Eagle News

July 18, 2025

Letter from the Principal

Click here to read a Back to School message from Mrs. Ashley McDaniel.

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Back-to-School Schedule

Click here to download and print.

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Order Your Spirit Shirts by July 21!

Get your STM spirit shirts now! The online store is the only place to buy spirit shirts. It's only open through July 21, so click here to order yours today!

Youth and adult cotton and performance tees available in short and long sleeve. Students are encouraged to wear the STM spirit shirt on Wonderful Wednesdays (the first Wednesday of each month, beginning August 13), Mission Day, grade-level retreats, field trips, and other special days designated by the administration.

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Volunteer Opportunity! Help Distribute School Supply Kits - August 2

We need your helping hands on August 2 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. to deliver school supply kits to the classrooms throughout campus. Adult volunteers are not required to be child protection certified to sign up. High school students needing service hours also are welcome!

Please click here to sign up. Thank you!

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4th-8th Grade Choir Camp - July 28-29

Thinking about Choir? Join Us for Choir Camp! This 2-day camp is open to all STM 4th–8th graders who are curious about choir — no matter which electives you chose for the upcoming school year. There’s no commitment and no experience required: Come learn about choir, sing a few fun songs to kick off the year, and get a head start if you’re interested in auditioning for honor choir.

Location and Dates: STM Parish Activity Center Hall - July 28 and 29, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Snacks and water provided!

Please click here to complete this form if your student plans to attend Choir Camp.

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5th and 6th Grade Beginning Band Instrument Demo Night - August 26

Students in 5th and 6th grade have the opportunity to join Beginning Band. We meet during the week before school from 7:00 until 7:40 a.m. for two days a week in the fall semester, and three days a week in the spring. We offer our students the opportunity to learn how to play a band instrument, as well as an introduction into reading sheet music. Students have the option to start on flute, clarinet, trumpet, or trombone.

If your child has no prior experience playing an instrument, this is a great place for them to start! Once they have determined what instrument they will be starting on, we typically follow a schedule that includes the flute and clarinet players meeting on Mondays and Wednesdays, and the trumpet and trombone students meeting on Tuesdays and Thursdays. After we return from our Christmas holiday, we begin getting the full group together on Fridays in addition to the days that they meet separately during the week. This all culminates in our first performance at the STM Art & Music Show at the end of the school year!

If you are thinking that your child might be interested in beginning their musical journey with us, come check out our Instrument Demo Night on Tuesday, August 26, at 5:30 p.m. in the St. Joseph Hall commons. This will be a great chance for students and parents to meet with me, learn more information about the opportunities that are possible with band, and most importantly, get to try out some actual instruments to help determine what may be the best fit for them.

If your child is interested, please click here to fill out the Google Form. If you have any questions, email Band Director Benjamin Buller at bullerb@stmbr.org.

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Register for 2nd Grade Sacramental Prep

Attention 2nd grade families: Registration for Reconciliation and First Eucharist preparation is open through July 31. Registration is $40 per child.

Click here to register.

Please note: Preparing for these sacraments requires 1st grade religious education either in a Catholic school or Parish School of Religion. If you wish to register, but your child has not been baptized in the Catholic Church, contact Sarah Neau at neaus@stmbr.org for more information.

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End-of-Summer School Office Hours

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Back to School Nights - August 14 (5th-8th) and August 18 (PK3-4th) at 5:30 p.m.

This night is intended for parents/guardians only. Parents will attend by grade level:
Thursday, August 14 at 5:30 p.m. - Grades 5-8
Monday, August 18 at 5:30 p.m. - Grades PK3-4

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2025-2026 Academic Calendar

Click here to view and download the 2025-2026 academic calendar. It includes full days of school, holidays and parent/teacher conference days.

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Parent Text Alert Update

The short code that displays as the sender for Parent Alert texts is changing on July 21. The new code will be 31706. Anyone already receiving Parent Alert texts will automatically receive them from the new code. Individuals who are currently opted out of Parent Alert texts may opt in by texting START to 317065 before July 21, or by texting START to 31706 after July 21.

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2025-2026 Back to School Hub

Click here and bookmark this site! We will post all of the latest back-to-school information here to help transition into the new school year.

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Blessing of the Backpacks - August 9-10

All students are invited to bring their backpacks to Masses at STM Church to start off the school year with a special blessing. Masses are Saturday, August 9 at 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, August 10 at 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

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Homeroom Class Lists

Your child's homeroom class list will be emailed August 1.

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EBR Bus Routes

Children on a bus route should receive a postcard mailed to your home address with the bus number, bus driver’s name and pickup time. If you have questions regarding bus routes, please call EBR Transportation at 225-226-3660.

