Principal s Memo August 23, 2016 CALENDAR REMINDERS Tuesday, August 23 Praise and Worship Service - 6:15 p.m. - see flyer attached to this memo Wednesday, August 24 Friday, August 26 Monday, August 29 Tuesday, August 30 Individual and Homeroom Group pictures - see additional information in this memo. All School Mass - Students must be in dress uniform. Odyssey of the Mind - 3:20-4:00 pm. SPIRIT DAY - Students may wear any approved STM Spirit shirt or this year's Oktoberfest shirt with uniform bottoms. Chess Club - 4th - 8th grade - 3:20-4:20 p.m. CLUBS FOR STUDENTS IN 4TH THROUGH 8TH GRADE Meeting dates and times for the following clubs are posted on the school calendar located on the school website: Chess Club is open to students in 4th - 8th grade. Robotics Club is open to students in 4th - 8th grade. Art Club - Jr. High Students Odyssey of the Mind is open to students in 4th through 6th grade. Spanish Club is open to 8th grade students only. Students in 4th through 8th grade may run for Student Council Homeroom Representatives. Other opportunities will be announced as the school year progresses. PEP SQUAD The first Pep Squad practice will be this Friday. Friday is the last day to sign up. Bring the application, attached to this memo, to this Friday's practice. OKTOBERFEST 2016 Mark your calendars for this year's Oktoberfest to be held on Sunday, October 16th. The always popular Oktoberfest T-Shirts are on sale now. See the order form attached to this memo. STM YARD SIGNS The STM yard signs have arrived. Be sure to see the flyer attached to this memo. PICTURE DAY AT STM - Wednesday, August 24th This year we will take Individual and Homeroom Group pictures on the same day. Two separate order forms were sent home with your child today. Both packets must be completed if you are ordering a homeroom group and individual pictures. ALL STUDENTS MUST BE IN DRESS UNIFORM FOR PICTURES.
STEPS FOR STUDENTS - SAVE THE DATE Mark your calendars for this year's Steps For Students - February 18, 2017! You don't want to miss all the fun as we walk/run to raie money CELEBRATING YOUR CHILD'S BIRTHDAY AT STM Parents may help their child celebrate their birthday/unbirthday with their class by bringing small items to share like pencils, stickers, small gift bags, etc. STM is a Food Safe campus, which means that we do not allow food items in the classroom setting except as designated and distributed by the school administration. Please note that no cookies, candies, cakes, etc may be brought to share at any time on the school campus. Junior High students distribute their items during lunch period. If your child is a Junior High student (grades 6,7,8), please send enough for their entire grade. BALLOON BOUQUETS Celebrate a birthday or special event in your child s life by having a balloon bouquet and a small treat bag delivered to your child s homeroom. This PTO fundraiser is a great way to let your child know you are thinking of them. An order form is attached to this memo. DISMISSAL PROCEDURES If you pick your child up at the Primary Playground door, please help us keep all our children safe by abiding by the following guidelines: 1) Enter and leave the Primary Playground by the gate between the preschool and the library. Do not use the gate at the front of the Preschool. 2) Please do not park on the school side of Wigton Dr. That lane is reserved for the Preschool carpool line. 3) Younger siblings may not play on the playground equipment as you wait for your child to be dismissed. Please exit the playground as soon as you have collected your student. LOST AND FOUND Please be sure to clearly label all uniform pieces including the PE Uniform with your child's name. Items turned in to Lost and Found that are labeled will be returned to the child. VIRTUS TRAINING VIRTUS, the National Protecting God s Children Child Abuse Prevention Program, is required of any volunteer who will spend time supervising the children of St. Thomas More School. This includes, but is not limited to, room parents, recess duty workers, clinic volunteers, and chaperones. You may register for the program at www.virtus.org. Classes are offered at various times and locations throughout the archdiocese. Please note: IMPORTANT VIRTUS NEWS...A one and a half hour refresher course called Keeping the Promise Alive is now required of anyone who took VIRTUS prior to December 31, 2011 To register for Keeping the Promise Alive go to www.virtus.org - be very careful when registering that you are not registering for Protecting God s Children. WATER BOTTLES Students, in 1 st through 8 th grade, are encouraged to bring water bottles, containing water ONLY, to keep at their desks during the day. The bottles must have sport tops and be clearly labeled with the student s name. Water bottles will not be delivered to the student once the school day has started.
