STM Newsletter for February 28, 2013

Dear Parents:

As we enter our third week of Lent, it is a good time to help children be more kind and loving to others. Children are naturally loving, but they can get into really bad habits of fighting with brothers and sisters or being disobedient or even talking back. Lent is a great time to build in some family practices, which will stay with you long after the Lenten season is over. Children will notice, if part of your Lenten journey is to choose to 'fast' from crabby-ness or busy-ness and to spend more time with them. Children will notice, if you set the example of choosing to compliment others in the family more, highlighting the good things you notice in them. If your family Lenten practice is to focus on being nicer, kinder and more generous in helping each other, your children will take part in it. If we fail on a given day, we can quickly apologize and ask forgiveness and model more loving behavior that is central to Lent. By doing these simple acts, your children will benefit immensely during this important time of the church calendar.
 
7^th grade Lenten Project: This year the 7th graders are dedicating their Lenten Service Project to Develop Africa. Develop Africa is a global organization that collects and provides free school supplies for children in Africa. Please help the 7^th graders honor their commitment to help children, like themselves. Check out the flyer you are receiving today for more information on how you can help. All donations should be given to the classroom teacher. If you would like to send a monetary donation to help purchase more supplies, please put it in an envelope marked ‘DEVELOP AFRICA.’
 
Cioppino: Cioppino 2013 is history! What a wonderful event. Thank you to all who supported the event in any way. There were close to 400 diners and countless volunteers for set up, the event itself, and clean up. It was so impressive to stop by the night before during set up and see the beehive of activity with dozens of people working to prepare for the big night…a wonderful involved community of school parents and alumni parents. Thank you to Anarose Schelstrate and Linda Shah for once again chairing this great event. Congratulations to head chef, Robert Maldonado and his wonderful crew, for catering such a scrumptious meal. A special thank you also to Boy Scout Troop 343 for donating their time to assist with parking, serve dinner and clean up during the event. The bids are still open on some silent auction items. Check out the list you are receiving today or to place a bid online for Principal for a Day, Gym Director for a Day or Birthday Party for a student at the STM Gym click here.

WASC/WCEA Accreditation Visit: Have you noticed some extra people around the school this week? They are the WASC/WCEA Accreditation team and will be with us until tomorrow afternoon when the faculty will receive an initial report. Things seem to be going very well. You have much to be proud of in your children, their academic accomplishments and the school you have chosen for their education. We are truly grateful to Leslie Torres, Tania Tripathi and Ivon Van Mechelen who have been here every day before 7:00am to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner for our visitors.

Having completed this stage of the evaluation/visitation, the students, teachers and staff will enjoy a much-deserved holiday this Friday, March 1^st. We’ll be back to education as usual with a full day on Monday.

Calendars: The March calendar of events and hot lunch menu are included in today’s Envelope. Keep them close as March proves to be a busy month.
 
Kindergarten Acceptance: As we previously mentioned, we have accepted our first batch of kindergarteners for the 2013-2014 school year. We are very happy with the response to those acceptance letters. A reminder to all siblings and preschoolers who were accepted for our 2013-2014 kindergarten class - to pay close attention to the due date for the registration and materials fee in order to hold your child’s seat.
 
Book Fair: This year, our Book Fair raised one of the highest amounts in recent years - almost $7,000! Thanks to all who purchased books at the fair, especially our grandparents, the school now has over $4,100 to buy new books for our ever growing library. This year, Miss Pinnick, our librarian, has been busy keeping an eye on the types of books we would like to add to our collection. Each teacher has been asked to suggest some favorites that will become part of our permanent collection.
 
See’s Candies: A BIG thank you to Sue Sullivan, mother of Chloe (7^th grade). Once again, Sue has volunteered to head up the See’s Candies Spring Fundraiser. Please follow the deadline for ordering. Candy orders will be delivered in plenty of time for Easter. Complete and return the form in today's envelope if you wish to order.
 
Field Trips: Today the 4^th graders are receiving permission slips for their upcoming field trip to the SF Transfer Station. Be sure to get those permission slips back by the due date! As always, late forms will not be accepted.

Free MUNI for San Francisco Youth Pilot Program: Beginning March 1, 2013 this Muni program will provide low and moderate income youth in San Francisco FREE access to Muni for a 16^th month period. All San Francisco youth aged 5-17 who meet certain income limits are eligible. A student must have a Clipper Card to take advantage of this program. If the student already has a Clipper Card, parents may apply online at sfmta.com/freemuni4youth. They can download the application and submit by mail to: SFMTA, ATTN Youth Pilot Pass, 11 South Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA  94103. For step-by-step assistance, please call 311, or 415-701-2311.

