Happy Advent to everyone!
As we enter the Advent Season, I am reminded of how blessed I am to be a part of the St. Thomas More Community! Over the years, STM Catholic has truly become my family's and my home away from home; not just because we are here at school daily, but because of the people, traditions, festivities, and presence of Jesus Christ that we have come to know, love, and depend on. I pray that during this season, you can set yourselves to "slo-mo" and take in the beauty of all that we have been gifted from God.
Speaking of gifts, we have the final numbers in from The Mane Event! After all, expenses have been paid, our net profit was approximately $190,000! This number has not only exceeded expectations, but it has blown them out of the water! Again, my most sincere gratitude to you ALL for your generous contributions. This is very telling in how strong and supportive our STM community is. Another huge shout out to The Mane Event committee as well! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
The coming weeks are promising to be full ones - please be sure to look at the events listed below. Our traditional 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade Christmas Play will be held on December 13 at 6:30 PM, so please join us! We will also be celebrating Christmas (throwback style) with traditional classroom parties this year so be watching for individual classroom needs!
This is absolutely one of my most favorite parts of being in a Catholic school - anticipating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Please remember that Jesus is about 100 yards from our front door - literally! Take some time to visit Him, talk to Him, sit in silence and listen to Him...experience His love for you!
Advent blessings,
Gretchen DeWolfe
STM Catholic Principal
Counselor’s Corner, by Mrs. Poniatowski:
Here is the link for the final Raise Them Strong family assignment:
The hard copy is coming home with the youngest and only children today.
Parent take away: “First of all, I LOVE HIM! He uses great illustrative examples that teach children how to deal with other children and to be resilient, which is an extremely important life skill.”
Child take away: “It’s a game, don’t get upset (because) then you lose. I think these videos are helping me out…SO WIN THE GAME! BE THE NICE ONE.”
Thank you for your participation, and keep the feedback coming!
SAVE THE DATE!
MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENTS, please mark your calendars for Tuesday, January 7, 2020, at 6:00 PM in St. Francis Hall. Alex Yannacone from the CU Johnson Depression Center will provide training and discuss skills and strategies for building resiliency, creating manageable goals, self-care, and mindfulness exercises. Barriers and obstacles will be identified, as well as how to obtain resources and supports. This session will incorporate story-telling and small group collaboration and discussions. All STM middle school students will participate in a student version of the training on Wednesday, January 8, 2020, during the school day. These training and discussion sessions are intended to reinforce the information we have been sharing through Raise Them Strong. We look forward to seeing you on January 7th!
Sunday, December 1
-First Sunday of Advent
-Hot Lunch Ordering Open
Tuesday, December 3
-Used Uniform Sale, 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM
-Parents In Prayer, in front of the school, 2:30 PM (Praying for Mrs. Duran's 2nd Grade Class)
-Used Uniform Sale, 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM
-Parents In Prayer, in front of the school, 2:30 PM (Praying for Mrs. Duran's 2nd Grade Class)
Wednesday, December 4
-Shop for our School! Shop Kendra Scott at the Park Meadows Mall on Wednesday, December 4th between 5 and 7 pm (More information below)
Thursday, December 5
-Lions for Life, Room 221, 7:10 AM
Friday, December 6
-STM Spirit Dress, any STM shirt and jeans or uniform bottoms
Saturday, December 7
-Barnes and Noble Book Fair, 9:-00 AM - 10:00 PM (More Information Below)
Thursday, December 5
-Lions for Life, Room 221, 7:10 AM
Friday, December 6
-STM Spirit Dress, any STM shirt and jeans or uniform bottoms
Saturday, December 7
-Barnes and Noble Book Fair, 9:-00 AM - 10:00 PM (More Information Below)
Tuesday, December 10
-Home and School Meeting, 6:00 PM
-SAC Meeting, 7:00 PM
Wednesday, December 11
-Donations for STM Catholic Christmas Fund due
Thursday, December 12
-5/6th Grade Teacher Appreciation Luncheon, Small Cafeteria, 11:00 AM (Teacher dress down ONLY)
Friday, December 13
-STM Spirit Dress Day
-STM Christmas Program; School Gym, 1:30 PM (For School)
-STM Christmas Program, Gym (For Parents), 6:30 PM
Sunday, December 15
-Hot lunch ordering closes
Tuesday, December 17
-Advent Reconciliation - 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Wednesday, December 18
-Oremus @ 2:00PM
Thursday, December 19
-Ugly Sweater Day for everyone! Wear your best worst Christmas sweater with jeans or appropriate bottoms!
Friday, December 20
-All School attend Daily Mass, 9:00 AM, Casual Uniform
-Early Dismissal, 10:30 AM, Christmas Break Begins
Monday, December 23 - Friday, January 3
-No School - Christmas Break (Lion's Den Closed)
Wednesday, December 25
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Advent by Candlelight - Thank you!
A big thank you to Angela Haubert, Jan Ahern, FIAT, and all the table hostesses for another amazing Advent by Candlelight! What an awesome way to start off the pre-Advent season! Please see the flyer below!
Barnes and Noble Book Fair on December 7th!
Please join STM at Barnes and Noble (Lone Tree location or online) on December 7th for our Book Fair. Support our STM library while working on your Christmas shopping! The STM student choir will be performing at 10:00AM. The Book Fair is all day at the Lone Tree location or all weekend online at www.bn.com. Please mention STM at the time of purchase for your items to be applied to our proceeds.
Christmas Donations
A friendly reminder!! The STM Catholic community is still collecting Christmas Gifts for Christ in the City, Fr. Woody’s Haven of Hope, and Holy Family Plaza/ St. Martin’s Plaza.
What do they need?
Christ in the City
Adult-sized Wool socks (huge priority), Hand warmers/foot warmers (top priority), Gloves, Scarves, Beanies, New underwear, Waterproof boots
Fr. Woody’s Haven of Hope
An unopened toy or children’s game, Diapers (any size)
Holy Family and St. Martin’s Plaza
Gift Cards, Candies, Chapstick, Socks, Lotions, Hand Sanitizers, or any other little “Stocking Stuffer”
EXCLUSIVE KENDRA SCOTT SHOPPING DAY FOR ST. THOMAS MORE SCHOOL!
Get a jump on your holiday shopping and help raise money for STM! Come out to Kendra Scott at the Park Meadows Mall on Wednesday, December 4th between 5 and 7 pm. They will have drinks, snacks, and their gorgeous jewelry, and they will return 20% of STM sales to our school! (Web orders do not qualify.) Just don’t forget to mention STM at the register!
Warmest Fall greetings from the Respect Life office!
The time is NOW to begin your plans to attend the largest pro-life event in Colorado! Think creatively about how you can encourage your group’s presence – through the witness of prayer, signs, banners, what you carry, apparel, costumes, music/musical instruments, balloons – Make a statement!
We want to double our attendance in 2020 and show Colorado that there are people who strongly believe in the value and dignity of every human life! Our theme is “Every Life is a Gift!” – so feel free to use that thematic idea to come and proudly represent your parish and school! We look forward to seeing all that you come up with and your presence in January!
Attached is the flyer for The March with more information! Please help us to share the flyer and invite all those you know!
Questions? Contact us at life@ccdenver.org. God bless you!
In Christ,
Catherine Smith
Intern, Respect Life Office
Website: RespectLifeDenver.org
The time is NOW to begin your plans to attend the largest pro-life event in Colorado! Think creatively about how you can encourage your group’s presence – through the witness of prayer, signs, banners, what you carry, apparel, costumes, music/musical instruments, balloons – Make a statement!
We want to double our attendance in 2020 and show Colorado that there are people who strongly believe in the value and dignity of every human life! Our theme is “Every Life is a Gift!” – so feel free to use that thematic idea to come and proudly represent your parish and school! We look forward to seeing all that you come up with and your presence in January!
Attached is the flyer for The March with more information! Please help us to share the flyer and invite all those you know!
Questions? Contact us at life@ccdenver.org. God bless you!
In Christ,
Catherine Smith
Intern, Respect Life Office
Website: RespectLifeDenver.org
December STM Basketball Game Schedule
Home Games – Monday, December 2
5:00 Vanpraag vs GS (White)
6:00 Hartmann vs GS (Blue)
7:00 Thompson vs AVE (Shively)
Home Games – Friday, December 6
5:00 Vanpraag vs SVDP
6:00 Hartmann vs SVDP (Crisham)
7:00 Johnson vs SVDP
8:00 Francavilla vs SVDP
Home Games – Wednesday, December 11
5:00 Klein vs AVE (Beldin)
6:00 delaCuesta vs AVE (Berry)
7:00 Cunningham vs AVE (Billings)
Home Games – Monday, December 16
5:00 Gleason vs GS (Davis)
6:00 Johnson vs GS (Osborn)
7:00 Francavilla vs GS (White)
Home Games – Wednesday, December 18
5:00 Vanpraag vs ND
6:00 Cunningham vs ND
7:00 Lowery vs MPB (Gleim)
5:00 Vanpraag vs GS (White)
6:00 Hartmann vs GS (Blue)
7:00 Thompson vs AVE (Shively)
Home Games – Friday, December 6
5:00 Vanpraag vs SVDP
6:00 Hartmann vs SVDP (Crisham)
7:00 Johnson vs SVDP
8:00 Francavilla vs SVDP
Home Games – Wednesday, December 11
5:00 Klein vs AVE (Beldin)
6:00 delaCuesta vs AVE (Berry)
7:00 Cunningham vs AVE (Billings)
Home Games – Monday, December 16
5:00 Gleason vs GS (Davis)
6:00 Johnson vs GS (Osborn)
7:00 Francavilla vs GS (White)
Home Games – Wednesday, December 18
5:00 Vanpraag vs ND
6:00 Cunningham vs ND
7:00 Lowery vs MPB (Gleim)
MOUNTAIN MADNESS RETREAT
Hey all, Mountain Madness Middle School Retreat in Estes Park at the YMCA of the Rockies is coming up! (Feb. 14th-16th) The Archdiocese just sent out the ACTUAL REGISTRATION AND LIABILITY FORM! Yay!! BUT before I send the liability form from the Archdiocese to you all, I need a deposit of $100 made out to STM. The reason why it is so early of a deadline is that the Archdiocese runs this retreat and needs to meet deadlines. The final deadline for the retreat is Friday, Jan 3rd! The total cost of the retreat with charter bus transportation is $185. In order for me to send you the link to register with our STM group (first come first serve - 35 spots only!) I will need a $100 deposit by Friday, December 6th, to get the ball rolling on registration. Feel free to email me back separately or call me with any further questions.gregj@stthomasmore.org or 303-220-3388 x.2. See the flyer below.
Beta News
Congratulations to the new STM Beta members! They have maintained the grade and behavior requirements and turned in all documents in a timely manner. They will be inducted on Tuesday, December 17 before our school mass; our new members will prepare for this liturgy. Parents of new members are more than welcome to join us for induction at 8:00AM in the small cafeteria and then to stay for Mass—please have your student give a number count of people attending to Ms. Peel or Mrs. Basile so we can plan for space accordingly.
Thank you,
Ms. Peel and Mrs. Basile
6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade
Sophie Abar Spencer Buege Kaitlyn Hartmann
Addy Beals Elinor Christensen Aidan Monark
Caroline Daugherty Sean Cunningham Konner Nelson
Izzy Davies Kali Ebner Walker Phillips
Michael Fugate Kaeden Ellmann
Caden Garrison Claire Frontz
Joseph Haubert Jane Gray
Jack Heitman Blake Hedlund
Nathan Jackson Taylor Hoffman
April Johnston Henry Johnston
Emma Kerschen Alessandro Kelly
Colin Manion Paisley Krahn
Jack Manthey Alex Lancaster
Brook Reynolds Izzy Lecciso
Maeve Winter Charlie Lind
Jordan Beaumont Sydney Lowery
Zach Meyer
Alexa Michalik
Sienna Passaglia
Aiden Prananta
Jack Rittman
Ryon Schmidt
Riley Shea
National Geographic Geography Bee
On Friday, November 22, 2019, St. Thomas More hosted the National Geographic Geography Bee. We would like to congratulate our ten competitors: Sophie Abar (6th), Nathan Jackson (6th), Brandon Hawkins (7th), Henry Johnston (7th), Matty Gallagher (8th), Kaitlyn Hartmann (8th), Aaron Roll (8th), Alex Schultz (8th), Sam Tayloe (8th), and Patricia Terry (8th). Aaron Roll took 3rd place, Matty Gallagher took 2nd, and our school champion is Henry Johnston. Henry will go on to take a test on the computer to see if he qualifies for the Colorado State Bee this spring. Congratulations to our competitors and keep learning about our world!
THANK YOU from Father Greg!
Thank you very much for all of the care packages. My Sailors and Marines were very excited to see all of them arrive and the explosion of snacks and games in my office. I hid away some of it to take out again in a couple of weeks for Christmas but many already saw the socks and I was shocked at how excited they were for them. Many of our workspaces now have pictures and cards on the walls and refrigerators. I don't know if it was intentional but there was one Hanukkah sock and my CO is Jewish so it was perfect. I have distributed most of the cards and I will be gathering the replies to mail back.
It has been a real joy for me to be able to share this gift with my unit.
Thank you again.
Very respectfully,
Gregory L. Lesher LT, CHC, USN
Middle School Dance
Save the date! STM will be hosting a middle school dance for our STM middle school students on Friday, February 7, 2019. This will be in the gym from 6:00-8:00PM! See Mrs. Basile & Ms. Peel with questions.