STM PARISH JR. HIGH YOUTH GROUP Jr. High Youth Group, open to students in 7th and 8th grade, will be restarting this September but needs adult volunteers to help guide and nourish our youth as well as provide a safe environment for our children to gather. The group will meet following the 5 o'clock Mass on Sunday's from 6:30 to 8:00 PM in the old gym. Please E-mail Ryan Efaw at Ryan@AdoreMinistries.com if you are able to help with this ministry or have any questions. SUMMER CONTESTS If you wish to participate in the Jr. High Summer Photo Contest, sponsored by Mrs. Felton, or the Optional Summer Reading Activity, sponsored by Mrs. Fontenot, the deadline for turning in your entries is this Friday, August 26. Contest rules are attached to this memo.
STM COMMUNITY PRAISE AND WORSHIP & ADORATION This is a great opportunity to come together as families in our school and parish to pray and worship together. Once a month, St. Thomas More School and Parish will join together to host a worship and adoration night for families. We will start adoration and worship at 6:15pm and it will go until around 7pm. You can also join us at the 5:30pm Mass before. In addition, Father Hai will be offering the sacrament of Reconciliation during this time. Lisa Veneralla, the worship leader at the Sunday night, 5pm Mass, will be leading worship. Our first praise and worship is NEXT TUESDAY, AUGUST 23 rd. See you there!
St. Thomas More girls in grades K through 5 th can join the STM Pep Squad. This after-school program meets once a week from 3:30 4:30 p.m. on Fridays. Participants learn cheer skills including jumps, motions, and dance. All those interested should complete the attached Releasee and Participation form. The purpose of our Pep Squad is two-fold; motivate the teams they re supporting and promote enthusiasm amongst our fans. Pep Squad members, in conjunction with our St Thomas More Cheerleaders, will participate in selected football, soccer, volleyball, baseball, basketball games and school assemblies. Uniforms: St. Thomas More will provide Pep Squad t-shirts, hair ribbon, and pom poms. Girls will provide their own black shorts. Games: Regular season football games are held on Wednesdays starting on September 7 th through the second week of October. All home games will be played at St. Thomas More. Release Form: All participates will be required to completee this form (and return to the school office, ATTN: Mrs. Felton). Fee: $50 per girl this will cover the cost of t-shirts, ribbon, and pom poms. Coordinator: Mrs. Black
I hereby give my permission for (student) to participate in St. Thomas More Parish School Pep Squad. Further, I authorize the school to provide emergency treatment of an injury to, or illness of my child, if qualified medical personnel consider treatment necessary. The authorization is granted only if I cannot be reached and a reasonable effort has been made to do so. Please Print Date Parent or Guardian Address Phone Family Physician Phone Pre-existing medical conditions (e.g. allergies or chronic illnesses) Alternate contact in case of emergency: Name Phone Relationship to student Medical Insurance Carrier Policy Carrier Policy Number My child and I are aware that participation in the St. Thomas More Parish School Pep Squad is potentially hazardous activity. I assume risks associated with participation in this sport, including, but not limited to falls, contact with other participants, or other reasonable risk conditions associated with the sport. All such risks to my child are known and understood by me. I understand this Informed Consent form and agree to its conditions on behalf of my child. Participant's Signature Date Parent's/Guardian's Signature Date
Oktoberfest 2016 T-Shirts On Sale ORDER YOUR SHIRT NOW!!!! Purchase your BE THE CHANGE Oktoberfest T-Shirt These NEW Oktoberfest T-Shirts can be worn on all STM Spirit Days and on Friday, October 14, 2016 Please NOTE: Oktoberfest shirts from previous years CANNOT be worn. Oktoberfest shirts may be worn with uniform pants or uniform shorts ONLY. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Student s Name Homeroom Size Quantity Youth XS (2-4) Youth S (6-8) Price Per Shirt - $10.00 Youth M (10-12) Youth L (14-16) Adult Small Adult Medium Adult Large Adult XLarge Total Amount Enclosed Make checks payable to St. Thomas More School Adult XXLarge Total Quantity
STM YARD SIGNS HAVE ARRIVED Be one of the first STM families to proudly display your STM Spirit Place one of these new STM Yard Signs in front of your home Only $5.00 Available in the STM School Office!!!