Absentee Reporting: If your child is absent, please call or email the school office, or use the absentee reporting link on our website to let us know. If you know in advance that your child is going to be absent please let your child’s teacher know. This also applies if you wish to take your child out of school earlier than their regular dismissal time. Just a reminder that every time your child is absent or tardy, a note must be given to the teacher when they return, or in the case of a tardy, the following day.

Tuition/Re-registration: Since Friday, March 1^st is a school holiday, final payments on 2012-2013 tuition accounts should be sent to the school office no later than next Monday, March 4^th.  Next week we will begin the re-registration process. Remember, we will not save your child’s seat for the next school year if your accounts are not in order.

TADS: To apply for the Archdiocesan Scholarship Program, parents can go to the TADS website, www.tads.com. Once on their homepage click the link “Apply for Financial Aid” on the right side of the page, which is under the “Parents & Families” heading. Once you complete and submit the online form your application will be processed by TADS. The deadline for completing the application for elementary school assistance is April 15, 2013. Award letters will be sent out in May. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give the school office a call.
 
Tuition Assistance Program: The $20,000 St. Thomas More School Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) is available this school year because of the generosity of the Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert Foundation. Those who applied and areeligible for the STM TAP are receiving additional information in their envelope today.
 
Sincerely,
Marie Fitzpatrick                               
Principal

STM Newsletter for February 20, 2013

Dear Parents:

We are now on day eight of the Lenten Season. As we continue on this journey, we are reminded to show personal acts of kindness and sacrifice. We hope you continue to work with your children to help them better understand the concepts of prayer, fasting, and giving. Consider sitting down with your children once a week to discuss their Lenten plan.  Meet as a family every Sunday during Lent and discuss ways you have shown personal acts of kindness and sacrifice.  Be accountable to each other.  If you make this a great

Lent you will notice the difference on Easter Sunday. The celebration of Jesus’ resurrection gives us much to which we can look forward.

Here are a few reminders of ways that the church asks us to observe the Lenten season.

• Good Friday is a day of fast and abstinence, that is, limited to a single, full meal and abstinence from meat.
• This applies to all persons ages 14-60. It is highly recommended that children from ages 7 to 14 years also fast and abstain on these days.
• The other Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence from meat.
• During Lent, all Catholics are encouraged to receive Holy Eucharist frequently and to receive the Sacrament of Penance so that all may be prepared to celebrate more fully the paschal mystery on Easter Sunday.

Stations of the Cross: This year, the 4th grade class will present the Stations of the Cross over the next three weeks.Please join us for the first five stations next Wednesday, February 27^th at 1:10pm in the church. The following week, March 6^th, the 4^th graders will continue to lead us on this important journey with the next five stations, also at 1:10pm in the church. To complete the Jesus’ journey to the cross, the last four stations will be presented at 1:10pm on March 13^th in the church.

Cioppino 2013: This Saturday, February 23^rd, we will have our annual Cioppino dinner. Those of you who already ordered tickets for the Cioppino will be receiving a confirmation email within the next day. Tickets will not be given out this year, instead, those attending will check in at the door. Also, check out the raffle flyer that is going home today. We'll see you there Saturday night!

Storytelling with 8^th graders: The kindergarten students are enjoying a special program of stories prepared and told by our 8^th grade students. We are very grateful to Olive, our school storyteller, and Mrs. Spiegel for preparing the students to participate in this wonderful experience.

Monday is a short busy day!: The SF Opera Guild will be here in their ongoing preparation of the sixth grade Books to Bravo project. Also, please remember that Monday, February 25^th is a minimum day. Dismissal for the primary grades will be at 12:15 followed by the fourth through eighth grades at 12:30 as usual. Extended care will be available until 6:00pm and a hot dog lunch may be purchased by those signed in.

PM EXTENDED CARE: Do you need a 2012 payment summary from Afternoon Extended Care for your flexible spending account or your 2012 tax return?  Please contact John Kavanagh at JKav@stmsf.org and he will provide it.

Shoparoo, Top schools win $$$ this February!: As we mentioned last week, Shoparoo is giving away $500 to the top school with the most supporters who upload a receipt in February, $300 to the second place school, and $200 to the third place school. It doesn’t matter how many receipts you upload (although the more the better), it all comes down to the amount of people with support the school through Shoparoo. Eighty-two families have participated so far this month. Can we count on you? Download the app from the App Store or Google Play store today. Even one receipt counts!

