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St. Michael's Academy
:
Happy Friday to all as we end another busy week at St. Michael's Academy.
I wanted to take a moment to remind our families that the official ground breaking ceremony for the new Pope Francis High School is this Sunday at 2 p.m. over on Surrey Road. This historical event will mark the beginning of a new state-of-the-art high school that we hope our St. Michael's Academy students will attend for years to come.
Please join us Sunday with your children for this joyful celebration. Have your children wear their SMA polo shirt and stand together with us behind the "St. Michael's Academy supports Pope Francis High School" sign.
I hope to see you on Sunday.
Principal
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Upcoming Dates To Remember
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Please make note of these important upcoming dates:
Drumming every Wednesday
Tuesday, September 20, 2016 from 3:30 - 5 p.m.
Girls on the Run
Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at 5:30 p.m.
School Board Meeting
Wednesday, September 21, 2016 - 5:30 to 7 p.m
Middle Level Dance
Gymnasium
Thursday, September 22, 2016 from 3:30 - 5 p.m.
Girls on the Run
Friday, September 30, 2016
WALK-A-THON
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Advancement
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The 2016-17 Fund for St. Michael's Academy
Parents
, just to let you know, it's that time of year again. This week you will be receiving your 2016-17 Annual Fund letters in the mail. Please consider making a gift to The Fund for St. Michael's Academy this year. Every gift of any size makes a difference in the lives of our students!
For your convenience, a pledge commitment form has been enclosed which you can complete and return in the mail. I promise to send out a reminder to allow you plenty of time to fulfill your pledge before June 30, 2017.
If you have any questions about The Fund for SMA, please contact Phyllis Lund at
p.lund@smaspringfield.org
or at (413) 782-5246 ext. 1202.
Investing in the Hearts and Minds of Tomorrow's Leaders
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Department Chairs - Update
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School Wide Goal
During the 2015-2016 school year, St. Michael's Academy worked on maps, charts, graphs, and timelines. Every class in the school spent time throughout the year focusing on these key areas of our academic curriculum. Classes learned how to pay attention to details, apply the knowledge gained and extrapolate the information to increase application and critical thinking skills.
This year, St. Michael's Academy will be working on writing across the curriculum. Whether it be the simple task of letter recognition and formation to writing an extensive research report, writing is a skill that our students need for life. Throughout this year we hope you hear your child sharing their writing experiences with you.
In an effort to support our school goal, we are asking you, our families, to make this a year of writing as well. Have your child help write the grocery list, write a card or letter to a friend, create a dreams and aspirations board, keep a family diary, journal a weekend trip. The possibilities are endless. Share with your child the wonder of the written word and its magical power to communicate thoughts, feelings, and ideas for generations to come.
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Before and After School Program
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Just a friendly reminder that the Before and After School program billing is due on a weekly basis. Bills are sent home on Friday with your child and can be paid either by sending back in with your child, dropping off at school or sending through the mail.
Thank you!
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From The Class of Mr. Dubuc - Physical Education
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OFF TO A GREAT START IN PHYS ED
The start of each school year is an exciting time. It has been nice watching the students reconnect with old friends and make new friends.
Physical Education class is a great way to educate students about the importance of physical activity and physical health, but it is equally great for character development. So many opportunities will arise throughout the year where your student will be taught and encouraged to be a good listener, a good teammate, to be a leader, to demonstrate good sportsmanship and to communicate. These are just some of the many positive characteristics they will learn as we try to help them be the best they can be.
We have been working on learning routines in gym class as well such as the proper way to enter class, the type of behavior that is expected in class and the importance of using their listening skills. We start each class with a warm-up routine that consist of laps, push ups, and sit ups.
Please be reminded that students are expected to wear the approved SMA gym uniform and
sneakers with rubber soles
on the day they have gym.
I look forward to working with your child and hope to be a positive role model in their lives.
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Around the Classrooms
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Digging Up the Past in the 6th Grade
There were archaeologists galore in Mrs. Bedore's sixth grade class this week!