0 -- I "' _./ Balloon Bouquets ' $4.00 for any event for your child - Birthday or Unbirthday Three (3) balloons with a small treat bag will be delivered to your child's homeroom on that special day. This fund raiser is a fun way to remember a special event in his or her life or just to let him or her know you care! ALL ORDERS MUST BE RECEIVED 4 WEEKS IN ADVANCE TO ENSURE DELIVERY ******************************************************************************** Child's Name Homeroom Teacher Date to be Delivered ( Must be Sept. 1 or later) Bouquet to be From Phone No. Occasion (Please circle) Birthday Unbirthday Other ******************************************************************************** Child's Name Homeroom Teacher Date to be Delivered (Must be Sept 1 or later) Bouquet to be From Phone No. Occasion (Please circle) Birthday Unbirthday Other
Join STM s Cub Scout Pack 99 Who: Boys in Grades 1-5 When: Enrolling Now Where: St. Thomas More (STM) Why: Make Friends! Learn! Have FUN! Contact Us (in person, at an event, or by email): Stein Hansen, cubmaster.pack99@gmail.com Here is some of what Pack 99 s Cub Scouts do Camping Outdoors Building & Racing Pinewood Derby Cars Archery Bowling Field Trips Pool Parties Walking in Maplewood 4 th of July Parade
Check us out at our Den Meetings! Here s Pack 99 s 2016-2017 Den Meeting Schedule: Grade Rank Meeting Day Frequency Time Place 1st Tiger Mondays 1st & 3rd 6:00-7:00pm 2nd Wolf Wednesdays 2nd & 4th 6:00-7:30pm STM 3rd Bear Wednesdays 1st & 3rd 6:00-7:30pm Scout 4th Webelos1 Thursdays 2nd & 4th 6:00-7:30pm House 5th Webelos2 Thursdays 1st & 3rd 6:00-7:30pm FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: Q: How often do Pack 99 Cub Scouts meet? A: Cub Scouts meet 3 times a month. This includes their own Cub Rank s Den Meetings (twice monthly; typically 6-7:30p in the STM Scout House) and an all-rank Pack Meeting (monthly; 7-8:30p in STM s Prinster Hall). Q: How much does scouting cost? A: $60 for the year (this covers the BSA membership fee plus achievements, patches, and most Pack activities); Scouts also participate in annual Popcorn Fundraiser to help fund field trips and activities (i.e. pool parties, bowling party, etc.). Q: Who buys my son s Scout uniform & Cub Scout handbook? And, where are these sold? A: Parents/Guardians need to get the blue cub scout uniform and handbook from Boy Scouts of America ( BSA ) Scout Shops with basic insignia and the Scout belt. School uniform shorts/pants can be worn instead of the scout short/pants. Q: When may STM Scouts where their uniform to school? A: Scouts may where their Scout Uniform to STM only on their rank s Den Meeting days AND on Pack Meeting days. So, as many as 3 times per month. Please note, Pack Meetings are on Fridays, Mass Days, so Scouts must wear LONG navy school uniform pants with their Scout uniform for Mass. Q: Who are the den leaders for the new 1 st Grade class of Tiger Scouts? A: We need 1-3 parents to volunteer as Den Leader for the new Tiger den of incoming 1 st graders. The time commitment is about 4-8 hours per month. This is great way to get involved and meet other parents. Q: What is a Tiger Adult Partner? A: Tiger Scouts (1 st Graders) are overseen at all activities by their adult partner (i.e. parent, grandparent, or older sibling). Q: What are the Cub Scout ranks? A: Tigers are 1 st Graders; Wolves are 2 nd Graders; Bears are 3 rd Graders; and Webelos are 4 th 5 th Graders. Q: Can siblings attend events and meetings? A: Yes! Join STM s Cub Scout Pack 99 Stein Hansen, cubmaster.pack99@gmail.com