WASC/WCEA Accreditation Visit: Next week is a very big week. We will have our three-day visit from the WASC/WCEA school evaluation and accreditation team. They will be with us all day from 7:30am-7:30pm Tuesday and Wednesday and will present their observations and report on Thursday after school. Following this, usually sometime during the summer, we will find out if we have been accredited again and for how long our accreditation period will be. If you see members of the team around during their visit, please say hello. The team members are: Cheryl Cory (chairperson), principal of St. Theresa School in Palm Springs; Charles Cecilia, teacher at Ecole Notre Dame des Victoires, San Francisco; K.C. Isom, teacher at St. Vincent de Paul School, San Francisco; Megan Raudsep, teacher from St. Pius School, Redwood City; and Sr. M. Susanna Vasquez, OP, principal at St. James in San Francisco. During their time here they will visit all the classrooms, meet with a group of parents on Tuesday night at 6:30pm, spend some time interviewing student council member and visit with Monsignor Labib.

Just a reminder, next Friday, March 1^st, is a school holiday for all students and the teachers.

Uniform: Firstly, we are keeping the school at a comfortable temperature during this cold weather season. We have a school sweater, and if a student feels the need for extra warmth, they may wear a WHITE t-shirt or turtleneck under their shirt. As has been clearly stated on the school sweatshirt order form during the last several years, the STM sweatshirt is not classroom apparel. The students are welcome to wear them to and from school and in the yard, but not in the classroom.

The second matter of concern is the need for too many students (parents) to wash and iron their pleated skirts and navy pants. Some of the skirts are so far gone, they are gray where they should be white and have only slightly noticeable pleats. Let’s look sharp for the visiting team next week!

See you Saturday at Cioppino!

Sincerely,

Marie Fitzpatrick             

STM Newsletter for February 6, 2013

Dear Parents:

The Family Mass, Book Fair, the school-wide open house and the general spirit of goodwill were a fitting conclusion to National Catholic Schools Week at St. Thomas More School. We have accomplished so much here by working together. Thank you for all the positive comments made to the teachers and staff this past weekend. It is great to be recognized for a job well done. A special thank you to our kindergarten teachers, Heidi Haas and Megan Kennedy, for preparing a beautiful Family Mass with the kindergartners and their families. We are so proud of our wonderful kindergarten students. This is a good time to reflect on the benefit of being part of a Catholic school. The strong school community, grounded in a shared faith and the support and high expectations of parents, teachers and the larger community, offers your children a foundation for facing the rapidly changing world around them. By sharing this belief in God’s goodness and living out their faith every day, your children are blessed with a clear advantage. Faith provides an anchor that will serve your children well into the future.

Thank you to Sue Kapovich who organized a great Grandparents and Special Friends Day and to everyone who made it such a success! The children were so happy to have almost 200 special guests join us for this fun event. A HUGE thank you goes out to Jessica Ramirez, her assistant, Ivon van Mechelen and our awesome 8^th grade cooks for their help in preparing over 500 pasta lunches for all to enjoy.

A HUGE thank you once again this year to Joan Cuddihy, our Book Fair moderator, and her competent committee of booksellers for the great job they did all last week with this year’s Book Fair. Thanks to all of you who bought books to enrich your children’s lives and to donate to the classroom libraries.

Tomorrow, at 7:00 p.m., in Carroll Hall, the Parents Club and all interested parents will come together to evaluate what they have accomplished and plan for upcoming activities.

        

Cioppino 2013 and FREE DRESS: Work continues in preparation for our BIG fundraiser on Saturday, February 23^rd. Thank you for the many donations that have come through the school office for our Cioppino baskets and auction items – keep them coming! Ticket sales have really picked up for the event. Reservation forms are included in your envelopes again today – tell your friends! This event is a lot of fun. Remember, childcare is available for $25 and includes a pizza dinner and snacks. Please respond as soon as possible so that we can begin work on our seating plan. As an added bonus, every school parent who buys a ticket for Cioppino will receive a FREE DRESS PASS for their child/ren to be used on Monday, February 25^th.

School Holiday: This Friday, February 8^th is a school holiday for the students. Teachers and administrators from all the Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese will be attending an all day professional development in-service at St. Mary’s Cathedral.

2013-2014 Kindergarten: We thank you for all the referrals of new families who have now applied to the school. Kindergarten screening of our Utopia applicants is well underway. This Saturday we will meet with those new to the school and sibling applicants for their screenings. The first round of kindergarten acceptance letters will be going home shortly.

