| | | | Dear Friends,
Welcome Back! We are excited to welcome the thirty-five kindergartners many of whom recently graduated from our preschool, Utopia, as well as eleven new transitional kindergarten students! Another special welcome goes out to the thirteen, new, first through eighth graders who are joining us this year. It is our expectation that all our new students and their families will again be warmly welcomed and enjoy their time at St. Thomas More School. Our school continues to thrive because of your wonderful community spirit and the precious children you entrust to our care.
We are happy to welcome back our PE teacher, Andrew Cagle and next week students will have their first music class for the school year with returning Rhythm and Moves teacher, Irene Navarro. Yes, we are back at it!
We are very excited to announce several additions to our faculty this year. We welcome back Laura McCann as our 2nd grade teacher. As we mentioned in May, while Mrs. Byrne is on maternity leave for the first few months of this new school year, we welcome back Sarah Cox to teach 3rd grade. We also welcome Noelle Fitzgerald, assisting in our transitional kindergarten and 2nd grade classrooms. We are happy to have Wai Fun Neary on board as she joins the team as the full-time classroom aide in kindergarten.
At this time we are happy to announce that Joanne Kane, our 8th grade teacher, has joined the administrative team and has been appointed Assistant Principal. | | FOREIGN LANGUAGES @ STM
Last school year we asked for your input in deciding which foreign languages you would like to see introduced at STM. Based on the results, we are excited to be able to offer Mandarin to our TK-5th grade students this year. Students will have classes twice a week beginning on Tuesday, August 27. We have adopted two programs, Mandarin Superstars (TK-3) and Chinese Monster Magic (4-5). We are happy to welcome Kate Zhang as our Mandarin teacher. We will continue our Spanish language program with our junior high students in 6th-8th grade which will be taught by Joanne Kane. | | | IMPORTANT FORMS
Yesterdays (Wednesday) envelope contained important forms that require your attention. If you have not already done so, please complete them thoroughly and return them immediately. - Universal Medical Information/Emergency Contact Release and Consent Form
- Medical Release and Consent to Treatment/General Terms of Parental Consent
- Student Allergy Physician sign-off (if needed)
- School Counseling Release form
- AM Extended Care Sign up (for those using this service)
- PM Extended Care Sign up/Authorization/Allergies (for those using this service)
| | | BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT
Tomorrow, Thursday, August 22, is our Back-to-School Night beginning at 6:30pm in the gym. This is a mandatory meeting for all families. We will have two raffles for $500 off tuition for all who arrive on time! Please sign in with you child's teacher(s). One ticket per child. At least one parent from each family is required to attend. As per the 2019-2020 Parent Participation Requirements, families without a representative in attendance will be assessed a $50 fee for a missed meeting. While it would be ideal if children could stay at home, we understand this is not always possible. Childcare for younger children enrolled at STM will be available in Carroll Hall at $10 per family. Please click HERE to make a reservation for childcare. We can only accommodate families who have preregistered. Parking will be difficult, please plan to arrive on time. Limited parking will be available in the school yard so consider carpooling or parking on Brotherhood Way or in Park Merced.
USED UNIFORM SALE
Still need a couple of extra uniform items? Stop by our used uniform sale before and after back-to-school-night! The sale will be open from 6-6:30pm and 7:25-7:45pm in the gym. A BIG thank you to Yvette Arguello, Irene and Jon Jon Noble for collecting, washing and organizing the uniforms. | | SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM Again this year we are partnering with Choicelunch to provide lunches on all full days that we are in session. Lunch will consist of an entree, side, snack and drink. Please note that the snack will be delivered at morning recess. Lunches must be pre-ordered online by 9am the previous day (or by 6am day of for an additional fee). How to Register: Visit www.choicelunch.com to create a new account and register your child(ren) (name, grade & allergy info). Please feel free to contact Choicelunch customer service with any question at 1-855-465-8624. SCHOOL LUNCH VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Parent volunteers are needed to help with the lunch program all year long. Are you free from 11:45am-12:45pm on a regular basis, even once or twice a week? If so, we'd love to have your help. Click here to sign up. | | | We are very excited to be working with Mugsyclicks again this year! Please feel free to visit their website at www.mugsyclicks.com. MugsyClicks School Photography will be photographing your child's smiling face next Thursday, August 29. There is no pre-charge for your child's individual portrait session. Once images have been edited and uploaded to our site you will have the option to buy them. Approximately three weeks after picture day your child will be coming home with proofs printed on an order envelope. That envelope will have a unique log-in code for viewing and purchasing their images online. Online ordering is easy, quick, and safe. Be sure and check out our web-only print packages and special offerings like holiday cards, coffee mugs, and jewelry. All online orders are delivered directly to your home in 5 days or less. | | | BIRTHDAY BOOKS
This year, we have decided to put a hold on our Birthday Book program. In lieu of this, consider asking your child's teacher if there is something they need for their classroom. If you wish to provide class refreshments on the occasion of your child's birthday, please contact your child's teacher at least a week in advance to make a mutually convenient plan. Refreshments must be limited to: an individual serving of prepared treats (such as cupcake, cookie, doughnut) and a self-serve beverage. Goody bags are not allowed. Parents should not attend the party unless specifically requested by the teacher. Refreshments should be dropped off to the office at the time specified by the teacher. | | | Sincerely,
Marie Fitzpartick
Principal | | | | | | | |
