STM Newsletter for October 17, 2012

Dear Parents,

A BIG thank you to the sixth grade students, their families and their teacher, Julianne Beach for preparing and participating in the Family Mass last Sunday. It was wonderful to see so many children be installed as altar servers. Thank you to the following students who have decided to take on this special role in the church. From fourth grade: Jackie Schneider, Clark Kelly, Lorenzo Mutuc, Zach White, Francise Panlaqui, Kevin Caranceja, Anthony Sheridan, Micah Gastrock, Aysaiah Radoc-Manrique and Matthew Candler. Fifth grade altar servers are: Brian Qare, Christopher Law, Rainer Dela Cruz, Arabella Sunga. Serving from sixth grade: Skyler Dela Cruz, Reuben Sablad, Kenny Jung and Jesse Manalo. From seventh grade: Carlos Colom, Natasha Alvarado, Melina Diaz, Nathan Candler and Krystelle Chloe Sunga, and our eighth grade servers are: Julietta Lehmann and Julius Aguinaldo. Thank you also to Monsignor Labib and St. Thomas More Church for having a second collection in support of the school. Thanks for your donations which raised over $300.

STUDENT HOLIDAY: This Friday, October 19^th, is a holiday for all students, Preschool through 8^th grade. The faculty will engage in an all day in-service on that day to continue WASC accreditation preparation.

MINIMUM DAY: Next Monday, October 22^nd is the fourth-Monday-of-the-month minimum day dismissal. Don’t forget we dismiss at 12:15 (K-3) and 12:30 (4-8) that day. Yes, we will have extended care beginning immediately at the end of the shortened school day. Extended Care will offer a hot dog lunch for those staying for $3.00.

FIELD TRIPS: Yesterday, our fourth graders visited the San Mateo County Museum and were introduced to the art of shell jewelry making. The first and eighth grade students enjoyed their trip to the Pumpkin Patch, also yesterday. We’re sure the kindergarten students will also come home with smiling faces and big orange pumpkins after their upcoming trip, tomorrow! The seventh grade students are also going on a field trip tomorrow to the SF Food Bank. Second graders are receiving a permission slip today for their upcoming trip to Elkus Ranch on November 2^nd. Pay close attention to the due date to return that form and payment!

OFF TO THE RACES: Off to the Races is coming to STM on Saturday, November 17^th! Save the Date flyers are in your envelopes today. Look for Reservation flyers, Ad space, and Name a Horse/Jockey/Owner in next week’s envelope. This has always been an exciting evening with lots of fun activities, “adult” refreshments and lively entertainment. All this for only $15! Don’t forget that childcare is also available. Save the date!

HALLOWEEN: Today, students are receiving information from their teacher about next week's Halloween celebration. Please read the information provided carefully and pay attention to the specific information regarding costumes and make-up. When purchasing costumes for wearing to school on Wednesday, October 31^st, please consider the following:

• Age appropriate
• Bathroom accessible
• Make up must be applied at home
• Shoes must be comfortable for walking
• No weapons of any kind

Please consider joining us for our annual Halloween parade, which begins at 1:15 in the schoolyard on Wednesday, October 31^st.

SCHOOL PHOTOS: Unfortunately, we were not happy with the quality of the school photos that were taken in September of this year. We have been working with Lifetouch who produces the photos and have decided to do an entire student body photo retake using an enhanced program called ‘Expressions First’ which the company believes will offer more consistent lighting and background. This retake day will be on Friday, October 26^th. All students in Preschool through eighth grade will be photographed that day. Families who purchased photos in September will be receiving a check refund from the company. This will be in your Wednesday Envelope next week. All families will have the opportunity to re-purchase their child’s photo using the flyer in next week’s envelope.

SHOPAROO: How are you doing?! We have almost $180 in our school account thanks to those who simply signed up for Shoparoo and snap their receipts. There is no limit to how much money we can raise with Shoparoo, so be sure to invite your friends and neighbors to join in – every receipt counts!

SCHOOL TOURS/APPLICATION FORMS: We ask your help in encouraging prospective parents to consider St. Thomas More School for their child for the 2012-2013 school year. You, our current families, are our best advertising! Please invite friends and relatives interested in St. Thomas More School to come to one of our school tours for prospective parents. Please call the school office at (415) 337-0100 to reserve a place on one of the tours listed below:

9:00-10:15am Tuesday, November 6
9:00-10:15am Wednesday, November 14
9:00-10:15am Thursday, November 29
9:00-10:15am Wednesday, December 5

K-8 application forms for the 2013-2014 school year will be available in the front office and online beginning November 1^st, 2012. Siblings of current students as well as preschool students can use the flyer in next week’s envelope to request an application. Students currently attending Utopia Preschool and/or with siblings currently attending St. Thomas More School will be given preference in the kindergarten class of 2013-2014.

