Hello everyone! We’re back in the school office and we’re deep into preparations for the opening of the 2010-2011 school year. The school has been thoroughly cleaned, delivery trucks are arriving daily with school supplies, and I’m working on scheduling, handbooks, and plans for the teachers’ work week before school starts. I’ve also been getting acquainted with our new school President. Bob Weber. He will be a very visible presence in all of our schools, so you will all have multiple opportunities to meet and greet him personally.

If you haven’t been on our campus this summer, you will be amazed when you do come. The connector lane between 148th and St. Mary’s Drive is finished, and St. Mary’s Drive has been widened to three lanes to accommodate a waiting line of cars at dismissal, in addition to two-way traffic. Most of the foundation for the new school has been poured, and the masonry walls for the cafeteria and music room are going up. We will have an exciting year watching our new school take shape!

I want to remind all of you that classroom assignments will be coming to you in the mail during the week of August 30. The teachers will be back to school that week, attending meetings and getting their rooms ready, but you are welcome to come in and meet your child’s new teacher on Friday (September 3) of that week. Our Parent/Teacher Committee (PTC) is also planning a social get-together to welcome new families on Wednesday evening (September 1) of that week. They should be getting information out to you soon.

Have a safe and enjoyable time these last few weeks of summer. We will send out other communiqués the closer we get to the first day of school.

Take care and God bless!

Susan Friesen

P.S. Please keep Kim Grasberger, mother of Jack (5th grade) and Emily (6th grade) in your thoughts and prayers. Kim is a competitive tri-athlete (running, cycling, and swimming). She was hit by a car on July 11 as she set out for her morning training ride. She sustained some very serious injuries, but she is recovering. It will be a while before she is able to resume her very active lifestyle. Please pray that her recovery is as speedy and complete as possible.

Our own Valley Catholic alum, Charlie Wilson ’04 will star in a local area production of “A Chorus Line.” Perhaps first inspired by his younger sister Katie Wilson’07 and her dancing pursuits, Charlie began a career on the stage and in musical theater while a freshman at Valley Catholic. He performed in VCS productions throughout high school including Aladdin, Honk!, Damn Yankees, Annie and South Pacific. Post graduation, Charlie spent four years touring with The Young Americans, a group that later would bring him right back to our campus! (Read more about The Young Americans visit to Valley Catholic in 2009.)

A colleague of his sister’s, Amy Palamino (whose résumé includes touring with Cats, 42nd Street and Cabaret), invited Charlie to audition for the Broadway Rose Theater Company production of A Chorus Line. Charlie landed the role of Italian Mike Costa, who, like Charlie, begins a dancing career after following his sister to dance school. A Chorus Line runs Aug. 4-22. To learn more about the production and to purchase your tickets, visit Tigard’s Broadway Rose Theater Company.

The Young Americans were founded almost 50 years ago in Hollywood, Calif. to provide our talented Young American student performers (15-21 years of age) with education in music, dance, performance and teaching, and to use this training, and the good will and optimism of these young people to support music in schools and its inherent benefits through conducting International Music Outreach Workshops in educational facilities of all types throughout the world.