STM Newsletter for September 9, 2015

Dear Parents, Parenting in today’s society can be both rewarding and challenging. Effective parenting practices must focus on fostering children who have the ability to be self-reliant and resilient. Children need help managing time, scheduling, prioritizing tasks and setting goals. Your job is to help them develop these skills in an age-appropriate level. This article by Dr. Pat McCormack for Today's Catholic Teacher Magazine has some great insights and helpful tips to help you negotiate the tricky path between doing too much for your child and setting them up for success by learning to do things for themselves. On Friday we will observe Patriot Day, when we remember all those affected by the September 11th tragedy 14 years ago. To mark this day, we will begin our morning assembly with an abbreviated version of President Obama's proclamation read by the student council president. We will then raise the flag to its half-staff position while the student choir sings America the Beautiful. Please consider joining us if you can. We hope to see everyone this Sunday, September 13th, 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. Following the Mass, there will be hospitality in Scanlon Hall. International Food Festival 2014 INTERNATIONAL FOOD FESTIVAL: Volunteers are still needed to sign-up for the International Food Festival. Please click here to select an assignment. Again this year, the event will be held over two days, Saturday, September 26th and 27th. SAVE THESE DATES! Check out these flyers and return them to the office if you are interested.  Pre-Purchase Bracelet Form - Avoid the hassle and lines at the festival and pre-purchase your child(ren) an ALL DAY jumper bracelet. Talent Show - The International Food Festival Committee is looking for some talented students to perform at various times on both Saturday & Sunday. Fall Festival Wish List - Donations are always accepted. Check out the list to see how you can help. FUNDRAISING AT STM CATALOG FUNDRAISER: How is the catalog fundraiser coming? The deadline for returning your orders is Tuesday, September 22nd. SHOPAROO: We raised almost $900 last year! All you need to do is take pictures of your grocery receipts with the Shoparoo app for smartphones and tablets. It doesn’t matter where you shop or what you buy - every receipt submitted results in a donation to our school! So, what are you waiting for? Simply download the free app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store and then select St. Thomas More School as your chosen cause. Since there is no limit to how much money we can raise with Shoparoo, be sure to invite your friends and neighbors to join in – every receipt counts! Check out the flyer in today's envelope for more information. ENJOY THE WARM WEATHER!: As you are aware, the start of the school year has been filled with some lovely warm weather. Today the students were treated to popsicles to help alleviate some of the warmth. Tomorrow, we will continue to celebrate the weather with a t-shirt and shorts free dress day (modest shorts and tops, no bare shoulders)!. During these days when the temperatures are higher than usual, please remember to remind your child to stay hydrated. PIRATE DAY IS COMING!: Talk like a Pirate Day is Friday, September 18th. Students may wear pirate accessories with their uniforms (no weapons please). The Student Council will sell pirate themed accessories during morning recess and will host a pirate themed bake sale during lunch recess on this day. Further information will be sent home next week. Arrrg!   See you Sunday! Sincerely, Marie Fitzpartick Principal

STM Newsletter for September 2, 2015

Dear Parents, We are back at it! Morning and after school extended care are up and running, and the school lunch program is off to a great start. Today we welcome back our Spanish teacher, Beatriz Cortes, who began working with kindergarten through eighth grade students. We are happy to welcome back our PE teacher, Lawrence Cummins and tomorrow students will have their first music class for the school year. Yes, we are back at it! Thank you to all who attended our mandatory back to school meeting. Congratulations to the family of Brian Schiefer, in sixth grade, who won the raffle for $500 towards their tuition. It pays to be on time!

Picture Day, Friday, September 4th. Full school uniform is required. All students will be photographed. Extended Care combines August-September into one bill that will be billed through FACTS in the first week of October.

We hope to see everyone on Sunday, September 13th, 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.

International Food Festival 2014

INTERNATIONAL FOOD FESTIVAL: Volunteer sign-ups for the International Food Festival are now online. Please click here to select an assignment. Again this year, the event will be held over two days, Saturday, September 26th and 27th. SAVE THE DATE! Check out these flyers and return them to the office if you are interested. Pre-Purchase Bracelet Form - Avoid the hassle and lines at the festival and pre-purchase your child(ren) an ALL DAY jumper bracelet. Talent Show - The International Food Festival Committee is looking for some talented students to perform at various times on both Saturday & Sunday. Fall Festival Wish List - Donations are always accepted. Check out the list to see how you can help.