Students were treated to an experience of digging up artifacts and then challenged to use their imagination to figure out what they found. Their findings were very interesting! They finished up by writing an article outlining their findings and imaging what society may have been like back in the day.
BUSY IN PreK-4!
This week, the students in Ms. Synan's PreK-4 class took great pride in making their "All About Me" books. The students learned about one another by making handprints, discussing the people that comprise their families, identifying their birthdays, recognizing their names and pictures, and concluding the book by answering questions about themselves.
Please look for your child's "All About Me" books in their weekly folders.
And in Ms. Enderlin's class, the students were hard at work creating their own applesauce!
And the best part of making your applesauce...is EATING IT!
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From the Words of Pope Francis
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A Tree Grows at St. Michael's Academy
"You have to teach not just about a subject, but also life's values and habits because when it comes to learning about a subject, a computer is sufficient, but to understand how to love, to understand what the values and habits are that create harmony in the world, you need a good teacher ... A bit of mercy makes the world a less cold place and more just." Pope Francis
During the teacher's professional development days before the formal start of school, Sr. Constance led an exercise in prayer and reflection on Pope Francis's words above. At the conclusion, teachers were challenged to take a leaf and write a work of mercy that they would work on in their lives and in their classrooms.
Marina Ayala from grade 6, shown below, sketched a beautiful tree that the leaves could then be hung on. This tree is on display in the teacher's room as a reminder to all that "a bit of mercy makes the world a less cold place and more just."
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Car Lines
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Thank you to everyone participating in the morning and afternoon car lines for their patience as we get into the swing of things at school. With all the demands placed on us today, it is sometimes hard to have that patience!
A big thank you goes out to the parents who have helped us out on the corner of Eddywood and Plumtree reminding drivers that
Eddywood Street is one way during drop off and pick up times of the day. Eddywood drop offs and pick-ups must occur on the school side of the street. We appreciate your cooperation.
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Nurse Position
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We are in the final phases of hiring a nurse for our school. As soon as all the i's are dotted and t's are crossed we will introduce our newest employee. Thank you for your understanding throughout this search process.
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Do You Want To Volunteer?
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St. Michael's Academy welcomes outside volunteers and there are a number of ways that parents can be involved with the school. In order for anyone to volunteer or chaperone field trips, they must complete the diocesan safe training program. Please contact the main office for further information.
For details of the program, please click here.
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Home School Association
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Home School Association Looking For Volunteers
Just a reminder that the St. Michael's Academy Home School Association is currently recruiting volunteers. Volunteer forms were sent home last week - if you have misplaced your form, please click
here.
Look for additional information from the SMA Home School Association in your email in the coming weeks.
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Parish News
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St. Mary's Parish in Hampden
St.
Mary's Parish in Hampden is holding a Rent a Space Tag Sale on
Sat. October 1 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parish parking lot located at
27 Somers Road in Hampden, MA
Space rental is $20.00.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Mt. Carmel invites you to the Taste of Italy!
Join us on Saturday, October 1, at 4:30 p.m. in the auditorium of South End middle school on Margaret Street, off Main-- easy access. Lots of homemade Italian specialties and desserts.
Buy or sell two $5 raffle books and you get a free chance for a $100 Visa card.
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Prayer Corner
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St. Michael the Archangel, pray for us!
We pray for all St. Michael's Academy students, families, faculty, and staff, and their special intentions.
Charles Healey IV
Fred Ciavola
And we pray in a special way for all of our recently departed.
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.
Our prayers continue to be with Mr. Rancitelli, who is undergoing treatment for a cancer recurrence. Each week, a different homeroom sends him cards. If your family would like to send a card, please send it to school with your child, clearly marked for Mr. Rancitelli. His family has set up a blog to write about this experience.
Click here
to read the blog.
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Thank you for your interest in St. Michael's Academy. To ensure receipt, please add smanews@smaspringfield.org to your address book.
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St. Michael's Academy
153 Eddywood Street - Springfield, MA 01118
www.smaspringfield.org
413.782.5246 office
413.782.8137 fax
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