WELCOME

We opened the school year with joy for having our staff back at school and about 30 students in our Learning Center, but we also felt an emptiness as we missed so many students enrolled in remote learning. We continually pray for a decline and final end to this pandemic, so we can have all students and staff back in school, but for now, we will be grateful that we have you all here, there, and everywhere!

PRINCIPAL’S NOTE

Our Theme this year is: “We Walk By Faith, Not By Sight” From 2 Cor 5:7.  As we went through the end of last school year, and the summer, making, changing, and adapting school reopen plans, it just seemed appropriate to give it back to God, and to start to let God’s hand guide us. We are not always knowing the plan God has, but we can have Faith in Him!

VIRTUAL THURSDAY ENVELOPE

Each Thursday, except this week, you will receive a VIRTUAL Thursday envelope with important information through Option C. Please read the enclosed information and send any questions to info@srthea.org, or call the office. Remember, we have two office lines: 618 397-0316 or 618 397-4926.

ARRIVAL AND SIGN -ON

In-person students: arrive from 7:15 – 7:35 for breakfast, or by 7:50 if not eating breakfast.

Remote students: Log in for your homeroom class by 7:55.

MIINEHEALTH

All parents/guardians of in-person students must register on the MIINEHEALTH app. Students must be cleared before they arrive at school each day starting Monday. Several messages and info has been sent. Call office for questions.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance, including Tardy Counts, will start Monday. Students must be on time and in each session. If a student has an issue, the parent/guardian should send the teacher a message and contact the office.

While we have not worked through all technical issues, we should be close as you have access to the student schedules, Zoom information, and contact information for teachers.

DISMISSAL

Monday through Friday: In-person students need to be picked up by 3:35. They are at the front of the school by about 3:25 each day. Remote students will finish about 3 PM as listed in class schedules.

UNIFORM

In-person students must follow student handbook uniform rules. Remote students must wear a uniform shirt or Sister Thea Sweatshirt.

REDUCED/FREE MEAL APPLICATION

Don’t forget to complete the application for free/reduced meals and return it as soon as possible. The deadline for the application is Tuesday, September 1.  This is required for all students, so we can continue to receive Federal $$.

FACTS for TUITION DEADLINE AUG 26!

All families must be enrolled in FACTS by Wed, Aug 26. Students will not be allowed in class if this is not done. For questions, contact the office or go to: https://online.factsmgt.com/signin/42LK1 .

NO SCHOOL

There will be NO SCHOOL on Labor Day, Monday, Sep. 7.  School will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

HOME STORAGE SYSTEM

We received a generous donation of milk crates, and we bought some liners. In-school students will get theirs for school use, and for remote students, please come to the school to pick one up. We want students to keep all of their school supplies, books, Chromebook, etc in a crate to stay organized. Decorate the crates and send a picture to info@srthea.org , and you may win a prize!!!

ZOOM ETIQUETTE : Please review these important rules with your students!!!

TEACHER OFFICE HOURS

Each Homeroom teacher will host an evening Office Hours weekly, so parents/guardians can ask questions, seek help, or just discuss information with the teacher. Please be sure to attend to keep communication open!

Calendar

August

26 FACTS Tuition Registration Due

September

1 Free / Reduced Lunch Worksheet Due

7 Labor Day. No School

11 Mass 2:00 PM (Staff Leads); First Quarter Mid-Term

17 First Qtr Mid Terms Issued

18 Pinwheels for Peace Project; Mass 2:00 PM (Staff Leads)

25         Mass 2:00 PM (Staff Leads)

30         Iowa Assessment Begins

 

LIKE our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/theabowmanschool  or our web page at stbcs.com.

If our first line (618) 397-0316 is busy, try our second line (618) 397-4926!

Prayers of Peace and Health from Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School.

Over 130 K-8 students completed their school year like so many others doing remote learning from their homes with student packets and ZOOM sessions. They were not able to minister during their Spring Concert due to COVID restrictions, but they kept practicing.

From basements, bedrooms, and kitchen tables, they continued their Violin Classes via ZOOM, and Mr. Phil, their teacher, recorded their efforts to build a mini-concert video. This video is about the need to keep moving forward because “it ain’t over yet”. Our students offer us hope in their dedication to “move” through this time of challenges of COVID sickness and racial progress by doing what they do best: leading by their example of hard work to make themselves and their community better.

Enjoy the ‘perfect imperfections’ of these incredible young boys and girls as they play their best for you.

Please Support the last remaining Catholic school in East St. Louis

(Formerly St. Philips)

Give at https://www.givestlday.org/SisterThea

Today is the day – May 7 – GIVE STL DAY 2020

Our region’s day of giving

There are numerous worthy causes

Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School appreciates your support!

“A Plan for Resurrection”

“Un plan para resucitar”

A Reflection in the time of the Corona Virus Pandemic

His Holiness, Pope Francis

“Suddenly Jesus met them and greeted them, saying: ‘Rejoice’” (Mt 28:9). It is the first word of the Risen One after Mary Magdalene and the other Mary discovered the empty tomb and ran into the angel. The Lord meets them to transform their mourning into joy and to comfort them in the midst of affliction (cf. Jer 31:13).He is the Risen One who wants to resurrect the women to a new life and, with them, all of humanity. He wants us to begin to participate from now in the resurrected condition that awaits us.

An invitation to joy could seem like a provocation, and even like a bad joke in the face of the serious consequences we are suffering from COVID-19. Like the disciples at Emmaus, not a few could think of it as a gesture of ignorance or irresponsibility (cf. Lk 24:17-19).

Like the first disciples who went to the tomb, we lived surrounded by an atmosphere of pain and uncertainty that makes us wonder: “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” (Mk 16:3). How can we deal with this situation that has completely overwhelmed us?

The impact of everything that’s happening, the serious consequences that are already being reported and glimpsed, the pain and mourning for our loved ones disorient, distress and paralyze us.

It is the heaviness of the tombstone that imposes itself on the future and that threatens, with its realism, to bury all hope.  It is the heaviness of the anguish of the vulnerable people and elderly people who are going through quarantine in total solitude; it is the heaviness of families who can’t now put a plate of food on their tables; it is the heaviness of health personnel and public servants feeling exhausted and overwhelmed… that heaviness that seems to have the last word.

However, it is moving to highlight the attitude of the women of the Gospel.

Faced with doubts, suffering, perplexity in the face of the situation and even with fear of persecution and of everything that could happen to them, they were able to keep going and not be paralyzed by what was happening. Out of love for the Master, and with that typical, irreplaceable and blessed feminine genius, they were able to confront life as it came, cunningly circumventing obstacles to be close to their Lord.

Unlike many of the apostles who fled as prisoners of fear and insecurity – who denied the Lord and escaped (cf. Jn 18:25-27) – they [the women], without evading reality or ignoring what was happening, without fleeing or escaping…, they knew how to just be and to accompany.

Like the first women disciples, who, in the midst of darkness and grief, loaded their bags with perfumes and set out to anoint the buried Master (cf. Mk 16:1), we ourselves were able, at this time, to see many who sought to bring the anointing of co-responsibility to offer care and not put the lives of others at risk.

Unlike those who fled with the hope of saving themselves, we witnessed how neighbours and family members set out with effort and sacrifice to stay in their homes and thus curb the pandemic.

We were able to discover how many people who were already living and suffering the pandemic of exclusion and indifference continued to strive, to accompany each other and to sustain themselves so that this situation is (or was) less painful.

We saw the anointing spilled by doctors, nurses, supermarket shelf stackers, cleaners, carers, people who transport goods, agents of law and order, volunteers, priests, women religious, grandparents and educators and many others who were encouraged to give up everything they owned to contribute a little of healing, calm and soul to the situation.

And although the question remained the same: “Who will roll away the stone from the tomb?” (Mk 16:3), all of them did not stop giving what they felt they could give and had to give. And it was precisely there, in the midst of their cares and concerns, that the women disciples were surprised by an overwhelming announcement: “He is not here, he is risen”.

His anointing was not an anointing for death, but for life.  Their watching and accompanying the Lord, even in death and in the greatest despair, was not in vain, but allowed them to be anointed by the Resurrection: they were not alone, He was alive and preceded them on their way.

Only this overwhelming piece of news was able to break the cycle that prevented them from seeing that the stone had already been rolled away, and that the spilled perfume could overflow further than that which threatened them.

This is the source of our joy and hope, which transforms our actions: our anointings, dedication… our watching and accompanying in all possible ways at this time are not and will not be in vain; they are not a dedication to death.

Every time we take part in the Passion of the Lord, we accompany the passion of our brothers; living even our own passion, our ears will hear the novelty of the Resurrection: we are not alone, the Lord precedes us on our way, removing the stones that paralyze us.

This good news made those women retrace their steps to look for the apostles and the disciples who remained hidden so as to tell them: “Life torn off, destroyed, annihilated on the cross has awakened and pulses again”.

This is our hope, the hope that cannot be stolen, silenced or contaminated. All the life of service and love that you have given in this time will pulse again. It is enough to open a crack so that the anointing that the Lord wants to give us expands with unstoppable force and allows us to contemplate suffering reality with a renewing outlook.

And, like the women of the Gospel, we too are invited again and again to retrace our steps and allow ourselves to be transformed by this announcement: the Lord, with his newness, can always renew our life and that of our community (cf. Evangelii Gaudium),

Watch our Mega Raffle Drawing! Congratulations to our winners!

Grand Prize $10,000 – Lauren (ticket #504)

Second Prize $1000 – Elizabeth (ticket #439)

Third Prize $500 – Dion (ticket #174)

Dear Virtual Auction Attendees,

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

We hope you had fun participating in and enjoyed watching the auction.  Your support for our students was incredible!

The Mega Raffle, Gift Card Raffle and Attendance Prize Drawings will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, March 24 – we will notify the winners immediately following the drawings  – Good Luck!

Relative to pick-up and delivery of auction items –

Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School will abide by Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s issued – “stay-at-home” order for the state through Saturday, April 7. Similar restrictions will be instituted in Missouri this evening.

What this means is that we are unable to distribute items at this time, and we will hold all auction items until after the stay-at-home restrictions are lifted.

We understand that you may be disappointed that you are unable to receive your item(s) right away; however, the health and safety of our supporters, staff and families are our main priority.

We will keep you updated should we receive any new information. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. If this poses any unforeseen issues, please let us know by responding to this email.

We will provide additional information on when and how we will distribute auction items as quickly as possible, (once the restrictions are lifted).

We have also heard from many of you that with the excitement of winning those last few auction items, you were unable to choose one of the “Each One Teach One – Fund-A-Need”levels. If you were still planning to give, please go to our website www.stbcs.com  and choose “Donate Now”.

Thank you for all of your continued support in these difficult times.

Please stay safe – We look forward to seeing you soon!

Abundant blessings,

The Benefit Dinner Committee and Staff

THANK YOU AGAIN

Enjoy watching the video!

REGISTER ONLINE NOW

Registering:

1. From Your Computer Select: “STBCS Virtual Auction Sign Up”
2. From Your Mobile Device Select: Menu Bars top right corner and then, “STBCS Virtual Auction Sign Up”
3. You will receive an email from “STBCS Online Administrator” with “Your Personal Link”

 

Drawings:

Mega Raffle, Gift Card Raffle and Attendance prize drawings will be held –

Tuesday, March 24 – 2:00 pm – You will be notified immediately of your winnings!

 

Payment and Pick-up:

• Once the auction closes, please process your payment, payments must be processed to be included in the drawings.
• STBCS staff will process any unpaid payments on March 22, to the vaulted credit card on file.
• You may pick up your winnings during pre-determined dates and times. We will also make arrangements for delivery within the Metro East area.

Questions:

Roberta Trost
Email: sistertheaauction2020@srthea.org

Dan Nickerson
Email: nickerson.bowman@gmail.com

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
100% of the proceeds support tuition assistance for our students.

Rev Tracy holding an online Reading class for 5th Grade!

Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School
Virtual Online Auction

Virtual Auction Tuition Assistance Goal – $100,000

Thursday March 19, 3:00 pm – Bidding Begins

Saturday, March 21, 9:00 pm – Bidding Ends

To Register Click Here: http://stbcs.schoolauction.net/auction202

From Your Computer, Select: “STBCS Virtual Auction Sign Up”

From Your Mobile Device, Select: Menu and then, “STBCS Virtual Auction Sign Up”

You will receive an email from “STBCS Online Administrator” with “Your Personal Link”

Questions:
Contact Roberta Trost
Email: sistertheaauction2020@srthea.org

Dan Nickerson
Email: nickerson.bowman@gmail.com

Here’s what is waiting for you online once you are registered:

• Registered guests are automatically entered in the “Attendance Prize” Drawing
• Silent auction baskets – Over 150 items!
• Live auction items – Priceless!
• Mega Raffle – Chance to Win $10,000
  • $100 Buy It Now – Your name is added to the drawing
  • $10,000-First Prize, $1,000-Second Prize, $500-Third Prize
• Wine Pull – $20 Buy It Now – Red, White and Dry Rose Blush wines from vineyards around the world
• Gift Card Raffle – Buy It Now – $20 for 1 Chance – $50 for 3 Chances
  • Valued at $350.00
  • Includes gift cards to local businesses in the metro region and $50 Cash
• Each One Teach One – Fund A Need
  • Directly supports closing the Tuition Assistance gap
  • Select your level of giving

Drawings for Mega Raffle, Gift Card Raffle and Attendance prize will be held –
Tuesday, March 24 – 2:00 pm – You will be notified immediately of your winning!

After the auction closes, you process your payment, and drawings are completed – you will be able to pick up your winnings during pre-determined dates and times. We will also make arrangements for delivery within the Metro East area.

Please share this information with all of your friends and family so that more individuals can have fun with our virtual online auction while supporting our school!

PRINTABLE FLYER

PRINCIPAL’S NOTE

We have started Lent, a season of Prayer, Fasting, and Giving in preparation for the Easter Celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus. Work with your student to “Fast” (give up) from something negative or unproductive such as TIK TOK, and replace it with Prayer, Studies, or even Reading.

12:30 DISMISSAL MONDAY, NO BUS SERVICE

PEACEMAKER DAY: Peacemakers may wear a Black History shirt instead of uniform shirt.

OPEN HOUSE MARCH 12 FROM 9-11 AM AND 4-6 PM.       KINDERGARTEN TEA MARCH 12 FROM 9-10.                          Enrollment starts March 12. Have potential new families contact the office, so we can invite them to our school!

BENEFIT DINNER CLASSROOM SPONSORS

All students should have brought $3-$5 per student for our Benefit Dinner prizes.

BENEFIT DINNER GALA MARCH 14, 2020 HELP

Our annual fundraiser dinner is March 14 at the Regency Conference Center in O’Fallon. See Flyer.

SPRING FAMILY PHOTO FUNDRAISER

The PTO is sponsoring a Family Photo Fundraiser for Mar 21-22. Family Photo Sitting ticket is $5. See Flyer!

MEGA RAFFLE

Our MEGA Raffle can earn the school $20,000 while rewarding a lucky winner $10,000. Limited to 300 tickets sold!

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS NEEDED!!! Contact us! College degree required.

ALUMNI FACEBOOK PAGE

If you are a Sister Thea Bowman Alumni, or know one, please contact us or find us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sr.theabowmanalumniconnect/. Join the 30 Year celebration!

February

• 28 Peacemaker Day
• 29 LEAP DAY!!!
• March
• 2 Staff Meeting 12:30 Dismissal; NO Buses
• 5 State and Diocese Accreditation Visit All Day;  PTO 6 PM
• 6 Mass 8:30 (Kindergarten)
• 12 Open House 9-11 am, 4-6pm; Kindergarten Tea 9-10 am
• 13 Mass 8:30 (Gr 8); End of 3rd Qtr
• 14 Benefit Dinner Doors Open @ 5 pm. Regency Conference Center, O’Fallon.
• 18 Mass 8:30 (Gr 7); All School 3:30 Dismissal
• 19 Report Card Conferences All Day; No School
• 20 No School

LIKE our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/theabowmanschool  or our web page at stbcs.com. If our first line (618) 397-0316 is busy, try our second line (618) 397-4926!