As you are pulling out your Christmas boxes, please look to see if you have any of the large ribbon spools (1 ½” wide ribbon, like the size from Costco). Please consider “stripping” your spools and donating them–we’ll need about 80 for part of the auction table centerpieces.

You can turn them in directly to the auction office or to your school office. If you bring them to the school, please be sure to label them, “Auction Office.” Thank you!

Katherine, a Valley Catholic School alumna, graduated in 2006. She returned to Valley Catholic Elementary School with 4th grade teacher Carol Pausz for the month of September 2010 as a part of the “September Experience” program. September Experience gives education majors at Oregon State University a first-hand experience setting up a classroom and curriculum for a new academic year.

Katherine and four of her siblings all attended high school at VCS: Krista ’95, Brendan ’97, Erin ’00 and Brian ’03. Her younger sister, Sarah, is currently a sixth grader at Valley Catholic School and their father, Paul Gram, serves on the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon Foundation Board. Read the rest of this entry »

Valley Catholic 2003 grad and two-time Olympic gold medalist Mariel Zagunis is a fencing world champion yet again. She defeated Olga Kharlan of Ukraine 15-11 in the finals in Paris Nov. 6.

Read the full Beaverton Valley Times article here.

You may have noticed the Annual Fund signs around campus. The VCS Annual Fund kicked off this week and will continue through the month and into November. This year’s theme is Living the Legacy. If you have already made a gift or pledge to the VCS Annual Fund, thank you! If not, you will have the opportunity in the coming days – look for your letter in the mail soon! Brochures and updates on parent participation by grade will also be posted at your school. Check out how your grade is doing. This is a very important effort and we need all of our parents to participate – the goal is 100%. Your tax-deductible gift will help bridge the gap between tuition and the true cost of education for our students. Learn more here and make your gift today online or in by mail.

If you need volunteer hours, like to have fun, and are comfortable on the phone, we need you! We are looking for parents to help with our upcoming parent phone-a-thon on the evenings of November 3rd, 4th and during the day on November 5th. There will be great conversation, food and prizes too! Contact Melissa Maxwell via email or by phone, 503.906.1139.

For four years, Valley Catholic alumna KT Wilson has been a part of a nearly 80-year tradition. The 2007 graduate earned her place with the prestigious dance company, the Radio City Rockettes. This holiday season KT hopes to be a part of the group performing in Portland at the Rose Garden arena, in the Dec. 23 to 26 Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

Read the entire story in The Portland Tribune.

KT is pictured (left) with Trail Blazer Jeff Pendergraph and Rockette Kate Vallee. 

Photo courtesy of The Portland Tribune.

Rana Kassab ’03 was selected 4th runner up in the 2011 Miss Oregon USA Pageant. The pageant took place in Bend at the River House Convention Center the weekend of October 2 & 3. Read more here.

Winners from state competitions will compete in spring 2011 for the title, Miss USA. Miss USA will then represent the United States in the Miss Universe 2011 competition. The Miss Universe and Miss USA Pageants are a Donald J. Trump and NBC Universal joint venture.

For the 5th consecutive year, Valley Catholic High School was selected by prominent advocate for Catholic education, Joe Weston, to be a part of his extraordinary Weston Challenge matching gift program. The goal of this year’s Joseph E. Weston Challenge, was to raise $8,500 for financial aid endowment for VC High school students.

Thanks to generous donors within our community, this goal was met and therefore will be matched by Mr. Weston, dollar for dollar. To date, $9,122.68 has been raised and the endowment is up to nearly $55,000 since we were chosen to participate in this annual challenge five years ago.

Thank you to this year’s generous donors and to donors past for helping us meet the Weston Challenge to directly benefit our high school students, now and in the future.

Dear Nike Employee:

We are very pleased to tell you that the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon Foundation has been approved for inclusion in Nike’s WE Giving matching gift program. We thought it would be helpful to highlight some of the changes that directly affect the way you make contributions to Valley Catholic School, the Sisters or other programs on this campus you choose to support. Here is a brief overview:

• Monetary gifts and/or pledge payments must be made directly through the WE Giving portal. If you send a check to us, give us your credit card over the phone, or give through the VCS or Foundation website, your donation will not be eligible for the match. If you have questions, please refer to your HR department.
• Nike will generously match 95% of your gift.
• The maximum matching amount allowed in a year is $2,500 (full-time employee) and $1,000 (part-time employee).

Administratively, there are a few changes as well:

• We will be listed under project: Support Valley Catholic School (PreK-12) with the organization listed as Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon Foundation. Although we do not currently have separate projects listed for the Sisters or Maryville Nursing Home, you can, of course, still make a gift to these areas of ministry. We may add them to the WE Giving portal in the future.
• Currently, you are unable to indicate where you would like your gift to go through the portal, so communication between you and the SSMO Foundation is necessary to assure your gift goes where it is intended. An email or phone call letting us know your gift is coming would be appreciated. If there is a question about the designation of your gift, we will contact you.
• Nike will send us a list of donor names with a check including original gift and matching gift amounts (all together) several weeks after you first submit your gift or pledge payment through the portal. This means your acknowledgement from the SSMO Foundation will be delayed.

Matching gift contributions significantly impact fundraising and directly benefit our campus ministries. Whether you are giving to the Annual Fund to help bridge the gap for our students, supporting the Capital Campaign for the new K-8 School, or supporting another area of ministry, matching gifts provide a unique opportunity for you to further the impact of your generosity. Your contribution of time is also greatly appreciated.

• Volunteer hours must be logged through the WE Giving portal. For each volunteer hour logged, you will receive 5 points. Points can be redeemed for Nike product for VCS (athletic equipment).
• Giving Points began accruing August 3, 2009. Any activity performed prior to this date will not qualify.
• More information can be found on Nike’s employee portal or through your HR department.

Thank you for your continued support!

Warm regards,

Melissa Maxwell,
Director of Development
503-906-1139

Congratulations to Katherine Kraemer, this year’s winner of the Valley Catholic Auction Art Contest. Katherine, now a junior at Valley Catholic School, submitted art that was chosen to represent this year’s auction theme: Parade of Stars. Her art will be used for the design of auction letterhead, invitations, the auction catalog, thank-you cards and the auction Web site.

Besides drawing and painting, Katherine is also involved in drama, and has a role in Valley’s fall production, Twelfth Night.

Our school accomplishes great things with volunteers, and we need your help! This year’s auction theme is Parade of Stars (think Old Hollywood). Become part of the cast! We have numerous volunteer positions available. In particular, we need to fill the starring roles of Procurement Chair, Class Basket Chair and Class Project Chair. These positions automatically receive 30 service hours, and are vital to making this year’s auction a smash hit! For more information, please call or e-mail volunteer parent Auction Co-Chair, Laura Schultz, at 503-806-3425. Thank you!