EMERGENCY ALERTS SIGN-UP: If you have not already done so, please take a moment to use this link to sign up to receive emergency alerts via texts or email messages. This is how we will communicate information to you in the case of an emergency. We will send out a test alert next Tuesday, September 8th. SANDWICHES-FOR-THE-NEEDY: Our first sandwiches-for-the-needy collection is this Friday, September 4th with the 8th and 1st 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 - In order to facilitate the distribution of sandwiches, we have been asked to provide just one type of sandwich: turkey on sliced white or wheat bread. Please individually wrap the sandwiches (ziplock sandwich bags).

FUNDRAISING AT STM FUNDRAISING CATALOG: Today we are sending home the fundraising gift catalog and order forms with every child. As per the financial policies, all K-8 families are required to participate in the Fall Fundraiser. Each family is to sell a minimum of $100 worth of product per child enrolled in the school. Last year we raised $23,000. This year our goal is $25,000 which will cover the cost of the Spanish program, including the teacher and all classroom materials. All order forms are due back to the classroom teachers by Tuesday, September 22nd. Extra catalogs are available from the office. K-8 families who do not wish to participate in this fundraiser will be charged (via FACTs) the $150 per child opt-out fee once all orders have been collected. Thank you again to Christy Ramos, mom of 8th grader, Ethan, who has volunteered to help count and collate the orders that come in. 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). We have included a flyer in today's envelope on how to sign up. After reviewing that flyer, if you are still unsure how to sign up for these scrip programs, please stop by the office and Melody will be happy to help you get started.

BRONCO BULLETIN: Remember to read the Bronco Bulletin to keep up-to-date on all the breaking STM sports news. You can subscribe by clicking here. BEFORE SCHOOL PROCEDURES: As a reminder, regular yard supervision begins at 7:45. For the safety of your children, it is not acceptable to leave them unsupervised in front of the school, on the steps of the hall or in front of church before this time. Students who are dropped off before the yard opens at 7:45 must be enrolled in the Morning Extended Care Program or stay with their parent until the yard opens. Students who have been left at school unattended by a parent before 7:45 may be brought into morning extended care by a member of the staff. They will be charged at a rate of $10 per day for that service. STUDENT SAFETY REMINDER: Please remind your children to be aware of their surroundings at all times. We have noticed an increase in the nearby homeless population and ask that you keep us informed and report any unusual activity or behavior to the school office.

Sincerely, Marie Fitzpartick Principal

STM Newsletter for August 26, 2015

Dear Friends, Welcome Back! We are excited to welcome the twenty-three kindergartners many of whom recently graduated from our preschool, Utopia. Another special welcome goes out to the nineteen, new, first through eighth graders who are joining us this year. It is our expectation that all our new students and their families will again be warmly welcomed and enjoy their time at St. Thomas More School. Our school continues to thrive because of your wonderful community spirit and the precious children you entrust to our care.

IMPORTANT FORMS Important forms that require your attention were included in your Envelope yesterday. Please complete and return the forms below immediately.

Universal Medical Information/Emergency Contact Release and Consent Form (beige/tan form) Medical Release and Consent to Treatment/General Terms of Parental Consent (2 forms, green and orange)

AM Extended Care Sign up (for those using this service)   PM Extended Care Sign up/Authorization/Allergies (for those using this service now or possibly in the future)

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT Thursday, August 27th, is our Back-to-School Night beginning at 6:30pm in the gym. This is a mandatory meeting for all families. We will have a raffle for $500 off tuition for all who arrive on time! Please sign in with you child’s teacher(s). One ticket per child. At least one parent from each family is required to attend. As per the 2015-2016 Parent Participation Requirements, families without a representative in attendance will be assessed a $25 fee for a missed meeting. While it would be ideal if children could stay at home, we understand this is not always possible. Childcare for younger children enrolled at STM will be available in Carroll Hall at $10 per family. Please click here to make a reservation for childcare. We can only accommodate families who have pre-registered. Parking will be difficult, please plan to arrive on time. Limited parking will be available in the school yard. Consider parking on Brotherhood Way or in Park Merced.

