12/13/21

December 9, 2021


Dear STM Families, 
Our community is clearly excited that Advent is here and Christmas is not far away–even though you can’t tell by the weather! 
For the past two Mondays, we have celebrated the lighting of each of the purple candles on the Advent wreath in prayer services in Flanagan Hall with grades K-4 in the mornings and in church with grades 5-8. We will continue with the rose candle ceremonies next Monday.  
Tuesday–Wow!  What a day at STM! Our students celebrated St. Nicholas Day wearing red & green in preparation for their St. Nick’s parties in the afternoon.  Fourteen of our 8th grade students dressed as St. Nick and were accompanied by 8th grade elves to share the story of the real St. Nicholas with the younger grades.  (See the pictures above!)  Then, we were finally able to gather as a school community for our amazing Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Music Concert on the church grounds.
All students in grades 3-8 are attending Reconciliation Services and individual confessions with our priests today and tomorrow.  They are preparing their hearts, souls, and minds for the coming of the Christ child at Christmas. 
Thank you to all of the parents who helped to make our activities this week such a huge success!  Our room parents were out in force along with our Home and School Association to bring holiday cheer for the entire STM community. 
Have a wonderful weekend as we prepare for the final week of the first semester of the school year!
Peace & Blessings,
Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal
STM UPCOMING EVENTS:
Friday, Dec. 10
Reconciliation Services for Grades 4, 6, 7

Monday, Dec. 13
3rd Week of Advent Prayer Services:  Grades K-4 at 8 a.m. in Flanagan Hall; Grades 5-8 at 2:45-3:15 p.m. with Eucharistic Adoration in Flanagan Hall

Friday, Dec. 17
4th Week of Advent Prayer Services:  Grades K-4 at 8 a.m. in Flanagan Hall; Grades 5-8 at 2:45-3:15 p.m. with Eucharistic Adoration in Flanagan Hall

Friday, Dec. 17
‘BE KIND’ Day at STM (see details below)

Friday, Dec. 17
Final day of 2nd Quarter;
Christmas Break Dismissal at 3:20 p.m.

Dec. 20-Jan. 3
MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Christmas Break--NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, Dec. 22
Bunco Party at 7:30 p.m. in More Hall–details in the flyer attached below

Tuesday, Jan. 4
Classes resume–FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR SECOND SEMESTER OF 2021-22 School Year

Monday, Jan. 17
No School–Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Sunday, Jan. 30
Open House from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. to kick-off Catholic Schools’ Week

Jan. 30-Feb. 5
Catholic Schools’ Week

Friday, Feb. 4
No School–Student Learning Conferences

Saturday, Feb. 5
STM Auction–”Gin & Jazz”


COLLECTION FOR TIMBERLAKE CARE CENTER RESIDENTS:
 STM Student Council officers and representatives are collecting small gift items for the 80 residents of the Timberlake Care Center, our neighbors just to the south on Holmes Road.
 The residents would truly appreciate your donations of hats, gloves, scarves, lap blankets, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, fluffy socks, toothbrushes & toothpaste, hairbrushes, and deodorant. 
You can send your donation with your child to his/her homeroom to help cheer these residents on Christmas Day!


‘BE KIND’ DAY ON DECEMBER 17–PLEASE READ-THE DETAILS HAVE CHANGED: 
STM will celebrate ‘Be Kind’ Day on our final day before Christmas Break, Friday, Dec. 17.  Besides a focus on kind acts and friendship that day, students may wear a ‘Be Kind’ t-shirt or a STM Spirit Wear top with jeans, khakis, STM Spirit Wear bottoms or uniform bottoms.  Information about purchasing a ‘Be Kind’ t-shirt can be found on the attachment below.  A $5 donation will be accepted for STM For All. The class who wears the most ‘Be Kind’ t-shirts will receive a class pizza party from Southside!


COVID-RELATED INFORMATION:
STM COVID DASHBOARD: 
 Week ending 11/18/21
Week ending 12/3//21
Week ending 12/9/21

Students in quarantine
6
16
4

Staff members in quarantine
0
0
0

Students in isolation
2
14
9

Staff members in isolation
0
0
0

Percentage of attendance
96%
88%
92%
Total # of Student COVID cases this school year:  28  
Total # of Staff cases this school year:  2 
Total # of Students in Quarantine this school year:  55
Tota # of Staff in Quarantine this school year:  0  
If your child has tested positive for COVID, and STM was not notified, please email Health@stmcyclones.org with the date of the positive test.    
We appreciate you partnering with us on school days to verify that every child is fever-free and not experiencing:   

• New cough   
• Difficult breathing   
• Loss of taste/smell   
• Fever (equal to or greater than 100 degrees) or chills   
• Sore throat   
• Congestion/runny nose   
• Headache   
• Muscle or body aches   
• Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea   

If your child has any of these symptoms, they should not attend school. Notify the STM Health Room of any symptoms or exposure to COVID-19 by calling 816-942-5581 or email health@stmcyclones.org 
Thank you for your input and questions regarding the move to a mask-optional school environment.  We appreciate your insights and questions regarding this move.
The STM School Advisory Board and STM administrators are canvassing other mask-optional schools and their protocols in preparation for a switch to mask-optional on Jan 4.  We plan to have procedures determined and in place for your viewing as soon as possible.  


CALEB’S IN RED BRIDGE–STM ‘GIVE BACK DAY’ ON MONDAY, DEC. 20:
Caleb’s Restaurant in Red Bridge has graciously agreed to do a STM ‘Give Back Day’ on Monday, Dec. 20 from 6:30 AM to 2:00 PM.  Breakfast, brunch, or lunch–be sure to mention STM when ordering so we will get a percentage of your ticket!  Thanks for supporting our school!
STM CHOIR INFORMATION:
DECEMBER 17 - -South Patrol Christmas Celebration
Meet at 6:15 pm…more info. to come soon.
DECEMBER 25:  Christmas Morning Mass-10:00 am Mass
Meet Mrs. Parisi at 9:30 am in the choir loft


ALL FEES ARE DUE DECEMBER 17:
All Registration, Activity, Spanish, and 1st Semester Tuition/Preschool fees are due on 12/17 or you will not receive  your 1st semester grade card.  Please provide your payment to Colleen Sullivan at the School.   If you need to know your balance please email Tim Waris at Tim@stmkc.com or Becky Johnson at Becky@stmkc.com.     


PAROCHIAL LEAGUE BASKETBALL MASKING INFORMATION from VINCE FITZGERALD, PLKC DIRECTOR:
Listed below is the Parochial League Board Statement regarding Covid 19.  
Parochial League Board Statement Effective Dec 1, 2021 – Basketball 2021-2022
 On games days the players sitting on the bench must wear a mask. Players on the court have an option of wearing a mask or not. Individual gyms may impose more stringent guidelines; in which case the gyms protocols will supersede.
 In regard to spectators, there are no longer any restrictions to the number of spectators allowed, but masks are required by spectators in all PLKC gyms.


NOTE from TIM WARIS, STM ATHLETIC DIRECTOR:
Masks are optional at STM during play.




Dear STM Families,
It is with a heavy heart that I share about the passing of Mrs. Janet Powell from our parish and school community.  
She was known as Miss Janet to hundreds of our school children while she worked as our lunch lady for many years.  Most recently, she has assisted in our After Care program.  
We will miss her sweet smile and friendly personality–but most especially her God-given ability to work with our children.
May Janet’s soul and the souls of all of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.



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