Books-to-Bravo: The 6^th graders will begin their Books-to-Bravo program with members of the S.F. Opera Guild next Monday, February 11^th. This 10-week program will culminate with a performance of their student-written opera in April.

Ash Wednesday Mass: Next Wednesday, February 13^th is Ash Wednesday. Please join the student body as we celebrate the first day of the Lenten Season and the reception of ashes at the 8:30am mass.

Field Trips: Taking a field trip on Thursday, February 21^st, are the fourth graders. They will be traveling to The Academy of Sciences to learn about and explore rainforests. Permission slips for this trip are going home today.

Student Body Picture: For the fifth year running, we are offering a 10”x30” panoramic student body picture for purchase. Lifetouch, our school picture company, will come next Friday, February 15^th to take this picture of the students and faculty in our gym. If you are interested in purchasing one, please check out the order form in today’s envelope and return it with your child no later than next Friday, picture day. Panoramic photos are pre-pay only and additional items cannot be ordered later. The original pictures from the last four years are on display here in the school office. Drop by and check them out!

Scrip: Just a reminder that all families are required to generate a minimum of $100 profit by participating in the electronic scrip programs authorized by the school. Scrip purchased between May 1^st, 2012 and April 30^th, 2013 will be credited to this requirement. Families who do not wish to participate in the scrip program will have the option of buying out at $100. This buy out fee is due no later than Friday, February 15^th, 2013. Buyout after this date will be $150. This Valentine’s Day, we remind you to think Scrip when you’re shopping for flowers, candy, and the perfect date night for your sweetheart. Check out the flyer you are receiving today for some great gift card ideas!

Afternoon Extended Care: Do you need a 2012 payment summary from Afternoon Extended Care for your flexible spending account or your 2012 tax return? Please contact John Kavanagh at JKav@stmsf.org and he will provide it.

Tuition Assistance Program: Please let Mrs. Fitzpatrick know in writing if you are interested in receiving an application form for our TAP (Tuition Assistance Program). We will continue to accept requests through the month of February.

Spelling Bee: Well done to the participants of this year’s school spelling bee!

4th: Kevin Carranceja, Jordan Mak, Gabe Santos
5th: Haley Graves, Justin Santos, Kevin Sarmiento
6th: Zoe Taylor, Kevin Dunn, Shivaya Urcuyo
7th: Natasha Alvarado, Tony D'Aura, Agnes Li
8th: Elyssa Nicolas, Antoine Malouf, Devin Rojo-Cagadoc

Special congratulations to school champion, Tony D’Aura, and our runner up, Agnes Li! Tony won the bee on the word boisterously.

Happy 100 days of school! Only 80 more to go!!

Sincerely,

Marie Fitzpatrick             

Principal               

STM Newsletter for January 30, 2013

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Dear Parents:

The Catholic Sacrament of Reconciliation (also known as Penance) has three elements: conversion, confession and celebration. In it we find God's unconditional forgiveness; as a result we are called to forgive others. The peace of mind and soul which this sacrament imparts to us is one for which there is no substitute. It is a peace that flows from a certainty that our sins have been forgiven and that we are right with God. Congratulations to the students who celebrated the sacrament of Reconciliation along with their parents today. Their journey as young Catholics will continue when they receive the sacrament of First Communion at 10:00am on Saturday, April 20^th.

The seventh graders will be receiving Confirmation on Friday, April 26^th, and will attend an all day retreat to prepare them for this important and special occasion. Please keep both classes in your prayers during this important time as they continue on their spiritual journey over the next few months.

Did you notice some extra adults supervising dismissal after school yesterday? These five visitors are members of the accreditation team that will be visiting our school for three days towards the end of February. They are already very impressed with the students they met yesterday and with our great school. We look forward to their return and the opportunity for them to meet some of our parents on their next visit.

National Catholic Schools Week is well underway. We have many visitors for which we are very grateful. We are hoping that all of you will join us for Sunday’s concluding activities. We’ll begin with the 10:00 Mass planned by the kindergarten students and their families. We have inserted in your Envelope an offertory envelope for you to use at Sunday’s Mass. Contributions made in those envelopes will be forwarded to the school. Immediately after Mass, please come to our Open House, feel free to stop by the Book Fair in the library and visit the classrooms, as the teachers will be in their rooms welcoming one and all.

By the way, you are welcome to visit the Book Fair any morning this week before school begins or right after dismissal. Just go straight to the library where Joan Cuddihy and her crew of booksellers will be there to assist you. Check out the wish lists the teachers have prepared of books they would like to have in their classroom libraries. Consider donating a book to your child’s classroom.

