The Phoenix Flyer: St. Thomas More School Newsletter
November 27-December 1, 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,
Last week was short but certainly eventful. A wonderful way to start the Thanksgiving holiday was to celebrate our Thanksgiving Mass hosted by 6th and Kindergarten. Both classes did a great job – the Kindergarten performance will be one I’m not likely to forget anytime soon.
With the beginning of our new liturgical year right around the corner (December 3), I was reminded that this year we will only have two weeks of Advent before we start our Christmas break. If you are looking for ways to celebrate Advent for your family, please see the Advent Resources section below. There are many ideas for reflection and prayer from the Archdiocese of Seattle, Loyola Press, NCEA and several other websites.
In Christ,
Elizabeth Glaze
Dates to Remember
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
12/18-1/1 No School, Christmas Break
1/2 School Resumes
Advent Resources
The Office of Catholic Schools (OCS) has curated a list of resources with ideas for celebrating Advent with your family.
Archdiocese of Seattle: Weekly Advent Reflections and Resources
Ignatian Spirituality: Ignatian Imaginative Prayer Exercise (for each week)
Dynamic Catholic: A Complete Guide to Advent and Best Advent Ever
St. Mary’s Press: Prayers, Activities, and Reflections
NCEA Advent Resources: Teachers and Families
Creighton University: Praying Advent
Hallow: A Complete Guide to the Season of Advent
Word on Fire: Advent Book Recommendations
Dr. James Knight Event – Rescheduled
Please complete the RSVP Survey below to save your spot. Refreshments will be served.
For information on Dr. Knight and his organization, please visit leadwithhumility.org
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
STMP Children’s Christmas Eve Mass live Nativity Pageant
Calling all children from ages 4 through 5th grade interested in participating in various roles, join the children’s choir, or play an instrument. Come and be part of the annual parish liturgical event on Sunday, Dec. 24th at the 5 PM children’s Mass.
Rehearsals will be on the following days:
Wed., Dec 20th at 10 AM – Noon
Fri., Dec 22nd at 10 AM – Noon
Sun., Dec 24th at 3 PM, Cast Call, Mass at 5 PM
To sign up for your child, please visit our website at www.stmp.org under the Faith Formation & Children’s Faith Formation tabs.
Older children interested in joining the choir or play an instrument, email Deb DeMiero at debrad@stmp.org. To volunteer, email Sharon at sharong@stmp.org or call the parish office at 425-743-2929.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation and participation!
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
Family Fundraising Update
Your first family fundraising letter was emailed on Monday, November 13th. This letter shows your fundraising earned through October 31, 2023. 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 1st, you will be billed in FACTS plus a late fee. The next letter will be sent in early February and will include wreath sales.
If you did not receive your letter via email please contact Melanie Abigania (mabigania@yahoo.com).
Family Fundraising Coordinators
Melanie Abigania & Gemma Ardiente
Poinsettia and Evergreens Fundraiser
Thank you to the Families that participated in the Poinsettia and Evergreens Annual Fundraiser! Have fun Decking your Halls and Doors! We were able to raise $4479.25.
Don’t forget to keep your Poinsettias indoors and if you choose to keep your evergreens indoors, spray them often with water.
Merry Christmas & 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
Procurement Drop-Off Volunteers – WE NEED YOUR HELP!!
We need 2-3 volunteers from 8:15-8:45 on Friday, December 8. You will earn hours toward your Auction commitment, Please contact the school office or Margot McLaughlin at margot.mclaughlin@stms.org.
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
The Christmas Shopping Season is here! We are in the middle of it. With that, we have 5 more days of in-person sales until the Christmas break. Special Orders are available! The Special-Order form can be found on the website – stms.org – click on the Fundraising tab, scroll to Scrip, scroll to the bottom to Scrip Documents, and it’s the 2nd Link. Please Fill that out and send it to us at stmpsscrip@gmail.com. Please drop off your payment to the office. All special orders MUST be turned in along with payment by Monday, December 11th before 12 noon. Those orders placed on the morning of the 11th should arrive by the 13th, weather permitting. Orders can be picked up during regular sale days or delivered through the oldest student.
Lots of added bonuses! Check your Favorites tab and see what businesses have increased their percentage rebate! Some of our Favorites are: Starbucks at 6.5%, Dave and Buster’s at 16%, Regal Cinnemas at 11%, AMC Theatres at 13%. Great ideas for Teacher and Staff gifts!
There’s also a 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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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; 11/26, 12/10,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
Come out and support our Basketball teams!
For the complete schedule check the teamsideline website. https://www.teamsideline.com/sites/seattlecyo/schedules
| 4th grade boys team | 5th grade boys team | Middle school boys team | |
| 3-Dec | 3:30 at St Alphonses | 1pm at Holy Rosary | 7:30 pm at Holy Rosary |
| 9-Dec | 9am at Holy Rosary | 10:15 at Holy Rosary | |
| 10-Dec | 3:30 at St Johns | ||
| 16-Dec | 9 am at Holy Family (Kirkland) | 9am at Lakeside | |
| 17-Dec | 3:30 at Holy Rosary |
Also, 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!
Contact Laurel Pehanich or Mr. G if you have any questions (or want to help volunteer)!
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).
Who could you refer to STMS?
Please contact the school office with any questions, (425) 743-4242.
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 Installs
We need a few muscles to help us move a tv from the library and install in our Early Learning Classroom and another tv installed in our Extended Care classroom. 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.
