Wednesday, December 17, 2014

STM Newsletter

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WE DID IT! We collected 545 jars of peanut butter!
All students have earned free dress tomorrow, Thursday, December 18!
Dear Parents:
 
As we approach December 25th we eagerly await the miracle of the Birth of Jesus. During these hectic final few days of Advent let us continue to reflect on the "Good News" during this season of waiting. We use this time to express gratitude for the many blessings in our lives, especially our children. They give us hope for a bright future, they bring joy, love, strength and peace into our lives. The challenge for all of us is to make time in a very busy and hectic schedule to spend time with Jesus. How do we carve out time to spend with our Lord during this sacred season of waiting, hoping, and dreaming? Consider joining us here at St. Thomas More Church on Christmas Eve for the Children's Mass at 6:00pm. Find out what time church services are at your local parish. Take a few minutes to pray with your family. Remind your children often that Jesus loves them and will always watch over them. Take some time to enjoy your family and friends during this holy season.
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM: This Friday, December 19th, at 11am, our students will present their Christmas Program and will sing a selection of favorite Christmas Carols. Students should wear dressy clothes or their school uniform. No t-shirts, jeans or sweats please. The yard will be open for parking at 10:00am and the church will open at 10:15am for parents. We will begin the program promptly at 11:00 am. We anticipate that the program will end at 12:15pm. At this time, ALL (PK-8) students will be dismissed directly from the church. There is no afternoon extended care that day, so plan ahead. We look forward to your attendance for this faith-filled and fun-filled production. Everyone is welcome!
STM TAP: Christmas came early to St. Thomas More School – we are happy to announce that we have once again received a $20,000 grant from the Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert Foundation to be used specifically for tuition assistance for our most need families. Last year, twenty-three families benefited from this grant. More information will be available on how to apply for the St. Thomas More School Tuition Assistance Program (STM TAP) in the New Year. Thank you once again to the Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert Foundation!
During this busy time of the year, we ask that everyone use patience and consideration during the drop off and pick up of students. For the safety of our children, please use indicators when appropriate, follow directions from the school traffic patrol, avoid U-turns unless absolutely necessary and be aware of pedestrians and other drivers.
 
As we reflect back on the past year, we are thankful for so many things. We are thankful for our supportive families, our dedicated teachers and staff, our priests, and the many parents who volunteer hundreds of hours beyond that required. Most of all we are thankful for our children.
 
Blessings of the Advent and Christmas Seasons to you and your family.
Sincerely,

Marie Fitzpatrick
Principal
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Thursday, December 11, 2014

School open tomorrow - Friday, Dec. 12, 2014

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Dear STM Families,

We will be open tomorrow. However, power is still out on Brotherhood Way. Please drive carefully.

Regards
Marie Fitzpatrick
Principal
St. Thomas More School
(415) 337-0100
Copyright © 2014 St. Thomas More School, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email from the office of St. Thomas More School. Thank you for helping us go green.
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St. Thomas More School
50 Thomas More Way
San Francisco, CA 94132

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School in session tomorrow - Friday, Dec. 12, 2014

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Dear STM Families,

As of 2:00 p.m., we have not received any information that SFUSD will be closed tomorrow
 
Unless you receive different information this afternoon, please plan on school being in session tomorrow, Friday, December 12th.

Sincerely,
Marie Fitzpatrick
Principal
St. Thomas More School
 
Copyright © 2014 St. Thomas More School, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email from the office of St. Thomas More School. Thank you for helping us go green.
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St. Thomas More School
50 Thomas More Way
San Francisco, CA 94132

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Wednesday, December 10, 2014

STM Newsletter

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This Friday, December 12th, is the final day for our peanut butter collection!
Help us hit our goal of 500 jars! Current count: 474!!
Dear Parents:
 
There is no greater gift to pass on to a child than the gift of faith. As parents of children who attend a Catholic school, you have a desire for your children to understand how wonderful God is in their lives. Their teachers, with you, ignite their awareness of God's life in them and God's love for all of us. St. Thomas More supports you as you create in your home the sacred space children need to grow in their appreciation for God's love.
WEATHER ALERT: SCHOOL IS CLOSED TOMORROW. Due to the expected severity of the impending storm, the San Francisco Unified School District has decided to close it's schools tomorrow, Thursday, December 11th. All Catholic schools have been advised to follow SFUSD's lead, which means that we will be closed tomorrow. Please continue to watch the local news and be alert for notifications from us regarding school on Friday, December 12th. Again we will follow the lead of the SFUSD. If they are closed on Friday, we will also be closed. If they are open, we will be open.

If you haven't signed up for our Emergency Alert System, click here.
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM: The Christmas Program for tomorrow night has been postponed. More details will be available next Monday, December 15th.
TOY DRIVE: The SF Firefighters toy barrel is now in the office and is awaiting your donations! Please consider donating new, unwrapped toy(s) for kids ages infant to 12 years old. Let's continue to "be the good" to less fortunate kids in our community, especially at this time of the year. We will continue collecting the toys until December 16th.
 
