| | | | Dear Friends,
As we approach December 25th we eagerly await the miracle of the Birth of Jesus. During these hectic final few days of Advent let us continue to reflect on the "Good News" during this season of waiting. We use this time to express gratitude for the many blessings in our lives, especially our children. They give us hope for a bright future, they bring joy, love, strength and peace into our lives. The challenge for all of us is to make time in a very busy and hectic schedule to spend time with Jesus. How do we carve out time to spend with our Lord during this sacred season of waiting, hoping, and dreaming? Consider joining us here at St. Thomas More Church on Christmas Eve for the Children's Mass at 5:00pm. Find out what time church services are at your local parish. Take a few minutes to pray with your family. Remind your children often that Jesus loves them and will always watch over them. Take some time to enjoy your family and friends during this holy season.
ADVENT PRAYER SERVICE
As we continue through this Advent season, please consider joining us next Tuesday, December 19, for a prayer service presented by 1st grade in the gym at 8:10am. | | SANDWICHES-FOR-THE-NEEDY
This Friday, December 15, is our last collection of sandwiches-for-the-needy before the Christmas break. All are welcome to participate and the 3rd and 5th 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. | | | CHRISTMAS PROGRAM Tomorrow night, 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 at the Shah Center for The Performing Arts. 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 tomorrow's Christmas Program considers bringing one or two new, unwrapped toys as part of our toy drive for needy children. | | | 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 this flyer for more information. | | | PEANUT BUTTER DRIVE
We reached our goal of 500 jars of peanut butter, which will be donated to the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Congratulations - all students and staff have earned free dress on Wednesday, December 20!
| | | TOY DRIVE
Let's continue to help less fortunate kids in our community, especially at this time of the year by donating new, unwrapped toy(s) for kids aged infant to 12 years old. We will continue collecting the toys until this Friday, December 15. | | |  | PHOTOS, VIDEOS AND MORE!
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While you're there, why not rate us?! | | | CONGRATULATIONS 8TH GRADERS! Recently our 8th grade students entered an essay contest run by the St. Thomas More Society. The topic was as follows: Using the life of St.Thomas More as your guide, discuss whether St. Thomas More was a "Catholic lawyer" or "a lawyer who happened to be Catholic". While our students' essays were not chosen in the top three, one of the judges had this to say to Ms. Kane: "Your students clearly demonstrated that they are being well instructed in their faith. GianCarlo put it succinctly in his essay: 'It is up to Catholics to face the challenge and ask themselves which type of Catholic they are, and how can they help others to be better Catholics.' " Well done to GianCarlo, and to all who participated!
U-TURNS and DOUBLE PARKING
At this time, we need to remind everyone of a few guidelines. - No jaywalking
- Do NOT double park to pick up or drop off passengers
- No U-turns
Please be respectful and courteous to our neighbors at the Golf Club, St. Thomas More Church and Alma Via. We all need to share the valuable and limited parking spaces.
SCRIP = STOCKING STUFFERS!
Last chance to order stocking stuffer gift cards such as: Uber, Macy's, Old Navy, Disney, Southwest, Olive Garden, Safeway, Gamestop, Nike, Dicks, gas cards, iTunes, Target, Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts and more from ShopwithScrip! Place your order no later than Friday, December 15, by 8am to receive your gift cards before we dismiss for Christmas break.
SCHOOL UNIFORM PANTS FOR GIRLS
Beginning January 3 through March 29, girls will be able to wear uniform pants if they wish. Those who decide to purchase uniform pants, may do so through either of the uniform companies that we contract with, Dennis Uniform and Simply Uniforms. Please remember that navy blue knee-high socks need to be worn with the pants. Girls must wear their uniform skirts (not the pants) on field trips or on occasions specified by the school. Please remember that Simply Uniform and Dennis Uniform scrip can be purchased for all your uniform needs.
TK/KINDERGARTEN APPLICATIONS
We continue to receive applications for next year's kindergarten class. Have all preschool families and younger siblings of current students turned in their applications? Beginning in January, we will start the screening process. Get your application in to be included in the first round of acceptances. Just a reminder that kindergarten applicants must be 5 years old by September 1, 2018 in order to apply. Interested in our Transitional Kindergarten program? Eligible children must turn 5 years old between September 2, 2018 and December 2, 2018. Application forms are available from the school office or can be downloaded from our website. | |  | SPELL-A-THON
Today you will receive information about our fifth annual Spring Spell-A-Thon in support of our technology program. As per the financial policies, all TK-8 students will participate in this activity. Additional sponsor forms are available in the office. | | CHRISTMAS VACATION
Christmas vacation begins at 12:15pm for grades K-3 and at 12:30pm for grades 4-8 on Wednesday, December 20th. Preschool will be dismissed at 12:00pm. There is no afternoon extended care that day, so plan ahead. Classes resume at 8:10am on Wednesday, January 3rd, 2018.
As we reflect back on the past year, we are thankful for so many things. We are thankful for our supportive families, our dedicated teachers and staff, our Parents' Club, and the many parents who volunteer hundreds of hours beyond that required. Most of all we are thankful for our children.
Blessings of the Advent and Christmas Seasons to you and your family.
Marie Fitzpatrick
Principal | | | | | | | |