LET'S GO GIANTS...LET'S GO! Tomorrow, Thursday, October 18^th, students will have the opportunity to wear free 'orange and black' dress in honor of the SF Giants. As we continue to 'THINK like Jesus’, on this special free dress day, we ask that each student considers donating $1 (or more) which will be donated to the "Say Hey for the Kids" Willie Mays Boys & Girls Club at Hunters Point. Let's go Giants! Let's go...into the World Series!!!

Don't forget - The Parent-Teacher Conference forms are due back by tomorrow!!

Sincerely,

Marie Fitzpatrick
Principal

STM Newsletter for October 10, 2012

Dear Parents:

Pope Benedict has declared this year be the “Year of Faith” beginning tomorrow, October 11^th. The Year of Faith is going to help us get back in touch with the basics of our Catholic identity and the devotions, the community celebrations, the shared love of the Eucharist that is at the core of our beings. The Year of Faith begins on the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. The true task of the Year of Faith is so simple we might miss it: it is a call to be in a relationship with Jesus—not to just know of him, but to know him. In honor of this year of Faith, the school has purchased a subscription to ‘Partners in Faith’. We will send these informational flyers home several times each month. The mission of Partners in Faith is to help parents raise faithful, Catholic children. We hope that this information will help you as you work to raise your children in the Catholic faith.

FAMILY MASS-ALTAR SERVER RECOGNITION: Please join us for a special Altar Server installation Mass this Sunday, October 14^th, at 10:00am. We will celebrate our Altar Servers who have attended training sessions in recent weeks and are now ready to be officially installed. Being an Altar Server is a very special way for a child to be of service to the church. Altar servers serve not only the priest, but also their family and the whole Church community. This is a wonderful occasion for our community to offer their prayers in thanksgiving and appreciation for the dedicated and faithful service our children provide. Please use the blue envelope you are receiving today for the second collection that will be in aid of the school.

SANDWICHES-FOR-THE-NEEDY: This Friday, October 12^th, is our next collection of sandwiches-for-the-needy. All are encouraged to participate and the sixth and third graders are charged with taking the lead that day. Some of our upper grade students will work with Alma Via residents this week to make sandwiches. Don’t have time to make a sandwich for our collection…we are accepting donations to help Martin de Porres House of Hospitality defray expenses for sandwiches they make on other days. We thank you in advance for what we hope will be another huge collection for those in need.

Next Monday, October 15^th, Olive the Storyteller, will be here to tell tales to the kindergarten through third grades. Come and enjoy them, too, at 8:30 and 9:40. Also on Monday, the seventh and eighth graders will be visited from representatives from Mercy High School, San Francisco and Archbishop Riordan High School.

BUILDING INTO THE FUTURE ONE BRICK AT A TIME: Last week we rolled out our ‘Buy a Brick’ fundraiser. We are hoping to raise at least $80,000 through this program. An order form for the first 100 bricks available for sale is enclosed in your envelope today. Get your order in early - this is your chance to leave a lasting remembrance of your family’s time at STM. Two of the $1,000 fountain plaques have already been purchased….only six left!!!

CONFERENCES: Parent conferences are set for the week of November 5^th-9^th. In order to plan conferences at a convenient time for you, we are making both afternoon and evening appointments available. Please follow ALL of the listed directions on the conference request form you are receiving in your envelope today. If this form is not filled in as directed, it will be returned to you! Please remember that your accounts, both tuition and extended care, must be in good standing in order for you to receive a conference and your child’s report card.

BIRTHDAYS:   Just a reminder that if you wish to provide class refreshments on the occasion of your child’s birthday, you must contact the classroom 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 a muffin, a bagel or a piece of fruit) and a self-serve beverage (milk or juice). Please avoid snacks high in sugar and fats. Need suggestions? Ask your child’s teacher. No goody bags or other treats are allowed. Refreshments should be dropped off to the office before school or at the time specified by the teacher.