GENERAL REMINDERS Parents of kindergarten students need to submit immunization records, showing that the TB test has been recorded or documentation from your pediatrician saying your child is not at risk, as well as a recent physical. Parents of 7th grade students need to submit evidence that they have received their Tdap shot.

The new school year always brings with it a mixed bag of emotions. Disappointment at the end of summer vacation and excitement and anxiety over what the new school year will bring. We look forward to partnering with you and your child as they begin their journey here at St. Thomas More School! Sincerely, Marie Fitzpartick Principal

STM Newsletter for August 14th, 2015

View this email in your browser STM Newsletter for August 14th, 2015 Dear Parents,   Greetings and welcome from St. Thomas More School! In just a short time, Tuesday, August 25th, we will be back in school. Time does pass too quickly!   Here at school, we have been busy preparing for the new school year. Besides ordering textbooks and supplies, cleaning the school building inside and out, and making some limited repairs, we have also updated and made some fantastic additions to our library. All this in an effort to maintain our level of academic excellence and to keep the facilities in good shape. Unfortunately, the building of the stage has not gone ahead as hoped. The architects are still working out final details. We hope to proceed sometime over the next couple of months without interfering too much with the regular of the gym. We've had a few staff changes over the summer. Mrs. Santillan will be taking over as home room teacher in the 6th grade classroom. Replacing her as Junior High math teacher, will be Mr. McKillion. We also welcome Mrs. Goel who will be working as a teachers' aide in the primary grades.   We would like to congratulate our Kindergarten teacher, Anna Tyaglo and her husband, Oleg, on the birth of their second child, Robert in July. We know David (2nd grade), is doing a great job of being an older brother and helping mom take care of the baby.   SCHOOL HOURS: Our first day of school, Tuesday, August 25th, will begin at 8:10, with dismissal at 12:15/12:30pm. There is no after school care that day. Complete school uniforms are to be worn and all students will need their backpacks. The Parents' Club will host a "Welcome Back" reception in Carroll Hall from 8:00am until dismissal. There will be limited parking in the schoolyard for those who arrive before 7:45am. This is such a pleasant way to meet other school parents while students are being oriented to the new school year.   After Tuesday's early dismissal we will ease into the school year. Wednesday, the 26th is also a minimum day according to the schedule provided. Both morning and afternoon extended care programs will begin on Wednesday, August 26th. The first full day of school will be Thursday, August 27th. From this point on, we will follow regular school hours and dismissal times.   Regular school hours and dismissal times:   Monday-Thursday Friday Minimum Days Kinder-3rd grade 8:10-2:45 8:10-2:15 8:10-12:15 4th-8th grade 8:10-3:00 8:10-2:30 8:10-12:30   UNIFORM SALES AT STM: Do you have your child(ren)'s school uniforms yet? Don't forget that tomorrow, Saturday, August 15th we have the new and used uniform sale in the gym from 9-11am. The Parents' Club will also sell used uniforms on first day of school and also at Back-to-School Night on August 27th. Please follow closely the uniform regulations and pay special attention to the shoe requirements. Students wearing incorrect footwear will be required to replace them. If you are unsure of the suitability of a particular shoe, please check with the school office.   SCHOOL SUPPLIES: The K-8 school supply lists are all online. Planners for grades 2-5 will be delivered directly to your child's classroom within the first two weeks of school and will billed through FACTS ($10 each). MORNING EXTENDED CARE BEGINS 8/26: The before school extended care program is NOT a drop-in program. The program is held in the 1st grade classroom each morning from 7:00 to 7:45. Students may arrive for the program at any time during that period. The cost of this program is $350 per child, per year, payable in 4 installments. Billing will be through FACTS. Further information and an enrollment form will be sent home to you on the first day of school.   AFTER-SCHOOL EXTENDED CARE BEGINS 8/26: Advance sign up is not necessary for the after-school extended care program. It is a good idea for parents of lower grade students to notify their children's teachers, in writing, when they are planning to use the extended care program. The hourly charge is $4 per hour or fraction thereof. Extended care runs from dismissal each day until 6:00 p.m. Billing will be through FACTS. Further information and a pick-up authorization sheet will be sent home to you on the first day of school.   UPCOMING EVENTS: While you will receive a full calendar of September events in your first Wednesday Envelope, we ask you to please mark your calendar for some upcoming events. Thursday, August 27th, is our Back-to-School Night beginning at 6:30pm in the gym. This is a mandatory meeting for all families. At least one parent from each family is required to attend. As per the 2015-2016 Parent Participation Requirements, families without a representative in attendance will be assessed a $25 fee for a missed meeting. While it would be ideal if children could stay at home, we understand this is not always possible. Childcare for younger children enrolled at STM will be available in Carroll Hall at $10 per family. Please click here to make a reservation for childcare. We can only accommodate families who have pre-registered. A lucky attending family will receive $500 off their 2015-2016 tuition in our raffle. Be there on time as we draw the winning name promptly at 6:30pm. The school lunch program will begin on Thursday. August 27th. As soon as the menu is prepared, we will post it on the school website. All students and their families are invited to join us for our Back-to-School Family Mass and picnic (following Mass) on Sunday, September 13th. We welcome our new pastor, Father Marvin Felipe. Please introduce yourself and welcome him to our community.   The new school year always brings with it a mixed bag of emotions. Disappointment at the end of summer vacation and excitement and anxiety over what the new school year will bring. We look forward to partnering with you and your child as they begin or continue their journey here at St. Thomas More School!   If you have any questions or concerns between now and the start of school do email us at office@stmsf.org. Sincerely,   Marie Fitzpatrick Principal       Kinder-8th GRADE 2015-2016 SUPPLY LISTS 3rd-8th GRADE 2015-2016 SUMMER READING 2015-2016 SCHOOL CALENDAR Copyright © 2014 St. Thomas More School, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email from the office of St. Thomas More School.   Thank you for helping us go green. Our mailing address is: 50 Thomas More Way San Francisco, CA 94132 www.stmsf.org unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

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STM Newsletter

View this email in your browser NEW and USED UNIFORM SALE: AUGUST 15th, 9am-11am, STM GYM Do you have your child(ren)'s school uniforms yet? Simply Uniforms will be coming on campus for a special new uniform sale on Saturday, August 15th. Everyone will receive 10% off of their new uniform purchases during this event.   We will have Simply Uniforms scrip on hand so that you can start earning scrip credit for the 2015-2016 school year. INCOMING KINDERGARTEN FAMILIES: A special meeting for all families with children entering Kindergarten will also be held on Saturday, August 15th at 10am in the Kindergarten classroom. This is a great opportunity to meet with the Kindergarten teachers, as well as connect with other incoming families. We hope to see you there. UPCOMING EVENTS: Thursday, August 27th, is our Back-to-School Night beginning at 6:30pm in the gym. This is a mandatory meeting for all families. At least one parent from each family is required to attend. As per the 2015-2016 Parent Agreement, families without a representative in attendance will be assessed a $25 fee. The school lunch program will begin on Monday, August 31st. As soon as the menu is prepared, we will post it on the school website. All students and their families are invited to join us for our Back-to-School Family Mass and picnic on Sunday, September 13th. If you have any questions or concerns between now and the start of school do give us a call. The school office will continue to be open by 9:00am each day during the remainder of the summer with the exception of August 19th through August 21st which are set aside for faculty in-services and retreat. Enjoy the last few weeks of summer vacation with your children! Sincerely, Marie Fitzpatrick Principal          Copyright © 2014 St. Thomas More School, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email from the office of St. Thomas More School.   Thank you for helping us go green. Our mailing address is: 50 Thomas More Way San Francisco, CA 94132 www.stmsf.org unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

This email was sent to bwong9.newsstthomasmore14@blogger.com why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences St. Thomas More School · 50 Thomas More Way · San Francisco, CA 94132 · USA