December 2, 2021

December 2, 2021


Dear STM Families,


My sincere apologies for such a late delivery of Cyclone Chatter this evening.  We were waiting on several COVID test results to be able to share a more complete picture of our current infections at STM.  Instead, I will share that data with you tomorrow after we receive the information from parents.


THIS IS IMPORTANT:  If you know that your child has been exposed to someone who is positive for COVID, it is imperative that you inform us at health@stmcyclones.org
If your child contracts the virus from a contact and attends school, other students and staff members must be contacted and possibly quarantine to stop the spread in our school environment.


I shared this email from our school nurse, Mandy Hodes, this morning, but it’s worth repeating:
Dear STM Families,
We are experiencing a spike in the number of students with a variety of symptoms from colds, flu, strep throat, etc. at school.  Please remember that the policy at STM is that your child should not attend with the following symptoms AND not return until he/she is symptom-free for 24 hours:

• 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 you go to the pediatrician and/or test for COVID and want to bring a negative test result/doctor's note, your child can return to school after 24 hours. 




St. Thomas More, pray for us.
Peace & Blessings,
Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal




STM UPCOMING EVENTS:



Friday, Dec. 3
First Friday STM Spirit Day/Red Friday--students may wear jeans, spirit wear bottoms, or uniform bottoms with STM Spirit Wear or Chiefs Spirit Wear

Monday, Dec. 6
2nd 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

Monday, Dec. 6
STM School Advisory Board meeting 

Tuesday, Dec. 7
St. Nicholas Day Parties from 2:30-3:15 p.m.--Red & Green Dress Down Day!

Tuesday, Dec. 7
All-School Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Outdoor Music Concert (Rain/Snow Date Dec. 13)
See details below.

Wednesday, Dec. 8
Feast of the Immaculate Conception--NO SCHOOL;  Holy Day of Obligation

Thursday, Dec. 9
Reconciliation Services for Grades 3, 5, 8

Friday, Dec. 10
Reconciliation Services for Grades 4, 6, 7

Monday, Dec. 13
3rd 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
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 of 2nd Quarter;
Christmas Break Dismissal at 3:20 p.m.

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


TOMORROW IS FIRST FRIDAY SPIRIT WEAR/RED FRIDAY:
In observance of First Friday, students and staff may wear jeans, spirit wear bottoms, or uniform bottoms with STM (ONLY STM--not other schools) or Chiefs Spirit Wear.  It’s our last First Friday of 2021!




HOLIDAY MUSIC CONCERT ON TUESDAY, DEC. 7:


Please bundle up in your holiday hats & mittens and plan to join us for the STM Outdoor Holiday Music Concert on Tuesday, Dec.7 beginning at 6 p.m.  The festivities will take place outside the front of the church where there will be band and singing performances involving all PK-8th grade STM students.  A highlight of the evening will be the Tree Lighting Ceremony with Fr. Justin flipping the switch at 6:30 p.m.  Plans are being finalized for an opportunity to purchase hot chocolate, as well.


Here is the order of performances AND the arrival and drop-off location details for each grade level/group:

1. Preschool and Kindergarten:  Arrive by 5:50 p.m. to the risers in front of church to perform at 6:00 p.m.
2. Grades 1 and 2:  Arrive by 5:50 p.m. to "The Peak" (located in the parking lot just to the west of the front doors of church) to line up and then perform at 6:05-6:10 p.m. in front of church
3. 5th Grade Band:  Arrive by 5:30 p.m. to set up in the Narthex to perform beginning at 6:15 p.m. in the Narthex
4. 5th Grade:  Arrive by 6:00 p.m. to "The Peak" to line up and then perform for the Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6:25 or 6:30 p.m. in front of church
5. 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Band:  Arrive by 5:30 p.m. to set up and warm-up in the Narthex before your performance at 6:35 or 6:40 p.m.
6. Grades 3 and 4:  Arrive by 6:30 to "The Peak" to line up and then perform at 6:45 or 6:50 p.m. in front of church
7. Grade 6:  Arrive by 6:30 to "The Peak" to line up and then perform at 7:00 in front of church
8. Grade 7:  Arrive by 6:35 to "The Peak" to line up and then perform at 7:05 or 7:10 in front of church
9. Grade 8:  Arrive by 6:45 to "The Peak" to line up and then perform at 7:15 in front of church

