Principal's Corner
I can tell from speaking with a number of parents that there is some confusion about the pick-up procedure and the flow of traffic at the close of the school day. The chaos of the first few days has evened out and I am hopeful that our traffic control officer is having a good effect on your timely and safe exit from campus.
To clarify, while there have been some changes in the front of the school, this is NOT the total execution of our Phase I development. That plan will be executed next summer. All of the permitting and planning is just about complete so we are set to make this happen when school is not in session. To further alleviate the stress of construction we are planning, weather permitting, to try to construct an additional parking lot during this fall. We are working on those details now. I will keep you posted.
There are a few things you can do to make traffic easier right now! First: when picking up or dropping off, please use the designated space in front of the building and NOT block the movement of traffic in the travel (fire) lane. Second: consider NOT picking up your student at the 2:25 dismissal. They are likely busy right after school and staggered pickups will alleviate a back-up onto the road. Third: try picking up or dropping off in the rear or side of the building. A trip around the building often saves time and congestion.
We continue to ask your indulgence through this period of transition. It's going to be great once it is fully complete.
I want to urge you to make our website a common stop for you. You have just received a letter that explains our next step toward the making of student progress and grade reports available on line. Again, it is our hope that this will allow you more timely feedback and make planning conference time more efficient. Mr. Holtz has provided those details and it is important that we have a good electronic connection between home and school. This will help us all in many different ways.
We have been blessed with a very smooth and exciting opening to the school year. Our 9th grade looks superb and we anticipate the crazy days of Spirit Week as a way that many will have fun and make new friends. Don't forget Back to School Night this Monday, September 17!
God bless you,
Jeffrey A. Quinn
September Parent eNotes
Upcoming Events and News
Important Dates
- Monday, September 17- Spirit Week Begins
- Monday, September 17- Back to School Night
- Tuesday, September 18- Campus Ministry Kick-off
- Wednesday, September 19- Field Day
- Wednesday, September 19 -Volunteerism at St. Thomas 6:30-7:30 p.m., Multi-purpose Room -see Advancement notes below for more details
- Friday, September 21 Coffee House 7:00pm
- Friday, September 28th Golf Open Register Online
- Saturday, September 29 - Homecoming - Mass, Alumni Awards Reception, Football Game
- Monday, October 1- Diocesan Workshop, No School
- Thursday, October 4- Parent Teacher Meetings, 3-5pm and 6-7:30pm
- Friday, October 5 and Monday, October 8 - Faculty Retreat, No School and Columbus Day
- Saturday, November 3- Parent Social . Please note! This is a new date from the date published in the school calendar!
Date Change The date for the Parent Social has been changed from Oct. 20, as listed in the school calendar, to November 3! It will be held at the Frank Jones Center from 6:00pm -9:00pm
Golf The 22nd annual St. Thomas Golf Open is coming up on September 28th at the Portsmouth Country Club. Register now as are filling up quickly. NEW THIS YEAR, a guest speaker will join us for lunch, Ernie Degregorio, a former basketball player with the Boston Celtics and Providence College. We do have limited space for individuals to join us for the luncheon only, at a cost of $25. You can register for golf or just the luncheon by visiting the website.
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 to include the presentation of the Distinguished Alumni Award. This year s recipient is Brian J. Fogarty, class of 1989.
Admissions The 2007-2008 Admissions season is upon us. And we are looking for motivated, involved students to make up the Class of 2012. If you know of an 8th grade student who would be a good match for St. Thomas, please contact either Gary Finley or Pat Krupsky in the Admissions Office.
Position Available Have you ever thought about working where your child goes to school? Chartwells Dining Services, the provider of food services at STA is looking for two good employees with great attitudes. Chartwells is currently looking for a full-time cook (experienced in school setting preferred) M-F hrs: 6:30-2:30 and a part-time cashier M-F 9:00-2:30. Hours are great, think about it. If interested please call Sean Gannon, Dining Manager @ 742-3206 x2248
Fall Coffeehouse The first coffeehouse of the year is almost upon us! Families and students are invited to come enjoy a relaxed evening of music and fun on Friday, September 21 at 7 p.m. Coffeehouse is a showcase of student talent open to all students, and typically offers a variety of popular music, dance and comedy acts; all music is unplugged with the exception of the house band for the night. This event brings Spirit Week to a close and gives everyone a chance to celebrate St. Thomas. If the weather is fine, bring lawn chairs and enjoy the show in the back parking lot; in case of rain, it will take place in the cafeteria. Either way, it will be a great night! Late Starts Beginning in October, 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 17 is Back to School Night at St. Thomas. 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 6:30 to follow an abbreviated version of your child's daily schedule. Parents will pick up a schedule in special locations: 9th grade parents -Gymnasium 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 4.