ARE YOU CREATIVE?: We are looking for talented members of our school community to design a new logo/crest for STM. The bronco logo, as seen on sweatshirts and on our gym floor is used mainly for the athletic program. The new logo, which will be featured on our letterheads, envelopes, business cards and promotional materials should reflect that we are a Catholic school and will portray our Catholic Identity into the future. Please contact Melody for further guidelines and information. Hopefully we will have many great designs from which to choose.

Thank you for all you to do for us!

Sincerely,

Marie Fitzpatrick
Principal

STM Newsletter for October 3, 2012

Dear Parents,
 
The month of October each year is dedicated to the Holy Rosary because the liturgical feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is celebrated annually on October the 7^th. Praying the rosary is a way to help us get in touch with God and to develop a relationship with him. In prayer we not only talk with God, but God communicates with us. As we continue to pray, our relationship with God grows, and we are transformed more into the people we are meant to be.
 
As we enter into the Year of Faith, we invite you all to join together for a Rosary Rally on Saturday, October 13^th at the U.N. Plaza in San Francisco. Please check out the flyer you are receiving in today’s envelope.
 
Each Wednesday throughout the month of October at morning assembly, the student body will say a decade of the rosary. Please join us on Wednesday mornings as we announce the Mystery and say an Our Father followed by ten Hail Mary’s. We will end the decade by saying the Glory Be to the Father. Consider saying a decade of the Rosary as a family during this month as a sign of dedication to Mary our Mother.
 
A very important occasion in for all of us in the San Francisco Archdiocese will take place tomorrow, Thursday, October 4^th. Archbishop elect Salvatore J. Cordileone will be installed as the ninth Archbishop of the Archdiocese of San Francisco at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption. We extend our congratulations, and prayerful best wishes to him. This event will be streamed LIVE at 2 pm on http://www.ustream.tv/channel/archdiocese-of-sf.
 
BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS: Tomorrow is also the Feast of St. Francis. In honor of his feast day and his love of animals we will have the annual blessing of the animals. Please join us tomorrow in the schoolyard at 3:05pm. You are welcome to bring your pets, pictures of your pet, or anything else that represents your pet that you wish to have blessed.
 
Tomorrow evening, the Archbishop Riordan community is inviting all parents, teachers, administrators, coaches, friends, and families to a "Community Night," with guest speaker, Mr. Calvin Terrell. Mr. Terrell will be addressing a number of issues that affect school-aged students throughout the nation, such as bullying, race, violence, and how to overcome obstacles. The evening will begin at 6:00 pm and is tentatively scheduled to end at 7:30.
 
BUILDING INTO THE FUTURE ONE BRICK AT A TIME: At Back-to-School night, we were excited to share with you our plans for the completion of the Creative Arts Center in the gym. To kick off raising funds for this project, we are rolling out our ‘Buy a Brick’ fundraiser. We are hoping to raise at least $80,000 through this program. An order form for the first 100 bricks available for sale is enclosed in your envelope today. Get your order in early - this is your chance to leave a lasting remembrance of your family’s time at STM.
 
PARENTS’ CLUB: A HUGE thank you to Josie Jung (3rd and 6th grade parent); Jazmine Jung-3rd grader; Doba Villatore (kindergarten parent); Natasha Alvarado-7th grader; Gina Liston-Forrester (kindergarten parent); Shelley White (4th grade parent and teacher); Anarose Schelstrate (7th grade parent), for their help this past weekend at the STM Church Food Festival.  Our ring-toss booth did well; we should have the exact amount this Thursday. Thank you also to Linda Shah (alumni) for working with the Church to have our school present at this event.  
 
FALL FESTIVAL/HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL: The next big event is the Fall Festival/Halloween Carnival. That fun and popular event is set for Saturday, October 27^th. Everyone will be there! The Parents’ Club will continue to keep you up-to-date with preparations. Keep those donations coming in. To sign up to volunteer for the festival, please click on the link on the STM homepage. If you have any questions, please contact the Parents’ Club at parentsclub@stthomasmoreschool.org.
 
Tomorrow evening, in Carroll Hall, the Parents’ Club will have their first-Thursday-of-the-month meeting at 7pm. This meeting is open to all parents to come and share thoughts, ideas and suggestions. See you there!
 
HIGH SCHOOL VISITS: It’s that time of year again when the seventh and eighth graders will be visited from representatives from several of the local Catholic high schools. Last Monday, St. Ignatius met with the students. Sacred Heart Preparatory, Mercy San Francisco and Archbishop Riordan will also make presentations later this month.
 
