STM Newsletter for April 9, 2014

Dear Parents,

This Sunday, the final Sunday before Easter, is known as Palm Sunday and marks the beginning of Holy Week. It celebrates Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. Great crowds of people thronged the streets waving palm branches to welcome Him. The people shouted "Hosanna" and laid their cloaks and palm branches from the nearby trees in His path, yet less than one week later, these same people shouted “crucify him, crucify him!”.

As we mentioned last week, as part of our preparation for the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday, students in grades 2-8 received the sacrament of Reconciliation earlier today. Thank you to the 1^st and 3^rd grade students and their teachers for preparing last Sunday’s family mass. More thanks go out to the 4^th graders and their teacher, Jen Conley, who presented the last set of stations of the cross today. These reminders of Jesus’ suffering and death prepares us for his resurrection on Easter Sunday. Our final Holy Week activity at STM will be the presentation a Lenten prayer service by 7^th grade next Wednesday, April 16^th at 1:00pm in the gym. Please join us if you can. Please note that our student body mass for next week will be on Monday, April 14^th at 8:30am.

Next Wednesday is the last day of the Spring STEM electives. Next Thursday, April 17^th, STEM students will share their work and projects with STM students and families in a showcase that represent the rigorous work and training resulting from student collaboration, problem solving, effective communication, and critical thinking skills. Please drop by the gym between 9:00am-10:00am next Thursday to see all they have accomplished.

As a reminder, Thursday, April 17^th is a minimum day for all Preschool-8^th graders and the beginning of Easter Vacation. Preschool will dismiss at 12 noon, K-3 at 12:15pm and 4-8 at 12:30pm. There will still be extended care until 6pm that day for K-8 students. Street parking will be limited because of the early dismissal schedule. The school yard will be open between 11am-noon to facilitate the pick up of Preschool students.

Spirit Week!: On Monday we kicked off Spirit Week with pajama day followed by twin day yesterday. Today it was great to see all the wacky crazy ways the students accessorized their uniforms. Moving along, Spirit week continues tomorrow as the students enjoy Fan Day, where students can represent their favorite sport team and we round out the week on Friday with STM Appreciation Day. On Friday afternoon, the student body will enjoy watching the Talent Show. All are invited to come and watch our amazing talented students in Carroll Hall beginning at 12:30pm sharp.

Sandwiches-for-the-needy: Thank you in advance to the 4^th and 5^th grade students who will take the lead in providing sandwiches for the needy this Friday, April 11^th. We ask students in all grades to consider making at least one sandwich in this last collection before Easter.

Parents’ Club Nominations: The current Parents’ Club is seeking interested parents to take a leadership position as part of the 2014-2015 Parents’ Club.  While we understand that these positions may require additional support during the school year, the benefits to our children and our community are invaluable.  We hope you will consider yourself an interested candidate, or if you know of someone else who should be considered, please write that name next to the position you feel appropriate. Your suggestions do not obligate these parents in any way, but only assist us in the selection. Please complete the paper survey you are receiving in today’s envelope and return it to the school office as soon as possible.

Men’s Club Survey: As we mentioned last week, we have had many dads express interest in forming a Men’s Club at St. Thomas More School. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey. Your input is valuable to us as we move forward.

2014-2015: Thank you for re-registering for the 2014-2015 school year. We look forward to continuing our partnership with you in the education for your children. We have now accepted a full class for our 2014-2015 Kindergarten. Any further kindergarten applicants will be placed on a waiting list. Now that the re-registration process is complete, we have a few openings in some of the other grades. Teachers have begun testing applicants for these few remaining spots. Utopia preschool has also completely filled all the available spots for the next school year. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful students and families. Thank you for spreading the good news about St. Thomas More School.

FACTS: As you know, we have implemented the FACTS program for processing payments for tuition for the 2014-2015 school year. If you have not already done so, please enroll in FACTS now; your child/ren’s enrollment is not complete until all enrollment steps have been taken, including establishing your payment plan. If you miss the Tuesday, April 15th, you will have fewer months available in your payment plan and your monthly amount will be higher. You have been sent an email from FACTS with instructions on how to enroll. If you have not received an email from FACTS, please stop by the office or email Melody at moakley@stmsf.org. Tuition agreements will be finalized within the next two weeks. You first need to do your part so that this transition process moves along smoothly.

Dance Festival!: Save the date! This year, our Dance Festival will be held on Thursday night, May 22^nd. This is the most popular event of the year and is always very well attended. Our dance teacher, Sue Rissotto, has been working very hard all year long to ensure that each student has a role in this spectacular production. All students, Preschool through eighth grade, are expected to participate in this event.

The Archdiocese of San Francisco would like to invite all adults 18-40, married and single to attend one of the listening sessions we will be holding across the Archdiocese. These are opportunities for you to share what your experience of Church has been like and what types of activities and events you would like us to offer. Your involvement and feedback will help us determine where we put our time and energy this upcoming year.  

The listening sessions will be held at the following times and locations:

• April 27^th after the 5:30pm mass from 6:45 pm to 8:00 pm at Notre Dame des Victoires in the Parish Hall.  566 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
• May 4^th at 2:00 pm at St. Andrews Parish.  1571 Southgate Ave, Daly City, CA 94015
• May 4^th after 5:00pm Mass at St. Charles in San Carlos in Borromeo Hall.  880 Tamarack Avenue, San Carlos, CA 94070
• May 18^th at 12:00pm at St. Matthews Parish in Ward Hall next to the Auditorium.  Notre Dame Avenue, San Mateo, CA. 94402
• May 18^th at 6:00 pm at St. Raphael’s Parish in the Kennedy Room.  1104 Fifth Ave. San Rafael, CA 94901

For more information, or if you have any questions please contact Angela Pollock at 415-614-5595 or email her at PollockA@sfarchdiocese.org.

Sincerely,

Marie Fitzpatrick                               

Principal

STM Newsletter for April 2, 2014

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. As we continue our Lenten journey and look forward to the resurrection of Christ, the 2^nd through 8^th graders will receive penance next Wednesday, April 9^th.

Please consider joining us for our next Family Mass, this Sunday, April 6^th at 10:00am. The 1^st and 3^rd graders are taking the lead in preparing this mass, which will carry a Spring theme. We hope to see you all there.

Tomorrow evening, in Carroll Hall at 7:00pm, the Parents’ Club will have their first-Thursday-of-the-month meeting. Come with your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions. See you there!

We have had a lot of interest in starting a Men’s Club. We foresee this club as having various roles; assisting in a more formal way in school activities i.e. Cioppino cooking, pancake breakfast, parking and/or security for events, as well as having a social component such as pick up games, Monday night football gatherings etc. We will put a survey online shortly to get input from our dads on how they would like to see this club evolve.

First Communion meeting: Also tomorrow night, at 6:30pm in the church, our 2^nd grade teacher, Claudia Heikel, and Msgr. Labib will meet with the families whose children are receiving first communion this year. This is a mandatory meeting for all of these families.

FACTS Tuition Management: As we said at our last mandatory parent meeting, we are very excited to partner with FACTS Tuition Management for the 2014-2015 school year. The fee, per family, per year for this service is $46, not $43 as previously mentioned. This fee will be due when you sign up with FACTS. Today you will be receiving an invitation email from FACTS to complete your registration. Please follow the instructions carefully. If you do not receive that email invitation or have any questions, please contact Melody in the office.

Financial Policies: Grades kindergarten through seventh are receiving the Financial Policies for the 2014-2015 school year today. We have managed to keep the tuition increase at 3.5% despite the salary increase for all faculty and staff members, the 8% projected increase in the cost of employee benefits for the coming school year, as well as the increased cost of textbooks, school supplies and activities. We hope to balance this low increase by raising the amount of fundraising closer to the Archdiocese average.

Parent Tuition Agreement and Parent Participation Requirements: Returning kindergarten through seventh graders are receiving the Parent Tuition Agreement and the Parent Participation Requirements for the 2014-2015 school year today. Please read them over and then complete both forms and return them to us by the deadline, Wednesday, April 16^th. By returning those forms, we will know that you agree with the Parent Tuition Agreement and that you acknowledge and understand the Parent Participation Requirements for the coming school year. Please keep in mind that tuition payments for the 2014-2015 school year will be processed through FACTS Tuition Management.

Capital Campaign Phase 2: As discussed at our last parent meeting, every family is receiving a Capital Campaign Phase 2 pledge packet today. As per the financial policies, we ask that every family respond to the pledge. There is no specific, required contribution. The level of response from all school families to the Campaign is reviewed annually when the schedule of tuition rates and fees is set for the coming school year. The due date to respond is April 16^th, 2014.

PM Extended Care: Since the last day in March was just two days ago, Extended Care invoices for March are not included in today's Wednesday envelope. They will be included in next Wednesday's envelope.  Please note: This will mean a shorter grace period before the due date of Wednesday, April 16th, which is the last day before Easter break. Thanks for your prompt payments!

Spirit Week: The Student Council has included information about Spirit Week, which begins on Monday, April 7^th with Pajama day.

See's Candies: The deadline for ordering has been extended to Friday, April 4^th. Candy orders will be available on April 11^th just in time for Easter. Complete and return the form you previously received. Extra forms are available from the office.

Knockout: As a reminder, knock-out is this Friday. Sign-ups will be accepted until tomorrow at dismissal. This fun contest is open to all 3^rd through 8^th graders. The entry fee is only $5! The knock-out competition will be held on Friday, April 4^th beginning at 12:30pm in the gym. We invite all to join us for this fun event.

Dance Festival!: Save the date! This year, our Dance Festival will be held on Thursday night, May 22^nd. This is the most popular event of the year and is always very well attended. Our dance teacher, Sue Rissotto, has been working very hard all year long to ensure that each student has a role in this spectacular production. All students, Preschool through eighth grade, are expected to participate in this event.

Morning Drop-Off: As a reminder, the schoolyard does not open until 7:45 in the mornings. Children dropped off prior to that time will be checked in to morning care and will be charged the $10 drop in fee. It is not safe to leave children unsupervised in front of the school.

At this time of the year, teachers of all classes will begin working on the Family Life portion of the Religious Education curriculum. All grades will be using the Benziger Family Life series. We strongly encourage you to use this time to talk with your child about your family’s individual views and expectations. Please contact your child's teacher directly if you have any questions about this program.

Finally, we are investigating new flooring for our 1^st through 8^th grade classrooms. Do you have any contacts in this business? Please let the office know.

Sincerely,

Marie Fitzpatrick                                        

Principal

STM Newsletter for March 26, 2014

Dear Parents:

As we enter the third week of Lent, and prepare to celebrate the greatest feast in the Catholic Church - the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, please take a moment to reflect on the following from Pope Francis:

“We begin Lent with this mandate: Break our heart, open it so that it believes in the Gospel of truth. Today, this Gospel is asking you in a special way, as catechists,…to act in such a way that others will believe in the Gospel. Watching you, seeing what you do, how you behave, what you say, how you feel, how you love – this will lead them to the Gospel.”

Report Cards/Academic Awards: Report cards are going home on Friday. If you do not receive one, please check with the office to make sure your accounts, tuition, fees, and extended care, are up to date. Also on Friday, immediately following the 8:30am mass, we will present Citizenship and Academic Excellence Awards. See you there!

Congratulations are in order: Last Saturday night, five STM 7th Graders received cash awards at the Annual YMI Essay Banquet at St. Peter & Paul Church in San Francisco. They were:  Shivaya Urcuyo, Dylan Rojo-Cagadoc, Ava Ragasa, Marlyn San Juan and Chloe David.  STM had five of the fifteen winners in the middle school division, the most of any school in the contest. Prizes awarded ranged from $100 to the $500 that Ava Ragasa was awarded for her 3rd place finish.  STM Class of 2013 graduate Julie Kavanagh also was awarded a cash prize in the high school division.  Congratulations to all of our STM students!

Re-registration: Online re-registration needs to be completed by this Friday. Additionally, the re-registration fee of $325 per child is due in the office also by Friday. If you want your child’s seat held for the 2014-2015 school year, please ensure that the office receives that fee on time.

Knockout: We look forward to the Athletic Board’s annual Knockout Competition next Friday, April 4^th. Participation is encouraged for all 3^rd-8^th grade students. Use the flyer you are receiving this week to sign up for this fun event. Proceeds benefit our athletic program.

Upcoming Parents’ Club Events: Family Bingo Night is set for April 12^th. An updated flyer is being sent home in today’s envelope. We hope to see you there. You are also receiving information about the Parents’ Club Easter Egg Hunt today. Please check it out and thoughtfully respond to all the information you are receiving in today’s Envelope.

Boba Sales: The 8^th grade class is offering ‘Bronco Boba’s’ for sale on Friday, April 11^th in order to raise funds for a special schoolwide event at the end of the school year. We are sending home Boba order slips in today’s envelope. Boba’s are available only if pre-ordered. Each Boba is only $3! YUM!

Peopleologie: Peopleologie is a program promoting cultural literacy, celebrating community, and building connections to the world through history, humanities, anthropology, language arts, science, and hand making traditions. Linda Janklow is offering the same classes that she previously did as part of the Museum of Crafts and Folk Arts (MOCFA) and we are very happy to be able to offer this experience to the students. Over the next few weeks, students will participate in different Peopleologie classes. Check out the April calendar for more details.

Dance Festival!: Save the date! This year, our Dance Festival will be held on Thursday night, May 22^nd. This is the most popular event of the year and is always very well attended. Our dance teacher, Sue Rissotto, has been working very hard all year long to ensure that each student has a role in this spectacular production. All students, preschool through eighth grade, are expected to participate in this event.

Thanks you to all the parents who cooperated with our traffic monitors at drop-off this morning. Rainy days can be extra challenging. Your patience helps ensure the safety of all our children. Please know that u-turns are dangerous any time children are present. Take the extra few minutes necessary to drive around the church and through the parking lot at Alma Via.

Finally, while our school calendar for 2014-2015 has not yet been approved by the Archdiocese, and we want to let you know that we have requested to begin the new school year on Tuesday, August 26^th, 2014. Hopefully this will help those of you who are planning your vacations now. An official 2013-2014 school calendar will be sent home as soon as it has been approved. The new school year for Utopia, our preschool, will begin on August 18^th.

Sincerely,

Marie Fitzpatrick                                                           

Principal 

STM Newsletter for March 19, 2014

Dear Parents:

Tomorrow marks the first day of spring. Spring is a time for spring-cleaning, and Jesus gives us the tools for the job, tools that are part of the Lenten tradition of the church. We are to practice generosity. We are to pray – maybe open our prayer beyond our own needs and pray for those who suffer in places all over the world. And we are to fast—to remind ourselves that we do not live by bread alone. Jesus insists that any of these practices should be practices of the heart.

      

As part of our preparation for the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday, students in grades 3-8 will receive the sacrament of Reconciliation on Wednesday, April 2^nd. Please prepare your children to receive this sacrament by helping them to decide how to make good choices in their lives and how to ask God's forgiveness for decisions they may have made that did not show love for God or one another.

Today in your Wednesday envelope you will find a copy of a letter detailing the issues raised by the proposed new ordinance on seismic retrofitting relating to San Francisco private and Catholic schools. This issue could potentially have a major impact on all of our schools. Take a few minutes to read the information given and please send this letter to the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors seeking the critical changes that are needed to this legislation. Please contact me should you have any questions.

Report Cards: This Friday marks the end of the third quarter. Report cards will be going home next Friday, March 28^th. Please check with the office to make sure your accounts, both tuition and extended care, are up to date so that you may receive your child’s report card.

Re-registration: The deadline to complete re-registration online is next Friday, March 28^th. If you still have not re-registered, please do so as soon as possible if you wish for us to save a spot for your child. We have had several families looking for available spots for next year, and we would like to let them know as soon as possible if there is room for them. Also don’t forget, the re-registration fee of $325 per child is also due no later than Friday, March 28^th.

Paper donations in lieu of parent hours: As a reminder, we are now accepting paper donations IF you are only one or two hours short of the required amount of Parent Hours.

•       One case of white paper (10 reams) = 1 hour

•       5 reams of colored paper = 1 hour

As always, we are still accepting donations of recycled paper and used ink cartridges.

Family Bingo ‘Off to the Ballgame’ Night is set for Saturday, April 12^th. Reservation forms are included in your envelope today. We hope to see you there.

SANDWICHES-FOR-THE-NEEDY: Please don’t forget that this Friday, March 21^st, is our next collection of sandwiches-for-the-needy. All are encouraged to participate and the 2^nd and 3^rd graders are charged with taking the lead that day. The Martin De Porres House of Hospitality asked us to pass on their thanks for the blankets and toiletries that you donated so generously. We will continue to collect these items through the end of the week and deliver them with the sandwiches on Friday.

Outdoor Ed Parent Meeting: The Outdoor Ed Parent Meeting for 5^th and 6^th grade parents is tomorrow night (3/20) at 6:30pm in the fifth grade classroom. (This meeting is for parents only, as students will be given information during a different meeting on a later date) At this meeting, Ms. Bryan and Ms. Stamatis will offer parents an opportunity to learn about our trip to CYO Camp in Occidental, as well as find out who will be our chaperones this year. They welcome your questions and look forward to seeing you tomorrow night!

See's Candies: A reminder that the deadline for ordering is Monday, March 31^st. Candy orders will be available on April 11^th just in time for Easter. Complete and return the form you previously received. Extra forms are available from the office.

Field Trips: More field trips are under way! Our 5^th-8^th graders will be receiving a permission slip for an upcoming field trip to see ‘You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown’ at Riordan High School on April 1^st. Please pay attention to the due date on those forms. Late permission slips will NOT be accepted.

Pizza/Hotdog: Check your envelopes for the April/May/June pizza sale slip and the hotdog sale slip. Please read them and follow the directions on the forms. The due date for those to be returned is next Friday, March 28^th. Remember, this is the only opportunity you have to order these special lunch and late orders will not be accepted.

Scrip Requirement: As a reminder, all families are required to generate at least $100 profit by participating in the electronic scrip programs authorized by the school. Scrip purchases through April 30th will continue to be credited to your account. At the end of this period, families who have not reached the $100 profit will receive a statement with their balance still owed. Families who have not participated in the scrip program and did not buyout by the deadline will incur the late buyout fee of $150.

Finally, congratulations to our 8^th graders who are heading off to high school next year. Students have been lucky enough to be accepted into several schools to which they applied. Keeping in mind that this class only has 31 students, the following are the schools to which students were accepted: Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory (8), St. Ignatius Preparatory (4), Mercy San Francisco (3), Stuart Hall (2), Archbishop Riordan High School (8), Junipero Serra High School (2), Immaculate Conception Academy (2), University High (1), Lowell (2) and several other local public and private schools. We are all so proud of our soon-to-be graduates! Many of these students were accepted with honors and distinction and/or received scholarships.

Sincerely,

Marie Fitzpatrick                               

Principal                           

STM Newsletter for March 12, 2014

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.

As part of our preparation for the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday, students in grades 2-8 will receive the sacrament of Reconciliation on Wednesday, April 2^nd. Please begin to prepare your children to receive this sacrament by helping them to decide how to make good choices in their lives and how to ask God's forgiveness for decisions they may have made that did not show love for God or one another. 

Stations of the Cross: The Stations of the Cross began as the practice of pious pilgrims to Jerusalem who would retrace the final journey of Jesus Christ to Calvary. Later, for the many who wanted to pass along the same route, but could not make the trip to Jerusalem, a practice developed that eventually took the form of the fourteen stations currently found in almost every church. Thank you to all who joined us today for 4^th grade’s presentation of the first four stations. Please consider joining us for the next four stations on Wednesday, March 26^th.

Parent Meeting: Thank you to all who joined us last night for the mandatory parent meeting. Your involvement and support for your St. Thomas More School is very much appreciated and you are truly a blessing to your children. Congratulations to the Tripathi Family for winning the free re-registration raffle!

Paper donations in lieu of parent hours: Haven’t completed your parent hours for this school year? As we mentioned at last night’s meeting, we are now accepting paper donations IF you are only one or two hours short of the required amount.

•       One case of white paper (10 reams) = 1 hour

•       5 reams of colored paper = 1 hour

As always, we are still accepting donations of recycled paper and used ink cartridges.

STEM: Today we began our Spring STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) electives for the 6^th, 7^th and 8^th graders. These classes will nurture students' interests and love of learning through a project based learning approach that emphasizes our school learning expectations (THINK) as well as inspire innovation and creativity.  These classes take place on Wednesdays through April 16th with a showcase on April 17th.  STEM students will share their work and projects with STM students and families in the showcase that shows the rigorous work and training resulting from student collaboration, problem solving, effective communication, and the use of critical thinking skills. Ask your junior high student how their STEM class was!

Re-Registration: It’s that time of year again! We have several applications for grades above kindergarten and we need to know if we will have any open spaces in those grades for those applicants. Again this year, we ask all families, preschool through seventh grade, complete their re-registration ONLINE. From the STM Homepage, click the appropriate re-registration link and you will be directed to an online form. Complete all the information on the form and submit. As a reminder, any family not-having-fulfilled all of its financial obligations to the school may be dropped from the registered list.

Online Re-Registration Guidelines

• You must complete one online form for EACH child currently attending STM/UTOPIA PRESCHOOL.
• Preschool families who are entering kindergarten do not need to register online.
• To begin, click on one of the two REGISTRATION links on the STM Homepage.
• Families returning to STM/UTOPIA for the 2014-2015 school year should click on the RE-REGISTRATION FOR RETURNING PK-7 STUDENTS link.
• For families NOT returning to STM/UTOPIA for the 2014-2015 school year, click on the NOT RETURNING link.
• Deadline to complete re-registration online and to pay the re-registration fee of $325 is Friday, March 28^th.
• If the online form is not returned by the due date, or the re-registration fee not paid, no seat will be saved for your child.
• After the re-registration fee deadline of March 28^th, the re-registration fee is $425 per child.
• As always, re-registration fees are non-refundable.

8^th grade High School Acceptances: Friday is a big day for the eighth graders. They will be receiving notification of their acceptances in the various Catholic high schools to which they have applied. They are a wonderful, talented and mature group of students. We know they will do amazingly well!

Talent Show: Do you have talent? Last year’s talent show was so successful that we are doing it again this year! Students wishing to participate should attend the informational meeting on Thursday, March 13^th in the 4^th grade classroom at lunch recess.

Erin Go Bragh!: We neglected to put our St. Patrick’s Day celebrations on the March calendar last week. As Monday, March 17^th is a school holiday, we will be celebrating our ‘Irishness’ on Friday, March 14^th. As is our custom, we will mark the day with a celebration of dance and song with an Irish slant. Please join us at 1:10 in the gymnasium. Students may also wear St. Patrick's Day accessories that day to add a little color to their uniforms. Watch out for leprechauns!

Mother-Son Dance: Have you sent in your reservation form for the Mother/Son Dance yet? Reservations are due by Friday, March 14^th if you and your son wish to join in this fun activity. Raffle tickets are included in your envelope today.

Finally, congratulations to the following students who raised the most in their class for the spell-a-thon: Gabrielle Remo (K), Marquez Beasley-Bell (1^st), Darby Curran (2^nd), Isabel Sanchez (3^rd), Tino Woo (4^th), Zach White (5^th), Isabella Androtti (6^th), Michelle Auyeung (7^th), and Kaiulani Schelstrate (8^th). These students will be receiving a certificate and their prize money today. The highest fundraiser in the school was Gabrielle Remo (K) and the class that raised the most funds, and winners of a pizza party, is 1^st grade. The spell-a-thon raised almost $11,000. Congratulations again to everyone who participated.

Don’t forget, Monday, March 17^th is a school holiday!

Sincerely,

Marie Fitzpatrick  

Principal

STM Newsletter for March 5, 2014

Dear Parents:

Lent is a time when we prepare as a faith community to meet the risen Christ at Easter. It is a time for us to turn away from what keeps us from living the Gospel, and to remind ourselves that we are called to lives rooted in justice. To be just in the biblical sense is to be in a right relationship with God. Over the 40 days of Lent, we pray for a change of heart towards greater love of God and each other as we share our food, our wealth and our time with others in need. May the Holy Spirit give us the strength to act justly, the courage to love tenderly and the faith to walk humbly with our God, as we prepare for the resurrection of Jesus at Easter time.

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of the Lenten Season and students had an opportunity to attend Mass and receive ashes. During Lent we are reminded to show our love for others. One way that students can do this is through personal acts of kindness and sacrifice. Last week, the students had a visit from the Missionary Childhood Association, whose motto is Children Helping Children. During the presentation the students heard about the great needs of the world’s poorest children. During this Lenten season, we invite your children to pray and offer financial help so that the “children in the Missions today may know Christ and experience His love and care”. We hope to have individual coin collection folders available shortly. Let's all make a special effort this season to show a little kindness and to continue to make a difference in the world.

Family Mass: Please join us this Sunday, March 9th for our next Family Mass. Thank you to our sixth grade families for taking the lead in this Mass beginning at 10:00am. See you there!

Stations of the Cross: Please join us as 4th grade present the first four Stations of the Cross next Wednesday, March 12th at 1:10pm in the church. They will continue to present the remainder of the stations during the Lenten season on Wednesday, March 19th and 26th and on April 9th.

Sandwiches-for-the-needy: During the Lenten season, lets all try and make a real effort in providing sandwiches for those in need. Again this Friday we will be providing sandwiches for the Martin de Porres House of Hospitality. Thank you in advance to the kindergarten and 1st grade classes who will take the lead. We are extending our collection of blankets, men's socks, travel sized toothpaste, toothbrushes, shaving cream, and razors donations for the Martin de Porres House of Hospitality until the end of this week. If you have not contributed to the L♥ve Thy Neighbor Campaign yet, please send in your donations now.

Mandatory Parent Meeting: We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, March 11th at 6:30pm for a mandatory parent meeting for all families of preschool through 7th grade. This is a mandatory meeting for all parents. At least one parent from each family is required to attend. 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 no cost. Please click here to make a reservation for childcare. We will begin the meeting in the gym promptly at 6:30pm. Please arrive early enough to sign in with your child/ren’s teacher/s so that you may receive a raffle ticket. One lucky attending family will win free re-registration for one child. Be on time! The raffle will take place at 6:30pm sharp. At this meeting we will share some information about our finances, introduce FACTS, the new tuition management system for the 2014-2015 school year, as well as launch phase two of our Capital Campaign.

Parents’ Club: We understand that the completion of parent participation hours continues to be of concern to many families. The Parent’s Club meets again tomorrow night. Hopefully we can give you an update regarding hours in next week’s letter.

Mother-Son Dance: Have you sent in your reservation form for the Mother/Son Dance yet? Reservations are due by March 14th if you and your son wish to join in this fun activity. Check out the reservation flyer and raffle tickets you are receiving today.

Book Fair: This year, our Book Fair raised one of the highest amounts in recent years - almost $8,000! Thanks to all who purchased books at the fair, especially our grandparents, the school now has almost $4,000 to buy new books for our ever-growing library. 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.

Spell-a-thon: So far only two classes have turned in all their pledges for the spell-a-thon. In order for us to determine the top fundraiser in each grade and which class will be awarded the pizza party, all pledges must be turned in by this Friday, March 7th. We will announce the winners in next week’s newsletter.

Tuition Assistance
STM TAP: Families who applied for STM TAP and returned the blue application form in a timely manner will be receiving the status of their award today. We have very limited funds available for those who still have not submitted their completed application.

TADS: To apply for the Archdiocesan Scholarship Program for the 2014-2015 school year, parents can go to the TADS website, 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, 2014. Award letters will be sent out in May. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give the school office a call.

The BASIC Fund: The BASIC Fund has not yet sent renewal forms. When we receive the renewal forms, they will be sent home to families currently receiving The BASIC Fund.

Talent Show: Do you have talent? Last year’s talent show was so successful that we are doing it again this year! Students wishing to participate should attend the informational meeting on Thursday, March 13th in the 4th grade classroom at lunch recess.

Donations: We are asking for donations of new and clean recycled paper. We find many uses for paper that is used on one side only. We appreciate your generosity. Keep those used ink cartridges and old cell phones coming!

Erin Go Bragh!: We neglected to put our St. Patrick’s Day celebration on the March calendar last week. As Monday, March 17th is a school holiday, we will be celebrating our ‘Irishness’ on Friday, March 14th. As is our custom, we will mark the day with a celebration of dance and song with an Irish slant. Please join us at 1:10 in the gymnasium. Students may also wear St. Patrick's Day accessories that day to add a little color to their uniforms. Watch out for leprechauns!

Parking/Traffic: Our parking for drop-off and pick-up presents some challenges. A few parents have expressed concerns about morning drop-off procedures. To ensure that traffic flows smoothly we ask that you drive up the street as far as possible before dropping off students. If there is no space to pull in, please drive up nearer the church before allowing students to exit your vehicle.

Over 90% of our parents drop off their children each morning and continue on their way. Some choose to park and stay and join us for morning assembly. By law, all parents of preschoolers are required to come to the classroom to sign in their child. Preschool parents have been assigned parking passes to help with this. We are asking preschool parents to use this pass only if there are no other parking options. If you do need to use the parking pass, please limit your stay to no more than ten minutes.

Please remember also to be respectful and courteous to our neighbors at the Golf Club, St. Thomas More Church and Alma Via. We all need to share the valuable and limited parking spaces. Pay attention to the traffic patrol during drop off and pick up to ensure the safety of all our children. Practice patience.

Don't forget to get up early and set your clocks ahead at 2:00am on Sunday, March 9th, or even better, set them ahead on Saturday night. And while you are at it, change the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.

Finally, our kindergarten teacher, Megan Kennedy, and her husband Tim welcomed their second child, Nora Jane Kennedy, born on Sunday, March 2nd. Congratulations to the proud parents and big sister, Abigail!

Sincerely,
Marie Fitzpatrick
Principal

STM Newsletter for February 12, 2014

Dear Parents:
 
As we move closer to the feast day of St. Valentine, we ask that you remember those less fortunate around you by showing a little love. The parable of the Good Samaritan from the Gospel of Luke is a great example of this. The parable tells of a traveller who is beaten and robbed along the side of the road. First a priest and then a Levite come by, but both avoid the man. Finally, a Samaritan comes by. The Samaritan helps the injured man. We mentioned last week that the St. Martin de Porres House of Hospitality are currently in need of some specific items for their mostly male clients. The items they are requesting are blankets, men's socks, travel sized toothpaste, toothbrushes, shaving cream, and razors. We will be collecting these items as part of our L♥ve Thy Neighbor Campaign through the month of February. Please send them with your child or drop them off in the bins at the front office.
 
Sandwiches-for-the-Needy: Our next collection for the Martin de Porres House is this Friday, February 14^th, when the 5^th and 6^thgraders will take the lead. We encourage ALL families to provide an extra sandwich. Some of our older students will prepare 50 additional sandwiches with the residents at Alma Via to add to this collection.
 
Cioppino 2014!: Saturday, February 22^nd is fast approaching! We are just ten days away from our best Cioppino dinner ever. More than half the families in the school will be there. We have been told that Cioppino is sold out and that any reservation not paid for by this Friday's deadline will not be held as there is a waiting list.
 
Silent Auction: In today’s envelope you are receiving information about the Cioppino silent auction items. Please review the items and send in your bids! Thank you for dropping off your donations to the school office. We are still accepting donations for our silent auction and for balloon prizes.
 
Mother-Son Dance: Watch out for our next exciting family event scheduled during March. Saturday, March 22^nd, is a special night for mom’s and their sons at the annual Mother-Son Dance. Check out the flyer you are receiving in today’s envelope.
      
A Minimum Day and a Holiday!: Please remember that this coming Friday, February 14^th, is a minimum day for optional parent-teacher conferences. Dismissal for the primary grades will be at 12:15 followed by the fourth through eighth grades at 12:30 as usual. We remind you also that Monday, February 17^th is a holiday in honor of Presidents' Day.
 
USF Digital Media and Learning: Congratulations go out to our students who were selected for this program: 8^th graders, Nathan Candle and Brandon Santos and 7^th graders, Michelle Auyeung, Izadora De Oliveira, Zoe Taylor and Shivaya Urcuyo. In addition to their schoolwork here at STM, they will begin additional classes at USF tomorrow!
 
Neighborhood Concerns: Please be aware of your surroundings when picking up and dropping off your students. We have had some issues recently with attempted break-ins to vehicles parked nearby as well as reports of strangers in the vicinity of STM. The police have been alerted and we remind you not to leave personal belongings in plain sight in your vehicle.
                                   
Sincerely,
Marie Fitzpatrick                 
Principal