November 28, 2009

SEMESTER ONE EXAMS SCHEDULE –
Friday, December 18:
8:15 -- 9:45 a.m.  Period 1 test
10:15 -- 11:45 a.m.  Period 2 test

Monday, December 21:
8:15 -- 9:45 a.m.  Period 3
10:15 -- 11:45 a.m. Period 4 or 5a(MS)

Tuesday, December 22:
8:15 -- 9:45 a.m.  Period 5/6
10:15 --11:45 a.m. Period 7

Wednesday, December 23
8:15 -- 9:45 a.m. Period 8

Students have comprehensive final exams in all classes except Leadership, Physical Education and some MS electives. The Media Center and cafeteria are open for study. Parents, please remember that students are expected to take their semester exams at the scheduled time. Students do not need to be at school if they do not have an exam but we request that students do not ask teachers about taking an exam at a different time. December 18 and 21 - 23 are school days. District 197 buses do not run on these days.


MID-QUARTER COMMENTS –
To view comments made by teachers for the mid-quarter:
1. Log in to the PowerSchool parent portal with your user name and password.
2. From the main page you can review your son's grades.
3. By clicking on the icon at the top of the page labeled "Teacher
Comments," you will see any comments a teacher may have posted.


KAYDET YEARBOOKS WILL NO LONGER BE GIVEN TO EACH STUDENT FOR FREE. YOU MUST ORDER YOUR KAYDET YEARBOOK BEFORE DECEMBER 23 –
Due to budgetary constraints, this year there is a fee of $40 per book for the Kaydet yearbook. Seniors will receive the yearbook and personalization for free. The actual cost per book to the school is $60 so we are able to offer it to the students at a discounted rate. You may order and pay for the yearbook online – click HERE – there is no shipping cost involved as the books will be delivered to school. December 23, 2009 is the deadline to order your book.


THERE IS STILL TIME!!

• Mr. Jurkovich has extended the deadline to sign-up for the Close Up trip to D.C.
  Click HERE for details.
• There are only 60 Mothers’ Club Christmas Ornaments in stock. Don’t miss out on your chance to own a special STA memento. Click here for details and the order form.
• The registration deadline for the Mother/Son Mass and Brunch has been extended until Wednesday, December 2 – Click here for details and the registration form.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPER ALERT!
On Saturday and Sunday, December 12 & 13, the Eagan Barnes & Noble will be sponsoring a Saint Thomas Academy fundraiser to benefit our Pagers independent reading program. Anyone who shops at the store on those two days and presents a voucher to the cashier will channel part of their purchase back to STA. Eligible purchases include everything in the store and the café except gift cards. If you do not live anywhere near the Eagan Barnes & Noble but would still like to support this cause, you can present your voucher at any Barnes & Noble and it will be credited to the Eagan store.

Special Events at Barnes & Noble during the fundraiser:
 - There will be a supply of autographed copies of Vince Flynn’s (STA Class of 1984) latest book, Pursuit of Honor, available for purchase by STA patrons only.

 - On Saturday, there will be musical performances by two STA musical groups –
the Jazz Combo at 12:30 p.m. and NyAQ (Not Your Average Quartet) at 2:00 p.m.

Barnes & Noble shopping voucher [pdf]


LAKE DRIVE INFO –
The City of Mendota Heights has given preliminary approval to build a roundabout at Visitation Drive and Mendota Heights Road. If bids are in line with budget estimates, construction would begin this summer after school is over and will be completed before school begins in the fall of 2010.

The roundabout construction has concerned the neighbors living north of Saint Thomas and Visitation (Rogers Lake Neighborhood). They believe drivers will try and avoid the roundabout and will end up driving through their neighborhood. They have asked the City to close Lake Drive to avoid this situation. The City Council asked the City Engineer and Safety Officers for a possible plan.

Saint Thomas received a letter from the City indicating a Public Hearing is tentatively scheduled for January 19, 2010, at City Hall beginning at 7:00 p.m. We have informed the City that we are concerned with the proposed closure of Lake Drive for both access and safety reasons, but would first gather comments from our parents and vendors, and communicate those to the City Council before the Public Hearing.

Link to the full information and a photo of the proposed closure.


COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID SEMINAR –
Parents of seniors and their student are encouraged to attend a College Financial Aid Seminar on Wednesday, December 2, at 7:30 p.m.  The seminar will be held in the cafeteria. The guest speaker is Mr. Rodney Oto, Associate Dean of Admission and Director of Financial Aid at Carleton College. Questions? Please contact Mr. Bjork, sbjork@cadets.com or 651.683.1509.


FIRST FRIDAY MASS AND ADORATION –
Friday, December 4 is the First Friday of the month. Father Tom O'Brien will offer Mass at 7:30 a.m. in the Chapel, followed by Eucharistic Adoration until Benediction at 2:20 p.m. All are invited to visit the chapel for quiet time in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

BASKETBALL CONCESSION VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED –
We invite you to volunteer at the STA basketball concession stand. We need two or three people to help at each game; we will need six to eight people for the Sibley and Cretin Games. Members of the same family are encouraged to work together. Children from the age of 12 years and up enjoy working and are welcome to do so alongside their parents. Sometimes more people sign up for the same night than are needed; you will receive an e-mail or a phone call to verify which night your help will be needed. You may be asked to work a different night than the one you requested. Thank you for generously sharing your time!

Volunteer Sign Up Form [.doc]

Volunteer Sign Up Form [.pdf]

SCHOOL CLOSING INFORMATION –
Earlier this fall STA purchased the AlertNow system to assist with communications, especially school closings due to weather. We are now in the process of auditing our parent contact database; you will receive a letter in the mail next week regarding this information. Severe weather information can be found on the Web site - Click "School Information" to the left and then "Severe Weather Information." 


UPDATED INFORMATION FOR THE STA JUNIOR GOLD HOCKEY TEAM –
Click here for more information


STAYERS PROGRAM –
There will be no STAyers program during semester exams (December 18-23).


UPCOMING EVENTS – 
November 29 – First Sunday of Advent
November 30 – Advent Giving Program begins
November 30 – Swimming/Diving begins
December 1 – Table Tennis begins (interested students should see Mr. Tangwe)
December 2 – Late Start
December 2 – College Financial Aid Seminar at STA ~ 7:30 p.m.
December 4 – Father/Son Mass at STA ~ 7:30 a.m.
December 4 – Eucharistic Adoration at STA ~ 8:00 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. Benediction
December 6 – Mother/Son Mass and Brunch at STA ~ 11:00 A.M.
December 7 – VISTA Middle School Orchestra Christmas Vespers at VIS ~ 4:00 p.m.
December 7 – Volunteer Opportunity at Feed My Starving Children – contact Ms. Miley to sign up (kmiley@cadets.com)
December 8 – VISTA Upper School Choir and Orchestra Christmas Concert at VIS ~ 7:00 p.m.

__________________________________________________

November 6, 2009

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES –
Please join us for Parent-Teacher Conferences:
   Wednesday, November 11 ~ 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
   Thursday, November 12 ~ 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. (Students will be dismissed at approximately 1:45 p.m.)
Enter the school at the main entrance to pick up your son's schedule, a teacher seating chart, and a name tag. We allow five minutes for conferences which are arena style. If more time is needed, please schedule an appointment with the teacher for another time. The second day of conferences tends to have lighter attendance, thus decreasing wait time. There is no school Friday, November 13, and the front office will be open 8:00-10:00 a.m.


PARENT MEETING – NOVEMBER 17
Tuesday, November 17 ~ 7:00 p.m., STA Court
   You are invited to join an important discussion led by Dr. Kim Harms and Dr. Jim Harms about the tragic loss of their son, Eric, a 2008 graduate who was much loved and respected by the STA and Visitation community. Eric had a profound impact on everyone he encountered and was loved by faculty and students alike. The fact Eric took his own life was a shock to his family, friends and the entire community.
   Join us for an evening of healing and reflection as the Harms share what they have learned about boys and depression on this very difficult journey.
   This important meeting is co-sponsored by the STA Mothers’ and Fathers’ Clubs.


SEMESTER ONE EXAMS – DECEMBER
Parents, please remember that students are expected to take their semester exams at the scheduled time. Students do not need to be at school if they do not have an exam but we request that students do not ask teachers about taking an exam at a different time. District 197 buses do not run on these days.
 Exam Schedule:

• December 18: Periods 1 and 2
• December 21: Periods 3 and 4/5A
• December 22: Periods 5/6 and 7
• December 23: Period 8

PARENT DIVERSITY FOCUS GROUPS –
On November 19, and December 17, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Media Center meeting room (Multi-Purpose Room) at Saint Thomas Academy, there will be a “Parent Diversity Focus Group.” This meeting is open to all members of the community. Thoughts, feedback and ideas collected at these meetings will be used in the development of the school’s “Comprehensive Diversity Plan.” We hope is see many of you at the meetings. 
CONTACT: 1SG Fernando Hernandez at fhernandez@cadets.com


