The Phoenix Flyer: St. Thomas More School Newsletter
March 4-8, 2024
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,
Our Primary Speech presentation was last Friday and our young students performed beautifully! We couldn’t be more proud of them. Our Speech Tournament for grades 3-8 is underway. This tournament is one that students prepare months for and requires so much support from family and teachers for our students to be successful. Thank you for partnering with us in helping our students develop a skill that will help them long after they leave STMS.
This weekend is the much-anticipated Gala Auction. There are so many people that worked hard to make this event a success! I look forward to seeing you as we join together in celebration and support of our school. I know it will be a fun evening.
In Christ,
Elizabeth Glaze
Dates to Remember
3/6-3/7 Speech Tournament, Grades 3-8
3/8 No School, Teacher In-service
3/9 Gala Auction
3/11 End of Trimester 2
3/14 Parents Club Meeting, 8:30 Renggli Room
3/15 Spirit Day, green tops with uniform bottoms
3/15 Stations of the Cross, 1:00pm
3/16 School-Led Mass, 5pm (Grade 7)
3/22 Stations of the Cross, 2:15pm
3/29 Living Stations of the Cross, noon – Dismissal directly after
4/1 – 4/5 No School, Spring Break
State of the School
Our annual mandatory State of the School Meeting is just around the corner. Stay tuned for more information on the date and time. This is will be an important meeting recapping our successes as well as sharing the plans for the future for STMS. Here is a “sneak peek” of some of the highlights of what 2024-25 will look like for STMS:
- Self-contained classes for K-8 (no combined grade levels)
- Expanded Extra Curricular offerings (e.g. Martial Arts for K-3; Japanese Club)
- Spanish Classes for K-8 (to replace Rosetta Stone)
March Spirit Day
To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, we will have a Spirit Day on Friday, March 15. Students may wear their green shirts with uniform bottoms.
Partners in the Gospel
Dear St. Thomas More Family,
Last weekend marked the formal announcement of the Parish Families through Partners in the Gospel, including the confirmation that we will be partnered with Holy Rosary. As Archbishop Etienne noted in his letter, “the road ahead will have its twists and turns, and may seem long and rugged at times, but the Lord will always be there as our companion and guide.” Change can be hard and can make us uncomfortable. There are still many unknowns with what our partnership with Holy Rosary will look like and this uncertainty for those of us in this parish and school that we know and love can be unsettling.
There are a few “knowns” at this point in time. First, what we know is that we have been assured that there WILL NOT be any changes to schools in the near future. There is no plan or talk of merging schools with Holy Rosary or changing our Pre-K – 8 program. Leadership teams at STM and Holy Rosary have made steps to discuss our partnership and have a plan to introduce the School Commissions of both schools in a joint meeting in March. What we also know is that both schools will need to remain open to serve the number of students we have currently enrolled, as well as future students as we grow our school populations. We also know of the Grace of God in times of change and are assured that we, as a community, can walk together through this process.
We need each and every one of our families to stay together as we weather the journey of the unknowns ahead. Our close ties in our community at STM, and the care we have for each other and our school, will see us through to a bright and promising future.
In Christ,
Father Stephen Okumu, Pastor
Elizabeth Glaze, Principal
Intent to Return
Thank you to all who have already completed the Intent to Return for the 2024-25 school year. It is vital to our planning process for next year that we know the status of our returning families. If you have not already done so, please complete the Intent to Return survey linked below. It is important to include student(s) names and grades.
Welcome to St. Thomas More
This week we welcomed a new family to STMS. The Solomon family joined us as their student, Gelila, joined the 6th Grade class. Welcome Solomons!
Yearbook Sales
Order Your Yearbook Today!
Yearbooks are on sale now! Pre-order yours today to ensure you get one. Each 68-page book of precious memories is only $35. Orders are due by Friday, April 12th.
Click here to download an order form.
Auction News
AUCTION UPDATE
STMS Families, we need your help fill up the remaining critical open slots below! These donation opportunities earn you auction volunteer hours.
Cakes for Dessert Dash – 3 Slots Opened Up – Sign Up to donate a cake today!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4BAEA923A3FDC25-47814653-dessert
Drivers Wanted!
We only have 2 Volunteers/Vehicles to drive auction-related items to the hotel and we really need 2 more! Please sign up to help load and drive to the Embassy Suites – exact addresses are on the sign up genius.
We also need 2 more drivers from the hotel to the school.
Sign Up Here:https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4BAEA923A3FDC25-45401522-auction
We still have open slots for more wine donation. See below!
DONATE WINE = 1 Volunteer Hour
Donate a bottle of wine, and we’ll sprinkle some volunteering magic your way with a whole hour per bottle ( 1 Wine Bottle = 1 Volunteer Hour). But remember, donate only the good stuff from the middle to the top shelf, because we’re aiming for excellence in every sip! Sign Up Here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4BAEA923A3FDC25-48089796-donate
Thank You
Thank you to all that have shared your time and talent in putting together our biggest fundraiser of the year! There are so many of you to thank. Organizing a large fundraiser like this requires the collective effort of our community, and our school relies on volunteers such as us! Thank you to everyone who have participated. We cannot wait to see how it ALL comes together!
Service Hours Opportunity with STMP
Are your students looking for service hour projects? The parish is looking for young people (7th and 8th graders) who can help with proclaiming the Word of God (lectors) and ushering at the Mass specifically for the Youth Masses. The Youth Mass is offered every second Saturday of the month or 4th Sunday at 10:30 am from September-May. If interested please contact, Violeta at violetaj@stmp.org.
Parent Club
Family Fun Night – March 11
Our next Family Fun Night will be a roller skating event on March 11th from 6-8pm. The cost is $12 per student. Please see the flyer linked below for more information.
March Parent Club Meeting
Please note: The next Parent Club meeting is March 14 (rescheduled from March 7 due to the Speech Tournaments.
St. Thomas More Early Learning Center
We are proud to announce that the St. Thomas More Early Learning Center is now fully licensed with the Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families. Starting in January, we will offer a full-day option in our 4- and 5-year old PreK Program. Please contact the school office for more information.
School Commission Committee Members Needed
Do you need volunteer hours? Our School Commission is looking for volunteers to help our various subcommittees. Please review the committee descriptions below.
Development Committee
Volunteer Opportunity! We have an opportunity for YOU!!
Do you like photography/videography?
Do you like web content development?
Do you like print design for brochures and flyers?
Do you like being creative?
The School Commission, Development Committee is looking for volunteers to help update the STMS website, create marketing brochures and help tell our school’s story.
Our meetings are flexible, we will meet via Zoom and in-person based on availability!
Please reach out to Vickie Jarman@vljarman@hotmail, if you are interested.
Grant Writing Committee
The purpose of the Grant Committee at STMPS is to collaborate with a team of parent volunteers to provide aid in supporting grant research, application and writing to help with school operations, expenses and building improvements for our school. This team will meet once or twice a month for quick meetings via zoom beginning in March 2024 to kick off this work effort. Please reach out to Maria Houser at Maykahlo34@yahoo.com for further information.
Safety Committee
The School Safety Committee at St. Thomas More Parish School plays a pivotal role in safeguarding its students and faculty. Comprising dedicated educators, administrators, and community members, the committee meticulously identifies safety priorities through assessments and open dialogues with stakeholders. They leverage their expertise with the grant writing committee to secure necessary funding for enhancing campus security measures, whether it’s installing modern surveillance systems, fortifying entry points, or conducting safety workshops for staff and students. By meticulously developing timelines and action plans, this proactive committee ensures swift and effective implementation of crucial changes, thereby fostering a secure environment conducive to learning and growth within the school premises. Please contact Nick Golla at nngolla@gmail or Eric Miller at ericmiller22@gmail.com for more information.
Box Top$ for Education
Parents help us raise fund for STMS when you shop. It’s as easy as registering on the BoxTop$ For Education app the scanning your receipts! Please call Mrs. Heather Anderson in the school office if you have any questions (425) 743-4242.
Local Area Events
STM Parish Retreat March 11th-13th with Father Raymond D. Tyohemba. Please see the flyer below for more information.
STM Women’s Reflection Mass, March 6, 7pm and STMP Men’s Reflection Mass, March 20, 7pm. Please see the flyer below for more information.
Knights of Columbus Fish Fry
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.
Check back for the March Hot Lunch Form
We need volunteers! Please use the Sign Up Genius link below to earn volunteer hours by helping us with our hot lunch.
Patrol
Please see the link to the current Patrol schedule.
Scrip
Just a reminder that our Fundraising commitment of $700 is due by April 30th. As of now, only Scrip and Direct Contributions are what will count towards that. Check your email from our Parent’s Club treasurers for your balance.
We are in the Lenten Season, which means Spring Break is coming up March 30-April 7. We have the same Spring Break as most of the Country and the public schools too. You might want to get out of town! Check RaiseRight for hotels, airb&bs, and airfare to go towards your Fundraising! Some hotels that are on the app are Fairmont, Hotels.com, Sheraton, Marriott, & Best Western to name a few. You can earn up to 10% on some of those. The 2 airlines that are on the app are Delta and Southwest, which both have a 4% rebate.
Lastly as always….WE NEED YOU!
Volunteers Needed!
We need your help! Please see our Winter Sign Up Genius to see where you can help- https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4AA5AB2AA1F5C70-46513153-winter
We also need people to learn how to sell Scrip to be on a sub list and we are looking for core sales people for next school year!
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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) 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
Cheer on our CYO Girls Volleyball!
Thank you to those who are supporting our Girls Volleyball teams! We have 2 teams this year: 7th and 8th grade girls playing in 8th Grade Girls North AA, and 5th Grade Girls North. Games begin this weekend. See their full game schedule here. https://teamsideline.com/sites/seattlecyo/schedules
Girls 3rd grade basketball
If you have a 3rd grade girl who would like to play basketball, sign ups begin in March. Talk to your classmates now to form a team and find a coach!
It’s almost time for Spring CYO Track and Field
A huge thank you to Dorrin Wanjiru for volunteering to organize our CYO track team this year! We are still looking for coaches for our track team! Please reach out if you are interested or want more information. Sign-ups for track will be in March; practices will begin the week of April 8th. Hope to see you and your student/s there!
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.
STMS Spirit Wear
Don’t forget to order your STMS Spirit Wear. Use the link below.
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.
Current Volunteer Opportunities
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.
For information on how to create your profile and register for a class, please contact Heather Anderson at heather.anderson@stms.org or (425) 743-4242 for instructions. Training and background checks are good for 3 years. If you need to renew your status, you can do so online at Virtusonline.org.
Archdiocese of Seattle – Safe Environment
Volunteer hours
The St. Thomas More Parish School Volunteer hours are due May 31, 2024! Per our school contract, families are to contribute 40 of volunteer time of which at least 4 hours are to be contributed directly to the Auction. If you have not completed your volunteer hours you will be billed on June1, 2024, $30 for any hours not served.
There is still time to do your volunteer hours! Volunteer opportunities yet to come: Gala and Family Auctions, Scrip, helping around the school, parent club meetings, school commission meetings, and more—watch for sign-up ideas in the newsletter!
Directions to log hours:
- Log into Family Portal (District Code: St-Wa)
- Click on Family on the left-hand menu
- Find Service Hours on the right side and click “+ Add”
- Fill out the hours and click “save”
- Hours will show up on the family page under Service Hours. You can add more throughout the year.
If you would like me to send more detailed instructions for logging in your volunteer hours, please contact Heather Anderson at heather.anderson@stms.org or (425) 743-4242
Auction Volunteers Needed
*Lots of Auction Volunteer Positions are still OPEN! Fulfill your 4-hour auction commitment and sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4BAEA923A3FDC25-45401522-auction#/
School Commission Committees
Please see the information above under School Commission for volunteer opportunities on one of the School Commission subcommittees.
TV Installs
We need a few muscles to help us install a TV 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.
COVID, Flu and RSV
As we head into the cold and flu season, I would like to send out a general reminder about health and safety guidelines. We have a host of illnesses circulating, including strep throat, continuing COVID cases, and at least one reported case of RSV.
Recommendations of the Snohomish Health District as we navigate the cold and flu season include ensuring that if students have active symptoms from any respiratory infections and/or have a fever, they should not come to school. Students who have had a fever must be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication before returning to school. In addition, The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends teaching children to cover their coughs and sneezes using their elbow or a tissue, and to always wash their hands afterwards.
Also, as we have had a recent case of RSV, I am including a resource provided by the Snohomish Health Department on signs of RSV, in addition to general guidelines and benefits of vaccinations for flu, COVID and RSV.
*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.