Dear Mr Fulford,
    I hope that this email finds you and your family safe and healthy. As we come closer to the end of this very strange school year, I wanted to share with you our experience with tele-schooling these past months.
 
1) The smooth transition and response by the school has been exceptional and we would really like to thank you, the teachers and staff for all your effort and creativity.
2) Our daughter, has of course missed all her friends, but she is in touch with several of them on Zoom. This, of course, is not something the school could change. We do try to compensate for the absence of friends by playing outdoors with her daily. 
3) She gets up every morning at 6:15 and starts working on her school work, when she has a problem she will either ask me for help or message her teachers who are so highly responsive. She gets up early so she can get started on her school work, and is very aware of managing her time. Most days by 12 to 12:30 she is done with her work.
4) This has worked out so amazingly well for us as a family – having a lung problem has made this a really stressful time for us, but with the STM team it’s been a breeze. 
5) The fact that she is thriving academically is a definitely a testament to the excellent way that Mrs. Heeden and Mrs. Sullivan has structured and presented their courses.
6) Another note of extreme gratitude must go to Mrs. Colleen O’Brien who when hearing that our daughter burnt her hand with a hot glue gun immediately got her husband to help us deal with the wound. Her hand is all better now with no scarring.
 
    So we would like to thank you all for the incredible work you have done during the pandemic (which of course continues).  This brings me to the second part of my e-mail.  Both my husband and I would not be averse in any way for tele-schooling continuing in the new school year. In fact we would love it!  It’s obvious to us that St Thomas More teaches excellence, even online. By the way you could start your high school now – -- online!
 
Regards and a million thanks!
5/27/20

Dear Mrs. Shaw,
    What a year! I want you to know what a blessing you have been to my granddaughter and all the children in your class, as well as all the parents and grandparents. The mornings I was able to spend in your classroom have carried me through these months of not being able to come and see how they have grown. I know they have missed you so much, as well as the parents!
    I can only imagine how difficult this has been for all the faculty and staff. I believe y’all have done an incredible job, without notice, in revamping curriculum and seeing that learning continues. My heart is incredibly full knowing how hard all of you have worked in this unprecedented situation.
    As this year comes to a close, I’m sending a heartfelt thank you for all you do. May your summer be restful and fun. Stay safe and healthy; you are awesome!
5/25/2020

Mr. Fulford,
    During this Teacher Appreciation Week, I am writing to tell you what an amazing job our teachers are doing with distance learning. Thank you and them for all of the hard work and the seamless transition during this unprecedented time. 
     I specifically wanted to email about 2A and Mrs. Wagner. She puts her heart and soul into her students and their education, both traditional and spiritual, and she has done such an amazing job teaching them during this time (and, of course, before distance learning started). We cannot emphasize enough how impressed we have been with her during distance learning.  She put together thorough and detailed packets of learning for each child, and she transitioned quickly to zoom, google classroom and flipgrid to provide digital hands on instruction for the kids, mastering all of this in her last couple of months before she retires. She has worked hard to figure out how to get and distribute the butterflies, lady bugs and grow the chicks for her students from a distance so that the kids do not miss out on this wonderful learning experience.
     Thank you for your hard work and for all that you are doing to keep our spirits up and to keep us connected to our school and faith.  We are so thankful for you as well!  Many blessings!
5/5/2020

Mr. Fulford,
   Thank you for all the great work!   I’m so impressed with how all my son’s teachers are handling all of this!!!  From what I can tell in talking to friends with kids at other schools, STM is at the leading edge of distance learning.  I wanted to express how much we appreciate all the great and fruitful efforts! 
4/23/2020

Mr. Fulford,
    I just wanted to say how great a job you guys have done with distance learning. Your teachers picked it up and ran with it. I've talked to a lot of parents at other schools and they aren't doing Zoom classes and interactive calls. You are ahead of the curve! We've been so happy to be doing work during this challenging time. Just wanted to give you a virtual pat on the back! Hang in there! 
4/20/20

Mr. Fulford,
    Just wanted to drop a short note and let you know how impressed we have been with the STM teachers and their content and planning to our kids during this challenging time.   The content has been engaging, the plans are timely and explained well, and the kids are getting a good amount of time each day that they are engaged in active learning.     The 4th grade teachers have also been especially great at having a few fun things for the kids to do as well - Birthday videos and "Would You Rather" for St. Paddy's day, as an example.
      I know this has to be very stressful for everyone as we all balance work, parenting, and staying healthy.  Thank you so much for having such a great team to support our families and keep them busy learning.
3/20/20

Principal Fulford,
    Just a note to say I am really impressed with STM’s response to digital learning. The tone from our teachers has been amazing, positive, engaging and open, with just the right expectations for the situation. The speed with which the faculty pivoted and adjusted their practice while remaining true and caring professionals is so heartwarming. I am sure this collaboration and effort was informed by a top-down example, and so wanted to thank you for your leadership.
     My children are all happy, healthy, engaged, and enjoying their time together. The two in public schools benefited from their STM foundation of rigor and work habits- so school work at home has been a breeze for us all to manage.
    Thank you again for making difficult and mindful decisions, and many well wishes and blessings for your family and the STM community.
3/17/2020

• Parents, the HSA is still here for you during distance learning! Please let us know if you need assistance during this difficult time. 

• We are compiling the STM School Family Business Listing. Please email stmhsa.comm@gmail.com to be included. Thank you for supporting our school families during this unprecedented time! New businesses are being added daily! 

• Please click to see our STM School Family Business Listing: /stm-school-family-business-listing

• Congratulations to Mrs. Wagner for winning the Disney Vacation Raffle! 

•  2020-2021 HSA Board positions are now available!

• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Academic Enrichment
• Auction: co-chairs and committee members needed
• Communications & Website
• Environmental Stewardship: one co-chair needed
• Holiday Shoppe: one co-chair needed
• Middle School Social: two co-chairs needed
• Equity and Inclusion: one co-chair needed
• Uniform Resale: one co-chair needed

 As a mission of The Catholic Community of St. Thomas More,
we provide an exceptional education for each learner in a
God-centered environment, through a community focused on
spiritual development, academic pursuits, and service to others.

The Catholic Community of St. Thomas More
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