QUIZ BOWL AND KNOWLEDGE BOWL STARTED –
IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN!
Interested students in grades 7-12 are encouraged to join the Quiz/Knowledge Bowl Team. Click here for more details


THE NOVEMBER 2009 MOTHERS’ CLUB NEWSLETTER IS AVAILABLE ONLINE –
CLICK HERE


LIMITED EDITION CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT –
During the Christmas season, the STA Mothers' Club has a tradition of selling limited-edition memento ornaments. Over the years, these ornaments become special keepsakes for the Christmas holidays. This year’s Christmas keepsake is a blue, 3-1/4 inch, round, glass ornament with the Saint Thomas Academy colored logo and the prayer of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Click here for the order form


MOTHER/SON MASS AND BRUNCH – DECEMBER 6 AND 13
The annual Mass and Brunch is Sunday, December 6, and Sunday, December 13. The cost is $20 per person for moms and cadets. This is a very special event for mother and son alike, and you are encouraged to register early as there is limited space for each Sunday. Click here for the registration form


VISTA PRODUCTIONS’ FALL PLAY, BLITHE SPIRIT, OPENS TONIGHT –
NOVEMBER 6, 7, 8 and 13, 14, 15
   Hold on to your monocle, the British are coming to school! VISTA Production’s fall play is a classic drawing room comedy written by England’s cheekiest writer. Noel Coward is known for his aloof yet over-the-top characters with some of the most challenging dialogue ever written. The play features entertaining antics and interesting plot twists, coming to a hilarious, explosive end.
   Tickets for Blithe Spirit may be purchased through the VISTA office at 651-683-1750 or at the door prior to a performance. Adult tickets are $10 and student and senior tickets are $5.
CONTACT: Wendy Short-Hays at 651-683-1750 or wshortha@vischool.org


FOOTBALL GAME – NOVEMBER 6
The Conference Co-Champion Cadets play the Section 3AAAA at 7:00 p.m. tonight. If you can’t make it to the game you can listen to the free audio webcast at MSBN.
There is a pizza party in the gymnasium after the game. The cost is $5 per person or $20 per family (exact change is encouraged).


CROSS COUNTRY TEAM – NOVEMBER 7
Good luck to the Conference Champion Cadets as they compete in the state meet on Saturday!


INFORMATIONAL MEETING FOR SWIMMING AND DIVING TEAM – NOVEMBER 9
Swim/Dive team and parent meeting!
CONTACT: Karin Wicker (contact information in the student directory)


EUCHARISTIC ADORATION –
A reminder that Eucharistic Adoration is on the first Friday of every month during the school year (except April). Father Thomas O'Brien will offers Mass at 7:30 a.m. in the Chapel, followed by Eucharistic Adoration until Benediction at 2:20. All are invited to visit the chapel for quiet time in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Click here for more information


FROM THE MILITARY DEPARTMENT –
1) Our annual Veterans Day Ceremony is on November 10, at 9:30 a.m. All parents and veterans are invited to attend.

2) The Military Department will show the movie “Taking Chance,” starring Kevin Bacon, during veteran’s week in all military classes. The movie is the true story of one soldier’s death in battle and a nation’s reverence and gratitude toward its war dead. 

3) For those students who are interested in applying to a service academy or for a ROTC scholarship – the deadlines are approaching. Please see LTC (Ret) DePuglio for more information.


STUDENT TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES – 
Close Up in Washington, D.C.: March 2010.
The trip is open to 10th-12th graders and deposits are due to Mr. Jurkovich by November 20.
Kampala, Uganda Service Trip: January 2010
Please see Mr. Tangwe if you would like to help the Daughters of Charity Orphanage.
Student Trip to Peru: June 2010
Please see Ms. Reuter for more information; the registration deadline has been extended.


UPCOMING EVENTS – 
November 9 – Thanksgiving Food Drive Begins (coordinated by Theology teachers)
November 9 – Alpine Ski and Nordic Ski Begin
November 16 – Volunteer Opportunity at Feed My Starving Children ~ 8:00 p.m.
November 16 – Hockey Begins
November 17 – Mothers’ and Fathers’ Club Meeting ~ 7:00 p.m.


To ensure that you receive timely information from the Academy, please be sure that your current e-mail is on file. If you change your e-mail address, or any other contact information, please notify Mrs. Zimmermann in the main office - 651-454-4570 or czimmermann@cadets.com.