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Dear STM Families, As the holiday of Thanksgiving is upon us, I’d like to share my own gratitude for everyone in the St. Thomas More community. As an outsider looking in, I knew last summer that this was an awesome church and school family. I honestly had no idea how all-encompassing and connectedly caring each member is towards each other and our God. Thank you for all you do to share His word and His works with each other and our entire staff. May your family relish in the blessings of our Lord this holiday in the most enjoyable and safest ways possible! Peace and Blessings, Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal STM SCHOOL UPCOMING EVENTS: Nov. 25-27 Thanksgiving Break Nov. 30-Dec. 4 Distance Learning for all students Dec. 2 & 3 Kendra Scott Gives Back to STM Nights (see below) Week of Dec. 7 St. Nicholas Day celebrations Friday, Dec. 11. Final turn-in for Fun Raffle tickets Monday, Dec. 14 Fun Raffle Drawing Thursday, Dec.17 Last day of school before Christmas Break Dec. 21-Jan. 1 Christmas Break REMINDER: THANKSGIVING BREAK NOV. 25-27 AND CONNECTED LEARNING FOR ALL NOV. 30-DEC. 4: Today is the last day of the week for classes at STM (in-person and Connected Learners) in observance of our Thanksgiving Holiday, Wednesday, Nov. 25-Friday, Nov. 27. In order to proactively respond to the serious increase in the COVID infection rate over the past few weeks and the possibility of greater infection transmittal over the upcoming holiday, the Bishop determined that all Kansas City-St. Joseph elementary and high schools will move to virtual learning for the week after Thanksgiving (November 30 – December 4). During that week, each school will monitor their school’s infection status and determine if they need to continue virtual learning even longer or resume in-person learning. You should have already heard from your child(ren)’s teachers regarding the details of plans for next week’s learning. To set up your child(ren) for success in the Connected Learning mode, I have attached a list of ‘Connected Learner Expectations’ to enhance focus and learning aptitude. Thank you for your flexibility and positivity in these most unusual times in our world and specifically in education at STM. STM AUCTION 2021—GET A JUMP ON YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING!: The St. Thomas More Auction Committee has been hard at work collecting items for our virtual auction on Feb. 6, 2021. You can get a jump start on your Christmas shopping and kick-start our auction! Place your bids on these items at www.stmauction.org from today at 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. on 11/30/20. Winning items will be arranged for pick-up after 11/30/20. Please see the flyer below for details. SPIRIT WEAR MAKES GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFTS! Get ready for the cold weather and the holidays! This is the last order for this school year! The spirit wear committee has a few new things to share and a few requests from the Fall order. We’ve included the size charts for your reference when ordering! Please turn in your form no later than November 30th. In order for us to get to you before the Christmas break, we will not be taking any late orders. If you are unable to turn in your order to school due to virtual learning, please email the form by November 30th to stmspirit@gmail.com. Please let us know if you are helping shop for Santa and we will make sure these are picked up separately. Thank you! Spirit Wear Elves PASS THE ‘VIRTUAL’ TEACHER CHRISTMAS GIFT FUND BUCKET: There’s no doubt about it, everyone at STM is working hard to keep our students on track during this crazy COVID time. It’s that time of the year where we kindly ask each family to help spread the love and joy to the teachers and staff with their Annual Gift. Every dollar raised goes directly to them! Donating is easy and takes no time by simply texting “STM” to “243725”. If each family gives $25-$30, we’ll be able to provide the same amount as last year. Text to give today and follow instructions or if you prefer to send cash or check, mark envelope ‘Teacher Gift Fund’ and submit to the office. Any questions, feel free to email Courtney Fahey at: crfahey@me.com STM/KENDRA SCOTT GIVES BACK NIGHT: Save the date for our STM/Kendra Scott Gives Back Night. Shop for Good online or in stores on December 2nd and 3rd with 20% of sales benefiting the St. Thomas More school Teacher Christmas Gift Fund. Please use web code GIVEBACK-0CN0 or shop in store at Kendra Scott Town Center Crossing for 20% of your purchase to support St. Thomas More school. Please be advised Kendra Scott at Town Center Crossing is limited capacity. FUN RAFFLE TICKETS: ‘Fun Raffle’ tickets were sent home in backpacks two weeks ago. Each ticket costs $10, and you were sent a pack of five tickets. For every ticket sold, you will receive dollar for dollar a credit on any remaining 2020-21 STM School Activity Fee amount. We have extended the sale for an extra week due to the Virtual Learning Week that was announced by the diocese today. All sold ticket stubs must be returned by Friday, Dec. 11 (NOTE: the dates on the ticket are now incorrect). The drawing for a grand prize of $500 or STM Family Registration for the 2021-22 school year will take place on Monday, Dec. 14. Also drawn that day will be the 2nd Prize for $300 Cash or Gift Card and 3rd Prize for $100 Cash or Gift Card. WINTER SPORTS INFORMATION: All students involved in Parochial League Winter Sports should contact the coach of your team or Tim Waris, STM Athletic Director, with any information about try-outs, practices, etc. SMILE! SMILE! SMILE!: Just in time for holiday shopping! As you begin your holiday shopping, please consider getting yourself, family members and friends set up to use the STM AmazonSmile program so that all your purchases donate a small amount back to our school! Since August 2020 we have just over $643.00 for STM!
If you have any questions at all, please contact Jill schweiss at 816-942-5581 or schweiss_jill@stmcyclones.org CHRISTMAS SHARING DRIVE FOR ST. LOUIS PARISH SOCIAL SERVICES: This year, we are trying to collect gifts for 84 children whose families are served by St. Louis Parish Social Services. Please help make Christmas brighter for a child/children from our urban core. To participate, go to stmkc.com/cs (be sure to use lower case letters in this email) and click on the children you want to purchase gifts for. Bring the unwrapped gifts to the narthex between now and Sunday, December 6. Be sure to put the information about the child on the gift you purchase so we know what child the gift is for – for example Family #1, Female age 6. For more information or if you have difficulty signing up online, contact David Butel at the parish office, 816-942-2492, x. 210 or dbutel@stmkc.com. Following is a prayer you might use with your family on this unusual, but no less blessed, Thanksgiving Day: Countless Blessings Lord, on this special day of thankfulness, we thank you not only for the delicious food, lovingly prepared and presented, but also for special gifts you’ve given to this family -- loved ones we cherish dearly, a comfortable place to live, the beauty that surrounds us, material pleasures, health, spiritual wealth, and so much more. How can we show our gratitude for the countless blessings You’ve provided? We thank you for giving us clear direction, through Your holy word on how to show our appreciation, by obeying Your commands and by loving and serving our neighbors. Thank you, Lord. I am thankful for all of you! Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal Dear STM Families,
The roller coaster ride of 2020 continued this week in our STM School community. While more than 85 students returned to our classrooms from quarantine, we have had a number of staff members and students sent home with positive cases or direct contact with a positive case. We currently have 182 students and 20 staff members at home with COVID-related exposures. Thank you for understanding that we are legally required to keep COVID-related information private, even during a global pandemic. We appreciate your respect for the privacy of those who are infected or impacted by coronavirus. STM teachers and staff are stretching themselves to cover as many bases as possible in distance and in-person learning environments. We appreciate your flexibility and grace through these trying times. Every action taken is with consideration for your child’s safety and optimum learning environment. As always, though, if you are uncomfortable with sending your child to school, it is your choice to keep him/her at home. Teachers and staff are preparing plans for all students’ virtual/distance learning through the week after Thanksgiving Break, Nov. 30-Dec. 4, as Bishop Johnston has requested for our diocesan schools. You will receive specific instructions for your child (or each of your children) from his/her teacher(s). We know that many of you have more than one child at home, so we are trying to be cognizant of issues with enough technology or time to work with all family members at the same time. Our goal is to maintain the appropriate level of learning while respecting each individual family situation. We will send information regarding virtual learning details previous to Thanksgiving Break so you can prepare appropriately in your home for the week of Nov. 30-Dec. 4. I would like to personally thank all of you for your many emails and messages of prayers