| | | | Dear Parents,
Please continue to keep the people of France and all those affected by the recent terrorist attack in your thoughts and prayers. It is important to speak to your children about the tragedy in an age appropriate manner. Remind them that love is always stronger than hate and teach them to appreciate our similarities as well as our differences. We are all God's children.
As Thanksgiving approaches we have much for which we are thankful. It is a time of year when we think of others less fortunate. Your generous response to our peanut butter collection is a wonderful sign of your thoughtfulness and a great example for your children of giving to the local community. As a reminder, we are collecting peanut butter for the St. Vincent de Paul Society. | | | PEANUT BUTTER FRIDAY: If we reach our goal of 600 jars of peanut butter by Friday, December 11th, the student body will enjoy free dress on Friday, December 18th. Please send a jar (or two!), any kind, any size with your child by the deadline.
Current count: 236! (That's 76 MORE than what we had collected at this time last year!) | | | SANDWICHES FOR THE NEEDY: This Friday, November 20th, is our next collection of sandwiches-for-the-needy. All are welcome to participate and the 2nd and 8th graders and are charged with taking the lead that day. We thank you in advance for what we hope will be another huge collection for those at the Martin de Porres House of Hospitality.
STREAM SHOWCASE: Today was the last Fall STREAM class for the 6th, 7th and 8th graders. Please consider joining us tomorrow, Thursday, November 19th in the gym from 1:00-2:00pm for the STREAM Showcase. STREAM students (6th, 7th and 8th grade) should wear dressy clothes to school tomorrow as part of their presentation. FROM THE DAD'S CLUB: Please join the Dads' Club for an upcoming barbecue on Sunday, November 22th, at noon in St. Thomas More's Carrol Hall. Enjoy fantastic food and delicious local San Francisco beer as you cheer on our own San Francisco 49ers!. Come unwind and relax! Email your RSVP to vilaska.nguyen@gmail.com.
MINIMUM DAYS: Next week's schedule leaves us with only two short days of school. Monday, November 23rd, being the 4th Monday of the month, is a minimum day. A pizza lunch will be available for purchase by those attending extended care that day. Please remember that next Tuesday, November 24th we begin our Thanksgiving break with minimum day dismissal, 12:15/12:30. Extended Care will be available. School will resume on Monday, November 30th.
We won't be here to do a Wednesday newsletter next week, however, we will send home the relevant flyers we receive for distribution on Tuesday. | | DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: Over the past year I have been meeting with school principals and church leaders along the Brotherhood Way corridor. With the support of the City's Neighborhood Empowerment Network (NEN) we are in the final stages of developing a Resilient Brotherhood Way Action Plan. The purpose of this plan is to build a community that is a safe and connected neighborhood that is well positioned to respond and recover from a disaster and look out for the needs of our most vulnerable residents. The Resilient Neighborhood movement grew out of the disaster in New Orleans where the city was unable to help all its residents because of the magnitude of the disaster. Neighborhoods realized that they needed to be able to help themselves, especially in the first 72 hours following a major event such as Hurricane Katrina. The schools and preschools on Brotherhood Way serve over 900 children on a regular basis. While each of our schools has developed its own individual disaster plan we need to be prepared to partner with surrounding communities in the wake of a severe disturbance where local infrastructures are damaged and we are required to tend for the children in our care for several hours or even days. Included in your envelope today is a card from the city to help you and your family plan for a disaster. Check out their website at http://www.sf72.org/home. Consider also signing up for AlertSF. Get alerted about emergencies and other important community news by signing up for their Emergency Alert Program. This system enables them to provide you with critical information quickly in a variety of situations, such as severe weather, unexpected road closures, missing persons and evacuations of buildings or neighborhoods. You will receive time-sensitive messages wherever you specify, such as your home, mobile or business phones, email address, text messages and more. We are looking for volunteers to be part of our preparedness plan. Let us know if you are interested in helping develop our plans, be involved in training or assisting in any other way. Individuals who have taken NERT training or who are interested in taking the training to help our school community would be invaluable. Please contact me if you are interested in being part of a Disaster Preparedness Group at STM. | | | CHRISTMAS STOCKING RAFFLE: Check out the flyer in today's envelope for information on how to win a GIGANTIC Christmas stocking filled with toys and games! Good Luck!
SANTA'S SECRET SHOP: The Parents' Club will present their annual Santa's Secret Shop starting on Thursday, December 3rd. All the students will have an opportunity to purchase gifts for parents, friends and relatives. More information will go home after the Thanksgiving break. | | | PARENTS CLUB MEETING/SANTA'S SECRET SHOP PREVIEW: Please consider joining us for our next Parents' Club meeting on Thursday, December 3rd 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.
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM: Please save Thursday night, December 10th, for our school's presentation of our Christmas Program. We will begin at 7:00pm in the Church and all students, preschool through 8th grade will have a part in this program.
NO-FUSS FUNDRAISING: Don't forget to keep sending in all your Boxtops for Education and Campbell Soup labels. These can be turned in for cash which we use to buy extra supplies for the classrooms.
CIOPPINO: Please mark your calendars for our 24th Annual Cioppino Dinner Dance and Silent Auction on Saturday, February 20th. The evening includes appetizers, antipasto, salad, garlic bread, cioppino (or chicken if you prefer), dessert, balloon prizes and a fabulous auction. Babysitting is also available on site! Check out the flyer you are receiving today. ONLINE RESERVATIONS are also accepted!
As we come to the day when we recognize all for which we should be thankful, we are especially mindful of you. You continue to support so many of our efforts by your presence and participation. These efforts have continued for years. Thank you, thank you, thank you and enjoy a great holiday with family and friends!
Sincerely,
Marie Fitzpatrick
Principal | | | | | | | |
