| | | | | Dear Parents, Greetings and welcome from St. Thomas More School! In just a short time, Tuesday, August 20, we will be back in school. Time does pass too quickly!
Here at school, we have been busy preparing for the new school year, ordering textbooks and supplies, cleaning the school building inside and out, and making some limited repairs. All this in an effort to maintain our level of academic excellence and to keep the facilities in good shape. | | | SCHOOL HOURS: Our first day of school, Tuesday, August 20, will begin at 8:10, with dismissal at 12:15pm for grades TK-3 and 12:30pm for grades 4-8. There is no after school extended care that day. Complete school uniforms are to be worn and all students will need their backpacks and a morning snack. The Parents' Club and the Grandparents' Brigade will host a "Welcome Back" reception in Carroll Hall from 8:00am-9:00aml. There will be limited parking in the schoolyard for those who arrive before 7:45 am. This is such a pleasant way to meet other school parents while students are being oriented to the new school year. After Tuesday's early dismissal we will follow our regular school hours and dismissal times according to the schedule below. Both morning and afternoon extended care programs will begin on Wednesday, August 21. | | SCHOOL SUPPLIES
The K-8 school supply lists are all online. Planners for grades 2-5 will be delivered directly to your child's classroom within the first week of school and will be billed through FACTS ($10 each). MORNING CARE BEGINS 8/21
The program is held in the 1st grade classroom each morning from 7:00 to 7:45 under the direction of Katie Cottura. Students may arrive for the program at any time during that period. New to this program, students attending will receive a small snack and drink. The cost of this program is $450 per child, per year, payable in 4 installments. Billing will be through FACTS. The morning care program is not a drop-in program. Further information and an enrollment form will be sent home to you on the first day of school.
AFTER-SCHOOL EXTENDED CARE BEGINS 8/21
Advance sign up is not necessary for the after-school extended care program. It is a good idea for parents of lower grade students to notify their children's teachers, in writing, when they are planning to use the Extended Care Program. The hourly charge is $6 per hour (per child) or fraction thereof. Extended care runs from dismissal each day until 6:00pm. Billing is made on a monthly basis through FACTS. Further information and a pick-up authorization sheet will be sent home to you on the first day of school.
SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM
We are happy to be partnering again this year with Choicelunch to provide nutritious, delicious meals for all our TK-8 grade students. This program will begin on Wednesday, August 21, and must be pre-ordered online by 9am the previous day. 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.
UPCOMING EVENTS
While you will receive a full calendar of August events in your first Wednesday (Tuesday) Envelope, we ask you to please mark your calendar for some important upcoming events. - Thursday, August 22, is our Back-to-School Night and Used Uniform Sale beginning at 6:30pm in the gym. This is a mandatory meeting for all families. 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.
- Monday, August 26, is a minimum day - 12:15pm/12:30pm dismissal.
- Friday, August 29, school picture day!
| |  | | SEISMIC RETROFIT If you drove by STM during the summer months you may have seen the large scaffold tower and the fencing in the yard. We are delighted to say that the 1st phase of the retrofit project has been completed as planned, on time and within budget. Your children will be returning to a school building that is substantially stronger and better able to withstand a major earthquake than previously. A number of structural sheer walls were installed in the roof area and numerous steel beams were added for reinforcement. The walls and mansard roof were tied together at 5ft intervals on all sides of the building. Lastly, a completely new roof was also installed. | | Exciting News! Our 3rd grade teacher, Kathleen Byrne, and her husband Peter welcomed their first child, Catherine Hannah, born on Tuesday, August 6th. Congratulations to the proud parents!
The new school year always brings with it a mixed bag of emotions. Disappointment at the end of summer vacation and excitement and anxiety over what the new school year will bring. We look forward to partnering with you and your child as they begin or continue their journey here at St. Thomas More School!
If you have any questions or concerns between now and the start of school do email us at office@stmsf.org. We look forward to seeing you all very soon!
Sincerely,
Marie Fitzpatrick
Principal | | | | | | | |