and support for me this past week. Through all of your blessings, I came home yesterday from the hospital for treatment of a heart attack last Friday morning. My goal is to rebuild my strength so I can get back to all of you at STM as soon as possible. I know how blessed I am to be a part of the STM community! St. Thomas More, pray for us. Peace and Blessings, Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal STM SCHOOL UPCOMING EVENTS: Nov. 19 2nd Grade First Reconciliation Services Nov. 25-27 Thanksgiving Break Nov. 30-Dec. 4 Distance Learning for all students Dec. 2 & 3 Kendra Scott Gives Back to STM Nights (see below) Week of Dec. 7 St. Nicholas Day celebrations Friday, Dec. 11. Final turn-in for Fun Raffle tickets Monday, Dec. 14 Fun Raffle Drawing Friday, Dec.18 Last day of school before Christmas Break Dec. 21-Jan. 1 Christmas Break PASS THE ‘VIRTUAL’ TEACHER CHRISTMAS GIFT FUND BUCKET: There’s no doubt about it, everyone at STM is working hard to keep our students on track during this crazy COVID time. It’s that time of the year where we kindly ask each family to help spread the love and joy to the teachers and staff with their Annual Gift. Every dollar raised goes directly to them! Donating is easy and takes no time by simply texting “STM” to “243725”. If each family gives $25-$30, we’ll be able to provide the same amount as last year. Text to give today and follow instructions or if you prefer to send cash or check, mark envelope ‘Teacher Gift Fund’ and submit to the office. Any questions, feel free to email Courtney Fahey at: crfahey@me.com STM/KENDRA SCOTT GIVES BACK NIGHT: Save the date for our STM/Kendra Scott Gives Back Night. Shop for Good online or in stores on December 2nd and 3rd with 20% of sales benefiting the St. Thomas More school Teacher Christmas Gift Fund. Please use web code GIVEBACK-0CN0 or shop in store at Kendra Scott Town Center Crossing for 20% of your purchase to support St. Thomas More school. Please be advised Kendra Scott at Town Center Crossing is limited capacity. FUN RAFFLE TICKETS: ‘Fun Raffle’ tickets were sent home in backpacks last week. Each ticket costs $10, and you were sent a pack of five tickets. For every ticket sold, you will receive dollar for dollar a credit on any remaining 2020-21 STM School Activity Fee amount. We have extended the sale for an extra week due to the Virtual Learning Week that was announced by the diocese today. All sold ticket stubs must be returned by Friday, Dec. 11 (NOTE: the dates on the ticket are now incorrect). The drawing for a grand prize of $500 or STM Family Registration for the 2021-22 school year will take place on Monday, Dec. 14. Also drawn that day will be the 2nd Prize for $300 Cash or Gift Card and 3rd Prize for $100 Cash or Gift Card. WINTER SPORTS INFORMATION: All students involved in Parochial League Winter Sports should contact the coach of your team or Tim Waris, STM Athletic Director, with any information about try-outs, practices, etc. NOTE TO 8TH GRADE PARENTS FROM THE GRADUATION COMMITTEE: Just a reminder that the first half of the Graduation Fee, $50.00 was due in October. Please turn in to the school office, attention Tiffany Garcia, if you haven’t done so yet. The second half will be due in February. Thanks! SMILE! SMILE! SMILE!: Just in time for holiday shopping! As you begin your holiday shopping, please consider getting yourself, family members and friends set up to use the STM AmazonSmile program so that all your purchases donate a small amount back to our school! Since August 2020 we have just over $643.00 for STM!
