St. Thomas More Cathedral School

• Message from the President
• Drop off and Pick Up procedures with STM dismissal form link.
• Back to School Night
• Room Parent Sign Up (Parent Hours)
• Race for Education (Parent Hours)
• Fall Enrichment Program Registration
• CYO Tennis
• CYO Running Royals (Cross Country)
• Save the Dates
• Volunteer Opportunity (for Wine & Cheese Mixer)
• PTO Volunteer Opportunities
• Uniforms
• 2023/2024 PTO Board

We kinda did it - our first PTO meeting had some hiccups but hey what's life without struggle? That being said, we have lots of activities to kick off fall. I hope to see you all at the various events from Back to School night to the Wine and Cheese mixer.

If you have events to be included here, please let me know by Wednesday of each week.

- Kristen

Just a gentle reminder (I'm looking at my own spouse) that we need to model patience during the first few weeks of drop and pick up. With construction and the exponential activity in the Cathedral parking lot, it is going to be BUSY.

So let's together breathe in and out, grip the wheel, and say a silent prayer for patience. Seriously.

Students will be together on the blacktop between 7:40am and 8am during arrival and enter the building with their teacher and classmates after the Pledge of Allegiance. At dismissal, all students will be led to the parking lot at 3:15pm. There will be first pick-up and then second unofficial "dismissal" around 3:25.

Ensure you read the full PDF of procedures if this is your first time - plenty of people will be there to help and guide you.

If you need to change how your children are picked up, please use this dismissal form by 2:30 pm.

Back to School Night is scheduled for 9/13 from 6:30-8:00 pm. There will be time from 7:15-8pm for families to visit with school admin, Specials teachers and Fr. Posey and Fr. Barnes.

Thank you to all the amazing parents who have volunteered their time to serve as Room Parents this year! We only have a few slots remaining if you are still interested in participating this year:

• 3rd Grade – Ms. Beaulieau (1)
• 4th Grade – Ms. Adinaro (1)
• 7th Grade – Mrs. James (1)
• Nurse’s Office (1)

If you would like to sign up, please use the link here or email Allison Nicholson at STMRoomParentCoordinators@gmail.com. We will have a virtual orientation on Thursday 9/14 at 7pm.

*As a reminder, all volunteers must be VIRTUS trained to volunteer at school events, including

field trips*

We sailed past the $5,000 mark this week and we're approaching 100 Pledgestar page activations! Of course, it's a marathon, not a sprint, and given the 100-degree heat, October feels a long way off. But remember... families that activate their Pledgestar pages by September 15 will be entered in the $50 Starbucks card drawing.

Click here to activate or scan the QR code on the flyer you received in the Wednesday folder.

In other exciting news, the Race for Education volunteer sign-ups are live! We'll need over 50 volunteers to make the day a success, including a t-shirt coordinator, race day helpers, photographers, and a music mixer, so it's a great chance to earn your volunteer hours. Check the opportunities by clicking here.

Registration for Fall enrichment classes opens September 12 @ 9:00 AM through September 19 @ 11:59 PM. Details are in the attached flyer and here:

https://bc-arl-stthomasmore.jumbula.com/#/home

Fall CYO Tennis is here and we're ready to get rolling

Registration link:

https://reg.sportspilot.com/106558/leagues

Cost - $20 - payable via FACTS or Check to STM CYO Sports

Important Dates

• September 10 - Teams due to NVJCYO
• September 17 - First Sunday of matches
• November 12 - Last day of matches if needed

Practices at Thomas Jefferson Center (3501 2nd St S, Arlington, VA 22204)

• Mondays 600 - 730
• Thursdays 600 - 730

Matches – 6 Sundays followed by one or two weekends of playoffs

Sunday afternoons at 1:00 or 3:00 pm at Fairfax County High and Middle Schools.

Teams

• Wimbledon I: Grades 3/4 Beginner/Advanced Beginner (3 doubles)
• Wimbledon II: Grades 4/5 Advanced Beginner (3 singles/2 doubles)
• U.S. Open I: Grades 6 / /7 Beginner/Advanced Beginner (3 singles/2 doubles)
• U.S. Open II: Grades 7/8 Intermediate/Advanced (3 singles/2 doubles)

We may split one or two of the teams if we get enough players.

For more information please reach out to me at:

stm.cyo.commish@gmail.com

Love to run! Join CYO Running Royals!

Signup in Sportspilot is Live!

https://reg.sportspilot.com/106558/leagues (https://reg.sportspilot.com/106558/leagues)

Registration is $25.

All students grades 2nd-8th are welcome to register via sports pilot.

***Please note if your child is in 2nd grade parents MUST be present during all practices and meets.

Students participating in 2nd grade will not be allowed to compete in the championship meet but will be allowed to run in the two developmental meets.

• September 30, NVJCYO Cross Country Meet 1
• October 14, NVJCYO Cross Country Meet 2
• November 4, NVJCYO Cross Country Championship Meet

Practices will start after Labor Day and take place three days a week at the following times and locations:

• Wednesdays Bluemont 5:30-6:30pm
• Fridays Bluemont and 5:30-6:30pm
• Sundays Wakefield 5:00-6:30pm

Registration will close early September so please register asap.

STM Calendar

• Mon. 9/11 – Band Registration Night (6:45 – 7:30pm)

• Wed. 9/13 – Back to School Night (6:30 – 8:30pm)
• Mon. 9/18 – Band Lessons Begin (must have pre-registered)
• Wed. 9/20 – PTO Wine and Cheese (5 – 7pm) All are welcome!
• Wed. 9/27 – Meet the Principals Coffee (8:15am)
• Sat. 9/30 - Running Royals Meet 1
• Tue. 10/3 – PTO Meeting (6:30pm in person and virtual option)
• Fri. 10/6 – Confirmation Retreat
• Fri. 10/6 – Early Dismissal – No Extended Day Available
• Mon. 10/9 – No School – Columbus Day
• Sat. 10/14 – Running Royals Meet 2
• Sat. 10/14 – Oktoberfest
• Wed. 10/18 – Individual Photo Makeup Day
• Wed. 10/25 – Race for Education (more information about registration available at https://pledgestar.com/stthomasmore/)
• Fri. 10/27 – Trunk or Treat (5 – 8pm)
• Mon. 10/30 – STM Golf Tournament
• Sat. 11/4 – Running Royals Championship Meet

***Note: PTO Board Meetings (beginning in September)– anyone is welcome to attend AND you receive 1 hour of volunteer participation time for attendance. Plus you know all the details (usually the first Tuesday of every month). We will work on a mix of in person and hybrid meetings so that you all can participate.

There is a need for a student or students to select the Wine and Cheese PTO event as a service project. Ideally, this project is planned and completed by THREE students, but you will need adult assistance (parent hours!!!).

Last year we offered PTO Wine and Cheese babysitting in three downstairs classrooms. Each classroom will need 2-3 NJHS members "manning" the room and 3 volunteer parents to supervise the kids with the games and activities. This went REALLY well last year.

Last year, Nancy McDougal took this on as her Service Project and it was a super success. However, she had her mom helping and two other parents helped out (ANY of the parent volunteer time can count toward your volunteer hours at STM) and I will be present as well. We used the three classrooms opposite the cafeteria. Each room had a couple of organized games.

Please let Mrs. Morgan know if this is a service project opportunity that you would be interested in taking on.

I would not be a good PTO board member if I didn’t advocate for leaders within our school community. Currently, we have needs for the following roles:

1. STM Auction Chair (s) – the biggest event and fundraiser of the school year, this is your chance to organize the biggest party. More information to follow soon!
2. STM Fund Liaison – a new position where a parent or group of parents meet with Parish staff to begin the ramp up of fundraising through the Parish.

*As a reminder, all volunteers must be VIRTUS trained to volunteer at school events, including field trips*

Retail locations to purchase new uniforms can found here:

1. Flynn & O’Hara (650-19 Main St, Fairfax, VA 22031)

2. Robcyns (3660 King Street, Alexandria VA 22302)

3. Land’s End (Preferred School Number: 900077975) - PE Uniforms Only

President - Kristen Wright

President-Elect - Katie Burch

Secretary - Allison Rabin

Treasurer - Hannah Maloney

Vice President of Fundraising - Wege (Mimi) Kifle

Vice President of Events - Sara Harrington

At-Large CYO - Cesar Enriquez

At-Large PK -8th - Genevieve Kelly

At-Large DI - Jennifer McIntyre

At- Large Room Parent - Allison Nicholson

Email: stmptopresident@gmail.com
Website: https://www.stmschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1649633&type=d&pREC_ID=1792214
Location: 105 North Thomas Street, Arlington, VA, USA
Phone: 703-528-6781