‍In this issue (click to jump to a section):

Mission Day (K-8) - October 20

What is Mission Day?
St. Thomas More’s annual Mission Day is one of the special long-standing traditions of our parish school. This one-day fall festival for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade generates funds for a Catholic mission in need of support. The money raised at Mission Day is donated to an organization chosen by the 8th grade students. Games and activities are set up throughout campus, and the students participate while enjoying a fun day with their friends. A great way to have your child more involved in the purpose of Mission Day is to encourage them to find ways to earn/raise money for Mission Day, such as doing special chores around the house or helping out a neighbor in need.

Mission Day Volunteer Opportunities and Amazon Wishlist
Please be on the lookout for volunteer opportunities coming soon. Remember, to volunteer on campus, you must complete Child Protection Certification. Click here to view the Child Protection requirements. If you'd like to help from home, we have an Amazon Wishlist with items that help make Mission Day a success. Click here to view and purchase items on the Mission Day Wishlist. There is an option to have it sent to Mary Katherine Jackson at the school, or send it to the office through your student. Please have any Wishlist purchases made by October 3 so we can begin preparations for Mission Day! Thank you!

Mission Day Tickets
Families will receive an email next week with the link to purchase booth tickets, pizza lunch and raffle tickets.

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Free and Reduced-Price Meals - Apply before October 1

A reminder that there is a cost for breakfast and lunch in the cafeteria this school year. Please complete and submit a meal application to see if your child qualifies for free or reduced-priced meals. Approval is based on household income. Families that believe their income is under the limit should fill out an application for free or reduced-price meals before October 1, 2022.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY for free or reduced-price meals before October 1, 2022.

Income Eligibility Guidelines‍

Frequently asked questions about free and reduced-price meals‍

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No Medicine Allowed on STM Campus

No medicine is to be on campus. Students should take medicines at home or in the car before school. Violating this school rule could be dangerous if medicine falls out of a pocket or backpack, and another child picks it up.

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School Portrait Makeup Day - October 4

Students who were absent or not yet enrolled at STM on picture day will have their school portrait taken on Tuesday, October 4. If there was a problem with your child's photo taken in August, please contact Ashley Schade at schadea@stmbr.org.

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Wonderful Wednesday - October 5

Students are invited to wear their navy blue STM spirit shirts only with uniform bottoms. Parent volunteers are needed to pop popcorn and distribute snacks to each grade during their recess time. Click here to volunteer for Wonderful Wednesday.

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Fall Break - October 13-14

There is no school on Thursday, October 13 or Friday, October 14.

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Parent/Teacher Conferences - October 19 (PK & K) and October 24 (5-8)

Preschool and Kindergarten conferences are on October 19. Conferences for grades 5 to 8 are on October 24. Parents, you will receive a SignUpGenius link to reserve a time for your in-person conference with your child's teacher.
‍There is no school for students in Preschool or Kindergarten on Wednesday, October 19.
There is no school for students in grades 5 to 8 on Monday, October 24.

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First Quarter Report Cards - October 19

Report cards will be posted in FACTS for grades 1 through 8; Preschool and Kindergarten report cards will be given out at parent/teacher conferences on Wednesday, October 19.

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October Lunch Menu

Please click here to view the October lunch menu.

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EBR Bus Service

There will be no bus service on the following dates:
October 10 and 11
November 8
December 19 and 20
May 23, 24 and 25

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Home & School Volunteer Days

Throughout the school year, Home & 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. Please click here to view a list of some of these volunteer opportunities. Take a look and find something 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!

Please note that to take advantage of these volunteer opportunities you must be Child Protection Certified.
Go to https://www.stmbr.org/volunteer22 for more information.

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Dress Code Update - Hair

STM recognizes that there are different types of hair and that no single set of descriptions will perfectly capture the school’s expectations about haircuts, but the following guidelines will keep a student in compliance with the school’s expectations. These guidelines allow for some individual preferences regarding haircuts, while ensuring that hair is neat in appearance and not a distraction. Hair must be clean and styled in a conventional manner.
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GIRLS‍

• Bangs may not be in front of the eyes; if they are this length, they must be clipped back.
• Girls may wear hair accessories such as bows, headbands, scrunchies, or barrettes.
• Hair accessories should be in the same color scheme as the school uniform.
• Hair extensions may be worn if natural in color and no longer than middle of back.

