Peter Haney is just a city boy, born and raised in...NJ, Illinois and CA?

It was the typical school dance scene … the cafeteria was decorated with a disco ball and paper streamers.  The guys all stood around on the fringes of the dance floor trying to get up the nerve to dance. It was almost the end of the night when ‘Don’t Stop Believin’!’ came blasting over the PA.  All the girls jumped up, mobbed the dance floor, clung to each other and sang along to Journey.   The guys stayed off the floor and let the girls scream and rock out to the fabled ‘last song of the night.’  Is this a flashback to my awkward freshman year of high school ?  Am I really dating myself here?


No, this was a scene from last year’s prom-themed Father Daughter Dance (and yes, I am dating myself).  It was a great night to throw on a tux and go to a school dance where there were two girls who actually wanted to dance with me.  The DJ rocked the cafeteria all night long. We had a blast doing the chicken-dance, the Macarena, and I was even on the dance floor for a Justin Bieber song (now I am not dating myself).   The volunteers did a great job in keeping the pizza and snacks coming and probably had a good laugh watching their husbands bust-a-move.


Sign up now and come join us this year for the Father Daughter Dance on Friday, April 13th: Dancing with the Dads. Waltz, foxtrot, and swing the night away! You will be in good hands as the wonderful Miss Lisa from Yellow Rose Dance (St. Clare Mom Lisa Kromminga) will be there to teach us all how to do some graceful ballroom dancing.  Dance with the stars and get your Astaire on!  It will be a night of great food, good friends and some stepped-on toes, all for $50 a family.


I promise you it will be the one night of the year where Dads will lead and daughters will have to follow! (Oh, and one other thing … ‘Hold on to that feelin’!)       
-- Peter Haney

REGISTRATION DEADLINE EXTENDED to MARCH 5th. Hmmm...why does that date ring a bell?

In honor of Lizzie O'Mahony's birthday that day? Possible. Just possible. Because Lizzie is a joiner. And she's in the 4th grade class. And as an enthusiastic member of an enthusiastic class that just HAPPENS to be in charge of the auction this year, I think she'd want you there. 


And because she gets a kick out of her parents and her teacher hanging around working on a paddle bid video til all hours that cracks them up -- if no one else -- she'd want you to plan to bring a little extra cash to support tuition assistance and classroom technology. 


And because she loves Harry Potter and has no idea the relative distance between cities in Florida, she might encourage you to bid on that oral package to South Beach. 


And because she loves stuffed animals, she'd like you to consider sending a group to Build-a-Bear with the primary teachers. 


But don't bid on the trip to Caldera. Because Lizzie would actual like her parents to buy that one. Seriously, have you SEEN that house? Unbelievable.


So let's all wish Lizzie a happy tenth birthday on March 5th by REGISTERING FOR THE AUCTION by that date.  Because seriously people, who needs another stuffed animal? 

5th Grade Does It Again .... 3rd Annual Mary Kate Poky Pedal

Once upon a time, a beautiful little girl named Mary Kate Booth skipped through the halls of St. Clare School....

The Mary Kate Poky Pedal is a community bike ride in honor of Mary Kate Booth.  Mary Kate left our physical world in 2009, and for the past three years our St. Clare community has been witness to the impact that this one little person had in her short life.  Mary Kate was a happy girl, a friend, a sister and daughter who brought a smile to everyone's face who knew her.  One of the greatest gifts that she left us with is the gift of love, joy and laughter.  Mary Kate always loved a party (the bigger the better), which is why our 5th grade class continues to host the Poky Pedal.


I encourage all families to join us for this special bike ride, whether you knew Mary Kate or not.  You will truly be amazed by the impact that this little girl had on our community, and you just might feel as lucky as I do to be a part of the St. Clare family when you witness a sea of happy faces filled with laughter and joy in honor of Mary Kate Booth.

-- Barbara Soulé

REGISTER NOW, and don't forget to wear yellow!

Saturday May 12, 2012

Start at Oaks Park

2:00pm - 4:00pm 

$50 per family

click on the image below to enlarge for more details

No excuses for Tricia Leishman

You know you only have one day left to register for the auction, right? With that in mind, Guest Blogger Tricia Leishman offers this inspirational stream of her consciousness:            

Why come to the auction?

