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March 31, 2022
Dear STM Families, It is officially Spring, even if it doesn’t feel like it today! Did you see the snowflakes mixed in with the raindrops at lunchtime today?! Spring is Testing Season in schools, and we have time set aside in the next few weeks to take care of these necessary data-gathering tools at STM. Next week (April 4-8), our 3rd through 8th grade students will take the annual Iowa Assessments in Reading, Math, Social Studies, and Science. These timed assessments will be taken electronically for the first time by all STM students. Please be sure your child gets plenty of rest and eats a good breakfast so he/she can show their knowledge and skills on these tests. Also, please avoid any appointments or tardy arrivals. Our students in grades kindergarten through 8th grade will repeat Iowa Flex testing again during the week of April 25-29. You received your child(ren)’s first Iowa Flex results in January. The results of this testing will show the gains your child has made from January through the end of April. More details on these tests later this month! We have a couple of Spirit Days coming up:
St. Thomas More, pray for us. Peace and Blessings, Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal STM UPCOMING EVENTS: Friday, April 1 STM Spirit Wear Day–First Friday! Friday, April 1 All 2nd semester BAND FEES are DUE Friday, April 1 Stations of the Cross; 2:00 & 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 2 Glory Days Finals Monday, April 4 College Spirit Wear Day for NCAA Finals! Wear an appropriate shirt from your favorite college or university and jeans, khakis, or STM Spirit Wear bottoms Week of April 4-8 Iowa Assessments Testing Window for Grades 3-8 Tuesday, April 5 STM Dine-Out at Papa John’s Wednesday, April 6 STM Talent Show auditions from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Friday, April 8 Stations of the Cross; 2:00 & 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 9 STM For All MUSIC TRIVIA Night; 7-10 p.m. (see details below) Thursday, April 14 Holy Thursday; Early Dismissal at 12:30 p.m. Friday, April 15 Good Friday; NO SCHOOL Sunday, April 17 He is Risen! Happy Easter! Monday, April 18 Easter Monday; NO SCHOOL Week of April 25-29 Iowa Flex Testing Window for Grades K-8 Friday, April 29 Jesus Day for 2nd Graders Sunday, May 1 First Holy Communion for our 2nd Graders May 2-6 ‘Good-Bye and Good Vibes–8th Graders!’ Spirit Week for all STM Students: Monday, May 2: Country/Country Club Day Tuesday, May 3: Celebrity Day Wednesday, May 4: Hawaiian Day (& Kona Ice Truck fundraiser) Thursday, May 5: Disney Day Friday, May 6: STM Spirit Day for K-7 and High School Spirit Day for 8th Graders ONLY Thursday, May 5 8th Grade Confirmation Retreat at Prairie Star Ranch Friday, May 6 STM StuCo-Sponsored Talent Show Wednesday, May 11 8th Grade Graduation at 5 p.m. Friday, May 20 PK-7th Grade Fun Day (Rain date: May 23) Tuesday, May 24 Last Day of School (dismissal after 10:30 All-School Mass) 2022-23 REGISTRATION BY APPOINTMENT ONLY–SOME CLASSES ARE CLOSED: Open Registration events for the 2022-2023 school year have come to an end. Beginning April 1st, new and current families will need to make an appointment to complete enrollment paperwork and register for the 2022-2023 school year. Please call Amy Prowell in the front office, 816.942.5581, to make your appointment. We have already closed one grade level and are almost full in others. Don’t wait–make an appointment to register your child(ren) TODAY. STM TROOP 601 FISH FRY: Tomorrow from 4:45 PM - 7 PM in More Hall $10 SENIORS, $12 INDIVIDUAL, $35 FAMILY ALL YOU CAN EAT April 1,8 $1 DESERTS COURTESY OF THE GIRL SCOUTS $5 BEER/WINE COURTESY K of C See details in the flier below. STM FOR ALL TRIVIA NIGHT–APRIL 9: GET YOUR TEAM NOW! $35 per person or $60 per couple/Tables of 10 for a team Space is limited, so PURCHASE TICKETS BY APRIL 4TH! See all the details in the flier attached below (So sorry that our Mother-Son Dance is canceled for this year!) 8th GRADE PARENTS–IMPORTANT INFO ATTACHED BELOW: Our 8th Graders’ graduation is only six weeks away! There are so many events ahead before they leave STM. Please read (possibly copy and hang on the fridge) the attachment below so you can be ready for all of the important dates! PURCHASE SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR 2022-23 NOW! A MESSAGE FROM TIFFANY WOODS: It is hard to think about school supply shopping which is why we are so excited to announce a new partnership with 1st Day School Supplies! This year, 1st Day School Supplies is going to help parents and teachers get the exact supplies needed for next school year without the headache of shopping at Walmart, Target or Staples. Use the link below! A portion of each sale goes to the 2022 Teacher Bonus Fund! http://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/kits.php?sid=60959 HOT LUNCH POLICY: Due to ongoing issues in the lunchroom with forgotten lunches and extra hot lunches, we are making adjustments to how we handle the hot lunches of absent students and students who do not have lunch. We have seen that unclaimed hot lunches have created issues because students "forgot" their lunch, didn't pack enough food, steal a lunch off the table, etc. In order to alleviate this issue, all leftover hot lunches will be put in the cafeteria fridge. They will be sent home with a sibling at the end of the day, or they will be held until the next day when the student is back in school. No leftover hot lunches will be given out. If a student does not have lunch, we would give them a Lunchable. Unfortunately, this was becoming very expensive to keep stocked. Students also found creative ways to get a lunchable when they didn't like what they had packed from home. We have purchased a case of cheese & crackers that will be given if a student does not have lunch. Please make sure your child has a lunch purchased or in-hand every school day. If snack time is made available to them, remind him/her to NOT eat their sack lunch during that time. ATTENTION 8TH GRADE PARENTS–FIRE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY: Each year our 8th grade students are given the opportunity to write an essay about “What inclusive Education Means to Me.” All 8th graders are invited to submit an essay to the FIRE Foundation by March 30th. Winners will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship to the CATHOLIC High School they will attend. Please see the attached letter for more information as well. Email Meg Burke with any questions at burke_meg@stmcyclones.org LENTEN SERVICE PROJECT NEEDS YOUR HELP: Our 8th grade class has chosen to collect supplies for Project Cure’s Kits for Kids program this Lent. ‘Kits for Kids’ provide personal hygiene and basic & ”medicine cabinet” items that are scarce in the developing world. Working with pediatricians and nurses, Project C.U.R.E. developed ‘Kits for Kids’ to give parents in developing countries the supplies they need to provide basic care at home. Kits are not just handed out. Volunteer health professionals who bring the kits with them on clinic trips do extensive health education with parents on the appropriate use of the supplies, and preventive care in general, so common problems do not become catastrophic. Due to a lack of access to basic healthcare, millions of children die each year of preventable and treatable conditions. ‘Kits for Kids’ is a way to provide access to these simple and affordable supplies. If a child gets hurt, families might have to travel a long distance by bicycle, bus or even on foot to receive care at the nearest hospital or medical clinic. These basic supplies can mean the difference between life and death for kids around the world. Here is a video that talks more about the program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCWU2HwUVuw We will collect supplies each week, and during Holy Week we will pack our kits for kids’ bags in class. Sr. Colette will deliver the prepared bags to the Project Cure / Franciscan Mission Warehouse once they are ready to go. - Week 1: March 7th - 11th: Bandaids, combs, and ace bandages. - Week 2: March 21st - 25th: toothbrushes, toothpaste, travel size tissues - Week 3: March 28th - April 1st: blunt ended scissors, tweezers, nail clippers - Week 4: April 4th - 8th: bars of soap, face masks In addition to supplies for the kits, Project Cure asks for a $5 donation to cover the cost of the kit bags as well as shipping them out. Kim Day, a volunteer at the Warehouse has generously offered to cover the costs of the bags for us, but donations would help cut the cost for him, and any funds generated beyond our needs will go directly to Project Cure/Franciscan Mission Warehouse. You can learn more about Project C.U.R.E. at www.projectcure.org . See more information in the flier below. COVID-RELATED INFORMATION: STM COVID DASHBOARD: Week ending 3/10/22 Week ending 3/24/22 Week ending 3/31/22 Students in quarantine 0 0 0 Staff members in quarantine 0 0 0 Students in isolation 3 0 0 Staff members in isolation 0 0 0 Percentage of attendance 93% 93% 93% Total # of Student COVID cases this school year: 63 on Dec. 16; 106 on March 24 Total # of Staff cases this school year: 2 on Dec. 16; 14 on March 24 Total # of Students in Quarantine this school year: 64 on Dec. 16; 91 on March 24 Total # of Staff in Quarantine 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:
