WEEKLY NEWSLETTER                         

September 1, 2010

Dear Parents:

We are back at it! Back-to-school night is over, parents, teachers and students have all met each other, emergency cards and disaster forms have been completed and returned, morning and after school extended care are up and running again, volleyball and soccer practices are being held, and the school lunch program is off to a great start. The P.E. program began today with Mike Shimabukuro and music classes begin tomorrow with Irene Gallardo. We welcome back, Sondra Dwyer, for our first dance class next Tuesday, September 7th.  New this year, our Spanish teacher, Beatriz Cortes, will begin working with first through sixth grade on Wednesday, September 8th. Another new addition to our program this year will be a school counselor. We welcome Marlon Montoya who will be with us every Tuesday and Thursday. Yes, we are back at it!

As a reminder, a slight change this year to the Wednesday letter – rather than sending a lengthy letter on a weekly basis, we hope to reduce this to two or even just one letter a month. We will keep you up to date on a regular basis via the Principal’s Blog. Bookmark the link on our homepage for direct access or go to http://stmprincipal.blogspot.com.

SHARE THE LIGHT OF JESUS: This year, the faculty has chosen to help the students focus on social justice issues. Our theme for the year is ‘Share the Light of Jesus’. Students in all grades will learn more about how they can become active, concerned citizens who care for others, become involved in acts of charity and work towards a more just society for all. Our students currently are involved in collecting toiletries and providing sandwiches for the needy for the Ozanam Center of the St. Vincent DePaul Society. There will be many more opportunities throughout the school year for you and your child to be involved in a variety of similar service projects.

SANDWICHES FOR THE NEEDY: Next Wednesday we begin this year’s collection of sandwiches-for-the-needy. We take up these collections on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month when the school is in session. All families are asked to contribute by making an extra sandwich on these days. The sandwiches are then delivered to the Ozanam Center on Howard street where they are distributed to those in need.

Each collection day a specific grade is asked to take the lead and make a special effort to participate that day. Our eighth grade students will take the lead in next week’s collection. In two weeks time, on September 22nd, we ask the 7th grade class to take the lead. We hope all will make an effort to join in this act of charity. We also need parent volunteers who are willing to pick up the sandwiches here after the start of school on the days of the collections and then drop them off at the Ozanam Center south of Market at 1175 Howard street in S.F. (They have convenient parking). Please let us know if you can help.

FUNDRAISING CATALOG: Today we are sending home the fund raising gift catalog and order forms with every child. Some of you have opted out of participating in this fundraiser by paying the necessary buy-out fee. If you are one of those who have done so, please feel free to place an order anyway. All support is welcome! Families who did not pay the necessary fee to opt out of the catalog sale by June 1st are required to participate in this fundraiser. Participating families must make a combination of personal purchases and/or sales to friends and co-workers for a minimum of $100 per child enrolled in STM. All order forms are due back to the classroom teachers by Tuesday, September 21st.  Extra catalogs are available from the office or your child’s teacher. We are looking for some parent volunteers to help us count the orders. This is a one-time project that can be completed at night or on a weekend with a group of parents from your child’s grade. If you can help, please contact the office.

PIZZA AND HOT DOG SALES: This year, pizza and hot dog sales are going to be handled a little differently. Order forms will be sent home at the beginning of each quarter. This will be your only opportunity to order. You must order for all four sales if you wish to participate in these special lunches. Pizza lunches are presented by and for the benefit of the 5th and 6th grade Outdoor Education Program. Pay attention to the due date, Friday, September 3rd, and return the form and payment in a sealed envelope. Please remember to mark your child’s name, grade and the word PIZZA on the envelope. The hot dog lunches will continue every second Wednesday again this year. Please clearly mark the name, grade and the word HOTDOG on the envelope if you wish to order.

SODA FREE CAMPUS: In an effort to help our students make healthier beverage choices, we have become a soda free campus this year. Water, milk and juice will be served with pizza. Please do not send soda to school with your child for any occasion. Together we can set good examples for our children.

CELL PHONES: Just a reminder, students are not to use their cell phones at school or during extended care. Students must turn off and keep their cell phones in their backpacks during these times. Student use of cell phones for talk and/or text without permission during school and extended care hours is in violation of the school cell phone use policy. Students in violation will have their cell phone confiscated. Cell phones stored anywhere else besides their backpack will also be confiscated. Please note there will be a charge of $25 to have the phone returned once confiscated. Students will only be allowed to have their phone back once a written note is received from their parent/guardian and the $25 fee is paid. Students will not be allowed to use the school phone except in cases of emergency. If you need to contact your child while they are at school, please call the school office or extended care and a message will be delivered to them.

HANDBOOK: Again this year, the 2010-2011 K-8 Parent Handbook can be found on our website. To view, click the handbook link on the STM homepage, or visit: http://www.stthomasmoreschool.org/handbook.html. Each section of the handbook is in pdf format and can be downloaded and viewed on most computers. Once you have viewed the handbook, we ask that you complete and sign the STM Parent Handbook sign-off form and return it no later than Friday, September 10th.

BIRTHDAYS:  If you wish to provide class refreshments on the occasion of your child’s birthday, please contact the classroom teacher at least a week in advance to make a mutually convenient plan. Refreshments must be limited to: an individual serving of prepared treats (such as muffin, a bagel or a piece of fruit) and a self-serve beverage (milk or juice). Please avoid snacks high in sugar and fats – need suggestions? Ask your child’s teacher. No goody bags allowed. Refreshments should be dropped off to the office before school or at the time specified by the teacher.

BIRTHDAY BOOKS: If you are planning to bring treats to celebrate your child’s birthday, you are required to purchase a “Birthday Book” for our school library. Each book that you purchase from the school will have a book plate placed in the front of the book indicating that the book was donated by your child. The students in your child’s class will have the first opportunity to enjoy the selection before it is added to the school library. This book represents your family’s lasting appreciation to the school, as well as honoring your child’s birthday. Books are pre-selected by the teacher to provide a well-rounded class library regarding subject matter and grade appropriateness.

YARD DUTY VOLUNTEER FORM: Please complete the form even if you are not available to assist; there is a space for you to so indicate, sign and return. The teachers are always very grateful to parents who volunteer to help them with yard duty. Because we often have more than one volunteer for each day’s duties, you will be notified in advance when you are assigned. Because there is often more than one volunteer for the same day, we try to share these opportunities. Volunteer for a number of dates in order that the scheduler might be able to reserve at least one date for you. Yard duty volunteers are needed rain or shine! (Yard duty becomes hall duty on rainy days.) If you are assigned and something comes up that will keep you away please call. The sooner you call, the better our chances are of being able to get a sub.

We do need to remind you that, when it comes to volunteering to help with yard duty or any other project around the school during school time, that directives from our insurance company are specific. We are not permitted to allow other than the parent volunteers to take part in the activities. You may not bring toddlers and/or babies with you while you participate. Even in the mornings before school, the yard is reserved for students, not for parents other than those who volunteer and are assigned to yard duty. Parents are welcome to come and observe, but, in the interest of safety, children not registered at St. Thomas More School cannot be in the yard before school. Absolutely no strollers are allowed in the schoolyard.

SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS: STM appreciates the many hours of time you give to help in the classrooms, chaperone on field trips, help with pizza and hot dog sales, bake cookies, coach sport teams, yard duty, and help with the many other school activities. Archdiocese policy dictates that all persons (parents, friends, relatives) who work in any capacity that have contact with children must submit to a background check and have completed the safe and caring training course online (Shield the Vulnerable). If you are new to the school or have not yet completed these two requirements, we have included information on how to go about doing this.

PLAYGROUND STRUCTURE: Work on the playground will be completed by the end of next week. The total cost of installation was close to $30,000!! The structure itself, valued at about $40,000 was donated to the school. Kudos to the parents of our first grade students! They have volunteered to raise some of the funds to bridge the gap between the $15,000 that we had budgeted for this project. Irene Motoviloff, Walter’s mom, succeeded in procuring a $5,000 grant from St. John’s Volunteers, owners of Brookside Skilled Nursing Facility in San Mateo. Raquel Cabading, Dominique’s mom, has volunteered to host a Polynesian Night on November 13th to raise additional funds. Save the date!

And finally, some congratulations are in order…

Congratulations to Shelley White, our 4th through 8th grade science teacher and mom of Zach in 2nd grade! Shelley has been accepted to participate in the Global Climate Change Curriculum Project at Stanford University. Great job Shelley!

UTOPIA PRESCHOOL: Congratulations also to our Utopia Preschool! Our numbers continue to grow. Currently we have 33 students enrolled and several other applications pending. Thanks to some hard work by our director, Gloria Perez, we have been approved for PFA (Preschool for All) funding. PFA is a city-funded initiative that funds a part-day preschool program. Regardless of family income, all children who will be 4-years-old on or before December 2, 2010 and live in San Francisco are eligible for PFA. This year in order to help make preschool a little more affordable for our families, we are offering a 10% sibling discount to families not covered by PFA funding.
      

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• September 2nd, at 7:00 p.m., the Parents’ Club has its monthly meeting in Carroll Hall.
• September 3rd is the first Friday of the month, 1st through 8th grade will all attend the 8:30am Mass.
• September 6th is a school holiday. Enjoy a three-day weekend this weekend thanks to the observance of Labor Day on Monday.
• September 7th is the installation of Bishop elect Robert McElroy at a special Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Select students will be receiving a permission slip today to attend and represent STM.
• Join us Sunday, September 12th for our Back-to-School Mass at 10:00am.
• September 13th and 20th, Olive the storyteller’s visits K-3 and 4-8 respectively.
• September 17th is school picture day!
• September 20th is the beginning of the IOWA Test of Basic Skills.

September 24th, the 6th, 7th and 8th graders will enjoy a presentation from ‘Beyond the Block’.

• September 26th is the date for STM Church annual food festival.
• September 27th is a minimum day! Yes, there will be extended care on this day from dismissal until 6:00pm. As a treat to those staying at extended care that day, and every fourth-Monday-of-the-month, we offer a hot dog sale for $2.50.

We wish to thank everyone for making the start of the school year so smooth.

Sincerely,

Marie Fitzpatrick                     Sr. Patricia Rogers