SMA Banner 
       "The Messenger"


         January 12, 2018
  Vol. V, No. 19
St. Michael's Academy
Like us on Facebook!

Like us on Facebook


Follow us on Twitter!

Follow us on Twitter
Join Our Mailing List
St. Michael's Academy 
  :

Well, we tested out our new Blizzard Bag initiative, and I must say, SMA students and parents ROCK!  The teachers spent the week reviewing the returns and correcting the work packets.  We achieved 95% returns! We needed 80% to count it as a school day.  Thank you parents for your cooperation and support with this new initiative. We certainly appreciate the extra effort put forth in order to ensure your child(ren) completed the work.  Keeping those student brains working at this time of year, is definitely much more productive than it is June!  You are to be commended for your commitment to academic excellence!  And come June, you're going to have some pretty happy children!

Unfortunately, because we were unable to send things home last week due to those two snow days, a truckload of informational flyers are being sent home today in your child's communication envelope.  As usual, in anticipation of our Catholic Schools Week celebrations at the end of January, you'll be receiving information about our Pasta Supper, Basket Raffle, Heritage Celebration, Gray House collection project, and of course, the Extended Day Care bills (I think that's it!).  Try not to get overwhelmed!  One thing at a time, do the best you can.  I'm not worried.  After seeing the spirit of cooperation with which you embraced the Blizzard Bags initiative, I know that St. Michael's Academy families know how to rise to the challenge and get the job done!
 
Keep up the great work and enjoy your long weekend!


Peace,

Ann E. Dougal 
Principal    
 

Upcoming Dates To Remember 

Please make note of these important upcoming dates:

Monday, January 15, 2018
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
NO SCHOOL

Friday, January 19, 2018
2nd Quarter Ends
Gr. 1 Zoo-On-the-Go
Grs. 3&4 Internet Safety Presentation

Saturday, January 20, 2018
Uniform Exchange 9:00am - 12:00pm
Cafeteria


 

Please remember to attend Church as a family.  


  Calendar Raffle

Getting Ready To Win Some $$ !!

 
Everybody wants to be a winner, right? It's easy - just buy a St. Michael's Academy Raffle Calendar and you might be a lucky winner! Each family has been given 5 calendars to sell for $10 and are due Friday, January 26th. Each calendar provides you with  28  chances to win. How do you beat that? 

And any family that sells 5 calendars will receive a dress-down day!  Go for it!



Ten Gift Baskets Everyone Would Love To Win !   

 
And don't forget the raffle baskets! Each grade will be creating a themed-based gift basket! These are the baskets that are raffled off during Catholic Schools Week and there is not one in the bunch that you wouldn't want to win. We are asking families to donate one item per student to include in the basket. Don't have time to shop? No worries - send in a few dollars and we'll do the shopping for you!

We are also looking for one parent per grade level to coordinate the donations and create the basket. Show off your creative flair and volunteer!

Just a reminder....the basket and calendar raffles are just one of only two fund-raising activities that St. Michael's Academy does throughout the entire school year. We appreciate your support!!  
 

Perfect Attendance

Good Attendance Pays Off ! 
 
Congratulations to our perfect attendance dress-down winners! In order to qualify for the weekly drawing, a student must have no absences, tardiness or early dismissals the previous week of school. We select one from PreK - 2nd grade, one from 3rd - 5th grade and one from 6th - 8th grade.  Congrats to this week's winners!

       Evan  - PKC                           Andrew - Gr. 5B
           
Shelbyrose - Gr. 7B 
 

From The Classroom of Ms. Laporte - Computer Lab

Computer Lab Is A Busy Place
 
Since the beginning of the school year, the children have been working very hard in computer lab. 

Pre-K and Kindergarten have been learning their numbers and letters using websites such as ABCmouse.com. Grade 1 has been typing skill lessons in Microsoft Word. They are learning how to insert and resize images in their documents. Grade 2 will begin working with Microsoft PowerPoint this month. They will be creating a presentation with text, images, music, and transitions.

