Parent-Teacher Conferences
Attention Parents:  We will begin scheduling Parent-Teacher Conferences on Monday, October 6th.  The conferences will be 10 minutes long and run from 12:30pm to 7:30pm.  Please email Mrs. Strater (jstrater@hs-stm.org) the names of the teachers (not by subject) you would like to meet with and the times you are available.  The deadline for scheduling appointments is 12:00pm, Tuesday, October 28th.  Anyone wishing to schedule appointments after that date and time will be advised contact the teacher directly.

STM Parent Volunteers Needed
We are in need of several volunteers to help (set up, serve and clean up) for a special event at the high school next Friday, October 10th.   Bishop Jenky along with other invited guests will be attending a Tailgate dinner in the STM Cafetorium prior to the Bishop's blessing and dedication of of Henneman Field prior to kick off of the Homecoming football game.  If you are able to help anytime between the hours of 2:30pm and 7:30pm next Friday, October 10th, please contact Carla Grady at 684-2338 or gradycarla@aol.com, with the hours you would be available.  Thanks!

Boys Basketball Fundraiser
The Boys Basketball Team will be assisting Domino’s Pizza at the U of I home football game on Saturday, October 11th.  Volunteers will need to arrive at Memorial Stadium by 8:30am.  Enter the stadium through the employee gate on the south side of the stadium, check in with the concession stand security table, and show a photo id.  Then report to the concession stand on the west side, entrance number 20, section 127.  This is the easiest fundraiser….all you do is take the pizza from the drop-off point just outside the stadium and deliver the pizzas to the concession stands.  The job is completed right before half time of the game, approximately 12:30pm.  THAT’S IT.  Free pizza and admission to the game is a perk of this fundraiser.  10 workers are needed with at least one of them being an adult supervisor.  If you are able to help, contact Mrs. Oliveira at doliveira@hs-stm.org or by calling 352-7210.

Boys Basketball Meeting
There will be a meeting for parents who have STM students interested in playing Boys Basketball on Tuesday, October 7th at 7:00pm in the Cafetorium.  Contact Coach Todd Anderson at coachta@gmail.com for questions.

Lost and Found
The school office has multiple lost and found items and the number of unclaimed items are growing daily; everything from a shoe, fleeces, and lunch bags.  Contact Mrs. Martin at cmartin@hs-stm.org or by calling 352-7210 to claim your missing items. 

Friday, October 3
All-School Mass.  We will be on Bell Schedule #3.  First hour teachers are asked to escort classes to the cafetorium and remind students to enter respectfully.  Students are required to wear oxford shirts and ties.  Any deviations from policy should be handled by sending student(s) to the office with the “Discipline Referral” document, page 34 of the Handbook Agenda .Parents and siblings are welcome to attend. 

Parents’ Association Meeting
Parents are invited to attend the next meeting of the Parents' Association Executive Board this Tuesday, October 7, 2008 at 7pm in the STM Library.

Thursday October 9
STM will be flipping down the 4,086 seat cushions at the U of I football stadium beginning at 4:00pm.  Contact Mrs. Oliveira at doliveira@hs-stm.org if you are able to help.  The more people that volunteer, the faster this task will be completed. 

Service Hour Opportunity
Rosaries for Hope is a family friendly event designed to promote praying the Rosary, as well as a fundraiser for the Children of Hope Program which helps the orphans and children in Tanzania, Africa.  The event includes Exposition, praying the Rosary and reception.  This event will be held on Saturday, October 11th, at Holy Cross Church from 9:00am to 11:00am.  For questions, contact Mrs. Tracy Duchinsky at 359-3616.  See Mrs. Oliveira in the school office for sponsor sheet and fundraising details. 

Forty Days for Life
Sabers for Life and any interested volunteers--adults and students-- are asked to join with us on Monday, October 13 anytime between noon and 4 p.m. as part of the local campaign "Forty Days for Life."  We will maintain a peaceful, prayer vigil at the Planned Parenthood facility at 302 East Stoughton, Champaign, IL  61820.  Please check the local website 40daysforlife.com/champaign/ for more details.

Another Service Hour Opportunity
Holy Cross School HC+ Committee is having their annual “Haunted Woods” at Kaufman Lake, Saturday, October 25th and is looking for volunteers to help with various duties: 1:00pm until 5:00 pm decorating the woods, 5:00-6:00pm is setting up the fire circle, boat house and dock, hayrack ride starts at 6:30.  Contact Ann Hodge at annhodge@illinois.edu or Lisa Denson-Rives at 493–5471 for more details or to volunteer.

Beef House Rolls
The Class of 2011 will soon begin taking orders for Beef House rolls. Each student will receive an order form in their English class. Please encourage your student to begin selling and turn their order in on time. The delivery date is November 7th. The money that is earned from this fundraiser will go to their Junior/Senior Prom fund. If you have any questions please contact Carla Simmering at 328-4841 or Jane Plankenhorn at 398-5078.

ACADEMIC LETTER AWARDS CEREMONY
This special evening to honor our students will take place on Wednesday, October 22, at 7:00 PM in the cafetorium.  The guest speaker will be Mark Johnson, head varsity wrestling coach at the University of Illinois.  Parents have been notified via mail if their student will be receiving an academic letter.   If for some reason you have not received a letter and feel this was an error, please contact Mrs. Quinton at mquinton@hs-stm.org
 
Requirements for an academic letter are as follows:
 -       Only students in grades 10 through 12 are eligible
-        Students must have earned the following cumulative grade point average:
o       Sophomores need a 3.5 based on 9th grade work
o       Juniors: 3.25 based on 9th and 10th grade work
o       Seniors: 3.00 based on 9th, 10th, and 11th grade work
-        Students must not have earned any "D" or "F" grades.
-        Transfer students must have completed a minimum of one full semester at this high school.

 
NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY NEWS
Students who are academically eligible to pursue membership into the National Honor Society have been posted outside of the main office.   Interested students attended a mandatory meeting this past Wednesday, October 1.  The next mandatory meeting is on Monday, October 6 at either 7:25 AM or 3:15 PM in Room 105. Students need only attend one of these meetings. It is only at this time that selection packets will be distributed and explained. 
All questions should be directed to the NHS Adviser, Mrs. Quinton, at mquinton@hs-stm.org

*********************************************************************

CLASS NEWS

Sophomore Class Needs your help!
On Saturday, October 4th from 9am-2pm the Sophomore class will decorate their hallway for Homecoming. Parent volunteers are needed to supervise and encourage the students to complete the decorations that day. Students have signed up to help but an adult needs to be present at all times. Please consider volunteering even if it is just for one hour. We can’t do this without your help. To volunteer please call Jane Plankenhorn at 398-5078 or 377-8585

Sophomore parents...
The class of 2011 will be selling Beef House rolls starting next week. The profit from this fundraiser will be added to their Prom fund. It is important that the students work this year to raise as much money as they can, next year will be extremely busy with preparations for college. Please encourage your student to participate in this fundraiser and turn all their paperwork in on time. To make things simpler we ask that your student collect the money when they take orders.  Checks can be made out to STM.         Questions: Carla Simmering  328-4841  or Jane Plankenhorn  398-5078

Freshman News…
For all Freshman and Parents: A great way to raise funds for the Freshman Class of 2012 is to work at the many events in the concession stand at the Assembly Hall. All you need to do is contact Mrs. Oliveira to find out what dates are available and what you can do to raise money for the freshman class! This is a great way to get a head start on the many class activities and events that will be taking place over the next four years of high school!  Freshman Class Faculty Sponsor Mr. Jason Schreder

9th Grade English
Mrs. April Day’s blog is available to view online. Parents can go to her name under faculty and look at the assignments and activities for the week.

***********************************************************************************************************
STUDENT CLASS NEWS – FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS

Check the Student Services tab on the STM web site for the most recent More Guidance News.

Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is hosting a bus tour for high school seniors from Urbana-Champaign on Sunday, November 2, and Monday, November 3.  Interested seniors can stay overnight in the residence halls with a current student, attend classes, hear an admissions presentation, take a campus tour, and have an on-campus interview.  Students who plan to attend the bus tour must return the reservation form, signed permission form and a $25 non-refundable registration fee no later than Friday, October 10th.  Seating is limited.  For more information, see Mrs. Bedwell or call Washington University at 800-638-0700 or by email at admissions@wustl.edu
 
**Please check the Student Services tab on our home page for the most current More Guidance Matters.  Previous issues are always posted on Mrs. Bedwell’s blog site.

The Brown University Alumni Association of Illinois cordially invites our students and their parents to:  AN INTRODUCTION TO BROWN UNIVERSITY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2008
7:00 P.M. at MEYER CAPEL LAW OFFICES, 306 W. CHURCH STREET, CHAMPAIGN.
 ELEANOR G. BRENNAN-HALL, ASST. DIR. OF ADMISSION WILL REPRESENT THE COLLEGE.  THE PROGRAM WILL INCLUDE AN INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

Grinnell College
Are you a senior, student of color (African American, Latino, Asian, Native American) or first in family to attend college, and have an interest in liberal arts education (arts and humanities, math and sciences, social sciences?) Grinnell Diversity Leaders Program offers students a free weekend visit on Grinnell’s campus.  Call the Grinnell Office of Admission at 800-247-0113 for more information on applying.

***************************************************************************************************

Music/Drama Program News..

Music Program Fundraiser

I DO! I DO! Adds Another Performance
Due to popular demand, we have added a Friday Oct. 3rd, 7:00pm performance.  Reserve tickets by calling 384-4860.

I DO ! I DO! - a musical in celebration of marriage. Saturday Oct. 4th at 7pm and Sunday, October 5th at 2pm, St. Patrick's Parish Center, Urbana. Join us for this delightful musical comedy, which follows one couple through the ups and downs of 50 years of marriage. Featuring Jim Mayer & Jodi Prosser, with Music Direction by Nick Stefanic. Adults: $10 in advance or $12 at the door; Students: $8 in advance or $10 at the door.. Seating is Limited. Reserve tickets by calling 384-4860. Proceeds to benefit The High School of St. Thomas More music programs.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GENERAL INFORMATION

Volunteers Needed
STM Parents:  STM Parents' Association assists with Senior Sabers Day, which this year will be held on Friday morning, October 3rd.  This is a day when grandparents and others are invited to school for Mass, and to spend time with their students following Mass at a donut breakfast and enjoying school tours.  We are in need of volunteers to welcome our guests, help to set up, serve, and clean up the breakfast, and assist in other ways that morning.  Some helpers will need to arrive at 7:30am, and the event will wrap up by 11am.  If you could spare even an hour to help out, it would be appreciated.  Please contact Carla Grady at 684-2338 or  gradycarla@aol.com, if you are able to help.  Thanks!

STM Homecoming
STM Homecoming Celebration kicks off Sunday, October 5th with the annual Powder Puff Football game and Bonfire. Visit www.hs-stm.org for details. Join Bishop Jenky as he cheers on the Sabers at the Homecoming Football game on Friday, October 10th.

STM 6th Homecoming Alumni Tent
Volunteers are needed to help in the STM Homecoming Alumni Tent, Friday, October 10th.  Duties will include greeting the Alumni students, distributing dinner tickets, handing out treats, drawing for door prizes, etc.  There will be two shifts to choose from; 5:30pm to 7:00pm and/or 7:00pm to 8:30pm.  Please contact Mrs. Oliveira at doliveira@hs-stm.org or by calling 352-7210 to volunteer. 

Parents Needed!!  
The ABO dinner is coming up on Friday night Nov. 7,2008 at St. Matthews parish center.  This is a fabulous event and fundraiser, and takes many volunteers to put it all together.  We will be having a meeting next Thursday, Sept. 25 in the school library at 7:00pm.  We invite anyone that is able and interested in helping with this event to attend this meeting.  We will be signing up for committees such as decorating, raffle ticket sales, set-up and clean-up.  If you cannot attend this meeting and would like to help, please contact Candy Rollins at Rollns5@aol.com or Peggy Prichard at Peguar@aol.com.

