2024

We were Boo Bashing all evening long! It was a great time for all. The kids were adorable! To our volunteers, parents, students, and those folks who pitched in to push a broom and move the bleachers, THANK YOU! It's a great community event and I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as we did.

I had a great idea to touch on the theme of "stewardship" in this note to you all, inspired by Father Gabriele's homily in our school mass this week. Then we 'Boo Bashed' our way late into the evening, and while the seed was planted, it never came to fruition.

We will circle back to stewardship in the future. In the meantime, I wanted to share this letter from Father Gabriele, on the topic. While Father's intended audience is to members of the parish first, we are all one community, and many of our families are also parishioners at St. Therese Church. Those numbers can go up too! I don't mean numbers in dollars, I mean folks in pews.

(Friendly reminder, from your school principal, how much of his time, effort, prayers and leadership that Father Gabriele dedicates to our school. It was his idea to take on teaching middle school classes, with no compensation. His idea! He also supported the heck out of our Jog-A-Thon. I would sincerely encourage you to come join us for a school mass, every Wednesday at 1:15. Maybe you throw in a Sunday once in a while too, even if your regular parish is elsewhere. Father and I would love to see more of our students at mass on the weekends.)

Housekeeping reminder that Parent Teacher Conferences are next Thursday and Friday. Sign-ups are below. If you have trouble using the SignUp Genius, please feel free to reach out to teachers or the school office if you need a hand. We are happy to help.

All the best,

Principal Schoning

Parent Teacher Conferences are approaching. This year conferences will be held on Thursday, October 31 and Friday, November 1.

There is no school for students on these days. Students in grades 5 - 8 should attend conferences with their parents.

October 31: 7:30AM - 3:30PM

November 1: 8:00AM - 4:00 PM

Please use the Sign Up Geniuses to set up your conference time.

Middle School Families: You only need to meet with one teacher, but have the option to meet with other teachers as need be!

Specials teachers will be available in the gym during conference days; stop by before or after your conference time if you have a question or concern about their class!

Order forms have been sent home with your student! Order forms are due with payment day of the pictures. You can also order online!

SWIMMING:

• Registration is open for the swimming team, and it will be open through the end of September, register here: https://cyocamphoward.org/content/24610/st-swimming
  
• Swimmers ages 3rd grade through 8th grade can join the team, and should be able to swim across the pool (we are NOT instructors on how to swim)
  
• We have GREAT coaches who are all former swimmers led by our very own Dave Tabayoyon who coached last year
• We are partnering with FMES school to create a team
• Practices are still being scheduled, but we will likely swim at 7pm two nights a week at Parkrose pool
• Please contact athletics@stthereseschool.org with any questions!!

We are excited to announce that St Therese basketball registrations are now open on the CYO Camp Howard website. You can access the information here: https://cyocamphoward.org/content/16527/ST-Basketball

Beginning Wednesday October 9th we will be offering OPEN GYMS for 5th - 8th grade on Wednesday nights from 6-8pm. These will be managed by Coaches Avery Robinson and Trey Harry who coached the 6/7 Boys team last year.

This is free and open to all interested athletes. Students outside of St Therese are welcome to attend! You will be required to sign a waiver for your student the first time your student participates.

Here are some important dates and information for the upcoming season:

1. Registration Fees: Players are $275 per person (scholarships are available through CYO) if you register before 10/31
2. Season Schedule: Practices will begin in November most likely, the first games are not until January
3. Volunteer Opt-Out: There is a $50 opt-out fee if parents do not want to volunteer
4. Coaches: We are seeking all interested coaches and volunteers, please contact our Athletics Department at: athletics@stthereseschool.org
5. Fees: Fees cover the cost of tournaments (pre-season jamboree, and end of the season tournament)
6. Home Games: We are hosting home games, we will have that volunteer schedule -- WE NEED PARENTS TO VOLUNTEER AND SUPPORT THE GYM, A SIGN UP LINK WILL BE AVAILABLE BEFORE THE SEASON

We are really trying to make a push, please spread the word and encourage students to come out. We have some GREAT coaches and are continuing to find more. With an early start on the season we should see some great turnout.

Please let us know if you have questions!

High School Open House season is here! All 8th grade families interested in Catholic High School should visit each Open House for more information! It's also time to start those High School applications. Students can create accounts and begin Shadow Days!

• 10/31-11/01 Parent Teacher Conferences - No school for students.
• 11/05 School Picture Day
• 11/11 No School in honor of Veteran's Day
• 11/22 Last Friday of the Month: Free Dress
• 11/27 1/2 day, with noon dismissal.
• 11/27 School mass changed to 8:30 a.m. Join us!
• 12/9 School mass at 1:15, Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Tuesdays

• Vietnamese classes. Beginners' class: 3:30 - 4:15, Intermediate class: 4:15 - 5:00

Wednesdays

• School mass: 1:15 - 2:15 (subject to change based on holy days of obligation, feast days etc.)
• Sacraments classes with Sister Martina: 2:45 - 3:45 in the PSC.
• Open Gym Time, 6 - 8 pm. St. Therese Students from Grades 3 - 8 are all welcome! Free!

8th Graders read The Outsiders every year. We celebrated the end of the novel by watching the movie version, dressing up as Greasers and Socs, enjoying Pepsi and chocolate cake (Ponyboy's favorite!), and by creating one-pagers to show off what was learned from the novel.

6th graders proudly displaying their "Just Write" notebooks in Dr. Giamona's ELA class. Students write weekly about their lives, adventures, and hopes and dreams. We are proud of our writers!

The kindergarteners learned about the parts of a pumpkin and then used their sense of touch, sight and smell while exploring pumpkins. - Ms. Forsyth

Last year Mr. Rymer showed his students the new Glowforge laser cutter, which he got for the school through a grant. By showing the kids the hardware, Mr. Rymer and the kids came up with the idea of making Christmas ornaments for their families. In doing so, the students are learning about engineering, design, and production. They are handmade by the students, with Mr. Rymer's guidance.

Post-pandemic, the prices of materials have gone up significantly and Mr. Rymer uses Baltic birch for these, which isn't cheap. It's a great way to get a custom made keepsake for loved ones and support the school at the same time. The price is $30 per ornament, or $50 for two ornaments.

Please see the links for a video with more information from Mr. Rymer, and the order form.

As always, please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Registrar/Office Mrs. Barnett, barnetta@stthereseschool.org

Principal Schoning schoningc@stthereseschool.org

Vice Principal Baumbach cbaumbach@stthereseschool.org

School Phone: 503-253-9400