Look for something new by the United We Thrive Readerboard next week! There will be two thermometers installed to share progress for the parent portion of the Capital Campaign. As the end of the school year approaches, it is extremely important to wrap up the parent portion for the Capital Campaign for the new K–8 Education Center. We need everyone’s help!

Speaking of looking for things, go here for a live feed from webcams capturing the ongoing construction on Valley Catholic’s campus. A new feature for these feeds is the inside view of what is happening, so if you haven’t already peeked in at the progress being made, be sure to take a look soon—the construction will be complete before you know it!

Many thanks to everyone who has made generous gifts and pledges! We are closing in on the dollar goal thanks to your generosity! Here are the two key goals we have for now:

1. Watch the thermometer explode as we surpass our $2M target for the parent portion of the campaign. (We only have a little more than $570K to raise!)
2. Achieve as close to 100 percent parent participation as possible—participation is hovering around 23 percent, and it will take help from everyone to achieve this goal!

The new building will offer many exciting features for your children and for generations of children to come. We are hoping you will carefully consider an amount that is comfortable for you and earmark it for your children’s favorite charity! Remember, you can stretch payments out for five years!

Pledge forms may be found here. Contact John Lauerman (503.906.1141; jlauerman@ssmoministries.org) or Diane Woodruff (503.906.1140; dwoodruff@ssmoministries.org) with any questions.

The Catholic Sentinel recently published a story about the construction at Valley Catholic that highlights the sustainability efforts of the project. Go here to read the article.

As the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon begin their year-long 125th Jubilee celebration, the Catholic Sentinel honors the SSMOs with 10 pages of news coverage, photos and sidebars in their Feb. 17 issue. Be sure to share these stories with your friends. Spread them far and wide!

Here’s a sampling of what’s inside:

• New building at Valley Catholic a gem of sustainability
• Many places, many years
• SSMO ministry goes here and beyond
• Two Sisters seven decades apart reflect on their shared community experience
• An extraordinary instructor of the faith: Sister Mary Imelda Vandehey
• Sisters, restaurants and city of Beaverton team up to fight hunger
• Timeline: 125 years for the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon
• These Valiant Women Abide

Alumna Caitlin Krutsinger ’04 has been volunteering with the Peace Corps in Mozambique, Africa. To learn more about her work on a small poultry project benefitting orphans and HIV+ community members, watch this short video.

The 59th Annual Oregon Sports Awards took place Sunday, January 30, 2011 at the Tiger Woods Center at the Nike World Headquarters. Two-time Olympic gold medal saber fencer Mariel Zagunis ’03 earned the Harry Glickman Professional Female Athlete of the Year award. In 2009 Mariel won the same honor, and in 2004 and 2008 she was recognized at the event with the Bill Hayward Amateur Athletes Award.

The Oregon Sports Awards honor the state’s top athletes, coaches, teams and more for their performances in 2010.

Read more HERE.