Thank you to all of our donors! You helped us exceed our goal. 

Knock, knock
Who’s there?
Icing
Icing who?
Icing so loudly so everyone can hear me!

This is the final stretch of our Spring Matching Fundraiser. Your generosity continues to amaze me. This past week, long-time supporters with our students in their hearts offered to increase the matching pot from $60,000 to $70,000. Can we make it to $70,000? With your help, I know we can. 

The fundraiser ends Sunday, May 31. On June 1 at 6 p.m. Alaska Time, we will announce the total, recognize donors, and have some fun with school trivia. Join us LIVE on the Catholic Schools of Fairbanks Facebook page. We promise not to keep you long. If you are not a Facebook person, we will post the event video on our website afterward for all to see.

Again, we are grateful to all of you who have helped make this fundraiser a great success. We couldn't carry on our mission without you. 

Amanda B. Angaiak
Director of Schools/ President of Monroe Foundation, Inc.

P.S. Your matching donors are Bert and Becky '69 Bell, Jim and Sandra Haselberger, Skip and Linda Johnson, and an anonymous couple.

Today's spotlight is on YOU. Do you realize how amazing you are? You have helped us raise nearly $52,000 so far; well on our way toward our goal of $60,000. Wow! The Spring Matching Fundraiser ends May 31. We hope you can join us for a Facebook LIVE event to wrap up the fundraiser. Let's play some games, recognize YOU (our donors), and announce the total with a drumroll. The LIVE event will stream on the Catholic Schools of Fairbanks Facebook page on June 1 at 6 p.m. Alaska Time. We promise not to keep you long.

Take a moment to peruse the names on the Spring Matching Fundraiser webpage. Among this group of donors, you'll see alumni, current parents, past parents, past and present staff, grandparents of current students, and friends of the schools. It is an impressive display of individuals believing in our mission. If you know someone on the list, please join us in saying "thank you."

We have started planning for the fall semester at the schools. While no one can be certain of what fall will bring, we are working diligently to make sure we are prepared for anything and remain eager to support and serve our students. We appreciate you helping these schools remain accessible. Your past and present support continue to make a difference as we move forward. Hope to see you *online* on June 1.

Amanda B. Angaiak
Director of Schools/ President of Monroe Foundation, Inc.

P.S. Your matching donors are Bert and Becky '69 Bell, Jim and Sandra Haselberger, and Skip and Linda Johnson.

Tips to effectively handle winning and losing with Coach O. Preview: Don't throw desks.

Thanks to you, we have raised more than $35,000 toward our goal of $60,000. Wow! We are well on our way. This Spring Matching Fund-raiser will conclude on May 31. All donations up to $60,000 will be doubled.

This week’s highlight is Christine Keill, and her experience is an amazing display of connection through the CSF family. Christine is an alumna, teacher, and daughter and sister of past ICS teachers. Christine’s very own “kindergarten buddies,” Kip Angaiak and Lilly DeMerritt, are part of the 2020 senior class (pictured below). We hold all seniors and their families in our thoughts as we prepare for graduation celebrations that adhere to social distancing guidelines. Though we may not be able to hold our 2020 Graduation in a traditional manner, we look forward to celebrating the accomplishments of these young men and women.

We continue to be grateful for each and every one of you who support our Catholic Schools of Fairbanks community. We are blessed by your prayers and generosity, and we appreciate you celebrating the people, stories, and spirit that make these schools so special.

Amanda B. Angaiak
Director of Schools/ President of Monroe Foundation, Inc.
​
P.S. Your matching donors are Bert and Becky '69 Bell, Jim and Sandra Haselberger, and Skip and Linda Johnson.

“When I tell people I’m a junior high teacher, their first response is usually something like, ‘oh, bless you.’ They don’t understand that it truly IS a blessing to teach sassy adolescents,” Christine (Butcher) Keill says with a smile.

Christine graduated from Monroe in 2008. Today, she teaches middle school science, or what she lovingly calls, “science in the junior high jungle.” As a Monroe graduate, Christine had strong ties to the school community. These ties were reinforced by two things:

• Her mom, Mary-Vail Butcher, taught kindergarten at ICS for more than 20 years and was instrumental in the development of the Senior- Kindergarten Buddy Program.
• Her sister, Kate Smyth, also graduated from Monroe and taught at ICS for several years.

It wasn’t a difficult decision for Christine to return to Monroe to teach. In fact, when she enrolled in the Masters in Education program at University of Alaska, she did so with the goal of teaching at her alma mater.

“Monroe is my happy place. It’s my family and it’s a school that I believe in 100 percent,” says Christine. “When you give to the Catholic Schools of Fairbanks - time, talent, or financially - you’re not just giving to a school; you’re giving to a community where future community leaders are being formed. You’re donating to a child's happy place. You’re donating to a teacher's dream: a dream of teaching students both about academics and about Jesus’ love. You’re donating to a family that puts their kids above all else to help them become the best versions of themselves.”

Christine has fond memories of her senior year of high school, and especially the senior blessing that takes place at the final all-school Mass of the year. The kindergarteners line up at the front of the Chapel and their senior buddies kneel in front of them. The kindergartners are thoroughly prepped. The 5- and 6-year-olds know if their senior buddies cry, it means they are doing a good job singing the senior blessing song.

“I remember kneeling down in front of Kip and Lilly, then kindergartners. They were so focused on singing and smiled at me as I cried. In fact, the more I cried, the louder they sang. They were so pleased with themselves. The bond we formed was like something I’d never experienced; it's a bond that has continued.” Christine has enjoyed being a part of her kindergarten buddies' growth and experiencing them as the young adults they are today.

This year, Lilly and Kip, both members of the Class of 2020, bonded with their own kindergarten buddies. Who knows? Maybe one of them will choose to come back to Monroe like Christine has and enrich our community even further. We can hope.

This week, we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week. Our teachers deserve a lot of praise. In early March, they were charged with moving their classes to the virtual world. Teachers scrambled to make lessons accessible for students from iPads. They evaluated essential learnings and standards to make sure our students would receive quality content. They set up GoogleMeets to check in with students face-to-face and keep the community aspect of school as intact as possible. Our teachers have persevered in this new reality and we are so grateful.

The school year will come to a close in two weeks. Rather than our originally planned party, we will close the year with an End of the School Year Parade on our campus. Teachers and staff will line the parade route. I know I share this sentiment with all of our teachers and staff - I can't wait to see the kids and their families in-person. Most of the interaction we have had with students has been through a screen; it's not the same. On the flip side, we consider ourselves blessed to have the technology we have today. It has allowed us to carry on our teachings relatively seamlessly.

We are grateful for your support of our schools: our teachers, our staff, and our students. Thanks to your generosity, we are half-way to our Spring Fundraiser goal of $60,000.

Board member and Monroe alumna Brittany Burglin Stepovich '04 suggests we remind everyone of a new tax law: for the year 2020, individuals can deduct up to $300 in charitable gifts without having to itemize.

Cheers to our incredible community. Thank you for your support. 

Amanda B. Angaiak
Director of Schools/ President of Monroe Foundation, Inc.

P.S. Your matching donors are Bert and Becky '69 Bell, Jim and Sandra Haselberger, and Skip and Linda Johnson.

​Having attended Catholic elementary and high school in Portland, Catholic schools are in Gena's blood. "I had always felt drawn to teach at one," says Gena. She remembers interviewing with ICS Principal, and now Director of Schools, Amanda Angaiak over the phone nearly 15 years ago. She instinctively felt like CSF was where she belonged and was thrilled when the job offer came a few days later. "Seriously, how awesome is it to be able to teach at a school where Jesus is at the center of what we do?" 

As luck would have it, long-time 5th grade teacher Marie Metz was Gena's grade-level partner. "She was a great mentor," says Gena. "I learned so much from her." Gena is not alone. Hundreds of ICS and Monroe graduates can attest to having learned a great deal from Mrs. Metz. I, for one, learned how to cut streamers. Lots of streamers that became the HIPOW ceiling. 

Since joining CSF, Gena has welcomed two sons, Ryker and Wayne. She feels blessed to be able to bring them with her to school, "We love CSF because it is a family-oriented community. As a parent, it is comforting to know my children are cared for and supported by everyone at the school, not just their classroom teacher." 

Gena feels a connection to many of the students at CSF. "When Wayne was in kindergarten, the first class I taught was graduating. Through the kindergarten buddy program that year (where seniors are paired up with kindergarteners), my son Wayne bonded with the seniors. So, not only had I been a part of the senior classes' educational journey, but my own child was a part of their experience too."

So, tell us the dirt. What was it like making the switch to distance-delivery of education? 

"Well, Ryker and Wayne transitioned to distance-learning easily. Having the iPad enables Wayne (6th grade) to be independent in his work but also to connect to his teachers easily. He can message his teachers on Edmodo when he has questions. Google Meet helps him stay connected to his classmates."

"Ryker (kindergarten) has enjoyed his one-on-one meetings with his teacher on Google Meet and he likes doing show and tell with his classmates each week. He received a video from his senior buddy this week, which he loved. We’ve already made one to send back to her because Ryker wanted to send her a video of himself riding his bike."

