Not long ago, I spoke with a mother who had just transferred her two children from the local public school to STMS. Her kids are 8 and 6. I asked her why they made the switch. Her answer was clear:

“Academically, the public school was fine. No complaints. But our job as parents is to get our kids to heaven. And we need help with that. We want a school that’s trying to do the same.”

That kind of clarity stayed with me.

At St. Thomas More School, we say You Belong. It’s not a slogan—it’s a commitment. When families choose STMS, they’re not just looking for strong academics. They’re looking for partners—teachers who will walk with their children and help them grow in faith, virtue, and excellence.

Over the years, I’ve seen more and more families seek out Catholic education because they want something deeper. They want their kids surrounded by adults who care not just about test scores, but about who they’re becoming. In a culture that often pulls families away from faith, our school offers something different: a path rooted in purpose.

Yes, parents want:

• Strong academics – We have this.
• Meaningful extracurriculars – We offer 10+ electives, and our Speech and Mock Trial teams are award-winning.
• Competitive athletics – Our teams compete and win. A fourth-grade student just took first place in the Washington State Free Throw Competition.
• Welcoming facilities – In progress.
• High standards – Always.

But none of that matters if we’re not also helping students go deeper.

At STMS, we form Saints, Scholars, Student Athletes, and now, thanks to our strong showing at our first STEM/Robotics competition, scientists.

I’ve also seen how our school can draw families closer to the Church, even when that wasn’t their original intent. One mom once told me her family often skipped Sunday Mass due to her son’s travel team. One night, her 11-year-old broke down in tears:

“Mom, it’s wrong that we skip Mass. Can we stop doing that?”

That moment changed her. “Hearing my son say that—seeing how it hurt him—woke me up,” she said.

Sometimes, the student leads the parent. Sometimes, that’s how the Holy Spirit moves.

St. Paul wrote:
“I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel.” (1 Cor. 9:22–23)

At STMS, we do everything possible to meet students and families where they are. We accompany them with love, high expectations, and faith. We want every child to feel known, loved, and challenged to grow.

That’s what You Belong really means.

And that gives me real hope for the future of our school.

With gratitude and hope,

Rich Hernandez
Principal
St. Thomas More School