January 24, 2018
Strive to be more
Dear Parents,    
                                                       
Everyone is busy preparing for next week's national celebration of Catholic Schools. Please plan to join us Sunday morning, January 28, at the 9:30am Opening Mass!  As traditional, any student who attends  in uniform will receive a "Dress Down Day" pass to be used on Tuesday, January 30.  Students can meet their teacher in Burke Hall following Mass to receive their pass. 
   
After you visit in Burke Hall, please come to the STM Open House and visit with teachers and tour the school.  This is a wonderful opportunity for parents and students to "peek" into next year's classrooms and get a preview of students' upcoming experiences.  The STM Book Fair will also be open following the 9:30am Mass.  Mrs. O'Rourke and her volunteers will be standing by ready to assist you with selections and purchases.  Both the Open House and Book Fair will take place from 10:45am to 1:00pm. Bring your friends and neighbors and make it an outing!

During Catholic Schools Week there will be many activities through the week from PE Dance sessions to Service Day, the VIP Mass, and the all-school Bingo game.  This year's proceeds from Bingo will be donated to Camilla Hall, the Convent Home and Healthcare Center for the IHM sisters.

God bless,

Ele anor McCormack      
TOMORROW IS GIFT CARD DRESS DOWN DAY
Don't forget that tomorrow is the Gift Card Drive for Copacabana - An Auction in Paradise.  Bring in a gift card to any restaurant or retail store or just a VISA gift card and it will serve as the dress down pass for your child tomorrow,  January 25th. Remember each child will need their own gift card.  We kindly request cards valued at $25 or more but will gladly accept any denomination.  These gift cards really help the auction committee round out the perfect gift baskets and mystery bags for the Auction AND they can be counted toward your volunteer hours requirement.  Also - have you returned your postcard letting the committee know what YOU can do to contribute to this year's auction?? Please fill it out and return to the STM office at your earliest convenience. Thank you, in advance, for your
support and generosity!  
-Tara Ashworth & Cindy Urick,  Auction Co-Chairs
STM OPEN HOUSES
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED 
logo
   
On Sunday, January 28, there will be an Open House from 10:45 a.m. - 1 p.m. for all families interested in attending STM. This is generally a well-attended Open House, so the office is asking for a minimum of six parent volunteers to take interested parents on tours around the school. On Wednesday, January 31, there will be a follow-up Open House (from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.) for those unable to attend on Sunday. We are also asking for a minimum of six parent volunteers for Wednesday.  Please register and volunteer for one or both dates at  http://www.atozconnect.com or email  jmcdermitt@stmschool.org directly.  
PREVENTION IS ESSENTIAL

This January we have seen a marked increase in the number of illnesses among students and faculty.  Please remember that students must be fever free for 24 hours 
without the use of analgesics before returning to school. Not sure if your child can return?  Please contact Nurse Menacho for guidance:  (703) 528-6781 or nurse@stmschool.org
PIZZA THIS FRIDAY, JAN 26, FOR 
YEARLY SUBSCRIBERS.

This Friday Pizza Lunch supports Spanish!
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, Jell-O and small items like bubbles, novelty pens, stickers, and mini-note pads. 
Please do not send in cookies or nut products. Do 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 .
BINGO COINS FOR THE IHM SISTERS
  
The annual Catholic Schools Week STM Bingo game continues this year on Friday afternoon, February 2nd.  We ask students to bring in 24 
silver coins to use as markers for the Bingo 
games.  At the conclusion of the game, all coins  will be collected and the funds will be donated to Camilla Hall, the Convent Home and Healthcare Center for the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  The Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary were the founding faculty of St. Thomas More School.
STM BOOK FAIR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!

The STM book fair will open this  Sunday, January 28 at 10:30am . We could still use some volunteers during the following times:

Sunday  9-12:00
Monday  9-12:00 and  3:00-6:00
Tuesday  12:00-3:00 and  3:00 -6:00
Wednesday  9:00-12:00
Thursday  12:00-3:00 and  3:00-6:00
Friday  8:15-10:15

If you can help at any of these times, please email Mrs. O'Rourke at  morourke@stmschool.org

Thank you to everyone who has already volunteered! I appreciate all you do for our school.

