March 23, 2023
Dear STM Families, 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 this week. The latest Iowa Flex score sheets for your child(ren) will be sent home in backpacks TOMORROW (or today with 5th graders). Please take time tomorrow or this weekend to review Iowa Flex scores and check 3rd quarter grades on Sycamore with your child(ren) to celebrate academic successes and discuss challenges to finish this school year STRONG! 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. Monday, March 27 through Thursday, April 6 is the testing window for our 3rd through 8th grade students to take Iowa Assessments in Reading, Math, Social Studies, and Science. These timed assessments will be taken electronically. 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. St. Thomas More, pray for us. Peace and Blessings, Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal STM IMPORTANT DATES Thursday, March 23 FINAL Finance Night at Parish Office for school registration from 3:00-6:00 p.m. Friday, March 24 3rd Quarter Grades available on Sycamore; latest Iowa Flex Assessment score sheets sent home in backpacks Friday, March 24 Stations of the Cross (4-Thomas in charge) 1:30 p.m. in church Friday, March 24 STM All-School Spring Pep Rally 2:15 p.m. in the STM Gym Friday, March 24 STM Troop 601 Fish Fry Friday, March 3rd: 4:45 pm - 7 pm @ More Hall *See flyer attached below for details & pricing. (Also on March 31) Monday, March 27 STM StuCo DONUT DAY–$2 Donuts for sale in Flanagan Hall; one donut per student; from 7:30 a.m. until 7:50 a.m. (or when they run out!) Monday, March 27-Thursday, April 6 Iowa Assessments for all students in grades 3-8 Monday, March 27-Saturday, April 1 STM Booster Club Glory Days Friday, March 31 Stations of the Cross (2-Spiller) in charge; 2 p.m. in church Wednesday, April 5 Papa Johns STM Dine-Out night; Mention STM when you order your pizza Thursday, April 6–HOLY THURSDAY Stations of the Cross (8th Grade in charge) 11:30 a.m. Early Release at 12:30 p.m. Friday, April 7–GOOD FRIDAY NO SCHOOL Sunday, April 9–EASTER He is Risen! Alleluia!! Monday, April 10–EASTER MONDAY NO SCHOOL Tuesday, April 11 Kindergarten Round-Up: Fully-registered families will receive details in an email tomorrow Friday, April 14 First Friday STM Spirit Wear Day (postponed from Holy Week)--Students may wear a STM Spirit Wear shirt (no hoodies, please) with jeans, khakis, or Spirit Wear bottoms (no Jammie pants, please). Of course the uniform is always appropriate. Saturday, April 15 STM Music Trivia Night!: 7-10pm in STM Flanagan Hall $35 / person, $60 / couple. Ten people to a table! (Adults only) Tuesday, April 18 Grades 5-8 Band Concert at 6:30 p.m. in Flanagan Hall Friday, April 28 Friday, April 28th Home and School will host Family Bingo Night in Flanagan Hall. Details to follow! 2023-2024 STM Registration - REGISTER NOW Late Registration Starts March 23rd (TODAY) - $100 late fee applies to anyone who completes the online process and financial obligations after March 22, 2023. Please know that you need to complete the online portion of registration BEFORE you visit the parish office to complete the financial portion and finalize registration. Financial nights are from 3pm - 6pm at the Parish Office. If you want to stop by during the day, their hours are M-F 8:45 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; they are closed for lunch from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Sycamore Online Registration Link: https://sycamore.school/family/admissions/register?school_id=2161 You will also need the following information to get started with online registration: • Video tutorial for Online Registration with Sycamore: https://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/c0nbYqVyDih • our Parent Sycamore Login & Password (if you do not remember your password, you can go to https://app.sycamoreschool.com/index.php and click "Reset Password." If you do not have your login information, please contact the school office at 816.942.5581) • STM School ID: 2161 • Most recent address, telephone, etc. for your family, emergency contacts, etc. • Access to your child's birth certificate, baptismal certificate, and most current immunization record, if they have not already been submitted to the school. AFTER SCHOOL PLAYGROUND SAFETY MESSAGE: Your child’s appropriate playground behavior while playing after school or on the weekends is your responsibility. I have received messages regarding unsafe play practices and children rough-housing around younger children. Please supervise your child closely to ensure that everyone can have fun and enjoy our upgraded playground area this Spring! ORDER YOUR CHILD’S 22-23 STM YEARBOOK NOW: You can still order a 2022-23 STM Yearbook! How to Order your LifeTouch Yearbook 1. Go to www.YBPay.com and enter the Yearbook ID for STM (12113023). Click Next. 2. Enter your child's information. (Note that you need to enter your child's name as it appears on school records. 