Gena confesses the transition seemed more difficult for her than it did her sons. She compliments the school leadership on the solid distance-delivery plan and on providing the necessary tools and support. "In addition to the necessities, administration and other staff members showed they cared. Jumping into the unknown of distance learning was scary, but knowing I have such a supportive school community made it not so bad."

"I miss seeing my students everyday but I am so grateful we have the technology to allow us to still see each other online," says Gena.

Gena looks forward to her own children graduating from Monroe Catholic High School many years down the road. "This is their place, somewhere they can come back to when they are older. They will forever be an important member of this community."

I'm humbled. I transitioned from ICS principal to the CSF Director of Schools position in July of 2019. Believe me, I knew I had huge shoes to fill, but I was up to the challenge. The school year started off smoothly. Everything seemed to be going well. Then COVID-19 erupted and shook our world. 

Given the economic fallout of COVID-19, I have been wondering if it's OK to ask people for assistance. Don't get me wrong, I believe in our cause wholeheartedly. We educate well-rounded young men and women who go on to be leaders in our community, in our state, and in our world. We educate our students to be men and women for others. As the mom of a soon-to-be Monroe graduate, I assure you my son's education has proven invaluable. Doors have been opened for him.

We started the Spring Matching Fundraiser with $35,000 from generous donors to match your donations. This is lower than the $100,000 of years past, but times are different. Bert and Becky Bell proved I was wrong in my assumption. They called to ask why they had not been asked to participate in the matching pot. (Becky graduated in the Class of '69.) With that, the Bells upped the matching pot to $60,000. 

These schools are not possible without significant financial contributions from generous donors like you. This week, 20 of you gave more than $12,000 toward our goal of $60,000. Alumni, parents of alumni, past staff, past parents, and current parents all came out to support these schools. Additionally, some of you made good on pledges or renewed pledges. I'm humbled to be a part of this generous community. 

Amanda B. Angaiak
Director of Schools/ President of Monroe Foundation, Inc.

P.S. Your matching donors are Bert and Becky '69 Bell, Jim and Sandra Haselberger, and Skip and Linda Johnson.

Around school, Jordan is known as “the sports guy” and for good reason. If he had been able to finish out the school year, he would have played on six Monroe sports teams: football, soccer, hockey, basketball, baseball, and track. "Very few schools can offer the opportunities I have been given here at the Catholic Schools of Fairbanks and I will always be grateful," says Jordan.

When asked about his favorite high school stories, Jordan talks about a sports-related memory that took place his freshman year of high school. Jordan missed a practice the week before the football team traveled to Barrow for a game. The coach, Coach Comeau, made sure Jordan knew not to miss practice again. "The whole weekend was filled with conversations, reminders, and incentives to be at practice from now on," remembers Jordan. The team lost the game 64-8. Jordan remembers it being the worst game the team played that season and he was beat.

Coach Cogley, the assistant coach, entered the team room and said Coach Comeau wanted to talk to Jordan. "My teammates were all saying things like “good luck” or “we’re praying for you” and that worried me," says Jordan.

"When I walked in the coaches room, Coach Comeau asked if I knew why he’d been so hard on me. I told him it was because I missed practice the day before we travelled. He said that wasn’t it. What he said is still motivating me today. He said “I’ve been on you so much because you are special. If you keep working as hard as you have been working these past few weeks, there is no doubt in my mind you’ll be the next football player from Monroe to enter the college ranks. Keep working and there is no doubt in my mind you’ll go far.” 
They say the best athletes make the worst coaches because they expect others to be able to perform at their level. Jordan says, "I’m lucky, because I’m not a great student, but I am able to help others learn. I know how hard it is sometimes."

To fulfill his 50 hours of community service (required of all Monroe graduates), Jordan tutored ICS elementary students. He worked on math with third graders, social studies with the fifth graders, and spelling with the second graders. "I had such a great time volunteering, my service hour total was closer to 100 hours."

"Things like tutoring elementary students in the same building, mentoring kindergarten buddies, participating in MAGIS houses, and all school Masses make Monroe special. Without Monroe, I would not be the person, student, athlete, or friend I am today. This is a sincere thank you for helping to make these stories possible. I'm only one of the hundreds of children you have helped provide Catholic education for - it's working. It is my hope you will continue to support these schools."

