November 21st, 2021

November 11, 2021


Dear STM Families,
After much prayer and thoughtful consideration, the decision has been made that St. Thomas More School will be mask-optional beginning Tuesday, Jan. 4, the first day of our second semester of the school year.
The mask mandate issued by the city of Kansas City, MO for all schools will expire on Dec. 2, but STM will maintain our current masking policy through Dec. 17, the last day of the first semester.
​For those families who choose to vaccinate children older than 5 for COVID-19, you are able to make appointments for the shots and allow for full-vaccination protocols before Jan. 4.  Masks will remain an option for all.
We will work through the details of this change in our protocols during the next month following the guidance of the KCMO Health Department. Information will be shared with you as it becomes available.  Please know that as this fluid situation evolves, there could be a need to re-mask at a later date.
I can only imagine that you will have questions and concerns regarding this change in our policy.  Please share your constructive and courteous input by using the following link:


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.


St. Thomas More, pray for us.


Peace & Blessings,
Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal




STM UPCOMING EVENTS:


Thursday, Nov. 18
2nd Grade--First Reconciliation:
Mrs. Spiller’s class at 6:00 p.m.
Ms. Sarcone’s class at 6:45 p.m.
Mrs. Anwander’s class at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 20
NOTE: DATE CHANGE
Booster Club Pickleball Tournament at Blue Hills Country Club--see the attached flyer for more details!

Wednesday, Nov. 24-         Friday, Nov. 26
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!  NO SCHOOL!

Tuesday, Dec. 7
St. Nicholas Day Parties from 2:30-3:15 p.m.

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

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

Friday, Dec. 17
Christmas Break Dismissal at 3:20 p.m.

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




FIRST RECONCILIATION FOR 2ND GRADERS TONIGHT:


Congratulations to our 2nd Graders who will receive the sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time this evening!  Please pray for these students and the teachers who prepare them in this important step towards their First Holy Communion in the spring.




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

WINTER SPIRIT WEAR SALE:


TAKE A LOOK and place your order by this TUESDAY, Nov. 23.  Please note that delivery of some items may be in 2022.  We are not able to guarantee delivery prior to Dec. 25.  See the flyer below for details.


BLACK FRIDAY AUCTION ITEMS:


Get the first shot at some HOT STM Auction items!!
Shop from the warmth and comfort of your home from the STM Black Friday Auction items.  Check out all of the details in the flyer attached below.


TOMORROW-FRIDAY, 11/19--FINAL DAY FOR BASKETBALL SPIRITWEAR:


Don’t miss this chance to purchase your own STM Spirit Wear for the basketball season.  TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY TO ORDER!  See the attached flyer below.


STM UNIFORM CHANGE:
Beginning Jan. 4, all students are able to wear white, light blue, red, or HUNTER GREEN polo shirts with no insignias as part of our STM uniform.  There is no change in the style of shirts that can be worn or any other part of the uniform.
Please let me know if you have questions.


HAT?  COAT?  MITTENS?


Does your child arrive at school adequately dressed for the wintery weather?  Please keep in mind that the weather can quickly change and our students go outside every day.  We have seen students on these recent chilly days without a coat or other warm attire for recess, travelling to church, or other outdoor activities.  Thanks for your help!




STM CHOIR TO PERFORM AT MARTIN CITY TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY ON WEDNESDAY, DEC. 1:
Please come dressed for the weather with a little Christmas cheer! We will meet next to the Post Office parking lot in front of the KC Running building at 5:30pm. Please take note that this is a different location than years past. The kids will start singing approximately 5:45pm with a 6:00pm end time when they turn on the tree. Please email me if your child is unable to attend.
Also, choir families should mark the calendar for December 17th @6:30-6:45pm when our choir will be caroling the South Patrol KCPD Family Event.


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.





COVID-RELATED INFORMATION: 
         STM COVID DASHBOARD:     Week ending 11/4/21        Week ending 11/11/21            Week ending 11/18/21
Students in quarantine                                      3                                               2                                                    6
Staff members in quarantine                            0                                               0                                                    0
Students in isolation                                           0                                              0                                                     2
Staff members in isolation                                0                                              1                                                     0
Percentage of attendance                               96%                                         97%                                              96%
Total # of Student COVID cases this school year:  16  
Total # of Staff cases this school year:  2   
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 


STM NIGHT--AVILA UNIVERSITY MEN’S BASKETBALL:
Avila Men’s Basketball program is hosting a Saint Thomas More Day on Saturday, 11/27 vs Oklahoma Wesleyan University.  Game time is 5 p.m. at the Mabee Fieldhouse on the Avila campus.
All parents and STM kids that wear an STM item (sweatshirt, T-shirt or basketball uniform, spirit wear) will be allowed into the game for free. The first 25 STM kids in the door get a free bag of popcorn. 


HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  WE ARE THANKFUL FOR YOU!!!
Our entire St. Thomas More School staff would like to take this time to share our gratitude with each of you for sharing your most precious gifts--your children--with us. We know that we are certainly blessed to work in partnership with you to build the path to eternal paradise for His children.
We wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!
Following is a prayer you might share as a family:
Father in Heaven, Creator of all and source of all goodness and love, please look kindly upon us and receive our heartfelt gratitude in this time of giving thanks.
Thank you for all the graces and blessings. You have bestowed upon us, spiritual and temporal: our faith and religious heritage. Our food and shelter, our health, the love we have for one another, our family and friends.
Dear Father, in Your infinite generosity, please grant us continued graces and blessing throughout the coming year.
This we ask in the Name of Jesus, Your Son and our Brother. 
Amen.

black_friday_flyer_2021.pdf
stm_order_form_holiday_2021_final__281_29.pdf
​basketball_spirit_wear.pdf