February 7, 2018
Strive to be more
Dear Parents,    
                                                       
Thank you for all the wonderful support and appreciation that was extended both to teachers and to students during Catholic Schools Week.  It was a terrific week of celebration which invigorated the entire school community.  Parental support is an integral component of STM's success, and I am grateful for all that you do.  Your contributions of time and effort strongly support STM's ability to remain vibrant and successful in a highly competitive area. 

At this time, we are still busy counting the many coins that were donated to the Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary at the conclusion of the Catholic Schools Week Bingo game. More information on the donation total will be provided in next week's Blast. 

Yesterday, STM middle school students presented their Science Fair entries at the annual STM Science Fair. 8 Judges were invited to come and review the 70 student entries. This is the final step in a months long process of researching, experimenting, cataloging, analyzing, concluding, and summarizing. When the judging concluded, ten projects earned the opportunity to represent STM at the annual Diocesan Science Fair to be held at Paul VI High School on April 14. We are proud of all the students who presented a project and we congratulate them on a job well done.

God bless,

Eleanor McCormack

1st Place STM Science Fair Winners 2018

2nd Place STM Science Fair Winners 2018

3rd Place STM Science Fair Winners 2018

Science Boards on Display

Science Boards on Display

pizza-banner.jpg

PIZZA THIS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, FOR ALL STUDENTS WHO SUBSCRIBED

This Friday Pizza Lunch supports the Yearbook!
Pizza and Market Table volunteers are needed in the school cafeteria from 10:45am-1:15pm.  You must be VIRTUS-compliant to volunteer.  Come for the entire time or just for an hour.
 
Market Table
Appropriate items and some favorites are individually bagged popcorn, fruit snacks, chips, pretzels, cheese puffs or Jell-O and small items like bubbles, novelty pens, stickers, and mini-notepads. Please do not send in cookies or nut productsDo not send in latex items such as balloons or any item made with latex. 
 
For every $15 spent you earn 1 volunteer hour.
If you have any pizza questions, contact Mike or Cecelia Gilliam at  gilliams5@verizon.net .
THANK YOU, BOOK FAIR VOLUNTEERS!
  
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the many hands that came to the STM Library to set up, sell, monitor, reshelve, and take down the STM Book Fair. Proceeds for this year's fair exceeded expectations!  A gross total of $9342 was earned which netted proceeds of $1240 to spend on purchasing new books.  Thank you so much for your continued support of this important annual event.
Sincerely,
Mrs. O'Rourke, STM Librarian
logo
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS 
AND 
STM STUDENT COUNCIL FOOD
     DRIVE FOR CHRIST HOUSE

Help the STM Student Council fill the Christ House pantry!  Bring your cans or other non-perishable foods to your classroom for  collec tion.  Donations will be collected until Ash Wednesday,
February 14th.  Your generous support of the needy among us is greatly appreciated.  
EXPLORING YOUR CHILD'S KIND OF MIND: 
SOCIAL COGNITION AND ATTENTION
Presented by Wanda Zehr Anderson, M. Ed.
Educational Consultant and
 NESI Title I Teacher at STM


WORKSHOP #2: February 8 6:30-7:30 pm
Exploring Your Child's Social Kind of Mind
Parents and teachers will work together to explore Social Cognition - the way children at each stage of development think about social interaction with friends, classmates, teachers and other adults, in and out of school. Parents will leave with specific strategies to leverage strengths and support social challenges based on the NDFL.
 
WORKSHOP #3:  Thursday, March 15 6:30-7:30 pm Attention and Its Impact on Learning
Attention is not just about staying focused in class or at home. Almost every child (and adult!) has both strengths and challenges in attention.  Come find out the many facets of attention from a NDFL perspective.  Parents will leave with specific strategies to strengthen this important construct that impacts every area of learning.
 
 
These workshops are presented at no cost to you and are open to all STM parents, but you must pre-register by returning this registration form. If you are not already registered, please do so by Friday, February 2,2018
STM WOMEN'S COUNCIL  IS  ONCE AGAIN HOSTING  MEATLESS LENTEN 
SUPP ERS!!

Each Friday during Lent, the Women's Council serves a delicious meatless meal in Burke Hall from 5:30-7:30pm.  This is an excellent opportunity to have dinner with friends and family. Dinners finish in plenty of time for all of us to attend the Stations of the Cross at 7:30pm in the Cathedral.  The first dinner will be Friday, February 16.  Baked potatoes (sweet as well as russet) with all the fixings will be served!  Suppers will continue each Friday in Lent until Friday, March 23, 2018. The food is provided by the Women's Council.  Dinners are free - however, donations are accepted!

STM BAND NEWS
Congratulations to the STM Band and their director, Mr. Barry Ward, for a wonderful evening of music that was presented last Thursday, February 1, in STM's Lee Hall.  
Photo courtesy of Raylene Rozzi
TUITION ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE

All families are encouraged to apply for tuition aid if assistance is needed. The Diocese of Arlington and the STM School and Parish community are committed to making a Catholic education available to all who seek it.  The deadline for tuition assistance applications for next school year is March 10, 2018.  The process for applying for tuition aid must be initiated by submitting your application through FACTS Tuition Aid - which can be accessed via STM's homepage:  www.stmschool.org .   Families must pay their registration fee and submit their information to FACTS to be considered for tuition assistance. Please contact the STM Bookkeeper, Tara Ashworth, 
at 703-528-6781 X223 or tashwork@stmschool.org if you have 
any questions.  
FLYNN & O'HARA UNIFORMS
As we enter the second semester, it is time to take a look at the fit of your child's uniform and consider ordering items that will last through June.  To help with your ordering, Flynn & O'Hara have provided their 2018 Price List for STM Uniforms. You can order online or stop by their Fairfax store to make immediate purchases. 
 
SAVE THE DATE!
5TH  USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, DC
X-STEM Symposium-Thursday, April 5, 2018
Sneak Peek Friday - Friday, April 6, 2018
Finale Expo - Saturday, April 7 to Sunday, April 8, 2018
Learn more at  usasciencefestival.org

Click here for more details.
BLAST SUBMISSIONS
STM Blast items must be submitted to eblast@stmschool.org by noon on Monday  in order to be included in that week's edition.   All submissions must be in print-ready form.  Items received after this deadline will be held until the following issue.  Thank you for your cooperation.
Issue: 22
In This Issue
Upcoming Events

Thursday, Feb 8
Exploring Your Child's Kind of Mind: Social Cognition and Attention
6:30pm-7:30pm
STM Cafe

Wednesday, Feb 14
Ash Wednesday
10:00am Mass
Cathedral of STM

Friday, Feb 16
Stations of the Cross
2:00pm
Cathedral of STM

Monday, Feb 19
NO SCHOOL
Federal Holiday
Presidents' Day

"STM Will Turn the World"