What you'll need:
3 ripe avocado
1 lime
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp cayenne
1/2 tsp sald
1 or two Roma tomatoes
Onion
Garlic
Jalapeno
Cilantro (fresh or dried)

This video could also be called "Coach O Unedited." Coach O is seeking a new, more qualified videographer. Reach out to fostanikcsf@catholic-schools.org if you have the qualifications. Just kidding! 

Thanks to incredible community support, our annual Spring Fundraiser has been wildly successful in years past. As a member of this school community, YOU have been a part of this success. We are grateful. This year, you and I both know our world is different. The Spring Fundraiser Matching Pot is a bit different too. Thanks to Skip and Linda Johnson and Jim and Sandra Haselberger, we have $35,000 to match your donations. As we forge ahead into the unknown, we hope you will be able to continue to support our schools in some way. Perhaps you are unable to give financially and we completely understand, but maybe you can help spread the good news of our schools. With that, I give you good news:

A week after Spring Break, we implemented distance-delivery of education. Given many years of diligent planning and school-wide technology integration (we implemented our one-to-one iPad program in 2014), we were able to pivot quickly. All students in 1st through 12th grades have school issued iPads. These enable us to "push" academic content directly to the devices. These iPads also allow for seamless integration with our Google platform which allows students and teachers to "meet" virtually. There have been challenges along the way and the "new normal" is not always comfortable, but together, we're making it work and the feedback is overwhelmingly positive.

Many of our parents have shared celebration stories in regards to this "new normal." They have praised teachers for their communication. They acknowledged CSF students' abilities to transition to online learning and stay engaged. They said they were getting to know their children/grandchildren in a new way. Someone mentioned a child getting up at the same time everyday to "work" alongside his parent from home. Some parents mentioned how watching a child video chat with peers and teachers brought a smile to their face. And finally, a student asked if a virtual class could be longer than the allotted one hour. How often do students want to stay beyond the bell? My heart is full.

While change is often uncomfortable, it can present new opportunities. Our CSF team has taken advantage of the new opportunities change has presented and will continue to work and grow on behalf of our students and families.
​
Speaking of growth, check out one of our members of the Class of 2020, Jenna Hernandez. Jenna has grown up at the Catholic Schools of Fairbanks - from pre-K through 12th grade. You won’t want to miss some of her CSF stories below. Each week, we will highlight someone from the schools to include students, teachers, and current families.

As always, thank you for your continued support of our students and these schools. We are grateful to have you as a member of the greater Catholic Schools of Fairbanks Community and we keep you in our prayers as we weather this pandemic together.

Amanda B. Angaiak
Director of Schools/ President of Monroe Foundation, Inc.

Jenna is a self-proclaimed "volleyball girl" through and through. She says her coaches - David and Demi Obermeyer, Megan (McAfee) Stepovich, Kristy Parrish, and Laura Wayfield - helped her grow as a person both on and off the court. Jenna is pictured above with fellow senior volleyball teammates. From left to right: Madelaine Muramoto, Chloe Maynard, Jenna, and Lilloette DeMeritt.

"My most vivid memory from the volleyball program has to do with senior year regionals. The night before we traveled, I endured a personal hardship which left me very emotional and unmotivated. However, my team, coaches, and great friends came out to support me. They rallied around to help lift my spirits in a very touching way. In fact, having that support of a family on and off the court distracted me enough to pull through this tournament and play the best I have ever played. That, along with the rest of my team and coaches' hard work, resulted in us winning the regional tournament and many of us (including myself) winning All Tournament Honors and Awards."

Jenna also highlights her experiences as a member of the CSF community. She says her friendships span all grade levels - from her kindergarten buddies to her fellow graduates in the senior class.

"Since I'm a CSF ‘lifer,’ I have had the special opportunity to build friendships with many of the same people since pre-K. I am proud to call my classmates my brothers and sisters. We have all been through a lot together, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world."
The ICS/Monroe kindergarten/senior buddy program allows kindergarteners to learn from seniors and helps seniors explore what it means to be Loving. "The kindergarten/senior buddy program has come full-circle for me," says Jenna. "I still see my senior buddy from my kindergarten days around town. This year, through the kindergarten buddy program, I have been able to mentor younger kids while building close-knit friendships."

The smaller Monroe community has also helped foster inter-class relationships. "I mean, let’s face it - we all share the same two hallways so it was bound to happen," she laughs. Jenna talks about a friend in the sophomore class who has supported her unconditionally. "I am happy to call her my “sophomore soulmate."

"Having these lifelong Monroe friendships has granted me chances to understand what it means to belong to a community. Most importantly, I know what it’s like to be a part of a family who brings me closer to God. I simply couldn't have gotten this experience anywhere else," says Jenna.