St Thomas More School December 2017 Newsletter December 1 marks the beginning of Christmas festivities in our house. It brings great joy to find and decorate a Christmas tree with our boys. We decorate our tree with ornaments from special occasions and family holidays, each having special meaning to us. Our boys check their Advent calendar daily and play with their Little People Nativity set. We sing Christmas carols and drive around taking in the beauty of the lights our community members have decorated their houses with. We count down and anticipate Christmas. Children remind us of the simplicity of the world around us; our children remind us to see the beauty in the design of a single ornament. Decorating a tree is no longer a mindless activity, as my boys play 20 questions, wanting to know where, when and why each ornament has special meaning. As the days are shorter, and the hustle and bustle of a commercialized Christmas surrounds us, my children also start to have overwhelming feelings. We gather as a family beginning on Christmas Eve, with celebrations ending a few days later; we are overwhelmed with an abundance of food, family, and gifts. If I were to put myself in their shoes, I m sure they feel much like I did as I awaited their birth. Waiting for Layne and Bennett to arrive was exciting, however it was also exhausting; with family visiting and checking in, I still wondered if I had everything ready to welcome my babies into this world. How can I view the world much like my children do? This Christmas season, I will prepare by slowing down the busy in my life so that I can anticipate the coming of our Saviour. I will take time to open my heart and mind to the beautiful story of Jesus. I pray that you will join me in preparation for the birth of Jesus. ~Sabrina Fentie~
December Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Lots happening in December 1 2 3 4 Parent Council meeting, 7pm 10 11 12 5 6 7 Hot lunch- Lasagna Hot lunch A&W 13 14 Hot lunch Subway 8 Kindergarten Friday 15 Family Friday 9 16 17 18 19 20 21 Christmas Concert 10 am & 2pm 22 23 Christmas break begins!!! 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Happy New Year Classes resume on Monday January.8th
STM students and staff filled 55 boxes for Operation Christmas Child!! We donated warm coats to Crossroads from warm hearts
Extra! Extra! Read all about it: The Christmas Chronicles is coming! Please join us for our annual elementary Christmas concert on Thursday, December 21 st. Morning performance at 10am: Student Last names A-K Afternoon performance 2pm: Student Last names L-Z All students will be performing at both performances. Costumes for each grade will be as follows: Kindergarten: Seasonal best attire Grade One: Robes and towels/scarves for shepherds Grade Two: White attire for angels (halos will be provided, wings are not required) Grade Three: Paper/cardboard crowns and bling for kings (costume jewelry) Grade Four: Nerd clothes, must have a pocket in either shirt or pants Grade Five: Black and white attire Grade Six: Newsboy hats or fedoras We will be accepting food bank donations in lieu of admission. Please join us in our celebration of the Christmas season and the greatest story ever told!
1A Boys Provincial s Eckville
PLEASE call the school if your child is going to be absent or running late. School starts at 8:50 PLEASE let the school know if your child is being picked up by someone other then yourself, also if there are any bus changes, or if they are not going on the bus. Thankyou! PLEASE make sure your child is dressed appropriately for the winter weather. Thank-you! PLEASE remember to pack a spoon/ fork in lunches. Thank-you!!
In Catholic classrooms across the province, prayer tables are getting a new look. The green cloth of ordinary time is removed and replaced by the rich purple that marks the season of Advent. The tables are adorned with an Advent wreath, as well as other symbols to mark this liturgical season. They serve as a reminder of what Advent is; a time of preparation. St. Augustine says our hearts are restless until they rest in God; Advent is a season that opens up opportunities for us to acknowledge and recognize the restlessness within us. Throughout the season of Advent we temper some of our restlessness by celebrating and recalling the birth of our Lord. We focus our restlessness by doing what we can to prepare for Christ to come again; most importantly through the gift of prayer. Yet at times it can be challenging to keep our focus. This time of year is often stressful and busy. It can be difficult to set aside time for prayer and preparing ourselves for Jesus. But it is then that we should heed the words of St. Francis De Sales, every one of us needs half an hour of prayer each day, except when we are busy- then we need an hour. So I pray that you are able to find time each day, maybe not an hour, but some time, to quiet yourself, and connect with our Lord. Just as the pray table is prepared, prepare yourself. Ready your hearts and minds for the celebration of Jesus birth, the good news of the incarnation, and get ready for the day when our hearts will no longer be restless, for they will rest in the Lord. From my family to yours, I wish you a blessed Advent and Christmas Season! ~Laura Tapson~ Dec.24th 7pm Dec.25th 10am Jan.1st 10am Sat & Sun are regular times.
St. Thomas More School is coordinating an STM Christmas Ornament Fundraising Sale. This fundraiser will run from November 27 th December 8th. All orders must be returned to the school by FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8 TH to ensure the delivery of orders prior to Christmas. Orders will be available for pickup around December 12 th. The ornaments are a shatter-resistant 3 ¼ ornament featuring STM colors with a GREEN STM logo on a GOLD background. Funds raised will be used to purchase books for the Sr English Language Arts literacy project.. Please make cheque payable to STM Trust Account. There is no SHIPPING charge or GST. Thank you for your support of this project for the enrichment of student learning.
MILK TOKENS can now be purchased every day!!! YES every day K-12 can purchase milk tokens. A BIG THANK-YOU to all our wonderful volunteers for making this happen at STM