Be Unique - Be a Leader - Be Aquinas
Knightly News - January 14, 2018
Principal's Post

The winter weather has made it challenging to get into a consistent schedule at school and in our winter sports programs. I am hopeful that the weather will be more favorable in the coming weeks. However, this coming week will still not be normal for me. School is closed on Monday due to Martin Luther King Day and I will be away from school Friday with STA students at the March for Life in Washington, D.C.

This Sunday’s Old Testament reading features a young Samuel who is being called by God. Samuel was open to God and responded by saying, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” Throughout the Bible, God often calls young people to serve Him. May we encourage all of our young people at St. Thomas Aquinas to be open to listening to God’s voice and searching for His will in their lives. 

Have a great Aquinas week!

St. Thomas Aquinas, pray for us.
Principal Schlueter

Go Knights!
"Catholic schools have show unparalleled success in educating children, promoting a lifelong commitment to faith and virtue, and encouraging civic engagement. While government leaders look frantically for programs and initiatives to improve education in America, Catholic schools maintain their track record of serving children and families admirably well, closing the achievement gap for poor and minority students, and doing so at a fraction of the cost of public schools". (University of Notre Dame, 2017)
A Note from Campus Ministry
The St. Thomas Aquinas community encourages you to please keep in your prayers the Perry Community who mourn the loss of several students to suicide.

We hope parents, grandparents and guardians allow an open communication with their children and provide opportunities to speak freely about concerns. Mr. Pederzolli in the Guidance Department is always available to speak with as well as other school staff members who genuinely care for your children. If there is ever a need for immediate intervention, text 4hope to 741741.  
Alumni Memorial Mass
Mark Your Calendars

St. Thomas Aquinas will host a Memorial Mass for our deceased alumni on Saturday, January 27th at 4pm in the Main Chapel. Please call Mrs. May at the school (330.875.1631) if you plan to attend. 
STA Students Fulfilling Our Mission to Serve:

Aquinas students, Please connect with Mrs. May about details for these volunteer opportunities.

St. Joseph Nursing Home  
-Help Residents log on to new tablets & teach how to play games 
-Help residents in a program called “Music and Memory”
Important Meetings & Info - Please Read!
All 2017-2018 School Forms are available on the St. Thomas Aquinas website.

Regular School Hours 
Mon - Fri 7:30am - 3:30pm STA Phone 330-875-1631

Upcoming Events 
  • Monday, January 15 - No School (Martin Luther King Day)
  • Friday, January 19 - March For Life
  • Saturday, January 20 - Royal Knights basketball game at 4:00 
  • Tuesday, January 23 - STARS ice cream
  • Thursday, January 25 - 6th Grade Visitation Day
  • Saturday, January 27 - Alumni Memorial Mass
  • Monday, January 29 - Catholic Schools Week

Athletic Events
  • Tuesday, January 16, 6:00 - Boys JV basketball at Alliance
  • Tuesday, January 16, 7:30 - Boys basketball at Alliance
  • Wednesday, January 17, 5:00 - Girls JV basketball at Trinity
  • Wednesday, January 17, 7:30 - Girls basketball at Trinity
  • Thursday, January 18, 5:00 - Freshmen Boys basketball vs JFK
  • Thursday, January 18, 5:00 - Swim meet at McKinley/Massillon
  • Friday, January 19, 5:30 - Boys JV basketball vs JFK
  • Friday, January 19, 7:30 - Boys basketball vs JFK
  • Saturday, January 20, - Swimming at Perry Invite
  • Saturday, January 20, 4:00 - Royal Knights basketball game
Mr. Schweninger Nominated
Malone University Teacher of the Month
Mr. Jared Schweninger, Math & STEM
Mr. Schweninger is a positive role model for his students at St. Thomas Aquinas Middle School. He has taught math over the past several years, but took on additional responsibilities to teach Social Studies and develop a new STEM program for the seventh and eighth grades. Additionally, Mr. Schweninger coaches girls basketball and baseball. He is always willing to do what is asked of him to make St. Thomas Aquinas a better school for his students.
Teacher Awards

We have life-changing teachers here at St. Thomas Aquinas High School and Middle School! We want to celebrate and thank them for their hard work and dedication to education but we need your help. Do you have a teacher that has positively influenced your life? If so, nominate them for a Golden Apple Award! To nominate your favorite teacher, visit our website for the nomination form .
St. Thomas Aquinas students have been invited to participate in the Start to Strike Program, a theatre program sponsored by ArtsinStark and the Canton Palace Theatre.

“The Villain’s Last Page” is a musical written by Central Catholic students about the adventures that unfold when 3 villains meet in a café and decide to seek redemption from those they’ve wronged. The three villains, the Queen of Hearts, the Big Bad Wolf and Scar, run into much mischief when they seek forgiveness from Alice, Little Red Riding Hood and Simba. “  

Roles in the show, as well as jobs behind the scenes, are open to all high school students from St. Thomas Aquinas and CCHS.

Cast auditions are being held on Monday, January 15, 3 pm at CCHS, or for students who cannot make Monday due to transportation issues, a second audition time will be offered on Tuesday, January 16, 3:30-5pm at CCHS . All interested students can pick-up an audition packet in the attendance office or download the audition materials from the STA website.