3. Select your yearbook style and cover type. 4. Complete the order form with your billing and payment information Can I check to see if I ordered a yearbook this year? Go to ybpay.lifetouch.com/Order/SelectOrderHistoryEmailAddress and enter the email address that might have been used with an order. If a transaction is associated with that address, you’ll receive a copy of it via email within moments. SERVICE HOURS OPPORTUNITY FOR 6th-8th GRADERS: Blue River Roadside Clean Up Saturday, April 1, 9-11am The STM Green Team is planning another clean up effort along Blue River Road. We will be joining efforts with a Boy Scout Troop and a few other volunteers organized by Kathy LaFrensen. We will meet at 9am in the parking lot of Children International which is located at the intersection of Red Bridge and Blue River Roads. Please dress appropriately. We suggest you wear long sleeve shirts, jeans, sturdy shoes (or boots, depending on how wet it is), gloves, and hats. For more information or to volunteer, contact David Butel at the parish office, 816-942-2492, x. 210 or dbutel@stmkc.com by March 29. DRAMA PROGRAM --SIGN UP NOW!: Mr. Dan O’Connell, 5th-6th grade Social Studies teacher, will sponsor an after school drama program following Spring Break this year. The weekly classes will run for FOUR days--Monday-Thursday. The cost for the four days is $25.00. If your child comes for one to three days, the cost is $10.00 per day. Week 1: 7th and 8th grade only: March 27-30. Enrollment minimum, 4 students; Time: 3:30 to 4:30 pm. Students will work with a partner(s) on a short scene and perform on the last day. We will also have fun with improv exercises! Weeks 2 and 3: 5th and 6th grade only: April 11-14 and April 17-20. Students will all be in a short play--”Goldilocks on Trial” which will be performed on the last day. Minimum enrollment: 11. THIS TWO WEEK CLASS MEETS from 3:30-5:00. The cost is $60 for the two weeks. Week 4: 3rd grade only: April 24-27. Minimum enrollment: 4. We will play theater games, use our voices creatively and create puppets to tell a story! Week 5: 4th grade only May 1-4. Minimum enrollment: 4. We will read the play Charlotte’s Web, do pantomime activities as well as other creative drama experiences! Week 6: 1st and 2nd grade only: May 8-11 Music, movement, listening to stories, telling stories, exploring all aspects of drama, what fun! Questions? Thank you! Email: oconnell_dan@stmcyclones.org BRICKS 4 KIDZ FINAL SESSION OF THE SCHOOL YEAR: St. Thomas More EARLY ENGINEERS After-School LEGO® CLUB NEW Models Every Session! Wednesdays 3:25 – 4:25 PM April 12,19,26 May 3,10,17 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. Each 6-week session features a new theme and models. This club is for grades K-5. Class size is limited. Students will receive a LEGO® minifig with enrollment. Check out the flier attached below for all of the details. MUSIC TRIVIA NIGHT! MARK YOUR CALENDARS!! Get your team together now to join the STM Music Trivia Night on Saturday, April 15 from 7-10 p.m. in STM Flanagan Hall. Cost: $35/person or $60/couple. Ten people to a table. See more details in the flier below. (Adults only) MEN’S OPEN GYM INFORMATION: Men's basketball at the gym continues every Sunday night in March at 8:00 pm. Dads of all skill levels are welcome. It's a great opportunity to play some ball, get a little exercise, and meet other dads in the parish. For more information or questions, contact Eric Gaughan at eric.gaughan@gmail.com. SUMMER CYCLONES INFORMATION: For students entering grades Pre-K to 7 Weekdays, Tuesday, May 30—Tuesday, August 8, 2023 8:00am—5:30pm The Summer Cyclones Camp is an amazing experience that will offer kids preschool aged to 7th grade the opportunity to forge a community unlike any other centered around an engaging experience of fun and enrichment. The enthusiastic staff at Summer Cyclones cannot wait to make this the best summer ever for the kids as they stay sharp on their academic skills and participate in a healthy dose of fun-filled activities on site. More info & registration: stmkc.com/summercyclones, Tim Waris tim@stmkc.com Following is a Lenten prayer you can share with your family this week: Heavenly Father, Thank you that you are a generous God and that you give us so many good things. We are sorry that we are not always generous with others. Please help us this week to be kind, to do our very best, and to be generous when we are helping others. Amen.
