STM Newsletter for October 9, 2013

Dear Parents: 

    

Did you know that believing in God is actually good for your health and well-being? It’s true. Recent studies show that there are benefits to being a believer. A solid religious faith strengthens family ties, helps to build closer couple relationships, even helps to forge stronger community connections. In good times our faith reminds us that we were created in God’s image for the purpose of love; in tough times our faith is a foundation that grounds our very reason for being. Being a believer is good for more than just our souls. (Joseph White, Ph.D. “Does Jesus want us to be happy?” Take Out, Family Faith on the Go. April 2010. Page. 7)

Thank you to all who joined us for our Family Mass this past Sunday. The 4th graders, along with their teacher, Miss Conley, prepared a lovely service. Thank you also to our wonderful choir and their director, Shelley White, for gracing us with their beautiful voices. Our next Family Mass will be on November 10th when the 5th graders will take the lead.

STEM: Today we began our STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) electives for the 6th, 7th and 8th graders. These classes will nurture students' interests and love of learning through a project based learning approach that emphasizes our school learning expectations (THINK) as well as inspire innovation and creativity.  These classes take place on Wednesdays through November 13th with a showcase on November 20th.  STEM students will share their work and projects with STM students and families in the showcase that shows the rigorous work and training resulting from student collaboration, problem solving, effective communication, and the use of critical thinking skills. Ask your junior high student how their first STEM class was!

SANDWICHES-FOR-THE-NEEDY: This Friday, October 11th, is our next collection of sandwiches-for-the-needy. All are welcome to participate and the third and eighth graders are charged with taking the lead that day. Some of our upper grade students will work with Alma Via residents this week to make sandwiches. Don’t have time to make a sandwich for our collection…we are accepting donations to help defray the expenses for when we make sandwiches here at school. We thank you in advance for what we hope will be another huge collection for those at the Martin de Porres House of Hospitality.

PERSONAL ITEMS COLLECTION: Please remember that we will continue to collect personal items for the Little Sisters of the Poor and the residents of St. Anne’s Home in San Francisco through this Friday, October 11th. Thank you to those who have already brought in donations; please keep them coming.

SCHOOL PHOTOS: Those of you who ordered school pictures are receiving them in your envelope today. If you wish for your child to re-take his/her picture on our re-take day, scheduled for October 18th, please return the entire photo package to the classroom teacher by Wednesday, October 16th.

STUDENT ID CARDS: Student ID cards have arrived. They may be purchased, starting tomorrow. Please put $2 in an envelope, write your child’s name and grade and send to your child’s teacher. They are not available through the office.

CONFERENCES: Parent conferences are set for the week of November 4th-8th. In order to plan conferences at a convenient time for you, we are making both afternoon and evening appointments available. Please follow ALL of the listed directions on the conference request form you are receiving in your envelope today. If this form is not filled in as directed, it will be returned to you! Please remember that your accounts, both tuition and extended care, must be in good standing in order for you to receive a conference and your child’s report card.

HOT LUNCH: As a reminder, the price of hot lunch is now $5. This change is necessary to cover our costs as food prices have increased for our vendor. We welcome your feedback with regards to new menu items.

FROM THE PARENTS’ CLUB: Please note the last day to add/edit sign-ups for Fall Festival will be THIS FRIDAY, 10/11/2013 5pm PST. The sign-up will remain up and available for viewing. It will even continue to be editable HOWEVER, any changes made after 5pm on Friday will NOT be valid. After 5pm, our PC volunteer coordinator will generate a report from Sign-up Genius of all Fall Festival volunteers. This report will serve as our final & master list to be used and relied up by booth chairs. This list will also be how PC reconciles & credits your family for volunteer hours. So if you need to make any changes we ask you to please do so before Friday 10/11, 5pm.

But if something comes up and you need to make a change after 5pm on Friday, no worries, simply email us at parentsclub@stmsf.org to let us know. We appreciate your support and we apologize for any inconvenience.

NIGHT AT THE RACES: The “horse races” are coming to STM on Saturday, November 2nd! Reservation flyers are in today’s envelope. This has always been an exciting evening with lots of fun activities, including two bingo games, “adult” refreshments and lively entertainment. All this for only $20! Don’t forget that childcare is also available for a nominal fee. Send in your reservations now! Ad space and Name a Horse/Jockey/Owner flyers will be in your envelope next week. All proceeds go towards STM’s technology program.

DONATIONS: We are asking for donations of new and clean recycled paper. We find many uses for paper that is used on one side only. We appreciate your generosity. Keep those used ink cartridges and old cell phones coming! We recycle them through Cartridges for Kids and over the last few months this program has earned us over $200!

FUNDRAISING CATALOG: Thank you to everyone who purchased items from our annual fundraising catalog. Congratulations to the 79 students who sold 15 or more items. They will receive a free dress pass to be used this coming Friday, October 11th. These students will also be entered into a drawing for a special prize on Friday. If you believe that your child should have received a free dress pass because of additional items sold online by family member or friends, please notify the office immediately so that we can prepare a pass for your child.  Let us know the name of the person that made the online purchases in your child’s name. We expect delivery of these items about the third week of October. We will notify you in advance in order that you can pick up frozen items the day they are delivered.

SHOPAROO: A big thank you to all who have joined Shoparoo recently. This month Shoparoo giving away over $3,000 in rewards, and STM is one of 16 schools competing for the $1,000 Shoparoo Fall Classic crown! STM went head-to-head with Laura Donovan PTO in New Jersey in round one, earning $100, and have made it through to the next round. This week we will be up against Uno Carlos Fuentes Charter School in Chicago, which has never made the leader board. Keep snapping those receipts!

Sincerely,
Marie Fitzpatrick
Principal