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CYCLONE Chatter

Cyclone Chatter: November 19th, 2020

11/20/2020

 
Dear STM Families,
The roller coaster ride of 2020 continued this week in our STM School community.  While more than 85 students returned to our classrooms from quarantine, we have had a number of staff members and students sent home with positive cases or direct contact with a positive case.  We currently have 182 students and 20 staff members at home with COVID-related exposures. 
Thank you for understanding that we are legally required to keep COVID-related information private, even during a global pandemic.  We appreciate your respect for the privacy of those who are infected or impacted by coronavirus. 
STM teachers and staff are stretching themselves to cover as many bases as possible in distance and in-person learning environments.  We appreciate your flexibility and grace through these trying times.  Every action taken is with consideration for your child’s safety and optimum learning environment.  As always, though, if you are uncomfortable with sending your child to school, it is your choice to keep him/her at home. 
Teachers and staff are preparing plans for all students’ virtual/distance learning through the week after Thanksgiving Break,  Nov. 30-Dec. 4, as Bishop Johnston has requested for our diocesan schools.  You will receive specific instructions for your child (or each of your children) from his/her teacher(s).  We know that many of you have more than one child at home, so we are trying to be cognizant of issues with enough technology or time to work with all family members at the same time.  Our goal is to maintain the appropriate level of learning while respecting each individual family situation. 
We will send information regarding virtual learning details previous to Thanksgiving Break so you can prepare appropriately in your home for the week of Nov. 30-Dec. 4. 
I would like to personally thank all of you for your many emails and messages of prayers and support for me this past week.  Through all of your blessings, I came home yesterday from the hospital for treatment of a heart attack last Friday morning.  My goal is to rebuild my strength so I can get back to all of you at STM as soon as possible.  I know how blessed I am to be a part of the STM community!
 St. Thomas More, pray for us. 
Peace and Blessings,
Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal


STM SCHOOL UPCOMING EVENTS:
Nov. 19                         2nd Grade First Reconciliation Services
Nov. 25-27                   Thanksgiving Break
Nov. 30-Dec. 4             Distance Learning for all students
Dec. 2 & 3                    Kendra Scott Gives Back to STM Nights (see below)
Week of Dec. 7            St. Nicholas Day celebrations
Friday, Dec. 11.            Final turn-in for Fun Raffle tickets
Monday, Dec. 14          Fun Raffle Drawing
Friday, Dec.18              Last day of school before Christmas Break
Dec. 21-Jan. 1              Christmas Break

PASS THE ‘VIRTUAL’ TEACHER CHRISTMAS GIFT FUND BUCKET:
There’s no doubt about it, everyone at STM is working hard to keep our students on track during this crazy COVID time. It’s that time of the year where we kindly ask each family to help spread the love and joy to the teachers and staff with their Annual Gift. Every dollar raised goes directly to them! Donating is easy and takes no time by simply texting “STM” to “243725”. If each family gives $25-$30, we’ll be able to provide the same amount as last year. Text to give today and follow instructions or if you prefer to send cash or check, mark envelope ‘Teacher Gift Fund’ and submit to the office. Any questions, feel free to email Courtney Fahey at: crfahey@me.com

STM/KENDRA SCOTT GIVES BACK NIGHT:
Save the date for our STM/Kendra Scott Gives Back Night. Shop for Good online or in stores on December 2nd and 3rd with 20% of sales benefiting the St. Thomas More school Teacher Christmas Gift Fund. Please use web code GIVEBACK-0CN0 or shop in store at Kendra Scott Town Center Crossing for 20% of your purchase to support St. Thomas More school.  Please be advised Kendra Scott at Town Center Crossing is limited capacity. 


FUN RAFFLE TICKETS:
‘Fun Raffle’ tickets were sent home in backpacks last week.  Each ticket costs $10, and you were sent a pack of five tickets. For every ticket sold, you will receive dollar for dollar a credit on any remaining 2020-21 STM School Activity Fee amount.  We have extended the sale for an extra week due to the Virtual Learning Week that was announced by the diocese today.  All sold ticket stubs must be returned by Friday, Dec. 11 (NOTE:  the dates on the ticket are now incorrect).  The drawing for a grand prize of $500 or STM Family Registration for the 2021-22 school year will take place on Monday, Dec. 14.  Also drawn that day will be the 2nd Prize for $300 Cash or Gift Card and 3rd Prize for $100 Cash or Gift Card.

