December 16, 2021

December 16, 2021


Dear STM Families, 
Tomorrow is our final day of school for 2021 and the end of our first semester of school! 
Christmas break will begin when the students are dismissed at 3:20 p.m., and we’ll reconvene to begin the second semester on Tuesday, Jan. 4.
This time of year tends to be one in which we reflect on all that the past year has brought to us–the good, the not-so-good, and the unexpected occurrences that turn out to be major blessings in our lives.  
During these seasons of Advent and Christmas, I invite all of us to continue reflecting on these blessings and the presences of God manifested in each.  Pope Francis has said, “Christmas is joy, religious joy, an inner joy of light and peace.”  I pray that this season your family is filled with the truest joy that comes in the sharing of time with our loved ones and in the traditions that define the essence of our families. 
From all of us at St. Thomas More School, Merry Christmas, and may the New Year bring even more blessings.   
Peace & Blessings,
Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal


STM UPCOMING EVENTS: 
Friday, Dec. 17
4th Week of Advent Prayer Services:  Grades K-4 at 8 a.m. in Flanagan Hall; Grades 5-8 at 2:45-3:15 p.m. with Eucharistic Adoration in Flanagan Hall

Friday, Dec. 17
‘BE KIND’ Day at STM (see details below)

Friday, Dec. 17
Final day to collect small gifts for the nursing home residents at Timberlake Care Center (see details below)

Friday, Dec. 17
Final day of 2nd Quarter;
Christmas Break Dismissal at 3:20 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 20
Caleb’s ‘Give Back Day’ for STM from 6:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. (see details below)

Dec. 20-Jan. 3
MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Happy New Year!!  Christmas Break--NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, Dec. 22
Bunco Party at 7:30 p.m. in More Hall–details in the flyer attached below

Tuesday, Jan. 4
Classes resume–FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR SECOND SEMESTER OF 2021-22 School Year

Monday, Jan. 17
No School–Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Sunday, Jan. 30
Open House from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. to kick-off Catholic Schools’ Week

Jan. 30-Feb. 5
Catholic Schools’ Week

Friday, Feb. 4
No School–Student Learning Conferences

Saturday, Feb. 5
STM Auction–”Gin & Jazz”
 COLLECTION FOR TIMBERLAKE CARE CENTER RESIDENTS:
 The STM Student Council officers and representatives are collecting small gift items for the 80 residents of the Timberlake Care Center, our neighbors just to the south on Holmes Road.
The residents would truly appreciate your donations of hats, gloves, scarves, lap blankets, crossword puzzle books, word search puzzle books, jigsaw puzzles, fluffy socks, toothbrushes & toothpaste, hairbrushes, and deodorant. 
You can send your donation with your child to his/her homeroom to help cheer these residents on Christmas Day!


‘BE KIND’ DAY TOMORROW:
STM will celebrate ‘Be Kind’ Day on our final day before Christmas Break, Friday, Dec. 17.  Besides a focus on kind acts and friendship that day, students may wear a ‘Be Kind’ t-shirt or a STM Spirit Wear top with jeans, khakis, STM Spirit Wear bottoms or uniform bottoms.  A $5 donation will be accepted for STM For All. The class who wears the most ‘Be Kind’ t-shirts will receive a class pizza party from Southside!


COVID-RELATED INFORMATION:
STM COVID DASHBOARD: 
 Week ending 12/3/21
Week ending 12/10/21
Week ending 12/16/21

Students in quarantine
16
4
9

Staff members in quarantine
0
0
0

Students in isolation
14
9
5

Staff members in isolation
0
0
0

Percentage of attendance
88%
92%
91%
Total # of Student COVID cases this school year:  33  
Total # of Staff cases this school year:  2 
Total # of Students in Quarantine this school year:  64
Tota # of Staff in Quarantine this school year:  0  
If your child has tested positive for COVID, and STM was not notified, please email Health@stmcyclones.org with the date of the positive test.    
We appreciate you partnering with us on school days to verify that every child is fever-free and not experiencing:   

• New cough   
• Difficult breathing   
• Loss of taste/smell   
• Fever (equal to or greater than 100 degrees) or chills   
• Sore throat   
• Congestion/runny nose   
• Headache   
• Muscle or body aches   
• Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea   

If your child has any of these symptoms, they should not attend school. Notify the STM Health Room of any symptoms or exposure to COVID-19 by calling 816-942-5581 or email health@stmcyclones.org 
Thank you for your input and questions regarding the move to a mask-optional school environment.  We appreciate your insights and questions regarding this move.
The STM School Advisory Board met last night to discuss protocols regarding COVID exposures or infections.  Information submitted by STM families and research information collected from Missouri mask-optional schools were discussed.  STM Nurse Mandy Hodes was part of the conversation last night, as well.
The administrators and Fr. Justin are articulating the details and will send out a plan to start school for the second semester on Jan. 4, 2022 as a mask-optional school.


CALEB’S IN RED BRIDGE–STM ‘GIVE BACK DAY’ ON MONDAY, DEC. 20:
Caleb’s Restaurant in Red Bridge has graciously agreed to do a STM ‘Give Back Day’ on Monday, Dec. 20 from 6:30 AM to 2:00 PM.  Breakfast, brunch, or lunch–be sure to mention STM when ordering so we will get a percentage of your ticket!  Thanks for supporting our school!
STM CHOIR INFORMATION:
DECEMBER 17 - -South Patrol Christmas Celebration
Meet at 6:15 pm…more info. to come soon.
DECEMBER 25:  Christmas Morning Mass-10:00 am Mass
Meet Mrs. Parisi at 9:30 am in the choir loft
PLEASE email if you cannot make it.   parisi_cheryl@stmcyclones.org




ALL FEES ARE DUE:


All Registration, Activity, Spanish, and 1st Semester Tuition/Preschool fees are due on 12/17 or you will not receive  your 1st semester grade card.  Please provide your payment to Colleen Sullivan at the School.   If you need to know your balance please email Tim Waris at Tim@stmkc.com or Becky Johnson at Becky@stmkc.com.  
   
PAROCHIAL LEAGUE BASKETBALL MASKING INFORMATION from VINCE FITZGERALD, PLKC DIRECTOR:
Listed below is the Parochial League Board Statement regarding Covid 19.  
Parochial League Board Statement Effective Dec 1, 2021 – Basketball 2021-2022
 On games days the players sitting on the bench must wear a mask. Players on the court have an option of wearing a mask or not. Individual gyms may impose more stringent guidelines; in which case the gyms protocols will supersede.
 In regard to spectators, there are no longer any restrictions to the number of spectators allowed, but masks are required by spectators in all PLKC gyms.


NOTE from TIM WARIS, STM ATHLETIC DIRECTOR:
Masks are optional at STM during play.


There is just so much to pray about at the Christmas season!  I’ve copied several prayers you might pray with your family throughout the times of celebration.  I’ll be praying for you.  Please pray for me, too.
Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal
Reason for the SeasonDear Father in Heaven,
Thank You for giving us the gift of Jesus, the greatest Christmas gift of all. Please help me to remember why we celebrate, even as we eat Christmas cookies and open presents. I am very thankful for the real reason for the season and, without Jesus, we wouldn’t have Christmas! I love You and thank You for giving us this day!  Amen.
Being ThankfulDear Jesus, Today, I want to thank You for all you’ve done for me.
Thank You for my wonderful parents, brothers and sisters, grandparents, and the rest of my family.
Thank You for my pets, my room, my teachers at school, and thank You for Christmas.
Thank You for Santa Claus on Christmas morning, and the presents that sit under the tree.
Thank You for the delicious food Mom has made, and thank You for coming here to save us!
In Your name, I pray, Amen.
Happy BirthdayHappy birthday to You! Happy birthday to You! Happy birthday, dear Jesus! Happy birthday to You!
Today, we celebrate the birth of the most important person ever. Thank You for sharing this day with us, and for giving us the greatest birthday gift, You!
Amen.
Blessings for OthersDear Jesus,
I know I’m very blessed today, spending time with my family, having a yummy dinner, and getting to open presents, but I know there are many people who won’t get those things today. Please send them lots of blessings, and let them know that someone is thinking about them on Christmas. Help me see how I can bless other people, too!
In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Gifts of GodDear God,
Thank You for all the gifts You have given us this year. I am very grateful for all the blessings that you gave us to celebrate Christmas happily; our home, my toys, my family, our food on the table, my clothes, everything. I know that all of these gifts came from You, and I am very grateful for these and Your love for me.  Amen.
Christmas DayLord God,
Thank You for this wonderful Christmas morning. Thank You for the presents, breakfast, and this time with my family. Please guide me on what to do today to make it memorable and special, and according to Your will. Please also help me make today peaceful and in celebration of your birth.  Amen.
Praise and Thanks to JesusFather God,
I praise and Thank You for Christmas. Thank You for sending Jesus on earth to save me. Thank You that we can celebrate and be happy because of this. I pray that I would be just like Jesus, and live a godly life.
In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

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