IMPORTANT NOTE: ABOUT SHOPPING ON THE AMAZON APP- Purchases through the regular Amazon site will NOT generate donations. If you search through your phone browser internet and add to your home screen, it adds a quick link button to your phone that looks like an app button, this allows you to go directly to the AmazonSmile site. Please see the flyer for directions on what this looks like. If you have any questions at all, please contact Jill schweiss at 816-942-5581 or schweiss_jill@stmcyclones.org VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR AUCTION COMMITTEE: The Auction Committee needs YOUR Help! The Annual School Auction takes places in February of every year and is a fun event to attend. This years’ event might be virtual, but it is more important than ever to raise funds for the school. Proceeds from the Annual School Auction help subsidize needs for the school-such as field trips, classroom supplies, Catholic Schools Week and the list goes on! Several positions will be open next year and volunteers are needed to shadow various committees so that the auction can continue for years to come. You do NOT need to be a school parent to join. Please consider contributing your talent to the school. If interested-email Stephanie Rogge at stm-auction@stmcyclones.org CHRISTMAS SHARING DRIVE FOR ST. LOUIS PARISH SOCIAL SERVICES: This year, we are trying to collect gifts for 84 children whose families are served by St. Louis Parish Social Services. Please help make Christmas brighter for a child/children from our urban core. To participate, go to stmkc.com/cs (be sure to use lower case letters in this email) and click on the children you want to purchase gifts for. Bring the unwrapped gifts to the narthex between now and Sunday, December 6. Be sure to put the information about the child on the gift you purchase so we know what child the gift is for – for example Family #1, Female age 6. For more information or if you have difficulty signing up online, contact David Butel at the parish office, 816-942-2492, x. 210 or dbutel@stmkc.com. WEBSITE TESTIMONIALS: We are currently building our new STM school webpage and would love to include your family's testimonials. We are looking for families at all grade levels to share a couple sentences about why you love STM or what the school means to your family. If you would be interested in participating, please email Jill Schweiss at schweiss_jill@stmcyclones.org for more information. We look forward to rolling out the new and improved website very soon! A Prayer of Thanksgiving for all that is good in our lives: O, Heavenly Father, We thank thee for food and remember the hungry. We thank thee for health and remember the sick. We thank thee for friends and remember the friendless. We thank thee for freedom and remember the enslaved. May these remembrances stir us to service, that thy gifts to us may be used for others. Amen. STM SCHOOL UPCOMING EVENTS:
Today-Dec. 11 Fun Raffle Ticket Sales Friday, Nov. 13 STM Spirit Day—students may wear STM Spirit Shirt with jeans, khakis, STM Spirit shorts and STM Spirit sports pants Saturday, Nov. 14 Service to More Day (see information below) Nov. 25-27 Thanksgiving Break Nov. 30-Dec. 4 Distance Learning for all students Monday, Dec. 7 St. Nicholas Day celebrations Monday, Dec. 14 Fun Raffle Drawing Thursday, Dec. 17 Last day of school before Christmas Break Dec. 18-Jan. 1 Christmas Break FUN RAFFLE TICKETS SENT HOME TODAY: ‘Fun Raffle’ tickets were sent home in backpacks today. Please check your youngest or only child’s backpack for these. Each ticket costs $10, and you were sent a pack of five tickets. For every ticket sold, you will receive dollar for dollar a credit on any remaining 2020-21 STM School Activity Fee amount. We have extended the sale for an extra week due to the Virtual Learning Week that was announced by the diocese today. All sold ticket stubs must be returned by Friday, Dec. 11 (NOTE: the dates on the ticket are now incorrect). The drawing for a grand prize of $500 or STM Family Registration for the 2021-22 school year will take place on Monday, Dec. 14. Also drawn that day will be the 2nd Prize for $300 Cash or Gift Card and 3rd Prize for $100 Cash or Gift Card. 7TH GRADE GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL TEAM WINS CHRISTIAN SPIRIT AWARD: Congratulations to our STM 7th Grade Girls’ Volleyball A-Team who were announced as the winners of the Bob Hannan Christian Spirit Award. The Christian Spirit Award has a long and proud tradition in Parochial League Volleyball. It is strongly believed that this award and the ideals it represents are what make our league not only special for volleyball, but for life. The team members are: Nora Duty, Maura Fahey, Emily Geisel, Anna Pizzichino, Sophia Viles, Marlo Wilson, and Ellie Sweeny. There will be an awards ceremony for the girls in the STM gym on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 5 p.m. RESULTS OF FALL DIOCESAN BENCHMARK ASSESSMENTS: Results from the Fall KCSJ Diocesan Benchmark exams show that STM students scored in the 'Advanced Range' in all tested areas: Math, Reading, and Written Expression. STM teachers evaluated these results during Professional Development sessions on Friday. Nov. 6. Plans were developed to continue this high achievement during the next testing periods in January and May. NOTE TO 8TH GRADE PARENTS FROM THE GRADUATION COMMITTEE: Just a reminder that the first half of the Graduation Fee, $50.00 was due in October. Please turn in to the school office, attention Tiffany Garcia, if you haven’t done so yet. The second half will be due in February. Thanks! SMILE! SMILE! SMILE!: Just in time for holiday shopping! As you begin your holiday shopping, please consider getting yourself, family members and friends set up to use the STM AmazonSmile program so that all your purchases donate a small amount back to our school! Since August 2020 we have just over $643.00 for STM!
IMPORTANT NOTE: ABOUT SHOPPING ON THE AMAZON APP- Purchases through the regular Amazon site will NOT generate donations. If you search through your phone browser internet and add to your home screen, it adds a quick link button to your phone that looks like an app button, this allows you to go directly to the AmazonSmile site. Please see the flyer for directions on what this looks like. If you have any questions at all, please contact Jill schweiss at 816-942-5581 or schweiss_jill@stmcyclones.org VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR AUCTION COMMITTEE: The Auction Committee needs YOUR Help! The Annual School Auction takes places in February of every year and is a fun event to attend. This years’ event might be virtual, but it is more important than ever to raise funds for the school. Proceeds from the Annual School Auction help subsidize needs for the school-such as field trips, classroom supplies, Catholic Schools Week and the list goes on! Several positions will be open next year and volunteers are needed to shadow various committees so that the auction can continue for years to come. You do NOT need to be a school parent to join. Please consider contributing your talent to the school. If interested-email Stephanie Rogge at stm-auction@stmcyclones.org SERVICE TO MORE DAY 2020 ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14: Join us for the 12th annual Service to More Day. You can either help with outside yard work or make a craft for Villa Ventura Senior Living. Yardwork will begin at 9am and we will end with a noon cookout lunch in the parking lot at Waterford South. We will social distance during this project. To volunteer, contact Marla Byrne at 816-309-4251 or mjbyrne0926@swbell.net or Phil Paschang at 816-809-6053 or ppaschang1@gmail.com . CHRISTMAS SHARING DRIVE FOR ST. LOUIS PARISH SOCIAL SERVICES: This year, we are trying to collect gifts for 84 children whose families are served by St. Louis Parish Social Services. Please help make Christmas brighter for a child/children from our urban core. To participate, go to stmkc.com/cs (be sure to use lower case letters in this email) and click on the children you want to purchase gifts for. Bring the unwrapped gifts to the narthex between now and Sunday, December 6. Be sure to put the information about the child on the gift you purchase so we know what child the gift is for – for example Family #1, Female age 6. For more information or if you have difficulty signing up online, contact David Butel at the parish office, 816-942-2492, x. 210 or dbutel@stmkc.com. WEBSITE TESTIMONIALS: We are currently building our new STM school webpage and would love to include your family's testimonials. We are looking for families at all grade levels to share a couple sentences about why you love STM or what the school means to your family. If you would be interested in participating, please email Jill Schweiss at schweiss_jill@stmcyclones.org for more information. We look forward to rolling out the new and improved website very soon! We celebrated Veteran’s Day this week at STM. The students participated in various learning activities to honor those who fight and have fought for our freedoms in the United States of America. We shared this prayer at the end our day, and I thought you might like to pray it as well or share it with the whole family: Dear Lord, Today we honor our veterans, worthy men and women who gave their best when they were called upon to serve and protect their country. We pray that you will bless them for their unselfish service in the continual struggle to preserve our freedoms, our safety, and our country’s heritage, for all of us. Bless them abundantly for the hardships they faced, for the sacrifices they made for their many different contributions to America’s victories over tyranny and oppression. We respect them, we thank them, we honor them, we are proud of them. We pray that you will watch over these special people and bless them with peace and happiness. In Your name we pray, Amen. St. Thomas More, pray for us. Peace & Blessings, Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal |
Cyclone ChatterThis is a weekly letter that Linda Crosthwait, Principal of STM puts out for school families. Archives
March 2023
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