The Phoenix Flyer: St. Thomas More School Newsletter
November 20-24, 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,
With the Thanksgiving Day holiday, I am reminded to be thankful for all the blessings in my life. One of the most beautiful blessings I have received is to be a part of the St. Thomas More family. I feel honored to have a career – a vocation – that gives me joy each and every day. I’ve said to many people, “This is the hardest job I’ve ever loved.” It is also the one for which I received the most rewards – who wouldn’t feel grateful walking around our campus and seeing a family of teachers and students who truly care about and for each other and enjoy each others’ company!
Thank you for all that you do to make the STMS community so special! I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving surrounded by your loved ones.
In Christ,
Elizabeth Glaze
Happy Thanksgiving from St. Thomas More School!
Dates to Remember
11/23-24 No School – Thanksgiving Holiday
11/27 End of Trimester 1
12/7 Parents Club Meeting – Renggli Room, 8:30am
12/8 Immaculate Conception Mass, 9am
12/12 Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass, 1:00pm
12/14 Pixie Gift Shop
12/14 Christmas Concert
12/15 Noon Dismissal, No Extended Care
12/15-1/1 No School, Christmas Break
1/2 School Resumes
STMS Referral Program
Would you like to get a month’s tuition for free? When you refer a family and they enroll their child(ren) at STMS grade K-8, once that family completes their first year with us, both the new family and the referring family will receive the equivalent of one month’s tuition (single-child tuition).
Thank you to the Ibarra family (Emilia is in 3rd grade) who referred the Palacpac family (Irie is in Kindergarten).
Who could you refer to STMS?
Please contact the school office with any questions, (425) 743-4242.
Extended Care Access
Due to the construction project, for the next few weeks please access Extended care through the West door (on the Parish side).
Hot Lunch
Hot lunch is back!! Please see the link to the printable monthly Hot Lunch form, or stop by the school office for a hard copy.
Please note: The deadline for all hot lunch payments is Thursday. We are not able to accept payments sent in on Friday morning.
We need volunteers! Please use the Sign Up Genius link below to earn volunteer hours by helping us with our hot lunch.
STMS Spirit Wear
Don’t forget to order your STMS Spirit Wear. Use the link below.
Shout out to the new STMS Spirit Wear “early adopters”:
Angelica Mora Jimenez (first purchaser), Nicole Griego, Gretchen Neale, Carrie Verge and Gemma Ardiente.
Please note: Only clothing available in the Uniform Code Approved section are to be worn at school.
For questions on ordering, please contact Eric Miller, ericmiller22@gmail.com.
First Sacraments’ Requirements
FIRST SACRAMENTS PREPARATION
In accordance with the Archdiocese of Seattle, children who are in second grade (at least 7 years of age) or older are eligible to participate in the sacramental life of the Catholic Church. Children registered in the St. Thomas More Parish Children’s Faith Formation Program must have completed a minimum of one full year of catechesis experience prior to receiving the First Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist in their second year of religious education. While those students attending STM school or any Catholic schools, a one-year requirement is met by their religion class in school. Parents are primary teachers and so they are expected to be committed and involved in partnering with our program’s catechists and school teachers.
FIRST SACRAMENTS’ REQUIREMENTS
- Child must be baptized. A copy of the certificate must be submitted to the parish office IF not baptized at STMP.
- Attend the Children’s Faith Formation Program or STM Catholic School
- Attend the required Parent Meetings and Parent-Candidate Retreats scheduled by the Faith Formation Office (Schedule will be out soon)
- Children and Parents are expected to attend Sunday Mass regularly.
Please contact Sharon Guerrero in the Parish Office to inquire or for questions or email her at sharong@stmp.org.
2023-24 Children and Youth Faith Formation ONLINE Registration is now OPEN!
K-5th Grade click HERE
Year 1 Confirmation Class 6th Grade and Older click HERE
Year 2 Sacrament of Confirmation Prep Class click HERE
In ministry with our parish community,
Sharon Guerrero
Pastoral Assistant for Faith Formation
Sacraments of Baptism |First Reconciliation |First Eucharist |RCIA | CFF
St. Thomas More Parish
6511 176th St. SW
Lynnwood, WA 425.743.2929 ext. 114
Local Area Events
Bishop Blanchett Events
- Middle school STEM Day, a collaboration between our Robotics Team (the CyBears) and our Math Team, on December 2 – Students may sign up for one, two, or all three of the free events: Pinewood Derby, Math Trivia, and Compostable Egg Drop
- Winter clinics in cheerleading, boys basketball and baseball are offered December 16-19
- Our winter sports teams are in action! Please check out their schedules and come out and cheer on the Bears
Knights of Columbus Santa Breakfast
AMHS Clean Out Your Closets Fundraiser
Have you recently cleaned out your closets? Archbishop Murphy is in need of clothing donations for their senior fundraiser. Please see the flyer below for more information. Margie Jimenez is our STMS contact and can help coordinate pick up.
AMHS Clean Out Your Closet Fundraiser
Toy Drive
Christmas Toy Drive – Coming Soon!
The STMS Christmas Toy Drive for Catholic Community Services will be December 4th-15th. If you’re out shopping deals during the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend, consider picking up something early for the Toy Drive. Gifts for anyone from newborn to 18 are needed.
Parent Club
Poinsettias, Wreaths, & Garlands will be available to be picked up next week on Wednesday, November 29th at 3pm. Just like Cookie Dough, we will have the office email out an announcement if they are available to be picked up earlier. Pick up this year will be in the Renggli Room. That being said, a few things to remember when picking up – poinsettias should be transported right away to an indoor space as they are a tropical plant, and please be mindful if you have a large order, as you may need to bring your own wagon/cart.
Let us know if you have any questions.
Happy Holidays, -Nick & Anna Golla (thehbgollas@gmail.com)
Community Building Family Event – Save the Date
STMS is having a movie night! Please reserve Sunday, December 10, 5-8pm for a fun night of building community with our STMS families. Please see the link to the flyer below for more information.
Pixie Gift Shop Needs Volunteers
Please use the Sign-Up Genius link below to sign up to help with the Pixie Gift Shop on 12/14.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050449AAA72BA5F49-45954065-pixie#/
Auction News
UNSURE OF WHAT TO DONATE?
Shop the Black Friday Sale and cross off your $250 Auction Procurement Commitment!
We have curated a must have list of items for you on the STMS Auction 2024 Registry to browse from. Most items are on sale so it’s the perfect time to shop!
Access the Wish List here or scan the QR Code below: https://amzn.to/3Ra5NUu
Patrol
Please see the link to the current Patrol schedule.
Scrip
DAZZLE DAYS: November 25th – December 8th
Starting next week, shop two weeks of bonuses on physical AND eGift cards, plus daily surprise flash bonuses from popular brands on RAISERIGHT!
NEW SCRIP!
We have added 3 new businesses to our Scrip Order Form:
Sephora $25 each, 5% rebate
Taco Bell $10 each, 5% rebate
Jimmy John’s $25 each, 8% rebate
Happy Shopping and Happy Thanksgiving,
Gemma, Nick, Rachel, & Therese
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is where and when you can buy Scrip:
✨️In the timed parking lot-Wednesdays 8am-9am and Fridays 2:45pm-3:15pm
✨️In the Breezeway-Sundays (every other; 10/1, 10/15,etc.) 9:30am-10:30am
✨️Anytime, via the Raise Right app.
Questions, Comments, Concerns? Contact Your Scrip Admin Team:
-Gemma Ardiente (ordering & inventory) gemma_ardiente@comcast.net
– Rachel Rogers (bookkeeping) rrodgers517@gmail.com
-Therese Sarr (volunteer selling coordinator) sarrtherese206@gmail.com
-Nick Golla (communications) nngolla@gmail.com
CYO
CYO Needs You!
CYO Needs You!
CYO needs a parent volunteer! Laurel Pehanich stepped in for soccer and basketball, but only as an interim. Mr. G will continue helping, but we need a parent volunteer as well. Responsibilities this year include handling team registrations and on-line sign-ups for track and volleyball. Please let us know if you are interested or can suggest someone who might be!
CYO Basketball Update
This weekend’s games: 4th grade boys – 9am at Evergreen, 5th grade boys -10:15am at Holy Rosary, middle school boys -bye week.
Contact Laurel Pehanich or Mr. G if you have any questions (or want to help volunteer)!
Coffee & Donuts
Do you need volunteer hours that can be done outside of the regular work week? Come Set up, Serve, and Clean up on Sundays for Coffee and Donuts after both the 8:30am and 10:30am Masses. It’s easy and fun and a great time for fellowship and fun with our community.
Bring kids with you. Have them dress up in Full Dress and help greet and serve. They can earn a Free Dress Pass!
Click the link below. Please print and fill out and return to the office.
Extended Care Donations Needed
Some of our games and activities in Extended Care are missing items, in poor condition and rather outdated. Some of the items that need replacing include:
Games – (e.g.) Monopoly, Life
DVD’s (G rated only, please)
Crafts (any)
For your donation, you can receive 1 volunteer hour (per donation, not per item). Check back in this space for an updated list of items we still need as we begin to receive donations.
Volunteers
Current Volunteer Opportunities
Pixie Gift Shop
Please use the Sign-Up Genius link below to sign up to help with the Pixie Gift Shop on 12/14.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050449AAA72BA5F49-45954065-pixie#/
TV Install
We need a few muscles to help us move a tv from the library and install in our preschool room. You may need a few of your own tools to remove the brackets and reinstall on the preschool wall. If you are interested, please call the school office at (425) 743-4242.
Requirements for Parent 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
We want to help all of our families meet their volunteer hours and become more engaged with our amazing STMS community. Please complete the survey below so we can better understand your talents and interests in volunteering.
Volunteer Talents, Interests and Needs
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:
NEW
Snohomish County Health Department COVID Guidelines – PDF with Barcode
WA State Department of Health Guidelines
NEW
CDC recently made an announcement sharing the news below (see links).
Every U.S. household can receive four free COVID-19 rapid tests delivered to their home through USPS beginning Monday, September 25, 2023.
COVID.gov – Free at-home COVID-19 tests
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.