Submitted by Development Assistant Grace Le Chevallier

Nearly 75 guests gathered at Valley Catholic Elementary/Middle School for “Valley Vintage” the first annual alumni wine tasting. Alumni and Sisters from all generations enjoyed wine, music, food and conversation. Guests tasted wines from four local vineyards: Bjornson, Cooper Mountain, Garden Vineyard and Provincial. The jazz music of Scot Crandal  set the ambiance while a variety of meats and cheeses complimented the fine wines. 

 Moments of sunshine illuminated the lobby of the new building and glistened off the wine glasses. 

Christine Wilson Goodner ’95 and Julie Fahey ’91 each won a bottle of wine donated by Hawks View Cellars and Anuva Wines (owned by Daniel Karlin, son of High School English and Art Teacher Marty Karlin).

It was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon–renewing old friendships, making new friends, and of course tasting wine!

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Submitted by Development Assistant Grace Le Chevallier

Eight of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon were graciously welcomed to St. Anthony’s Parish in Forest Grove for the second Kaffee Klatsch event of the year. The event was a great opportunity to reconnect with old friends and develop new relationships. Fr. Jeff Meeuswen ’95 is the pastor at St. Anthony’s Parish and many parishioners have strong ties to the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon and Valley Catholic School.

SSMO Foundation Assistant Grace LeChevallier extended greetings to St. Anthony parishioners from the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon, Valley Catholic School and Maryville Nursing Home. Superior General Sr. Charlene Herinckx then briefly shared  some higlights from the the Sisters’ 125th Jubilee year. 

In the German tradition, a Kaffee Klatsch is a casual gathering for coffee and conversation. It is also a long-held tradition in the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon Community. The Sisters plan to sponsor Kaffee Klatsches throughout the year. They are excited to express their gratitude for the years of support from local parishes and their parishioners, and to share the many ways parishioners have influenced the SSMO’s ministries.

Thank you to Fr. Jeff Meeuwsen ’95, Lani Vandehey and St. Anthony’s Parish for all their hospitality.

Submitted by Auction Coordinator Sharla Tinsen

In keeping with the auction theme, All That Jazz, we kicked off the raffle sales season in Mardi Gras—New Orleans style.  The high school student body officers helped excite all the students from pre-school through high school by preparing a video and wearing colorful masks (see the photo gallery below).  This year there are five prizes:

Grand Prize:  Visa gift card ($5,000 value)
Powered Bicycle ($650 value)
Resort & Spa Package ($600.00 value)
VCS Tuition Credit Voucher  ($500.00 value)
8″ Multi-Touch Screen 4GB Android Tablet ($229.00 value)

Packets with raffle information were either sent home with students or mailed to your home this week.

Here’s how to support our school by selling raffle tickets:

Use the order forms in the packet to begin selling raffle tickets.
Our goal is to have each family sell 10 raffle tickets.

Ticket Price: 1 for $10

For every 10 tickets sold, your family will receive a gift card from supporters like Jamba Juice, Buffalo Wild Wings, Peet’s Coffee & Tea and other great places!

PROCEDURE FOR SELLING TICKETS:

• Begin taking orders today.
• Purchaser fills out the bottom portion of raffle order form.
• Purchaser keeps the top portion of raffle order form.
• Seller (student) returns bottom portion of form and payment in an envelope labeled “Raffle” to any VCS office.
• Additional forms are available at http://auction.valleycatholic.org.
• Please have all raffle ticket order forms returned to the school by April 13, 2012.

If you have any questions, please email Sharla Tinsen or call 503.718.6485.  A receipt with ticket numbers will be mailed to the purchaser within 10 business days of receiving the raffle ticket order and payment. Drawing will take place at the 2012 Auction on April 14, 2012. Winner does not need to be present to win. Families will receive their gift cards shortly after auction night.

For details on the raffle items see packet or go to http://auction.valleycatholic.org.

The Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon and the SSMO Foundation staff will be hosting Kaffee Klatsches at local parishes throughout the year, during the traditional church coffee hour.

The second Kaffee Klatsch will be held at St. Anthony’s Parish Hall in Forest Grove this Sunday, Feb. 19 after the 9:30 a.m. Mass.

In the German tradition, a Kaffee Klatsch is a casual gathering for coffee and conversation. This time of connection and conversation is a long-held tradition in the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon Community. The Kaffee Klatsches will give the Sisters and the foundation staff an opportunity to express their gratitude for the years of support offered by local parishes and their parishioners, and to thank them for the many ways they have impacted our ministries.

A memorial to honor and remember Shelley Espey ’86 will be held in the Valiants’ Gym at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18. A reception will follow in the high school cafeteria.

See the article about Shelley’s life here.

Alumni (21+) are invited to Valley Vintage: An Alumni Wine Tasting.

Alumni are like fine wines, aged to perfection. 

On Sunday, February 26th from 2-5 p.m. alumni and a guest are invited to a complimentary wine tasting. This event will be held at our beautiful, new Elementary and Middle School (4420 SW Mary’s Dr. Beaverton, OR 97007).

This first annual alumni wine tasting will feature small, local, up-and-coming vineyards. At this social event, each guest will enjoy wine tastings, a complimentary glass of wine and heavy hors d’oeuvres.

This is a free event and there will be an opportunity to purchase bottles of wine from the wineries.  

We would like to let you know about a beloved member of our campus family who lost her battle with cancer—a battle, her husband says, that she never intended to lose. You may recall in September, we told you about Shelley Espey ’86 who was seeking support for her recent cancer diagnosis. Shelley died January 31, surrounded by her family.

She was an ’86 graduate, a current Valley Catholic parent (Katrina ’12), and a parent of two alumnae (Adala in ’98 and Nichole in ’09). Shelley had also worked at the SSMO Convent for several years prior to joining SSMO Ministries Corp. in the Finance Dept., where she has worked since 2004. Her most recent position had her stationed in the accounting department at Maryville Nursing Home.

On the same day she died, Shelley’s husband, Dave, wrote a note to her many friends. Below are some excerpts from his letter to them.

Today at 3:05  a.m. we lost one of the kindest people I have ever had the privilege to know. She is my best friend, best mother I have ever seen and loyal friend of all who allowed her to be. She took in all who wanted a mother and loved them like her own. I want to thank all of you who have been praying in earnest for her to be healed. The outcome was not what I wanted but I give God all the praise and glory knowing with total confidence she is now healed and made new in her new home with the Lord.

Plans for memorial services are still pending. When arrangements are made, they will be posted in the News & Events area of www.valleycatholic.org, www.maryvillnh.org, www.ssmo.org and www.ssmofoundation.org. Letters of condolence are being collected at the reception desk at Maryville Nursing Home. Please keep the Espey family in your thoughts and prayers.

Submitted by Alumni and Donor Relations Coordinator Grace LeChevallier

This Wednesday during the Catholic Schools Week Mass, VCS President Bob Weber and VCHS Principal Ross Thomas presented the Distinguished Alumni Award to Pat Roshak Joyaux ’54. The gym erupted in applause as students, faculty and guests honored Pat with an extended standing ovation. Pat Joyaux has been at the heart and soul of Valley Catholic Middle and High School for the past 33 years. Her helpful, compassionate spirit has embodied the mission of the Sisters.

A 1954 graduate of St. Mary of the Valley (now Valley Catholic High School), Pat was an active student on campus. Pat was named junior prom princess, and in her senior year was prefect of the Sodality Club (a devotional society for spirituality).

In 1978, Pat became involved in the school’s Alumni Association and learned of the opening for a school secretary. That year Pat was hired and the rest is history. Besides being an alumna herself, Pat’s five daughters all attended Valley Catholic, as well as 15 grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

In his remarks about Pat, President Bob Weber said, “She has worked with 10 principals in her time at Valley Catholic, hundreds of teachers and staff members (including me as a 22-year-old first-year teacher in the early 1990′s), and helped thousands of students and parents on a daily basis with everything from report cards to bus fare to simply being a positive, helpful person who knows the answers to all the possible questions that come through her office.”

Pat spoke a few words of appreciation in receiving this award. She spoke highly of the value of Catholic education, and referred to it as a gift. She asked the students to be thankful to all those who make it possible for them to receive the gift of an education at Valley Catholic. Speaking from experience, she told the students that their time at Valley will have a significant impact on their lives.

The Distinguished Alumni Award is given to individuals who excel and exceed in their life’s work or personal endeavor. In their area of achievement, recipients demonstrate a high standard of personal integrity and strive for excellence to live a valiant life. In the fall of 2008, Mariel Zagunis ’03 was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award. Mariel is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a world-renown fencing champion. The Distinguished Alumni Award has not been given since 2008, but going forward the award will be presented annually during Catholic Schools Week.

Submitted by Alumni and Donor Relations Coordinator Grace LeChevallier

Six of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon were graciously welcomed to St. Edward’s Parish in North Plains for the first Kaffee Klatsch event of the year. The event was a great opportunity to reconnect with old friends and develop new relationships. St. Edward’s Church was the home parish for all the Sohler sisters and has strong connections to the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon and Valley Catholic School.

SSMO Foundation Development Director Sharlayne Buuck also extended greetings to St. Edward’s parishioners from Valley Catholic School and Maryville Nursing Home. Superior General Sr. Charlene Herinckx then gave a short presentation that showed some highlights of the Sisters’ 125th Jubilee and a bit of their history.

The event also included some fun and games: Alumni and Donor Relations Coordinator Grace LeChevallier quizzed the parishioners on SSMO trivia. The lucky winners received flower centerpieces.

In the German tradition, a Kaffee Klatsch is a casual gathering for coffee and conversation. It is also a long-held tradition in the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon Community. The Sisters plan to sponsor Kaffee Klatsches throughout the year. They are excited to express their gratitude for the years of support from local parishes and their parishioners, and to share the many ways parishioners have influenced the SSMO’s ministries.

Thank you to Fr. Sebasty, Barbara Henningsen and Nancy Vandehey ’67 for all their hospitality.

The Sisters’ next Kaffee Klatsch will be at St. Anthony’s Parish in Forest Grove on February 19, 2012, after the 9:30 a.m. Mass. All are welcome!