| | | | Dear Friends,
I'd like to begin this week's newsletter by congratulating our 6th grade Robotics team on winning the Core Values Award at their qualifying tournament in November. The Core Values Award encompasses the following traits we should all aspire to hold: Inspiration, Teamwork and Gracious Professionalism®. This is a significant achievement, especially in light of the fact that they are a large team with a maximum roster of 10 players. Also of great significance is that, as compared to last year's competition, they tripled their points earned during the robot game! It's a challenge to compete against Silicon Valley teams who are coached by MIT graduates and other tech professionals, but they've been lucky to have such great support from the Lowell High School Cardinalbots. A BIG thank you to their coach, Eileen Calaguas for her dedication in ensuring the success of the program. It's great to see that our STM players are making great strides in their own personal development for robot design and coding. Congratulations again to Haya Ansari, Stephen Archer, Reagan Calaguas, Mikaylla Catangay, Breanna Dizon, Angelica Estrada, Providence Poklay, Yelena Reyes, Kuba Salaam and Nicholas Wen. | | | One of the most important seasons in our church calendar, the Season of Advent, begins this Sunday. This season is a time for all of us to prepare for the birth of Jesus on Christmas day. Christians prepare for celebrating the birth of Jesus by remembering the longing of the Jews for a Messiah. In Advent, we're reminded of how much we ourselves also need a Savior, and we look forward to our Savior's second coming even as we prepare to celebrate his first coming at Christmas. God wanted so much for us to be with him that he became one of us. | | | This is the greatest Christmas present – God's presence on earth. In the liturgical calendar the season of Christmas begins on Christmas Eve and lasts through the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6th. Please help your children understand the symbolism of the Advent Wreath and the importance of the true meaning of Christmas.
ADVENT PRAYER SERVICE
As we prepare for Advent season, please consider joining us tomorrow, November 30, for a prayer service presented by 4th grade in the gym at 8:10am.
SANDWICHES-FOR-THE-NEEDY
This Friday, December 1, is our next collection of sandwiches-for-the-needy. All are welcome to participate and the 2nd and 6th graders are charged with taking the lead that day. In order to facilitate the distribution of sandwiches, we have been asked to provide just one type of sandwich: turkey on sliced white or brown bread. We thank you in advance for what we hope will be another huge collection for those at the Martin de Porres House of Hospitality. | | STEP UP TO THE PLATE GRANT WINNER
We are excited to announce that St. Thomas More School was the only Catholic school in San Francisco to be selected as one of this year's Step Up to the Plate for Education grant winners. Today, STM representatives were invited to AT&T Park to take part in a breakfast reception as well as the check presentation with Brandon Crawford. Wells Fargo and KNBR have proudly teamed-up with SF Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford to support Step-up to the Plate for Education. Together, they award one-hundred thousand dollars in grants to help youth education locally. | | | | PEANUT BUTTER FRIDAY
As a reminder, we are collecting peanut butter for the St. Vincent de Paul society. Please send a jar (or two!), any kind, any size with your child by Friday, December 8. If we reach our goal of 500 jars of peanut butter by next Friday, December 8, the student body will enjoy free dress on Wednesday, December 20. | | | TOY DRIVE
The SF Firefighters toy barrel is now in the office and is awaiting your donations! Please consider donating new, unwrapped toy(s) for kids ages infant to 12 years old. Let's continue to to less fortunate kids in our community, especially at this time of the year. We will continue collecting the toys until December 15. | | | SANTA'S SECRET SHOP The Parents' Club present their annual Santa's Secret Shop starting tomorrow, Thursday, December 1. Over the next two days, all the students will have an opportunity to purchase gifts for parents, friends and relatives. Each student should use the envelope they are receiving today to help them plan their shopping and to keep their money safe. DECEMBER 3 - FAMILY MASS, PANCAKE BREAKFAST and HOLIDAY FAIR We look forward to seeing you all here this Sunday. We will begin the day with a 10:00am Family Mass where we will present all our Confirmation and First Communion candidates. Following the Mass, join us for the Holiday Fair and Pancake Breakfast in the gym. They will also offer pictures with Santa. A SAMPLE OF HOLIDAY FAIR VENDORS
Christmas Crafts
STM Bake Sale
Lip Sense
Jamberry Nail Wrap
Airbone
Rodane and Fields
Samis Charms (holiday wreaths)
Stella & Dot/ Tip Toe Nails
Forever Lung Products (all natural aloe vera products)
You and Judy
Doterra (essential oils)
Hua Hula (Hawaiian/ Tahitians clothing and accessories)
Plus decorated candles and plates, gift sets and handmade items and much more! CHRISTMAS PROGRAM On December 14, our students will present their Christmas Program and will sing a selection of non-traditional Christmas Carols. All students will be involved in this production. Again this year we will be presenting the program on the stage in our gym. The music teacher has requested that your child wear the following clothing for each grade. No t-shirts, sweats, Uggs or sneakers please. Pants/dressy jeans should be fitted and not baggy. Preschool - Christmas clothes
Kinder - Red colored shirts
1st Grade - "Shiny" shirts - think silver, gold, sequins
2nd Grade - Christmas nice fancy dress
3rd Grade - Fun Christmas shirts or sweaters
4th Grade - Christmas nice fancy dress - girls should wear dresses or skirts
5th Grade - Christmas nice fancy dress
6th Grade - Hawaiian attire - shorts, shirts, flip flops, NO HATS
7th Grade - Dress up in predominately GREEN colored clothes
8th Grade - Christmas nice fancy dress The yard will be open for parking at 6:00pm. The gym doors will open at 6:15pm to allow students to enter their classrooms and for parents to enter the gym. Everyone is asked to line up in an orderly manner until the gym doors open. All students need to arrive by 6:30pm at the latest. We will begin the program promptly at 7:00 pm. We are asking that everyone attending this fun event considers bringing one or two new, unwrapped toys as part of our toy drive for needy children. We look forward to your attendance for this faith-filled and fun-filled production. Everyone is welcome! | | | CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS EVE LITURGY
Calling all Angels, Shepherds, Wise Men and readers! Please consider having your child participate in the Christmas Eve Children's Liturgy. Please see the flyer in today's envelope for more information. | | | Shop for everyone on your gift list this holiday at smile.amazon.com/ch/94-1665274 and Amazon donates to St. Thomas More School. To register, visit smile.amazon.com, log in with your regular Amazon user and password, and select "St. Thomas More School" as the organization you'd like to support. Remember that purchases must originate from smile.amazon.com to be counted. | | | Does your child have a December or January Birthday? Please click HERE to schedule a birthday party for your child and complete a birthday book request.
Just a reminder that Christmas vacation starts at 12:15/12:30pm on Wednesday, December 20. There is no extended care that day, so plan ahead!
Marie Fitzpatrick
Principal | | | | | | | |