Per our plan shared on 1/28/22, we will share a NEW Parent Survey link every two weeks through May 2. This information will be utilized in discussions with both the COVID Task Force and the STM School Advisory Board in upcoming meetings. Here is the link to the STM Family Survey that posted Thursday, March 24: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SPY86PN Latest results: Teachers and staff at STM will be surveyed each month for their reactions to the current Mask-Optional protocol at our school. A new survey will be sent to them on April 1. STM SUMMER ARTS CAMP INFO: This summer there are some fun and exciting mini-camps being offered for anyone interested in drama activities, acting, singing, and performing. And….Mrs. Parisi is offering something special for band members too. Stay tuned for more information on that! Mr. O'Connell and Friends will offer stagecraft, and drama and music activity camps in June for incoming grades 7-9, 1-3, 4-6, then…in July a two week musical theater camp with Mr.O’Connell and Mrs.Parisi and others will be held for incoming grades 5-9 ending with a performance! See more info in flier below. ONE WEEK MORNING CAMPS 9:00-12:00 (Cost to be determined) *June 6-10: Set Design, Set Construction, Set Painting (Incoming grades 7-9) for the July musical theater camp. *June 13-17: Exploring Drama, Music, and Performance (Incoming grades 1-3) *June 27-30 Acting, Improv, Pantomime, Theater Games (Incoming grades 4-5) TWO WEEK MUSICAL THEATER DAY CAMP 9:00-3:00 July 11-22 (incoming grades 5-9). Musical to be determined; cost to be determined. Updates will be shared. Any questions? Contact Mr. O’Connell at oconnell_dan@stmcyclones.org DRESS DOWN PASS & STM PARISH BLOOD DRIVE: Saint Thomas More students have an opportunity for an out of uniform or favorite sport team shirt day. Students may have an adult friend or relative donate blood at the upcoming STM Blood Drive on Tuesday, April 5 from 1:30 to 6 PM. The friend or relative will receive a coupon for the student(s) to redeem for the Out of Uniform Day on Monday, April 11. Appointments are strongly suggested. Please bring ID. Go to https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fsavealifenow.org&c=E,1,KuhpV3n6BiRloQ5AG6LuLGgKTmpzdHKrOBcgKPKcOFqvHeU_lY8Vet-kPKxo6a5tukG3e6ksQ6g2p_dNN356Yqxb1qRniry04_Mooa4tpLmArcVziVCL&typo=1 (stthomasmore) or email Linda Heiman at hdc635@aol.com or call 816-835-5912 to sign up. To answer any questions please visit https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.savealifenow.org&c=E,1,c5cmw3YUJJhxGXwxie7aw8J1CUIJbfyeGJWNpQavz2NrPHaxJteV-4UAq6b_UlHPPH-LFKypjhjJYlOEBu7ZmWmjTBqZUdSee8lCVHeA7acEk5E,&typo=1 or 1-800-688-0900. BRICKS 4 KIDZ AFTER-SCHOOL STEM ACTIVITY for GRADES K-5: 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. Grades K-5 NEW Models Every Session! St. Thomas More Elementary LEGO® Club Wednesdays after school from 3:25 - 4:25pm Dates: April 6, 13, 20, 27 May 2, 9 Enroll Now: www.bricks4kidz.com/kcnorth SEE ALL THE DETAILS IN THE ATTACHED FLYER. LITURGICAL LIVING CALENDAR: Liturgical living is a beautiful way for individuals and families to learn about the traditions, saints, and rituals of our faith. This leads to a deeper comprehension and connection to our faith. Pick a few things each month to try and start to see the connection of the Catholic Faith to life outside of mass on Sunday! Give it a try! The Liturgical Living Calendar for April with some great ideas for Lenten activities is attached below. This Sunday is the 5th Sunday of Lent–so close to Palm Sunday NEXT weekend! Here is a prayer for the 5th Sunday of Lent you might share with your family: My loving Lord, it's so hard to love the world sometimes and to love it the way Jesus did seems impossible. Help me to be inspired by his love and guided by his example. Most of all, I want to accept that I can't do it alone, and that trying is an arrogance of self-centeredness. I need you, dear God, to give me support in this journey. Show me how to unlock my heart so that I am less selfish. Let me be less fearful of the pain and darkness that will be transformed by you into Easter joy. In Your name we pray, Amen. Attachments: messages/attachments/364d87cf237eafa94ae8eb65c501c6d7/8th_Grade_Spring_Events_2022.pdf messages/attachments/819a356b853ccb8ff26d452ac7e44cbb/Bricks_4_Kidz_Spring_2022.pdf messages/attachments/f0a8f5aa126dec38ad719bd77af57a3d/Fish_Fry_2022.pdf messages/attachments/50c79f611a3453d5dce52daff1ce582c/FIRE_Scholarship_Info_2022.pdf messages/attachments/77f9a803fc3af4e660730950dbc50350/Liturgical_Living_April_2022.pdf messages/attachments/bcac766385bcdcb950c696a7d43ae833/Summer_Drama_at_STM_2022.pdf
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March 24, 2022
Dear STM Families, Tomorrow morning at 11 a.m., we will stop all activities at STM to join in Pope Francis in his Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to our Lady. I have copied the information and link to this special request from the pope below. Please consider joining us in this prayer for peace in our world. Our first days back after Spring Break sure haven’t felt like spring! We look forward to more sunshine, warmer temperatures, and OUTSIDE RECESSES for tomorrow and next week. Students and staff alike were in the groove and working hard as we began the 4th quarter of our school year. Please take time tomorrow or this weekend to check 3rd quarter grades on Sycamore with your child(ren) to celebrate academic successes and discuss challenges to finish this school year STRONG! St. Thomas More, pray for us. Peace and Blessings, Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal STM UPCOMING EVENTS: Friday, March 25 Sacrament of Reconciliation for students in grades 2-8 Friday, March 25 Check Sycamore for 3rd quarter grades! Tuesday, March 29 Dine-Out at STM: Big Red Food Truck and Kona Ice Wednesday, March 30 Open Registration Event from 9-10:30 a.m. (see details below) Thursday, March 31 FINAL Open Registration Event from 9-10:30 a.m. (see details below) Friday, April 1 All 2nd semester BAND FEES are DUE Friday, April 1 Stations of the Cross; 2:00 & 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 5 STM Dine-Out at Papa John’s Friday, April 8 Stations of the Cross; 2:00 & 2:30 p.m. Thursday, April 14 Holy Thursday; Early Dismissal at 12:30 p.m. Friday, April 15 Good Friday; NO SCHOOL Sunday, April 17 He is Risen! Happy Easter! Monday, April 18 Easter Monday; NO SCHOOL Friday, April 29 Jesus Day for our 2nd Graders Sunday, May 1 First Holy Communion for our 2nd Graders Thursday, May 5 8th Grade Confirmation Retreat at Prairie Star Ranch Wednesday, May 11 8th Grade Graduation at 5 p.m. FINAL OPEN REGISTRATION EVENTS: FINAL Open Enrollment Dates: 9-10:30 a.m. on 3/30, 3/31 CLASSES ARE FILLING QUICKLY! Registration events will continue through March for new families and continuing students until a grade section fills to capacity. All Enrollment forms will be provided at the enrollment events. Please be prepared with the following:
STM Complete Enrollment Information: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rUavHU6mJXrbqMpL1q2fCcwgPxXGic4G/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108180739068306146379&rtpof=true&sd=true DINE OUT INFO FROM HOME & SCHOOL: Our next dine out opportunity will be right here at STM! TUESDAY, MARCH 29: Take a night off cooking to focus on your Glory Days skills and head up to the school parking lot for The Big Red Food Truck! This awesome truck will be serving up smash burgers and fries, including a kid size burger meal. And for dessert, you can grab some KONA ICE!! PURCHASE SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR 2022-23 NOW! A MESSAGE FROM TIFFANY WOODS: It is hard to think about school supply shopping which is why we are so excited to announce a new partnership with 1st Day School Supplies! This year, 1st Day School Supplies is going to help parents and teachers get the exact supplies needed for next school year without the headache of shopping at Walmart, Target or Staples. Use the link below! A portion of each sale goes to the 2022 Teacher Bonus Fund! http://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/kits.php?sid=60959 HOT LUNCH POLICY: Due to ongoing issues in the lunchroom with forgotten lunches and extra hot lunches, we are making adjustments to how we handle the hot lunches of absent students and students who do not have lunch. We have seen that unclaimed hot lunches have created issues because students "forgot" their lunch, didn't pack enough food, steal a lunch off the table, etc. In order to alleviate this issue, all leftover hot lunches will be put in the cafeteria fridge. They will be sent home with a sibling at the end of the day, or they will be held until the next day when the student is back in school. No leftover hot lunches will be given out. If a student does not have lunch, we would give them a Lunchable. Unfortunately, this was becoming very expensive to keep stocked. Students also found creative ways to get a lunchable when they didn't like what they had packed from home. We have purchased a case of cheese & crackers that will be given if a student does not have lunch. Please make sure your child has a lunch purchased or in-hand every school day. If snack time is made available to them, remind him/her to NOT eat their sack lunch during that time. STM TROOP 601 FISH FRY: Tomorrow from 4:45 PM - 7 PM in More Hall $10 SENIORS, $12 INDIVIDUAL, $35 FAMILY ALL YOU CAN EAT $1 DESERTS COURTESY OF THE GIRL SCOUTS $5 BEER/WINE COURTESY K of C March 25 AND April 1,8 ATTENTION 8TH GRADE PARENTS–FIRE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY: Each year our 8th grade students are given the opportunity to write an essay about “What inclusive Education Means to Me.” All 8th graders are invited to submit an essay to the FIRE Foundation by March 30th. Winners will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship to the CATHOLIC High School they will attend. On Tuesday March 22, Mrs. Burke will visit with the 8th graders during English class with more information. We wanted to give any student who wants to start early the opportunity during Spring Break. The attached letter has information as well. Please email Meg Burke with any questions at burke_meg@stmcyclones.org LENTEN SERVICE PROJECT NEEDS YOUR HELP: Our 8th grade class has chosen to collect supplies for Project Cure’s Kits for Kids program this Lent. ‘Kits for Kids’ provide personal hygiene and basic & ”medicine cabinet” items that are scarce in the developing world. Working with pediatricians and nurses, Project C.U.R.E. developed ‘Kits for Kids’ to give parents in developing countries the supplies they need to provide basic care at home. Kits are not just handed out. Volunteer health professionals who bring the kits with them on clinic trips do extensive health education with parents on the appropriate use of the supplies, and preventive care in general, so common problems do not become catastrophic. Due to a lack of access to basic healthcare, millions of children die each year of preventable and treatable conditions. ‘Kits for Kids’ is a way to provide access to these simple and affordable supplies. If a child gets hurt, families might have to travel a long distance by bicycle, bus or even on foot to receive care at the nearest hospital or medical clinic. These basic supplies can mean the difference between life and death for kids around the world. Here is a video that talks more about the program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCWU2HwUVuw We will collect supplies each week, and during Holy Week we will pack our kits for kids’ bags in class. Sr. Colette will deliver the prepared bags to the Project Cure / Franciscan Mission Warehouse once they are ready to go. - Week 1: March 7th - 11th: Bandaids, combs, and ace bandages. - Week 2: March 21st - 25th: toothbrushes, toothpaste, travel size tissues - Week 3: March 28th - April 1st: blunt ended scissors, tweezers, nail clippers - Week 4: April 4th - 8th: bars of soap, face masks In addition to supplies for the kits, Project Cure asks for a $5 donation to cover the cost of the kit bags as well as shipping them out. Kim Day, a volunteer at the Warehouse has generously offered to cover the costs of the bags for us, but donations would help cut the cost for him, and any funds generated beyond our needs will go directly to Project Cure/Franciscan Mission Warehouse. You can learn more about Project C.U.R.E. at www.projectcure.org . See more information in the flier below. GLORY DAYS ARE BACK! March 28th - April 2nd Glory Days is more than a fundraiser for your school's athletic programs and facilities - it’s a chance to come together as a school for good-spirited competition, class pride, a whole lot of socializing, and celebrating our STM pride. What is Glory Days? It’s a week-long event for STM parents to compete alongside and against fellow parents. Dads and male guardians play in a basketball tournament and Moms and female guardians play in a volleyball tournament. Parents are placed on teams according to the grade of their oldest child, 1st through 8th grade. Preschool and Kindergarten parents: are encouraged to play and tournament directors will place them on teams as “free agents”. There is an entry fee of $30 per player, payable by cash, check, or Venmo when you check-in before the first game. Questions or interested in being a team captain for your grade? Please contact Zach Dobbler at zachdobbler@gmail.com Please see the attached flier for all of the details. COVID-RELATED INFORMATION: STM COVID DASHBOARD: Week ending 3/3/22 Week ending 3/10/22 Week ending 3/24/22 Students in quarantine 0 0 0 Staff members in quarantine 0 0 0 Students in isolation 3 3 0 Staff members in isolation 0 0 0 Percentage of attendance 93% 93% 93% Total # of Student COVID cases this school year: 63 on Dec. 16; 106 on March 24 Total # of Staff cases this school year: 2 on Dec. 16; 14 on March 24 Total # of Students in Quarantine this school year: 64 on Dec. 16; 91 on March 24 Total # of Staff in Quarantine 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:
Per our plan shared on 1/28/22, we will share a NEW Parent Survey link every two weeks through May 2. This information will be utilized in discussions with both the COVID Task Force and the STM School Advisory Board in upcoming meetings. Here is the link to the STM Family Survey that posted TODAY: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SPY86PN Teachers and staff at STM will be surveyed each month for their reactions to the current Mask-Optional protocol at our school. A new survey will be sent to them on April 1. STM SUMMER ARTS CAMP INFO: This summer there are some fun and exciting mini-camps being offered for anyone interested in drama activities, acting, singing, and performing. And….Mrs. Parisi is offering something special for band members too. Stay tuned for more information on that! Mr. O'Connell and Friends will offer stagecraft, and drama and music activity camps in June for incoming grades 7-9, 1-3, 4-6, then…in July a two week musical theater camp with Mr.O’Connell and Mrs.Parisi and others will be held for incoming grades 5-9 ending with a performance! ONE WEEK MORNING CAMPS 9:00-12:00 (Cost to be determined) *June 6-10: Set Design, Set Construction, Set Painting (Incoming grades 7-9) for the July musical theater camp. *June 13-17: Exploring Drama, Music, and Performance (Incoming grades 1-3) *June 27-30 Acting, Improv, Pantomime, Theater Games (Incoming grades 4-5) TWO WEEK MUSICAL THEATER DAY CAMP 9:00-3:00 July 11-22 (incoming grades 5-9). Musical to be determined; cost to be determined. Updates will be shared. Any questions? Contact Mr. O’Connell at oconnell_dan@stmcyclones.org DRESS DOWN PASS & STM PARISH BLOOD DRIVE: Saint Thomas More students have an opportunity for an out of uniform or favorite sport team shirt day. Students may have an adult friend or relative donate blood at the upcoming STM Blood Drive on Tuesday, April 5 from 1:30 to 6 PM. The friend or relative will receive a coupon for the student(s) to redeem for the Out of Uniform Day on Monday, April 11. Appointments are strongly suggested. Please bring ID. Go to https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fsavealifenow.org&c=E,1,KuhpV3n6BiRloQ5AG6LuLGgKTmpzdHKrOBcgKPKcOFqvHeU_lY8Vet-kPKxo6a5tukG3e6ksQ6g2p_dNN356Yqxb1qRniry04_Mooa4tpLmArcVziVCL&typo=1 (stthomasmore) or email Linda Heiman at hdc635@aol.com or call 816-835-5912 to sign up. To answer any questions please visit https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.savealifenow.org&c=E,1,c5cmw3YUJJhxGXwxie7aw8J1CUIJbfyeGJWNpQavz2NrPHaxJteV-4UAq6b_UlHPPH-LFKypjhjJYlOEBu7ZmWmjTBqZUdSee8lCVHeA7acEk5E,&typo=1 or 1-800-688-0900. LITURGICAL LIVING CALENDAR: Liturgical living is a beautiful way for individuals and families to learn about the traditions, saints, and rituals of our faith. This leads to a deeper comprehension and connection to our faith. Pick a few things each month to try and start to see the connection of the Catholic Faith to life outside of mass on Sunday! Give it a try! The Liturgical Living Calendar for March with some great ideas for Lenten activities is attached below. From the Catholic News Agency: Vatican City, Mar 23, 2022 / 04:18 am Pope Francis has written a letter asking all Catholics to assemble in their parishes on Friday to pray the act of consecration of the world, particularly Russia and Ukraine, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Vatican published the pope’s letter two days before he is scheduled to pray the Marian consecration in St. Peter’s Basilica on Friday, March 25, in union with bishops around the world. “I ask you to join in this act by inviting the priests, religious and faithful to assemble in their churches and places of prayer on March 25, so that God’s Holy People may raise a heartfelt and choral plea to Mary our Mother,” Pope Francis said in the letter sent to all the world’s bishops. Pope Francis also included the text of the consecration prayer with his letter so that all Catholics can pray it together in union on the Solemnity of the Annunciation. “This act of consecration is meant to be a gesture of the universal Church, which in this dramatic moment lifts up to God, through his Mother and ours, the cry of pain of all those who suffer and implore an end to the violence, and to entrust the future of our human family to the Queen of Peace,” the pope said. The pope will pray the consecration during a penitential service which he will preside over in St. Peter’s Basilica at 5 p.m. local time. In the letter, signed on March 21, he said that he wanted to entrust the nations at war to the Blessed Virgin Mary in response to the “numerous requests from the People of God.” “Nearly a month has passed since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine that is daily inflicting immense suffering upon its sorely tried people and threatening world peace,” Pope Francis said. “At this dark hour, the Church is urgently called to intercede before the Prince of Peace and to demonstrate her closeness to those directly affected by the conflict.” Attachments: messages/attachments/bf31a8cd817b768c003ebc6afac5c687/Glory_Days_Flyer_2022.docx.pdf (59.4 KB) messages/attachments/73b57bd0be02e051d363f9b859b4c8f3/2022_Summer_Arts_Camp.pdf (670.4 KB) messages/attachments/79981fdd516eb49b8aed28f442cbb306/Liturgical_Living-March_2022.pdf (88.9 KB) March 3, 2022
Dear STM Families, Thank you to so many of you who have already completed registration for the 2022-23 school year. This early registration process helps us plan how to best support our students for a new school year through budgeting, allocating resources and staffing. If you have not registered yet, there is still time. Please see the Open Registration Event information in the calendar and blurb below. We will take registrations up until March 31 or when a class section is filled. We know that your decision to bring your child(ren) to St. Thomas More School is one that involves your deep faith in God and a willingness to allow us to partner with you in that mission. You make the choice of a Catholic School; no one chooses it for you. And for most of you, this choice involves a significant sacrifice. Catholic schools have always operated on sacrifice, which we see as not something to put up with, but a sign of real strength. Followers of Jesus made sacrifices for the benefit of others, but we don’t take that for granted. Parents make the same kinds of sacrifices to provide a Catholic education for their children. Please know that we respect you as the decision-makers for your children in choosing this environment for their spiritual, emotional, social, and academic growth. May God bless you deeply and richly for all you do to assist us in our joint mission. St. Thomas More, pray for us. Peace and Blessings, Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal STM UPCOMING EVENTS: Tuesday, March 8 Signs of Suicide (SOS) presentations in grades 6, 7, 8 Wednesday, March 9 Open Registration Events from 9-10:30 a.m. and 4-5:30 p.m. (see details below) Wednesday, March 9 STM Papa John’s Dine-Out Night Thursday, March 10 Open Registration Event from 9-10:30 a.m. (see details below) Thursday, March 10 Last day of 3rd Quarter Thursday, March 10 LAST DAY TO ORDER A 2021-22 YEARBOOK; SEE DETAILS BELOW TO ORDER ONLINE!! Friday, March 11 NO SCHOOL; Diocesan Professional Development Day for teachers Friday, March 11-- Monday, March 21 SPRING BREAK for Students Monday, March 21 Staff Religious Formation Retreat & 3rd Quarter Grade Prep–NO SCHOOL Tuesday, March 22 First day of 4th Quarter Wednesday, March 23 Open Registration Events from 9-10:30 a.m. & 4-5:30 p.m. (see details below) Thursday, March 24 Open Registration Event from 9-10:30 a.m. (see details below) Friday, March 25 Sacrament of Reconciliation for students in grades 2-8 Wednesday, March 30 Open Registration Event from 9-10:30 a.m. (see details below) Thursday, March 31 FINAL Open Registration Event from 9-10:30 a.m. (see details below) Friday, April 1 Stations of the Cross; 2:00 & 2:30 p.m. Friday, April 8 Stations of the Cross; 2:00 & 2:30 p.m. Thursday, April 14 Holy Thursday; Early Dismissal at 12:30 p.m. Friday, April 15 Good Friday; NO SCHOOL Sunday, April 17 He is Risen! Happy Easter! Monday, April 18 Easter Monday; NO SCHOOL DEADLINE TO ORDER 2021-22 STM YEARBOOK: You don't want to miss out on ordering a yearbook for your family! Our deadline for the printer is March 10--and we will NOT order extras this year. We can't absorb the cost of ordering books that are not sold to families. and return by the deadline, March 10. Please go to this website to order yours TODAY: ybpay.com OPEN REGISTRATION EVENTS: Registration events will continue through March for new families and continuing students until a grade section fills to capacity. All Enrollment forms will be provided at the enrollment events. Please be prepared with the following:
STM Complete Enrollment Information: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rUavHU6mJXrbqMpL1q2fCcwgPxXGic4G/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108180739068306146379&rtpof=true&sd=true REMAINING Open Enrollment Dates: 9-10:30 a.m. on 3/9, 3/10, 3/23, 3/24, 3/30, 3/31 4-5:30 p.m. on 3/23 PURCHASE SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR 2022-23 NOW! A MESSAGE FROM TIFFANY WOODS: I know it's hard to think about school supply shopping. That is why I am so excited to announce a new partnership with 1st Day School Supplies! This year, 1st Day School Supplies is going to help parents and teachers get the exact supplies needed for next school year without the headache of shopping at Walmart, Target or Staples. I have personally found 1st Day School Supplies to be convenient, easy and hassle free! Plus, they have guaranteed competitive prices on the highest quality brands, including the germ fighting brands like Purell and Lysol. Why not check school supply shopping off your list now! You can make your purchase right now, get started by clicking the link below: http://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/kits.php?sid=60959 STM TROOP 601 FISH FRY: This Friday from 4:45 PM - 7 PM in More Hall $10 SENIORS, $12 INDIVIDUAL, $35 FAMILY ALL YOU CAN EAT $1 DESERTS COURTESY OF THE GIRL SCOUTS $5 BEER/WINE COURTESY K of C March 4, 11, 25 AND April 1,8 See attached flier for all of the details GLORY DAYS ARE BACK! March 28th - April 2nd Glory Days is more than a fundraiser for your school's athletic programs and facilities - it’s a chance to come together as a school for good-spirited competition, class pride, a whole lot of socializing, and celebrating our STM pride. What is Glory Days? It’s a week-long event for STM parents to compete alongside and against fellow parents. Dads and male guardians play in a basketball tournament and Moms and female guardians play in a volleyball tournament. Parents are placed on teams according to the grade of their oldest child, 1st through 8th grade. Preschool and Kindergarten parents: are encouraged to play and tournament directors will place them on teams as “free agents”. There is an entry fee of $30 per player, payable by cash, check, or Venmo when you check-in before the first game. Questions or interested in being a team captain for your grade? Please contact Zach Dobbler at zachdobbler@gmail.com Please see the attached flier for all of the details. BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL INFORMATION: 4th-8th grade Boys volleyball Registration is open now at the PLKC website. Please sign up as soon as you can so we can get an accurate count of boys and know if we will need to hold evaluations to make even teams, and also so we can secure enough coaches. If you have any questions please feel free to send a message to the volleyball coordinator, Jenny Smith at jkalbsmith@gmail.com. The season starts March 7th and runs through the first week of May. Games are on Friday nights starting March 25th. More info is on the website under register now tab. Www.plkc.org. We will be holding evaluations for 5th, 6th and 8th grade boys signed up to play volleyball this spring. Please have your son come to be evaluated and show up about 5 minutes or so before his grades time period to get assigned a number. Send knee pads and water bottles as well. We will be at the STM gym on Monday March 7th. Times are listed below. Eval times on Monday 3/7 5th - 5pm to 5:45 6th - 5:45 to 6:30 8th - 6:30 to 7:30 COVID-RELATED INFORMATION: STM COVID DASHBOARD: Week ending 2/17/22 Week ending 2/24/22 Week ending 3/3/22 Students in quarantine 2 1 0 Staff members in quarantine 0 0 0 Students in isolation 1 4 3 Staff members in isolation 0 1 0 Percentage of attendance 96% 94% 93% Total # of Student COVID cases this school year: 33 on Dec. 16; 89 on March 3 Total # of Staff cases this school year: 2 on Dec. 16; 14 on March 3 Total # of Students in Quarantine this school year: 64 on Dec. 16; 91 on March 3 Total # of Staff in Quarantine 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:
Per our plan shared on 1/28/22, we will share a NEW Parent Survey link every two weeks through May 2. This information will be utilized in discussions with both the COVID Task Force and the STM School Advisory Board in upcoming meetings. Here is the data collected from the survey issued on 2/24/22: Here is the link to the STM Family Survey that will be open from today until March 10: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7PJRY5N Teachers and staff at STM will be surveyed each month for their reactions to the current Mask-Optional protocol at our school. Here are the results received from the survey sent to staff members last week: LITURGICAL LIVING CALENDAR: Liturgical living is a beautiful way for individuals and families to learn about the traditions, saints, and rituals of our faith. This leads to a deeper comprehension and connection to our faith. Pick a few things each month to try and start to see the connection of the Catholic Faith to life outside of mass on Sunday! Give it a try! The Liturgical Living Calendar for March with some great ideas for Lenten activities is attached below. Below is a Lenten prayer you might consider sharing with your family this week: Lord Jesus, In Your death, you embraced love To extinguish the flame of darkness. Death in ashes, yet love set alight Now alive and dancing As a beacon of hope in our hearts. Dear Lord, with the mark of your cross upon me I choose to walk its way. To let go of self, and entrust all things to you So that I may catch a glimpse of your eternal love for me. Amen. Attachments: messages/attachments/bf31a8cd817b768c003ebc6afac5c687/Glory_Days_Flyer_2022.docx.pdf (59.4 KB) messages/attachments/f0a8f5aa126dec38ad719bd77af57a3d/Fish_Fry_2022.pdf (329.6 KB) messages/attachments/79981fdd516eb49b8aed28f442cbb306/Liturgical_Living-March_2022.pdf (88.9 KB) February 17, 2022
Dear STM Families, Growing up there was nothing better than waking up to the radio and hearing that school was closed for the day! A Snow Day! My six siblings and I were the envy of all of our cousins who lived on the same block because WE had the best sledding hills around. There would be upwards of 20 of us at a time who were bundled up so we could barely walk, but spend hours in the winter wilderness of my backyard with sleds, saucers, and cookie sheets for the little ones. I was so glad that our last two Snow Days could be REAL days off. Since we’ve burned those two extra days built into our school calendar, though, the teachers and I decided that we would make today the least ‘painful’ we could AND STILL count this as a learning day. It’s hard to believe that it’s almost March and time to register for the 2022-23 school year. Thank you to those many parents who came to our first Registration Event this week. We have two additional dates/times set aside to meet with you and prepare the necessary paperwork (personal data and financial planning) to secure your child(ren) a seat in their next grade level. Your registration must be complete by Feb. 28 to take advantage of the reduced registration fee schedule. We have been blessed with many inquiries from new families about joining our STM school community next year. They are not able to begin registration until March 2. At that time, if classes are filled, you will NOT be guaranteed a seat even if your child attended STM this school year. Please plan to attend one of our remaining registration events in the STM School lobby on: Tuesday, Feb. 22 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. or Feb. 28 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Please contact the school office if you have any questions. While your children work to complete their Snow Day assignments through this 5-day break, I hope there is still plenty of time to build the same kind of magical memories I have from my childhood! St. Thomas More, pray for us. Peace and Blessings, Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal STM UPCOMING EVENTS: Friday, Feb. 18 NO SCHOOL–Diocesan Teacher Faith Development Day Monday, Feb. 21 NO SCHOOL–President’s Day Tuesday, Feb. 22 8th Grade Yearbook Ad Deadline–HARD DEADLINE Tuesday, Feb. 22 REGISTRATION FOR 22-23 SCHOOL YEAR from 4-6 p.m. (see details in attached flier) Monday, Feb. 28 REGISTRATION FOR 22-23 SCHOOL YEAR from 4-6 p.m. (see details in attached flier) Last day to register at a REDUCED RATE for returning families! Be sure to secure your child’s spot in his/her grade level! Wednesday, March 2 Ash Wednesday–School Masses: 9:30 am. & 2:10 p.m. Wednesday, March 2 First day of Registration for New Families; 8:30-10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 3 Signs of Suicide (SOS) presentations in grades 6, 7, 8 Thursday, March 10 Last day of 3rd Quarter; LAST DAY TO ORDER A 21-22 STM YEARBOOK! Friday, March 11 NO SCHOOL; Diocesan Professional Development Day for teachers Friday, March 11-- Monday, March 21 SPRING BREAK for Students Monday, March 21 Staff Religious Formation Retreat & 3rd Qusrter Grade Prep–NO SCHOOL Tuesday, March 22 First day of 4th Quarter TOO MANY TARDIES! Some of the most important information for the day is shared at the very beginning of the school day. Last Tuesday, we had 33 STM students TARDY to school–most of them 5-15 minutes past our beginning time at 7:50 a.m. Please make sure that your child is in the school building by 7:45 a.m. so he/she can get to the classroom and get situated before the final bell rings and prayers & instruction begin at 7:50 a.m. TRAFFIC ON HOLMES: Please be aware of our STM students and families who walk across Holmes Road as they arrive to school. When you arrive or leave our parking lot, it’s important that you are observant of these walkers and yield to them as they cross the street. Thank you for keeping our students safe! DEADLINE TO ORDER 2022-23 STM YEARBOOK: You don't want to miss out on ordering a yearbook for your family! Our deadline for the printer is March 14--and we will NOT order extras this year. We can't absorb the cost of ordering books that are not sold to families. and return by the deadline, March 14. Please go to this website to order yours TODAY: ybpay.com 8TH GRADE YEARBOOK ADS AVAILABLE UNTIL TUESDAY, FEB. 22: Once again, this school year you have the opportunity to purchase an ad for your graduating 8th grader. We are offering 2 size options:
This year we do not have enough room for all 8th grade students to have a ¼ page ad, so it will be first come first serve. All ads received after the ¼ page ads are filled will be business card size. The editor will have final discretion if a picture does not appear clear enough. Every effort will be made to use what you submit. Please send your typed message in the font and size you would like to have used, again the editor may need to make adjustments. Your submission should be sent to Dawn Elliott (elliott_dawn@stmcyclones.org) no later than Tuesday, February 22, 2022. Submissions received after this date may not be accepted. Payment should be sent to the STM school office. SYNOD ON SYNODALITY LISTENING SESSION:Pope Francis has called for a gathering of the world’s bishops for October 2023. By convening this synod, he is inviting the entire Church to reflect on what the Holy Spirit is saying to us today— How do we journey together to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit? We will be holding a Listening Session in More Hall on Sunday, February 20, from 10:15 - 11:45 a.m. to give parishioners the opportunity to give input on the themes that will be discussed at the synod. We invite you to attend the session and to help prepare yourself, we encourage you to read the information on the parish website beforehand (stmkc.com), especially the ten themes and the accompanying information. There is also a link to the diocesan website where you can give input if you are unable to attend a Listening Session. For more information, contact David Butel at the parish office, dbutel@stmkc.com or 816-942-2492, x. 210. BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL INFORMATION: 4th-8th grade Boys volleyball Registration is open now at the PLKC website. Please sign up as soon as you can so we can get an accurate count of boys and know if we will need to hold evaluations to make even teams, and also so we can secure enough coaches. If you have any questions please feel free to send a message to the volleyball coordinator, Jenny Smith at jkalbsmith@gmail.com. The season starts March 7th and runs through the first week of May. Games are on Friday nights starting March 25th. More info is on the website under register now tab. Www.plkc.org. PLKC TRACK INFORMATION with St. Elizabeth’s (Coach John Reyna): FOR: 3rd-8th graders REGISTRATION: from 2/1/22 through midnight on 2/24/22 PROGRAM DURATION: 3/7/22 through 5/7/22 MEETS: 4/9/22, 4/23/22, 4/30/22 City Meet: 5/7/22 TO REGISTER: https://www.plkc.org/user/SignIn.aspx?d=neeyAnV7CDLACPCWPcPU7xbZQU0lvcCn STM BOOSTER CLUB PRESENTS: BAGS 2022-ROAD TO THE RED JACKET: Teams: Co-ed Teams When: February 26, 2022 Doors open at 6:00 pm for check-in, food, drinks, and warm-up. Games start at 6:45 pm Where: STM GYM 50/50 Raffle the Night of the Event! Bring Cash! (See details in the flier below) COVID-RELATED INFORMATION: STM COVID DASHBOARD: Week ending 1/27/22 Week ending 2/10/22 Week ending 2/17/22 Students in quarantine 0 0 2 Staff members in quarantine 0 0 0 Students in isolation 4 8 1 Staff members in isolation 2 3 0 Percentage of attendance 94% 94% 96% Total # of Student COVID cases this school year: 33 on Dec. 16; 82 on Feb. 17 Total # of Staff cases this school year: 2 on Dec. 16; 13 on Feb. 17 Total # of Students in Quarantine this school year: 64 on Dec. 16; 90 on Feb. 17 Total # of Staff in Quarantine 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:
Per our plan shared on 1/28/22, we will share a NEW Parent Survey link every two weeks through May 2. This information will be utilized in discussions with both the COVID Task Force and the STM School Advisory Board in upcoming meetings. Here is the link to the current Parent Survey shared : https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WN6GWGP MAD SCIENCE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR GRADES 1-5: Mad Science Spring session will take place on Tuesdays, 3/1 - 4/26 from 3:25 - 4:25 p.m. Read all of the details in the flier below. LITURGICAL LIVING CALENDAR: Liturgical living is a beautiful way for individuals and families to learn about the traditions, saints, and rituals of our faith. This leads to a deeper comprehension and connection to our faith. Pick a few things each month to try and start to see the connection of the Catholic Faith to life outside of mass on Sunday! Give it a try! Here is the link: https://stmkc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Liturgical-Living-January-2022-Calendar.pdf BLESSINGS FOR A SNOWY DAY: May you have a warm hearth to curl up next to and keep your toes and nose toasty warm. May you never run out of hot cocoa and a good book to enjoy with it. May your snow-angel-making be full of laughter, and may your snowpeople not melt too quickly. May your paths not be too slippery, and may your footsteps be steady. May your world gleam like it’s covered in glitter and sparkling new. May the coziness of snuggling with your loved ones remain with you throughout the days to come. And may you realize that God made you as special and unique as a snowflake and far more precious. Attachments: messages/attachments/c2de1a6f23652ceb37eb3146c07bb336/Bags_Tournament___QR_Code_%281%29_%281%29.png (855.2 KB) messages/attachments/a1f62c1de972c25bc43e93acadf6c0e4/Mad_Science_Spring_22.pdf February 4, 2022
Dear STM Families, I hope this email finds you warm and snuggled in as we rebound from our first real snow event this winter! Tomorrow, our teacher-requested Student Learning Conferences will be held as planned beginning at 8 a.m. We look forward to visiting with parents to discuss students’ successes and challenges. All students in grades K-8 participated in Iowa Flex testing last week. Iowa Flex is an online benchmark test tailored to each student’s ability level through adaptive testing. Each child at a grade level begins with the same question in Reading and Math and progresses through harder questions when he/she is correct or a lower level question when he/she is incorrect. Teachers will share the data from your child’s Iowa Flex testing experience in backpacks next Wednesday. Check your child(ren)’s backpack next Wednesday! See you Saturday at the ‘Gin & Jazz’ Auction beginning at 6 p.m.!! Peace and Blessings, Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal STM UPCOMING EVENTS: Friday, Feb. 4 No School–Student Learning Conferences Saturday, Feb. 5 STM Auction–”Gin & Jazz” starts at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9 Check backpacks for Iowa Flex Testing results! Wednesday, Feb. 9 Celebrate Vocations Day: All of our K-8 students will participate in a living rosary (grades K, 2, 7 & 8 from 2:15-2:45 and grades 1,3,4,5,& 6 from 2:45-3:15) and ALL students can dress in their Sunday Best or as their Future (school-appropriate) Profession! Thursday, Feb. 10 Celebrate Teachers & Staff Day: Students can dress like a teacher or staff member and will enjoy watching our annual Teacher v. 8th Grade volleyball game! Friday, Feb. 11 (and every Friday afternoon) Join parents to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 p.m. in the narthex Saturday, Feb. 12 Father/Daughter Dance (see details below) Friday, Feb. 18 NO SCHOOL–Diocesan Teacher Faith Development Day Monday, Feb. 21 NO SCHOOL–President’s Day Tuesday, Feb. 22 8th Grade Yearbook Ad Deadline–HARD DEADLINE Wednesday, March 2 Ash Wednesday–School Masses: 9:30 am. & 2:10 p.m. Thursday, March 10 Last day of 3rd Quarter Friday, March 11 NOTE: CHANGE TO STM CALENDAR–NO SCHOOL; Diocesan Professional Development Day for teachers Friday, March 11-- Monday, March 21 SPRING BREAK for Students Monday, March 21 Staff Religious Formation Retreat–NO SCHOOL Tuesday, March 22 First day of 4th Quarter CATHOLIC SCHOOLS’ WEEK MAKE-UP DATES NEXT WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY: Snow Days today and yesterday have caused the postponement of our ‘Celebrate Vocations Day’ and ‘Celebrate Teachers & Staff Day’--so we’re moving them to next week. Please see the details below. Wednesday, Feb. 9–Celebrate Vocations Day: All of our K-8 students will participate in a living rosary (grades K, 2, 7 & 8 from 2:15-2:45 and grades 1,3,4,5,& 6 from 2:45-3:15) and ALL students can dress in their Sunday Bests or as their Future Profession! Students will make cards for our clergy members to show how grateful we are for their presence at STM! Thursday, Feb. 10–Celebrate Teachers & Staff Day: We love to end the week celebrating our wonderful faculty and staff! Students can dress like a teacher or staff member and will enjoy watching our annual Teacher vs 8th Grade volleyball game! ‘GIN & JAZZ’--STM AUCTION–SATURDAY NIGHT! The big event is finally here! Can’t wait to see you at our ‘Gin & Jazz’ Auction event beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday night! FATHER-DAUGHTER DANCE, FEB. 12: STM for All is sponsoring the 2022 Father-Daughter Dance. Join us Saturday, February 12 from 6pm - 8pm in Flanagan Hall for a Valentine Dance. Please join us for Dinner, Music, Raffles and More. The cost is $25 for each Father/Daughter and $10 for each additional daughter in the family. This year dinner IS included with your tickets. Funds raised will support Anne Alexiou's efforts to raise funds for the children of STM in the 2022 BMA Foundation's Dine and Dance with the Stars. Thank you to Southside for providing dinner. Don't forget your raffle ticket money, too. Thank you for supporting inclusion at STM. If you have any questions please contact Maeghan Miller at maeghankmiller@gmail.com. Please see the flier attached and return to school with your reservations by February 9. 8TH GRADE YEARBOOK ADS AVAILABLE: Once again, this school year you have the opportunity to purchase an ad for your graduating 8th grader. We are offering 2 size options:
This year we do not have enough room for all 8th grade students to have a ¼ page ad, so it will be first come first serve. All ads received after the ¼ page ads are filled will be business card size. The editor will have final discretion if a picture does not appear clear enough. Every effort will be made to use what you submit. Please send your typed message in the font and size you would like to have used, again the editor may need to make adjustments. Your submission should be sent to Dawn Elliott (elliott_dawn@stmcyclones.org) no later than Tuesday February 22, 2022. Submissions received after this date may not be accepted. Payment should be sent to the STM school office. PLKC SPORTS PHOTO NEEDED FOR STM YEARBOOK: Please send your photos of STM students participating in PLKC sports to Dawn Elliott (elliott_dawn@stm cyclones.org) as soon as possible. We are in dire need of photos of our STM PLKC athletes for the STM yearbook. Our submission deadline is looming, so we need your photos ASAP. Thanks in advance for your help! GIRLS’ FLAG FOOTBALL INFORMATION: KS CYO is looking into starting a girls flag football league beginning this spring. They have invited PLKC schools to participate. Please reach out to Tim Waris if you are interested in putting together a team. Rules of Competition are the same as the boy’s program except ball size; girls will use Pee Wee in all divisions
(LAST WEEK’S DATA DUE TO SNOW DAYS TODAY & YESTERDAY) STM COVID DASHBOARD: Week ending 1/13/22 Week ending 1/20/22 Week ending 1/27/22 Students in quarantine 4 8 0 Staff members in quarantine 0 1 0 Students in isolation 7 11 4 Staff members in isolation 1 4 2 Percentage of attendance 91% 90% 94% Total # of Student COVID cases this school year: 33 on Dec. 16; 73 on Jan. 27 Total # of Staff cases this school year: 2 on Dec. 16; 10 on Jan. 27 Total # of Students in Quarantine this school year: 64 on Dec. 16; 88 on Jan. 27 Total # of Staff in Quarantine 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:
LITURGICAL LIVING CALENDAR: Liturgical living is a beautiful way for individuals and families to learn about the traditions, saints, and rituals of our faith. This leads to a deeper comprehension and connection to our faith. Pick a few things each month to try and start to see the connection of the Catholic Faith to life outside of mass on Sunday! Give it a try! Here is the link: https://stmkc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Liturgical-Living-January-2022-Calendar.pdf READ ABOUT AN STM 3RD GRADER WHO LIVES HER FAITH: FROM RAY CLARKE: I wanted to reach out to you this morning and let you know of how great our kids are at STM. Lola Wellington was the winner of the $250 for the school selling over 3,800 tickets. This was the goal we set at the beginning of the year to assist with raising more funds for the school. When she learned of this she asked her mom if she could donate the money to Children’s Mercy. Natalie reached out to Children's Mercy and they provided a list of items that will be going to the 4HH Unit, which has their oncology patients. Natalie also had the idea of the Booster Club matching the donation which we have proudly approved. So Children’s Mercy will be getting a $500 donation because of the generosity of Lola and the Wellington family. Just a reminder that STM is a great school and has great kids that follow the call of Jesus Christ. One commendable practice for the month of February is a Consecration to the Holy Family. If you have a prayer corner or a home altar, you can gather the entire family and recite the consecration prayer, which reminds us that we aren't saved individually. We all work out our salvation in conjunction with others—first and foremost, together with the other members of our family. O God, Heavenly Father, it was part of Thine eternal decree that Thine only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, should form a holy family with Mary, His blessed mother, and His foster father, Saint Joseph. In Nazareth, home life was sanctified, and a perfect example was given to every Christian family. Grant, we beseech Thee, that we may fully comprehend and faithfully imitate the virtues of the Holy Family so that we may be united with them one day in their heavenly glory. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. St. Thomas More, pray for us. January 20, 2022
Dear STM Families, This week has been a challenging one for so many of us in the STM community. Amid the divisiveness and strife, though, students continue to come to school, teachers are guiding their students to new learning in incredible ways, and our reliance on the Holy Spirit within the walls of our school has been evident. The STM School Advisory Board met last night on Zoom to address our current situation. While the members were passionate in their feelings about the topics discussed, we were able to have civil discourse and come together in working towards an agreeable resolution. To begin the meeting, I shared several data points:
From there, we moved to a conversation of where we go from here. I presented six suggestions that had been made:
The SAB chose unanimously to throw out options #1 and #4. The decision was made to concentrate on the data points to build protocols utilizing #2, #3, #5, and/or #6. The two data points discussed for determining our status would be the percentage of COVID-positive students and the percentage of teacher absenteeism during a given time period. Before next Tuesday, when the SAB will meet again, members will collect data from schools in our area, Catholic and public, that have either maintained mask-optional policies or who have waffled between the two options based on data. Discussion will continue on this topic along with other protocols that would be necessary–such as determining the masking policy upon return if the school would close, looking at grade levels or areas of the building that would shut down OR the whole school, determining ratio of teachers at a grade level in 4th-8th grade (where students change classes) before sending home a section of students. Please know that this work is not taken lightly by any member of the SAB, including Fr. Justin, Mrs. Blair, and me. It is only right that you have your own ideas and opinions about all of this and the bigger picture. What I am asking is that you remember to be kind in your words and actions as your children are learning from all that you do and say. St. Thomas More, pray for us. Peace and Blessings, Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal STM UPCOMING EVENTS: TOMORROW, Friday, Jan. 21 STM Red Friday Spirit Wear Day to cheer on the KC Chiefs! TOMORROW, Friday, Jan. 21 (and every Friday afternoon) Join parents to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 p.m. in the narthex Monday, Jan. 17 No School–Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Sunday, Jan. 30 Open House from after 9 a.m. Mass-1 p.m. to kick-off Catholic Schools’ Week Jan. 30-Feb. 5 Catholic Schools’ Week (see details below and on attached flier) Friday, Feb. 4 No School–Student Learning Conferences Saturday, Feb. 5 STM Auction–”Gin & Jazz” Friday, March 11 NOTE: CHANGE TO STM CALENDAR–No School; Diocesan Professional Development Day for teachers STM RED FRIDAY TOMORROW! TOMORROW is Red Friday at STM to support our Kansas City Chiefs in the playoff game against the Buffalo Bills at home on Sunday afternoon. Students may wear jeans, spirit wear bottoms, or uniform bottoms with KC Chiefs or STM Spirit Wear. Let’s show our KC Chiefs Spirit and support them on our journey back to Super Bowl LVI! CATHOLIC SCHOOLS’ WEEK JAN. 30-FEB. 4: The countdown is on for one of the most exciting and fun weeks of the school year at STM–Catholic Schools’ Week! We have a lot of amazing activities planned to celebrate our blessed opportunities as a Catholic school community. Please see all of the details in the attached flier and check out a short summary below: Sunday, Jan. 30–STM Community Mass at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 am. Followed by Open House until 1:00 p.m. Monday, Jan. 31–Celebrate Community & Family Day Tuesday, Feb. 1–Celebrate Students Day Wednesday, Feb. 2–Celebrate Vocations Day Thursday, Feb. 3–Celebrate Teachers & Staff Day Friday, Feb. 4–NO SCHOOL; Teacher-requested Parent-Teacher Conferences RESERVE YOUR TICKETS TODAY FOR ‘GIN & JAZZ’--STM AUCTION, 2022 Mark your calendars and reserve your tickets today for the STM Auction, 2022–”Gin & Jazz” event on Saturday, February 5. Read all of the details on the attachment below. See you there! BRICKS 4 KIDZ AFTER-SCHOOL STEM ACTIVITY for GRADES K-5: 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. Grades K-5 NEW Models Every Session! St. Thomas More Elementary LEGO® Club Wednesdays after school from 3:25 - 4:25pm Dates: Feb.2,9,16,23 March 2,9 Enroll Now: www.bricks4kidz.com/kcnorth SEE ALL THE DETAILS IN THE ATTACHED FLYER. PAROCHIAL LEAGUE BASKETBALL GAMES ADMISSION PRICE: The "Family Rate" of $5.00 for admittance to STM basketball games applies to dad, mom, and kids. Any other relatives who attend should pay $5 for each individual ‘family.’ Grandma & Grandpa = $5. Aunt & Uncle = $5. Remember, these dollars help to finance the upkeep and improvement of our gym and school. Thanks for supporting STM! TRASH BAG SALE: STM Cub Scout pack 601 is holding their annual trash bag sale right now. Sales from this fundraiser help keep the cost of membership down as well as helping to cover cost of summer camps. Please seek out a Cub Scout member in grades 1-4 to purchase rolls. If you are not sure you can also email Mike Smith at jms6279@gmail.com to place you order. Trash bags are $12 per roll and come in the following sizes: Blue - 55 gallon, 16 bags: biggest bag, great for those big jobs Yellow - 39 gallon, 25 bags: most popular bag, great for all families White - 15 gallon, 65 bags: a smaller size, ideal for the kitchen Sale ends 1/18. Thanks for your support. COVID-RELATED INFORMATION: STM COVID DASHBOARD: Week ending 1/6/22 Week ending 1/13/22 Week ending 1/20/22 Students in quarantine 11 4 8 Staff members in quarantine 0 0 1 Students in isolation 9 7 11 Staff members in isolation 2 1 4 Percentage of attendance 90% 91% 90% Total # of Student COVID cases this school year: 33 on Dec. 16; 69 on Jan. 20 Total # of Staff cases this school year: 2 on Dec. 16: 8 on Jan. 20 Total # of Students in Quarantine this school year: 64 on Dec. 16; 88 on Jan. 20 Total # of Staff in Quarantine 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:
LITURGICAL LIVING CALENDAR: Liturgical living is a beautiful way for individuals and families to learn about the traditions, saints, and rituals of our faith. This leads to a deeper comprehension and connection to our faith. Pick a few things each month to try and start to see the connection of the Catholic Faith to life outside of mass on Sunday! Give it a try! Here is the link: https://stmkc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Liturgical-Living-January-2022-Calendar.pdf A Prayer for Healing Divisiveness in our Community: Oh Lord, as we work together to build your empire, let us be the light that leads the world to you. God, teach us to be good role models to the people around us, so that when they see you and your love within us, they would want to know you more and more. God grant us the patience to work together, bring us all together as a family. Let us work together with understanding and compassion in our hearts. Let us not be rude or arrogant towards one another, as we light the way to your heavenly kingdom. Ephesians 4:25 STM UPCOMING EVENTS:
TOMORROW, Friday, Jan. 14 STM Red Friday Spirit Wear Day to cheer on the KC Chiefs! TOMORROW, Friday, Jan. 14 (and every Friday afternoon) Join parents to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 p.m. in the narthex Monday, Jan. 17 No School–Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Sunday, Jan. 30 Open House from after 9 a.m. Mass-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” Friday, March 11 NOTE: CHANGE TO STM CALENDAR–No School; Diocesan Professional Development Day for teachers STM RED FRIDAY TOMORROW! TOMORROW is Red Friday at STM to support our Kansas City Chiefs in the playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at home at 7:15 p.m. on Sunday night. Students may wear jeans, spirit wear bottoms, or uniform bottoms with KC Chiefs or STM Spirit Wear. Let’s show our KC Chiefs Spirit and support them on our journey back to Super Bowl LVI! RESERVE YOUR TICKETS TODAY FOR ‘GIN & JAZZ’--STM AUCTION, 2022 Mark your calendars and reserve your tickets today for the STM Auction, 2022–”Gin & Jazz” event on Saturday, February 5. Read all of the details on the attachment below. See you there! ANNUAL DIOCESAN SURVEY FOR STM: Dear STM Parents, Our school is always trying to improve its ability to serve our mission. As part of the improvement process, we annually collect survey data from our stakeholder groups. Your opinion about the performance of our school is important to us and so we ask that you click on the link below and take the time to complete this important survey. Thank you for giving your time in completing this important survey. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/schoolsurvey22 BRICKS 4 KIDZ AFTER-SCHOOL STEM ACTIVITY for GRADES K-5: 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. Grades K-5 NEW Models Every Session! St. Thomas More Elementary LEGO® Club Wednesdays after school from 3:25 - 4:25pm Dates: Feb.2,9,16,23 March 2,9 Enroll Now: www.bricks4kidz.com/kcnorth SEE ALL THE DETAILS IN THE ATTACHED FLYER. PAROCHIAL LEAGUE BASKETBALL GAMES ADMISSION PRICE: The "Family Rate" of $5.00 for admittance to STM basketball games applies to dad, mom, and kids. Any other relatives who attend should pay $5 for each individual ‘family.’ Grandma & Grandpa = $5. Aunt & Uncle = $5. Remember, these dollars help to finance the upkeep and improvement of our gym and school. Thanks for supporting STM! TRASH BAG SALE: STM Cub Scout pack 601 is holding their annual trash bag sale right now. Sales from this fundraiser help keep the cost of membership down as well as helping to cover cost of summer camps. Please seek out a Cub Scout member in grades 1-4 to purchase rolls. If you are not sure you can also email Mike Smith at jms6279@gmail.com to place you order. Trash bags are $12 per roll and come in the following sizes: Blue - 55 gallon, 16 bags: biggest bag, great for those big jobs Yellow - 39 gallon, 25 bags: most popular bag, great for all families White - 15 gallon, 65 bags: a smaller size, ideal for the kitchen Sale ends 1/18. Thanks for your support. FINAL FOOTBALL RAFFLE DRAWING: LITURGICAL LIVING CALENDAR: Liturgical living is a beautiful way for individuals and families to learn about the traditions, saints, and rituals of our faith. This leads to a deeper comprehension and connection to our faith. Pick a few things each month to try and start to see the connection of the Catholic Faith to life outside of mass on Sunday! Give it a try! Here is the link: https://stmkc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Liturgical-Living-January-2022-Calendar.pdf A Prayer for Healing Divisiveness in our Community: God in deepening relationships, God in continuing conversation: may we welcome each other with courage, knowing that being together changes who we are. We pray that through respectful relationships we transform the imbalances of power to allow each one of us to fully belong. And may it be that inholding silence and in listening well to each other, we hear your voice in the midst of us. Amen. January 6, 2021
Dear STM Families, Happy New Year! We were so excited to welcome back our students on Tuesday for our 2nd semester of the 21-22 school year! Our teachers returned to school on Monday morning this week and participated in Professional Development activities all morning. In the afternoon, they completed inputting students’ scores from 2nd semester work. Please check your child(ren)’s grades on Sycamore (posted today) to discuss accomplishments and challenges. It’s a great time to reinforce nightly study skills and ensure a good night’s rest before school each day. As we begin the new year and a new semester, let us do so with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, that these fruits of the Spirit may sustain and nourish us in the coming days as we work to fulfill STM’s vision of forming servant leaders in the image of Christ. On behalf of the faculty and staff at STM, we welcome our students and families back home to school and pray that you and your families have a healthy, joy-filled, and prosperous new year. Peace & Blessings, Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal STM UPCOMING EVENTS: TOMORROW, Friday, Jan. 7 STM First Friday Spirit Wear Day! Wednesday, Jan. 12 Dine-Out Night at Minsky’s; MENTION ‘STM’ WHEN YOU ORDER 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” Friday, March 11 NOTE: CHANGE TO STM CALENDAR–No School; Diocesan Professional Development Day for teachers ANNUAL DIOCESAN SURVEY FOR STM: Dear STM Parents, Our school is always trying to improve its ability to serve our mission. As part of the improvement process, we annually collect survey data from our stakeholder groups. Your opinion about the performance of our school is important to us and so we ask that you click on the link below and take the time to complete this important survey. Thank you for giving your time in completing this important survey. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/schoolsurvey22 STM SPIRIT WEAR DAY TOMORROW! TOMORROW is First Friday STM Spirit Day. Students may wear jeans, spirit wear bottoms, or uniform bottoms with STM Spirit Wear. It’s a great opportunity for all of us to bundle up in our just-delivered STM swag! STM DINE-OUT NIGHT AT MINSKY’S–128th & STATE LINE: Our next Dine-Out Night will be Wednesday, January 12th at the MInsky's at 128th and State Line Road! Mark your calendars and be sure you mention St. Thomas More when placing your in-person, carry-out or delivery order! ATTENTION: 8TH GRADE FAMILIES: Professional 8th grade graduation pictures will be taken at STM beginning at 8 a.m. next Wednesday, Jan. 12. Here are some details:
BRICKS 4 KIDZ AFTER-SCHOOL STEM ACTIVITY for GRADES K-5: 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. Grades K-5 NEW Models Every Session! St. Thomas More Elementary LEGO® Club Wednesdays after school from 3:25 - 4:25pm Dates: Feb.2,9,16,23 March 2,9 Enroll Now: www.bricks4kidz.com/kcnorth SEE ALL THE DETAILS IN THE ATTACHED FLYER. PAROCHIAL LEAGUE BASKETBALL GAMES ADMISSION PRICE: The "Family Rate" of $5.00 for admittance to STM basketball games applies to dad, mom, and kids. Any other relatives who attend should pay $5 for each individual ‘family.’ Grandma & Grandpa = $5. Aunt & Uncle = $5. Remember, these dollars help to finance the upkeep and improvement of our gym and school. Thanks for supporting STM! COVID-RELATED INFORMATION: STM COVID DASHBOARD: Week ending 12/10/21 Week ending 12/16/21Week ending 1/6/21 Students in quarantine 4 9 11 Staff members in quarantine 0 0 0 Students in isolation 9 5 9 Staff members in isolation 0 0 2 Percentage of attendance 92% 91% 90% Total # of Student COVID cases this school year: 33 on Dec. 16; 51 on Jan. 6 Total # of Staff cases this school year: 2 on Dec. 16; 4 on Jan. 6 Total # of Students in Quarantine this school year: 64 on Dec. 16; 76 on Jan. 6 Total # 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:
UPDATE ON TASKS FOR MASK-OPTIONAL ON JAN. 17: The STM School Advisory Board met Monday afternoon to discuss necessary changes to our pre-Christmas break plans. First and foremost, as always, if your child is sick, he/she should stay home. Please monitor your child based on the symptoms above OR if he/she reports feeling sick. You know your child better than anyone else, so if you’re in doubt, please follow your heart and keep him/her home to feel better. The shortened periods recommended for isolation and quarantine procedures along with other changes led me to bring forth the opportunity of a test-to-stay program at our school. At this time, we are preparing for in-school testing as soon as we have adequate supplies and set-up. Here are the steps we have taken this week In order to follow the new guidelines for a five-day isolation and test-to-stay processes:
A Prayer for the New Year: Thank you, Lord, for giving us the brand new year ahead. Help us live the way we should each new day. Give us strength and courage to aid others in need more than we worry about ourselves. The year ahead is empty, help me fill it with good things. Each new day give me wisdom to recognize the joy and happiness You bring. Amen. St. Thomas More, pray for us. Peace and Blessings, Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal bricks_4_kidz_session_2__1_.pdf December 31, 2021
Dear All, I hope this message finds you healthy and joyful as we continue the celebration of our Lord’s birth. STM teachers will return to school for professional development on Monday, Jan. 3 and all staff and students return for the second semester on Tuesday, Jan. 4. I have some important news regarding our masking policies as the semester begins: Due to the revisions made by the CDC in the last week, our School Advisory Board will meet Monday afternoon to discuss necessary changes to our pre-Christmas break plans. As you probably know, there have been shortened periods recommended for isolation and quarantine procedures along with other changes. The value of a test-to-stay program at our school will be key in allowing us to follow these guidelines. At this time, our health office has limited numbers of COVID test kits, and we are unprepared for in-school testing. In order to follow the new guidelines for a five-day isolation and test-to-stay processes we need to:
Peace and Blessings for the New Year, Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal |
Cyclone ChatterThis is a weekly letter that Linda Crosthwait, Principal of STM puts out for school families. Archives
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