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.



​

December 2, 2021


Dear STM Families,


My sincere apologies for such a late delivery of Cyclone Chatter this evening.  We were waiting on several COVID test results to be able to share a more complete picture of our current infections at STM.  Instead, I will share that data with you tomorrow after we receive the information from parents.


THIS IS IMPORTANT:  If you know that your child has been exposed to someone who is positive for COVID, it is imperative that you inform us at health@stmcyclones.org
If your child contracts the virus from a contact and attends school, other students and staff members must be contacted and possibly quarantine to stop the spread in our school environment.


I shared this email from our school nurse, Mandy Hodes, this morning, but it’s worth repeating:
Dear STM Families,
We are experiencing a spike in the number of students with a variety of symptoms from colds, flu, strep throat, etc. at school.  Please remember that the policy at STM is that your child should not attend with the following symptoms AND not return until he/she is symptom-free for 24 hours:

• 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 you go to the pediatrician and/or test for COVID and want to bring a negative test result/doctor's note, your child can return to school after 24 hours. 




St. Thomas More, pray for us.
Peace & Blessings,
Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal




STM UPCOMING EVENTS:



Friday, Dec. 3
First Friday STM Spirit Day/Red Friday--students may wear jeans, spirit wear bottoms, or uniform bottoms with STM Spirit Wear or Chiefs Spirit Wear

Monday, Dec. 6
2nd 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

Monday, Dec. 6
STM School Advisory Board meeting 

Tuesday, Dec. 7
St. Nicholas Day Parties from 2:30-3:15 p.m.--Red & Green Dress Down Day!

Tuesday, Dec. 7
All-School Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Outdoor Music Concert (Rain/Snow Date Dec. 13)
See details below.

Wednesday, Dec. 8
Feast of the Immaculate Conception--NO SCHOOL;  Holy Day of Obligation

Thursday, Dec. 9
Reconciliation Services for Grades 3, 5, 8

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


TOMORROW IS FIRST FRIDAY SPIRIT WEAR/RED FRIDAY:
In observance of First Friday, students and staff may wear jeans, spirit wear bottoms, or uniform bottoms with STM (ONLY STM--not other schools) or Chiefs Spirit Wear.  It’s our last First Friday of 2021!




HOLIDAY MUSIC CONCERT ON TUESDAY, DEC. 7:


Please bundle up in your holiday hats & mittens and plan to join us for the STM Outdoor Holiday Music Concert on Tuesday, Dec.7 beginning at 6 p.m.  The festivities will take place outside the front of the church where there will be band and singing performances involving all PK-8th grade STM students.  A highlight of the evening will be the Tree Lighting Ceremony with Fr. Justin flipping the switch at 6:30 p.m.  Plans are being finalized for an opportunity to purchase hot chocolate, as well.


Here is the order of performances AND the arrival and drop-off location details for each grade level/group:

1. Preschool and Kindergarten:  Arrive by 5:50 p.m. to the risers in front of church to perform at 6:00 p.m.
2. Grades 1 and 2:  Arrive by 5:50 p.m. to "The Peak" (located in the parking lot just to the west of the front doors of church) to line up and then perform at 6:05-6:10 p.m. in front of church
3. 5th Grade Band:  Arrive by 5:30 p.m. to set up in the Narthex to perform beginning at 6:15 p.m. in the Narthex
4. 5th Grade:  Arrive by 6:00 p.m. to "The Peak" to line up and then perform for the Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6:25 or 6:30 p.m. in front of church
5. 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Band:  Arrive by 5:30 p.m. to set up and warm-up in the Narthex before your performance at 6:35 or 6:40 p.m.
6. Grades 3 and 4:  Arrive by 6:30 to "The Peak" to line up and then perform at 6:45 or 6:50 p.m. in front of church
7. Grade 6:  Arrive by 6:30 to "The Peak" to line up and then perform at 7:00 in front of church
8. Grade 7:  Arrive by 6:35 to "The Peak" to line up and then perform at 7:05 or 7:10 in front of church
9. Grade 8:  Arrive by 6:45 to "The Peak" to line up and then perform at 7:15 in front of church

HOME & SCHOOL MESSAGE ABOUT HOLIDAY MUSIC CONCERT:
Come enjoy some Christmas Cheer during our Holiday Music Program.  Home and School will be sponsoring a Cookies and Creamery Holiday Cocoa Truck and will be selling hot cocoa and cookies all evening long!  CASH and CHECK preferred!!  All proceeds go back to STM!!  And remember we are looking for volunteers to help make this ALL school event a success!  Sign up below and let us know when you can help out!!  Thank you for your support!!


https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094aabac2fabff2-holiday


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.




BLACK FRIDAY AUCTION DEALS ENDING!:


DON’T MISS OUT!  STM Auction Black Friday Specials extended just until Saturday!  Go to www.stmauction.org before bidding closes this Saturday.


‘BE KIND’ DAY ON DECEMBER 17:


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 with uniform bottoms that day (or a regular uniform top).  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.


GO CYCLONE BASKETBALL TEAMS!


Come cheer on your 7th grade basketball teams while supporting the 8th Grade Graduation Fund this weekend at St Thomas More!
7th-A Girls:
Friday 7:30pm
Saturday 5:00pm
Sunday 1:00pm
7th-A Boys:
Friday 5:30pm
Saturday 3:00pm
Sunday 3:00pm


STM CHOIR INFORMATION:
DECEMBER 7 - STM School Concert 6:00 pm
Entire school involved.
DECEMBER 12 - 11:00 am Mass                                                          
Please meet Mrs. Parisi in the Choir Loft by 10:30am to get ready for Mass. Please email me if your child is unable to attend.
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


ATTENTION 7TH & 8TH GRADE PARENTS:
7th & 8th graders are invited to a mixer hosted by the Parent Club at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic High School! Join us for a Flannel & Friends mixer from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, December 4. A minimum of 2 parent chaperones are required from each school for schools to participate. Space is limited, so register now! All registration must be online. To register CLICK HERE. 
8th graders: Sign up for the High School Placement Test (HSPT) on December 11 at St. Michael the Archangel. FREE HSPT Prep Class on November 30 for those who take the test at SMA. This is a required test to be accepted to St. Michael. Click HERE to register. 


PARENT ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL MASS:
Parents are welcome to attend school Mass.  Seating in the sanctuary is limited, so please feel free to sit in the choir loft if there’s no empty pews.
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 & rotating weeks for PK
Please let me know if you have any questions.
YOUR INPUT REGARDING MASKING POLICY:
The STM School Advisory Board agenda for Monday’s meeting will include your questions and input about the masking policy change shared in Cyclone Chatter on Nov. 18.  If you would like to ask questions or share your thoughts, please use this link to submit before the end of the weekend:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScKpT8Y1HdmgFBhvB1zlgSsw8-QDfSIHaMdzGPdLEWn_tykfw/viewform?usp=sf_link 


Fr. Justin, our COVID Task Force and School Advisory Board members, along with our administrative and nursing staff members will utilize your input to construct a FAQ and guidelines before our return to school on Jan. 4.


Please ask your child to share about our Advent Prayer Service last Monday.  We will continue to prepare for the coming of Baby Jesus, our Lord, at Christmas for the next two Mondays and again on Friday, Dec. 17.
Following is a prayer you can share with your family for the 2nd Sunday in Advent: