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October 28, 2021
Dear STM Families, It’s wonderful to see so many parents joining with our teachers tonight (and scheduled for tomorrow) to discuss the progress and challenges in our classrooms. It is through a true partnership of home, church, and school that our children will flourish. We know that it can be challenging to keep all the partners working in harmony, but it is a challenge we must never abandon because the result of failure is a weakening of our faith community. Though parents can now access grades and other resources online, so much more is gained through the time spent between teachers and parents. The conversations shared during these conferences help to build stronger relationships between these people who spend large amounts of time with your child(ren) and you. Thank you for sharing your most precious gifts from God with us and for partnering with us in their growth, development, and education. Peace & Blessings, Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal STM UPCOMING EVENTS: Friday, Oct. 29 NO SCHOOL for students Parent/Teacher Conferences Monday, Nov. 1 NO SCHOOL--All Saints’ Day Friday, Nov. 5 First Friday--STM Spirit Wear Day Friday, Nov. 5 Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3:00 p.m. in church entryway before dismissal Tuesday, Nov. 9 STM Dine-Out Night at Papa John’s Friday, Nov. 12 STM Dine-Out Afternoon at Cookies & Creamery Saturday, Nov. 13 BMA Mouse Races Thursday, Nov. 18 2nd Grade--First Reconciliation: Mrs. Spiller’s class at 6:00 p.m. Ms. Sarcone’s class at 6:45 p.m. Mrs. Anwander’s class at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20 NOTE: DATE CHANGE Booster Club Pickleball Tournament at Blue Hills Country Club--see the attached flyer for more details! Wednesday, Nov. 24- Friday, Nov. 26 HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! NO SCHOOL! Tuesday, Dec. 7 St. Nicholas Day Parties Wednesday, Dec. 8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception--NO SCHOOL Friday, Dec. 17 Christmas Break Dismissal at 3:20 p.m. Dec. 20-Jan. 4 Christmas Break--NO SCHOOL TRUNK OR TREAT IS RESCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY AFTERNOON! OUR RAIN-OUT MAKE-UP DATE FOR TRUNK OR TREAT IS Sunday, October 31 3pm-4:15pm. We will ask all those hosting trunks to be in the parking lot by 2:45pm. We will have no movement from 3pm-4:15pm. Please plan to join STM Home and School for some spooky fun beginning at 3:00 p.m. Sunday in The Peak Parking lot!! Admission to the event is one non-perishable item for Harvesters per candy grabber! NEW THIS YEAR! Plan on a treat with Kona Ice!! We still need volunteers to host a trunk and to help at our event. Please see the sign-up genius below. As a reminder, students in grades 6 and higher can get service hours for volunteering. However, we do still need some adult volunteers. Hosting a trunk is easy!! Arrive at the parking lot no later than 2:45 p.m. and show us your stuff! Simply hand out candy or make your trunk super spooky and win a prize!! Donated candy will be provided to trunks throughout the event to keep the fun going. Sign up now: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094aabac2fabff2-stmtrunk **THANK YOU to everyone who has donated candy as we’ve had a great response! CUB SCOUTS MAY WEAR UNIFORM SHIRTS ON MEETING DAYS: STM Cub Scouts may wear their uniform shirts on meeting dates. Below are the dates through the end of December for 2nd-5th graders. We will share the dates for 1st graders as soon as the dates are chosen. 11/4 - 2nd grade 11/8 - 4th and 5th grade 11/15 - 5th grade 11/23 - 1st through 5th grades 12/2 - 2nd grade 12/6 - 4th grade 12/20 - 4th grade PARENT ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL MASS: Our students are back to serving at Mass and serving as lectors at our school liturgical celebrations. Seats are limited in the pews, but if your child is serving or lectoring, please feel free to come to Mass and sit in the choir loft or the cry room. Our students attend Mass each week at 2:10 p.m. on the following days: Wednesdays: Kindergarten, grades 2, 7, 8 Thursdays: Grades 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 Please let me know if you have any questions. A MESSAGE FROM OUR STM BOOSTER CLUB: Cyclones Partners and Parents- First of all, we wanted to personally thank everyone for their efforts in selling NFL tickets this year. We have sold over 3,800 tickets, which represents a $12,000 increase in fundraising efforts for the school. In January we will draw one ticket and pay the seller of the ticket $250. Remember tickets can continue to be sold throughout the NFL season and if we get to 4,200 we will draw another $250 winner. Second, we wanted to provide an update on uniforms for Volleyball and Basketball. Last year the school purchased new uniforms for Basketball for 7-8th grades and this year we purchased new Volleyball uniforms for 6-8 grade. This represents a $17,000 investment and we want to be able to replace uniforms on a more regular schedule moving forward but to do this we need your help. Additionally, we had a $10,000 investment for football uniforms and gear this year as well. Here is the official ask of all parents:
Thank you and let’s go Cyclones! Booster Club President – Ray Clarke DON’T MISS OUT! 5th-6th-7th GRADES GATHERING PARTY INFO: Boos & Brews Gathering Party for 5th, 6th, and 7th grade parents: this Saturday, Oct. 30, from 7-11 p.m.; 12202 Washington Court, Kansas City, MO 64145 Friendly Reminders - Space is limited in cul-de-sac so please park in suggested area, or carpool, uber, or golf cart over!! This event is mostly outside so bundle up and get creative with those costumes. Remember you have to dress up or pay up:) Check out the flyer below for all of the details! COVID-RELATED INFORMATION: STM COVID DASHBOARD: Week ending 10/14/21 Week ending 10/21/21 Week ending 10/28/21 Students in quarantine 0 2 1 Staff members in quarantine 0 0 0 Students in isolation 0 0 1 Staff members in isolation 0 0 0 Percentage of attendance 97% 97% 96 Total # of Student COVID cases this school year: 16 Total # of Staff cases this school year: 1 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:
COVID Task Force Meeting Notes: BRICKS 4 KIDS--SESSION 2 SIGN-UPS: Bricks 4 Kidz® enrichment classes are designed to be educational and FUN! We teach children principles of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) utilizing motorized LEGO® models. Every lesson is unique and designed to engage a child's mind. Class size is limited. Students will receive a mini-fig with enrollment. For Grades 1-5. NEW Models Every Session! St. Thomas More LEGO® Club Wednesdays after school from 3:25 - 4:25pm Dates: Nov.10,17 Dec.1,8,15 Enroll Now www.bricks4kidz.com/kcnorth Tuition: $68.00 5 week Session See flyer attached. PAROCHIAL LEAGUE BASKETBALL REGISTRATION CLOSES TOMORROW: Parochial League Basketball registration is now open through TOMORROW for boys and girls IN GRADES 4-8. Please register at www.PLKC.org. The cost is $120.00 for grades 5th-8th grade. The cost is $70.00 for 4th grade. Here is the schedule for the 4th grade-8th grade girls and boys basketball tryouts for the upcoming 2022 Parochial league season. Basketball practices can start on 11/8 once all of the teams are decided. If you have any questions please call Tim Waris at 816-942-2492 or email at Tim@stmkc.com. 10/31 4th grade boys 11:00am-12:00pm 5th grade boys 12:00pm-1:00pm 4th grade girls 1:00pm-2:00pm 5th grade girls 2:00pm-3:00pm 11/7 6th grade boys 11:00am-12:30pm 7th grade boys 12:30pm-2:00pm 8th grade boys 2:00pm-3:30pm 6th grade girls 3:30pm-5:00pm 7th grade girls 5:00pm-6:30pm 8th grade girls 6:30pm-8:00pm STM NIGHT--AVILA UNIVERSITY MEN’S BASKETBALL: Avila Men’s Basketball program is hosting a Saint Thomas More Day on Saturday, 11/27 vs Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Game time is 5 p.m. at the Mabee Fieldhouse on the Avila campus. All parents and STM kids that wear an STM item (sweatshirt, T-shirt or basketball uniform, spirit wear) will be allowed into the game for free. The first 25 STM kids in the door get a free bag of popcorn. Halloween has become one of the most popular ‘holidays’ in the United States. Our students have been decorating pumpkins and excitedly sharing their plans for costumes and trick-or-treating through the neighborhoods. It’s also important for them to understand where the whole concept of “Halloween” originated. "Hallow" — or holy person — refers to the saints celebrated on All Saints' Day, which is November 1. ... So basically, Halloween is just an old-fashioned way of saying "the night before All Saints' Day" — also called Hallowmas or All Hallows' Day. Here is a family prayer service you can share in your home to celebrate the religious aspect of this modern-day holiday: ALL HALLOWS’ EVE-ALL SAINTS HOLY DAY-ALL SOULS DAY PRAYER SERVICE: READER 1: “Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) READER 2: Saints are our heroes. They may be named on the Church calendar, or they may be our relatives, friends, and acquaintances who have died and moved on beyond this earth with less notoriety. In history, All Hallows’ Eve is the night before All Saints Day. Between the evening of Halloween (which means holy evening), with the costumes, frightening pranks, and parties, is a thin moment in time that connects this scary past with November 1, All Saints’ Day. READER 1: On All Saints Day, we honor those who have made it to their heavenly reward. They may have given their life and died for their faith as martyrs. Some may have led a life of prayer and sacrifice. Some may have viewed apparitions or visions and endured torture. In all cases, their love for God was the most important thing in their lives. READER 2: Trick-or-treating, begging for food, began in Ireland with soul cakes and a promise to pray for dead family members of the house. Those at the door would sing “a soul cake, a soul cake, have mercy on all Christian souls for a soul cake.” Jack-O-Lanterns came from an old Irish legend about a stingy person named Jack who was too cheap to go to Heaven and too clever to go to the devil. Jack was destined to roam the earth with a lighted pumpkin for a lantern. READER 1: Let us pray: Loving God, the lives of the saints show us how ordinary men and women can live their lives in love for you and for others. Help us to follow their example. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. ALL: Amen.
