STA Weekly Update

Please use the following link to find PTO minutes: https://ptosta.com/

We are thrilled to finally welcome Mr. Mendez to the St. Thomas Aquinas School family as our middle school math teacher! Starting on November 15th, Mr. Mendez will join our dedicated team, bringing his passion for math education and a commitment to helping each student excel. With a strong background in middle school instruction and a focus on creating engaging, interactive learning environments, Mr. Mendez is eager to inspire a love for mathematics in our students.

We look forward to formally introducing him at a Zoom meeting on November 19th at 6 pm, where families will have the chance to meet Mr. Mendez and learn more about his teaching approach and goals for the class.

Mr. Mendez will also be present during parent-teacher conferences so that you have an opportunity to meet him in person.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://la-archdiocese.zoom.us/j/5897232327?pwd=hGJDBPoa0avpCDA9GaZspT81syDkGf.1

Meeting ID: 589 723 2327
Passcode: sta

Please join us in welcoming Mr. Mendez to our school community!

Starting November 16th, our parish will have the honor of hosting the statue of Our Lady of Fatima.

We would love to extend an open invitation to parents and students for a series of special Rosary prayer services from Monday through Thursday at 3 pm. This is a wonderful opportunity for our young community members to engage in prayer after school hours.

We also have a special request for the upcoming school Mass on Thursday, November 21st. We kindly ask if the students could bring a flower to present to Our Lady of Fatima, creating a beautiful gesture of reverence and celebration for her visit.

We look forward to a meaningful experience and your support in making it memorable for our students.

We will have our first coffee with the principal on Wednesday, 11/20/24, at 8:15 am.

Please join us on this open forum, where you can provide feedback and recommendations.

The Student Council is excited to announce the sale of Gobble Grams for just $2 each!

Gobble Grams are a fun and festive way to send a special message of gratitude or cheer to your friends, classmates, teachers, or staff as we prepare for Thanksgiving.

Details:

Cost: $2 per Gobble Gram

Includes: A handwritten message and a small Thanksgiving-themed treat

Dates of Sale: 11/18/24 - 11/20/24

Where to Buy: Buy candy grams from student council during recess or lunch.

Delivery Date: Candy grams will be passed on out Thursday 11/21/24

Don't miss this opportunity to spread kindness and Thanksgiving joy! Proceeds will go towards supporting future Student Council initiatives.

Thank you for your support! 🦃🍂

As we approach Thanksgiving, we’re excited to host a special luncheon for our students to celebrate gratitude, community, and togetherness. We would love for parents to join us in making this event memorable for the students!

Event Details:

Date: Thursday, November 21, 2024

Time: 11:00 am

Location: St. Thomas Aquinas School

Sign-up link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0E4BA9AC2EAAFA7-53020760-thanksgiving

We seek volunteers to assist with food, decorations, setup, and cleanup. If you are available to help or would like to contribute in any way, please sign up.

Thank you for your support and partnership in creating a wonderful experience for our students. Together, we can make this Thanksgiving luncheon a warm and festive celebration!

We understand it is difficult for you to make adjustments during a non-instructional day, so we will have daycare available for middle school students on Friday, 11/22/24, starting at 8:00 am.

Daycare will be free from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm. We will begin charging at 1:00 pm.

Students should bring their backpacks to work on homework. Please send snacks for your student(s). If you ordered breakfast and lunch for the 22nd, we will hand those out to students. Students can wear jeans with their STA spirit T-shirts.

• Reminder that the 20th, 21st and 22nd we have early dismissal at 12:30 pm

• Middle school teachers will host meetings together to facilitate the process. I will attend the meetings to discuss math grades, student strengths, and growth areas.

• On November 22nd, middle school students will not have classes, so we can accommodate enough time for parent/teacher conferences.

Tk/K: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4FAFA82AA7FAC25-53124020-parent#/

1st: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094CAEAA2AA0F9C16-53123502-parent

2nd:https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4BADAC2EA5F4CE9-53123735-parent

3rd: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0844ABA92DAAFDC25-53123766-parent#/

4th: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4BADAC2EAAFFC07-53122774-4thgrade

5-8th: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4FAFAA2DA4FFC16-53123602-middle

As we approach Thanksgiving, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for the hard work, dedication, and warmth that each of you brings to our school. This season reminds us to appreciate the blessings in our lives, and I feel incredibly thankful for our supportive community of students, parents, teachers, and staff.

Thanksgiving break will be a time for us all to recharge, reflect, and spend quality time with loved ones. I encourage everyone to enjoy this time together, savoring the moments of connection and joy that make this holiday so special.

Classes will NOT be in session from November 25th to November 29th.

Basketball season starts now!

Please make sure to submit your athlete's permission slip along with payment to the office.

Exciting News! 🎄✨

We are thrilled to announce that the St. Thomas Aquinas Cheer Team will proudly participate in the Annual South Gate Christmas Parade this year! 🎅🎶

📅 Date: 12/8/24

⏰ Time: 12:00 pm

📍 Location: South Gate

Come support our talented cheerleaders as they spread holiday cheer and represent our school in this beloved community tradition! Let’s show them our STA spirit! 💙💛

We hope to see many of you there to cheer them on! 🥳🎉

#GoSTA #HolidaySpirit #STACheer

Dear St. Thomas Aquinas Parents,

We are delighted to invite you to join us for our annual Christmas Program! Come celebrate the season with us as our students share the joy of Christmas through music, performance, and festive cheer.

📅 Date: Friday, December 13, 2024

⏰ Time: 6:00 PM

📍 Location: St. Thomas Aquinas School Church

Let's make this a memorable holiday gathering for our school community. We look forward to celebrating with you!

Outfit colors:

Tk/K: TK/K: Red, Green, White or Black (Christmas Spirit)

1st: Red, Green, White or Black (Christmas Spirit)

2nd: Red, Green, White or Black (Christmas Spirit)

3rd: Boys: Black slacks, white socks, black shoes (no tennis shoes), a red button-up shirt, and a Santa hat. Girls- red dress, white tights, black shoes. Any hairstyle with a red bow.

4th: Red, Green, White or Black (Christmas Spirit)

5th: White or Black (Christmas Spirit)

6th: TBD

7th: Red or Green "Ugly" Christmas sweater and black pants.

8th: White shirt, black pants, red or green scarf.

Songs:

Tk/K: Burrito Sabanero & I want a hippo for Christmas

1st: Oh what a special night & rocking around the Christmas Tree

2nd: Holly jolly Christmas & hark of the Angel Herold

3rd: Go tell it on the mountain & Jingle Bells

4th: TBD

5th: Rings the bells & It's beginning to look like Christmas

6th: Mary did you know & Up on the housetop

7th: All I want for Christmas is you & Angels we have heard on high

8th: Last Christmas & What child is this

Whole School: Silent night

Classroom decorations:

According to the fire department, we cannot decorate the doors because it is a fire hazard. Therefore, we will have a bulletin board decoration contest. Please organize a date and time for decorations with your teachers.

• Please note that the food stand will close during the 8th grade performance so that parents can join their students in the church.

Bishop Brian Nunez is inviting all students to participate in his Christmas Card Design Contest!

Students are encouraged to design a Christmas Card and submit their design for an opportunity to be selected as as his official 2024 Christmas Card.

Find all the the information in the attachment below.

.