Principal's Corner
As we close yet another successful year we find ourselves at a threshold of significant change. As many of you are aware the school has been planning significant changes to the campus for better traffic management and parking availability, as well as provide more space for what we hope will be future additions at St. Thomas. This has been planned in 4 phases and we are ready to initiate Phase 1. However, our planned campus "upheaval" for this summer will have to be accomplished in two summers. Since the window of opportunity to make significant changes is so small, any interruption to the schedule spells disaster to opening school on time. Since we have been delayed in some activities in securing permits from State of New Hampshire agencies, we have had to postpone the greatest changes to the campus for next summer.
But all is not lost! This summer all the utility poles in front of the school will be removed and a new electrical service brought into the school. Old electrical transformers will be removed from inside the building and a new transformer placed just outside the building. This new transformer will be safer for all but it is large and it will protrude into the existing driveway so the affected area will have to be widened. Unfortunately the front of the school will look a little like a construction site for the year and the planned landscape screening of the transformer will be completed next summer, so you will have to bear with us.
Other changes will be to replace the two rear entrance porches of the school with newer and larger porches with updated railings. We will also remove all underground fuel tanks from the campus. There will be some interior work on the buildings to make them more user-friendly and our Bookstore will double in size!
At this stage we are planning to build a brand new parking lot behind St. Ann's Home. If the weather cooperates we may just be able to get this built during the school year. This will significantly help the timetable for next summer. All in all, this delay may be a blessing in disguise because it is a significant challenge to accomplish all of Phase One in 10 short weeks. Also it will give us time to educate all our student drivers and parent drivers about the new traffic patterns and the new controls we will have to institute to make this all run smoothly.
Finally, let me say that as the year concludes it causes us to reflect on the richness of God's blessing in our school, chiefly in each of our students, your sons and daughters. They are truly remarkable as individuals and accomplished in so many unique ways. It simply makes me very grateful for them all. We are blessed with teachers who are excellent and have earned a well-deserved rest. Unfortunately, we must say good-bye to a few teachers: Barbara Santoro, Edward Disy, Jason Scull, Susan Vester, George Mahas, and Paul Bazylinski. Our rehiring is almost finished and I will announce our new staff when the changes are complete.
In the meantime, I ask that God bless each of us with a healthy relaxing summer.
God Bless,
Jeffrey A. Quinn
June 2007 Parent e-notes
Upcoming Events and News
Important Dates
- June 30- Aquinas Fund Year End
- August 2- Sports physicals
- 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 Say, All Grades
- September 28 -22nd Annual Golf Open
- September 29 -Homecoming Mass, Football Game
Still time to help. Aquinas Fund: Our annual appeal ends this week, June 30th! There is still time to help us reach our goal of $420,000. Please consider supporting the efforts that directly contribute to our student programs at St. Thomas. Give online today. Your gift is completely tax deductible, and very important! No amount is too small!
New Parking Stickers: Families are urged to use public transportation and to carpool whenever possible. However, all juniors and seniors who must drive to school are required to have a new 2007-2008 green St. Thomas sticker. Each vehicle must have its own sticker; the cost is $50.00 per vehicle. A new application must be completed and signed by parent and student. Stickers will be available in the office during July and August during summer office hours. New stickers will be required to park on the first day of school.
Lockers: All students will be assigned a book locker. The attendance office is accepting written requests for top lockers until August 10. Address requests to Mrs. Chabot.
Summer Office Hours The Main Office will be open Monday through Thursday from 8 am - 3:00 pm, and closed on Fridays from July 6 through August 10.
Bus Tickets Bus tickets (20 rides) to Portsmouth $40.00. All other tickets (20 rides) are $80.00. Bus tickets are available for sale in the Main Office throughout the summer. Important: Students must have a ticket on the first day they ride; drivers cannot handle cash or checks.
Summer Reading
The summer reading list for 2007 is posted on the school's website, and all students have received a hard copy for the refrigerator. Each student is required to read at least one book. The required books differ for each grade level; each will be discussed in a given class in the early weeks of school in the fall. This year, students in Grades 9 and 10 will read a book for their science class, juniors will read a book for U.S. History, and seniors will read for English classes. Any students taking A.P. classes may be required to read additional texts or do advance work for those classes. This information is distributed directly to students by the individual AP teachers.
Grade 9 students will read The Hot Zone by Richard Preston, an account of the outbreaks of the Ebola virus in Africa in the 1970's, and its reappearance inside the U.S. in 1989. This book will be discussed in Biology classes.
Grade 10 students who are taking biology will read The Hot Zone by Richard Preston.
Grade 10 students who are taking Chemistry or IPALS will read A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson, an exploration of fundamental questions of science.
Grade 11 students will read an American classic, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, for their U.S. History classes. This book will likely be discussed in English classes as well.
Grade 12 students will read a novel about the Vietnam war, The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien, for their English classes.
Students also have the option of reading up to three books for extra credit, selected from the list of Teacher Favorites. This year's list includes a wide variety of engaging texts. Enjoy!
Latin Class HonorsCongratulations to Sean Harrington, Patrick Farrell, Kim Monaco and Allison Dennett who scored extremely well on the State Latin exam. On the National Exam the following students earned gold medals, Allison Dennett -Latin I; Sean Harrington - Latin II. Silver metals: Paul Goodspeed - Latin I; Shelby Kaubris - Latin II; and Patrick Farrell - prose. Magna Cum Laude: Dan Drolet - prose. Cum Laude: Shaylagh McCole -Latin I; Jessica Veilleux - prose; Kim Monaco - prose; and Gabriela Camacho - poetry.
Music Notes
The music department is excited to welcome Jennifer Larson to the faculty starting next year! Mrs. Larson will be working part time and will take over some responsibilities while sharing some others with Mr. Robertson. She assisted with the pit orchestra this past year and is very excited to be joining us at STA.
