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September 9, 2021
Dear STM Families, There is a calm and a comfort level that has settled over our school this week. Even with a 3-day weekend for Labor Day, students and staff are becoming more comfortable and familiar with each other and the routine of our school year. I am amazed at the relationships that have developed between our teachers and your children. So many smiles, high-fives, fist bumps, and giggles are exchanged in greetings at the beginning of each day! Regular classroom procedures are in place and classroom conversations and learning are evident as I walk through the school during the day. By 3:20, students are excited to leave, but also anxious to return for more of the same learning adventures the next day. Please know how blessed our STM staff feels to be able to work with your most precious children each day. Everyday truly is a GRRREAT day to be a Cyclone! Peace and Blessings, Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal STM SCHOOL UPCOMING EVENTS: TOMORROW, Friday, Sept. 10 STM RED FRIDAY for KC Chiefs Opening Day! Students may wear jeans, Spirit Wear bottoms, or uniform bottoms with a red shirt or a Chiefs shirt!! Go Chiefs!! Tuesday, Sept. 7-Tuesday, Sept. 14 KCSJ Diocesan Fall Benchmark Assessments for grades 3-8 in Math, Reading & Science Tuesday, Sept. 14 Student Photo Day with Scholastic Photography (individual pictures) & Dress-Up Day Wednesday, Sept. 15 School Advisory Board Meeting Sept. 27-Oct. 5 Scholastic Book Fair Thursday, Sept. 30 COVID Task Force Meeting Saturday, Oct. 16 Fall Fling RED FRIDAY CHIEFS SPIRIT WEAR DAY TOMORROW! Let’s cheer on our Kansas City Chiefs tomorrow with a RED FRIDAY at STM!! Jeans or khaki clothing, adhering to the uniform standard of length, may be worn with the STM uniform or a red or Chiefs shirt. Shorts, including STM shorts, may be worn if the length is no shorter than as described above. No shredded or torn jeans, please. Of course, the STM uniform is always appropriate. STUDENT PHOTO DAY NEXT TUESDAY: All STM students and staff members will take individual photos next Tuesday, Sept. 14. Scholastic Photography will email you the proof of your child’s photo along with package purchase information for your order. It will all be taken care of online, so there are NO FLYERS to return on Picture Day this Tuesday. Picture Day is a Dress-Up Day. Students may wear a school-appropriate outfit of their choosing for this Dress-Up Day. 8TH GRADE GATHERING PARTY INFORMATION: Dear 8th Grade Parents- Please join us on Saturday, September 18th starting at 6:30 at the home of Bill, Colleen & Joe Teasdale for the 8th grade Gathering Party. Students are invited to attend for a Hawaiian themed night of fun and community. See flyer for more details. Please RSVP by returning the attached form to school or by reaching out to one of the hosts. See you then, Colleen & Bill Teasdale Jami & Mike Pizzichino Tricia & Todd McCullough Angela & Chris Sweeny Courtney & Andrew Fahey FIRST GRADE GATHERING PARTY INFO: Hey1st Grade Parents-- Boogie your way out to our Saturday Night Fever gathering party on Saturday, September 11th. Dress in your 70’s best or just come out to enjoy a good time with other parents on the Rogge’s dance floor. Invites will come home in backpacks this week. Please RSVP to the office so our hosts will be prepared to have enough to provide you a groovy time. Hosted by Rogge’s, Barr’s, Haskins, Schloegel’s and Severino’s. DON’T MISS OUT! GATHERING PARTY INFO: Gathering parties are a way for our school to raise money or receive auction items for the annual STM Auction on Feb. 5. This year's parties that are already booked are listed below. Invites will be sent home in backpacks closer to your child’s grade level event. 9/18 - 8th grade 10/2 - 2nd & 4th grade 10/9 - pre-K & kindergarten 10/30 - 7th grade 11/6 - 5th & 6th grade 3rd grade TBD LAST CALL - SERVER TRAINING OR RETRAINING FOR 4TH-8TH GRADERS: From Fr. Justin: Last call for training (and re-training) STM School Students who would like to participate as an Altar Server in our Daily, School and Weekend Masses. We have completed two rounds of training, and are almost ready to put our server schedule together. This ministry is open to boys and girls, Catholics and non-Catholics, in 4th grade and older. As in the past, time in this ministry can count toward service hours. STM Parishioner Pat Gillespie, who has organized the scheduling of altar servers in the past, will continue to do so. Our training will be led during the school day by a mix of our priests and parish staff. If your child/children is interested in being trained for this ministry, please fill out and submit the attached form by this Tuesday, September 14th to Fr. Justin Hoye: frjhoye@stmkc.com or print and turn in to Ms. Colleen Sullivan at the front desk of the School. STUDENTS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT STM GUATEMALAN PROJECT: Thirty one years ago, Fr. Pat Rush led a group of St. Thomas More parishioners to the small mountain village of San Andres Itzapa , Guatemala. This mission continues today and we look forward to working with the Guatemala Action Group to strengthen that relationship and to share the many ways together we can make a difference! COVID-RELATED INFORMATION: STM COVID DASHBOARD: Week ending 8/26/21 Students in quarantine 6 Staff members in quarantine 0 Students in isolation 2 Staff members in isolation 0 Percentage of attendance 95% Week ending 9/2/21 Students in quarantine 16 Staff members in quarantine 0 Students in isolation 8 Staff members in isolation 0 Percentage of attendance 97% Week ending 9/9/2 Students in quarantine 8 Staff members in quarantine 0 Students in isolation 7 Staff members in isolation 0 Percentage of attendance 92% Total # of Student COVID cases this school year: 15 Total # of Staff cases 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:
COVID Task Force Meeting Notes from today: An update was given on the number of positive COVID infections among students. (Please refer to the STM COVID Dashboard above. Eight of our students were in quarantine when the school year began. Seven students started but then became positive. Regarding quarantine protocols:
Members reviewed the notes from a School Advisory Board meeting last October when a decision was made by the SAB to stick with masks instead of gaiters except in cases where students with sensory needs were involved. This was to be handled on a case-by-case basis by the principal. A team member shared some newer and relevant information on the topic. This information will be shared with the SAB in a meeting next week in regards to a review of the current mask v. gaiter policy. A discussion of current quarantine guidelines based on KCMO Health Department regulations were discussed. If a student in a classroom setting tests positive, in most cases neither the teacher nor the other students would need to quarantine as long as masking procedures are followed. The lunchroom setting (as described above) has different standards since the students are not masked while they are eating. Under current KCMO standards, if students are unmasked in a classroom setting for 15 minutes or more, the entire classroom would have to quarantine if one tests positive for COVID. The STM Athletic Director shared information about plans for indoor sports in the Parochial League this year. At this time, STM (and all teams in the Parochial League) will require masks for coaches, players during warm-ups and bench time, spectators, and referees. STM athletes will not be required to wear masks during court play. Teams will need to adhere to the standards set out by each individual school setting where games are played. A question regarding masking at adult activities such as Sunday night basketball, Glory Days, Gathering parties, and the STM Auction was brought out. Because those activities are participated in and attended by adults, there will be no guidance from the school about masking policies. The masking policy at school will be in force for the periods of time when students are in the building. Two other items were discussed very briefly and were tabled until the next COVID Task Force meeting on Thursday, Sept. 30. ANNUAL ASBESTOS NOTICE: U.S. Government regulations require that schools notify parents that the school’s asbestos management plan is available for review. St. Thomas More’s plan is available during office hours in the school office at 11800 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO. JOB OPENINGS AT STM: Position: Lunchroom Supervisor Job Goal: To supervise students in the lunchroom to ensure a safe, positive, and cooperative environment. Responsibilities: - Reports each full day when school is in session; Hours: 10:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. - Supervises and interacts with students in a friendly, positive manner - Reinforces the expected behavior of students with verbal praise - Protects the physical safety of students at all times - Keeps the administration informed of pertinent info. regarding students Qualifications: - High school diploma or equivalent - Experience working with elementary children - Needs to be Virtus certified - CPR certified is preferred Employed hourly. Please go to the ‘Job Openings’ link on the diocesan website to apply: https://kcsjcatholic.org/start/job-openings/ Position: Substitute Teacher St. Thomas More Catholic School, an early childhood and K-8 Christ-centered learning community in the South Kansas City area, is accepting applications for substitute teachers. Responsibilities: The substitute teacher will fulfill the mission of the Catholic Church by employing lesson plans provided by the classroom teacher to guide and evaluate the learning process of students within the framework of St. Thomas More’s School’s philosophy, organization and curriculum. Qualifications: Ideal candidates will possess a Bachelor's degree or at least 60 credit hours (preferred), or high school diploma with completion of DESE state approved 20-hour online training course. All candidates will complete a background screening and register for and complete the Protecting God’s Children training program for adults. Please go to the ‘Job Openings’ link on the diocesan website to apply: https://kcsjcatholic.org/start/job-openings/ This prayer is for YOU. Being a parent is not an easy road. I always say that being a parent--especially of an adolescent--makes you holy because prayer is the best answer to most issues. So, here is a short prayer that might bring you some calm. A Parent's PrayerAll praise to You, Lord Jesus, Lover of children: Bless our family, And help us to lead our children to You. Give us light and strength, And courage when our task is difficult. Let Your Spirit fill us with love and peace, So that we may help our children to love You. All glory and praise are Yours, Lord Jesus, For ever and ever. Amen. Peace and Blessings, Linda Crosthwait, STM Principal altar_server_training_2021_8-21.docx
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