In this issue (click to jump to a section):
It's time to register for STM 2023 Summer Camp! A 10% discount applies to registrations completed and paid in full by April 14, 2023! Camp is open to STM students only, who are entering grades PK4 through 6 for the 2023-24 school year. For details and to register, go to stmbr.org/summer23.
Join us for the final fish fry of the Lenten season today, March 31. Drive thru the activity center lot from 5 to 5:30 p.m., or dine in the cafeteria with us from 5:30 to 8 p.m. and cheer on the Lady Tigers! Dinners are $10. The FESTIVAL PRIZE PACK RAFFLE will be drawn during the fish fry. Get your raffle ticket if you have not already done so! Don’t miss a chance on winning 2 weekend ride bracelets, 4 festival t-shirts, and $100 in festival bucks: Click here to purchase raffle tickets for just $5 each before noon today, March 31! Any remaining tickets will be sold in person at the Fish Fry. Winner need not be present to win.
Contemplate and enter into the mystery of Jesus' gift of himself to us by praying the Stations of the Cross in STM Church today at 1 p.m. The STM Christians in Action student group will perform the Passion Play at 6 p.m. this evening and on Holy Thursday at 8:45 a.m. in the Church.
Bring in Rice Bowl donations by Monday, April 3! Did you know? $60 can provide fish for a pond to feed a family. $80 can provide a baby goat for milk and income. And $150 can provide a household garden for nutrition. Your donations help give lifesaving support to more than 190 million people in more than 100 countries! For more information, go to crsricebowl.org.
There is no school Friday, April 7 through Friday, April 14.
Congratulations to our students in grades 4 through 8, who achieved Principal's List and Honor Roll for the third quarter! Click here for the list of honorees.
Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers, who worked with our Home & School Association on so many events this year! All STM parents are invited to come get the scoop on Home & School plans for 2023-2024, and meet the executive board, on Monday, April 24 at 6 p.m. in the activity center.
The STM Home & School Association will show the STM community's appreciation for all of our faculty and staff the week of May 1-5. Home & School is now accepting gift card donations for raffle prizes for faculty and staff. Please bring gift cards to the school office. Stay tuned for more opportunities to volunteer during Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week!
Our gym roof contractors will be working full days when weather permits to finish the installation of the new metal roof in the next two weeks.
Click here for the April school lunch menu.
As the end of the school year approaches, please be sure to load your child's school lunch account with enough funds to cover lunches through the end of the year. For example, if your child plans to eat school lunch each day from today through the last day of school, the cost is $112.20 (does not include breakfast or extra lunch items). Visit myschoolbucks.com to manage your child’s lunch account and deposit funds. For more information, call 225-275-4347 or email stmcafe@cnpbr.org.
Parents of 8th graders: Your child's graduation fee of $100 is due May 1. This fee covers the cost of graduation expenses, including certificates of promotion, programs, awards, graduation gowns, Mother and Daughter Fiesta, and Dad and Son Guys Night. Exams may not be taken unless a student is in good financial standing with the school, including the graduation fee. Click here to pay your child's graduation fee before May 1.
Our students have been invited to perform at the STM Festival on Sunday, May 7! We are excited about this opportunity and are looking forward to an amazing weekend filled with fun, food and fellowship. We will be sharing songs with our fellow parishioners. If your child would like to participate, please click here to let us know.
East Baton Rouge is collecting information on students who wish to use EBR transportation for the 2023-2024 school year. To verify that your child can receive EBR bus transportation, click here to input your child's pickup and dropoff address.
If your address is zoned to St. Thomas More, please click here to fill out this Google form in its entirety for EACH child. This form must be filled out PER CHILD and not per family. If you only fill this form out for one child, that will be the only child EBR will assign to a bus.
In order to make sure EBR assigns your child(ren) to a bus, this form must be completed by May 10. If this form is not completed by May 10, your child may not be assigned to a bus for the start of the 2023-2024 school year.
If you have questions regarding bus services, please contact the EBR Transportation office at 225-226-3784, or Amy Rispone at 225-275-2820 or risponea@stmbr.org.