1.    All the cool kids will be at the auction. If you want to be a "popular people," you must attend.

2.    What would St. Clare do? I think she would go to the auction. With her date Francis.

3. Peer pressure. It’s pure, it’s simple, and it works. All the Peer Mediatin’ in the world is not going to help you come up with an acceptable excuse NOT to come to the auction. Believe me. I have been trying to come up an excuse for weeks. 

Here are some of my top secretly entertained excuses, which probably should have remained secret, since I am going: 

1.    “I don’t want to get all dressed up and spend money I do not have. And spend money to do it.” My own internal guilt committee retort - You spend money every day you do not have. How about that daily Grande Soy Latte, can you afford that? Or the gym membership you barely use, can you afford that? 

2.    “My best friend, a priest, will be visiting that weekend” Like the addition of a priest would add validity to this complete FABRICATION. 

3.     “I am too fat this year to go to the auction.”  That one is true, and completely logical.

4.    “I am not starring in the auction this year.” It is hard to go from starring in something to simply doing voiceovers on the HILARIOUS technology paddle bid video. Click here to hear my moving tuition assistance paddle bid speech. I'm tearing up now.

5.    “I recently had a tragic surgical misfortune, and I am afraid I can’t lift the paddle bidding device so there is no point in my attending.” Again, true.

6.    “It’s really hard to watch people buy cakes for more money than my entire net worth.”

7.    “I am against Chinese astrology.”

AUCTION REGISTRATION CLOSES THIS TUESDAY FEBRUARY 28th!

That's it. 
That's the message. 
Auction registration closes this Tuesday Feb. 28th. 
You can go now. 
See you later. 

Joanie Quinn will NOT STAY SILENT

I've never lost my competitive nature.  It can be an asset when judging grocery lines and traffic lanes, and it is especially helpful at the Silent Auction.  When there is an item that I covet, and one of my St Clare friends attempts to outbid me, that's it - the gloves are off.  I don't even care who it is; it could be my own husband (yes, we do get two bid numbers, we have an open marriage like that) and I will not let go.  Letting go is for people who don't want to take things home from the Silent Auction!

I like the feel of the hunt in the Silent Auction.  I'll pace the rows and watch for just the right moment to make my move.  Some people don't take the bidding seriously and start chatting - I sneak up behind them and raise that bid.  I get a particular thrill raising bids in the last minute of the Silent.  My husband calls this maneuver "Why Did We Get All This Stuff?"  Well, I tell him,  "Honey, WE WON IT!"

Come on Down!!!

Most of us will never get the chance to win an Oscar. Or The Price is Right. But for three of us, there is a very special moment coming. The moment when you hear Mrs. Monahan call your name and you sprint to the front of the room and claim your prize: a new Sony Cyber-shot Camera, a 46” HGTV or a week in Kona!

I don’t know about you, but I can see that victory lap in slow-mo. It is beautiful. And the price of admission? Just $25. Buy those raffle tickets and experience GLORY.

(Reminder: Tickets should be sold or turned in by March 7th.)

Movie Shoot Ends with Pregnant Star's Hospitalization

Word on the street is that this year's paddle bid movie is so action-packed that Thursday's shoot ended with one star in the hospital.

Sources confirm Lillian Kidwell was rushed to the hospital Thursday afternoon. "One minute they were filming and the next minute she was whisked away," one witness says. "Those ladies were running around like chickens with their heads cut off." While hospital sources would not confirm the story, a spokeswoman for Ms. Kidwell did say that an on-set mishap led to a trip to the hospital for routine baby monitoring, and that mother and baby are fine. "This is a star who does all her own stunts," her spokeswoman said, "and mistakes can happen." Co-stars Nancy Melzer and Marie Acurso, who were reportedly also on the set, are fine.

The drama is just the latest on the set of the highly secretive movie produced by Bethany MacNeur and Colleen and Frank O'Mahony. While their films are known for physical comedy, in-jokes and a fetishization of the popular 80s dance, The Robot, this year's film is reportedly filled with more stunts and special effects than any previous. The blogosphere is wild with rumors about this film, which insiders have speculated may be either a  Bollywood-style musical set in the Old West or a 3-D mime adventure.

