WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

October 8, 2008

Dear Parents:

The school’s Ozanam Chapter of the St. Vincent DePaul Society is receiving a great load of sandwiches-for-the-needy again today thanks to your generosity, especially the sixth graders. Thanks to them and thanks to all for your efforts today. Fifth graders will be taking the lead for the next collection on Wednesday, October 22nd.

The school’s collection of soaps, shampoos, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes and all the various supplies for the street people served by the St. Vincent DePaul Society ends this Friday. Thanks to those who have contributed already and to those who will be before Friday.

Oh, those student body cards! The latest update is that the new, better quality cards arrived yesterday. The teachers are now making them available to the students.

Don’t forget that this coming Monday is the school’s observation of Columbus Day. It is a school holiday. Enjoy the three-day weekend!

When we return from that three-day weekend, Tuesday, October 14th, Lifetouch, the school picture company, will return to STM to take pictures of those who missed picture day when they were taken at the beginning of the school year. Those students are receiving an envelope to use if they wish to order pictures that day.

While the second and fourth graders are off on their fieldtrip for the special assembly at St. Brendan, more trips are on the horizon. Fourth graders will also be going to the Sanchez Adobe in Pacifica on Monday, October 20th. Permission slips for that trip were sent home in the Envelope last week. Last week the sixth graders also received a permission slip for their trip to the Zeum in Yerba Buena Center on Friday, October 24th.

Today the pre-K students and their classroom neighbors, the kindergartners, are receiving permission slips for their trip to Pastorino’s Pumpkin Patch in Half Moon Bay. That trip is set for Monday, the 27th. Read and follow directions, meet deadlines just as you want your children to do.

Every year there is a new level of red tape to implement regarding the protection of children. This is a two-edge sword. It is great to protect children, but it means extra effort by all of us. This year, in order to help on field trips, serve on yard duty, assist in the classroom, coach a team, etc…any regular involvement with children, parents must complete the Safe Environment Online Training provided by the Archdiocese. This is a simple, online, common sense course that takes about 45 to 75 minutes to complete. It’s an online computer course related to protection of the students. Susie Kram, our coordinator of this program, has prepared a letter of information for you. It is in your Envelope today. Please read what she has provided and contact her if you have any questions.

Recently we have asked you for a few dollars for hot dog and pizza lunches, money for cookie and bake sales, ID cards and sweatshirts, we are always asking for money! You, in turn, are writing checks until you run out of them or end up digging for change in the sofa! Are you starting to see the value of having some of our own STM $crip? Please check out the $crip flyer enclosed in your Envelope today and respond as you wish. Send us your orders and we’ll fill them for you. The $crip is good from now until the end of the school year. New $TM $crip will appear next year we think. STM $crip is great for the small stuff. Also, we hope you know that the school accepts Visa and MasterCard for large payments: tuition, fees, donations to the building fund, etc. Please talk to Sr. Patricia or Marie Fitzpatrick about using your credit card when you are interested. Those of you who would like to schedule regular monthly payments using a card, and haven’t already planned that out with the office, can make arrangements to do so in order that it will be accomplished automatically.

It is early October and we are already planning for Christmas. Nadia Menjivar, parent of David in first grade and alumna, Cristina (’06) now at Archbishop Mitty High School on the peninsula, has volunteered to produce this year’s Christmas Pageant to be preformed for all on Friday evening, December 12th. Please read the letter/survey concerning participation, which has been enclosed in today’s Envelope.

Mrs. Menjivar recently purchased a papered Jack Russell terrier for a family pet. Listening to her, this has not been a marriage made in heaven for the family! Interested in adopting the dog from her? She’d be happy to hear from you. Call her on her cell phone 650-291-4063.

There are other items in your Envelope today. Please review them and respond.

Thank you for all you do!

Sincerely,

Joe Elsbernd, Sr. Patricia Rogers, & Marie Fitzpatrick