PEANUT BUTTER FRIDAY: As a reminder, we are collecting peanut butter for the St. Vincent de Paul society. If we reach our goal of 500 jars of peanut butter by Friday, the student body will enjoy free dress on Friday, December 19th. Please send a jar (or two!), any kind, any size with your child by this Friday, December 12th.
Current count: 474!
BUILDING INTO THE FUTURE ONE BRICK AT A TIME: Here's your chance to get your brick/plaque order in before the end of the year and leave a lasting remembrance of your family's time at STM. An order form is enclosed in your envelope today. Thank you to all who have already purchased a brick or plaque. We have been working hard to get them all installed correctly.

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN PHASE 2 PLEDGE: A BIG thank you to those of you who have already made a pledge to the Capital Campaign Phase 2. To date, we have received over $30,000 in pledges and have collected close to $23,000 of that amount. As per the 2014-2015 Parent Participation Requirements, every family is required to respond to the Capital Campaign Phase 2 Pledge. Those of you who have still not responded to our request are receiving a pledge form in your envelope again today.

As we come to the end of the fiscal year, some families may wish to make additional pledges and/or donations to the Capital Campaign Phase 2. Additional pledge forms are available here. Please give prayerful consideration to this request.

MATCHING GIFTS: Matching gifts are charitable giving programs set up by corporations in which the company matches donations made by employees to eligible nonprofit organizations. Now is a great time to check with the company you work for to see if they will match your pledge before the year's end.
Just a reminder that Christmas vacation starts at 12:15/12:30pm on Friday, December 19th. There is no extended care that day, so plan ahead!
Finally, we have some bittersweet news to share with you all. Retiring after giving almost 60 years to Catholic education in the Archdiocese of San Francisco is our librarian, Patricia Pinnick. Pat was previously a teacher at St. Cecilia's for 49 years before joining us at St. Thomas More School as the 3rd grade teacher. When we expanded and built the new addition, Pat stepped up and became the school librarian. Pat has worked tirelessly to create and modernize a school library that will carry us into the future. Pat will be dearly missed. Her enthusiasm for teaching and creative projects will be remembered by many. We are happy to have Judy Silva join our faculty and take on the role of librarian. Also stepping up from kindergarten classroom aide to classroom teacher is Anna Tyaglo. Anna has had all her foreign transcripts evaluated and we are now happy to have her as our second full time kindergarten teacher.
Sincerely,

Marie Fitzpatrick
Principal
Copyright © 2014 St. Thomas More School, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email from the office of St. Thomas More School.  
Thank you for helping us go green.

Our mailing address is:
50 Thomas More Way
San Francisco, CA 94132
www.stmsf.org

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Wednesday, December 3, 2014

STM Newsletter

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8th grade present the first Advent prayer service
Dear Parents:
 
One of the most important seasons in our church calendar, the Season of Advent, began this past Sunday. This season is a time for all of us to prepare for the birth of Jesus on Christmas day. Christians prepare for celebrating the birth of Jesus by remembering the longing of the Jews for a Messiah. In Advent, we're reminded of how much we ourselves also need a Savior, and we look forward to our Savior's second coming even as we prepare to celebrate his first coming at Christmas. God wanted so much for us to be with him that he became one of us. This is the greatest Christmas present – God's presence on earth. In the liturgical calendar the season of Christmas begins on Christmas Eve and lasts through the Feast of the Epiphany on January 4th. Please help your children understand the symbolism of the Advent Wreath and the importance of the true meaning of Christmas. Each Tuesday in December we will begin our school day with an Advent Prayer Service in the gym. Parents and other family members are welcome to join us at 8:10am.
DECEMBER 7th: We look forward to seeing you all here this Sunday. We will begin the day with a 10:00am Family Mass where we will present all our Confirmation and First Communion Candidates. Following the Mass, the Parents' Club will present a Pancake Breakfast in Carroll Hall. They will also offer pictures with Santa.
 
Next Monday, December 8th, we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The title of Immaculate Conception recognizes Mary's privilege of coming into the world free from sin. Through the power of Jesus' death and resurrection, every human can be freed from sin at Baptism. Through that same power, Mary was always free of sin, even from the very first moment of her life.
TOY DRIVE: The SF Firefighters toy barrel is now in the office and is awaiting your donations! Please consider donating new, unwrapped toy(s) for kids ages infant to 12 years old. Let's continue to "be the good" to less fortunate kids in our community, especially at this time of the year. We will continue collecting the toys until December 16th.
 
PEANUT BUTTER FRIDAY: As a reminder, we are collecting peanut butter for the St. Vincent de Paul society. If we reach our goal of 500 jars of peanut butter by next Friday, December 12th, the student body will enjoy free dress on Friday, December 19th. Please send a jar (or two!), any kind, any size with your child by Friday, December 12th.
Current count: 334!
PARENTS CLUB MEETING/SANTA'S SECRET SHOP PREVIEW: Please consider joining us for our Parents' Club meeting tomorrow night in the library. Also in the gym, from 5:30pm-7:30pm is our Santa's Secret Shop Preview. Come check out the fun gifts and special items available for purchase! Enjoy festive treats and cookies as well as hot chocolate, eggnog, wine and beer. The Athletic Board will also be there to sell bronco gear, sweatshirts, t-shirts, pencils, folders, and license plates.

SANTA'S SECRET SHOP: The Parents' Club present their annual Santa's Secret Shop starting tomorrow, Thursday, December 4th. Over the next two days, all the students will have an opportunity to purchase gifts for parents, friends and relatives. Each student should use the envelope they are receiving today to help them plan their shopping and to keep their money safe.
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM: On December 11th, our students will present their Christmas Program and will sing a selection of favorite Christmas Carols. All students will be involved in this production. Students should wear dressy clothes. No t-shirts, jeans or sweats please. The front door of the school will open at 6:00 pm to allow students to enter their classrooms. Students are asked to line up on the sidewalk in an orderly manner until the doors open. Families with preschoolers will enter through the side gate and drop their children in their classroom. All students need to arrive by 6:20 pm at the latest. The yard will be open for parking at 5:45pm. Again this year, we will present the program in the church. We ask that everyone respects the 5:30pm Mass that evening and remain outside the church until Mass is over. School staff will be stationed at the church doors and will let you know when you may enter. Parents may line up at any of the three entrances. We will begin the program promptly at 7:00 pm. We are asking that everyone attending this fun event considers bringing one or two new, unwrapped toys as part of our toy drive for needy children, or a jar or two of peanut butter for our peanut butter drive. We look forward to your attendance for this faith-filled and fun-filled production. Everyone is welcome!
PROGRESS REPORTS: Progress Reports are going home today. All students, fourth grade and up, are receiving such a report. These progress reports show a snapshot of the student's current academic standing with optional comments from their teachers. The grading scale is available here. As a system default, art, PE, music and tech will show P/100% for students who fully participate. Students in the lower grades with behavior and/or academic concerns may also receive a progress report from their child's teacher. These triplicate reports for younger students require a parent's signature.
AFTER SCHOOL CLASSES/STUDENT SAFETY/EXTENDED CARE: Please note that siblings of students who attend after school classes or clubs must be picked up or checked in to extended care. They are not allowed to sit in the classrooms with their sibling during these classes. Students checking in to the afterschool extended care program must do so at dismissal or directly after their afterschool activity (sport practice, detention, homework club, etc.). Once a student leaves the campus, they are no longer covered under the school's insurance. For the safety of your child, if at anytime you believe you may be running late for pick-up, just call the school office and ask to have your child placed into extended care. Basketball practices have begun so just a reminder that coaches may sign children out from Extended Care but only if they have been authorized by the parents in advance to do so.  If you want your child's coach to be authorized to sign him or her out of Extended Care, and have not already specified so on your Extended Care Authorization Form, then please send Mr. Kavanagh an e-mail at JKav@stmsf.org requesting to amend your form to include specified basketball coaches.

Just a reminder that Christmas vacation starts at 12:15/12:30pm on Friday, December 19th. There is no extended care that day, so plan ahead!
As we mentioned in the beginning of the year...

UNIFORM VIOLATIONS

Boys: Boys with hair that have tails, stripes, shaved designs, spikes, and longer hair at the top are not permitted. Seventh and eighth grade boys should have a solid navy blue tie at school during the school year. They will be asked to wear them for student liturgies and other special occasions. Seventh and eighth grade students without a tie for these occasions will incur a detention.
Girls: Girls must wear navy blue knee socks. The socks need to come to the bottom of the girls knee, not half way up their shin.
Shoes: Both boys and girls wear black or navy laced non-marking shoes with soft soles and flat heels or black non-marking, leather athletic shoes. Neither boys nor girls may wear tennis shoes, boots, canvas shoes such as Vans or Converse, high top, rubber, plastic or any other extreme style shoe at school. Shoes must not have any logos or markings unless they are in black on black.
Jewelry: As a reminder, jewelry is not permitted for boys or girls. This includes bracelets and chains. Girls with pierced ears may only wear a single small post, one per ear. Boys may not wear earrings.
Please check the Uniform Regulations for further clarification.
Sincerely,

Marie Fitzpatrick
Principal
Copyright © 2014 St. Thomas More School, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email from the office of St. Thomas More School.  
Thank you for helping us go green.

Our mailing address is:
50 Thomas More Way
San Francisco, CA 94132
www.stmsf.org

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