St. Thomas More Cathedral School
PTO Newsletter - Vol. 122 - May 29, 2015
In This Issue
PTO Board Officer Candidates
Library Inventory During 1st Week of June
Hot Dog Bash!
Used Book Sale Benefiting the STM Library
Mobilizing Connections to Strengthen FamiliesVolunteer Hours/Volunteer Opportunities
Shoparoo
Soccer Kicks and STMSTM Student Directory
STM Calendar Button
Message from the PTO President
Happy Friday!
I'm really looking forward to celebrating another successful year at the Hot Dog Bash on June 8th. Not only is it a fun event for STM families, it is also the night when we elect the new PTO officers for the upcoming term. Read below to learn about who is running for VP, Secretary and Treasurer. We do have two candidates for VP, so your vote counts! Voting will take place at 7 p.m. in the STM Gym, so please be sure to attend our last PTO event of the year.
I also wanted to let you know that the school supply kits are being offered to STM families once again. It was a HUGE success last year and saved us time, frustration and space. For those who are unaware, or missed the opportunity last summer - parents place the school supply order online and complete boxes are shipped directly to STM and are awaiting your children in their classrooms on the first day of school (Pre-K is excluded from the program as they do not require supplies). Soon, our SchoolKidz web portal will be active and you will have until June 27th to complete your children's 2015-16 school supply list with just one click. This is a service to our families...not a requirement, or a fundraiser. Look for a separate email with all the details by early next week.
Enjoy your weekend!
Kassie Stewart
PTO President
PTO Board Officer Candidates
Candidates for VP: Jen Daulby and Jessica Powers
Candidate for Treasurer: Randy Nunes
Candidate for Secretary: Leslie Gutowski
Let's meet the candidates in their own words:
Candidate for VP / Jen Daulby:
My name is Jen Daulby and I am running for the position of Vice President of the
PTA. I have one daughter, Reagan (1st grade), who has attended STM since pre-k.
I have been a room parent and am currently assistant soccer coach for the 1st
grade STM girls team. I have attended and volunteered for most activities at
STM during the last three years. I am proud to be part of the STM community and
have really enjoyed the parents I have met over the last few years - my goal is
to integrate new parents into our school and continue to foster an environment
where parents enjoy volunteering and getting to know one another. I manage an
office on capitol hill and hope this experience can be a valuable asset to the
board as we address issues ranging from budgets, parent involvement and
communication between the school and parents.
Candidate for VP / Jessica Powers:
I am Jessica Powers and I am running for Vice President. I am the mother of
Emma Quaresma (1st grade) and we joined the STM family in August 2013. One
of the things that I like about STM are the many chances to be involved in
my daughter's school, both at the classroom level and across the school, and
demonstrate the value and joy of giving back to others. I have been able to
volunteer at a variety of STM activities over the past two years including
the Corn Feast, the International Festival, Breakfast with Santa, Baby Jesus
Shower, and chaperoning various classroom events. I look forward to
bringing my strong organizational, communication, and networking skills to
the PTO.
Candidate for Treasurer / Randy Nunes:
Randy Nunes is the father of a 4th grader at St. Thomas More Cathedral School. Last year Randy served as the Treasurer of the Alexandria City Swim Team which has a team of 150 swimmers. Randy worked closely with the city of Alexandria Parks and Recreation management to prepare the team financially for new funding obligations occurring due to city budget cuts. Randy also managed and co-owned a successful small business in central Virginia for several years. He currently works for the Department of Defense. During the rare moments Randy is not attending a family event or a child’s athletic event, he enjoys sailing and hiking.
Candidate for Secretary / Leslie Gutowski:
I have been a parent at STM since my daughter Willa started in kindergarten (she is now a rising 5th grader). I have volunteered at STM over the years for many events, and am interested in helping the PTO in 2015-16. In my professional life, I work at an intellectual property law firm and handle drafting and distributing numerous communications (e-mail in particular), as well as documenting meetings, calls, etc. I think my skills would be a good fit for the PTO secretary position.
MRS. O’ROURKE NEEDS YOUR HELP!
Library Inventory NEXT WEEK
Do you have time to help Mrs. O’Rourke scan books to finalize the end of year inventory in STM’s library anytime next week: Monday, June 1st to Friday, June 5th? This is a great opportunity to earn volunteer hours on your schedule. Or just to come in, lend a hand and take note of the books that are available for your students to borrow! Contact Mrs. O’Rourke at morouke@stmschool.org to set up a day and time.
