Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is a great time to combine the core commitments of reflection and creativity. Below are projects where students reflect on those things for which they are thankful. I would also like to say how thankful I am to be part of such a wonderful school. The parents, students, and staff at St. Paul's make everyday a joy. I wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving.

What is an Annual Fund?

The Annual Fund and the Salute Auction are the core of our fundraising efforts at St. Paul’s. While there are many other “fundraisers,” they are often geared toward a particular class trip, or enrichment. While I encourage you to continue to support all fundraising efforts, the best way to truly support every student at St. Paul’s is by giving to the Annual Fund.

St. Paul’s relies on Annual Fund contributions to bridge the gap between tuition and operational expenses. Many of you came to the financial presentations earlier this year and saw that our total expense per student is $11,794. Our tuition is $7,357 per student. It doesn’t take a mathematician to see how valuable your extra assistance is to supporting our students' education.

Often people don’t give because they feel their gift may not match our large donors. I am here to tell you- no gift is too small. In fact, the amount of people that give is more important than the amount given.

The percentage of people that participate is tied to the magnitude of our success. One of the first things that outside agencies (such as our accrediting bodies) look at is the percentage of participation in the Annual Fund. Other corporations, banks, or foundations that may be willing to support St. Paul’s with grants, loans, or scholarships also use this number as a barometer. These groups need to see giving from individuals within the school community before they make an institutional contribution. In this sense, a $10 gift is just as valuable as a $10,000 gift.

So, how is our parent participation so far this year? Heather Black, our development director, has created a great way for you to see our participation grow. Each time we reach 25, 50, 75 or 100% percent of class parent participation another square goes to our quilt.

Thank you to all of you who have already given. If you have not donated yet, there are pledge forms below the quilt in the lower school or you may make a donation by contacting Heather Black. Let’s make this year, the year we reach 100% participation!

Math at SPA

Recent data from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics revealed that in order to meet the demands of the 21st century more students must pursue mathematical and technical occupations. Students must master advanced skills in mathematics, science, and technology to stay on track for college and for favorable careers. Mathematics teaches ways of thinking that are essential to work and life.

We do a few unique things here at St. Paul’s to make mathematics a top priority for our students. Everyday we reserve a chunk of time deemed “math block.” We all have math at the same time in order to allow students to move around and get instruction that is catered to their individual math needs.

Of all the subjects we teach, math is especially not a 'one size fits all' subject. Each student comes to our school with different backgrounds and finding the best fit mathematically is important to us. For instance, in the same grade we may have a student who gets extra one-on-one time from their teacher, and another student who goes to the middle school to take classes.

Another great math option we have is Math Team. This is a club that students in 4th and 5th grade can join, where they practice math skills and get to compete in competitions such as, the Whatcom County Math Championship.

Whether it is Math Team or Math Block, creating strong mathematicians is something we value.

 5th grade students teach 4th grade students a math lesson 

 2nd grade math students dance and sing along with a math clip about fact families 

2nd grade students use iPads to enhance their math lesson

 Upper school students visit the lower school to collect mathematical data 

House League

Yesterday, I was flipping through the TV channels when I came across the movie, Harry Potter. This movie is what comes to the mind of most people when we mention that St. Paul’s (like Hogwarts) also has a house system.

House league provides another opportunity for students to bond with other members of our school community. House assignments begin in Kindergarten and last until graduation, providing students with another sense of identity, acceptance, and belonging. All new students are assigned a house upon joining our school. Each house has a mascot, color, and cheer.

At St. Paul’s our house families are a mix of students from grade K-12 separated into four groups (aka houses). Each house honors a family that is important to St. Paul’s. We have Hess, Ferlin, Kaiser, and Ershig.

Throughout the year our “houses” will come together to bond as a group, meet friends outside of their class, and participate in activities that embody our core commitments. Below are photos of our first house league meet and greet.