St. Thomas More School Newsletter
November 14-18, 2022
Principal’s Message
Building Community – One Body, Many Parts
1 Corinthians 12:12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
Dear Parents and Families,
Last week we celebrated our veteran’s with our Veteran’s Day assembly. Our boy scouts and cub scouts presented the flag in a reverent procession. Since our music teacher hadn’t started yet, our 4th, 5th and 6th grade teachers worked hard to get their students ready, and their work really paid off! The songs were very well done and the readings helped us reflect on the importance of our citizens who serve to protect us all. I especially loved the Setting of the Table with different objects as symbols to honor those who serve and remember those who did not return from service. It was also a pleasure to have a few veteran parents in the audience, who were asked to stand so that we could thank them with a round of applause.
Next week we will have our Thanksgiving Day Mass – we hope to see you there!
शांति Shaanti (Peace in Hindi),
Elizabeth Glaze
Thanksgiving Food Drive
Our annual food drive to support St. Vincent de Paul will run from November 14-23. Please see the attached flyer for information.
Hot Lunch Returns
HOT LUNCH is coming…
Starting November 18
Tara Meucci is excited to be back on Friday’s to help with hot lunch. Orders and payments are due on Thursdays (day before). No Refunds or change will be given. We will be offering Costco pizza and hot dogs to start.
All pizza lunches will include choice of drink (water, soda, juice) and a treat.
Hot dog lunches will include choice of drink (water, soda, juice) bag of chips and treat.
Cost is $5 per lunch extra slice or hot dog is additional $1. Please see the link below for the order form.
Hot Lunch November/ December Order Form
If you volunteer to help with our Hot Lunch fundraisers, please use the Sign Up Genius below:
Native American Heritage Month
November is Native American Heritage Month. It is a time to celebrate the important contributions, cultures, and traditions of Native American people.
There are 29 federally recognized tribes in Washington State. To learn more about the tribes in Washington state, go to: https://www.washingtontribes.org/
Virtual Christmas Card Contest
STMS is having a competition for a design for our virtual Christmas card (it’s a new thing we dreamed up). Students who would like to submit an entry should either email their scanned artwork to elizabeth.glaze@stms.org or they may turn their artwork in to the office. Please include your name and grade.
Early Dismissal for Appointments
Please remember to email your child’s teacher and copy the office staff if you are taking your student out of school for an appointment. We appreciate your cooperation on this.
Free Dress Days Reminder
Please remember on Free Dress Days that students may wear more casual clothing as long as they are dressed within school dress code guidelines. Along those lines, please keep in mind that student dress should be modest – no bare mid-diffs or spaghetti straps, clothes must fit properly. No leggings (unless under a skirt) in grades 5 and up.
Patrol
Anyone looking for volunteer hours? We can always use your help in patrol!! You will receive 1 hour for every AM or PM day. Please contact me (Robert Trias) for which days you are available and either mornings (AM) or afternoons (PM) or both. You contact myself @ (206)353-2000 or TRIAS0175@yahoo.com , I will also be doing patrol every Monday (PM), so you can talk to me at school.
Thank you!!!
STM Christmas Festival
Please join us for the Christmas Festivities at St. Thomas More Parish on November 26th, 6-9pm and Sunday, November 27th, 9:30-3:00pm. Please see the STM Christmas Festival flyer for more information.
Extended Care Supervisor Needed
7:00-8:15. The pay range is $17-$20/ hour (depending on experience). Alternatively, St. Thomas More School parents can use volunteer hours if they wish. If you, or someone you know, is interested, please contact the school office at (425) 743-4242. The application is available on the Archdiocese Website/ Frontline (click the link).
Volunteers
Parents who wish to volunteer will need to be current on their Virtus Training, Protecting God’s Children and complete the School Volunteer Agreement attesting to their vaccination status. Parents wishing to volunteer inside the school building will need to be fully vaccinated.
Here are some upcoming training dates that are nearby (register on Virtus):
11/14 Holy Family, Kirkland, 6:30pm
11/15 St. Luke, Shoreline, 6:30pm
Family Fundraising Update
Your first family fundraising letter was emailed on Friday November 11th. This letter shows your fundraising earned through October 31, 2022. This letter includes funds earned from Scrip, Cookie Dough and Direct Contributions.
Families that have elected not to fundraise in their school contract, your first payment is due now. If your payment is not received by December 2nd you will be billed in FACTS plus a late fee.
The next letter will be sent in early February and will include wreaths sales.
If you did not receive your letter via email please contact Carrie Verge (ceverge@gmail.com).
Family Fundraising Coordinators
Carrie Verge & Melanie Abigania
Parent Pick Up
Please do not arrive before 2:45. We continue to have an abundance of cars lined up on the street, which impedes traffic flow, is dangerous, and upsets our neighbors. Parents, please remember if you are parked in the gravel parking lot, you need to exit via the left lane of the “snake” line out the proper exit. If you are in the timed parking lot, you will need to wait until students are cleared from the lot before you exit.
Auction Update
St. Thomas More
VIRTUAL SILENT AUCTION
November 14-18
JOIN US!
We have a collection of procured and donated items from our school community, local businesses and sponsors that are up for bid in our Virtual Silent Auction starting Monday, Nov. 14th at 8am and ending at 11:59pm on Friday, Nov. 18th.
View our Virtual Silent Auction with family and friends from the comfort of your couch and put your best number forward!
Click on the link below so you are ready to bid on opening day! You don’t want to miss this event!
Sports Tickets * Theatre * Christmas Gifts * Comedy Tickets
Virtual Silent Auction Flyer (link)
Thank you for your help,
Jessica Lang | Auction Procurement Team | St. Thomas More School
Cell (425) 890-5891
Follow Along @stmsauction
Parents Club
Newsletter Parent Club Updates
November 15, 2022
Hello Families,
We are fast approaching holiday season.
We appreciate everyone who has contributed in some capacity for the benefit of our school community. It takes a village!
We are excited to announce that we will be having our Pixie Gift Shop on Tuesday, December 6th. If you need volunteer hours, please sign up to help. It’s a lot of fun and a great opportunity to help the kids shop for their families. Stay tuned for the Sign-up Genius!
The Wreath and poinsettia distribution will be on November 22nd just in time for Advent and the Christmas holidays! Stay tuned for more details.
The St. Thomas More Parish is having a Christmas Festival on Saturday, Nov 26th from 6-9pm to Sunday, 9:30am -3pm. Join us for Christmas festivities in the Dalton and Rengli Room! The program begins with the Christmas Tree Lighting from 6-7pm, followed by the Silent Auction, arts & crafts items for sale, cookie decorating, jewelry, appetizers, home décor, delicious cookies, and hot chocolate. Who knows! You might even see Santa there! Please see the Christmas Festival Flyer for more information.
They are still in need of volunteers. If you would like to sign-up to help and earn volunteer hours at the Christmas Festival, please check out the Sign-Up Genius.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0C4BAFAC2CA0FA7-christmas
Thank you,
Francesca and Suzi
Other Local Area Events
Stay tuned for more events at neighboring schools.
CYO
CYO Update
Saint Thomas More CYO Basketball League Games start next Saturday, 11/19 thru 1/26.
Please come support our:
Boys
4th Grade Boys
5th/6th Grade Boys
8th Grade Boys
Girls
4th Grade Girls (Holy Rosary)
5th Grade Girls (St. Pius)
8th Grade Girls (Holy Rosary).
For Schedules go to:
https://www.teamsideline.com/sites/seattlecyo/schedules
GO PHOENIX!!!!! ????????????????
CYO Referees
CYO still needs basketball referees. The referee association, PNBOA has training scheduled at St. George:
Tuesday, November 22, 7:00- 8:30 PM
If anyone is interested, please email athletics@seattlearch.org and they will connect you with the PNBOA
Brown Bear Fundraiser
Dear Families,
CYO is a wonderful program for our students! We are in need of equipment and facility rental funds. Please consider supporting the Brown Bear car wash sales for our program. Contact Karen Pena for your purchase.
You can purchase 1 ticket for $12 or 2 tickets for $20.
All profits will go towards paying for gym and track facility fees and purchasing new equipment.
Thank you for all your support!
-Karen
Stewardship Campaign
St. Thomas More Parish needs help with mailings for the Annual Catholic Appeal mailing. All hours can be used toward your volunteer hours (3-4 hours for each mailing). If you would like to help, please contact Catherin Bellande in the parish office at (425) 743-2929, ext. 100 or cathyb@stmp.org.
Guidelines for COVID, Flu and RSV
Please continue to keep your child at home if they are ill. We will continue to follow the advice and recommendations of the Snohomish Health District as we navigate the cold and flu season. If students have active symptoms from any respiratory infections and/or have a fever, they should not come to school.
St. Thomas More School is following the COVID guidelines published by the Washington State Department of Health and the Snohomish Health District. As of the end of October, STMS had 7 reported cases of COVID-19 positive test results to date.
The Snohomish Health District has recently revised their guidelines. The link to the guidelines can be found below:
If your child exhibits COVID-19 symptoms at school, they will be asked to wear a mask, and we will call home. We have COVID-19 testing available and may require proof of a negative test prior to their return to school. The options for testing are:
- Testing is conducted at home by the parent, and a copy of the negative test is sent to the school.
- Testing is conducted by the parent at STMS with our testing supplies.
- Testing is conducted by one of the office staff at STMS.
If your child tests positive, the quarantine period is 5-10 days. If after 5 days, your child is symptom free he/she may return to school (wearing a mask) as long as you provide proof of a negative test result. Negative tests should be emailed to the STMS office staff. Siblings of a child who test positive, or if a child is exposed to someone else in the home who tests positive, may return to school as long as there are no COVID-19 symptoms with proof of a negative and remain masked.