See Mrs. Pusateri for more information or questions.
Did you know the Central Catholic & St. Thomas Aquinas Choirs came together to perform a community show this semester?
2018 Aquinas Gold Auction
A Silent Auction Teaser #3:

Western Lake Erie Fishing Trip or Boat Cruise

Join Captain Greg Duplin for a week day on Lake Erie next summer departing from Catawba Island and their Harbor Park Marina home! Three couples or six people will enjoy a full day of activities on Lake Erie, truly a Great Lake. Depending on your personal preference you can depart from their dock either to: 

  • fish from “Parlay”, a 25 foot center console and catch perch or walleye (fishing licenses are necessary) or 
  • visit the western islands of Put-In-Bay and Kelley’s Island aboard “Never Say Never”, a 30 foot cruiser. 

Bring your suits because there is always time to find a nice little beach off East Harbor State park or just turn the engines off and swim in the surprisingly clear blue water. Everything will be provided on this Great Day on Lake Erie.
for the 2018 Aquinas Gold Auction
From the Guidance Office
HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Please check in with the Guidance Office for many more College Scholarship opportunities or the STA website for recent additions .

Quota International of Alliance Inc.
This college scholarship is geared more for any student with speech and hearing impairments, it's also to service to youth and community service to disadvantaged women and children, this is available to any senior girl residing in the Alliance area who plan to attend an accredited college or university upon graduation. This application deadline is March 30,2018 . More information and application can be found in the Guidance office.

(NEW) Tiny Tots preschool is awarding one scholarship to any graduating senior who attended Tiny Tots, more information can be found in the Guidance office.

(NEW) OHIO NEWS MEDIA FOUNDATION 2018 MINORITY JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP
A copy of the application is available in the Guidance Office, deadline is March 21, 2018.

THE CANTON STUDENT LOAN FOUNDATION for graduating seniors holding a 2.0 and higher GPA looking for financial assistance must call before June 1st deadline ph # 330-493-0020.
STA Hosting Royal Knights of Stark County Special Olympics Team

Royal Knights of Stark County
vs
Colombiana DD Comets

Saturday, January 20th
4:00pm

Admission: Donations Accepted. FREE admission with a canned food item benefiting the Louisville Food Pantry.
Athletics - Stay in the Know & Follow Us
STA Basketball Partner School Nights

Thank you to all the families that joined us to “Celebrate our Rivalry” at the St. Thomas Aquinas and Central Catholic basketball games over break! We love having fans from the elementary schools in the stands!

We want to invite families to join us again for special partner nights. Catholic school elementary students wearing their school basketball jerseys, school spirit shirts, or Knight shirts will receive free admittance to the games below (parents will need to buy a ticket). During half-time of the varsity games, students from our partner schools will be recognized from the stands.  

Friday, January 12 – STA Boys Home Basketball Game, 7:00 pm varsity game  (WILL BE RESCHEDULED)  

Monday, February 5 –STA Girls Home Basketball Game, 7:00 pm game 
Planning a class reunion, email us and we'll post the information in our weekly eBlast!
CLASSMATE UPDATES

The Class of '68 reunion is coming up - where are you now? Send us an update !
2019 REUNIONS

Class of 1979 is looking for a few fabulous alumni who would love to be a part of the 40th Reunion Planning Committee. Please contact Don Trubisky at 330-265-9647
CLASSMATE MEMORIALS
Eternal rest grant unto them...
STA IN TOUCH

To stay in the know with all things STA, please be sure to update your information on the website.
Got News or Photos to Share?
If you have any announcements for the STA eBlast, please email it to the STA eBlast Editor . Please add EBLAST in the subject line.

The weekly deadline is Saturday at noon to be included in that week's newsletter. Any announcements submitted after this deadline will be in the following week's STA eBlast.
Upcoming Events - Save the Date
Aquinas Vegas Gold Auction 2018 Needs Your Help

The Auction Committee is seeing TICKET donations for the following:
Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Attractions
Columbus Clippers, Columbus Blue Jackets
Canton Attractions, Blossom/Quicken Loans Arena upcoming events.

Contact Diane Harwood or school 330.875.1631
Ways to Support STA
St Thomas Aquinas High School is partnering with Schoola ( www.schoola.com ).

What’s Schoola? It’s a great way to raise funds for our school. Schoola collects pre-loved women's and children’s clothes, preps and sells them online, and gives 40% of the proceeds (minus the cost of inbound shipping) back to St Thomas Aquinas High School to help fund programs for our kids. That’s $2 out of every $5 earned back to our school! Simply click on the image to view our very own Schoola landing page where you can request a bag and view our progress and funds earned

The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to St. Thomas Aquinas High School & Middle School to help fund programs for our students. Every little bit counts, donations quickly add up.

It's easy! Type smile.amazon.com and log into your Amazon.com account. Select St. Thomas Aquinas High School (yes the Middle School benefits too!), Louisville, OH. That's it. Now whenever you make a purchase STA benefits.

Thank you for your support!

Don't forget to forward this to your family and friends! And encourage them to  sign up  to receive their own copy of this email blast.