Cyclone Chatter March 25th, 2021

Dear STM Families,  
We have made it through Lent to the celebration of Palm Sunday this weekend.  Now we prayerfully transition from Lent to Holy Week, in preparation for Easter. Our teachers have been praying with and preparing our students each day.  Below are a few ideas for extending this preparation as a family in your home. 
Since the early days of Christianity, the week beginning with Palm Sunday and ending at sundown on Easter has been a sacred time because it commemorates the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We have so many family traditions as we celebrate Christmas, but we also want to help our children experience Easter as the greatest celebration of the liturgical year. Here are a few faith-filled ideas to help you keep the holy in Holy Week.  
Palm Sunday  
We began our celebration of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem at Mass by holding our palms high as the priest blessed them this weekend. Continue the celebration at home.  

• Put a small statue of Jesus in the center of your dinner table to remember to focus on Jesus during Holy Week. (In place of a statue, you can use a picture, or have your child draw Jesus’ picture as a reminder.) 
• Use the palm branches from church and have your own triumphal procession to the dinner table. 

Holy Week Preparation Days Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday  

• Clean the house: Think of spring housekeeping as a prayerful preparation for Easter in the same way that Jewish families clean in preparation for Passover. 
• Buy a lily: The white flower heralds the resurrection of Jesus. Let your children pick out one for your family and one for someone who needs to hear “good news.” 
• Color eggs: Decorated eggs are a symbol of new life that comes with the Resurrection. Make it more meaningful by helping your children write “Christ is Risen,” “Alleluia” or “Jesus loves us” on the eggs in crayon before coloring them.

Our true celebration of the Risen Christ will begin on Easter, but as with most holidays, the preparation builds more excitement for the big event.  Please ask your child to share about the activities in Religion class and throughout the day as we join you in preparing for Holy Week and Easter. 
STM SCHOOL UPCOMING EVENTS:  
TOMORROW, March 26 
STM Health Screening Cards due for each student (see below and attached) 

Thursday, April 1  
Holy Thursday—½ day of school; Students dismissed at 12:30 p.m.  

Thursday, April 1 
STM Spirit Wear Day for “First Friday” 

Friday, April 2 and Monday, April 5  
Good Friday and Easter Monday—NO SCHOOL  

Sunday, April 4 
Alleluia!  He is Risen! 
Happy Easter! 

Sunday, April 18  
2nd Grade First Holy Communion  

Week of May 3-7 
Diocesan Benchmark Assessments for  
Grades 3-8 in Math, English, and Written Expression 

Wednesday, May 12  
8th Grade Graduation at 5 p.m.  
  
PLEASE SLOW DOWN IN OUR PARKING LOT! 
Safety is ALWAYS a top priority at St. Thomas More.  Please always observe the 15 mph Speed Limit in and around our school.  
 
STM HEALTH SCREENING CARDS:  
Your child's current individual Health Screening Card will be due TOMORROW, Friday, March 26. Please find the Health Screening Card attached to this email.  
We appreciate your partnering with us to verify that every child is fever-free and not experiencing:  

• New cough  
• Difficult breathing  
• Loss of taste/smell  

• Fever (equal to or greater than 100 degrees) or chills  
• Sore throat  
• Congestion/runny nose  
• Headache  
• Muscle or body aches  

• Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea  

If your child has any of these symptoms, they should not attend school. Notify Amy Hokanson, RN of any symptoms or exposure to COVID-19 by calling 816-942-5581 or email health@stmcyclones.org  
  
SPECIAL INSTRUSTIONS FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 1: 

1. Holy Thursday, April 1, will be a half-day of school with student dismissal at 12:30 p.m.  We will not have a lunch break and no ‘My Hot Lunchbox’ orders will be taken. Teachers will allow for two snack breaks for the children during their shortened day. Please send TWO snacks with your child for this day. 

1. We will not be in school on the “First Friday” of April, so we’ll recognize Thursday, April 1 as a STM Spirit Day, instead.  Students may wear a STM (ONLY STM) Spirit Wear top with jeans, khakis, or Spirit Wear bottoms. Of course, the STM uniform is always appropriate. 

1. We will run a regular schedule of classes on Thursday. If you child has Band Class on that day, please be sure that he/she brings the instrument and music for that class. 

   
2ND GRADE FIRST COMMUNION:  
Our 2nd grade students will make their First Holy Communion on Sunday, April 18.  There will be three individual Masses for each of the classrooms:  
2:00 p.m.--Mrs. Anwander’s class  
3:30 p.m.--Mrs. Corkins’ class  
5:00 p.m.--Mrs. Spiller’s class  
More details will follow.  Please watch for additional information from your child’s homeroom teacher and/or in upcoming Cyclone Chatter newsletters.  
 
SUMMER CYCLONES INFORMATION:  
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 they as they stay sharp on their academic skills and participate in a healthy dose of fun-filled activities on site.  
Please see the attached flyer for all the details! 
 
COVID-RELATED INFORMATION:   
STM COVID DASHBOARD:   See below

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.   
COVID Task Force Meeting Notes:  
The COVID Task Force met this afternoon.  The next meeting is set for Thursday, April 8.  Any additional agenda items for the next meeting can be shared with Mrs. Crosthwait or any COVID Task Force member.  Following are the parents who serve on this team:  Ben Lizak, Stephanie Rogge, Layne Griffith, Natalie Rellihan, Matt Pomianek, McCall Creswell, and Courtney Fitzgerald.  
The following actions have been taken since last week’s meeting:  
Playground equipment procedures: Large playground set is now used by students in grades 1-4 in rotation and sanitized between usages. Students are NOT allowed to bring playground equipment from home due to the necessary sanitization processes between usages (by the teacher) and lack of storage for the equipment except at the students’ desks (a distraction for students).  
All teachers are able, as they choose, to show a video or movie during lunch break to limit the exposure of students and the teachers while all masks are off.  
Members discussed the March 19 recommendations from the CDC regarding the change from 6 feet of spacing between students to 3 feet of spacing.  These recommendations will have no impact on our school for the rest of the school year.  There was conversation entailing the work that will need to be done as plans are made for the 2021-22 school year. 
STM Adult-Activity Fundraisers/Community Events were discussed.  More information will follow. 
At the School Advisory Board meeting last night, a recommendation was made to re-frame the STM COVID Task Force as a subcommittee of the SAB.  All current members of the COVID Task Force and others who are interested to serve for the 2021-22 school year will apply in the coming weeks. 
Because next Thursday is Holy Thursday, the Task Force agreed to reconvene on Thursday, April 8. 
 
EARTH DAY PROJECT—TRASH PICK-UP ALONG BLUE RIVER ROAD 
Saturday, April 24, 10am-Noon 
The St. Thomas More Green Team is planning a service project to celebrate Earth Day (which is April 22). On the following Saturday, we will meet at 10am in the parking lot of Children International, which is located at the northwest corner of Red Bridge and Blue River Roads. We will pick up trash for two hours along Blue River Road. We have made arrangements with the city to come and pick up the trash that we have collected. 
We encourage young and old, singles and families to come and be a part of this project. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.  This is a great opportunity for students to get service hours. We recommend wearing long sleeves, jeans, gloves, and protective footwear. We will provide plastic bags. Please pray for good weather! 
For more information or to register for this event, contact David Butel at the parish office by April 21, dbutel@stmkc.com or 816-942-2492, x. 210.  
 
STM HEALTH SCREENING CARDS:  
Your child's current individual Health Screening Card will be due Friday, March 26.  Please find the Health Screening Card attached to this email.  
We appreciate your partnering with us to verify that every child is fever-free and not experiencing:  

• New cough  
• Difficult breathing  

• Loss of taste/smell  
• Fever (equal to or greater than 100 degrees) or chills  
• Sore throat  
• Congestion/runny nose  
• Headache  

• Muscle or body aches  
• Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea  

If your child has any of these symptoms, they should not attend school.  Notify Amy Hokanson, RN of any symptoms or exposure to COVID-19 by calling 816-942-5581 or email health@stmcyclones.org  
  
ROOM/TEACHER REQUESTS:  
The STM office will review requests for room assignments based upon a written request submitted to Mrs. Crosthwait.  All requests must be submitted before May 1.  Only requests having a firm educational basis will be accepted for review.  
STM SCHOOL ADVISORY BOARD OPENINGS FOR 2021-2024:
We want to share our deep appreciation with three STM School Advisory Board members who have completed their three-year terms on the board.  Many thanks to:
Amy Cooper, Kathy Schimmel, and Tiffany Woods  
Because of their departure from the board, we are in need of three new board members to serve through the 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24 school years.  Please prayerfully consider if you might bring your gifts and talents to serve in this advisory role.
Please follow this link to access the application.  Scroll down to the School Advisory Board section of the page and click on the 'SAB Application' button.  ALL APPLICATIONS ARE DUE TO THE STM SCHOOL OFFICE BY MAY 7, 2021.


Following is a prayer you might share with your family as we near the end of Lenten sacrifices and offerings: 
Lord, I am not always energetic in doing your will.  
I would often much rather take the easy road.  
Please be with me as we are near the end of this Lenten journey.  
Help me to be creative and enthusiastic that your own spirit can guide me in the right direction.  
I know that with your help, anything can be done. 
Amen. 
 
Peace and Blessings, 
Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal 
 
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