FIELD TRIPS: In today’s Envelope, the kindergarten students are receiving permission slips for their upcoming field trip to the Lemos Farm Pumpkin Patch. Please return the permission slip along with the fee by the due date. The First and Eighth graders are also receiving a permission slip for their upcoming visit to Pastorino Farms Pumpkin Patch on October 16^th. Fourth graders have a field trip scheduled on October 16^th to the San Mateo County History Museum and our seventh graders begin their Confirmation service hours by helping at the San Francisco Food Bank – look for those permission slip also.
 
FUNDRAISING: Christy Ramos, mother of Sean (8^th grade) and Ethan (5^th grade), has been busy tallying all the fundraising orders. We presume all orders have been turned in. She will be submitting the order shortly and we’ll let you know when to expect delivery of the items you ordered.
 
TUITION and EXTENDED CARE BILLING: Families who pay tuition on a monthly basis are reminded that the October payment is due to the school office now. Thank you to those who have already made a payment. The first bill of the school year for Afternoon Extended Care, which covers August and September, is going home today. If your child has attended Afternoon Extended Care this year and you do not receive a bill, please contact John Kavanagh at JKav@stmsf.org. Payments are due upon receipt of the monthly invoices and a late charge of $25 will be assessed if not paid by the date indicated. Payment should be directed to the office and not to Extended Care personnel. The fee is $4 per hour or any portion thereof for each child. If you have a question about your bill, please contact Mr. Kavanagh at the e-mail listed above. A copy of the monthly time summary can be provided upon request and the daily time sheets can be made available for your review.
 
$10,000 GRANT: Each of the last two years we have been the recipients of a $5,000 grant from the Outrageous Foundation. This week we were delighted to receive a $10,000 grant from this foundation. These funds will be put aside for tuition assistance. We are very grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Bob McGrath for their continuing support of St. Thomas More School!
 
DONATIONS: Thank you to Freddie Limjoco (dad of Ethan, 5^th and Dylan, 4^th) for donating two brand new HP LaserJet printers (a $2000 value). They will replace our hallway printers, which we have had for almost 10 years.  Thank you to Rob Maldonado who donated 10 light bulbs (a $700 value) for the outside of the gym, just in time for the Food Festival. We would also like to thank those of you who continue to bring in paper, envelopes and other goodies. We appreciate all that you do for us.
 
Don’t forget that this coming Monday, October 8^th is the school’s observation of Columbus Day. It is a school holiday. Enjoy the three-day weekend!
 
Sincerely,
 
Marie Fitzpatrick
Principal

STM Newsletter for Sep 26, 2012

Dear Parents:

Tomorrow is the feast day of St. Vincent de Paul. Vincent de Paul (24 April 1581 – 27 September 1660) was a priest of the Catholic Church who dedicated himself to serving the poor. He is a saint regarded in great respect. Vincent de Paul was canonized (officially declared a saint) in 1737. Please take a moment to read and reflect on the Prayer of Saint Vincent de Paul. Think about ways you can help make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.

Dear Saint Vincent, the mere mention of your name suggests a litany of your virtues: humility, zeal, mercy, self-sacrifice. It also recalls your many foundations: Works of Mercy, Congregations, Societies. And the Church gratefully remembers your promotion of the priesthood. Inspire all Charitable Workers, especially those who minister to the poor - both the spiritually and the materially poor.

Amen.

As some of you know, Peter Mingoa, father of Isabella, sixth grade, and Samantha, first grade, passed away suddenly a few days ago. The 8:30am Mass on Friday, September 28^th will be offered for the repose of his soul. All are welcome to join us. Please keep the Mingoa family in your thoughts and prayers.

SANDWICHES-FOR-THE-NEEDY: This Friday, September 28^th, is our next collection of sandwiches-for-the-needy. All are welcome to participate and the seventh and second graders 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.

BLUE STAR MOMS: LAST CHANCE! We will continue to collect soaps, shampoos, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes and all the various supplies for the troops stationed overseas through October 4^th. Please send them to your child’s classroom or the school office at your convenience.

FOOD FESTIVAL: If you are interested in some great food from all over the world, don’t forget that food and fun will be available here at the St. Thomas More Church’s 5th Annual International Food Festival in the schoolyard, both Saturday and Sunday. We also need lots of 2-liter sodas (name brands please, to make it more enticing to play).  Please leave soda donations at the school office. The Food Festival will also include a Poker tournament on Saturday night, September 29^th. The buy-in is $50. Linda Shah has tickets for sale and can be contacted by email, lp1114@aol.com, if you are interested. Blackjack tables are also be available for those who don't play poker. Great prizes!

LUNCH MENU/CALENDAR: We have included the October calendar of events in your Envelopes today as well as the school lunch menu for the month. Please keep them handy for reference. You will notice a change on the lunch menu this month. Students ordering lunch through our school program will now have a choice of three options each day. Students will still be able to order the hot lunch of the day if they choose to, however we now offer two healthier choices. We have added options of either an entrée Green Salad with Italian dressing or an entrée Chicken Caesar Salad to the menu. Each lunch option is $4 and includes the entrée/salad, a side, and milk. Stay tuned for more enhancements to the menu in the future.

ITBS TESTING: The annual ITBS testing concludes this week. Results of this testing will be shared with you at the November parent conferences.

FUNDRAISING CATALOGS: We have over 90% of your orders back, but we are still waiting for the stragglers. We need all the orders forms returned before we can place the school order. Please return those orders by this Friday, September 28^th.

WINTER SPORTS SIGN-UPS: Online sign up is available now for boys' basketball  (3^rd-8^th grade) and girls' soccer (3^rd-8^th grade). Log on to the STM website and click on the ‘Athletics’ link to register. Please remember that registration fees of $80 are due by October 12.

UTOPIA PRESCHOOL AFTERNOON PROGRAM: After four years of an extremely successful all day preschool program and due to many requests, we are happy to announce the addition of our afternoon preschool program. The program will be offered daily from 2:00pm-6:00pm. Parents can choose from either a 3 or 5 day a week program. Please contact Gloria Perez (Director) at 415-317-6269 or gperez@stmsf.org if you are interested.

How quickly the first month has passed! Students are well settled into their routines and for the most part, are excited to learn new things and to come to school everyday!

Sincerely,

Marie Fitzpatrick
Principal


Schoolwide Learning Expectations

St. Thomas More School students THINK!

Thoughtful, Spiritual Individuals
Highly Effective Communicators
Involved Citizens
Nurturing Individuals
Knowledge Seekers

STM Newsletter for Sep 19, 2012

Dear Parents:

With the new school year well underway, and students learning more about Jesus an how to be good Catholics it is a reminder to all of us to ensure that we are also creating a Catholic spirit in our homes. Parents are the primary educators of their children. They must set a good example in every word they speak and in every act they perform in their children's sight. In particular, parents should remember that it is not enough to say, "Don't do this; don't do that." You must guide by example.

Make it a point to encourage them to show their lovev in deeds. Don't "do everything" for the child. Start when he/she is young and wants to help you, and train him/her to keep on. In this way your child will learn good habits of generous helping and serving. A child so trained, easily learns habits of prayer, of self-sacrifice, of virtue. The idea of doing things for the love God and others becomes part of the nature of the child.

Students continue with the IOWA Test of Basic Skills for the remainder of this week. We ask that students arrive at school on time, well rested, healthy and properly fed. All that will contribute to students’ well-above-average test scores.

Thank you to all who returned their catalog orders by today’s deadline. We have 75% of your orders back, but we are still waiting for the stragglers. We need all the orders forms returned before we can place the school order. The sooner we place that order, the sooner you will have the items back!

This Friday, September 21^st, is a holiday for all students, Preschool through 8^th grade. The faculty will engage in an all day in-service on that day to prepare for our WASC accreditation and visit in February.

This coming Monday, September 24^th, is the first fourth-Monday-of-the–month for this school year. When school is in session, the Archdiocese declares minimum days for all Catholic schools in San Francisco on fourth Mondays. Please plan ahead for the day’s dismissal at 12:15(K-3) and 12:30(4-8). However, if you forget, don’t worry, your child will be placed in extended care until you arrive. As a treat, all students signed in to Extended Care on Monday will be able to purchase a hot dog lunch for $3.00.

Also next Monday, Olive the Storyteller will be here to tell tales to the kindergarten through third graders. Come and enjoy them, too. The first session begins at 8:30 followed by a second session beginning at 9:20 in Carroll Hall.

Today is Talk-Like-a-Pirate Day. In good pirate fashion we will celebrate this day next week on Wednesday, September 26^th. We did not want the students to be distracted during testing. Students must wear their full uniform on this day, however, they may accessorize it with a pirate hat/bandana/eye patch (no weapons please). The student council will be selling tattoos, pins, and stickers for 50¢ each on this day also. Arrgg Mateys!

FOOD FESTIVAL: St. Thomas More Church is holding it's 5^th Annual International Food Festival next Saturday and Sunday, September 29^th and 30^th in the schoolyard. Thank you to Doba Villatore- kindergarten parent and Shelley White- teacher and 4th grade parent for volunteering to help at the St. Thomas More Parents' Club booth during this fun event.  We need a few more volunteers; it would only be for an hour or two and will be lots of fun!  Please contact Monica Martinez at Monisf77@hotmail.com or 650-291-1878 if you can donate a bit of your time to help raise funds for our school. We also need lots of 2-liter sodas (name brands please, to make it more enticing to play).  Please leave soda donations at the school office.  Thank you for your support of our children!!  The Food Festival will also include a Poker tournament on Saturday night, September 29^th. The buy-in is $50. Linda Shah has tickets for sale and can be contacted by email, lp1114@aol.com, if you are interested. Blackjack tables are also be available for those who don't play poker. Great prizes!

SANDWICHES-FOR-THE-NEEDY: Please don’t forget that next Friday, September 28^th, is our next collection ofsandwiches-for-the-needy. All are welcome to participate and the seventh and second graders are charged with taking the lead that day. This year, Students in the upper grades will join with residents at Alma Via Last to make sandwiches in addition to those sent from home. We are thankful to Monsignor Labib and St. Thomas More Church who have offered to help cover the costs for the sandwich supplies used by our students. Last week, over 400 sandwiches were collected! Let’s try again next week for the same great collection. What a wonderful example of neighbors working together for a good cause.

PERSONAL ITEMS COLLECTION: Please remember that we will continue to collect personal items for the Blue Star Moms organization to provide to our troops stationed overseas through October 4^th. Thank you to those who have already brought in donations; please keep them coming.

YARD DUTY: Thank you to all who have volunteered for yard duty. To sign up, please visit www.stmsf.org, click on the Parents’ Club link and then click ‘SIGN UP NOW.’ When you arrive to do yard duty, please sign in at the office. Next to the sign in sheet in the office you will find yellow tags the say Parent Yard Supervisor. Please use these tags while on duty to identify you as one of the official yard supervisors. Return tags to the front office before you leave. If you are doing yard duty before school, please remember that we need one volunteer supervisor to stay close to the gate to ensure that any of the younger students do not leave the yard and if we have a second volunteer, we ask that you stand in the general area by the fountain.

AFTERNOON EXTENDED CARE: Just a reminder that afternoon extended care runs from dismissal, no matter what time that is, each day until 6:00 p.m. The only exceptions are the day before Christmas break, December 19^th, and the last day of the school year, June 12^th. We really try to discourage any one from leaving their child(ren) past 6:00 p.m., however, we do understand that emergencies happen and there is a special $1.00 per minute charge for care after 6:00 p.m. Please call the extended care program at 415-337-1003 if you are going to be later than 6:00 p.m. for any reason.

FROM THE ATHLETIC BOARD: Our next Dads’ and Grads’ Pick-Up Game will be this Sunday, September 23th, from 6 pm-8 pm at the St. Thomas More Gym. Hope to see you then!

RESOURCES: Check out the Community Based Organization Resource List on our website. It features local resources for tutoring, counseling/social services, health services and enrichment/art programs.

A reminder to us all to be a little more careful when driving. Our condolences go out to Monsignor Labib whose small dog, Colton, was struck on Brotherhood Way this week. Please keep Monsignor in your thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely,

Marie Fitzpatrick  
Principal      

STM Newsletter for September 12, 2012

Dear Parents:

Today we began our morning assembly with the Hail Mary in Spanish. Please practice this prayer along with your child so that we all become familiar with the words.

AVE MARIA (Hail Mary in Spanish)
Dios te salve, María, llena eres de gracia, el Señor es contigo.
Bendita tú ere entre todas las mujeres, y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre, Jesús.
Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros, pecadores,
ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte.
Amen

Training of our Altar Servers started yesterday after school. We thank our 6^th grade teacher, Julianne Beach for volunteering to prepare the children for this important service to their church. The next training date is Tuesday, September 18^th from 3-4 at St. Thomas More Church.

Thank you for your presence and support at the Back-to-School Mass last Sunday. A special thank you to the eighth graders and their teacher Mrs. Spiegel for putting together such a beautiful and reverent service. Thank you also to Monsignor Labib for involving so many of our students in such a creative way during his homily. It was nice to see so many of you there. Thank you for your generous support of the second collection of $1388.25, which goes to support the school and its programs.

SANDWICHES-FOR-THE-NEEDY: Our first sandwiches-for-the-needy collection is this Friday, September 14^th with the first and eighth graders taking the lead. Thanks to Jessica Ramirez (mom of Liz, 3^rd grade) for offering to deliver sandwiches this Friday. Are you available to deliver sandwiches to the Martin de Porres House of Hospitality at 11am on Friday, September 28^th? Please contact the school office if you can help.

TOILETRIES FOR TROOPS: We continue to collect travel size toiletries for our troops through October 4^th. This is a great way to donate any unused travel size products you may have collected over the summer. Thank you to those who have already brought in donations; please keep them coming. Check out the flyer you are receiving today for more information.

PICTURE DAY: Remember, this Friday, September 14^th is picture day for all Preschool through 8^th grade students and staff. Please make sure your child is in full uniform.

PIZZA SALE: Today the students enjoyed the first Hot Dog Sale of the year. Thank you to Maria Sweileh (mom of Nizar, 8^th grade) who has volunteered to tally the orders once again this year. We are in need of parents to help prepare and distribute the hot dogs on sale days throughout the year. If you are available, please let the office know.

IOWA TESTING: Next Monday, September 17^th, we begin the IOWA Test of Basic Skills for students in 2^nd grade and above. The amount of homework will be greatly reduced next week to facilitate testing. We ask that students arrive at school on time, well rested, and properly fed. All this will contribute to students’ well-above-average test scores. You’ll receive the results of these tests at the November parent conferences.

TUITION AND FEES: Families who elected to pay their tuition according to the quarterly schedule are reminded your next payment is due by September 15^th. Also, if you have not yet paid your Cultural/Disaster fee ($75 per child), and/or Parents’ Club dues ($40 per family), please send them to the school office now.

CATALOG FUNDRAISER: How is the catalog fundraiser coming? Please remember that all families who did not buy out by the June deadline are required to sell a minimum of $100 worth of product per child enrolled in the school. The deadline for returning your orders is Wednesday, September 19^th.

INTERNATIONAL FOOD FESTIVAL: St. Thomas More Church is holding it's 6^th Annual International Food Festival on Saturday and Sunday, September 29^th and 30^th in the schoolyard. Your support of this even is very much appreciated. The variety of foods offered are always delicious. Please check out the enclosed flyer.

Finally, the SF juniors volleyball club have been regular renters of our gym over the past two years. We are very grateful for their $1000 donation to our sports program as well as their donation of volleyballs and a ball cart. They are also offering a free coaches' clinic for our school coaches.

Sincerely,
Marie Fitzpatrick
Principal

STM Newsletter for September 5, 2012

Dear Parents:

Thank you to all who attended our back to school meeting. Congratulations to the Paraiso family in kindergarten who won the raffle for $500 towards their tuition. It pays to be on time! As we mentioned at the meeting, we are looking forward to completing our gym by building out the stage area. The initial budget for this project is set at $425,000, however, once we meet with stage lighting and sound suppliers, this number may change. We’ll keep you posted on any updates. In the meantime, please keep in mind our ‘Buy a Brick’ fundraiser. This is your chance to leave your mark on STM. We are hoping to raise at least $80,000 through this program. More information will be sent home soon.

We hope to see everyone this Sunday, September 9^th, for one of the most important celebrations of the school year. Please join us for our Back-to-School Mass at 10:00. Come and share in the celebration as we begin a new year together at St. Thomas More School and Utopia Preschool. Sunday’s second collection will directly support the school. We are sending home offertory envelopes for you to use when the collection is taken up. The school receives the money contributed through these envelopes. We’ll have extra envelopes available at the Mass. Thank you in advance for your support.

Following the Back to School Mass, beginning at 11:30am, all STM families are invited to join together for a free Back to School Family Picnic at Buri Buri Park in South San Francisco. The 5^th and 6^th grade families are sponsoring this picnic and will serve burgers, hotdogs and salads. Donations of water, fruits and desserts are greatly appreciated. Please contact Mylee Bernardo at myleeb@gmail.com if you can help.