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October 21, 2021
Dear STM Families, First quarter grades are now ‘live’ in Sycamore for your child(ren). Please take some time tonight or this weekend to review your child’s grades with him/her and sign it electronically. It’s the perfect time to discuss accomplishments and challenges in each area of their learning. I truly value the involvement of STM families in all aspects of our school, but especially in your partnership with us in academics. It is so apparent and appreciated that you care deeply about your child’s education and support the work we do to meet each child ‘where they are’ and push them beyond their expectations. Following are some tips for discussing grades in your own home:
Peace & Blessings, Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal STM UPCOMING EVENTS: TODAY First Quarter Grades posted in Sycamore TOMORROW! FIRE Week: 90’s decade day! $5 donation is suggested. Wednesday, Oct. 27 PINK DAY to support the Jessica Kelsey Scholarship Fund. For all students and staff. $5 donation suggested. Expect more details early next week! Wednesday, Oct. 27 Trunk or Treat Thursday & Friday, Oct. 28 & 29 Parent-Teacher Conferences (see info below) ½ day for students on Oct. 28 NO SCHOOL for students on Oct. 29 Monday, Nov. 1 NO SCHOOL--Teacher PD Day Saturday, Nov. 13 BMA Mouse Races Thursday, Nov. 18 2nd Grade--First Reconciliation Saturday, Nov. 20 NOTE: DATE CHANGE Booster Club Pickleball Tournament at Blue Hills Country Club--see the attached flyer for more details! iMPORTANT INFO ABOUT PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES: Mark your calendars now for our Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences on the afternoon & evening of Thursday, Oct. 28 and the morning of Friday, Oct. 29. - Please watch this short 6 min. on how to access, maintain, and view your conferences video https://vimeo.com/239022319/606fd35f23 - You'll need to login on a desktop version of Sycamore - NOT a mobile device. - Need to change/edit your times? To change/edit your times contact the office or the homeroom teacher. - Want a Zoom conference? Please email the homeroom teacher with the request after you scheduled your conferences, so they can set up a zoom link for you. - Want a conference with other teachers? Email that teacher directly with times you're available, so they can add you to their schedule. Times: - Thurs., Oct. 28th: 1:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. - Fri., Oct. 29th: 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Details: - Sign up through Sycamore through Tues., Oct. 26th - 15-minute conference time slots - You will ONLY be given the option to sign up with the homeroom teacher - You can request conferences with other teachers by emailing those teachers directly; the teacher can add the parent into their schedule on Sycamore; teachers can always request conferences with students outside of their homeroom - You will be directed to email the teacher if you would like the conference to be on Zoom; the teacher will reply with the Zoom link information Changes to Your Conference Schedule: - You will only have access to sign up for conferences through Sycamore once; if you need to change the time, you will need to email Colleen or the teacher to have it switched. TRUNK OR TREAT IS NEXT WEDNESDAY! Trunk or Treat is approaching quickly! On Wednesday, October 27, please plan to join STM Home and School for some spooky fun beginning at 5:30 p.m. in The Peak Parking lot!! Admission to the event is one non-perishable item for Harvesters per candy grabber! NEW THIS YEAR! Plan on dinner and a treat with The Big Red Food Truck KC and Kona Ice!! We still need volunteers to host a trunk and to help at our event. Please see the sign-up genius below. As a reminder, students in grades 6 and higher can get service hours for volunteering. However, we do still need some adult volunteers. Hosting a trunk is easy!! Arrive at the parking lot no later than 5:20 p.m. and show us your stuff! Simply hand out candy or make your trunk super spooky and win a prize!! Donated candy will be provided to trunks throughout the event to keep the fun going. See the attached flyer for all of the details. Sign up now: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094aabac2fabff2-stmtrunk **THANK YOU to everyone who has donated candy as we’ve had a great response! The basket for donation will be by Amy’s desk until Tuesday, Oct 26th. Please consider donating!! FIRE WEEK INFO--OCT. 18-22: Friday 10/22 -90’s decade day! This year we celebrate 25 years of FIRE - wear your 90’s outfit to celebrate the decade FIRE began. Make it fun! But please be sure it's school-appropriate. $5 donation is suggested. PARTY BUS TO THE FIRE BALL ON SATURDAY: It’s your last chance to sign up for the party bus we are taking to FIRE Ball this year. The party bus is totally free, all you have to do is buy a ticket for FIRE Ball and let us know that you’d like to ride with us. Drinks and a good time are included during the ride When: Saturday, October 23 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Where: The party bus will pick us up at STM and return us to STM Why: To support an amazing cause and have a fun evening as well! You can buy your tickets to FIRE Ball here: http://firefoundation.org/fireball-2021/ We hope you can join us in supporting inclusive education in our school and in other schools throughout our diocese. For any questions, or to sign up for the party bus, contact