Dates to Remember
11/14-11/23: Thanksgiving Food Drive
11/18: Hot Lunch (see info in Newsletter)
11/23: Half Day; 11am Thanksgiving Mass
11/24 & 11/25: Thanksgiving Day Break – No School
11/26 & 11/27: STM Parish Christmas Festival
11/28: Teacher In-service, Noon dismissal
School Mass & Assembly Schedule
The All-School Masses & Assemblies for November:
| Wednesday, 11/23 | Thanksgiving Mass | 11:00am | Grade 6 and Kindergarten |
This year each grade level will lead the 3rd Sunday Mass (or Saturday vigil Mass), which coincides with Coffee & Donuts (with the exceptions of December, April, and June). Please see the table below for Mass times and participating grade level . All participants and attendees in school uniform will get a free dress pass. Please note we have made revisions to the scheduled Masses.
| Nov 20, 8:30 | 4th Grade |
| Dec | Christmas Vacation |
| Jan 21, 5pm * | 7th and 2nd Grades |
| Feb 26, 10:30 ** | 6th Grade and Kindergarten |
| Mar 19, 8:30 | 3rd Grade |
| Apr | Spring Break |
| May 21, 10:30 | 5th and 1st Grades |
*The January date has been changed from 1/14 to /21 to not conflict with Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend.
**The February date has been changed from 2/19 to 2/26 to not conflict with President’s Day weekend.
WSCC Newsletter
Below is the link to the Fall Quarter 2022 Newsletter for Catholic Schools published by the Washington State Catholic Conference.
Coffee & Donuts
Please see the links below to sign up. We need more people to sign up for the 8:30 Mass.
Pastoral Council
The Pastoral Council is a consultative body to the Pastor which serves the people of God through visionary leadership and direction.
The purpose of the Pastoral Council is:
- To create, inspire, and demonstrate leadership and enthusiasm for all matters relating to the spiritual and temporal affairs of St. Thomas More Parish
- To provide recommendations for Parish priorities, directions, and policies through pastoral planning.
- To Promote communication, visibility, and understanding among the Parish Commissions, Committees, Community, Archdiocese, and universal Church.
- Informing community, Council members are challenged to ongoing renewal through prayer, study, listening, and dialogue.
- In developing priorities and directions for the Parish, the Council is to become the means to achieving full participation by the Parish in its mission by giving its voice in guiding and directing Parish life.
- In fostering communication, the Council encourages and initiates dialogue among parish leadership and organizations and brings the concerns to the larger Church.
We invite you to become a part of our Pastoral Council. Our regular schedule is 4th Thursday September- June. For more information, please contact Nick Golla, (818) 903-9140 nngolla@gmail.com
Scrip
SCRIP NEWS!
Start planning for your Holiday Shopping, Cooking, Gifting, Travel, Charities, etc with SCRIP Gift Cards!! GIFT WITH THE GIFT CARDS THAT GIVE BACK!
IN PERSON SALES:
Wednesdays 8-9a and 2:30-3:30 pm (There will not be a PM sale Wed 11/23)
Sunday 9:30-10:30am inside Dalton Hall 11/20.
Keep an eye out for us at the STMP Holiday Festival 11/26-27!
THERE ARE 750+ BRANDS TO CHOOSE FROM! Check out RaiseRight.com/Brands If you would like physical cards for cards not carried in our inventory, see schedule below:
Physical card special orders: (Order By/ Pick Up)
Nov 16th / Nov 23rd
Nov 23rd / Nov 30th
Nov 30th / Dec 7th
Dec 7th / Dec 14th
Drop off Scrip Orders in School office or with in person sellers.
Inventory Order Forms and Special Order Forms are available at STMS.org/fundraising/scrip/
ON THE APP:
Shop the biggest eGift card bonus event of the year! Make your spend go further and earn on all of your holiday shopping with 150+ bonuses on eGift cards and reloaded gift cards.
Things to know:
- Limited-time bonuses, Nov 17 – 18 only
- Bonuses apply exclusively to eGift cards and reloaded gift cards
- Participants must have an online account to participate
NEED HELP!
We are Still looking for volunteers! If you can occasionally be available on Sundays or Wednesdays sign up for training with us and drop in when you’re available to get your Volunteer Hours! Please reach out to stmpsscrip@gmail.com to schedule a training. NOTE: Need Help for Holiday Festival on 11/27 9:00-3:30 if available for an hour or two.
THANK YOU!
Come find me if you have any questions!! Let us help you, help Scrip work for you!
-Your STMS Scrip Team
Website
We are continuing to revise and improve the website. You can now access the calendar under the Parents tab for to see upcoming events. There is also updated Auction information. We will continue to keep you informed of updates and improvements throughout the year.