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Uniforms and Backpacks

St. Thomas More Catholic School is a community of believers that form one body in Christ. The school uniform is a means of communicating our unity and oneness. For the complete STM dress code, see pages 24-28 in the STM Parent-Student Handbook.

Our three uniform vendors are Inka's, School Time, or Young Fashions. Each vendor sells the same uniform pieces, but Inka's is the only vendor that sells the official STM sweatshirt and sweatpants.

On Mass days, out of respect for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, girls must wear their jumpers, skirts, skorts, or long pants. Boys must wear long pants with the uniform shirt tucked in.

Sweatpants may be worn in place of the uniform bottoms from November through February. Inka's is the only uniform vendor that sells the official STM sweatshirts and sweatpants. 

PE UNIFORMS: 5th - 8th Graders
Students in grades 5-8 wear the STM PE uniform. The PE uniform is a specific t-shirt and shorts that can be purchased at any of our three uniform vendors: Inka's, School Time, or Young Fashions. As our bodies change and grow, it was requested that a PE uniform be part of the class. Students change into these at the start of PE class, and it helps them to feel better for the rest of their day. Please contact the school office at 225-275-2820 if you have any questions.

SHOES
Tennis Shoes:
Must be traditional low quarter (low cut) style with shoe laces. The shoe color must be navy blue, black, grey, white or any combination of those colors. The laces must be in the same color scheme (navy blue, black, grey, or white), solid, and traditionally tied. Characters, plaid, checkerboard patterns, lights, Velcro, zipper, skateboard style, slip-ons, and wheels are not allowed. PK students may wear Velcro shoes.
Leather Shoes: Solid navy blue, solid brown or solid black; no boots. (on P.E. days, tennis shoes should be worn.)
Socks: Socks must be visible, above the shoe and solid white with no logos. They cannot be below the shoe line.

BELTS
Preschool boys may wear pants with elastic waistband; no belt is required. Boys in Kindergarten through 8th grade should wear a black, navy, or brown belt. Magnetic belts are permitted.

BACKPACKS
Preschool and Kindergarten students use the blue STM tote bag provided by the school. Students in grades 1-8 use backpacks, which may have wheels and may have any colors, patterns, etc. consistent with school values.

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Water Bottles

With water fountains available to students throughout campus, water bottles are optional and must only contain water. Students may not bring tumbler-style cups with a straw opening to school. Students may bring water bottles with screw-on tops that provide a tight seal and are “no-spill.”

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Absences and Tardies

When your child will be absent or tardy, email both attendance@stmbr.org and your child's homeroom teacher. Please provide the following: student name, grade, teacher, and reason for absenteeism or tardiness. This email may come any time prior to 7:30 a.m. Students arriving at school after 7:40 a.m. must report to the office for a tardy slip. For safety reasons, students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian when arriving late. After receiving a tardy slip, the student then reports to the homeroom teacher. If a child is tardy on a Mass day, he or she will wait in the office until Mass is over.

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Carpool Procedures

CARPOOL SIGNS
Preschool and Kindergarten families:
You will receive your child's carpool sign at Meet and Greet.
Returning families in grades 1-8:
On the first day of carpool, please use your carpool signs from last year if you still have them. New carpool signs will be distributed on your child's first day of school.
New and returning families in grades 1-8 without signs:
On the first day of school, please write your child's name in large, bold letters on a sheet of paper and display in your windshield. New carpool signs will be distributed on your child's first day of school.

CARPOOL TIMES
Morning carpool:
Begins at 7:15 a.m.
All students must be on campus promptly by 7:40 a.m.
Morning assembly follows carpool every morning. Students not present at morning assembly are considered tardy.
Dismissal and afternoon carpool:
2:55 to 3:15 p.m.

Students who are not picked up in afternoon carpool by 3:15 p.m. will be sent to Extended Care as a drop-in. If a student is not previously registered for Extended Care and is sent by the office (due to the office closing), the parent must register the child at that time and pay a fee. Please contact Mrs. Gretchen Thibodeaux with any questions about Extended Care.

PRESCHOOL
For both morning and afternoon carpool, vehicles will line up on Sylvan Drive heading north (toward Sherbrook) and will turn into the carpool line through the gate between the Preschool building and Kindergarten building. To exit carpool, vehicles leave the drive by turning right onto Sherbrook. Click here for the Preschool Carpool Map.

GRADES K-2: GYM CARPOOL
For both morning and afternoon carpool, vehicles will line up on Parkwood Drive heading west (toward Sherwood Forest Blvd.) and will curve south onto Dartmoor Drive. At the intersection of Dartmoor and Sherbrook, vehicles will proceed straight across Sherbrook and will immediately turn left into the school parking lot. Vehicles will form a line in front of the library and school office. Students will be called by a member of our team and will be assisted into the vehicles. To exit carpool, vehicles leave the parking lot in front of the gym, turning right onto Sherbrook.
Click here for the K-2 Carpool Map.