Tomorrow is Grandparents and Special Friends Day! Thank you to the 150 special guests who have RSVP’d for this fun event. The children are really excited to have them come and visit their school. They are so lucky to have such special people in their lives. We are still looking for some volunteers to help with setting up and preparing the FREE pasta lunch for everyone (including all K-8 students). If you are available to help any time after 10:00am, please just drop by the office and we will put you to work.

SPELLING BEE/ACADEMIC AWARDS: We invite everyone to join us for our annual Spelling Bee on Friday beginning at 1:10pm in Carroll Hall. Following this fun event, we will hold our Academic Awards ceremony, which will begin at approximately 1:45pm.

SCHOOL HOLIDAY: Be prepared! Friday, February 8^th is a school holiday for the students. Teachers and administrators from all the Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese will be attending an all day in-service at St. Mary’s Cathedral.

STUDENT ILLNESS: We are happy to report that our number of ill students has significantly dropped from last week. The average number of students absent due to illness in the past two days has been around 30. We remind you again that your child MUST be fever free for at least 24 hours before returning to school.

We are thankful that by allowing the student body an additional day off this past Monday, those who have been sick were able to have one more day of rest. Because of this unscheduled holiday, we need to make up the day, as per Archdiocesan regulations. We will be giving up our planned local holiday on March 18^th in order to fulfill this requirement.

CIOPPINO 2013: Work continues in preparation for our annual Cioppino Dinner on Saturday, February 23^rd. Thank you for the many donations that have come through the school office for our Cioppino baskets and auction items – keep them coming! Reservations are trickling in. This event is a lot of fun. Remember, childcare is available for a nominal fee. Please respond as soon as possible as we believe this will be a sell out event again this year.

USF PROGRAM: There are still a couple of spaces available in the Digital Media and Learning program at USF for 7^th and 8^th graders. Please send a letter to Mrs. Fitzpatrick if you are interested in applying. Classes start Thursday, February 14^th.

RE-REGISTRATION: Re-registration for current students will be online again this year. More information on how to re-register will be available mid-March.

Today you are receiving the February calendar of events and hot lunch menu. Keep these handy as February proves to be a busy month.

LET'S GO 49ERS...LET'S GO! This Friday, February 1^st, students have the opportunity to wear free ‘red and gold’ dress. Let's go NINERS! Let's go….and win the Superbowl!!!

See you Sunday at Mass and Open House (the game doesn’t start until 3:30pm)! Go 49ers!

Marie Fitzpatrick             

Principal                           

STM Newsletter for January 23, 2013

Dear Parents:

As a faith community, we will gather together on Sunday, February 3^rd at the 10:00am Family Mass. Let's use this opportunity to reflect on the importance that we all place on Catholic education. Our kindergarten students and families will take the lead in preparing this special Mass, which is the culminating activity of the celebration of National Catholic Schools Week. We look forward to seeing you all there.

National Catholic Schools Week runs from January 28^th through February 3^rd. Please mark your calendars for our Family Mass, Open House, and Book Fair, and other exciting events on Sunday, February 3^rd. A schedule of all these events and the times of classroom observation during this week can be downloaded from stmsf.org. Feel free to drop in and see what’s going on around the school. Please share the schedule with friends who may be interested in our school.

At St. Thomas More School, students receive a superior academic foundation in safe surroundings where qualified, dedicated teachers instill moral and spiritual values and where we help foster a close relationship with Christ. This is a good opportunity for you to reflect on the importance you place on a Catholic Education for your child.

COLDS AND FLUS: Currently we have close to 60 students absent each day this week. As we continue our way through the flu season, please remember that students MUST be fever free for at least 24 hours before returning to school. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE - if your child is showing ANY symptoms of illness such as headaches, cough, dizziness, fever, or stomach aches, keep them at home. This will avoid spreading these symptoms to others.

SANDWICHES-FOR-THE-NEEDY: Our next collection for the Martin de Porres House is this Friday, January 25^th, when the Kindergarten and 8^th graders will take the lead. We encourage ALL families to provide an extra sandwich. Some of our older students will prepare 50 additional sandwiches in our school kitchen to add to this collection.

REPORT CARDS: Report cards will go home this Friday, January 25^th. Be sure all your accounts are in order so that there will not be any delays in sending those grades home.

PIZZA/HOT DOG SALES: Please remember that order forms are only sent home at the beginning of each quarter. This is your only opportunity to order. Please clearly mark the name, grade and the word PIZZA or HOTDOG on the envelope if you wish to order. Do not put both orders in the same envelope. The due date for Pizza and Hot Dog orders is this Friday, January 25^th.
 