Grades 3 and 4 are starting PowerPoint as well. The children will be learning how to animate the text and images in their slideshows this year. Grade 5 will work with a partner to create a Jeopardy style presentation. They will create 50 slides, 25 questions and 25 answers, on a specific topic. When their presentations are complete, they will quiz their classmates.

Grade 6 will create a presentation on the subject of cyberbullying. When all presentations are complete they will write a short essay on the process. Grade 7 will be creating presentations using Glogster. Grade 8A is working on Excel spreadsheets and grade 8B is creating a short portfolio which will include, an essay, word cloud, collage, and cover. 

As you can see we have been very busy!




 Mrs. Senecal - 5B

Christmas Caroling

On Friday, December 22nd, five St. Michael's Academy students started their Christmas vacation volunteering their time Christmas caroling.  They visited the Landmark At Monastery Heights in West Springfield.  The students sang several Christmas songs including: Silent Night, Jingle Bells, O Holy Night and The Twelve Days of Christmas adding motions, much to the enjoyment of their audience.

Our Joyful Singers were Olivia Gr. 5, Devin & Camden Gr. 8, 
John Gr. 5, & Christina Gr. 7


After singing, the students were invited to have snacks with the residents, where the students were able to hear stories about the residents' pasts.  All in attendance enjoyed the afternoon!
 
 Heritage Celebration

Heritage Celebration Update

Sunday, January 28, 2018
Catholic Schools Week
12:-- - 2:00 pm


Look for details about the Heritage Celebration in your child's papers this week.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone for music, games, dancing and delicious food! For more information please click here.

You may still participate - please click here and send in the form with your child so we can prepare for everyone.

 Traffic Safety

Safety, Safety, Safety!       

Please, please, please obey the traffic pattern during morning and afternoon drop off times.  With the addition of snow to the already challenging drop off of over 470 students, for safety purposes, it is absolutely critical to follow the established routine.  Traffic should flow in a one way pattern with parents and guardians dropping off on the school side of the street.  No U-Turns!  And patience is a must!!!   

Thank you!
Uniform Vendor

St. Michael's Academy Welcomes Blakes Uniforms
 
GOOD NEWS!  As of January 1st, Blakes School Uniforms, located at 1205 Parker Street in Springfield, will join the St. Michael's Academy family!  

Beginning the first of the year, all pieces of the St. Michael's uniform will be available for purchase at the Parker Street location.  We are pleased to be able to provide a local vendor so families are able to stop in, see sizing and shop.

AND...now through Jan 31, 2018 get 10% off and free shipping on all purchases over $30!  Just type "discount" in the special offer code box on your shopping cart page.

Click here to see pricing!



  Food  For Thought

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."  
Martin Luther King Jr. 
Prayer Corner
 
St. Michael the Archangel, pray for us! 
 
We pray for all St. Michael's Academy students, families, faculty, and staff, and their special intentions:

John Antaya
Paul & Jane Davis
Gloria Manzi
Jules St. Pierre
Sean Austin
Baline Vartanian

And we pray in a special way for all of our recently departed.

Rex Honsinger
Catherine Maher
John Malack
Thomas Murphy
 
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. 

Parish News

Holy Name Church

New Schedule for Masses

323 Dickinson Street, Springfield, MA  01118

Began January 6, 2018
 Saturday: 4:30 p.m.
 Sunday:   8:30 a.m..
 Sunday:  10:30 a.m. (Children's Mass)
 Sunday:  12:30 p.m. (Spanish Mass)

The Sunday Mass at 5:30 p.m. has been eliminated.  Area churches having Sunday late day Masses are:
  • St. Michael's Cathedral, 254 State Street, at 4:00 p.m
  • Holy Cross, 219 Plumtree Road, at 6:00 p.m
  • Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, 123 William Street, at 6:00 p.m.


Thank you for your interest in St. Michael's Academy. To ensure receipt, please add smanews@smaspringfield.org to your address book. 

You may unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our newsletter and emails.  Please note this will remove you from ALL St. Michael's Academy communications.  Thank you!


St. Michael's Academy 
153 Eddywood Street - Springfield, MA 01118
www.smaspringfield.org
413.782.5246 office 
413.782.8137 fax