10th grade parents -Main Office
11th and 12th grade parents - Cafeteria
Parent-Teacher Conferences Thursday, October 4 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.
Music Notes The music department is off to a fast start this year and would like to welcome Jennifer Larson to the team. Mrs. Larson will be teaching part time, assisting regularly with concert band and other classes, and directing women's chorus and jazz band. Mrs. Larson is a professional French horn player with triplet two-year old boys. Mr. Robertson first met Mrs. Larson when she was a student of his when Mr. Robertson first taught at Portsmouth High School, and he is glad they are once again working together.
The choirs and bands are all in great shape to start the year, with the largest enrollment in concert band in recent history. We are excited to officially welcome strings into the program this year and are excited by the possibilities that this invites.
Please join us on Friday, October 26th for our fall concert, Take Me Back. The concert is designed to evoke memories from everyone's past. It will feature music that young and old should remember. We've even tried to program music that some of you may have played or sung if you were in your high school band or choir! The band will play a John Williams medley of famous movie themes, chorus will sing You're the One That I Want from Grease, men's chorus will sing Do You Love Me? Jazz choir will sing Embraceable You and Birdland Jazz Band will play the Pink Panther Theme and the choirs will combine to sing Circle of Life from the Lion King and much more. Don't miss it! We will begin promptly at 7 PM in the STA gym.
Advancement
Volunteerism Volunteering is at the heart of so many efforts here at school. The Advancement Committee, a committee of the Stewardship Council, has asked that we begin the discussion with our community supporters in creating a formalized parent organization. The seeds of this effort are being planted and a brief meeting has been scheduled for September 19th, 6:30 p.m. in the Multi Purpose Room, to begin the dialogue with all those interested in participating. Please come if you can. All are welcome. If you are unable to attend the meeting please look for future updates and notices.
Guidance
Important Dates for Juniors and Seniors Guidance has developed a list of important dates for Juniors and Seniors. It is available on our website here or as a PDF file for download here.
Letters from Counselors Guidance Counselors have written special letters to each of the classes with important information specific to each grade. Click here for the appropriate letter. Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors.
College Admissions Parents of seniors who have not already met with Mrs. Karwowski are encouraged to call for an appointment to discuss college plans. Seniors should reference their guidance-issued senior calendars on a regular basis for scheduled visits from college representatives and other important senior information. Please note: all students are required to have their SAT scores mailed directly by the College Board to the colleges to which they are applying.
UNH College Fair Thursday, September 27 from 7-9 pm at the UNH Field House.
SAT's Fall test dates are Saturday, October 6 and Saturday, November 3. St. Thomas is not a test center for the October 6 SAT. The registration deadline for the November 3 SAT is Tuesday, October 2. Registration must be done on-line at the College Board. Test preparation booklets are available in guidance.
October 17 - Special Events for all Students
Grade 9 Retreat at St. Thomas (8 -11:30 am)
Grade 10 pre-ACT Test The pre-ACT, also called PLAN, takes place starting at 8 am and finishes around 11 am. Please bring pencils and calculator. The fee for this test was included with your tuition. Contact Mrs. Granger with questions.
Grade 11 PSAT Test The practice SAT will be administered starting at 8 am and finishing at approximately 10:45 am. This test is required. Please bring pencils and calculator. The fee was included with your tuition. Contact Mrs. Kane with questions.
Grade 12 College Application Day/Visits A day for seniors to work on college applications and/or visit college campuses.
Athletics
Tournament Info The fall season has only just begun but if you are looking for Fall Tournament Dates, times and locations, follow this link to the NHIAA web site. There is also a link on the STA athletics web page.
Winter Sports Start dates for winter sports are as follows;
Girls Basketball Monday, November 5
Wrestling, Swimming and Diving Monday, November 12
Boys Basketball, Skiing, Boys and Girls Ice Hockey, Gymnastics Monday, November 19
Indoor Track Monday, November 26
Each team will announce their first practice time and location closer to the start dates and for skiing there may not be snow on November 19 so they may use that time for dry land training here at school. Check the website for updates.
Weather Info Check the athletics web page often especially if there is a forecast for bad weather. Weather postponements and cancellations will be posted as soon as possible but most likely not before noon, please check the site before calling the office.
NCAA Clearinghouse If an athlete has any thoughts of participating at the College Division 1 or 2 levels after graduation it is very important that he or she register with the NCAA clearinghouse during their junior year. Any current senior who thinks they will play at either of those levels should register immediately. Information regarding the clearinghouse can be obtained from the Saint Thomas Guidance Department and there is a link on the athletics page as well. Athletes who compete in sports that are not offered at Saint Thomas that are scholarship sports in college for example, crew, fencing, equestrian, etc, must also register if they plan to participate in college.