As we mentioned last week, our first service project of the year will be the collection of personal items/toiletries for our nation’s military personnel. From now through October 4^th, we will be collecting the following travel size items: Powder - Gold Bond, foot and baby powder, baby wipes, hand sanitizer, Lip Balm/SPF, sunscreen, dental floss, toothbrushes, toothpaste, eye drops, shower gel, shampoo, deodorant, lotion, Q-tips, disposable razors, hand and foot warmers, and batteries (preferably AA). This is a great way to donate any unused travel size products you may have collected over the summer. Thank you to those who have already brought in donations; please keep them coming.

SANDWICHES-FOR-THE-NEEDY: Our first sandwiches-for-the-needy collection will be next Friday, September 14^th with the first and eighth graders taking the lead. We encourage all of you to consider making an extra sandwich and/or lunch and sending it to the office on that day. Sandwiches will be delivered to the Martin de Porres House of Hospitality on Potrero Ave. Their mission is to serve in the spirit of compassion, understanding and love and they provide breakfast and lunch during the week and brunch on Sunday to those in need in the community. Please visit their website, martindeporres.org for more information. Here are a few guidelines to help with the distribution of sandwiches - Please individually wrap the sandwiches (ziplock sandwich bags) and label what is included. This helps people with allergies and dietary restrictions. Are you available to deliver sandwiches to the Martin de Porres House of Hospitality? Sandwiches will be collected every second Friday and need to be delivered by 11am. Please contact the school office if you can help.

TUITION AND FEES: Families who elected to pay their tuition according to the quarterly schedule are reminded your next payment is due by September 15^th. Also, if you have not yet paid your Cultural/Disaster fee ($75 per child), and/or Parents’ Club dues ($40 per family), please send them to the school office now.

SCRIP: As part of your financial obligations to STM, each family is required to meet the mandatory scrip requirement to generate a minimum profit of $100 by participating in the electronic scrip programs authorized by the school (shopwithscrip.com and/or escrip.com). If you are unsure how to sign up for these scrip programs, please stop by the office and Melody will be happy to help you get started.

PM EXTENDED CARE: In case you are wondering why you haven't received your invoice from Extended Care for August, please recall that Extended Care combines August-September into one bill that will arrive the first week of October.

CATALOG FUNDRAISER: How is the catalog fundraiser coming? The deadline for returning your orders is Wednesday, September 19^th. Thank you to Christy Ramos (mom of Sean, 8^th grade and Ethan, 5^th grade), who has volunteered to help tabulate the orders this year.

PIZZA SALE: Today the students enjoyed the first Pizza Sale of the year. Thank you to Marivic Vila (mom of Ademir, 8^th grade and Ricardo, 7^th grade) who has volunteered to tally the orders once again this year. We are in need of parents to help distribute the pizza on sale days throughout the year. If you are available, please let the office know.

COOKIE SALE: The cookie sale scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, September 6^th has been rescheduled to next Thursday, September 13^th.

ALTAR SERVING: Students in grades 4-8 are invited to be Altar Servers for St. Thomas More Church. Please complete the flyer you are receiving today if you are interested.

ST. MARY'S CATHEDRAL CHOIR: The Cathedral Choir of Boys and Girls is open to children in grades 3 through 8 by audition. This is a free program and prior experience is not necessary. Interested? Check out the flyer you are receiving in today’s envelope.

USF COUNSELING: As you know, again this year, we are working with the USF Center for Child and Family Development to offer a school-based Family Counseling Program. This service is designed to meet the counseling needs of individual students and families as well as the consultation needs of teachers and school staff. The goal of the program is to support our students’ social, emotional and academic needs and thereby afford them increased opportunity for success at school. This year we welcome Vanessa Gamache, the counselor assigned to our school. She will be on campus Tuesdays and Wednesdays. This is a free service. If you would like your child to visit with Vanessa, you may contact her directly at vgamache@stmsf.org, or request it through your child’s teacher.

YARD POLICIES: We do need to remind you that when it comes to adults being present in the schoolyard after school, the directives from our insurance company are specific. In the afternoon, the schoolyard is reserved for students only. Parents waiting to pick up students from the later dismissal will need to wait outside the gate. Only parents picking up their kindergarteners or children from extended care may enter the schoolyard at dismissal. If your child takes after school classes such as piano, guitar or band, or they have sports practice, we ask that you remain outside the gate and wait for their activity to end.

Finally, our kindergarten teacher, Megan Kennedy, and her husband Tim welcomed their first child, Abigail Marie Kennedy, born on Saturday, September 1^st. Congratulations to the proud parents!

Sincerely,

Marie Fitzpatrick
Principal