The only way to see the film is to ATTEND THE AUCTION MARCH 10th at the TIffany Center in Downtown Portland. Will Ms. Kidwell make an appearance? Will Baby Kidwell steal the show? Get a front row seat to all the drama; register today.

Have a milkshake with Christian Troche

When I want to feel good about myself, I take my kids to their favorite Mexican restaurant. They order chicken tortillas, beans, and rice, and I order a chocolate milkshake. I love to watch the emotions pass over their faces: surprise, wonder, envy. Each time, they ask why I can have a milkshake for dinner and they cannot.  My reply comes with no small amount of self-satisfaction: "I do this because I can and because I want to."

I get the same feeling when I contribute to St. Clare’s tuition assistance programs. And so can you. Consider how wonderful the St. Clare schools really are, and the positive impact they have on you and your children. Then go to the auction, and during the tuition assistance bidding, raise your head high and your paddle higher, and give the gift of a St. Clare education to a family that could use a little help. Say to yourself, "I do this because I can and because I want to."  You will feel good about this, especially when you hit the drive-thru on the ride home for a late-night milkshake.

--Christian Troche

What do Tricia Leishman and Lil Wayne have in common?

Ladies, you ain't got a thing if you ain't got some BLING.

I would NOT sign up for this awesome BLINGO party if I were you. There is only $500 worth of jewelry to be given away, and if you divide that up by the remaining 39 spots available, that doesn’t leave much booty for you as an individual; but it does leave a whole lot more for me personally. I have lots of practice individually manning multiple bingo cards from St. Clare Bingo Night. I think me and all my personalities can handle this  BLINGO  party all on our own. Cha-Ching!

--Tricia

Book a Spot Today at the Tennis Sign-up Event

We are used to passing them in the halls, chatting casually after Mass, and admiring Susie’s effortless California-girl style, but college tennis coaches Aaron Gross, Susie Campbell-Gross and Pat Dreves are serious celebs on the local tennis scene.  Inspire your little Agassis and Grafs to a challenging and fun Tennis Clinic Sign-Up Event at the Lewis and Clark indoor courts on Sunday May 20th. For just $35 a child, kids from all grades will get a 90-minute clinic including snacks and drinks. Venus- and Serena-inspired ensembles optional.


Register today for the Auction and Sign-Up Events!

Auction Guest Blogger Stephen Schmidt Loves Free Dresses

Free Dress for a Day is giving my child the opportunity to express herself in her own clothing for a day, giving me an extra day to let her uniform sit in a crumpled, dirty heap in at the bottom of the laundry pile. For the low cost of $40 per family, my daughters get a day out of their uniform, and I get to procrastinate. Thanks to Free Dress for a Day, I can focus on collecting box tops. To be honest, as a father of three girls, I was disappointed to discover that the Free Dress for a Day was not offering to give my child an actual garment. However, not having to have to find matching shoes was a relief.     
- Stephen "Boxtops" Schmidt

Save the Day! Be an Auction Superhero

Procurement Push! We are facing a critical shortage of all kinds of auction items. If each family can step up and find 2 items, we will be back on track. It can be as simple as asking for a couple of free lattes from the coffee shop you frequent every morning, or a free month of gymnastics from your kids’ gym, or a week at your in-law’s time share! Asking for a “buy one get one” or similar deal can also help – you can score a great deal AND save the day. And remember, each item you procure is an entry in the procurement contest for a new Kindle Fire!

Procurement forms are available in the school and preschool offices or you can donate online. 

Welcome to the St. Clare Auction 2012 Blog!!

Registration for the St. Clare Auction 2012: Year of the Dragon is now open, and you're invited!

Join our community on March 10th, 2012 to spend time with friends old and new, bid on your "hot list" and grow our schools at The Tiffany Center in downtown Portland.

When you register for the event, grab your spots at your favorite Sign-Up Events  while you can!  These popular events have limited spaces and often sell out. 

And watch this spot for updates on the big night, the raffle prize, procurement contest,  sign-up event details, catalogue preview and more.

Register Now!