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CYCLONE Chatter

Cyclone Chatter March 11, 2021

3/11/2021

 
Dear STM Families, 
“Slai`nte” or “Cheers” to all!  Tomorrow is our STM celebration of St. Patrick’s Day and our final day of school before Spring Break!   
We are ‘wearing the green’ tomorrow in honor of St. Patrick, and students and staff may wear school-appropriate green tops or bottoms (or dresses). Khakis or jeans with green may also be worn.  Of course, the school uniform is always appropriate.  (This is not a 'regular'Spirit Day.) 
Students have been learning about St. Patrick in classrooms and many projects have focused on his life and the traditions surrounding the celebration on March 17, the anniversary of St. Patrick’s death.  St. Patrick is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland and is the patron saint of the country and all Irishmen.  He’s most well-known for his explanation of the Holy Trinity using the three leaves of a native Irish clover, the shamrock, to represent the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 
Those bearded sprites known as leprechauns have become synonymous with St. Patrick’s Day and Irish culture, especially in our country.   According to Irish folklore, leprechauns were cranky tricksters you wouldn't want to mess with. Some of our students are setting traps to catch these naughty imps in their classrooms.  Be sure to visit with your child about their St. Paddy’s Day activities tomorrow! 
 
STM SCHOOL UPCOMING EVENTS: 
TOMORROW, Friday, March 12 
St. Patrick’s Day Spirit Wear Day:  Wear school-appropriate GREEN tops and/or bottoms 

Sunday March 14 
 
Daylight Saving Time 2021 begins at 2:00 a.m.--Spring Forward! 

Monday, March 15-Friday, March 19 
Spring Break; NO SCHOOL 

Week of March 22 
Students in grades 2-8 attend Reconciliation Services during regular Mass times 

Tuesday, March 23 
STM Parish Blood Drive 

Wednesday, March 24 
STM Blood Drive pass for March Madness Out-of-Uniform Day (see details below) 

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

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

Sunday, April 18 
2nd Grade First Holy Communion 

Wednesday, May 12 
8th Grade Graduation at 5 p.m. 
 
IF YOU PLAN TO TRAVEL OVER SPRING BREAK: 
Please inform your child(ren)’s teachers and the Absence line if they will need to quarantine after Spring Break (or other) travel.  We requested that you let us know by March 1 so teachers can prepare for your child’s absence. IF YOU HAVE NOT NOTIFIED THE STM OFFICE, PLEASE DO SO TODAY.  Please look at the STM Travel Policy with the COVID information below. 
  
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. 
 
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 did not meet this afternoon.  The next meeting is set for Thursday, March 25.  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: 
  1. Large playground set is now used by students in grades 1-4 in rotation and sanitized between usages. 
  2. 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). 
  3. It was confirmed by the Task Force last week that 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. 
STM PROTOCOL FOR TRAVEL: 
Next week is Spring Break.  We have received questions regarding student & family travel guidelines.  Attached below is a letter from Dr. Dan Peters, Superintendent of Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese schools.  Here is an excerpt from his letter: 
“As we approach spring break, some parents may consider taking their family on a trip. While taking a family trip is not inherently “unsafe”, meaning it does not necessarily expose those on the trip to the virus any more than traveling to the grocery store, it can unnecessarily expose our school community depending on the circumstances of the trip. For instance, if a family travels by plane to Florida, where few precautions are required by the local civil authorities, and then spends time in Disney World with hundreds of other persons enjoying the rides and exhibits, there is a much higher chance of exposure to the virus then driving to Colorado and spending time in a cabin where there is little or no exposure to others. 
I highly encourage parents to wait on taking any trips for the rest of this year where exposure to the virus is potentially high. If a family decides to take a trip which has a moderate to high chance of exposing the children to the virus, parents should expect the school may require the children to be placed in quarantine after returning from the trip and attend school virtually. This minimizes the exposure to the rest of the school community.” 
 
With this information in mind, STM will enforce the following protocols regarding travel: 
The St. Thomas More School Travel Policy 
Travel Information 
Days in Quarantine 

By plane OUT of the U.S. 
14 days AFTER your return 

By plane IN the U.S. 
7 days AFTER your return 

Being in crowds of 11 people or more 
7 days AFTER not being in crowds of 11 people or more 
 
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 
 
MARCH MADNESS BLOOD DRIVE DONATION = OUT-OF-UNIFORM PASS!  
St. Thomas More students have an opportunity for an Out of Uniform or favorite sport team shirt day. Students may have an adult friend or relative donate blood at the upcoming STM blood drive on Tuesday, March 23 from 1:30-6 pm. The friend or relative will receive a coupon for the student(s) to redeem on March 24th. Only blood donors are allowed at the blood drive.  Appointments strongly suggested. 
Go to savealifenow.org (stthomasmore) or email Linda Heiman hdc635@aol.com to sign up. To answer your questions please visit www.savealifenow.org or 1-800-688-0900.  
 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. 
 
SUMMER CYCLONES INFORMATION: 
COST PER WEEK: 
$200.00 for 5 days 
$150.00 for 3 days 
$100.00 for 2 days 
$50.00 to add a day 
Family discounts for more than one child, i.e., 10% off for 2nd child. 
+ ONE-TIME ACTIVITY FEE OF $200 per child -(refundable) 
Summer Cyclones will run from June 1st through August 7th.     More information to come. 


Always a favorite and so appropriate as we head off to Spring Break:    
An Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you. 
May the wind be always at your back. 
May the sun shine warm upon your face; 
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, 
may God hold you in the palm of His hand. 
Peace and Blessings, 
Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal ​
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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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