GRADES 3-8: CHURCH CARPOOL
Vehicles will approach the school on Goodwood Blvd. heading toward Sherwood Forest. Vehicles should form a line down Goodwood in the bike lane to allow non-carpool traffic to pass. Vehicles will proceed past the athletic field/playground and will turn right into the church parking lot. With the field to your right, drive toward the 5th and 6th grade building to drop off or pick up. To exit carpool, drive through the parking lot toward Goodwood Blvd. with the church on your right. While still in the parking lot, turn right and drive past the church before turning left to exit the parking lot onto Goodwood Blvd. going west. Click here for the 3-8 Carpool Map.

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School Meal Program

For all information about STM's breakfast and lunch program, please click here to visit the Child Nutrition Program website. Here, you will find:

Allergies Form
If your child has a food allergy, please have your child's physician complete the diet prescription form and return to STM cafeteria manager Kimberly Bell or Nurse Rochelle as soon as possible. Please note that your child's previous allergy form expires on September 8, 202. All allergy forms must be signed by a licensed physician and renewed each school year.If your child has a milk allergy, apple juice will be given to substitute milk.If your child has a dairy allergy, he or she will NOT receive milk, cheese, or pizza.

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Substitute Teachers and Nurses

Parents/guardians who would like to be substitute teachers and/or sub for Nurse Rochelle, please click here for the application.

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Order School Supplies Online

Click here to order your child's prepackaged school supplies for the 2025-2026 school year through School Tool Box. If you ordered your child's supply box by June 8, your child's supplies will be delivered to STM and given to him or her on the first day of school. If you ordered after June 8, supplies will be delivered to your home.

If you prefer to purchase your child's school supplies separately, please click here for grade-level supply lists.

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Vote for STM Every Day through August 15!

We are thrilled to share some exciting news with you – we have once again made it to the VOTING ROUND of the prestigious Baton Rouge Parents Magazine Family Favorites contest! This achievement would not have been possible without your unwavering support of the STM community. We are truly honored and grateful for YOU!

Now, we need your help to claim the title of Reader's Choice and secure the number one spot in Family Favorites. Your vote can make a significant difference in our journey towards this recognition.

Here's how! Go to stmbr.org/brff25, go to the Schooled category, and vote for STM in the following subcategories:
Early Learning Center
Preschool
Private Elementary School
Private Elementary School Principal - Ashley McDaniel
Private Middle School
Private Middle School Principal - Ashley McDaniel

Please note that voting is open until August 15, so we encourage you to vote daily to maximize our chances of winning. Thank you once again for your continued support and for voting for STM in Family Favorites!

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Morning and Afternoon Extended Care

For Extended Care fees and details, and to register, please go to stmbr.org/extendedcare25. Please note: Due to system maintenance, Extended Care registration will reopen on Monday, July 21.

Students who are not picked up in afternoon carpool will be sent to Extended Care as a drop-in. If a student is not previously registered for Extended Care and is sent by the office (due to the office closing), the parent must register the child at that time and pay a fee. If your child is going home with another child in Extended Care, your child also must be registered. Please contact Mrs. Gretchen Thibodeaux with any questions about Extended Care.

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Summer Reading Requirements: Grades 1-8

Students entering grades 1 through 8 have summer reading requirements. Click here for the summer reading list for your the grade level your child is entering in 2025-2026.

Students in 3rd-6th grade are required to test on their two summer reading books. The last testing date before school begins is Tuesday, July 22 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the STM Library. Students may only test on one book on this date. Students also may test on their books when we return to school in August. Please email Sara Wisdom at wisdoms@stmbr.org if you have any questions.

Helping Your Child Remember What They Read: Supporting reading at home doesn’t have to be complicated! Click here for a few simple strategies you can use to help your child remember key details from their summer reading.

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Coach's Corner

We have athletic programs for all students to enjoy. We believe that athletics teach students valuable lessons in sportsmanship, leadership, teamwork, and competition. Even better, STM has a proud tradition, making it even more fun to pull for your child’s team. Our teams include boys basketball, girls basketball, intramural basketball, cheerleading, cross country, football, girls volleyball, swimming, tennis, and track and field.

All student-athletes in grades 3-8 must submit a completed athletic packet to participate in STM Athletics. Click here to download the STM athletic packet.

If you have any questions about the STM Athletics Program, please contact Athletic Director Ali Buchart at bucharta@stmbr.org

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Nurse's Notes

At STM, we’re blessed to have a full-time nurse, whom students are allowed to visit when they are not feeling well, to take doctor-prescribed medication, or if they hurt themselves on campus.

Updated Immunization Records Needed: Parents of incoming Preschool - 8th grade students that have outdated or missing immunization records on file at school have been notified. Updated records are due now! If your child is up-to-date on vaccines, then we just need an updated official copy of the immunization record. It can be scanned and emailed to rochelle@stmbr.org, faxed to 225-275-0376, mailed or dropped off to the front office. Nurse Rochelle will be calling parents in late July to check on any outstanding records.

Medication Drop-Off: If your child takes medication at school, you can drop off the medication and the paperwork directly to Nurse Rochelle in her office on the first day of school. She is also happy to make appointments the week before school starts with any parents that would like to drop off early or that would like to meet to discuss any medical concerns before the start of school. New physician orders are required for each school year for medication. The required medication paperwork is available to download below, or you can contact Nurse Rochelle at rochelle@stmbr.org.

Has anything changed medically for your child since last school year? This is just a reminder to notify Nurse Rochelle if your child has had any changes in his/her medical history since last school year. Any new food allergies, diagnosis of a new chronic condition such as asthma, etc. are important for us to keep students safe while in our care. Thank you for partnering with us to keep your children healthy at school!

DOWNLOAD MEDICAL FORMS:

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Requirements for Volunteering at STM

CAPS (Compass Abuse Prevention Services)
St. Thomas More must provide a safe environment for children and youth. We hold ALL adults who work with minors to a code of conduct that is Christ-centered and professional. The CAPS program implemented by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge requires us to evaluate the background of all paid personnel and volunteers whose duties include ongoing, unsupervised contact with minors.

Anyone who wants to volunteer at St. Thomas More must be in compliance with this policy. ALL requirements must be met in order to volunteer:

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STM Home and School Association

Throughout the school year, Home and School asks parents to help on campus for various events. Volunteering your time is a great way to support our STM community, meet other parents, and get a glimpse into your child’s life at school. We know work schedules can be tough to schedule around, so we offer opportunities that you can work into your schedule. The excitement on your child’s face when they see their mom or dad at school will make you so glad you did!

Click here for information about STM Home and School events and committees. To let us know you are interested in volunteering, please click here to fill out the interest form for 2025-2026..

Please note that to take advantage of these volunteer opportunities you must be Child Protection Certified. Go to stmbr.org/volunteer for more information.

HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE BOARD

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Shop and Support STM

BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION: Use the Box Tops app to scan your store receipt, find participating products and instantly add cash to STM's earnings online. From playground equipment to technology to library books, STM can use this money to help our teachers and students get the supplies they need. See how at btfe.com.

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Join us in supporting the mission of St. Thomas More! As we prepare for this year’s auction, we invite you to take part in a joyful evening that directly supports our Church, School, and Early Learning Center.

You're invited to the 2025 STM Parish Auction on Saturday, August 23 at 6:30 p.m. in the STM Gym. Tickets are $75 per person - cocktail attire. This must-not-miss event will feature a live and silent auction (bidding online), delicious food by Drakes Catering, beautiful decor by August Events and live music by Sugar Shaker. Visit stmbr.org/auction for more information and to purchase tickets.

AUCTION T-SHIRTS: Order your 2025 STM Auction T-shirts by July 30 at stmbr.org/auction. Students can wear the T-shirt to school with uniform bottoms on Friday, August 22.

Thank you — your contributions truly make a lasting difference!

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Click here for details and to register for the 5th-8th Grade STM Summer Youth Gathering!

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Save the Dates

JULY 22: Summer Reading Testing for grades 3-6 - 4 to 6 p.m. in STM Library

JULY 25: Summer Youth Gathering - 5th-8th grade

AUGUST 7
• Preschool and Kindergarten Meet-and-Greet
• First day of school for grades 1-8

AUGUST 8: First full day of school for Preschool and Kindergarten

AUGUST 9-10: Blessing of the Backpacks -
After all Masses at STM Church

AUGUST 13: Wonderful Wednesday - Students are invited to wear the STM navy spirit shirt with uniform bottoms.

AUGUST 14: Back to School Night for grades 4-8 - 5:30 p.m. (Adults only)

AUGUST 15: Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary -
Holy Day of Obligation and K-8 Mass

AUGUST 18: Back to School Night for grades PK3-3 - 5:30 p.m. (Adults only)

AUGUST 23: STM Parish Auction - 6:30 p.m. (Adults only)

AUGUST 26: 5th and 6th Grade Beginning Band Instrument Demo Night - 5:30 p.m.

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Our Mission Statement
St. Thomas More Catholic School is committed to continuing a legacy of excellence in religious and academic education in a nurturing environment that fosters self-discipline.