Cyclone Chatter October 23rd, 2020

STM School Upcoming Events:
Friday, Oct. 23             Last day of our 1st Quarter
Monday, Oct. 26          First day of our 2nd Quarter (Connected Learners may return to In-Person Learning; In-person learners may switch to Connected Learning)
Wednesday, Oct. 28    Parent/Teacher Conferences (virtual)  from 4-7 p.m. after school
Thursday, Oct. 29        Parent/Teacher Conferences (virtual) from 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
                                     NO SCHOOL
Friday, Oct. 30             NO SCHOOL
Sunday, Nov. 1            All Saints’ Day
Monday, Nov. 2           All Souls’ Day
Friday, Nov. 6               NO SCHOOL: Teacher Professional Development
                                     DINE OUT at Caleb’s 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m.  (Mention STM & we get 25%)
Tuesday, Nov. 10         DINE OUT at Papa John’s       
Thursday, Nov. 12.      Yearbook Picture re-take day


PAROCHIAL LEAGUE BASKETBALL INFORMATION:
​Parochial league basketball registration for boys and girls is now open.   The cost to play is $110.00 for grades 5th-8th grade and 4th grade is $65.00.   The deadline is 10/30 to register.  
Guidelines for this year’s basketball league are attached below.  Please read through the COVID regulations and stipulations before you sign up. 
Please register at www.plkc.org .      If you have any questions please call Tim Waris at 816-942-2492 or email at Tim@stmkc.com.


CONFERENCES ARE NEXT WEEK—SIGN UP NOW!
We have scheduled virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences on Wednesday, Oct. 28 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. (after a full day of school for the students) and on Thursday, Oct. 29 from 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (no school for the students that day or on Friday, Oct. 30).  These conversations are invaluable to your child’s learning and our joint understanding of learning successes and challenges. 
We have created the Sign-Up Genius for your reserved Zoom meeting conference times.  Below is the link you can use to sign up for a time with your child(ren)'s teacher(s). 
Each teacher will send you a Zoom meeting link for your scheduled time that you need to access as close to the EXACT time of your appointment as possible.
(NOTE: If you sign up on your phone, please remember to scroll to the appropriate teacher before you choose your appointment time.) 
https://www.signupgenius.com/tabs/23677DA05A0C3EFC35-fall2020
We look forward to 'seeing' you at conferences next week!


FUND-A-NEED 2019-20 REPORT:
The 2019-2020 Fund-A-Need campaign once again highlighted the amazing generosity of the STM community, and the fierce dedication that exists to ensure our children excel across the educational spectrum. In another record-breaking year, an astonishing $67,930 was raised in support of furthering technology and the arts at our school.
Even in the face of a pandemic, St. Thomas More has utilized money from Fund-A-Need to further enrich the educational experience of our children. Attached in the FAN report are just a few of the improvements implemented from the 2019-2020 campaign.  Please take a look at the wonderful improvements you have financed through your generous donations.
BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION NOW DIGITAL!
Did you know that St. Thomas More School has received over $17,000 just from Box Top collections since its inception?  This helps the school buy needed supplies and fund different efforts through Home & School to benefit the school.  Please ask your family, friends and neighbors to collect for you too!
New this year:  BoxTops has gone digital.  You can download the BoxTops app on your phone, locate St. Thomas More School using zip code 64131 and scan in receipts or e-mail receipts to receipts@boxtops4education.com (must use the same e-mail that you sign-up with on the app to send the receipts to receive credit to our school).
If you have any remaining physical BoxTops please turn them into your child’s teacher or school office as those are still being accepted!  Our first bi-annual submission is October 30th so please get them turned in ASAP! 
Please contact Adrienne Frazier with any questions.  Adrienne.Frazier@aig.com
COKE GIVES PROGRAM:
St. Thomas More School is participating in the Coca-Cola Gives Program.  We are looking to collect any Coke product bottle tops with codes (no can tops please) and codes from the inside of Coke product cases, which are found inside the perforated section of the case.  Please turn these in to your child’s teacher or the school office. 
You can also help us by entering codes at:  https://us.coca-cola.com/give/schools and locating St. Thomas More School by searching zip 64131. 
The money received from Coke Gives helps the school buy needed supplies and fund different efforts through Home & School to benefit the school.  Please ask your family, friends and neighbors to collect for you too!  We appreciate your support!
Please contact Adrienne Frazier with any questions.  Adrienne.Frazier@aig.com
PREPPED AND READY:  PARENTING INTO THE TEEN YEARS:
Special thanks to the Pembroke School Counseling Department for sharing a wonderful parent education presentation with our school families this fall!  Dr. Shayla Sullivant  from Children’s Mercy Hospital, will be presenting to parents on October 26th, 2020 at 6:30 pm.   Dr. Sullivant came to St. Thomas More in 2019 and shared with parents invaluable information on safety and parenting.  This year, St. Thomas families will be able to watch her presentation again or for the first time!  Because she will be sharing her presentation virtually, she can accommodate a large number of attendees.  **Parents ONLY please**
October 26, 2020 at 6:30 p.m.
Virtual Presentation
Presentation Link
Presenter:
Shayla Sullivant, M.D., DFAACAP
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Children's Mercy Hospital
Presentation Topics:
Self Care
Eating Disorder Prevention
Screen Time
Substance Use (including vaping)
Suicide Prevention
Home Safety (Including storage of firearms, medications, etc.)

RSVP by clicking on this link
Prepped and Ready RSVP
Dear STM Families,
We had a one last sip of summer weather today, and it seems that we are heading into much more fall-like conditions for the foreseeable future.  As we continue to acclimate to all of the changes in our world, God sends us seasonable reminders of his glory and might.  Please consider sharing this prayer with your family as the days get shorter and the beauty of the changing seasons continues!
Autumn Prayer
God of all seasons, we thank you for Autumn.
We thank you for the touch of coolness in the air that gives us a new burst of energy,
for the coloring of trees that shows the creativity of the Divine Artist,
for the falling leaves that reveal the strength of the branches,
for the hues of fields that bring peace to our souls,
for the smiles on pumpkins that bring joy to children,
for the fall harvest which that brings us gratitude for the bounty of our land,
for this change of seasons that reveals the circle of life.
God of all seasons, as you transform the earth, transform us by your Spirit.
Amen
Rev. Doug Leonhardt, S.J
Peace and Blessings,
Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal