Weekly Update - December 9, 2016
In this update:

A letter from Mrs. Maxwell.

Help us spread the word about an exciting offer for next year's Kindergarten class and new families.


News on two significant changes in our preschool program.

Looking for a place to discuss and exchange ideas on children with learning challenges. Join other parents on Monday night

Our Robotics Program had tremendous success this past weekend.

The Blues and White Ball entertainment is booked!

Mad Science returns in January!

Interested in helping with the yearbook? We are in need of an additional parent to work with the 7th and 8th graders to create the yearbook.


Upcoming dates  you should be aware of. 

There are many ways to give back this Advent; please  click here  for details on projects at St. Michael Catholic School.
laurieFrom the Principal's Desk

It was exciting to see over 120 members of our community at the recent Top 20 Training event. A group of our 6th graders hosted Mr. Paul Bernabei, founder of Top 20, during dinner. I am proud to report, that he was amazed by their knowledge of Top 20 principles.  After dinner a group of students led us in our St. Michael Catholic School Top 20 Pledge, which was created by Mrs. Laura Schroeder. 

Mr. Bernabei's message of human being preceding human doing is where we, as a school family, want to live each day.  It is through this model of social-emotional learning that our children will know that celebrating confusion will lead them to greater learning. I think our academic outcomes prove that this model is effective!

As a community, "we have the power of choice" each day as to where we want to live emotionally with ourselves, our children, and each other. I personally learn something new every time I hear Paul speak. After his recommendation, my family spent time discussing our 'below the line' characteristics and trampolines. I hope you were able to do the same. I know these open discussions and common language will make us a stronger family and community!

If you were not able to attend the Top 20 evening, we have a parent journal for you! Please pick it up in the school office before Christmas break.  Beginning in January, teachers will be communicating more about their Top 20 lessons. The journal will support your child's and your individual journey by explaining the Top 20 practices and principles from a parenting perspective. Our teachers have been using a teacher journal for three years and they find it is a valuable tool. I am confident you will feel the same.

Blessings,

Laurie Maxwell
Principal

tuitionExciting Offer for Kindergarten and New Families

We shared in a previous update that we are experiencing a high level of interest in our Kindergarten program. We are also receiving many inquiries from families with older students looking for a new school environment. In order to be proactive in our staffing and budgeting for next school year, we have opened 2017-2018 pre-registration for Kindergarten and new families. Submitting a registration form and fee before January 31 will secure future Blues a spot in our school and lock in 2016-2017 tuition rates.  

Please help us spread the word to families you know that are considering St. Michael for their children.
infonightSAVE THE DATE:
Middle School Information Night

Tuesday, January 10
6:00 p.m.

Parents of 5th - 7th grade students are invited to learn more about our Middle School Program. This event is for current St. Michael families as well as any family interested in learning more about St. Michael. Help us spread the word to your family and friends.


preschoolPreschool Updates

We are excited to announce two significant changes to our preschool program for the 2017-2018 
school year.

First, in collaboration with the Catholic School Centers of Excellence (CSCOE), we will join other preschool programs in the archdiocese as a Faithful Beginnings Preschool Program. 

Faithful Beginnings is a new brand that embodies the faith, values, and excellence that characterizes our Catholic early childhood program. We are proud to report that our already high standards for social, emotional, and academic growth align with Faithful Beginnings. There will be no changes to our curriculum.

Faithful Beginnings allow us to be part of a network of Catholic preschools with similar goals and gain access to additional support and resources CSCOE provides.

Second, we are happy to announce expanded options for preschool in the 2017-2018 school year. All 3, 4, and 5 year old children will be able to attend preschool two to five days per week. Morning and afternoon extended care (until 5:00 p.m.) will also be offered. Families are able to choose a schedule that best meets the needs of their child(ren) and family.

