Principal's Corner
On behalf of the entire school community I want to extend my thanks and appreciation to the parents and students of St. Thomas as we acclimate to the new traffic patterns around St. Thomas Aquinas High School. It took a few days to become comfortable with the intersection of pedestrian and vehicle traffic, but I believe we have settled into a safe and efficient routine. The grounds look absolutely beautiful and I anticipate that the lawns will green rather quickly this fall. I know our senior drivers have certainly appreciated Mr. Quimby's plan of raffling off 'reserved parking spaces' that sit closer to the school building. This privilege will rotate among remaining seniors with a new drawing each quarter.
We have been involved in a dialogue with students and faculty concerning behavior at school dances. As you know, St. Thomas is committed to the education of the whole person and that education is rooted in Catholic tradition and values. This compels us to have clear standards of behavior at all school venues, including dances. As a minimum, we must insure that our students are safe during these events. Certain forms of dancing which present a physical risk for students are prohibited at St. Thomas. As a Catholic school, we must also have standards that reflect the moral and ethical foundations of our community. Dancing is certainly a form of expression for our students, but dancing which is overtly sexual in nature or results in excessive physical contact falls beyond our boundaries of acceptable expression or behavior. Ultimately, it is our intent that in every St. Thomas classroom and extracurricular experience we reinforce our values as a Catholic community, which include the teaching of respect of self and others.
As we move forward, I want all students to have an opportunity to enjoy school dances. In a time when many public and private schools are simply cancelling school dances altogether, I remain convinced that our students can achieve the goal of enjoying these social events, given the standards of behavior outlined above. I will continue to talk with our students about acceptable behavior and the reasons behind the rules we establish. I will also expect that our students will act respectfully, abiding by the rules of the school community. Your support in this endeavor would be greatly appreciated.
May God bless you and your family,
Ron Holtz
September Parent eNotes
Upcoming Events and News
Important Dates
- Monday, September 15- Back to School Night
- Wednesday, September 17- Late Start
- Friday, September 19- 23rd Annual Golf Tournament
- Saturday, September 20- Homecoming
- Monday, September 22- Spirit Week Begins
- Friday, September 26- Spirit Week Coffeehouse
- Monday, September 29- 10th Grade Ring Assembly
- Tuesday, September 30- NH College Mini-Fair
- Wednesday, October 1- Progress Reports Posted to Edline
- Wednesday, October 1- Late Start
- Thursday, October 2- Parent-Teacher Meetings
- Friday, October 3- Faculty Retreat, No School
- Tuesday, October 7- Canned Food Drive Kickoff
- Thursday, October 9- Junior Class Trip
- Saturday, October 11- Alumni Volleyball Game
- Monday, October 13- Columbus Day, No School
- Wednesday, October 15- Guidance Day for Students
- Saturday, October 18- Parent Wine and Food Social
Late Starts Beginning September 17th, St. Thomas has a late start day about every other week throughout the year. Please check and highlight these on your school calendar. On these days the St. Thomas buses operate at the usual times. Please also note that, on these days, detentions will be issued to students who are late without a valid excuse such as a medical appointment.
Emergency-Athletic Forms Thank you for completing emergency form updates promptly this fall. Please inform the school of any changes in address, phone numbers, or work location.
Back to School Night Monday, September 15 is Back to School Night at St. Thomas. The event begins at 4:30 with a reception in the cafeteria sponsored by CAST (Community Association of St. Thomas). Parents and faculty are invited to mingle informally for refreshments and conversation.
Parents of 9th graders are invited to a special program in the gym at 5:30. All other parents are invited to arrive not later than 6:20 to follow an abbreviated version of your child's daily schedule. Parents will pick up a schedule in special locations:
During the evening, you will meet each of your child's teachers and his/her advisor. Each teacher will deliver a brief presentation concerning the course expectations and content. Please note that teachers will not be discussing individual progress on this evening. An opportunity for that conversation occurs at the first Parent/Teacher Conference night on October 2.
Back to School Night Parking: Parking for this evening will be in the rear parking lots in back of the building. There will be no parking in front of St. Thomas. Please park your vehicle and enter through the atrium entrance or rear door.
Parent-Teacher Conferences Thursday, October 2 will be the first opportunity to meet individually with your child's teachers for brief (2-4 minute) discussions about progress. Teachers will be available from 3 to 5 pm and from 6 to 7:30 pm. There is no schedule; parents wait in line for teachers they choose to visit. If you anticipate the need for a longer conversation, please call your child's guidance counselor or the teacher to schedule an appointment.
Class Ring Sales Tenth Grade student assembly will be on Monday, September 29, at 11:08 am. At that time, students will receive information and view samples of class rings. Order forms will be distributed after the assembly. Orders will be taken by a representative on October 1, 9:30 am to 1 pm and October 2, 9:30 am to 1 pm and 3 to 7:30 pm in the cafeteria.
Admissions The 2008-2009 Admissions season is upon us. We are looking for motivated, involved students to make up the Class of 2013. If you know of an 8th grade student who would be a good match for St. Thomas, please contact Patty Krupsky in the Admissions Office at 742-1324.
Homecoming Mass All members of the community welcome and encouraged to attend this special mass on Saturday, Sept 20. We will recognize the lives of our deceased alumni, family and friends by reading aloud their names during the Remembrance Mass. If you have a loved one you would like remembered, please email please contact Anne Fortin.
Distinguished Alumni Award Presentation, Cornerstone Rededication and Reception Immediately following the Homecoming Mass we will recognize the alumni efforts of Kaarin Olofsson Milne, class of '93. Please join us in celebrating her contributions to St. Thomas. A Rededication of the school cornerstone and reception to follow.
STA Drama STA Drama will produce Thornton Wilder's Our Town this fall. An American classic, Our Town has been called a play of poetic grace and timeless humanity. It will be the perfect play to showcase the new look of the STA stage. Auditions were held September 10 and 11 and rehearsals are under way! We invite everyone to come share this experience with us and to enjoy our performances on November 13 and 14.
November Tuition If you chose the semi-annual payment option, your payment is due on or before November 3rd. You must meet this deadline to gain any applicable discount and to avoid penalty fees. The success of this option depends on your timely payment.
Spirit Week Coffeehouse The Spirit Week Coffeehouse is just around the corner. On Friday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m., the first Coffeehouse of the year will take place to celebrate the end of Spirit Week. Coffeehouse is a showcase for STA talent held in a relaxed format and setting. Performances often include musicians, dancers and comedians with a wide variety of talents and skills. Parents and STA families are welcome to enjoy the show along with students. If the weather is fine, bring your lawn chairs and blankets to our new outdoor venue on the north end of the building. If it's cool or rainy, Coffeehouse will be held indoors, in the cafeteria. This coffeehouse is sponsored by Key Club, and admission is $5.00. Many of last year's performers will be on stage again, along with some new groups and solo performers. If you've never been to Coffeehouse before, you're in for a real treat!
Alumni Events Whether you're an STA Alum or not, be sure to check out the Alumni Events on our website!
Advancement
Aquinas Fund The annual Aquinas Fund campaign will kick off in October. Our school depends on the generosity of many to assure success with this effort. This year we are pleased to announce that St. Thomas parent Pat Engel will be the chair of the Aquinas Fund committee. With the help of many volunteers, she will aide the effort of participation of all those in our community: parents, alumni, grandparents, friends of St. Thomas. Our Aquinas Fund team grew last year to over 20 people. We are hoping for even more help this year. If you would like to consider joining the effort we could really use the help and support. Grade level parent teams for each class are being created now. Please contact Pat Engel if you have questions or would like to join the team. .
Back to School Night CAST Reception Come to Back to School Night early to spend some time visiting with other St. Thomas families. 4:30 pm in the cafeteria. Our CAST leadership team will be in attendance meeting and greeting new and returning families. Hope you can join us. Parent Social tickets will be on sale. 23rd Annual Golf Open The 23rd Annual Golf Open at the Portsmouth Country Club is Friday, September 19th. SAVE THE DATE! Last call for GOLFERS! Please join us for a day of golf in support of St. Thomas. Register online or contact Anne Fortin. Parent Wine & Food Social SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, October 18. Buy your tickets now; at school, by calling the office, or online. Important Dates for Juniors and Seniors Guidance has developed a list of important dates for Juniors and Seniors. It is available on our website or as a PDF file for download. Letters from Counselors Guidance Counselors have written special letters to each of the classes with important information specific to each grade. Click the following links for the appropriate letter. Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior College Admissions Parents of seniors who have not already met with their student's counselor are encouraged to call for an appointment to discuss college plans. We have many college representatives visiting this fall. Seniors should pay close attention to announcements and refer to their guidance-issued college representative list which includes dates and times.
Please note: SAT scores must be requested through the college board website and sent directly to each school your senior applies to. UNH College Fair Thursday, September 25 from 7-9 pm at the UNH Field House. For more information visit their website. St. Thomas Aquinas Mini Fair We are pleased to announce our first ever college mini-fair to be held in the gym on Tuesday, September 30th starting at 12:30 pm. To see a list of colleges attending click here. SAT's/ACT's SAT fall test dates are Saturday, October 4 and November 1. The registration deadline for the November 1 SAT is Tuesday, September 26. Registration must be done on-line at www.collegeboard.com. Test preparation booklets are available in guidance. ACT test dates are Saturday, October 25 and December 13. The registration deadlines are September 19 and November 7, respectively. Register on-line at www.actstudent.org Class of 2012 On September 19, all students in the class will be receiving a green St. Thomas t-shirt. Green is the freshmen class color for Spirit Week. These t-shirts were purchased through the Jumpstart fee; however, if your student did not attend Jumpstart, the fee for the t-shirt is $5.00 and should be paid in the Main Office. October 15 Special Events for all Students
CAST
Guidance