The Phoenix Flyer: St. Thomas More School Newsletter
September 5-8, 2023
Principal’s Message
New Beginnings
Jeremiah 29:11 “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’
Dear Parents and Families,
Welcome to the 2023-24 school year and our first Phoenix Flyer school newsletter for this year. There is an incredible energy around the school this year! The excitement of returning (or starting new) are palpable as I walk around our campus. The fresh looks of the classrooms (and our office area) also help this “new and improved” feel.
We have some important upcoming events in the first few weeks of school. This week I will be welcoming our new families at New Parent Orientation on Thursday at 5:30. Next week we have our Curriculum Night on Thursday at 6:15. This is a mandatory event for all families, so please make sure at least one parent attends. In addition to discussing curriculum, we will touching on important events and ways parents can earn volunteer hours, as well as complete their fundraising commitments. I look forward to seeing you all there.
In Christ,
Elizabeth Glaze
First Week Pictures
Dates to Remember
9/7 New Parent Orientation, 5:30-7:00
9/8 Blue Friday (see below)
9/14 Parent Club Meeting, 8:30 in the Renggli Room
9/14 Curriculum Night, 6:15 (Mandatory Meeting)
9/29 Teacher Inservice, 12:00 Noon dismissal
Blue Fridays
Please join us in supporting the Seahawks by participating in Blue Friday! Wear your Seahawks jerseys, t-shirt, or a blue shirt with your uniform bottoms. Our Blue Friday dates are:
September 8
September 22
October 20
Summer Reading
Friday, 9/8 is the last day to turn in your Summer Read-Oh cards for a prize.
Local Area Events
Check back in this space for local area events.
Parent Club
Please join us for our first Parent Club meeting on Thursday, September 14, 8:30am in the Renggli Room.
Speech
Speech Team will start Thursday 9/14 for grades 6-8.
Speech Team is an optional extracurricular activity meeting in the library every Thursday from 3-4. Students prepare and practice speeches for tournaments at Archbishop Murphy High School, Bishop Blanchet, and Seattle Prep where they compete against other middle school students from area schools. Contact Miss Watters at Tessa.Watters@stms.org for more information.
Scrip
Scrip News!
Check your email inboxes for a few details about this year’s Scrip Program.
Here is where and when you can buy Scrip:
✨️In the timed parking lot-
Wednesdays 8am-9am
Fridays 245pm-330pm
✨️In the Breezeway-
Sundays (every other; 9/17, 10/1, etc) 930am-1030am
✨️Anytime, via the Raise Right app.
Questions, Comments, Concerns? Contact Your Scrip Admin Team:
-Gemma Ardiente (ordering & inventory)
– Rachel Rogers (bookkeeping)
-Therese Sarr (volunteer selling coordinator)
-Nick Golla (communications)
Volunteers
Parents who wish to volunteer will need to be current on their Virtus Training, Protecting God’s Children and complete the Volunteer Handbook acknowledgement form.
Online sessions are also available in English and Spanish. Visit Virtusonline.org and click on the Current Registration tab. Trainings are good for 3 years. If you need to renew your status, you can do so online at Virtusonline.org.
For information on how to create your profile and register for a class, please click on the link below and look for the Registration Guide under Adult Employee Information and Resources, or contact Heather Anderson at heather.anderson@stms.org or (425) 743-4242.
Archdiocese of Seattle – Safe Environment
Guidelines for COVID, Flu and RSV
St. Thomas More School is following the COVID guidelines published by the Washington State Department of Health and the Snohomish Health District*.
The Snohomish Health District has recently revised their guidelines. The link to the guidelines can be found below:
Snohomish County Health Department COVID Guidelines
WA State Department of Health Guidelines
Important Updates to STMS Guidelines
- If your child tests positive, the quarantine period is 5-10 days. If after 5 days, your child is symptom free and has not had a fever within the last 24 hours, he/she may return to school and will need to remain masked through day 10.
- Day 0 is the first day of the onset of symptoms, or if asymptomatic, the first day of the positive test.
- If your child was previously asymptomatic before testing positive, but starts to exhibit symptoms after testing, day 0 is the first day of symptoms (the 5-day count starts over).
- 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 and remain masked through day 10 of exposure of anyone in the household testing positive for COVID.
- If your child exhibits symptoms of illness at school, they will be asked to wear a mask, and we will call home. We have COVID-19 testing available at school – please email or call the office if you would like your child tested.
If students have active symptoms from any respiratory infections and/or have a fever, they should not come to school.
*If you have any questions regarding STMS guidelines, please contact the school office at (425) 743-4242. Please note that although STMS guidelines are based on the Washington State Department of Health and the Snohomish County Health District, we reserve the right to add extra precautions.