If you have any questions on these changes, please contact our Preschool Director, Ashley Lind at  ashleyheitkamp@saintmpl.org.
parentParent Support Group Informational Meeting

Monday, December 12
6:00 p.m.
Room 228 in the upper level of elementary school ( Ms. K's Room)

This is an open invitation to discuss future gatherings of parents to provide a place to exchange resources, find support, and learn more about how to deal with the stresses of raising a child with any learning challenge, like dyslexia, add/adhd, of other conditions. All information shared will be confidential.

Please RSVP to Kelly Banyai at kelly.banyai@gmail.com or 612-599-5652.
roboticsWay to Go, Robotics!!!!

You may have already read about this on Facebook, but we are very proud to share the success of our robotics program this past weekend:

FIRST Lego League - Tournament - St. Paul
5th Graders - Team 4038 - The "St. Michanics"
Earned the 3rd highest robot performance scoring team out of 32 teams
WON the Head-to-Head Tournament for the Lakes 16 team division (scored 2nd highest single run of the day with 109 pts)  
The will compete in  Sectionals in January!

FIRST Tech Challenge - Tournaments - Columbia Heights
4 teams competed in two different tournaments this weekend: 
4644 (8th Grade Girls) and 8584 (7th Grade Girls) competed on Saturday
7165 (8th Grade Boys) and 5330 (6/7th Grade Boys) competed on Sunday

Excellent participation and gracious professionalism by all students! The team mentors received a lot of positive feedback!

Awesome performance of the National Anthem (Thanks Laura and Anne).  Available on our YouTube Channel ( https://www.youtube.com/user/SaintMichaelRobotics)

St. Mike's record during qualifying matches this weekend - 15-4-1.  Wow! (Roughly 40-50% of the teams represented at these tournaments were High School teams)

All 4 teams entered elimination rounds (1 tied for 1st, 1 tied for 2nd (QP), 1 - 5th, 1 -ranked 6th after qualifications)

Team 4644 was on the Winning Alliance on Saturday
Team 7165 was on the Winning Alliance of Sunday
Team 5330 won Judges Award on Sunday
Team 8584 won PTC Design Award on Saturday
Team 7165 won PTC Design Award on Sunday
Team  4644 wins Inspire Award (highest judged award) on Saturday
Two Teams, 5330 & 8584 Alliance Captains of non-winning alliance, narrowly miss bid to the State Tournament
Two Teams, 4644 & 7165 earn a bid to the State Tournament

We are very proud of all of the teams and all of their mentors!!
ballThe Blues & White Ball presents:
Denim, Disco, and Diamonds

Find those platform shoes, dig that leisure suit out of storage, and get your bell bottoms ready! We are celebrating our school 70's style! 
Denim or diamonds are ok too!

Saturday, February 4, 2017
The Wilds Golf Club

The planning committee is excited to report that Jonah and the Whales will be the entertainment for this year's event. You can check out their work at   www.jonahandthewhales.com.

Wondering how you can help?
Purchase gift cards, wine, spirits, or beer to be used for auctions at the event. Donations can be dropped at the school office. You can also purchase items at Viking Liquor and Village Liquor and they will hold the items for the committee to pick up before the event.

Become an event sponsor: Contact Beth Gassen at bbmack@mac.com or Lynn Loehr at lynnloehr@hotmail.com

Donate to the silent or live auction: Game tickets, vacation rentals, airline miles, and more make great auction items. Contact Maggie Stack at mmstack4@gmail.com.
madscienceMad Science Returns in January!
Grades 1 - 5
Tuesday After School Program

Start your chemistry career off right with Mad Science's Crazy Chemworks. You'll explore the chemistry of everyday life through spectacular hands-on activities with real lab equipment. You will learn how to work in a lab, operate different lab equipment, tell the difference between acids and bases, identify chemical reactions, observe chemistry that happens in the blink of an eye, and bond molecules together in ooeygooey slime. You'll also explore the micro-world of molecular chemistry and delve into the secrets of hydrogen bonding. At the end of each class, you'll add to your own lab by taking home a Graduated Cylinder, pH Paper, Action Flask, set of Atomic Coins, Professor Beakerdude, and a batch of Mad Science Slime, created by you!

  Register here.

NEW: Yearbook Parent Adviser
Interested 7th and 8th graders will be involved in the creation of the yearbook this year. We are in need of an additional parent to help advise the process. Interested parents should contact Molly at  mollyq91@gmail.com.

AprilFest Kids Tent: AprilFest is St. Michael Catholic Church's Community Event. It is held the last full weekend in April. It is filled ith great food, music, fun, and fellowship. The Committee has started planning and is in need of a person or persons to manage the Kids Tent. The Kids Tent is filled with games and entertainment for our youth. Please contact Lauren Peters if you are interested or have questions. He can be reached at 612-751-9620 or lauren.peters@mchsi.com.

Milk Moola Coordinator:  This is an easy at-home project you can do for our school.
Milk Moola®, brought to you by Kwik Trip stores is one of the easiest fundraising programs we have. Our organization earns 5¢ for every cap or bag top collected from Kwik Trip Nature's Touch® products. There is no limit to the amount of cash you can earn and you can use it for school trips, new books, or playground equipment, the possibilities are endless.  Please contact the school office if interested at 952-447-2124.

Other volunteer opportunities can be found here: http://saintmpl.org/volunteer
highschoolCatholic High School News

Holy Family Catholic High School Application Fee Waiver Period Extends
Holy Family Catholic High School's admission team wants to ensure families making their high school selection have time to connect with Holy Family students, staff and parents at one of our many events happening this month, so we are extending our application fee waiver period! Apply now at  http://www.hfchs.org/how-to-enroll/ to ensure your place in the Holy Family Catholic High School Class of 2021! Once an enrollment application is received, scholarship application information will be emailed to parents. February 1 is the deadline for priority consideration, but we begin considering applications as they are submitted.  More information about financial aid and our merit-based scholarship programs can be found at  http://www.hfchs.org/tuition-assistance/

Family Fun at Holy Family Catholic High School
Holy Family Catholic High School would like to invite families to three fun family nights at FIRE athletic events:  

Holy Family Catholic High School Youth Night at FIRE Boys Hockey vs. St. Thomas Academy on Saturday, December 10, at 7 p.m.

Holy Family Catholic High School Youth Night at Girls Basketball vs. Southwest Christian on Tuesday, December 13, at 7 p.m.

Holy Family Catholic High School Youth Night at Boys Basketball vs. Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted on Tuesday, December 20, at 7 p.m.  

All events include free family admission, food and giveaways!  Print your tickets by clicking on each event at www.hfchs.org/events/ 

Holy Family Catholic High School Winter Arts Showcase and Christmas Concert
Take time to celebrate the artistic gifts and talents of Holy Family students this Advent season. This showcase of the arts will take place in our Performance Center on Sunday, December 18   The Visual Arts Showcase will be open for viewing beginning at 3 p.m. and includes stunning works in photography, ceramics, painting and drawing.  Following the Visual Arts Showcase will be the Instrumental & Vocal Music Christmas Concert beginning at 4 p.m. The Visual Arts Showcase will remain on display through the afternoon on Monday, December 19. Admission is free to both events.
calendarUpcoming Events

December 13 12:30 p.m. Christmas Program Rehearsal (Preschool - 6th Grade)
December 13 6:30 p.m. Christmas Program (Preschool - 6th Grade)
December 19 12:30 p.m. Band Christmas Concert Rehearsal
December 19 6:00 p.m. Band Christmas Concert
December 21
Christmas Party (Preschool - 5th Grade)
December 22 - January 2
NO SCHOOL: Christmas Break
January 5 6:30 p.m. Parent Connections Meeting
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You can view the entire school calendar here.

STAY CONNECTED: