt Pope Jr.
In thanksgiving for Miss Alkire’s new nephew, Luke William Maciolek, born on September 26th.
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Friday, October 3 :
Thursday the 9th :
Friday the 10th
Wednesday the 22nd
Saturday the 25th
Wednesday the 29th
IMPORTANT DATES
Blessing of the Pets – 2:30 p.m. in front of the Marquette Building (bring your family pet)
School Liturgy at 8:40 a.m. has been CANCELLED
NO SCHOOL – Diocesan wide teacher in-service at Christ the King School in Richland
Picture re-takes
Salmon Dinner & Auction
End of 1st Quarter
Peace in Christ
ENCLOSURES:
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The October Raffle Schedule
Salmon Dinner/Auction WANTED POSTER