St. Thomas More Cathedral School

STM PTO Newsletter: September 15, 2023

Included in this newsletter:

Message from the President

Back to School Night

Race for Education

Fall Enrichment Program Registration - Closes 9/19/2023

Wine and Cheese Mixer (with potential service hours for 7th graders and parents)

CYO Running Royals (XC) – Final Notice

VIRTUS Training

PTO Board Opportunities

Lebanese Taverna

Breakfast with Santa

Save the Dates

Drop off and Pick up procedures with STM dismissal link

Uniforms

STM PTO Board

Message from the President

Back to School Night was great! I really got boost out of

a.) these kids are back into the swing of things, and

b.) these teachers are AMAZING in the ways, both big and small, that they are educating our children.

Hopefully you have all received your One Book One School materials (there is small population with a different title). I hope you all get to enjoy a family experience – with our family we try audio books or having the middle schoolers read aloud to their first-grade sibling. In any case, I love having yet another way to connect to the kids during their school year.

I hope to see you all next week during the Wine and Cheese Mixer (5 pm to 6:30 pm – we need to wind it down a smidge early to accommodate our RCIA/CCD community brothers and sisters). Please be mindful of CCD students as you exit at the end of the event.

Thanks, and have a wonderful and blessed weekend.

- Kristen

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

zoom_out_map

Back to School Night

Back to School Night was a blast and we were able to receive a message from Mrs. LaBarge and get some really good information on how to interact with teachers and find specific resources to assist our young scholars when it comes to homework, projects, and study materials. If you were unable to attend, please reach out to your child(ren)’s teachers.

zoom_out_map

Race for Education: Pledgestar Activation, Starbucks Drawing, Volunteer Opportunities, and More!

Race for Education soared past the $10,000 mark this week, and we're so grateful to everyone who has helped get our annual fundraiser off to a great start!

Here are some quick reference links to help your family get ready for the race!

Race for Education Fundraising Goals and Checklist

Pledgestar Activation for Families

Volunteer Sign-ups

T-Shirts: VCO Orthodontics is generously sponsoring race day t-shirts for students, so please be on the lookout for an email from room parents regarding sizes for these free t-shirts.

zoom_out_map

Enrichment Programs (Registration Closes 9/19/2023)

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

Upcoming Service Project Opportunity to get your project over (7th Grade families)

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.

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.

zoom_out_map

CYO Running Royals (Final XC Notice)

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.

zoom_out_map

VIRTUS Training

We keep talking about volunteering but let’s take a few steps back and talk about how to get to volunteer during school hours. Want to sling some slices of pizza or attend an amazing field trip as a chaperone? You will need VIRTUS Training and an account with the Diocesan Office of Child Protection.

There is an application, background check, and training you must complete but once you are done - volunteering is more accessible. Each parent/guardian must be VIRTUS compliant in order to volunteer within the school. Please reach out to the STM Office for further information.

PTO Volunteer Opportunities

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:

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!
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 during school hours, including field trips*

zoom_out_map

Lebanese Taverna - September 27, 2023

What? I don’t have cook dinner for my very picky children on September 27, 2023! That’s right! You do not. We have partnered with Lebanese Taverna to have our very first STM Restaurant Night of the school year.

You will need to order by 5 pm 9/26/2023 to have your order, a portion of the proceeds will be heading back to STM to benefit our students, and did I mention you do not have to cook?

For available offerings and place your family’s order, please see this link.

Many thanks to our Restaurant Chair, Robin for this!

zoom_out_map

STM Breakfast with Santa

Most of us are millenials and gen x'ers so I already know you love throwbacks! Not many of us remember the days of Breakfast with Santa (think pancakes, fun crafts, and pictures). But for one year only...we are bringing Breakfast with Santa Back!

So go ahead and plan out your jingle jammies for Saturday, December 16 from 9:00am - 11:00am. (Note: There will be no Country Christmas this year.)

zoom_out_map

SAVE THE DATES

STM Calendar

Mon. 9/18 – Band Lessons Begin (must have pre-registered)
Wed. 9/20 – PTO Wine and Cheese (5 – 6:30 pm) All are welcome!
Wed. 9/27 – Meet the Principals Coffee (8:15am)
Wed. 9/27 - Lebanese Taverna Restaurant Night
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
Sat. 12/16 - Breakfast with Santa

***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.