Chris Gaughan at Chris@MidwestEstatePlan.com or 816.786.4439. PARENT ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL MASS: Our students are back to serving at Mass and serving as lectors at our school liturgical celebrations. Seats are limited in the pews, but if your child is serving or lectoring, please feel free to come to Mass and sit in the choir loft or the cry room. Our students attend Mass each week at 2:10 p.m. on the following days: Wednesdays: Kindergarten, grades 2, 7, 8 Thursdays: Grades 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 Please let me know if you have any questions. A MESSAGE FROM OUR STM BOOSTER CLUB: Cyclones Partners and Parents- First of all, we wanted to personally thank everyone for their efforts in selling NFL tickets this year. We have sold over 3,800 tickets, which represents a $12,000 increase in fundraising efforts for the school. In January we will draw one ticket and pay the seller of the ticket $250. Remember tickets can continue to be sold throughout the NFL season and if we get to 4,200 we will draw another $250 winner. Second, we wanted to provide an update on uniforms for Volleyball and Basketball. Last year the school purchased new uniforms for Basketball for 7-8th grades and this year we purchased new Volleyball uniforms for 6-8 grade. This represents a $17,000 investment and we want to be able to replace uniforms on a more regular schedule moving forward but to do this we need your help. Additionally, we had a $10,000 investment for football uniforms and gear this year as well. Here is the official ask of all parents:
Thank you and let’s go Cyclones! Booster Club President – Ray Clarke DON’T MISS OUT! GATHERING PARTY INFO: Gathering parties are a way for our school to raise money or receive auction items for the annual STM Auction on Feb. 5. This year's parties that are already booked are listed below. Invites will be sent home in backpacks closer to your child’s grade level event. 10/30 - 5th, 6th & 7th STM GREEN TEAM TRASH PICK-UP:Saturday, October 23, 9am-Noon The STM Green Team is planning another service project to pick up trash along Blue River Road. We will meet in the parking lot of Children International, located at the northwest corner of Red Bridge and Blue River Roads. The team has made arrangements with the city to pick up the trash collected. Young and old, singles and families are all encouraged to participate in this project. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. This is a great opportunity for students to get service hours! It is recommended that all participants wear long sleeves, jeans, gloves, and protective footwear. Plastic bags will be provided. Please pray for good weather! For more information or to register for this event, contact David Butel at dbutel@stmkc.com or 816-942- 2492 x210 by Wednesday, October 20. COVID-RELATED INFORMATION: STM COVID DASHBOARD: Week ending 10/7/21 Week ending 10/14/21 Week ending 10/21/21 Students in quarantine 0 0 2 Staff members in quarantine 0 0 0 Students in isolation 0 0 0 Staff members in isolation 0 0 0 Percentage of attendance 96% 97% 97 Total # of Student COVID cases this school year: 15 Total # of Staff cases this school year: 1 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:
COVID Task Force Meeting Notes: The COVID Task Force met on Tuesday this week. Our discussions included:
Bricks 4 Kidz® enrichment classes are designed to be educational and FUN! We teach children principles of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) utilizing motorized LEGO® models. Every lesson is unique and designed to engage a child's mind. Class size is limited. Students will receive a mini-fig with enrollment. For Grades 1-5. NEW Models Every Session! St. Thomas More LEGO® Club Wednesdays after school from 3:25 - 4:25pm Dates: Nov.10,17 Dec.1,8,15 Enroll Now www.bricks4kidz.com/kcnorth Tuition: $68.00 5 week Session See flyer attached. PAROCHIAL LEAGUE BASKETBALL REGISTRATION: Parochial League Basketball registration is now open through 10/29 for boys and girls. Please register at www.PLKC.org. The cost is $120.00 for grades 5th-8th grade. The cost is $70.00 for 4th grade. Here is the schedule for the 4th grade-8th grade girls and boys basketball tryouts for the upcoming 2022 Parochial league season. Basketball practices can start on 11/8 once all of the teams are decided. If you have any questions please call Tim Waris at 816-942-2492 or email at Tim@stmkc.com. 10/31 4th grade boys 11:00am-12:00pm 5th grade boys 12:00pm-1:00pm 4th grade girls 1:00pm-2:00pm 5th grade girls 2:00pm-3:00pm 11/7 6th grade boys 11:00am-12:30pm 7th grade boys 12:30pm-2:00pm 8th grade boys 2:00pm-3:30pm 6th grade girls 3:30pm-5:00pm 7th grade girls 5:00pm-6:30pm 8th grade girls 6:30pm-8:00pm STM NIGHT--AVILA UNIVERSITY MEN’S BASKETBALL: Avila Men’s Basketball program is hosting a Saint Thomas More Day on Saturday, 11/27 vs Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Game time is 5 p.m. at the Mabee Fieldhouse on the Avila campus. All parents and STM kids that wear an STM item (sweatshirt, T-shirt or basketball uniform, spirit wear) will be allowed into the game for free. The first 25 STM kids in the door get a free bag of popcorn. Because our Catholic devotion for the month of October is the Holy Rosary, I hope you can include this prayer in your daily prayers through this month: TO THE QUEEN OF THE HOLY ROSARY: Queen of the most holy Rosary, in these times of such brazen impiety, manifest thy power with the signs of thine ancient victories, and from thy throne, whence thou dost dispense pardon and graces, mercifully regard the Church of thy Son, His Vicar on earth, and every order of clergy and laity, who are sore oppressed in the mighty conflict. Do thou, who art the powerful vanquisher of all heresies, hasten the hour of mercy, even though the hour of God's justice is every day provoked by the countless sins of men. For me who am the least of men, kneeling before thee in supplication, do thou obtain the grace I need to live righteously upon earth and to reign among the just in heaven, the while in company with all faithful Christians throughout the world, I salute thee and acclaim thee as Queen of the most holy Rosary: Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us. October 7, 2021 OCTOBER IS NATIONAL BULLY PREVENTION MONTH A Guide for Parents & Students At St. Thomas More School It Is Our Responsibility to Stop Bullying: Respect is a basic right The dignity of human life is at the cornerstone of Catholic social teaching. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops confirms “that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.” As Catholics, we are called to respect life and the dignity of the person. In the words of Saint John Paul II, “Life, especially human life, belongs to God; whoever attacks human life attacks God’s very self” (Evangelium vitae). Bullying is an attack on an individual and disrespects life. It damages the person and can lead to devastating consequences. What is bullying? What is harassment? StopBullying.gov defines bullying as unwanted, aggressive behavior that also involves a power imbalance between individuals, and happens more than once. Types of bullying may include physical bullying, verbal bullying, social bullying, and cyber-bullying. Harassment includes the elements of bullying with the additional component of relating to race, color, national origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or other identifying characteristics. Harassment needs only to occur once. Both bullying and harassment cause a disruption to the victim’s life and can cause fear of harm. Additionally, bullying or harassment can cause children to avoid school, damages self-esteem, causes social and emotional problems, including greater incidences of depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Research also indicates there are lasting effects on the mental health of students who bully which may include substance abuse and domestic violence. What can be done? The St. Thomas More School handbook, as well as individual teachers, set certain expectations with regard to student behavior. Teachers are vigilant and monitor student interactions throughout the day. However, statistics show that bullying behavior most often occurs during class transitions, in the hallway, cafeteria, and at recess where supervision is less direct. Nonetheless, school personnel will never tolerate any bullying on Diocesan school grounds or at any school-sponsored activity, whether it be on or off school grounds. Strategies for Students
Strategies for Parents Parents play a key role in the prevention and reduction in the incidence of bullying. Recognize the warning signs, behavioral and emotional changes, that may indicate that your child might be being bullied, is bullying, or is witnessing bullying. Learn what bullying is and what it is not. Horseplay among peers and conflict among friends is not bullying. Closely monitor your child’s use of technology, especially social media. If your child has been bullied: ● Let your child know that he/she is not at fault and did nothing to deserve this behavior. ● Teach your child self-advocacy skills & to be firm in response to bullying. ● Help your child to develop and/or strengthen friendships and interests which are positive and healthy and they enjoy and find success in. ● Encourage peaceful resolutions. ● Work closely with the school to address the problem. Understand the school’s policy on bullying and how they address bullying issues. At St. Thomas More School . . . Students have the right to attend school and learn, unbothered by others. STM takes all reports of harassment and/or bullying seriously. Please report all cases of bullying. Problems cannot be addressed if they are not identified. Your privacy will be fully respected in this process. TOMORROW, Friday, Oct. 8 Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet with STM parents at 2:55 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13 1st Grade Field Trip to the Kansas City Zoo Friday, Oct. 15 NO SCHOOL--Teacher Professional Development Day Saturday, Oct. 16 Fall Fling--An Outdoor Market from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 18 Picture Re-take Day; Students who need to take or re-take photos have a Dress-Up Day Wednesday, Oct. 20 School Advisory Board Meeting Thursday, Oct. 21 DATE CHANGE FOR 7TH GRADE 7th & 8th Grade Field Trip to Auschwitz Exhibit at Union Station; 7th Grade at 9 a.m. & 8th Grade at 11 a.m. Monday-Friday, Oct. 18-22 FIRE WEEK; see attachment & details below Wednesday, Oct. 27 Trunk or Treat Thursday & Friday, Oct. 28 & 29 Parent-Teacher Conferences (see info below) ½ day for students on Oct. 28 NO SCHOOL for students on Oct. 29 Monday, Nov. 1 NO SCHOOL--Teacher PD Day Saturday, Nov. 13 BMA Mouse Races Thursday, Nov. 18 2nd Grade--First Reconciliation Saturday, Nov. 20 NOTE: DATE CHANGE Booster Club Pickleball Tournament at Blue Hills Country Club PLEASE HELP YOUR CHILD BE ON TIME FOR SCHOOL: School starts at 7:50 a.m. with students in their seats and ready to learn. From the STM 2021-22 Student Handbook: “In the case of an appointment or unexpected emergency, parents are asked to call or send a written excuse with the student stating the reason for the tardiness. o Parents will receive notification of excessive morning or in-school tardiness. o Excessive morning tardiness will result in disciplinary action. After six tardies in a quarter, the parents will be called by the principal to discuss the situation. Nine or more morning tardies will result in additional measures as determined by the administration. o All occasions of morning tardiness will be reflected on the report card as part of the student’s permanent record. o Grades 6th-8th: Students who are late to any class during the school day will be considered tardy. Students who must leave the classroom for forgotten materials will also be considered tardy.” If your child will not be at school, please email the Absent@stmcyclones.org or Health@stmcyclones.org to report an absence before 8 a.m. It is important for the office and teachers to know from the very beginning of the school day if a student will not be in attendance. iMPORTANT INFO ABOUT PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES: Mark your calendars now for our Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences on the afternoon & evening of Thursday, Oct. 28 and the morning of Friday, Oct. 29. You will be able to get on your child’s homeroom teacher’s Sycamore page to make an appointment from Thursday, Oct. 14- Tuesday, Oct. 26 Times: - Thurs., Oct. 28th: 1:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. - Fri., Oct. 29th: 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Details: - Sign up through Sycamore from Thurs., Oct. 14th - Tues., Oct. 26th - 15-minute conference time slots - You will ONLY be given the option to sign up with the homeroom teacher - You can request conferences with other teachers by emailing those teachers directly; the teacher can add the parent into their schedule on Sycamore; teachers can always request conferences with students outside of their homeroom - You will be directed to email the teacher if you would like the conference to be on Zoom; the teacher will reply with the Zoom link information Changes to Your Conference Time?: - You will only have access to sign up for conferences through Sycamore once; if you need to change the time, you will need to email Colleen or the teacher to have it switched. FRIDAY PRAYER OPPORTUNITY: Parents, Each Friday at 2:55 pm you are invited to join other parents (and little people) to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. There are no required supplies (though a rosary is helpful) and if you have never prayed it, or aren’t sure how to pray it, handouts and guidance will be provided. What a great way to unite our sufferings and remind us of God’s love and mercy as we enter the weekend! Remember that meeting your child(ren) in the church or in front of the church is not allowed to keep traffic flowing smoothly and so that others in prayer are not disturbed. We hope you can join us by praying together on Fridays @ 2:55! DRESS CODE--BELTS REQUIRED BY NEXT MONDAY: If your child is wearing slacks or shorts with belt loops at STM, he or she should wear a belt. I have advised the students that they should ask you to get a belt by Monday, Oct. 11 when we will begin checking for appropriate belting practices and notifying parents of any issues. Students are not allowed to wear clothing that is not part of the STM uniform. This includes sweaters, sweatshirts and jackets. Winter coats are the exception. Non-STM uniform sweaters, sweatshirts, or jackets should be removed at the beginning of the school day and kept on coat hooks or in lockers. IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR 8TH GRADE PARENTS: The following immunizations are received between ages 11 and 13 years and are required for all 8th grade students. Please check with your health provider for an updated immunization record. Tdap Meningococcal/MCV If your child has had any updates please send a copy or fax to school no later than October 13th, 2021. (Fax: 816-941-2450) DON’T MISS OUT! GATHERING PARTY INFO: Gathering parties are a way for our school to raise money or receive auction items for the annual STM Auction on Feb. 5. This year's parties that are already booked are listed below. Invites will be sent home in backpacks closer to your child’s grade level event. 10/9 - Preschool & Kindergarten 10/30 - 5th, 6th & 7th STM GREEN TEAM TRASH PICK-UP:Saturday, October 23, 9am-Noon The STM Green Team is planning another service project to pick up trash along Blue River Road. We will meet in the parking lot of Children International, located at the northwest corner of Red Bridge and Blue River Roads. The team has made arrangements with the city to pick up the trash collected. Young and old, singles and families are all encouraged to participate in this project. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. This is a great opportunity for students to get service hours! It is recommended that all participants wear long sleeves, jeans, gloves, and protective footwear. Plastic bags will be provided. Please pray for good weather! For more information or to register for this event, contact David Butel at dbutel@stmkc.com or 816-942- 2492 x210 by Wednesday, October 20. COVID-RELATED INFORMATION: STM COVID DASHBOARD: Week ending 9/23/21 Week ending 9/30/21 Week ending 10/7/21 Students in quarantine 0 0 0 Staff members in quarantine 0 0 0 Students in isolation 0 0 0 Staff members in isolation 1 0 0 Percentage of attendance 97% 97% 96% Total # of Student COVID cases this school year: 15 Total # of Staff cases this school year: 1 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:
FIRE RAFFLE TICKETS DUE ON OCT. 20: We are excited to participate in the Annual FIREBall Cup raffle contest, a fundraising effort and friendly competition among schools in our diocese to benefit the FIRE Foundation, students with special needs, and support inclusive education. Each school family will receive 5 tickets to sell. The winning school will be announced on October 21st and will receive a special surprise! Contest Rules:
Monday 10/18 - Multi color Monday! Wear you favorite color shirt to school to celebrate everyone’s differences (Mis-matched socks, silly shirt) $5 donation is suggested Tuesday 10/19 - Please use the QR code or link to buy a raffle ticket. They are $10 for a chance to win $2500. http://weblink.donorperfect.com/fireballraffle2021 Wednesday 10/20 -Recess Snack Day. If you would like to donate store bought goods/ snacks please be sure they are individually wrapped and do not include nuts. (Drop off between 10/13 through the morning of 10/20 ) Due to COVID we will not be able to accept homemade goods this year. Students may purchase the snacks during recess for $1 each. Here is the link to a Sign Up Genius for donated snacks: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F4FA8AB2EA7F58-fire1 Thursday 10/21- All classes will watch grade appropriate videos educating about special needs and being kind to everyone. Friday 10/22 -90’s decade day! This year we celebrate 25 years of FIRE - wear your 90’s outfit to celebrate the decade FIRE began. Make it fun! But please be sure its school-appropriate. $5 donation is suggested EARN CASH FOR STM! Coca-Cola Gives: We’re excited to share that our school is part of the Coca-Cola Give program. This opens up St. Thomas More to new funding opportunities to help improve learning environments for students. The best part? Donations don’t come out of your own pocket. When you make Coca-Cola purchases, you simply enter the product codes here: coke.com/give/schools (make sure to search for St Thomas More using Zip Code 64131) and our school receives a donation. Help STM make the most of this program and learn more at Coke.com/give. You may also drop off Bottle Caps or Codes from the inside of Coke product cases at the school office for entry. WOO-HOO! BONUS FOOTBALL RAFFLE DRAWING AT END OF SEASON! Today we reached the milestone of 3,800 tickets sold! This means we will pay one person who sold a ticket $250 at the end of the year. A second milestone IS NOT POSSIBLE until all unsold tickets are returned. PLEASE send those unsold tickets back to the school office. Following is a prayer that can be prayed for those who, for whatever reason, do not choose kind words or actions towards others. Let us pray for them together so we can ask God to impact their hearts to reflect His love: (Based on 1 John 2:9) God of Love, Your word declares that anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. I pray for those who are in the darkness right now, for those who choose to hate over love and choose intimidation over respect. I pray for bullies right now, please touch their hearts. Lord, please let Your light shine upon them and eradicate the darkness that surrounds them. Amen. Peace and Blessings, Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal Dear STM Families, Each October we celebrate ‘Respect Life Month’, and the first Sunday of October (this Sunday) is observed as ‘Respect Life Sunday.’ As Catholics, we are called to cherish, defend, and protect those who are most vulnerable, from the beginning to the end of their lives, and at every point in between. During the month of October, the Church asks us to reflect more deeply on the dignity of every human life. During this Year of St. Joseph, each of us can find in him “an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble.” St. Joseph shows us how to say “yes” to life, despite our own fears, frailties, and weaknesses. For it is Joseph who was “chosen by God to guide the beginnings of the history of redemption. He was the true ‘miracle’ by which God saves the child and his mother.” As we begin the month of October, we can start to become more like St. Joseph by asking ourselves a few questions and reflecting on them: Do we realize how precious every person is? As we go about our day, do we treat people accordingly? How can we help those in our society who are struggling to welcome new life, like moms who are pregnant or parenting in difficult circumstances? How can we reach out to those having a hard time seeing the worth of their own lives? May we take up the mantle of St. Joseph as we begin the month of October tomorrow. Peace and Blessings, Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal STM SCHOOL UPCOMING EVENTS: TONIGHT, Sept. 30 FIRE FRIEND-RAISER; 6:30-8:30 p.m. at STM (see details below) TOMORROW, Friday, Oct. 1 Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet with STM parents at 2:55 p.m. TOMORROW, Friday Oct. 1 STM First Friday Spirit Day! See details below. Sept. 27-Oct. 5 Scholastic Book Fair Wednesday, Oct. 13 1st Grade Field Trip to the Kansas City Zoo Friday, Oct. 15 NO SCHOOL--Teacher Professional Development Day Saturday, Oct. 16 Fall Fling--An Outdoor Market Monday, Oct. 18 Picture Re-take Day; Students who need to take or re-take photos have a Dress-Up Day Thursday, Oct. 21 DATE CHANGE FOR 7TH GRADE 7th & 8th Grade Field Trip to Auschwitz Exhibit at Union Station; 7th Grade at 9 a.m. & 8th Grade at 11 a.m. Monday-Friday, Oct. 18-22 FIRE WEEK; see details below Wednesday, Oct. 27 Trunk or Treat Thursday & Friday, Oct. 28 & 29 Parent-Teacher Conferences (see info below) ½ day for students on Oct. 28 NO SCHOOL for students on Oct. 29 Monday, Nov. 1 NO SCHOOL--Teacher PD Day Saturday, Nov. 13 Booster Club Pickleball Tournament at Blue Hills Country Club Thursday, Nov. 18 2nd Grade--First Reconciliation SPIRIT DAY TOMORROW! Tomorrow is First Friday STM Spirit Day! Students may wear an STM Spirit Wear shirt with jeans, khaki pants, jean or khaki shorts or bottoms of a uniform-appropriate length, Spirit Wear shorts, or uniform bottoms. Of course the STM uniform is always appropriate, too! SYCAMORE ACCESS FOR PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES! Please check to make sure you have access to Sycamore before next Thursday, Oct. 7th. Parents will be using Sycamore to sign up for conferences this year. Sign ups for the Oct. 28th & 29th conferences will go live at the end of next week. If you do not have access to Sycamore, please contact Colleen Sullivan in the Front Office @ 816.941.5581 FRIDAY PRAYER OPPORTUNITY: Parents, Each Friday at 2:55 pm you are invited to join other parents (and little people) to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. There are no required supplies (though a rosary is helpful) and if you have never prayed it, or aren’t sure how to pray it, handouts and guidance will be provided. What a great way to unite our sufferings and remind us of God’s love and mercy as we enter the weekend! Remember that meeting your child(ren) in the church or in front of the church is not allowed to keep traffic flowing smoothly and so that others in prayer are not disturbed. We hope you can join us by praying together on Fridays @ 2:55! DRESS CODE ISSUES: We are having some issues with STM Dress Code adherence. Please review the uniform requirements in the attached STM Student Handbook on p. 37. Here are a few of the most common infractions:
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR 8TH GRADE PARENTS: The following immunizations are received between ages 11 and 13 years and are required for all 8th grade students. Please check with your health provider for an updated immunization record. Tdap Meningococcal/MCV If your child has had any updates please send a copy or fax to school no later than October 13th, 2021. (Fax: 816-941-2450) STM CHILDREN’S CHOIR AT 11 A.M. MASS THIS SUNDAY: This Sunday the STM Children's Choir will sing at the 11:00 Mass. Students should arrive at Church by 10:30am dressed in nice Church clothes and go directly to the choir loft to warm-up and get ready. We thank you for your support. DON’T MISS OUT! GATHERING PARTY INFO: Gathering parties are a way for our school to raise money or receive auction items for the annual STM Auction on Feb. 5. This year's parties that are already booked are listed below. Invites will be sent home in backpacks closer to your child’s grade level event. 10/2 - 2nd & 4th 10/9 - Preschool & Kindergarten 10/30 - 5th, 6th & 7th COVID-RELATED INFORMATION: STM COVID DASHBOARD: Week ending 9/16/21 Week ending 9/23 /21 Week ending 9/30/21 Students in quarantine 0 0 0 Staff members in quarantine 0 0 0 Students in isolation 0 0 0 Staff members in isolation 1 1 0 Percentage of attendance 95% 97% 97% Total # of Student COVID cases this school year: 15 Total # of Staff cases this school year: 1 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:
COVID Task Force Meeting Notes: The COVID Task Force met this afternoon at STM.
FIRE RAFFLE TICKETS SENT HOME IN BACKPACKS: We are excited to participate in the Annual FIREBall Cup raffle contest, a fundraising effort and friendly competition among schools in our diocese to benefit the FIRE Foundation, students with special needs, and support inclusive education. Each school family will receive 5 tickets to sell. The winning school will be announced on October 21st and will receive a special surprise! Contest Rules:
EARN CASH FOR STM! Coca-Cola Gives: We’re excited to share that our school is part of the Coca-Cola Give program. This opens up St. Thomas More to new funding opportunities to help improve learning environments for students. The best part? Donations don’t come out of your own pocket. When you make Coca-Cola purchases, you simply enter the product codes here: coke.com/give/schools (make sure to search for St Thomas More using Zip Code 64131) and our school receives a donation. Help STM make the most of this program and learn more at Coke.com/give. You may also drop off Bottle Caps or Codes from the inside of Coke product cases at the school office for entry. As we begin Respect Life month tomorrow, here is a prayer you might consider sharing with your family: A Prayer of Thanks Dear God, Our Father, We thank you for our lives. We thank you for making each one of us a unique person. We thank you for each other. We thank you for the many gifts you have given us. Help us to see the gifts of other people. Help us to share our gifts with each other. Help us to care for each other the way you care for us. Amen. |
Cyclone ChatterThis is a weekly letter that Linda Crosthwait, Principal of STM puts out for school families. Archives
November 2021
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