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 Dear Parents, This year, the theme for Catholic Schools Week centered around three key priorities that are inherent in Catholic Schools. Faith, Academic, Service are the focus of Catholic Schools and distinguish us from other educational institutes. I believe STM excels in all three areas! Today, I would like to take the opportunity spotlight - Faith. I believe all the adults in the greater STM community have the responsibility to share their faith with the children. Together, parents and teachers share not just the basics of Christianity, but also how to build a relationship with God. Ash Wednesday is one week from today. During this Lenten season, let us take the opportunity to learn more about our faith and the wonderful practices that will help us to become more Christ-like in our daily lives. As a gentle reminder to all, we will post the following statement around our building: "Let it be known to all who enter here, that Jesus is the reason for our school. He is the unseen but ever-present teacher in our classes. He is the model of our faculty and the inspiration of our students." Together in Christ, Eleanor McCormack Principal |
Urge Senate to support Education Improvement Scholarship legislation
The Virginia Catholic Conference's top education priority - the Education Improvement Scholarship bill - cleared a major hurdle this morning, passing the Senate Finance Committee by an8-7 vote. The bill, which provides tax credits for K-12 scholarship donations, now proceeds to an unprecedented floor vote later this week in the Senate, where it faces an even stiffer challenge. Please email your Senator now in support of this bill, which is vitally important to families with limited economic means, and to Catholic and other nonpublic schools across Virginia as they work to sustain enrollments and provide opportunities for children in their communities. [After clicking the link in the previous sentence, you will need to scroll down and click "Send Message" in order for your Senator to receive your message.]
Please also forward this important message to as many others as possible!
If you are viewing this alert via the Virginia Catholic Conference'swebsite or if a friend forwarded it to you, you are invited to join the Conference's advocacy network, which would enable you to receive regular alerts and updates from the Conference directly by email on respect-life, social-justice, and education issues. If interested, pleaseclick here to enroll and complete the very short electronic form that is provided.
Help ensure that more families in need of financial assistance can choose the best educational opportunities for their children!
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Please mark your caledars:
11:30 Dismissal this Friday
No Extended Day Available
February 17, 2012
No School
February 20, 2012
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Safety Matters
During morning arrival, cars must come to a complete stop, and students may not exit the car until a teacher or safety patrol opens the car door. Students may not walk along the driveway next to the gym. Please refer to the Parent/Student Handbook (p. 20) for additional information about carpool safety. Safety matters!
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Deadline for tuition assistance applications is fast approaching!
The Diocese of Arlington and the STM School and Parish Community are committed to making a Catholic education available to all who seek it. All families are encouraged to apply for tuition aid if assistance is needed. The process for applying for tuition aid must be initiated by submitting your application and supporting information to FACTS Tuition Aid via their website: www.factstuitionaid.com. Only families who submit their information to FACTS will be considered for assistance. Families applying for tuition assistance for high school students as well as elementary school students will need to complete their applications by the high school deadline of January 23, 2012. All other families will need to complete their application by the STM deadline of March 19, 2012. Please feel free to contact Mrs. Ashworth in our school office if you have questions about registration or tuition assistance. |
Nurse's Note
To Help Keep Parents Informed: Please let the office or clinic know if your child is out with strep throat or another contagious disease. We can then notify the parents of the class involved to be watchful for those symptoms. Thanks. Is my child too sick for school? Please look on nurse's page under about stm/nurse for guidelines(also posted in handbook on page 40-41) March is Family Fun and Fitness Month at STM: Have you found a new place (or have a favorite place) to hike or bike? Do you have an active family fun night? Share your ideas for your active family games and homemade healthy snacks to the clinic at nurse@stmschool.org. We will be posting your healthy ideas through Edline, classroom notes and Eblast all month. Upcoming events: Poison Prevention Week March 18-24 --
Donna K Lorge, RN, BSNSTM School Nurse
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Inclement Weather Policy
St. Thomas More Cathedral School follows Arlington County's procedures for emergency closings. Announcements are made on television and radio. You may call the Arlington County Public School hotline at 1-866-322-4277. You may also log on to http://www.arlington.k12.va.us/Page/1152 for information. If Arlington County has a delayed opening, STM will have a delayed opening and if a delay opening occurs on an early dismissal day, school will dismiss at 2:55 PM. When school opens late, Extended Day will open late.
Occasionally schools are closed before regular dismissal time because of the weather. These closings will be announced via our electronic notification system sending messages to both phone and email addresses provided by the parents to the school. Please do not call the school office, as it is very important for the phone lines to be open for any emergencies. Please make sure your child has instructions about what to do if sent home early due to inclement weather. Extended Day will be open only for a very short time as parents are expected to pick up their children without delay. When school is closed all day no Extended Daycare is provided.
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Funeral Tomorrow
There will be a funeral tomorrow for Joshua Weissman, the paramedic who fell from 395 last week. It is expected that there will be over 200 fire engines and 2000 people attending the services in Alexandria City. For up-to-date information about traffic conditions, check with WTOP. Please plan accordingly for dismissal tomorrow.
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Mid Atlantic Catholic School Consortium Video
A few weeks ago, STM students, parents and faculty were filmed to be part of the Mid-Atlantic Catholic School Consortium video about Catholic schools. Click here to view the video.
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Enrichment Classes
The Science Seed
Chess Club New class for Chess starts February 16, 2012. Enroll online or download form from our website. |
Race for Education Coordinator Needed!
The PTO is in need of a volunteer to coordinate this year's Race for Education. This event usually raises over $20,000 for the school and the kids love it! There are a number of parents and teachers who have offered to work on the race, but we are in need of one great person to coordinate the event. Please contact Laurie Purpuro at laurie.purpuro@klgates.com if you think you can help with this or if you have questions. Thank you very much.
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Basketball Games this Weekend!
Come out and support STM this weekend - here are a list of the games that are being played around the area:
| | Date | Time | Vs. | Location | | Boys Varsity | Saturday | 9:45 | Queen of Apostles | OLGC | | Girls Varsity | Saturday | 11:00 | All Saints | St. Joseph | | Boys JV | Saturday |
7:30
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St. Timothy's
| St. Leo | | Girls JV | Saturday
Sunday | 3:20
2:30 | St. Theresa
St. Michael | St. Theresa
St. Mary | | 6th Grade Girls | Saturday | 9:45 | St. Louis | St. Mary | | 5th Grade Boys | Saturday | 11:20 | St. Joseph | St. John McLean | | 5th Grade Girls |
Saturday
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9:40
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St. Bernadette
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Holy Spirit
| | 4th Grade Boys | Sunday | 2:50 | St. Ambrose | St. Louis | | 4th Grade Girls | Sunday | 2:50 | St. Luke | St. Ann |
Check out the CYO website at http://www.nvjcyo.org/Basket.htm for more information and standings. |
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February 17, 2012
11:30 Dismissal
February 20, 2012
President's Day
No School
All School Mass
Ash Wednesday
10:00am
February 29, 2012
2:00pm Dismissal
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EBlast
Submissions for the EBlast are due on the Tuesday before the Wednesday Eblast. Send articles to:
Eblast@stmschool.org
Thanks! |
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