Dear Parents,
Giving is an important lesson for people of all
ages. Some of you may know
the story of the boy with the loaves of bread and fishes. A large crowd has
gathered. They are hungry. They need to be fed. The leader tells his men to
find some food for this mob of hungry people. One man comes back to report,
“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish” (John 6:9). This
is the situation on the banks of the Sea of Galilee nearly 2,000 years ago.
What did Jesus do? Did he say the boy was too young to give? No! “Jesus took
the loaves, gave thanks and distributed them” (John 6:11). With the
contribution from one young boy, Jesus was able to feed more than five thousand
people! How proud that boy must have felt! Today some people may think children
do not need to learn stewardship. Jesus clearly proved he can make miracles
happen even with a small contribution from a young child. Stewardship could be
the greatest lesson we teach to our young people. Below are some reasons from Today’s
Catholic Teacher on why Stewardship is so important.
• Stewardship helps build self-esteem. Today children are exposed to constant advertising telling them they are not good enough unless they wear the right clothes and carry the latest accessories. Since there will always be something newer and more tempting for us to want, these messages can lead to a lifetime of poor self-image and lasting discontent. In the Catholic classroom, children hear a different message. They learn that God has already blessed them with all the wonderful and unique gifts they will need to do the special work God has put them on Earth to do. They do not need what the world is selling.
• Stewardship brings joy and contentment. A life of giving is a rewarding life. When children learn to share the gifts God has entrusted to them, they will naturally find joy, fulfillment, and contentment.
• Stewardship connects children more deeply with God. An important part of good stewardship is turning to God for guidance in using and sharing our gifts. Children learn to place their trust in God when they are taught to ask God what he wants them to do, instead of them always telling God what they want.
• Children have the ability and the natural longing to give. Due to allowances and gifts, most children in our society today have quite a bit of disposable income. Even children without financial resources have the ability to share their talents or give the gift of prayer. Children feel grown-up, important, and needed when they give. Social scientists believe most children learn their attitudes about giving between the ages of 6 and 10. If young children learn to find joy in giving, they will become lifelong givers.
• Stewardship helps build self-esteem. Today children are exposed to constant advertising telling them they are not good enough unless they wear the right clothes and carry the latest accessories. Since there will always be something newer and more tempting for us to want, these messages can lead to a lifetime of poor self-image and lasting discontent. In the Catholic classroom, children hear a different message. They learn that God has already blessed them with all the wonderful and unique gifts they will need to do the special work God has put them on Earth to do. They do not need what the world is selling.
• Stewardship brings joy and contentment. A life of giving is a rewarding life. When children learn to share the gifts God has entrusted to them, they will naturally find joy, fulfillment, and contentment.
• Stewardship connects children more deeply with God. An important part of good stewardship is turning to God for guidance in using and sharing our gifts. Children learn to place their trust in God when they are taught to ask God what he wants them to do, instead of them always telling God what they want.
• Children have the ability and the natural longing to give. Due to allowances and gifts, most children in our society today have quite a bit of disposable income. Even children without financial resources have the ability to share their talents or give the gift of prayer. Children feel grown-up, important, and needed when they give. Social scientists believe most children learn their attitudes about giving between the ages of 6 and 10. If young children learn to find joy in giving, they will become lifelong givers.
Beginning
Thursday, November 1st, we will conduct our
annual collection of canned goods and
other non-perishable items for the San Francisco Food Bank. Your
donations will be used to provide Thanksgiving meals for those in need. We will
have barrels here at school for your donations and will continue the collection
through November 16th. This is another great way for all or us to
show great stewardship.
LET'S
GO GIANTS...LET'S GO! Last
Thursday we raised $147 for the "Say
Hey for the Kids" Willie Mays Boys
& Girls Club at Hunters Point from our Giants free dress. Today, the
Student Council held a bake sale that raised an additional $419
for this great cause. Thank you to all who participated. Let's go Giants! Let's
go...and win the World Series!!!
HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL: It’s almost here…the Halloween Carnival! Are you
ready for a Saturday filled with fun? This Saturday is our Parents' Club
sponsored Halloween Carnival from 10:00am to 8:00pm. The Haunted House will be
sure to scare and delight those daring enough to go in; all the games will be
challenging - have you ever won at the Ring Toss or Backwards Basketball; win a
cake or a plateful of cupcakes from the Cake Walk; Minute to Win It - need
we say more; the little ones will enjoy the Kids' Korner made
especially for them; and there will be plenty of food and drinks for everyone!
AND in honor of our SF GIANTS, Carroll Hall will become a GIANTS
ORANGE AND BLACK ZONE starting at 4:00pm. Come and join us cheer our
favorite team! Check
out the raffle flyer in your envelope today for your chance to win an iPad.
HALLOWEEN PARADE: We will celebrate Halloween next Wednesday,
October 31st. Just a reminder that when purchasing costumes
for wearing to school on Halloween, please consider the following: age
appropriate, bathroom accessible, make up must be applied at home, shoes must
be comfortable for walking, and no weapons of any kind. The Halloween costume parade will
be after lunch recess, about 1:15. The students will parade around the
homestead for thirty to forty-five minutes. You should have plenty of time to
capture your child’s Kodak moment. After the parade, students will return to
class to party until they drop. Parents are not permitted in classrooms unless
specifically arranged in advance with the classroom teacher. At dismissal we
will be thrilled to return your child to you complete with a sugar high!
PARENT CONFERENCES: This Friday, October 26th
marks the end of the first quarter of the school year.
Report cards will be sent home next Friday, November 2nd. Academic
test scores (second through eighth graders) will all be available to you at
your parent-teacher conference. We are sending home scheduled
appointments today. If you do not receive an appointment, please check with the
office to ensure your accounts are up to date.
2013-2014
APPLICATION FORMS FOR NEW STUDENTS: K-8 application forms for the
2013-2014 school year will be available in the front office and online
beginning November 1st, 2012. Siblings of current students as well as Utopia
preschool students can use the flyer in today’s envelope to request an
application. Students currently attending Utopia Preschool and/or with siblings
currently attending St. Thomas More School will be given preference.
PIZZA
AND HOT DOG SALES: Order
forms are being sent home today for November, December and January sales.
This is your ONLY opportunity to order. You must order for all
sales if you wish to participate in these special lunches. Pay attention to the
due date, Friday, November 2nd, and return the form and payment in a
sealed envelope.
FUNDRAISING CATALOG: Families who did not pick up
catalog items yesterday are receiving them today. Please check your
order thoroughly and notify us immediately if you are missing anything. Call the office and check with Melody if you have questions. She has a
complete list of those items. Congratulations to STM’s top fundraiser, the
Beasley-Bell Family (Marquez, Kindergarten) who raised over $1100. Marquez will
be receiving a special gift in his envelope today.
OFF TO THE RACES: Off to the Races is coming to STM on Saturday, November 17th!
Reservation
flyers, Ad space, and Name a Horse/Jockey/Owner are in today’s
envelope. This has always been an exciting evening with lots of fun activities,
“adult” refreshments and lively entertainment. All this for only $15! Don’t
forget that childcare is also available. Send in your reservations now!
SCHOOL PHOTOS: As you know, we were not happy with the
quality of the school photos that were taken in September of this year and have
decided to do an entire student retake on Friday, October 26th. All
students in Preschool through eighth grade will be photographed that day.
All families will have the opportunity to purchase their child’s photo using
the flyer you are receiving today. Families who purchased photos in September
are receiving a check refund from the company in today’s envelope.
Sincerely,
Marie
Fitzpatrick
Principal