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Dear STM Families,
At STM, our teachers and staff are committed to providing inclusive education to our students. We strive to meet all students' learning needs in a variety of ways, from flexible seating, to different levels of lighting in the classrooms, to one-on-one versus whole group instruction, to monitoring noise in the classrooms. During STM’s Catholic Schools Week Inclusion Day at the end of January, we asked students in grades 4th-8th to take a personal learning survey to communicate how they prefer to learn. As part of the survey, the students were asked to write down five ways their classrooms can be more inclusive of their preferred methods of learning. The chart attached illustrates their written responses. This student feedback was also shared with our staff during the February Faculty Meeting. Additionally, on our last Staff In-Service day in February, our teachers attended the FIRE: Inclusion in Action Conference. The invaluable information they received, in conjunction with the student surveys, has sparked a flood of creative ways to address learning needs in our classrooms. We'd like to share with you the ways teachers and staff are using inclusive measures in their classrooms. Our first two Inclusive Educator Spotlights are highlighting Lauren Meier and Tracy Stewart. If you would like to shine the spotlight on a staff member or teacher at STM because of the creative way they incorporate inclusivity, please send us the teacher's name and details of your observation! Peace and Blessings, Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal & Meredith Blair, Assistant Principal STM IMPORTANT DATES Friday, March 10 - NO SCHOOL, FIRST DAY OF SPRING BREAK Diocesan Teacher Religious Formation; all diocesan teachers and administrators will be at STM for Mass with Bishop Johnston and learning sessions throughout the day Friday, March 10 - STM Troop 601 Fish Fry 4:45 pm - 7 pm @ More Hall. Also on March 24, and 31 Sunday, March 12 - SPRING FORWARD! Daylight Savings begins. Move your clocks FORWARD one hour! Monday, March 13-Monday, March 20 - SPRING BREAK FOR STUDENTS Teachers return on 3/20 for a Staff Retreat Tuesday, March 21 Students return from Spring Break for first day of 4th quarter of school Wednesday, March 22 - Freddy’s STM Dine-Out night 5:00PM - 9:00PM - Restaurant location: 13628 Washington Ave, KC, MO Mention STM when you order your dinner. Thursday, March 23 - FINAL Finance Night at Parish Office for school registration from 3:00-6:00 p.m. Monday, March 27 - Saturday, April 1 - STM Booster Club Glory Days Wednesday, April 5 - Papa Johns STM Dine-Out night Mention STM when you order your pizza Saturday, April 15 - Music Trivia Night! 7-10pm in STM Flanagan Hall $35 a person, $60 a couple. Ten people to a table! 2023-2024 STM Registration - REGISTER NOW Late Registration Starts March 23rd - $100 late fee applies to anyone who completes the online process and financial obligations after March 22, 2023. Please know that you need to complete the online portion of registration BEFORE you visit the parish office to complete the financial portion and finalize registration. The March 1st, 2nd, & 23rd financial nights are from 3pm - 6pm. If you want to stop by during the day, their hours are M-F 8:45 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; they are closed for lunch from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Sycamore Online Registration Link: https://sycamore.school/family/admissions/register?school_id=2161 You will also need the following information to get started with online registration: · Video tutorial for Online Registration with Sycamore: https://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/c0nbYqVyDih · Your Parent Sycamore Login & Password (if you do not remember your password, you can go to https://app.sycamoreschool.com/index.php and click "Reset Password." If you do not have your login information, please contact the school office at 816.942.5581) · STM School ID: 2161 · Most recent address, telephone, etc. for your family, emergency contacts, etc. · Access to your child's birth certificate, baptismal certificate, and most current immunization record, if they have not already been submitted to the school. ORDER YOUR CHILD’S 22-23 STM YEARBOOK NOW: You can still order a 2022-23 STM Yearbook! How to Order your LifeTouch Yearbook 1. Go to www.YBPay.com and enter the Yearbook ID for STM (12113023). Click Next. 2. Enter your child's information. (Note that you need to enter your child's name as it appears on school records. 