STM Newsletter for February 6, 2013

Dear Parents:

The Family Mass, Book Fair, the school-wide open house and the general spirit of goodwill were a fitting conclusion to National Catholic Schools Week at St. Thomas More School. We have accomplished so much here by working together. Thank you for all the positive comments made to the teachers and staff this past weekend. It is great to be recognized for a job well done. A special thank you to our kindergarten teachers, Heidi Haas and Megan Kennedy, for preparing a beautiful Family Mass with the kindergartners and their families. We are so proud of our wonderful kindergarten students. This is a good time to reflect on the benefit of being part of a Catholic school. The strong school community, grounded in a shared faith and the support and high expectations of parents, teachers and the larger community, offers your children a foundation for facing the rapidly changing world around them. By sharing this belief in God’s goodness and living out their faith every day, your children are blessed with a clear advantage. Faith provides an anchor that will serve your children well into the future.

Thank you to Sue Kapovich who organized a great Grandparents and Special Friends Day and to everyone who made it such a success! The children were so happy to have almost 200 special guests join us for this fun event. A HUGE thank you goes out to Jessica Ramirez, her assistant, Ivon van Mechelen and our awesome 8^th grade cooks for their help in preparing over 500 pasta lunches for all to enjoy.

A HUGE thank you once again this year to Joan Cuddihy, our Book Fair moderator, and her competent committee of booksellers for the great job they did all last week with this year’s Book Fair. Thanks to all of you who bought books to enrich your children’s lives and to donate to the classroom libraries.

Tomorrow, at 7:00 p.m., in Carroll Hall, the Parents Club and all interested parents will come together to evaluate what they have accomplished and plan for upcoming activities.

        

Cioppino 2013 and FREE DRESS: Work continues in preparation for our BIG fundraiser on Saturday, February 23^rd. Thank you for the many donations that have come through the school office for our Cioppino baskets and auction items – keep them coming! Ticket sales have really picked up for the event. Reservation forms are included in your envelopes again today – tell your friends! This event is a lot of fun. Remember, childcare is available for $25 and includes a pizza dinner and snacks. Please respond as soon as possible so that we can begin work on our seating plan. As an added bonus, every school parent who buys a ticket for Cioppino will receive a FREE DRESS PASS for their child/ren to be used on Monday, February 25^th.

School Holiday: This Friday, February 8^th is a school holiday for the students. Teachers and administrators from all the Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese will be attending an all day professional development in-service at St. Mary’s Cathedral.

2013-2014 Kindergarten: We thank you for all the referrals of new families who have now applied to the school. Kindergarten screening of our Utopia applicants is well underway. This Saturday we will meet with those new to the school and sibling applicants for their screenings. The first round of kindergarten acceptance letters will be going home shortly.

Books-to-Bravo: The 6^th graders will begin their Books-to-Bravo program with members of the S.F. Opera Guild next Monday, February 11^th. This 10-week program will culminate with a performance of their student-written opera in April.

Ash Wednesday Mass: Next Wednesday, February 13^th is Ash Wednesday. Please join the student body as we celebrate the first day of the Lenten Season and the reception of ashes at the 8:30am mass.

Field Trips: Taking a field trip on Thursday, February 21^st, are the fourth graders. They will be traveling to The Academy of Sciences to learn about and explore rainforests. Permission slips for this trip are going home today.

Student Body Picture: For the fifth year running, we are offering a 10”x30” panoramic student body picture for purchase. Lifetouch, our school picture company, will come next Friday, February 15^th to take this picture of the students and faculty in our gym. If you are interested in purchasing one, please check out the order form in today’s envelope and return it with your child no later than next Friday, picture day. Panoramic photos are pre-pay only and additional items cannot be ordered later. The original pictures from the last four years are on display here in the school office. Drop by and check them out!

Scrip: Just a reminder that all families are required to generate a minimum of $100 profit by participating in the electronic scrip programs authorized by the school. Scrip purchased between May 1^st, 2012 and April 30^th, 2013 will be credited to this requirement. Families who do not wish to participate in the scrip program will have the option of buying out at $100. This buy out fee is due no later than Friday, February 15^th, 2013. Buyout after this date will be $150. This Valentine’s Day, we remind you to think Scrip when you’re shopping for flowers, candy, and the perfect date night for your sweetheart. Check out the flyer you are receiving today for some great gift card ideas!

Afternoon Extended Care: Do you need a 2012 payment summary from Afternoon Extended Care for your flexible spending account or your 2012 tax return? Please contact John Kavanagh at JKav@stmsf.org and he will provide it.

Tuition Assistance Program: Please let Mrs. Fitzpatrick know in writing if you are interested in receiving an application form for our TAP (Tuition Assistance Program). We will continue to accept requests through the month of February.

Spelling Bee: Well done to the participants of this year’s school spelling bee!

4th: Kevin Carranceja, Jordan Mak, Gabe Santos
5th: Haley Graves, Justin Santos, Kevin Sarmiento
6th: Zoe Taylor, Kevin Dunn, Shivaya Urcuyo
7th: Natasha Alvarado, Tony D'Aura, Agnes Li
8th: Elyssa Nicolas, Antoine Malouf, Devin Rojo-Cagadoc

Special congratulations to school champion, Tony D’Aura, and our runner up, Agnes Li! Tony won the bee on the word boisterously.

Happy 100 days of school! Only 80 more to go!!

Sincerely,

Marie Fitzpatrick             

Principal