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December 21, 2015
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Student of the Month Awards
Once a month at a morning assembly,
we honor six students who have exceptionally demonstrated the virtues:
Intellectually Competent
Loving
Committed to Justice
Open to Growth
Grateful and
Religious
Recent Students of the Month
Fr. Jeff McDougall, S.J., President

J O Y

Advent is a time for the preparation and focus of the coming of Jesus and the beginning of our new year. During the third week of Advent we are reminded to recognize and celebrate joy. On Friday, December 18,  joy was evident in each student. Our day began with celebrating the Liturgy together and reflecting about joy in the homily. Afterward, festivities filled the morning: gingerbread houses, board games, hot cocoa, sharing laughs and a final assembly for the year. We gathered to enjoy a small concert and celebrate the accomplishments of the JazzEd students. Joy was a feeling shared by both the audience and the performers! To conclude our fall season and commence the season of Christmas, our wonderful volunteers hosted a fabulous lunch with Christmas stockings filled with goodies for each student.

G R O W T H
Our celebration on Friday came after a season of preparation, exploration and growth by all Seattle Nativity School students. The Class of 2016  have been preparing, studying, evaluating and self-reflecting as they submit high school essays and applications. Every eighth grade student is applying to a Catholic high school with the ultimate goal of finding the best  individual "fit" along with exercising the option of choice. The seventh grade students have explored many new cross-curricular projects that combine Language Arts with the novel, Navigate Early, to science and engineering. Recent test data demonstrates the seventh grade has increased their skill and knowledge with over two years of growth in one year— the skills of lifelong learners. The sixth grade students have transitioned to the rigor of Seattle Nativity School along with meeting new friends and adjusting to extended day program. The experiential, project-based learning taken the sixth grade from the art of cartography to science experiments with objects moving across the parking lot, testing motion. The first semester. The hard work and preparation will serve as a great foundation for the new year of 2016.
JazzEd students perform a small Christmas concert for classmates, teachers and parents.
We are grateful for a delicious Christmas
luncheon and celebration.
We welcomed guests and enjoyed watching the students explore their special Christmas stockings!
Thank you to our great volunteers for generously providing and serving a great Christmas lunch!

S C I E N C E
T E C H N O L O G Y
E N G I N E E R I N G
M A T H

( S T E M )

Judy Shafer, Director of Development
 
As a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)-focused middle school, we are emphasizing digital literacy through our curriculum while preparing and inspiring our students to engage in 21st Century technology career paths. World-renowned high tech companies are in our backyard; through our dedicated Board of Directors and Development Committee members we are connecting with great talent and technology. With the learning trajectory of our students, (over two years of growth in math and science in one academic year), coupled with local philanthropic partnerships, we see a new world opening for young minds that will indeed change their lives.

The month of December was filled with great Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) opportunities. First, we were selected by a Microsoft Team for a Day of Caring. A Microsoft Team arrived early one morning armed with new Surface tablets, and lots of energy. It was truly like Christmas morning! The team of ten spent several hours with our students demonstrating and teaching how to use the devices for the best results. The Day of Caring was just that—our students felt cared for and were very grateful and inspired that Microsoft selected them for this event.

Second, the Hour of Code followed with a team of Microsoft and Facebook professionals who volunteered to help our students code in MineCraft. The Hour of Code is a worldwide event during Computer Science Education Week when millions of students (of all ages) spend 60 minutes working through a lesson on coding. It was an amazing hour with professionals and teachers working alongside students to problem solve, create, explore, collaborate and implement. Following the Hour of Code, our students were delighted to listen to the volunteers describe their careers and path in life, inspiring our students to think big about their futures. One student in particular has now added a suffix to his name, "..., the Coder." As we continue to expand our Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) curriculum, we welcome professionals to contact the school to support the students through a career visit!

The Redmond Reporter highlighted our story this month. Click here to read the online article.

  Day of Caring with Microsoft
Hour of Code: 08:30:00 — 09:30:00,  December 10, 2015

I N T R O D U C I N G
O U R
N E W   W E B S I T E

www.seattlenativity.org
Visit us online!
Several pages are under construction
and we encourage you to check back often to watch us grow.
Volunteer!
Invest!
Visit!

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Monday, January 4, 2016 
Students return from Christmas Break

February  15-19, 2016
Mid-winter Break, No School

Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Save the Date!
Promoting Success Luncheon
We are grateful for such a generous
response to our Annual Fund
campaign that began last month.
Offering a tuition-free
education to qualifying families
opens up opportunities in the
greater community and serves
those in need.
There are several options for giving:

Online
Stock Transfer (download PDF)
Mail in a Giving Form (download PDF)

Please feel free to contact

Judy Shafer, Director of Development 
with any questions.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Michael Mott, Chairman
Gene Colin, Vice-Chairman
Mike O'Brien, Treasurer
Fr. Peter Ely, S.J., Secretary
Michele Godvin
Sonya Johnston
Diane Kocer
Very Rev. Paul Magnano
Jim Mallahan
Dave Matter
Fr. Jeff McDougall, S.J.
FACULTY & STAFF
Fr. Jeff McDougall, S.J., President
Mr. Edward Nelson, Principal
Mr. Brian Kelly, Director of Operations

Ms. Judy Shafer, Director of Development
Mr. Sam Bennett, Teacher of Mathematics
Ms. Terry Hickey, Teacher of Language Arts
Ms. Meredith Pentzien, Teacher of Science
Dr. Kathryn Vaughn, Teacher of Social Studies
& Religion

Ms. Anna Olson, Administrative Assistant
Mr. Michael Ervin, Operations Assistant
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Copyright © 2015 Seattle Nativity School, All rights reserved.
December 21, 2015 E-News

Find us at:
www.seattlenativity.org
2800 S. Massachusetts St., Seattle, WA 98144
Mailing Address:
PO Box 20730, Seattle, WA 98102

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