GRANDPARENTS DAY: Thank you for the great response to Grandparents Day. So far we have over 50 Grandparents and other special friends joining us next Thursday afternoon for a special pasta lunch and other fun activities. There is still time to sign up! Send in your reservation form by this Friday.

We need a number of parent volunteers to help prepare food and ensure the success of this event. Please let Melody know if you are available to help. Can you donate pastries for Grandparents Day? Please drop them off to the office next Thursday morning, January 31^st.
 
CIOPPINO 2012: Work continues in preparation for our BIG fundraiser on Saturday, February 23^rd. Thank you for the many donations that have come through the school office for our Cioppino baskets and auction items – keep them coming! Consider getting together with other parents from your child’s class to purchase a table. This event is a lot of fun. Remember, childcare is available for a nominal fee. Please respond as soon as possible as we believe this will be a sell out event again this year. To purchase tickets, please use the flyer you are receiving today and return it to the school office. The next Cioppino meeting has been scheduled for this coming Tuesday, January 29^th at 7:00pm in Carroll Hall.

GEOGRAPHY BEE: Congratulations to the recent winners of our annual school Geography Bee. The top three students in each classroom competed for the school championship. Those contestants were
4th graders Ciarra Cruz, Aysaiah Radoc-Manrique, and Zach White.
5th graders Adam Kolokotrones, Chloe Sladewski and Aved Sodah
6th graders Lara Bautista, Lemar Deguzman and Jackie Villarosa.
7th graders Peter Cuddihy, Tony D’Aura and Melina Diaz.
8th graders Jose David, Alex Diaz and Jerome Torres.
8th grader Jerome earned third place overall and second place went to 7th grader Tony. Our school's champ, who will represent us in the statewide competition, is 4th grader Zach White. Congratulations to all the contestants and good luck in the next round, champion Zach! 

USF CLASSES: There are still a few spaces available for students in grades 7 and 8 to work in collaboration with USF graduate students in an exciting course entitled, Digital Media and Learning. This will look great on the resume of students applying for high school next year! Please let Mrs. Fitzpatrick know if you are interested.

TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: Families that applied for the STM TAP will be receiving an application form today. Funds will be distributed on the basis of those families who need the most help. To qualify for temporary tuition assistance, families will need to show proof of financial hardship and funds will be distributed on a discretionary basis by the school administration. Please let Mrs. Fitzpatrick know in writing if you are interested in receiving an application form.

KINDERGARTEN SCREENING: We have received many kindergarten and preschool applications for the 2013-2014 school year. Many thanks also for your referrals of new families. A reminder that again this year we will be screening all kindergarten applicants in order to assess their readiness for our kindergarten program. Kindergarten applicants in Utopia will be assessed during their school day throughout the week of February 4th. For siblings of current students and new families, information was sent out yesterday about our screening day, Saturday, February 9th.

STUDENT HOLIDAY: Plan ahead - Please remember that the school will be closed next Friday, February 8^th. This is the day set for the annual Archdiocese Professional Development for all Catholic school teachers and administrators.

JOANNE PANG FOUNDATION: Thank you to all who generously contributed to our free dress fundraiser for the Joanne Pang Foundation. With your help, we were able to raise $630. Thank you all once again for supporting the need for cord blood donation.

LET'S GO 49ERS...LET'S GO! Last week we said “Let's hope they make it into the Super Bowl...and maybe we'll have a 49ers free dress day!” Well there’s no more need to hope – the 49ers made it! This Friday, January 25^th, students have the opportunity to wear free ‘red and gold’ dress. Let's go NINERS! Let's go….and win the Superbowl!!!
 
Sincerely,
Marie Fitzpatrick
Principal

National Catholic Schools Week 2013

Monday, January 28th

• Classroom Observation: 9:00-10:30 and 11:00-12:00 all classrooms.

Tuesday, January 29th

• Classroom Observation: 9:00-10:30, 11:00-12:00 and 1:15-2:30 all classrooms. 
• Dance/Movement Day: Each class will have its regular, weekly dance class with Sue Rissotto, our professional dance and movement instructor. Classes are in the school’s gymnasium. 

Wednesday, January 30th

• Classroom Observation: 9:00-10:30, 11:00-12:00 and 1:15-2:30 all classrooms. 
• Physical Education Day: Each class will have its regular, weekly physical education class with a professional P.E. instructor from Rhythm and Moves. Class is held in the schoolyard or the gym. 
• First Reconciliation: Students will receive their First Reconciliation at 10:00am in the STM Church. 
• Guitar Lessons: Weekly after school guitar lessons, 3:15-4:00, are available for those who wish to enroll. 
• Student Council Meeting: 3:00-3:30, fourth grade classroom, all are welcome. 
• Boy Scout Meeting: St. Thomas More’s Boy Scouts meet at 7:30 p.m. in Carroll Hall. Interested visitors are welcome to attend a meeting of Troop 343, the most active Boy Scout Troop in S.F. 
• School Advisory Board: Please feel free to join us at 7:00pm in the library for this meeting. 

Thursday, January 31st

• Classroom Observation: 9:00-10:30 and 1:15-2:30 all classes. 
• Music Day: Each class will have its regular, weekly music education class with a professional music instructor from Rhythm and Moves. Classes are in Carroll Hall. 
• Grandparents Day/Special Lunch: Grandparents are invited to join the students to enjoy a pasta lunch, as well as other exciting activities. 
• Band Classes: Optional weekly after school band classes, 3:00-4:30. 
• Parents’ Club Meeting: 7:00pm in Carroll Hall. 

Friday, February 1st

• First Friday Mass: Please consider joining the student body for the 8:30am Mass in the Church. 
• Classroom Observation: 9:30-10:30 and 11:00-12:00 all classes. 
• School Spelling Bee: The school finals of its annual school Spelling Bee Championship, 1:10, Carroll Hall. All are welcome! 

Sunday, February 5th

• The culmination of Catholic Schools Week is the gathering together for Family Mass. Following the Mass, please enjoy the open house at the school, refreshments in the gym and our annual Book Fair! 
• Mass: Families come together at 10:00 a.m. in St. Thomas More Church. Kindergarten students take a prominent role in this liturgy. 
• Open House: Classrooms will be open; teachers will be present. Open House begins about 11:30 after the 10:00 Mass. The office will be open to accept applications during Open House, which will end about 12:30. 
• Hospitality: Following Mass, our very active Parents’ Club will host coffee and breakfast treats in the gym. 
• Book Faire: The Parents’ Club runs its annual Scholastic Book Faire in the library and second floor lobby of the new building immediately after the Family Mass.

STM Newsletter for January 16, 2013

Dear Parents:

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. strived to teach valuable lessons of equality, compassion, and understanding to people everywhere. King is perhaps best remembered for delivering his 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech in front of a quarter of a million people in the Mall in Washington, DC. His famous line, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character," still resonates today. Dr. King continually encouraged everyone to make a difference. Let us all continue to THINK like Jesus as we become more active, concerned citizens who care for others and become involved in acts of charity and work towards a more just society for all. We can enjoy a three-day weekend this weekend thanks to the observance of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday.

A compulsory meeting for parents of all students who are receiving First Reconciliation this year will be held in the 2^nd grade classroom tomorrow night, January 17^th beginning at 6:30pm. At least one parent from each family is required to attend.

This Friday marks the end of the second quarter. Report cards will be sent home with your child next Friday, January 25^th. If you do not receive a report card next week, please check with the office to ensure your accounts are up to date.

CIOPPINO 2012: Work continues in preparation for our BIG fundraiser on Saturday, February 23^rd. Thank you for the many donations that have come through the school office for our Cioppino baskets and auction items – keep them coming! Consider getting together with other parents from your child’s class to purchase a table. This event is a lot of fun. Remember, childcare is available for a nominal fee. Please respond as soon as possible as we believe this will be a sell out event again this year. To purchase tickets, please use the flyer you are receiving today and return it to the school office. The next Cioppino meeting has been scheduled for this coming Tuesday, January 22^nd at 7:00pm in Carroll Hall.

NATIONAL CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK: This runs from January 27^th through February 3^rd. Please mark your calendars for our Family Mass, Open House, Book Faire, and other exciting events on Sunday, February 3^rd. The schedule of activities for National Catholic Schools Week is included in your envelope today and will be available on our website shortly. Again this year we will be having a special day where we invite grandparents and other special friends to spend some of the day with the children. Pencil in Thursday, January 31^st for this special day. Invitations for this Grandparents lunch are included in your envelope today. To help celebrate our grandparents and other special adults in the lives of our children, all students and their adult guests will receive a free pasta lunch that day! All pasta lunches will include garlic bread and juice/milk.

LOCKDOWN DRILL:  A lockdown of a building or group of buildings is an emergency procedure intended to secure and protect occupants who are in the proximity of an immediate threat. This procedure is used when it may be more dangerous to evacuate a building than stay inside. By controlling entry/exit and movement within a facility, school and emergency personnel are better able to contain and handle any threats. As we continue to plan for the safety of our students and staff here at St. Thomas More School we are planning to have a lockdown drill on next Tuesday, January 22^nd at 10:00am. Teachers will prepare the students in advance in this “Be Safe” drill and we will continue to practice these regularly. Please discuss the need for lockdown drills with your child at home in an age appropriate manner. We don’t want this to be a scary experience but we will need full cooperation from everyone to ensure our drills are successful. Just like the monthly fire drills conducted by the SFFD they will become a regular part of our safety routine.

USF DIGITAL MEDIA AND LEARNING:  We are very excited to be asked once again to participate in a unique partnership with the University of San Francisco. Our students will work in collaboration with USF graduate students in an exciting course entitled, Digital Media and Learning. This is our sixth year participating in this program and is open to all 7^th and 8^th grade students. Because of class size restrictions there are only eight spots open to STM students. The sessions will take place on Thursday afternoons between 4:30 and 6:00pm at the School of Education at USF, 2350 Turk Boulevard. The first session will begin on Thursday, February 14^th and will continue for seven weeks. If you are interested in having your child participate, please review the flyer in today’s envelope.

PM EXTENDED CARE: Do you need a 2012 payment summary from Afternoon Extended Care for your flexible spending account or your 2012 tax return?  Please contact John Kavanagh at JKav@stmsf.org and he will provide it.

WARRIORS TICKETS: Thank you to all who sent in reservations for Warrior tickets. Unfortunately we received many more requests for tickets than we could fill. Those whose orders we were not able to fill are having their checks returned to them.

SHOPAROO: Have you registered for this simple fundraiser yet? STM has over 200,000 points, which translates into $450! Download the Shoparoo app to get started and begin taking photos of your grocery receipts in order to earn points. It’s really that easy!

UNIFORM SURVEY: Thank you to the 103 families who shared their thoughts on suggested uniform changes via the online uniform survey. We will take some time to read all your comments and analyze the results. Be a part of the final decision making process by attending the next Parents’ Club meeting on Thursday, February 7^th.

PIZZA/HOT DOG SALES: Today you are receiving pizza and hot dog order forms for the next quarter. Please remember that order forms will only be sent home at the beginning of each quarter. This will be your only opportunity to order. You must order for all four sales if you wish to participate in these special lunches. Please clearly mark the name, grade and the word PIZZA or HOTDOG on the envelope if you wish to order.

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 next week, we will start the screening process. Preschool students will be tested during their school day. Siblings and other students new to our school will be contacted to schedule an appointment. Just a reminder that kindergarten applicants must be 5 years old by October 1st, 2013 in order to apply. Application forms are available from the school office or can be downloaded from our website.

STM TAP: We are happy to announce that we have again this year received a $20,000 grant from the Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert Foundation to be used for tuition assistance. Funds will be distributed on the basis of those families who need the most help. To qualify for temporary tuition assistance, families will need to show proof of financial hardship and funds will be distributed on a discretionary basis by the school administration. Please let Mrs. Fitzpatrick know in writing if you are interested in receiving an application form. Applications will be sent home in next week’s envelope. Thank you once again to the Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert Foundation!

SUMMER SCHOOL: We have already begun receiving information on various summer school activities. In the event that we receive enough flyers to send home for each family, these will be included in your envelope as we receive them. All other summer school flyers will be available for download from our website as we receive them.

GRADUATION PICTURES: 8^th grade graduation pictures are this Friday. Please follow the appropriate dress guidelines given by Mrs. Spiegel.

COLDS AND FLUS: For the second day in a row, more than 10% of our student body are absent due to illness (14 students are absent in 3^rd grade today). If your child is showing ANY symptoms of illness such as headaches, cough, dizziness, fever, or stomach aches please keep them at home. This will avoid spreading these symptoms to others. While we keep our school building nice and warm, the students are often cold at recess time. Please send them to school in warm jackets. Let’s all work together to keep our school campus as healthy as possible.

LET'S GO NINERS...LET'S GO! This Friday, January 18^th, in support of the SF 49ers making it into their division championship, we are allowing students to wear 49ers (red and gold) accessories. The school uniform must be worn, however, hats, earrings, headbands, socks, etc may also be worn (no jerseys). Let's hope they make it into the Super Bowl...and maybe we'll have a 49ers free dress day!

Sincerely,

Marie Fitzpatrick

Principal