3. Select your yearbook style and cover type. 4. Complete the order form with your billing and payment information Can I check to see if I ordered a yearbook this year? Go to ybpay.lifetouch.com/Order/SelectOrderHistoryEmailAddress and enter the email address that might have been used with an order. If a transaction is associated with that address, you’ll receive a copy of it via email within moments. SERVICE HOURS OPPORTUNITY FOR 6th-8th GRADERS: Blue River Roadside Clean Up - Saturday, April 1, 9-11am The STM Green Team is planning another clean up effort along Blue River Road. We will be joining efforts with a Boy Scout Troop and a few other volunteers organized by Kathy LaFrensen. We will meet at 9am in the parking lot of Children International which is located at the intersection of Red Bridge and Blue River Roads. Please dress appropriately. We suggest you wear long sleeve shirts, jeans, sturdy shoes (or boots, depending on how wet it is), gloves, and hats. For more information or to volunteer, contact David Butel at the parish office, 816-942-2492, x. 210 or dbutel@stmkc.com by March 29. St. Thomas More Parish Mission - March 18-21, 2023 Make plans now to attend our upcoming parish mission. Fr. Tom Donaldson, CSSR, will speak at all of the Masses the weekend of March 18/19. There will be evening presentations on March 19, 20, 21 from 6:30-7:45pm. The theme is "Return! Renew! Rejoice!" Reception following each night's presentation. He will also preach at the 8:15 Mass on Monday and Tuesday mornings. We plan to provide childcare and as well as rides to the parish mission. If you need childcare, contact Mary Begnaud at the parish office, 816-942-2492 or mary@stmkc.com. If you need a ride to the evening sessions, contact Jean Donaldson at ljf1953@aol.com or 816-213-6015. Please RSVP for these services by Wednesday, March 15. For more information, contact David Butel at the parish office, 816-942-2492, x210 or dbutel@stmkc.com. DRAMA PROGRAM TO BE OFFERED AFTER SPRING BREAK: Mr. Dan O’Connell, 5th-6th grade Social Studies teacher, will sponsor an after school drama program following Spring Break this year. The weekly classes will run for FOUR days Monday-Thursday. The cost for the four days is $25.00. If your child comes for one to three days, the cost is $10.00 per day. Questions? Email: oconnell_dan@stmcyclones.org MUSIC TRIVIA NIGHT! MARK YOUR CALENDARS!! Get your team together now to join the STM Music Trivia Night on Saturday, April 15 from 7-10 p.m. in STM Flanagan Hall. Cost: $35/person or $60/couple. Ten people to a table. See more details in the flier below. MEN’S OPEN GYM INFORMATION: Men's basketball at the gym continues every Sunday night in March at 8:00 pm. Dads of all skill levels are welcome. It's a great opportunity to play some ball, get a little exercise, and meet other dads in the parish. For more information or questions, contact Eric Gaughan at eric.gaughan@gmail.com. SUMMER CYCLONES INFORMATION: For students entering grades Pre-K to 7 Weekdays, Tuesday, May 30—Tuesday, August 8, 2023 8:00am—5:30pm The Summer Cyclones Camp is an amazing experience that will offer kids preschool aged to 7th grade the opportunity to forge a community unlike any other centered around an engaging experience of fun and enrichment. The enthusiastic staff at Summer Cyclones cannot wait to make this the best summer ever for the kids as they stay sharp on their academic skills and participate in a healthy dose of fun-filled activities on site. More info & registration: stmkc.com/summercyclones Tim Waris tim@stmkc.com Following is a prayer we are praying for YOU and your family to have an enjoyable, relaxing, and safe Spring Break: Faithful Father, we thank You for our students and their families. We thank You for fulfilling Your plans and purposes through our children during their Spring Break activities. Thank You for blessing our children and youth with a chance to rest and relax. Keep our students and their families safe in Your loving care as they enjoy their time together. By faith, we declare that as our families spend time together during this week of rest and fun, that they will be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love in Your name. Amen. Dear STM Families,