Parents - please encourage your students to practice over the summer! We made great progress this year and it would be a shame to lose that by not keeping our skills up over the summer. Mr. Robertson will be sending out letters to all students signed up for music courses this summer with important dates, reminders and other information. Incoming freshmen in the band will also be invited to come in one day in August to get a head start on the music and to meet some of the upper classmen. Please check the music web pages over the summer for next years concert and performance dates, important updates about when next year's music will be available to pick up, and even when and where Mr. Robertson will be singing during the summer months!
The first concert of the 2007-2008 school year will be Friday, October 26th at 7PM. The concert will be titled, Take Me Back and will feature music that should bring back memories for many people of all ages. We will sing and play songs that many parents might have performed when they were in their high school band and chorus, as well as some well known favorites that will bring back memories from when our students were young and some from when their grandparents were young! It will be a great show, so mark your calendars now!
Sports
Important Dates
- August 2 Sports Physicals at Abilities Rehab (see details)
- August 5- Issue of football equipment - boys' locker room, 6 pm
- August 6 -Football Camp Begins (see details)
- August 13 - All Fall sports may begin practice (please check the website during July for times and locations).
Two forms must be completed and on file before any student will be allowed to participate in sports. Physicals are required every two years. The Physical Examination Form (download) must be completed and signed by a doctor and returned to the athletic office prior to the first practice. It is recommended that physicals be dated between June 1 and August 13 which will give coverage for two complete years, however as long as the physical is dated after June 1, 2006 it will cover the student for the 2007-2008 school year. If you do not know the date of your last physical, email the athletic director at jleary@stalux.org and the information will be sent to you.
The 2007 - 2008 School Emergency/Athletic Information Form: This form will be included with your July mailing. It must be completed, signed and returned to the school prior to August 27th. This form indicates that athletes and parents have read, understand, and agree to abide by all of the regulations contained in the Student/Athlete Handbook. Before signing the form please make sure that you have read all of the material in the handbook and that you are in agreement with the regulations and are willing to accept any consequences for violation of those regulations. Please note: If you have a student participating in fall athletics this form must be returned to the Main Office before August 13.
School Physical Exam Offer: Abilities Rehab will be providing our sports training service this coming year and. Abilities has also made available one night this summer when athletes will be able to receive a physical exam for only a $5 charge. On Thursday, August 2, they will open their offices located at 15 Rye Street Suite 125, Pease Tradeport, Portsmouth, NH 03801 at 5:00 pm for all St. Thomas students needing a physical exam. If you would like to contact them for more information the number is 603-610-2200.
Football Camp: Once again Coach Wotton and his staff will conduct a football camp for students in grades 7 - 12 to receive instruction in both offensive and defensive positions. The camp will be held here at Saint Thomas during the week of August 6 to 11, from 5:45 pm to 8 pm. The cost is $55. If you would like more information please call Coach Wotton at 207-363-8897 or pick up a flyer in the Main Office.
Web Site:The Athletics page is a link from the main page on the STA website. Please take some time to familiarize yourself with the site and check it frequently during the summer. There is a link from the Athletic Directors page where you can find all of the schedules for next year and see at a glance what is going on by week or month. You may also use a link from the page to sign up to be on an e-mail list where you will be sent immediate updates when events are cancelled or postponed. If you have any trouble navigating the site, send an e-mail to Barry Katz and you will receive help.
Summer Conditioning: Students who are planning to participate on fall sports teams should know that they will need to report to the first practice in good physical condition and ready for a full and strenuous practice on the first day. Do not come to practice thinking that you can get into shape at practices. There will be less than two weeks in some sports before the first scrimmages or games and coaches will be focusing on forming teams and strategy, not conditioning. Remember in sports where cuts are made there will only be 3 or 4 practices to show the coaches what you can do, so those who are in the best condition will have the best chance to be selected. Anything that you can do to get yourself in shape will be helpful even if it is running short distances on a regular basis. If you are going to try out for the 16 positions on the golf team, you will need to work on your golf game during the summer and bring score cards with you to the first practice.
Strength and Conditioning Program: Our trainer Liz Stokinger from Abilities Rehab is offering a Strength and Conditioning Program on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays from July 9th through August 10th from 9 to 10:30. The cost for the complete program is $150.00 and the goal is to improve strength, agility, power, balance, speed, and endurance as well as preventing injury. For more information contact Liz at 603-610-2200.
Coaching Positions: We currently have an opening for a freshman football coach. If you, or anyone that you know would be a good candidate, please have them contact the athletic office either by phone or e-mail. Any help that parents can give to find qualified candidates would be greatly appreciated. Interested candidates can e-mail the athletic director at jleary@stalux.org expressing interest with a resume if possible.
Guidance
Transcripts: Final transcripts for the class of 2007 were mailed to colleges on Thursday, June 14. For underclass students, you will find an unofficial transcript in report card envelopes. Counselors feel that it is useful for students and parents to see academic progress to date as it is represented on the St. Thomas transcript. This may help you with early college planning or academic goals for the coming year.
2007-08 Schedules have been distributed to all students. It is important to note that these schedules are tentative. Should changes have to be made to the master schedule over the summer, student schedules will change as well. Final schedules will be distributed on the first day of school in August.
Advancement
Golf Sponsorship Opportunities: The golf committee is actively seeking business underwriters and sponsors and prize donors for this year's Golf Open. Forms are being sent home with student report cards or you can download the form here. Please return these forms before August 1st via mail or secure fax noted on the form. The official invitation to golf will be mailed with the homecoming brochure later this summer. Contact Sue Downey with questions sdowney@stalux.org.