WINTER SPORTS INFORMATION:
All students involved in Parochial League Winter Sports should contact the coach of your team or Tim Waris, STM Athletic Director, with any information about try-outs, practices, etc.


NOTE TO 8TH GRADE PARENTS FROM THE GRADUATION COMMITTEE:
Just a reminder that the first half of the Graduation Fee, $50.00 was due in October. Please turn in to the school office, attention Tiffany Garcia, if you haven’t done so yet. The second half will be due in February. Thanks! 


SMILE! SMILE! SMILE!:
 Just in time for holiday shopping!
As you begin your holiday shopping, please consider getting yourself, family members and friends set up to use the STM AmazonSmile program so that all your purchases donate a small amount back to our school!
Since August 2020 we have just over $643.00 for STM!   
  1. Visit https://smile.amazon.com/from a computer- underneath the search box where it says "Supporting" is where it allows you to search “St. Thomas More Church”. The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products back to us! (Initial setup needs to be done on a computer.)
  2. Shop as usual from your phone and watch the donations add up!


IMPORTANT NOTE: ABOUT SHOPPING ON THE AMAZON APP- Purchases through the regular Amazon site will NOT generate donations.  If you search through your phone browser internet and add to your home screen, it adds a quick link button to your phone that looks like an app button, this allows you to go directly to the AmazonSmile site. Please see the flyer for directions on what this looks like.
If you have any questions at all, please contact Jill schweiss at 816-942-5581 or schweiss_jill@stmcyclones.org
 
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR AUCTION COMMITTEE:
 The Auction Committee needs YOUR Help! The Annual School Auction takes places in February of every year and is a fun event to attend. This years’ event might be virtual, but it is more important than ever to raise funds for the school. Proceeds from the Annual School Auction help subsidize needs for the school-such as field trips, classroom supplies, Catholic Schools Week and the list goes on! Several positions will be open next year and volunteers are needed to shadow various committees so that the auction can continue for years to come. You do NOT need to be a school parent to join. Please consider contributing your talent to the school. If interested-email Stephanie Rogge at stm-auction@stmcyclones.org 
   
CHRISTMAS SHARING DRIVE FOR ST. LOUIS PARISH SOCIAL SERVICES:
This year, we are trying to collect gifts for 84 children whose families are served by St. Louis Parish Social Services. Please help make Christmas brighter for a child/children from our urban core. To participate, go to stmkc.com/cs (be sure to use lower case letters in this email) and click on the children you want to purchase gifts for. Bring the unwrapped gifts to the narthex between now and Sunday, December 6. Be sure to put the information about the child on the gift you purchase so we know what child the gift is for – for example Family #1, Female age 6. For more information or if you have difficulty signing up online, contact David Butel at the parish office, 816-942-2492, x. 210 or dbutel@stmkc.com.

 WEBSITE TESTIMONIALS:
We are currently building our new STM school webpage and would love to include your family's testimonials. We are looking for families at all grade levels to share a couple sentences about why you love STM or what the school means to your family.  If you would be interested in participating, please email Jill Schweiss at schweiss_jill@stmcyclones.org for more information. We look forward to rolling out the new and improved website very soon! 
​
A Prayer of Thanksgiving for all that is good in our lives:
O, Heavenly Father,
We thank thee for food and remember the hungry.
We thank thee for health and remember the sick.
We thank thee for friends and remember the friendless.
We thank thee for freedom and remember the enslaved.
May these remembrances stir us to service, that thy gifts to us may be used for others.
Amen.

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    Cyclone Chatter

    This is a weekly letter that Linda Crosthwait, Principal of STM puts out for school families. 

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​St. Thomas More
Catholic School

11800 Holmes Road
Kansas City, MO 64131
(816) 942-5581 (phone)
(816) 941-2450 (fax)


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