2022-2023 End of Year Review

Dear STA Families,

I hope you are enjoying a fun and relaxing summer. It was a great school year, and I am extremely grateful that you are part of our amazing Catholic community. I would like to extend a special welcome to all the new families joining us at STA for next school year, and thank those who have been a part of our community and are moving on, whether it be to high school or out of town.

We are preparing to welcome 890 students back to our two campuses in a staggered opening August 15th and 16th, along with 10 new faculty at the Upper School. In the interim, the teachers and staff will be preparing their classrooms, participating in professional development, and planning for the academic year with their grade-level teams. Also, we are continuing to improve our facilities thanks to the leadership of Father John, our School Advisory Council, and the dedicated fundraising efforts of STAPA, FOSTA, and Booster Club. This summer, we are increasing security measures at the Upper School by relocating the main entrance to the original entrance off Abrams Road. This secure area is dedicated to welcoming visitors and volunteers on campus and includes a new lobby, receptionist area, and conference room. We will also finish renovating our Upper School gym with the addition of new bleachers and scoreboards.

I hope you enjoy this End of Year Review, and I humbly offer my gratitude to everyone who has made STA not only the largest Catholic elementary school in Texas, but far more importantly –the Best.

2022-2023 School Advisory Council

Nicole Bosworth, Chair

Tiffany Kocsis, Vice-Chair

Jonathan Stanley, Treasurer

Elizabeth Shafer, Secretary

Nicole Little

Mitch Paradise

Dionne Rainey

Trey Schroeder

Mike Starcher

Thank you to Nicole Little, Dionne Rainey, and Trey Schroeder for their service over the past three years. We welcome Kristen Reinsch, Ben Woodard, and Brent Yost to the School Advisory Council for the 2023-2024 school year.

Patrick Magee

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CATHOLIC SCHOOL | RECEPTION RE-DESIGN

EXCITING NEWS

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CATHOLIC SCHOOL | RECEPTION RE-DESIGN

New Upper School Main Entrance

AQUINAS CATHOLIC SCHOOL | RECEPTION RE-DESIGN

CARPET Shaw Contract, Translate Tile, Quip,

WOOD Oak on Ash (millworker to match control sample)

BANQUETTE CUSHION

18x18 PILLOW 18x18 PILLOW

The Upper School campus will have a big change this coming school year. The main entrance will move to Abrams Road. Morning and afternoon carpool will remain the same, but you will use the new entrance when picking up early or dropping off after 8 AM, or anytime you come to campus to meet with faculty/staff or to volunteer.

BANQUETTE CUSHION

Maharam, Mantle, Sport

SOLID SURFACE Corian, Designer White

PLASTIC LAMINATE Wilsonart, Landmark Wood

Summer Math and Reading Assignments

Staying active and occupied during the summer months both physically and mentally is important. STA has gathered a few fun resources to keep our students love for learning going. Assignments for 1st-8th grade will be due the first week of school.

ACCENT PAINT SW Loyal Blue

ACCENT PAINT SW White Snow

BANQUETTE CUSHION

Maharam, Mantle, Sport

Assignments

Lower School

GRANDPARENTS DAY SCHOOL VISITS

GUEST AUTHORS

GRANDPARENTS DAY

TOOTH FAIRY VISIT

FIELD TRIPS

Here are a few great things that happened this year!

EASTER EGG HUNT

FIELD DAY

At the Lower School, we emphasize the development of the whole child in a safe and nurturing environment; making it a priority to offer the support necessary not only academically but also socially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. In partnership with our amazing parents, we build a strong foundation on which children can grow as confident and capable human beings.

We are so proud of the 2023 kindergarten graduating class. A tradition at STA, these 82 students did an amazing job singing to their families in this wonderful ceremony.

KINDERGARTEN GRADUATION

HALLOWEEN

POLAR EXPRESS DAY

FAIRY TALE BALL

ALL SAINTS DAY

REINDEER DAY

MRS. MARY BETH BLAND - STA TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Upper School Events

The success of the Upper School students stems from the philosophy that children not only learn better, but they also thrive in an environment where excellence in teaching and a love of learning are fostered.

Snapshots from the Upper School campus!

CLASS PARTIES FIELD TRIPS

PSIA

LIVING STATIONS OF THE CROSS

PSIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

PRAYER PARTNERS STARS OF THE DAY

GUEST SPEAKERS AND AUTHOR VISITS

ACADEMIC COMPETITION

CHOIR PERFORMANCES

Our very own crossing guard Johnny Cochran was honored by our STA students as well as the East Dallas Chamber of Commerce as Crossing Guard of the Year. Mr. Cochran has been a mainstay at the corner of Abrams and Kenwood for over 6 years.

ANNIE THE MUSICAL

VETERANS DAY

NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS THEME DAYS

SPELLING BEE

STEM FAIR

STA CROSSING GUARD, JOHNNY COCHRAN

STA STUDENT COUNCIL

YEAR IN REVIEW

WILDCAT ATHLETICS

Our Wildcats had an amazing year across all sports creating new friendships, learning new skills, and bringing home a few trophies! Thank you to all our wonderful coaches.

5TH GRADE GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

JV GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD

6TH GRADE GIRLS D2 VOLLEYBALL

VARSITY SOFTBALL

JV TRACK AND FIELD

6TH GRADE BOYS D1 BASKETBALL

Booster Club

Our STA Booster Club worked hard this year for the Wildcats! Membership helps raise money for upkeep and improvement of our athletic facilities, annual scholarships for 8th grade graduates, and hosting sports kick-offs and celebrations.

THANK YOU TO:

• Jen Schar and Carrie Finley for chairing the Booster Club Golf Tournament

• Kristen Norton, Karin Cree, Dionne Rainey, and Marla Ravkind for chairing the 3V3 Basketball Tournament

ACCOLADES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

FOOTBALL: 3 teams; our JV team competed in the Catholic Bowl and came in 2nd.

CHEERLEADING: 2 squads with 81 girls participating.

VOLLEYBALL: 11 teams; 2 DPL Championships:

5th Girls & 6th D2 Girls; 2nd place finishes: 6th D1Girls and 7th D1 Girls.

CROSS COUNTRY: 39 runners represented STA in 3 meets.

SWIMMING: Back after a long absence; STA had 26 swimmers compete. The girls’ team finished 2nd overall.

BASKETBALL: 24 teams comprised of 206 5th-8th grade student-athletes; 2 DPL championships:

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6th Girls D1 and 6th Boys D1; 2nd place finishes:

7th Boys D1, 7th Girls D1, 8th Girls D1

FUTSAL: 2 coed teams

SOCCER: 2 coed teams; 8th grade team had an undefeated season, but due to rain, the season could not be completed.

TRACK & FIELD: JV Girls and JV team overall

DPL Champions; Varsity team broke a DPL record: Lilly W. 800 yd run in 2:18.95.

SOFTBALL: 3 teams; Varsity won DPL Championship (back-to-back wins)

BASEBALL: 3 teams; Varsity baseball came in 2nd in the DPL Championship.

GOLF: 7 boys teams and 1 girls team. 5th grade boys came in 3rd place, and 7th grade boys came in 2nd place.

Golf Tournament Winning Team: Andrew Jones, Mason McPike, Gary Gagnon, and Wes Bauer

Sports Offered

90%

of students in 5th–8th grade participated in DPL sports

6TH GRADE GIRLS D1 BASKETBALL

DPL Championships

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE Class of 2023

Good luck to our graduates ! Always a Wildcat !

Congratulations, Class of 2023! We are so proud of all 92 graduates as they head off to 8 different high schools in Dallas and beyond. The resiliency and passion this class has shown collectively and individually will forever be remembered in the hallways of STA school. You are loved and forever will be a Wildcat. #alwaysawildcat

Other high schools

Booker T. Washington

Woodrow IB

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION AND OUTREACH

Catholic Identity

Catholic identity and service are woven into everything we do at STA. Students are reminded daily of their call to live their faith through service to others by participating in grade-level and school-wide Christian service projects.

2nd Grade May Crowning

Received the Sacrament of Confirmations

8th Grade May Crowning

Both campuses participated in special Masses and celebrations including:

• Catholic Schools Week

• Praise and Worship

• Living Rosary

• May Crowning

• All Saints Day

• Blessing of the Animals

• Living Stations of the Cross

• Spiritual Retreats for 5th, 7th, and 8th grade students

• Christian Witness Awards at the Upper School

• Angels in Action at the Lower School

Received the Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Reconciliation

9Outreach Projects

Will Keffler Director of Outreach and Service

COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS:

• Students at both campuses created Christmas cards for our troops overseas.

• LS and US students honored veterans for Veterans Day

• Everyone participated in the Cross Catholic Outreach Box of Joy Christmas toy drive

• Students collected school supplies for a school in the Philippines.

• Both campuses filled the stocking and stocked the pantry for STA Church’s chapter of the St. Vincent de Paul society.

• Our families participated in Catholic Relief Services Lenten Rice Bowl program.

• Our 3rd and 8th grade students worked together to create hygiene bags and notes for the Dallas area homeless population through Feed the People.

• The 7th grade class spent the day with For the Love of the Lake to clean-up the shoreline of White Rock Lake.

• Our 4th grade students made comfort bags for residents at Juliette Fowler Nursing Home.

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION STAPA

Our fundraising efforts were unprecedented in terms of attendance, money raised, and community celebration! Thank you to the 2022-2023 Carnival chairs: Julie Barrera, Jennifer Lonergan, Wendy Mayes, Marla Ravkind, Katie McPike, and Stephanie Dolan, and the Auction Chairs: Ashley Carothers, Tina Kimbell, and Michelle DeVore.

WE

STAPA Highlight Reel:

• Published 122 volunteer sign ups at the same time for both campuses.

• Provided each teacher with $250 to use for their classrooms.

• Matched 40 new families with Buddy Families this year.

• Carnival raffle surpassed goal of $80K and hit $100K.

• Our Community Outreach Committee organized a weekly rosary every Wednesday morning and provided support for many STA families and STA Staff in their time of need.

• Stocked the teacher’s lounge every month with treats donated by each grade.

• 773 Instagram followers at #staparents

• STA’s social media prescence continues to grow every day.

• Donations to the Angel and Thank You Funds were matches 100%.

• In lieu of a STAPA Board Christmas party, we provided Christmas gifts and stockings for our crossing guard, Johnny Cochran, and his 7 grandchildren. We also purchased a kitchen table and chairs for a refugee family that needed a place to have family meals and to do homework.

• Auction raised $107,700 in underwriting.

• White Rock Games raised $5,790 for STA193 student-athletes participated.

• STAPA is providing funds to help with construction of the new school entrance.

STAPA

raised over

$1M

Thank

SAVE the DATE for KIDCHELLA 2023!

Get ready for an epic fall carnival lineup that will bring music, games, rides, and art to our amazing community. Save the date for the weekend that won’t end, beginning with our legendary Bingo night on Friday, October 20 that you will not want to miss! We will keep the party going on Saturday, October 21 with headlining music, awesome games and rides, and some new stage-worthy events and activities.

SAVE THE DATE 10.20 AND10.21

you for the generous gifts of your time and your hearts.

APPROX. GROSS

FATHERS OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

FOSTA

FOSTA’s fundraising efforts were record-breaking this year. Thank you to the 2023 Meat Fest chairs Eric Lugger, Nate DeVore, and Zach Neisman. Thank to our STA community and all the dads who helped make STA a safer campus for all of our families.

Meat Fest 2023 - Winners

Meat Fest raised over APPROX. GROSS

$107K

Fathers of St Thomas Aquinas (FOSTA) is an organization associated with St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School which provides organizational and fundraising support dedicated to enhancing the educational experience of the students and greater school community. All proceeds from FOSTA events and efforts go directly to the school to help fund projects related to security and campus improvement.

FOSTA Highlight Reel:

1K In attendance

40

Meat Fest Teams

• Funded our campus off-duty police officers

• Upgraded internal communications equipment

• Funded campus security signs and barriers

• Hosted a welcome event for dads new to our community

• Hosted Monday Night Football kickoff membership drive

• Supported both campuses with morning carpool duty on FOSTA Fridays

FOSTA Friday

FOSTA raised over

$150K

APRIL 20 TH 2024

Meat Fest 2023

Teacher Notes

We say goodbye to the following faculty/staff and wish them luck in their new endeavors. Our school has been very blessed to have them teach our students and assist our staff! Thank you for your hard work over the years at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School. You will be missed!

Diane Galvin 22 years at STA

Chelsea Moffet 1 year at STA

Mary Packard 18 years at STA

Candy Kappes 16 years at STA

Lisa Bowdich 10 years Rosa Ysea 8 Years

Father Luke Turner 1 year at STA

Abby Orr Upper School Librarian

Madeline Schnurr Director of Library Services for both campuses and Lower School Librarian

Look for your Back to School Guide on August 1st.

The 2023-24 Back to School Guide will be in your inbox August 1st, filled with important details and dates for the upcoming school year. Class lists will be posted to the FACTS Family Portal at this time, too. Don’t forget to subscribe to the school calendar from your desktop or mobile device.

Used Uniform Sale

STAPA will host a used uniform sale (including 8th grade blue shirts) on Tuesday, August 4th from 9 AM - 12 PM in the Upper School drama room.

BACK TO SCHOOL MASS

First Day of School for 2023-2024

Parents are invited to park and walk their children into school to meet their teachers. Your child’s first day will be a full day of school. No Extended Day hours will be available on August 15th and 16th. All students will resume a normal full day schedule on Thursday, August 17th, and Extended Day will be available.

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Back to School Mass

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The STA Back to School Mass will take place on Sunday, August 27th at 9:00 AM, followed by a school/parish Volunteer Fair.

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