| | | | Dear Friends,
Pope Francis began his day today by speaking to the many pilgrims who flocked to St. Peter's Square to be a part of his weekly audience. He told the faithful not to be afraid in times of discouragement, poverty or difficulty because they can rely on God and He will provide solace. He invited all believers to trust in God's mercy, to open their hearts to Him and they will be filled with the joy of forgiveness. This year, we have chosen to incorporate Pope Francis' message of mercy in our school theme; 'There's a Wideness in God's Mercy'. Throughout the year, students in all grades will learn more about how God's mercy has no boundaries. | |  | | Father, as we continue trusting You, may the size of Your mercy continue to surprise us. Keep us in the fullness Your love and presence. Amen. | | FUN RUN What a fantastic start to our Fun Run Fundraiser! With 12 days left, we have reached almost 50% of our goal! Congratulations to 1st grader, Raiden, who has held the top fundraiser spot for the past week! Extra pledge forms are available from the office and pledges can also be made online. Send the link (www.stmfunrun.com) to your family and friends across the world! | | | USF COUNSELLING
As you know, again this year, we are working with the USF Center for Child and Family Development to offer a school-based Family Counseling Program. This service is designed to meet the counseling needs of individual students and families as well as the consultation needs of teachers and school staff. The goal of the program is to support our students' social, emotional and academic needs and thereby afford them increased opportunity for success at school. This year we welcome our counselor, Miss Melissa Spina. She will be on campus Mondays and Thursdays. This is a free service. If you would like your child to visit with our counselor, you may contact her directly at mspina@stmsf.org, or request it through your child's teacher. Please check out Miss Spina's introduction letter here.
BOOK FAIR
Beginning Monday, September 19th, you are welcome to visit the buccaneer themed Scholastic Book Fair any morning before school begins or right after dismissal. Just go straight to the library where Captain Judy Silva and her crew of booksellers will be there to assist you. Can't make it to our Book Fair? Check out our Online Book Fair. Click here to purchase books. All orders will ship directly to school for free when the Online Fair has ended.
PIRATE DAY IS COMING!
Talk like a Pirate Day is Monday, September 19. Students may wear pirate accessories with their uniforms (no weapons please). Students will be treated to a variety of fun pirate themed activities. Arrrg Mateys!
SHOP WITH SCRIP
Don't miss the return of shopwithscrip.com's bonus bonanza: Thank-Scrip-ing Day is BACK on September 19! Don't miss 24 hours of awesome bonuses from dozens of your favorite retailers, available 12:00am-11:59pm. EST. As always, their list of retailers is TOP SECRET - you'll have to wait until the promotion begins to find out who's participating. This is a great time to begin earning towards your scrip requirement. As a reminder, 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 1st, 2016 and April 30th, 2017 will be credited to this requirement. | | SCHOOL TOURS/APPLICATION FORMS: We ask your help in encouraging prospective parents to consider St. Thomas More School for their child for the 2017-2018 school year. You, our current families, are our best advertising! Please invite friends and relatives interested in St. Thomas More School to come to one of our school tours for prospective parents. Click HERE to reserve a place on one of the tours listed below: - Tuesday, October 4th at 9:00am
- Tuesday, October 18th at 9:00am
- Tuesday, November 8th at 9:00am
- Tuesday, November 22nd at 9:00am
K-8 new student application forms for the 2017-2018 school year will be available in the front office and for download online beginning on Monday, October 3, 2016. Families with siblings of current students, as well as families of preschool students, can use the flyer included in today's envelope to request an application. Students currently attending Utopia Preschool and/or with siblings currently attending St. Thomas More School will be given preference in the kindergarten class of 2017-2018 if the application is submitted in a timely manner.
2017-2018 PRESCHOOL APPLICATIONS: Utopia, our preschool, has begun accepting applications for the 2017-2018 school year. Please note that preschool spots fill up very fast. If you have a child who is of preschool age (3 years old by September 1st) and you would like them to attend Utopia next Fall, we strongly suggest you arrange a tour with Utopia's director, Rachelle Frantz, and submit an application as soon as possible. | | |  | | The 2016 Spring Mock Trial Workshop students with Judges Tomar Mason and Linda Colfax, and Pro Temp Commissioner Esther Shek.
MOCK TRIAL WORKSHOP
We are delighted to be again offering the Mock Trial Workshop, which will begin next week, September 20th, to our 6th, 7th and 8th graders. STM father Vilaska Nguyen has been teaching the workshop for two years at 826 Valencia, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting under-resourced students with their creative and expository writing skills and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. Vilaska has been a trial attorney at the San Francisco Public Defender's Office for twelve years and teaches intensive trial skills at the University of San Francisco School of Law. When offered to the STM middle school last Fall and Spring, the workshop was incredibly successful. Students learned public speaking and critical-thinking skills while being exposed to real-world issues within the criminal justice system. Most importantly, they gained confidence and insight that supported their growth in all academic areas. The workshop culminates in a final presentation before real judges. Please sign up immediately using the flyer in today's envelope as spots are limited. Sessions include 9/20, 9/27, 10/4, 10/11 and 10/18 and will meet every Tuesday evening from 5:00-6:30pm in the 8th grade classroom. | | BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROCEDURES
Regular yard supervision begins at 7:45am. It is not acceptable to leave children 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 7:45am 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 7:45am 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. Students in any grade who are going to Extended Care need to sign in directly at dismissal. They may not leave the campus with their friends and return at a later time.
PARKING AND TRAFFIC
At this time, we need to remind everyone of a few guidelines. Firstly, please follow the directions of the students on traffic patrol. Secondly, please avoid U-turns if at all possible. We ask you to drive around the church instead. Thirdly, please don't drive down into the golf course unless it's absolutely necessary. Never park on, nor drive across, their grass. And lastly, please 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. | | | BEHIND THE SCAFFOLDING - A SNEAK PREVIEW! |  | | Finally, we want you to know how pleased we are to be working with you again this year in the education of your child. It is our pleasure. If you have any questions or concerns now or in the future, please let us know.
We wish to thank everyone for making the start of the school year so smooth.
Sincerely,
Marie Fitzpartick
Principal | | | | | | | |