HOME & SCHOOL MESSAGE ABOUT HOLIDAY MUSIC CONCERT:
Come enjoy some Christmas Cheer during our Holiday Music Program.  Home and School will be sponsoring a Cookies and Creamery Holiday Cocoa Truck and will be selling hot cocoa and cookies all evening long!  CASH and CHECK preferred!!  All proceeds go back to STM!!  And remember we are looking for volunteers to help make this ALL school event a success!  Sign up below and let us know when you can help out!!  Thank you for your support!!


https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094aabac2fabff2-holiday


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.




BLACK FRIDAY AUCTION DEALS ENDING!:


DON’T MISS OUT!  STM Auction Black Friday Specials extended just until Saturday!  Go to www.stmauction.org before bidding closes this Saturday.


‘BE KIND’ DAY ON DECEMBER 17:


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 with uniform bottoms that day (or a regular uniform top).  Information about purchasing a ‘Be Kind’ t-shirt can be found on the attachment below.  A $5 donation will be accepted for STM For All.


GO CYCLONE BASKETBALL TEAMS!


Come cheer on your 7th grade basketball teams while supporting the 8th Grade Graduation Fund this weekend at St Thomas More!
7th-A Girls:
Friday 7:30pm
Saturday 5:00pm
Sunday 1:00pm
7th-A Boys:
Friday 5:30pm
Saturday 3:00pm
Sunday 3:00pm


STM CHOIR INFORMATION:
DECEMBER 7 - STM School Concert 6:00 pm
Entire school involved.
DECEMBER 12 - 11:00 am Mass                                                          
Please meet Mrs. Parisi in the Choir Loft by 10:30am to get ready for Mass. Please email me if your child is unable to attend.
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


ATTENTION 7TH & 8TH GRADE PARENTS:
7th & 8th graders are invited to a mixer hosted by the Parent Club at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic High School! Join us for a Flannel & Friends mixer from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, December 4. A minimum of 2 parent chaperones are required from each school for schools to participate. Space is limited, so register now! All registration must be online. To register CLICK HERE. 
8th graders: Sign up for the High School Placement Test (HSPT) on December 11 at St. Michael the Archangel. FREE HSPT Prep Class on November 30 for those who take the test at SMA. This is a required test to be accepted to St. Michael. Click HERE to register. 


PARENT ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL MASS:
Parents are welcome to attend school Mass.  Seating in the sanctuary is limited, so please feel free to sit in the choir loft if there’s no empty pews.
Our students attend Mass each week at 2:10 p.m. on the following days:
Wednesdays:  Kindergarten, grades 2, 7, 8
Thursdays:  Grades 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 & rotating weeks for PK
Please let me know if you have any questions.
YOUR INPUT REGARDING MASKING POLICY:
The STM School Advisory Board agenda for Monday’s meeting will include your questions and input about the masking policy change shared in Cyclone Chatter on Nov. 18.  If you would like to ask questions or share your thoughts, please use this link to submit before the end of the weekend:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScKpT8Y1HdmgFBhvB1zlgSsw8-QDfSIHaMdzGPdLEWn_tykfw/viewform?usp=sf_link 


Fr. Justin, our COVID Task Force and School Advisory Board members, along with our administrative and nursing staff members will utilize your input to construct a FAQ and guidelines before our return to school on Jan. 4.


Please ask your child to share about our Advent Prayer Service last Monday.  We will continue to prepare for the coming of Baby Jesus, our Lord, at Christmas for the next two Mondays and again on Friday, Dec. 17.
Following is a prayer you can share with your family for the 2nd Sunday in Advent: