SMA Banner 
                   The Messenger


         November 18, 2016
  Vol. IV, No. 13
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 
  :

During the month of November, it's always a good time to stop and appreciate the many gifts that God has given us. Our lives may not be perfect all the time but I'm sure we could all produce a list of His many blessings. We sometimes tend to get caught up in the daily problems of life and it's nice to take time and acknowledge what we treasure most.

Next week will be a short week for our students. I'm sure they are looking forward to a little down time to spend with family and friends. We will have our Thanksgiving Mass on Monday at 9:30 a.m. with Msgr. Liston and we invite all to attend. 

On Tuesday, we will have our final recognition from the Walk-a-thon.  Any student who raised $25 or more for the walk will be treated to a dress-down day. Teachers will be alerting students who qualify for this honor.

Enjoy a restful weekend.

Peace,

Ann E. Dougal
Principal


Upcoming Dates To Remember 

Please make note of these important upcoming dates:

Violin every Tuesday

Drumming every Wednesday

Banking every Wednesday


Monday, November 21, 2016 at 9:30 a.m.
Thanksgiving School Mass

Tuesday, November 22, 2016 
Walk-a-thon Dress Down Day

Wednesday, Nov. 23 - Friday, Nov. 25
THANKSGIVING BREAK

     

Car Lines

  Car Line Reminder - Your Help Needed

If you are part of the car lines every day, you know that there is a huge volume of traffic every day during drop-off and pick-up. 

In order for the car lines to be efficient, especially in the morning, we need your help in keeping the lines moving. Please do not park on Eddywood, Wheeler or Arvilla Streets if you are bringing your child into the building. Once you drop your child(ren) off, please keep the line moving.  This will help the car line to move efficiently and safely.

Thank you - we appreciate your help!

Christmas Pageant
 
Musicians Needed

We are currently looking for musicians to accompany our students during our annual Christmas Pageant. Do you play an instrument and think you might want to consider volunteering?

This year's pageant will be held on December 14th and 15th at St. Catherine of Siena Church on Parker Street. We are asking the musicians in our school community to consider adding their talents to our program. This might be just the right time to dust off that instrument you've been meaning to pick-up!

For more information, contact the main office at (413) 782-5246.
               



From The Classroom of Mrs. Wozniakowski - Gr. 6&7 Math

St. Michael's Mathcounts Club
 
Factorials, permutations, bases, right triangles, sequences, combinations, radicals, simplifying and the Sieve of Eratosthenes are just a few of the math concepts tossed around by the St. Michael's Academy' MathCounts Club. For the last two months, seventh and eighth graders have trained with problems that expand on mathematical knowledge and add a little fun to math.  Over the course of the next few months, they will continue to get together to learn different math strategies and have fun with problem solving. 

The MathCounts Club emphasizes skills included in the frameworks of middle-school mathematics.  The subject matter includes geometry , number theory, and algebra and is designed to increase enthusiasm for math and engage students of all levels by using a variety of math activities. The only requirement is to be open-minded about math and learn to have fun with it.

After the first of the year, the Mathcounts Club will compete for the chance to represent St. Michael's Academy in the chapter competition at Connecticut Valley Chapter Competition in Chicopee, MA.  Over the years, St. Michael's Academy has consistently improved in their placement in the competition.  Let's see what this year brings!
 
We can solve this problem! Can you?
 
Five students are running a race.  In how many ways can the three of the five students place 1st, 2nd, and 3rd? (answer in the next issue )

  
  

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! 
 
             Oliver - Grade PreK-4C                     Wyatt - Grade 5B           
                
                                                   Kayla - Grade 7A                  
                        
Living History Museum

A Step Back In History

If you were at St. Michael's Academy this past Monday evening, you probably thought you were transported back in time.   The middle level students presented the "Living History Museum" and what a fantastic job they did!


The 6th grade students featured artifacts and ancient cultures from Egypt and India. Exhibits ranged from archaeological digs to vases, plates and hieroglyphics. One of the archaeological digs is pictured above.


The 7th grade students were busy performing two different re-enactments. The first was the Second Continental Congress convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies. The second was The Boston Massacre, a key event in helping to galvanize the colonial public to the Patriot cause.  A photo from the Second Continental Congress is above.



 
The 8th grade students provided individual exhibits and chose either a person from history  or a significant time period or era.

At left, Shmi portrays a suffragette from the late 19th century, early 20th century in Great Britain. She tells of the long and sometimes violent suffragette campaign that took place in order for women to obtain the right to vote.

PreK4-B

PreK-4B Has A Special Guest

Mrs. Mumper came to share a storybook and a snack with Ms. Synan's PreK-4B class this week. The autographed storybook "Nanette Baguette" by author Mo Williams was wonderfully read to the students, information about the author was shared, and then the students enjoyed a delicious baguette snack.



Walk-a-thon Awards

Arriving In Style!

The few...the proud...the LIMO WINNERS!!! Congratulations to the 5 top middle level Walk-a-thon fundraising students: Danny, Brandon, Sarah, Brenna and Declan. They elegantly arrived to school via a stretch limo provided by Michael's Limousine.  Accompanied by Ms. Dougal, the lucky students were picked up at their homes and transported to school. The driver even took the long way to give the kids a little extra time in the limo!

Upon arrival, they were greeted outside by the ENTIRE school cheering and welcoming them. After a brief toast with orange juice, they walked the red carpet into school!

A special shout out to Michael's Limousine for generously providing a stretch limo that could have fit the whole school in it and was complete with a fireplace!  





Our Saints Continue

Our Saints Continue

During the month of November, we continue to celebrate the saints:



 
Girls On The Run

A Little Goes A Long Way 
    
Nicely done Girls On The Run!  We are referring to the Thanksgiving Food Drive that the girls recently held at the school. Many boxes of non-perishable food items were collected as well as personal hygiene items and children's books.

It's not too late if you would like to donate. Items will still be accepted on Monday and brought to The Gray House after Mass on Monday.


Grade 2 Visitors

Fire and Rescue Visit

Our 2nd graders were treated to a visit from three members of the Springfield Fire and Rescue Unit. The firefighters gave a presentation in the classroom about keeping safe in the event of a fire. Afterwards, all the students had the opportunity to go outside and see the Fire and Rescue Truck.  

From sitting in the drivers seat, to operating the jaws of life, the students were amazed at the equipment they carried. They learned this truck responds to many different scenes including extricating someone from a vehicle after an accident, to providing multi-hazardous emergency services.

Thanks for stopping by firefighters!



Girl Scouts
       
Girls Scouts Join Forces With Thunderbirds
Calling All Cookie Lovers!  

This year marks the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scout Cookies Sales!  The Girl Scouts of Springfield have partnered with the newly formed Springfield Thunderbirds to celebrate a "Cookie Kick-off Event" at the hockey game on January 7, 2017.  The Thunderbirds have graciously offered a reduction off the regular ticket price for that game and tickets are available for $12. Game time is 7 p.m. and puck drops at 7:05 p.m. 

Girl Scout Cookie sales are more than just a fundraiser. The Cookie Program reinforces  5 Fundamental Business Skills: 1) Goal Setting, 2) Decision Making, 3) Money Management, 4) People Skills, and 5) Business Ethics.   Each year, registered Girl Scouts have an opportunity to earn their Cookie Activity Pin.  This year,  from 4-6 p.m. before the game, the Springfield Girl Scouts will offer an activity organized around earning their Pin.  Please contact your Troop Leader for more  details. The afternoon activity is limited to registered Springfield Girl Scouts. 

SMA Families and friends are invited and encouraged to purchase your tickets through Katie Force, our personal contact at the Springfield Thunderbirds. She can be reached at (413) 417-2296 or at kforce@springfieldthunderbirds.com. In addition to a low price, ticket purchase fees will also be waived. Tickets must be purchased by January 5th.


Parish News

                          St. Catherine of Siena

Holiday Ziti and Meatball Dinner
Saturday, December 10, 201
                    4:30 - 7 p.m.

St. Catherine of Siena parish invites you to its annual Holiday Ziti and Meatball Dinner. Come and enjoy some good food, have an opportunity to win a raffle prize, and visit with some old friends and make some new ones! Dinner will include ziti, meatballs, tossed salad and dessert.  

Tickets are $7 for adults, $4 for children 12 and under. Bring a non-perishable food donation for the Survival Center and receive $1 off your ticket price! All proceeds will benefit the St. Catherine of Siena Parish General Fund.

                  BOGO....For a limited time only!
  Buy one children's ticket and receive another child's ticket FREE! Offer valid only on children's tickets and  not available at the door.
Tickets are available at the Office or by calling 783- 4438.


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

Holy Cross Church 

Breakfast with Santa!


The Holy Cross Knights of Columbus extend an invitation to all to join them for Breakfast with Santa on 
Sunday, December 11th, from 9-11 a.m.
 in the St. Michael's Academy gym.


 Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children, or $10 for the family. In addition to the pancake breakfast there will also be a prize raffle, activities for the children including a "Keep Christ in Christmas" poster contest 
and an opportunity for photos with Santa.  

Come and join the fun - all ages are welcome!
Tickets may be purchased  online by  clicking here, or after Masses. 
For questions or more info please contact Bob Bys at 413-796-5522.
 
 
*********************************************************************
   
      Basketball Sign-Ups
for Grades K-2

Sign-ups for instructional basketball for grades kindergarten through 2nd grade will take place on the following dates in the 
St. Michael's Academy Gymnasium:

Sunday, Nov. 20th
     from 12:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The cost is $40 per child and there are a limited number of scholarships available. Please know your child's t-shirt size when registering.

This is an "in-house" league. We focus on instruction, sportsmanship and FUN!  In addition, we are in need of COACHES AND ASST. COACHES - no experience necessary - we can help with that!  We also need help for the snack bar, etc. Please join us!

For further information, contact Diane Lyman at (413) 495-2871 (leave message) or at LymanSales@aol.com.


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

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. 

Jeffrey O'Connor
Mary Hurley
Marie Auclair
Thomas Valentine
Edward Modlish
Kathy Bergdoll
Carol Brown

And we pray in a special way for our recently departed:

Bernice Croteau

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. 

Please remember to keep Miss Brown in your prayers during this difficult time for her. She will be taking an indefinite medical leave of absence.
 
Our prayers continue to be with Mr. Rancitelli, who is undergoing treatment for a cancer recurrence. We also ask that you keep Mrs. Rancitelli in your prayers as well. She recently broke both ankles and her wrist in a bad fall. 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. 



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.


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