It is hard to believe that March has arrived … this school year is flying by. This month will hopefully bring us signs of spring as we journey through Lent. We will focus on the season of Lent during all classes and through special events and liturgies that will take place at the school. Tomorrow and each Friday of Lent, our students will join together in the church at 2:30 p.m. for the Stations of the Cross. You are welcome to join us. During Lent, we prepare for Easter. This is a time of prayer, restraint, and questioning of what is really important in our lives. We will encourage our students to consider their own Lenten journey and how they might want to live Lent … this might include giving up some things that they like to help them appreciate their blessings or it could include extra acts of kindness and compassion during the season of Lent. Spring Break is only one week away. Students will begin the break on Friday, March 10 while our teachers and all of the diocesan school employees will come together at STM for a day of faith formation. Bishop Johnston will begin the day with Mass at 9 a.m. in our church. Please pray for us as we take this time to contemplate our own mission as Catholic educators. We look forward to another solid week of learning to end our 3rd quarter next week! Peace and Blessings, Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal STM IMPORTANT DATES: Friday, March 3 - FIRST FRIDAY STM SPIRIT DAY! (See details below) Friday, March 3 - STM Troop 601 Fish Fry Friday, March 3rd: 4:45 pm - 7 pm @ More Hall Also on March 10, 24, and 31 Friday, March 10–FIRST DAY OF SPRING BREAK FOR STUDENTS NO SCHOOL–Diocesan Teacher Professional Learning; all diocesan teachers will be at STM for Mass with Bishop Johnston and learning sessions throughout the day Monday, March 13-Monday, March 20 - SPRING BREAK FOR STUDENTS; teachers return on 3/20 for a Staff Retreat Tuesday, March 21 - Students return from Spring Break for first day of 4th quarter of school Wednesday, March 22 - Freddy’s STM Dine-Out night; mention STM when you order your dinner - Time period: 5:00PM - 9:00PM - Restaurant location: 13628 Washington Ave, KC, MO Thursday, March 23 - FINAL Finance Night at Parish Office for school registration from 3:00-6:00 p.m. Monday, March 27-Saturday, April 1 - STM Booster Club Glory Days Wednesday, April 5 - Papa Johns STM Dine-Out night; Mention STM when you order your pizza FIRST FRIDAY STM SPIRIT WEAR DAY TOMORROW: TOMORROW, all students may wear STM Spirit Wear Tops with STM Spirit Wear bottoms, jeans, khakis, or uniform bottoms. No hoodies, please. Our STM basketball teams who have advanced to the finals this weekend may wear their basketball jerseys (with a shirt underneath, please). They can also wear the basketball uniform shorts, STM Spirit Wear bottoms, jeans, khakis, or uniform bottoms. These teams are: 5th Grade Girls; 5th Grade Boys; 7th Grade Boys; and 8th Grade Girls. Good luck, teams!! 2023-2024 STM Registration - REGISTER NOW Late Registration Starts March 23rd - $100 late fee applies to anyone who completes the online process and financial obligations after March 22, 2023. 2023-2024 STM Registration - Financial Night TONIGHT from 3:00-6:00 p.m. Please know that you need to complete the online portion of registration BEFORE you visit the parish office to complete the financial portion and finalize registration. The March 1st, 2nd, & 23rd financial nights are from 3pm - 6pm. If you want to stop by during the day, their hours are M-F 8:45 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; they are closed for lunch from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Sycamore Online Registration Link: https://sycamore.school/family/admissions/register?school_id=2161 You will also need the following information to get started with online registration:
ORDER YOUR CHILD’S 22-23 STM YEARBOOK NOW: You can still order a 2022-23 STM Yearbook! How to Order your LifeTouch Yearbook
Go to ybpay.lifetouch.com/Order/SelectOrderHistoryEmailAddress and enter the email address that might have been used with an order. If a transaction is associated with that address, you’ll receive a copy of it via email within moments. SERVICE HOURS OPPORTUNITY FOR 6th-8th GRADERS: The Rescue Project The Rescue Project is an experience for STM parishioners of the gospel surrounded by food, conversation and prayer. Meal & learning sessions are taking place in More Hall on Thursdays through March 30. Here is the Sign-Up Genius link for 6th, 7th and 8th grade students to assist with bussing tables during STM's Thursday evening Rescue Project in More Hall. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4FAFA92BABFAC70-therescue Students would transport food from outside the kitchen to the 20 tables of participants, and then bring plates/bowls/silverware back from the tables after the meal. Note: The students will not be able to partake in the meal (since it is pre-ordered for the 200 attendees). Questions? Email Fr. Justin at frjhoye@stmkc.com St. Thomas More Parish MissionMarch 18-21, 2023 Make plans now to attend our upcoming parish mission. Fr. Tom Donaldson, CSSR, will speak at all of the Masses the weekend of March 18/19. There will be evening presentations on March 19, 20, 21 from 6:30-7:45pm. The theme is "Return! Renew! Rejoice!" Reception following each night's presentation. He will also preach at the 8:15 Mass on Monday and Tuesday mornings. We plan to provide childcare and as well as rides to the parish mission. If you need childcare, contact Mary Begnaud at the parish office, 816-942-2492 or mary@stmkc.com. If you need a ride to the evening sessions, contact Jean Donaldson at ljf1953@aol.com or 816-213-6015. Please RSVP for these services by Wednesday, March 15. For more information, contact David Butel at the parish office, 816-942-2492, x210 or dbutel@stmkc.com. DRAMA PROGRAM TO BE OFFERED AFTER SPRING BREAK: Mr. Dan O’Connell, 5th-6th grade Social Studies teacher, will sponsor an after school drama program following Spring Break this year. The weekly classes will run for FOUR days--Monday-Thursday. The cost for the four days is $25.00. If your child comes for one to three days, the cost is $10.00 per day. Questions? Email: oconnell_dan@stmcyclones.org SUMMER CYCLONES INFORMATION: For students entering grades Pre-K to 7 Weekdays, Tuesday, May 30—Tuesday, August 8, 2023 8:00am—5:30pm. The Summer Cyclones Camp is an amazing experience that will offer kids preschool aged to 7th grade the opportunity to forge a community unlike any other centered around an engaging experience of fun and enrichment. The enthusiastic staff at Summer Cyclones cannot wait to make this the best summer ever for the kids as they stay sharp on their academic skills and participate in a healthy dose of fun-filled activities on site. More info & registration: stmkc.com/summercyclones Tim Waris tim@stmkc.com A LENTEN PRAYER: Dear Lord, Please help us during this Lenten season to Fast from judging others; Feast on Christ dwelling in them. Fast from fear of illness; Feast on the healing power of God. Fast from words that pollute; Feast on speech that purifies. Fast from discontent; Feast on gratitude. Fast from anger; Feast on patience. Fast from pessimism; Feast on hope. Fast from negatives; Feast on encouragement. Fast from bitterness; Feast on forgiveness. Fast from self-concern; Feast on compassion. Fast from suspicion; Feast on truth. Fast from gossip; Feast on purposeful silence. Fast from problems that overwhelm; Feast on prayer that sustains. Fast from anxiety; Feast on faith. We ask these in Your name. Amen. |
Cyclone ChatterThis is a weekly letter that Linda Crosthwait, Principal of STM puts out for school families. Archives
March 2023
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