SABERS HEAD DOWN TO THE CORRAL!
The Athletic Boosters Annual Dinner/Dance "Cowboy Corral" is scheduled for Friday, November7th. We’re all hoping for a play-off game this year, so Coach Hennessey helped set the date and has guaranteed us the dinner won’t interfere with a play-off game. Who knows?! It may be the “kick off” to the play off. Invitations will be mailed within the next few days. Seating is limited, so make your reservation early! Your $40 includes good grub, drinks from the saloon, great toe-tapping music and good 'ole conversation with the STM coaches! Put on your blue jeans, and we'll see ya' there, Pardner! (For questions or additional information about the ABO Annual Dinner-Dance--all proceeds benefit the STM Athletic Program--please contact the school office at 352.7210.)

The Athletic Boosters Organization is producing another sports video to be shown at the Annual ABO Dinner/Dance "Cowboy Corral" on Friday, November 7th. It's difficult for our yearbook photographers to be everywhere. If any of you have photos from sports in a digital format, please forward to me. We love to see our students doing what they love.

It is Empty Bowl making time again! 
Our Empty Bowl fundraiser to help feed the hungry will be held on February 13th this year.  We are starting now to make the ceramic bowls we will be selling and the Art Club and Visual Art classes would like to invite you to come and make a bowl.  We will provide the materials and all the help you want and need, you will provide the time to come and make the bowl, then you will “purchase” it back for $10 on the night of the supper, and finally, a local restaurant will provide the wonderful soup and bread for your meal.  You can also support the event by just coming and enjoying a meal for the $10 donation and take home the bowl of your choice. The best time to come and make a bowl is after school on Tuesdays from 3pm to 4pm during Art Club.  Students will be available to help you.  Every year we have a great turn out and look forward to even more people making bowls.  Contact Mrs. Berkes or Mrs. Pagel to let us know when you will be coming!

*********************************************************************************************************

SERVICE HOUR OPPORTUNITIES

Breast Cancer Walk
STM is forming a team to participate in the Breast Cancer 5K Walk.  The students may earn  service hours.  The walk will take place at Crystal Lake Park on Sunday October 5, 2008.  Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. and the walk begins at 9:00 a.m.  Students will need to get sponsors.  Checks are made payable to the American Cancer Society.  The donations can be any amount of money – any amount is needed and appreciated.

Students, teachers, staff members, parents, and friends interested in walking with the STM team need to contact Ms. Noreen Sugrue at 337-5710 or email nsugrue@illinois.edu to sign up for the team.

Volunteers Needed
The STM Girls Varsity Golf Team needs many, many volunteers to help work their IHSA Golf Regional at Stone Creek on October 8, 2008.  We will need between 40 and 50 volunteers to make this a really great experience for all the girls that will be playing in the  Regional.  Duties include Observers and keeping score, serve lunch, etc.  Volunteer may work all day or part of the day from 8:00am to 3:00pm.  Contact Coach Pat Hettermann by email at: phettermann@hs-stm.org or by calling 352-7210.

Kenwood PTA Needs Your Help
The Kenwood PTA is looking for volunteer to assist with their Family Game Night on Thursday October 30th from 6pm-8pm.  Volunteers are needed to be in the rooms to help out with the games.  These will be board games and card games, not carnival games.   We are looking at trying to have 12-15 rooms with 3-4 games per room.  We will also have a craft room and possibly a puzzle room.  Ideally, we would like to have 2-3 people per room.  For more information contact  Susan Gonzalez at g5familia@sbcglobal.net or by calling 398-8940.