Sincerely,
Mrs. O'Rourke
Knights of Columbus Food Drive for Christ House
 
Help us fill the Christ House pantry.  Pick up a Blue Bag from the ushers after Masses on February 3rd and 4th.  Fill the bag with canned goods and non-perishables.  Bring the bag back to Church the weekend of February 10-11 and leave it in the vestibule prior to Mass.  Your generous support of the needy in our community is greatly appreciated. 
FEBRUARY HOMEWORK HOUR
 
Registration for February Homework Hour is now being processed.  Hour-long homework assistance sessions are offered Mondays through Thursdays in Room 13 from 3:20 to 4:20pm.  The cost for this service is $15.00 per daily session per student that is charged to your FACTS account.  Students not picked up from Room 13 by 4:20pm will be checked into the Extended Day program.
 
Please complete the attached form and return to the school office.  Confirmation of registration will be sent via email.  
STM ADVANCED BAND NEWS

Arlington Diocese Honor Band Students acceptance, 2018

Congratulations to the following  7th and 8th Grade St. Thomas More band students who were accepted into  the  2018 Arlington Diocese Band .  These students will meet with 100 additional students from  around the diocese on Monday evenings from February to the end of April.  A final concert  with the 5th and 6th grade Honor Band is planned at Bishop Ireton High School.

The 7th/8th grade group are:
Emma Fahey 7th - flute
Willa Gutowski - 7th - flute
Meckenzie Letellier - 7th -tenor sax
Mary McConville - 7th - bass clarinet
Hannah Ashworth - 8th - trumpet
Samantha Guazzo  - 8th trumpet
Mario Rozzi -8th drums

The 5th/6th grade group are:
Marina Saunders 6th -flute
Leora Cassin 6th - clarinet
Mason Green  6th - alto sax
Peter Agbapuruonwu - 5th - trombone
Miles Woodcock - 6th - baritone
Ping Kirsch - trombone 6th
Hope Dickson - 5th flute

Again, congratulations for making the group for this year, and to the large number of students who have made this group multiple years.  The competition each years gets more and more difficult to get into the group.  

Barry Ward
Band Director
 
MANY GIFTS, ONE  NATION:  
A DAY OF GIVING TO CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
TUESDAY, JANUARY 30
 
The National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) is pleased to present the online giving campaign: Many Gifts, One Nation: A Day of Giving to Catholic Schools. This day is made possible with the generous support of FACTS Management.

WHEN:  For 24 hours starting January 30, 2018, 9:00am EST to
              January 31, 2018, 9:00am EST.
WHY:  Because Catholic schools change lives and now is the time
           to give back!

Your gift will go directly to the school you have selected and your donor information will not be shared with any other school or organization. MasterCard, Visa and Discover will be the only accepted forms of payment (American Express and Diners Club are not eligible). A receipt will be sent directly to your email once your gift has been made.
Don't forget to let others know that you participated. Share on your social media networks and challenge your former teachers, 
classmates and friends to give as well! Remember-Many Gifts, One Nation will only be available for 24 hours. Make sure every gift happens during this time!
ALTAR SERVER TRAINING
 
UPDATE / CHANGE for Altar Server Training!
 
We will be hosting another altar server training for new altar servers in January. All boys 4th Grade and older who have received First Communion are eligible. Training dates will be: 

Saturday, January 27 from 1:30pm-3:30pm**THIS IS A CHANGE***
Wednesday, January 31 from 3:15pm-5:15pm
  
All classes will meet in the Sacristy of the Cathedral. Please go to this link to sign up:  https://www.cathedralstm.org/2017/12/altar-server-training/    Please email Fr. Christensen at  frcc@cathedralstm.org  if you are interested.
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.  

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: 20
In This Issue
Upcoming Events

Thursday, Jan 25
Gift Card 
Dress Down Day

Sunday, Jan 28
Catholic Schools Week
Opening Mass
9:30am
STM Cathedral

Sunday, Jan 28
Catholic Schools Week
STM School Open House 
and Book Fair
10:45am-1pm
STM Cathedral School
and STM Library

Wednesday, Jan 31
STM School Open House
9:00am-11:00am

Thursday, Feb 1
STM Band Concert
7:00pm
STM Lee Hall/Gym

Friday, Feb 2
Report Cards Distributed

Wednesday, Feb 7
11:30am Dismissal with Extended Day
"STM Will Turn the World"