Thank you for your support!
The Spring Box Tops for Education and Labels for Education Contest is Still ON
There's still time to turn in your BTFE and LFE Coupons by Monday, June 1!
The class with the most (highest per student average) BTFE and LFE labels will win a classroom pizza party, cupcake party, extra recess or other - the choice is yours and your teacher's!
Completed flyers and bags can be dropped off in the classroom, the front office and to Cristina Farias-Gomez or Mickey Grammatica Fletcher.
For more information please feel free to contact Cristina Farias-Gomez (mario2cristina@hotmail.com) and Mickey Grammatica Fletcher (MickeyInVa@gmail.com)
Download the contest flyer from Dropbox here (login not required)
Hot Dog Bash - June 8th from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Used Book Sale at the Hot Dog Bash
Monday evening, June 1st during the Hot Dog Bash the STM library will sponsor a used book sale to benefit the library. If you have any old books you want off your child's book shelves at home, bring them to school and Mrs. O'Rourke will be happy to sell them. PLEASE ONLY BRING CHILDREN'S BOOKS.
If you would like to earn volunteer hours, please stay and help sell the books. For more info, please email Mrs. O'Rourke morourke@stmschool.org
Thank you for all your help.
Mobilizing Connections to Strengthen Families
Mobilizing Connections to Strengthen Families: A Dialogue Between FAITH COMMUNITIES and HUMAN SERVICES.
June 5, 2015 | 8:00 - 11:00 AM
Unitarian Universalist Church in Arlington
Join SCAN, George Mason University Dept. of Social Work and their community partners for a morning to:
1. Create awareness and learn about family stress, child abuse, and positive parenting.
2. Spark continuing dialogue between faith communities and human services regarding family issues.
3. Ensure participants have access to tangible strategies and resources that can be used in their own community or workplace to promote healthy families.
4. Support continuing efforts of newly formed relationships that will work together to engage in activities to build connections for families.
TO REGISTER, CONTACT:
Tracy Leonard, SCAN Public Education Manager
703-820-9001 or tleonard@scanva.org
FREE EVENT / CEU CREDITS AVAILABLE
PROPOSED AGENDA
BREAKFAST
WELCOME
OPENING PRAYER
INTRODUCTIONS
THE ISSUE - From the Faith Perspective: Speaker TBA
From the Human Services Perspective: Doug Brown, City of Alexandria
NETWORKING ACTIVITY
THE DIALOGUE
Small Group dialogue with facilitator and recorders
REPORT OUT
CALL TO ACTION
The Allies in Prevention Coalition, an initiative of SCAN of Northern Virginia, seeks to increase community and individual involvement to prevent family violence by sharing best practices; combining resources; and collaborating on effective public education messages about positive parenting and child abuse prevention.
Learn more online at www.scanva.org
Please Log Your Volunteer Hours!
Thank you to the countless families who have stepped up to volunteer at the school this year. We really appreciate you!
If you have put in hours of service to date, please be sure to log them via the web site in a timely manner. If you have any questions about how many hours you have remaining currently, please email Nicole Mayer at seibelfamily4@gmail.com. All families who have not met the minimum requirement were sent a balance notice. If you have not fulfilled your requirement, you will be billed at the end of the school year. 20 hours or $300 is the commitment.
Ways to Earn Volunteer Hours
- Friday Pizza Lunch - assist with pizza lunch or the Market Table (the kids are thrilled to see you there!)
- Mrs. O’Rourke needs some volunteers during the 1st week of June to scan the books to take inventory in the library. She also needs some volunteers during the Hot Dog Bash to sell used books. Interested parents can email her to set up the time morourke@stmschool.org
- Hot Dog Bash (Monday, June 8th from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.) See flyer included in newsletter.
- Goods & Monetary Contribution - contributions to PTO events are valued at $15/service hour
Soccer Kicks and STM
Soccer Kicks is a soccer specialty store dedicated to soccer fanatics. We specialize in shoes, apparel and all types of soccer equipment.
We are located at:
6019 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22205
703-533-1667
We are excited to offer a 15% discount to all STM students! So come visit Soccer Kicks where Faith, Family, and Fitness is our Goal! Simply mention STM for your discount.
St. Thomas More Cathedral School
Email: kassiestewart2000@gmail.com
Website: www.stmschool.org
Location: 105 N Thomas St, Arlington, VA, United States
Phone: 703.528.6781