Principal's Corner
The summer progresses well for us at STA! Many projects are nearing completion and many of you are starting to turn your thoughts to STA whether it is athletics or academics. I have some bits of news that will be important for you.
First, I am happy to report that we have hired Mr. Daniel Raposa as our new Advancement Director. Mrs. Rohde left St. Thomas earlier this spring and by July 1st Dan was busy at work establishing contacts and becoming acquainted with many of the activities and plans we have for St. Thomas in the coming year. Dan brings a wonderful local perspective. He is familiar with many in our community and I would be surprised if many of our parents don't already know Dan from another context. Dan has a wonderful enthusiasm for all that St. Thomas provides and I am sure that you will see him at many events throughout the year.
I want to thank all of you for the generosity shown to St. Thomas with our Aquinas Fund in the last year. Look forward to the Annual Report in the coming issue of Reflections in the coming weeks. It will give details on a very successful year for our Aquinas Fund due to the donations of so many people. Combining unrestricted and restricted gifts and event income we exceeded our goal! Even though our tuition grows each year your annual gift helps us meet the demands of our budget and keeps our tuition as low as it can be.
We have hired all but one teacher due to a late resignation. Mrs. Guzman will not be returning to STA and therefore we will be searching for a new Spanish teacher in the coming days. All other positions have been filled and I am happy that two teachers are STA alumni: Amanda (Frost) Mann will teach Social Studies and James Lajoie will teach Mathematics. Other teachers include Susan Pike, Janette Hansen and George Dailey, who have joined our Science Department. Andrea Harkness will teach English and Adam Genovese will teach Social Studies. Finally, Jennifer Larson has been hired to teach part time in our music program.
For all of you who are driving students to St. Thomas each day we have instituted a new traffic control system. Starting this fall we have hired a traffic control officer who will assist in getting traffic from the campus onto Dover Point Road each morning and afternoon. It is our hope that this will alleviate the traffic congestion on campus and actually help traffic flow onto campus. This will be a long-term solution to proper access onto the road. Please anticipate this change. As much as possible, I want to encourage NO stopping on Dover Point Road for pick-up and drop-off of students. Also, begin using the rear of the building for pick-up and drop off. A traffic control person will make your access to the road no more difficult than waiting at a traffic light. Students also will be helped as they leave campus. Help us help you increase the safety of everyone.
Enjoy the rest of your summer! We are anticipating the return of all our students in a few weeks. See you then.
God Bless,
Jeffrey A. Quinn
August 2007 Parent e-notes
Upcoming Events and News
Important Dates
- August 13 -Fall sports begin practices
- August 20- 9th Grade Jump Start
- August 21- Senior Leadership Night
- August 23- Back to School Dance
- August 27- 9th Grade and Transfer Student Orientation
- August 28- Opening Day, All Grades
- September 28 - 22nd Annual Golf Open, Online Registration now available
- September 29 - Homecoming - Mass, Alumni Awards Reception, Football Game
Summer Reading Summer Reading test day is Thursday, August 30. If you have not read the required book for your class, it's time to get started! Remember extra credit can be earned by reading from the Faculty Favorites selections! Check the St. Thomas Summer Reading web page for more information. In addition, Sophomores taking IPALS and Chemistry (CP and Honors) should click here to view additional information about their summer reading assignment in the book A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson.
Student Parking 2007-2008 parking permit forms must be completed before cars may be driven to school. Please visit the attendance or main office and pick up your form. The form, signed by both parent and student, must be returned with a $50 check for each vehicle to be registered. Students driving vehicles without a green oval sticker will be subject to detention and loss of driving privileges.
Emergency/Athletic Form If you have not already done so, please return your 2007-2008 Emergency/Athletic Information Form which was mailed to you in July. Please review the information on your form, correct the form as needed, and sign the form as appropriate. This form must be completed and returned prior to the start of school and prior to fall sports. Note that parent and student signatures are required; these signatures indicate understanding of and compliance with all school expectations.
Student Pictures Student I.D. photos will be taken on August 28 and August 29. All students will have a picture taken; grades 9 and 12 will be taken on Tuesday, August 28, and grades 10 & 11 are scheduled for Wednesday, August 29. Underclass students will have the option of purchasing a photo package. Watch your mail for brochures and picture envelopes. Seniors should be making arrangements for senior portraits on their own; the school photo is intended for I.D. cards only, but will be used for the yearbook in the absence of any other picture. Reminder: All school photos must be in dress code.
Back to School Dance Campus Ministry will be hosting the Back to School Dance on Thursday, August 23 from 7-11 pm. Plan to join your classmates for the first social event of the year. Only St. Thomas students may attend and the cost is $5 per student. Dress is casual. Please review the Handbook for rules and expectations at St. Thomas social events. Remember you must arrive at the dance before 9 pm and must remain at the dance until 10:30 pm. (Exceptions must be arranged in advance with Mr. Quimby.) Parent chaperones are needed. Please leave a message at school for Mrs. Finan if you can help.
School Calendars 2007-2008 School Calendars are available in the main office.
Grade 9 Jump Start There are still spaces available for Grade 9 Jump-Start which will be held at St. Thomas on Monday, August 20 from 9 am to 1 pm. This year's program will feature many upper-class students discussing high school academic and social issues and the process of transitioning into our high school community. Small and large group student-led activities will be included in this year's program. Registrations will be accepted through Wednesday, August 15. The registration fee is $20. Dress for the event is casual; sneakers are recommended. Please call the school if you have any questions.
Homecoming Saturday, September 29, 2007 – A special Homecoming Mass, open to the entire St. Thomas community, will be held at 11:00am at St. Thomas. We will recognize the lives of our deceased alumni, family and friends by reading aloud their names during this Mass. If you have a loved one you wish to have honored at the Mass, please forward the name and year of graduation to Anne Fortin 603.742.3206 x5241. A reception will immediately follow.
Campus Ministry Cookout Campus Ministry is sponsoring a back to school cookout for grades 10-12 on Wednesday, August 15th from 4:00-8:00pm at Great Island Common Park, Newcastle, NH. The menu will include cheeseburgers, veggie burgers, hotdogs, chips, soda, salads, etc. People attending should bring $3 to get in and think about bringing their camera, frisbee, guitar, snacks, chairs and other gear for a fun barbeque. If you plan on attending contact Mr. Adams to let him know.
Advancement
Message from Mr. Daniel Raposa Congratulations and thanks to all of you within the St. Thomas community helping to set a new bar for the fund raising efforts at the school. It will be noted in our report this fall that total gifts to the school for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007 exceeded the half million dollar mark! It is with great pride that I come to this school community at this time in my life and as the institution readies for exciting changes. I have resided and worked in several seacoast towns since my first trip onto Dover Point Road nearly thirty years ago and I must say that I always knew something special resided here at STA. Many of you have experienced St. Thomas life in a variety of roles and I am ready to join you. As Director of Advancement I work with a dedicated and talented team here in Notre Dame Hall but the four of us have less than five years of STA service. We invite you to stop by and say hello, volunteer your time or talent and share a story about STA. Our goal is to help promote a culture of philanthropy among our many stakeholders and it requires your active participation as our partner. In the weeks ahead we will share with you our plans as we create a new committee structure to encourage participation in this process. I also look forward to working with lead volunteers Karen Monaco as our returning Aquinas Fund Chair and MJ Keane the Advancement Committee Chair. They deserve our collective thanks for their leadership efforts in setting the bar a bit higher! Enjoy the last month of summer and I promise you will see me around school.