BOYS‍

• Boys’ hair may be of only moderate length, height and thickness in the front, back, top and sides. A common guideline for length is not more than 3 inches on the top and not more than 1-2 inches on the sides. Boys are expected to comb, brush, style or otherwise groom their hair before they arrive on campus. Students who come to school without having done so should expect consequences.
• Boys with straighter hair should keep their hair at a length so that it is naturally off of their ears, collar and eyebrows. Sideburns may not extend below mid-ear.
• Any transition from shorter to longer hair should be gradual (i.e. no weight line).
• Boys with wavy or curly hair should keep their hair to a moderate length so that it does not get too high or extend out too far on the sides.
• Boys are to be clean shaven at all times.

GIRLS AND BOYS‍

• Hair should not be slicked or moussed excessively.
• Hair may not be dyed, bleached, tinted, or colored in any way.
• No hairpieces, enhancements, or embellishments are allowed.
• St. Thomas More Catholic School does not recognize shaved heads, extreme crew cuts (where the scalp shows), asymmetrically or partially shaved heads, mohawks, wedges, or tails as conventional.

The above are examples and not a complete list of what may or may not be considered conventional.

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Nurse's Notes

ATTENTION 5TH GRADE PARENTS: State law requires that students entering 6th grade receive booster shots after turning 11. These vaccines include Tdap and Meningococcal. Please make an appointment with your health care provider after your child’s 11th birthday. Please send updated shot records to the nurse, and confirm that I have received them. Shot records can be faxed, emailed, or sent in an envelope to school. Our fax number is 225-275-0376; my email address is rochelle@stmbr.org. Shot records for entering 6th graders are due by AUGUST 1, 2023. If your child will not be 11-years-old before starting 6th grade, please email me and make an appointment for shots the week following his/her birthday.

‍Nurse subs: Are you an RN, PA, or NP? Do you have days off during the week that you would be willing to sub for Nurse Rochelle? In the event of an emergency, there are very few subs she can call. If you are interested in subbing occasionally, please email rochelle@stmbr.org and she can set up a time for you to come shadow her and answer any questions.

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Eating Lunch at School with Your Child (Grades K through 8)

Beginning October 17, parents/guardians once again may join their children for lunch. Due to space and Child Protection requirements, please adhere to the following guidelines:

• Only parent/guardian may join us for lunch. Younger siblings may not eat lunch in the cafeteria.
• You must let your child's teacher know you will be attending and on which date, and whether you will be eating school lunch, so the cafeteria staff can prepare.
• Due to federal guidelines, outside restaurant food must be removed from its original packaging and stored in unbranded containers before being brought into the cafeteria.
• Parents and students will eat at a table designated by your child's teacher.
• Parents must sign in as a visitor in the school office and wear the visitor name tag while on campus.
• Parents may not accompany their child to their classroom or recess.
• Once lunch with your child has ended, please sign out in the school office.
• Kindergarten parent/guardian: You may join your child for lunch only on Fridays.

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Athletics

For the STM Athletics full calendar of events, go to stmbr.org/school/athletics.

BOYS BASKETBALL

• October 2 - Registration begins for students in 3rd through 8th grade.
  Click here to register for grades 3-5.
  Click here to register for grades 6-8.
  

CROSS COUNTRY

• October 1 - Meet at Highland Road Community Park - 10 a.m.
  
• October 8 - Meet at Highland Road Community Park - 10:30 a.m.
  

FOOTBALL

• October 2 - 3rd/4th grade (12 p.m.), 5th/6th grade (1 p.m.) and 7th/8th grade (2:30 p.m.) @ Most Blessed Sacrament
• October 9 - 3rd/4th grade (12:30 p.m.), 5th/6th grade (1:30 p.m.) and 7th/8th grade (3 p.m.) @ St Aloysius

GIRLS BASKETBALL

• September 29 - October 2 - St. George Tournament - 6th and 7th grade
• September 30 - October 2 - St. Jean Vianney Tournament - 3rd, 4th and 5th grade
• October 1 - 3rd grade vs. St. Aloysius @ St. Alphonsus - 9:45 a.m.
• October 3 - 5th grade (5:45 p.m.), 6th grade (6:30 p.m.) and 7th grade (7:15 p.m.) vs. St. Alphonsus
• October 4 - 4th grade vs. St. Jude - 7:15 p.m.
• October 10 - 4th grade (5:45 p.m.), 5th grade (6:30 p.m.) and 6th grade (7:15 p.m.) vs. St. George
• October 11 - 5th grade vs. St. Jude (5:45 p.m.), 6th grade vs. Redemptorist St. Gerard (6:30 p.m.) and 7th grade vs. Our Lady of Mercy (7:15 p.m.)
• October 12 - 4th grade @ Our Lady of Mercy - 7:15 p.m.
• October 13-16 - St. Jean Vianney Tournament - 6th and 7th grade
• October 15 - 3rd grade vs. St. George @ St. Alphonsus - 9 a.m.

INTRAMURAL BASKETBALL

• Registration is open for boys and girls in Kindergarten through 2nd grade. Click here to register.
  

SWIMMING

• September 30 - Swim meet at Crawfish Aquatics - 4 p.m.

TENNIS

• October 5 - Match at Episcopal - 4:30 p.m.

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St. Michael the Archangel High School Open House

Students in grades 6 to 8 are invited to St. Michael the Archangel High School's Open House on Wednesday, October 26, 2022. Tours are available from 4 to 7 p.m. Click here to schedule your tour time.

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STM Church News

• Walgreens Pharmacy and St. Thomas More have partnered again this year to provide a drive-thru flu vaccination clinic for our parish community on Saturday, October 8, 3-7 p.m., and Sunday, October 9, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 6 to 7 p.m. The cut-off age to receive the flu shot through this clinic is 7-years-old. A parent or guardian must fill out and sign the paperwork for any minor (under 18). Children under 7 must receive the flu shot at a doctor’s office. Click here to download the required vaccination forms.
  ‍
• STM Church is looking to train new altar servers as well as refresh training for currently serving altar servers. Current 4th grade baptized Catholic students and older are eligible to be trained. Those who are already trained are asked to come and refresh their training, so they are used to the new configuration of the sanctuary space.
  ‍
  There will be several dates for the training. All training sessions will occur in the Church. For trainings that occur on school days, the students will be asked to gather outside Extended Care and will walk over as a group. Parents of students that attend Extended Care should make sure that Extended Care staff knows the students are attending the altar server training.
  ‍
  Email Sarah Neau at neaus@stmbr.org to sign up your child(ren) for training and what date they will attend the training.
  ‍
  Training dates:
  • Sunday, October 2 at 3 p.m.
  • Monday, October 3 at 3 p.m.
  • Thursday, October 6 at 3 p.m.
  • Sunday, October 9 at 11 a.m. – following the 10 a.m. Mass
  ‍
  Trainings will last about an hour. If more trainings are needed, we will look at scheduling more in the
  weeks that follow.
  ‍
• Calling out to parishioners who would like to take an active part in Mass and join the ministry of being a lector or a Eucharistic minister. If you would like to train for either or both of these rewarding ministries, please contact Sarah Neau in the church office at neaus@stmbr.org or 225.275.3940 for more information. Training begins next month.
  ‍

There will be no 5 p.m. Mass on October 30.

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Save the Dates

• OCTOBER 1: Mother & Son Tailgate (Grades K-8) - 2-4 p.m. at STM Field. Pre-registration was needed to attend.
• OCTOBER 4: School portrait makeup day
• OCTOBER 5: Wonderful Wednesday
• OCTOBER 8 and 9: Drive-thru vaccination clinic - Saturday, October 8, 3-7 p.m., and Sunday, October 9, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 6 to 7 p.m.
• OCTOBER 10 and 11: No EBR bus service
• OCTOBER 13-14: Fall Break - There is no school on these days.
• OCTOBER 19: Parent/teacher conferences for PK and K - There is no school for these grades on this day.
• OCTOBER 20: Mission Day
• OCTOBER 24: Parent/teacher conferences for grades 5-8 - There is no school for these grades on this day.
• OCTOBER 26: Accelerated Reader Store
• OCTOBER 28: STM Church Trunk-or-Treat - 5:30-8 p.m.
• OCTOBER 30: St. Thomas More Catholic Church Mass of Dedication - 2:30 p.m. with reception in the STM Gym to follow. There will be no 5 p.m. Mass on this day.
• NOVEMBER 10-16: Book Fair
• NOVEMBER 14: Grandparents Day for Grades 1-8 - 8:30-11 a.m.
• NOVEMBER 15: Grandparents Day for PK and Kindergarten - 8-11 a.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.