St. Thomas More Cathedral School

Okay Okay...

I get it. You all want to get to the party. I got you! Here is the updated link to the form and we will have the school charge you via FACTS.

1. Message from the President

2. Bishop’s Annual Disability Awareness Mass – 10/8/2023

3. Oktoberfest

4. Race for Education

5. Trunk or Treat

6. 8th Grade Open Houses

7. STM Breakfast with Santa

8. Volunteer Opportunities and Virtus Training (moves down)

9. Save the Dates

10. Drop off and Pick up procedures with STM dismissal link

11. Uniforms

12. STM PTO Board

Hey!

I can't believe how fast September zoomed by! One minute it's Labor Day and the next, I am in countdown mode for Confirmation - If you saw Wednesday looking like a woman on mission - I needed to get my 8th Grader to school pronto for her Confirmation Retreat.

We have a lot going on from Oktoberfest to Trunk or Treat - whatever is your fancy, we have it for you this month! Oh and don't forget the main party...RACE FOR EDUCATION! I cannot wait to cheer on the students (mine and yours) as they help in fundraising for school security! Plus I get to embarrass said 8th grader...running man anyone?

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

Bishop’s Annual Disability Awareness Mass set for Sunday, October 8, 2023, at 10:30 am at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 5121 Woodland Way, Annandale, VA 22003.

(A community reception will be held at McGivney Hall immediately following Mass.)

This yearly event supports disability awareness for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and showcases the need for us to provide opportunities for them to reach their full potential through inclusive education and meaningful employment throughout the Catholic Diocese of Arlington.

Join us for the Cathedral of St. Thomas More Annual Parish and School Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 14, 2023 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Let’s come together to enjoy fellowship, delicious food, rides, music, corn hole and much more!

There is a suggested donation to attend the event of $20 per family, you can give more or less – our goal is to ensure the event is accessible to the whole community and is subsidized by the PTO and Parish. Registration closes on October 6, 2023.

Prost!

DONATE! We hit $33,000 this week on our way to reaching our goal of $85,000. 100% of funds raised will be used to enhance school security and recognize our fabulous faculty with holiday bonuses. If we reach our goal, there will be a school-wide dress down day!

ACTIVATE! There's still time to activate your family's Pledgestar account and ask friends/family to donate to the Race for Education. Those who activate between Oct 1-15 will be entered into the $20 Dunkin Donuts gift card drawing! (Got questions about Pledgestar? Reach out to RFE Co-Chairs James and Sumner.)

VOLUNTEER! We've got three slots left, so if you're able to join us on race day, check out the volunteer slots on PTO Office. For those who have already signed up, stay tuned for a message with additional details from RFE Co-Chairs Sumner and James.

CHEER! We'd love to have fans watching the kids race their hearts out. Check out the grade blocks below:

1. Pre-K & K: 9:00-9:45
2. 1st & 2nd: 10:00-10:45
3. 3rd, 4th, & 5th: 11:00-11:45
4. 6th, 7th, & 8th: 12:00-12:45

Trunk or Treat is back for its 4th annual gathering! Get ready for some spooky fun on October 27, 2023 from 5 to 7:30 pm in the STM parking lot. Please note this is a RAIN or SHINE event.

There will be face painters, balloon artists and a strolling magician! We also will have an obstacle course bounce house. Pre-order dinner (details to follow) and enjoy some Captain Cookie treats while "trunk" or treating with your kids.

General rules:

1. Space is LIMITED for this event. If you did not reserve your admission to this event, you will not be permitted to participate.
2. Each Trunk ticket is $10.
3. Walk-in tickets are $5 each or $20 for a family.
4. Tickets will be distributed in your oldest child’s backpack on October 25, 2023; check in will be at the school gate similar to dismissal procedures.
5. Walk-in admissions will be permitted to enter the parking lot once all the cars are parked and the school gates are closed.
6. The event last year had approximately 350 children attending, so car/“Trunk” admissions should have enough treats for that many children.
7. Cars may begin parking in the designated “Trunk” spots at 4:40 pm. The School gates will close at 5 pm and will not reopen until 7:30 pm.
8. If your car is parked in a “Trunk” spot during the event, you will not be able to leave the event early. If you cannot stay for the entirety of your timed entry, you should not park your car in a designated “Trunk” spot.
9. STM Teachers/ Staff admitted FREE, BUT YOU STILL NEED TO REGISTER WHILE SPACE IS AVAILABLE!

Tickets can be purchased here (updated link will bill you via FACTS).

Before we all start crying - our babies, I mean 8th graders are heading off to High School next year. Crazy Right? I wanted to share some of the schools that are accepting applications and planning to visit STM in the coming weeks:

• High School Visit - Bishop Ireton. Oct. 11, 2023
• High School Visit - Bishop O’Connell Oct. 12, 2023
• High School Visit - Paul VI Oct. 26, 2023
  
• High School Visit - Visitation and Gonzaga Nov. 16, 2023
  
• High School Placement Test (8am to 10am) Nov. 30, 2023

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Guess what, folks? We are bringing Breakfast with Santa back! But hold onto your jingle bells because this is a one-year-only special treat! Get ready to join us on a sleigh-ride of fun on Saturday, December 16, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM!

Stay tuned, because more fabulous details are coming your way soon. (Please note that there will be no Country Christmas this year) For questions, contact Rosalinda Wolfe-Bertling

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.

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 during school hours, including field trips*

STM Calendar

• 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
• Tue. 11/7 - November PTO Meeting (Note - we may need to change this as this is Election Day and Civic Duty is core value so I want to make sure everyone has time to handle that).
• Sat. 12/16 - Morning 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.

If you need to change how your children are picked up, please use this dismissal form by 2:30 pm. Please see the displays below about how to dropoff and pick up the students. If you have family or friends - please send this to them.

STM Handbook

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