BEGINNING OF LENT: The students attended Mass this morning and received ashes. Ash Wednesday

marks the beginning of Lent. It is especially important during this Year of Mercy, to remember that

Lent is a time for prayer, penance and service. Attached to this newsletter is a document entitled

“Program of Prayer, Penance and Charity for Young People and Families.” It may be used at home as a

Lenten reflection or resource.

PRAYERS NEEDED: Please keep the Donko family in your prayers. Matthew (8th) and Joshua’s (6th)

grandfather, Vladimir Krakovic is in the hospital. May God guide and be with them during this time.

STM JUNIOR HIGH SCIENCE FAIR: Thank you to all who participated in the annual STM Science Fair. A

special thanks to students at Ramona Convent for judging the projects! The following students

received medals: Diego Luna (8th), Aidan Fuller (8th), Kiley Kraft (8th), Laura Ortiz (7th), Patricia

Salazar (7th), Aaron Barela (7th), Kelise Jackson (6th), Gabriel Payan (6th), and Zachary Ferraro (6th).

These students have been asked to participate in the Deanery Science Fair at San Gabriel Mission

Elementary School on February 24th. Congratulations!

TUITION UPDATE and RE-REGISTRATION FOR 2016-17: The form is on our STM website. The

re-registration fee is $150. Forms are due by February 29, 2016. The re-registration fee will increase

to $200 after February 29th. Tuition will not increase for the 2016-2017 school year, unless your par-

ish status changes from in-parish to out of parish.

FINANCIAL AID APPLICATIONS: Applications for financial assistance from CEF for the 2016-2017

school year were sent home in the family envelopes last Wednesday. The deadline to submit the CEF

application is March 10, 2016. We encourage families to complete this form.

REMINDER: California State Law (Assembly Bill 354) requires all students entering 7th grade in the

upcoming 2016-17 school year to show proof of a Pertussis (whooping cough) booster shot (Tdap)

before entering school. This applies to all public and private schools.

BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION: STM is collecting boxtops! Please bring your boxtops to the office and drop

them off in the box labeled “Boxtops for Education.”

SAFETY FIRST: Be a good role model for our STM students! Use the crosswalk and follow all the

parking lot rules. Park in marked stalls only and remember to drive slowly as children may be walking

to and from the parking lot. Students and parents are never to sit on or climb over the railing.

STM INCENTIVE PROGRAM: Earn up to $750 credit when referring families to STM. Each time you refer

a family who registers at STM, you may receive $150 credit towards your mandatory fundraising!

Excellence in Education

Lent is a time for us to remember that the voice of the Lord speaks to

us of happiness through our daily living the Gospel call to love as we

are loved. Lent is a special time to rediscover the Lord’s love and

heed His call to “come and find rest” in him.

w w w. s t t h o m a s m o re a l h a m b r a . o rg

St. Thomas More Parish School

February 10, 2016

Weekly Newsletter

7th grade Bazaar

Thank you STM stu-

dents, parents and

teachers for support-

ing our 7th grade

Christmas Bazaar.

We raised $678.91,

which of art items for

the junior high. God

Bless You!

Page 2

If you need to have your fingerprints registered with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, please refer

to the following link for a complete schedule:

LA Archdiocese Fingerprinting Schedule

St. Thomas More Newsle t ter

CALENDAR

February

2/12 Valentine themed free dress (Red, pink,

white, purple or Valentine’s themed shirt

with jeans)

2/15 Presidents’ Day—NO SCHOOL

2/17 Safety Child ID Pictures

2/18 Jr. High field trip to Homeboy Industries;

PTO/Room parent meeting @ 6 pm

2/19 Teacher in-service; NO SCHOOL

2/22-2/26 Anti-bully week

2/24 Deanery Science Fair @ SG Mission

Elementary School from 6-8 pm

2/25 Spring Pictures (Free Dress for students

who are ordering pictures)

2/26 Family Day; Pep Rally @ 2 pm

2/29 DC/NY trip mandatory parent meeting @

6 pm

Did you know?

Monday Mass School Liturgy—February 22, 2016

First Reading: January Nava

Responsorial Psalm: Branden Rodriguez

General Intercessions: Mia Bribiesca, Marissa

Mijangos, Sebasthine Inmon

Presentation of the Gifts: Amanda Palato, Isabelle

Hernandez, Audrey Delaney, Anthony Delgadillo

Greeters: Arieli Espinoza-Almeida, Jayne Sepulveda,

Emily Rocha, Patricia Salazar

Altar Servers: Laura Ortiz, Aleena Ramos, Isabel

Ramos

Thank you to the PTO and room parents

for putting together the Mardi Gras

even! Thank you to all the parents who

donated items and volunteered their

time and talents to make this event a

success!

The eighth graders had the opportunity

to teach a lesson this past Friday!

THANK YOU FROM THE STM

FACULTY!

Thank you to the Frumento

family and the PTO for the

delicious lunch they hosted for

the teachers last Friday. We

are also grateful for the

parents who donated gift cards

for the teachers. God bless you!

PROGRAM OF PRAYER, PENANCE & CHARITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE & FAMILIES (especially recommended for Lent)

Instruction: This program is a wonderful opportunity for you to grow in love for Christ and all people. Check all or some of the spaces next to the activities you are going to do for Lent or for another time period. The young person and parents may check and sign the same copy, or may use a separate copy each. Keep this copy as a reminder of your commitments and turn in the tear-off to your religion teacher. Dear parents/guardians: Young people will almost never learn prayer and penance - the practice of self-discipline - without the support of their parents. As important as other ministries are in the Church, none is as imperative as that to your own child. We ask the parents of the young people who take part in this program to do the following:

• Recognize the power of example. If you pray, do penance and act lovingly, your child will be influenced.

• Be supportive – by words and acts of encouragement. Give at least one hug daily. • Reward the effort even if the results are not perfect. • Buy and serve healthy food. A healthy diet increases energy and vitality.

God calls us to live out the Gospel message of love through prayer, penance and charity. If our young people are to overcome addictions offered by the world (alcohol, drugs, sex outside marriage, overeating, rebellion, anger, laziness, etc.), they must be helped. By following these suggestions you will be witnesses to the power of the love of Jesus Christ to overcome their weaknesses. May the Holy Spirit give you the courage to begin. ________________________________________________________________________________

VOLUNTARY CONTRACT

Dear Jesus: Because of my love for you and a desire to please you, I will practice prayer, penance and charity. I agree to do this during Lent in order to be better fit for life, spiritually, physically, mentally, socially and emotionally. young person parent _____ _____ 1. Mass every Sunday and Holyday and, if possible, many weekdays. _____ _____ 2. Family prayer, at least 15 minutes every day. (eg. all or part of the Rosary.) _____ _____ 3. Read the Bible five minutes or more daily. _____ _____ 4. Visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, before or after school or work. _____ _____ 5. Confession at least once during Lent (and at least four times per year.) _____ _____ 6. One act of kindness, love or service each day. _____ _____ 7. Give up junk food at least four times a week. Junk food includes coke, candy, donuts, cookies, potato chips, onion rings and all foods high in fats and sugar. Substitute healthy food such as fruit, vegetables, etc. _____ _____ 8. Reduce TV, internet and electrical devices by at least one hour a day for prayer, exercise and study. _____ _____ 9. Daily exercise for 30 minutes or so esp. as a family: walking, bicycling, etc. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I agree to enter the Program of Prayer, Penance & Charity for the period of _____days/months. ______________________________ _______________________________ Young Person’s Signature Parent Signature rev. 3/08

St. Thomas More School will have a pants drive. We are seeking gently used

(please no torn or stained) jeans of any size for men and women, not

children. We are also collecting gently used dressy pants/business attire

pants of any size for men and women, not children. Homeboy Industries, which was founded by Fr. Greg Boyle, a Jesuit priest, works to aid former gang members looking to rehabilitate their lives with educational classes, counseling, tattoo removal and job training. You may learn more about them at http://www.homeboyindustries.org. Please forward these items to your

child’s homeroom teacher, the office or Room 11 anytime until Tuesday,

February 16th. Falcon families, let’s work together and live out the Works of Mercy and Catholic Social Teaching!