The school year is quickly flying by! This means standardized testing is on the horizon. Students in grades 3 to 8 will take the Terra Nova NEXT test on April 24 and 25. By working together, we can make your child’s test experience positive and successful. Here are some suggestions on what you can do to help your child feel confident and prepared:
A note from your STM music teachers, Mrs. McGregor and Mrs. Sollie: March has been a wonderful month of Music in Our Schools! For more than 30 years, March has been the time of year when music education becomes the focus of schools across the nation.
The purpose of MIOSM is to raise awareness of the importance of music education for all children – and to remind citizens that school is where all children should have access to music. MIOSM is an opportunity for music teachers to bring their music programs to the attention of the school and the community, and to display the benefits that school music brings to students of all ages.
This year’s theme is “Music is All of US.” We at St. Thomas More offer music learning in multiple ways! Mrs. Sollie teaches music classes to all of our K-4 students, and 5th-8th grade students can join our band or choir! Joining school music is like joining a team, and our team would be even better with you in it! Information to come about joining STM band and choir in 2023-2024!
Help us spread the word! We are accepting applications for new students for the 2023-2024 school year. Let your friends and family know we are accepting applications for new students going into PK3 through 8th grade at stmbr.org/apply.
Yearbooks are memories from cover to cover! It's time to purchase your child's St. Thomas More 2022-2023 Utopia Yearbook. Options include recognition ads, personalization and accessories. Click here to order!
DISEASE OF THE WEEK: Strep throat, or streptococcal pharyngitis. Symptoms of strep can mimic other illnesses, and include: fever, red/sore throat, headache, rash, swollen lymph nodes, and nausea/vomiting. Strep is caused by bacteria and can be diagnosed with a throat swab. Strep is treated with antibiotics. Please remember our 24-hour illness policy: Students should be free of fever (<100.0 without the aid of medication), vomiting, diarrhea or other contagious symptoms for 24 hours prior to returning to school. Students diagnosed with strep must be taking antibiotics for 24 hours before returning to school, even if no fever is present.
UNIFORMS NEEDED: Gently used uniforms are kept in First Aid for emergencies. The following items are needed if you have donations: juniors walking shorts (ALL SIZES) , boys shorts and pants (SIZE 6 ONLY), men's shorts and pants (ALL SIZES), sweatpants (ALL SIZES), sweatshirts (ADULT SIZES). These can be sent to the office or First Aid labeled “First Aid donation.”
For the STM Athletics full calendar of events, go to stmbr.org/school/athletics.
TRACK AND FIELD MEETS
VOLLEYBALL
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Blasting off for adventure! STM needs adult volunteers for Vacation Bible School from June 19 to 23. Please go to https://vbspro.events/p/events/stmvbs to register as a volunteer. Roles include Bible/Drama Leader, Games Leader, Imagination Station/Crafts Leader, Sing & Play Leader, Snacks Leader, Stellar Crew Leader and VBS Assistant Director.
Holy Week: The season ofLent gives way to the celebration ofEaster in Holy Week, the most sacred period of the liturgical calendar. Holy Week includes both the Church’s most solemn observances and joyous feasts. Unique, beautiful liturgies fill the period of time that begins on Palm Sunday and culminates with Easter Sunday. Holy Week 2023 is a great time to recommit to prayer and draw close to God. Make plans to celebrate at St. Thomas More – the Holy Week schedule is as follows:
STM Parish Festival: We are gearing up for an amazing 2023 Festival, May 5-7! The success of the parish festival depends on YOU! Sign up to volunteer and join the FUN: https://www.stmfestival.com/volunteer. If you want a taste of the Cajun Booth before festival weekend, mark April 16 on your calendar. Pastalaya dinners (chicken, pork, and sausage pastalaya, white beans, and a roll) will be offered from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the activity center and are $10 per dinner, carry out only. Our parish dinners consistently sell out, so click here to order online and pay ahead to make sure you don’t miss out! Online orders must be placed by Friday, April 14 and picked up by 11 a.m. on April 16.
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St. Thomas More Catholic School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at its schools. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic, and other school administered programs.