Justin Spring Invitational Gymnastics Competition
When:    December 6th and 7th.
Where:   The U of I Arc building, or known as IMPE.
Duties would consist of:
RUNNERS for running scores to the scores table during the competition.  Usually need 4 people per session.  (don't know how many sessions yet until November 3rd)
FLASHERS for the gymnasts scores.  (this consists of sitting by the judges, then adjusting the numbers on the score cards and raising it up for the audience to see the score for each gymnast as they compete)  Again would need 4 people per session.
DOOR PERSON to check in the gymnasts as they come in.  Probably need two per session. 
 
Our highest priority for volunteers would be to help clean up the meet on December 7th.  The time would be approximately 5:00pm-8:00 at the latest.  These times are not set in stone yet.  We will know more by November 3rd.  Highly suggest guys, because the beams can get pretty heavy.
 
Please contact Jan Joop @ 352-7210 ext. 122 or jjoop@hs-stm.org to sign up and receive service hours credit. 
 
P.S IF YOU DO COMMIT TO VOLUNTEERING IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU SHOW UP.  WE HAVE TEAMS COMING FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO COMPETE. 

***********************************************************************************************************

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES BY DATE

Friday, October 3
All-School Mass.  We will be on Bell Schedule #3.  First hour teachers are asked to escort classes to the cafetorium and remind students to enter respectfully.  Students are required to wear oxford shirts and ties.  Any deviations from policy should be handled by sending student(s) to the office with the “Discipline Referral” document, page 34 of the Handbook Agenda .Parents and siblings are welcome to attend. 

Friday, October 3
Senior Saber Day
Grandparents/Special Persons will join us for Senior Saints Day Mass and enjoy breakfast and tours given by their grandchild(ren).  Invitations have been sent to all Grandparents/Special Persons and RSVPs are being taken by the school office.  Please check with your STM Grandparents/Special Persons to make sure they have called in their RSVP. 

Friday, October 3
Live in concert – Jason Gray “all the lovely losers” benefit concert for Cunningham Children’s Home, Friday, October 3rd, 2008, 7:00pm at Faith United Methodist Church, 1719 South Prospect, Champaign, IL.  General Admission $10.  Tickets can be purchased at www.iTickets.com or at Berean Bookstore, 2023 North Prospect Avenue, Champaign.  For more information call Family Service Self-Help Center at 352-0099.

October 5th – 11th
6th Homecoming Celebration
Celebrating Homecoming ’08 “A Blast from the Past” 
Saturday, October 4th will be hallway decorations from 9:00am-2:00pm. 
Seniors- Main Hallway
Juniors- Front Stairwell
Sophomores- Soph/Junior Hallway
Freshmen- Upstairs Hallway

Sunday, October 5th
Come out to STM for the Macho Volleyball which begins at 5:00, Car Smash & Powder Puff Football at 6:30 with the Bonfire to follow.  The festivities will end round 8:00pm.
Spirit Week Details:
 
Monday: Retro Day
- Students will dress from their decade "theme" (Prize for best costume)
- Popsicle give away after school
-Nomination for Homecoming Courts
-Dance Tickets on sale at lunch
 
Tuesday: Jersey Day
-Students wear their favorite sports jerseys
-Dance Tickets on sale at lunch
 
Wednesday: Movie Character Day
- Students will dress as their favorite character from the movies (Prize for best costume)
-Voting for Homecoming Court
- Dance Tickets on Sale at Lunch
- Hallways Judged
 
Thursday: Senior Citizen Day
-Students will dress as senior citizens (prize for best costume)
-Car Decorations in Parking Lot
 
Friday: Saber Day
-Students dress in Saber Spirit (Prize for best dressed)
- Assembly at 2:15
- Football game w/ announcement of court
 
Saturday: Dance at 7-10

Monday, October 13
No School.  Enjoy your Columbus Day

Monday, October 20
All sophomores will meet with Jostens at 2:40pm regarding class ring purchases.

Wednesday, October 22
Sophomore Retreat
Father Joe will be taking the Sophomore Class to St. Joseph’s Church in Ivesdale, IL for the class retreat.  Chaperones are needed, please contact Father Joe at jdondanville@hs-stm.org if you are available.