As we enter our third week of Lent, it is a good time to help children be more kind and loving to others. Children are naturally loving, but they can get into really bad habits of fighting with brothers and sisters or being disobedient or even talking back. Lent is a great time to build in some family practices, which will stay with you long after the Lenten season is over. Children will notice, if part of your Lenten journey is to choose to 'fast' from crabby-ness or busy-ness and to spend more time with them. Children will notice, if you set the example of choosing to compliment others in the family more, highlighting the good things you notice in them. If your family Lenten practice is to focus on being nicer, kinder and more generous in helping each other, your children will take part in it. If we fail on a given day, we can quickly apologize and ask forgiveness and model more loving behavior that is central to Lent. By doing these simple acts, your children will benefit immensely during this important time of the church calendar.
7th grade Lenten Project: This year the 7th graders are dedicating their Lenten Service Project to Develop Africa. Develop Africa is a global organization that collects and provides free school supplies for children in Africa. Please help the 7th graders honor their commitment to help children, like themselves. Check out the flyer you are receiving today for more information on how you can help. All donations should be given to the classroom teacher. If you would like to send a monetary donation to help purchase more supplies, please put it in an envelope marked ‘DEVELOP AFRICA.’
Cioppino: Cioppino 2013 is history! What a wonderful event. Thank you to all who supported the event in any way. There were close to 400 diners and countless volunteers for set up, the event itself, and clean up. It was so impressive to stop by the night before during set up and see the beehive of activity with dozens of people working to prepare for the big night…a wonderful involved community of school parents and alumni parents. Thank you to Anarose Schelstrate and Linda Shah for once again chairing this great event. Congratulations to head chef, Robert Maldonado and his wonderful crew, for catering such a scrumptious meal. A special thank you also to Boy Scout Troop 343 for donating their time to assist with parking, serve dinner and clean up during the event. The bids are still open on some silent auction items. Check out the list you are receiving today or to place a bid online for Principal for a Day, Gym Director for a Day or Birthday Party for a student at the STM Gym click here.
WASC/WCEA Accreditation Visit: Have you noticed some extra people around the school this week? They are the WASC/WCEA Accreditation team and will be with us until tomorrow afternoon when the faculty will receive an initial report. Things seem to be going very well. You have much to be proud of in your children, their academic accomplishments and the school you have chosen for their education. We are truly grateful to Leslie Torres, Tania Tripathi and Ivon Van Mechelen who have been here every day before 7:00am to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner for our visitors.
Having completed this stage of the evaluation/visitation, the students, teachers and staff will enjoy a much-deserved holiday this Friday, March 1st. We’ll be back to education as usual with a full day on Monday.
Calendars: The March calendar of events and hot lunch menu are included in today’s Envelope. Keep them close as March proves to be a busy month.
Kindergarten Acceptance: As we previously mentioned, we have accepted our first batch of kindergarteners for the 2013-2014 school year. We are very happy with the response to those acceptance letters. A reminder to all siblings and preschoolers who were accepted for our 2013-2014 kindergarten class - to pay close attention to the due date for the registration and materials fee in order to hold your child’s seat.
Book Fair: This year, our Book Fair raised one of the highest amounts in recent years - almost $7,000! Thanks to all who purchased books at the fair, especially our grandparents, the school now has over $4,100 to buy new books for our ever growing library. This year, Miss Pinnick, our librarian, has been busy keeping an eye on the types of books we would like to add to our collection. Each teacher has been asked to suggest some favorites that will become part of our permanent collection.
See’s Candies: A BIG thank you to Sue Sullivan, mother of Chloe (7th grade). Once again, Sue has volunteered to head up the See’s Candies Spring Fundraiser. Please follow the deadline for ordering. Candy orders will be delivered in plenty of time for Easter. Complete and return the form in today's envelope if you wish to order.
Field Trips: Today the 4th graders are receiving permission slips for their upcoming field trip to the SF Transfer Station. Be sure to get those permission slips back by the due date! As always, late forms will not be accepted.
Free MUNI for San Francisco Youth Pilot Program: Beginning March 1, 2013 this Muni program will provide low and moderate income youth in San Francisco FREE access to Muni for a 16th month period. All San Francisco youth aged 5-17 who meet certain income limits are eligible. A student must have a Clipper Card to take advantage of this program. If the student already has a Clipper Card, parents may apply online at sfmta.com/freemuni4youth. They can download the application and submit by mail to: SFMTA, ATTN Youth Pilot Pass, 11 South Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94103. For step-by-step assistance, please call 311, or 415-701-2311.
Absentee Reporting: If your child is absent, please call or email the school office, or use the absentee reporting link on our website to let us know. If you know in advance that your child is going to be absent please let your child’s teacher know. This also applies if you wish to take your child out of school earlier than their regular dismissal time. Just a reminder that every time your child is absent or tardy, a note must be given to the teacher when they return, or in the case of a tardy, the following day.
Tuition/Re-registration: Since Friday, March 1st is a school holiday, final payments on 2012-2013 tuition accounts should be sent to the school office no later than next Monday, March 4th. Next week we will begin the re-registration process. Remember, we will not save your child’s seat for the next school year if your accounts are not in order.
TADS: To apply for the Archdiocesan Scholarship Program, parents can go to the TADS website, www.tads.com. Once on their homepage click the link “Apply for Financial Aid” on the right side of the page, which is under the “Parents & Families” heading. Once you complete and submit the online form your application will be processed by TADS. The deadline for completing the application for elementary school assistance is April 15, 2013. Award letters will be sent out in May. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give the school office a call.
Tuition Assistance Program: The $20,000 St. Thomas More School Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) is available this school year because of the generosity of the Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert Foundation. Those who applied and areeligible for the STM TAP are receiving additional information in their envelope today.
Sincerely,
Marie Fitzpatrick
Principal
