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       "The Messenger"


          September 15,  2017
  Vol. V, No. 4
St. Michael's Academy
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St. Michael's Academy 
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Happy Friday to all.  We have enjoyed some wonderful school weather this week. Let's hope it continues to stick around!

Sent home today with your child is a flyer for our big signature event coming up at the end of October.  We are asking parents to help us spread the word by giving this flyer to someone who might be interested in attending. 

The event will feature all sorts of memorablia from the 14 original Catholic schools in Springfield. In addition, there will be dinner, an auction and the opportunity to visit with friends and reminisce about the "good old days."  If you are an alumni from one of these schools, you might want to consider attending as well!  It should be a fun evening for all.  For further information or to purchase tickets, please contact Mrs. Lund in the Advancement Office. 

I hope everyone enjoys a nice weekend.

Peace,

Ann E. Dougal 
Principal    


Upcoming Dates To Remember 

Please make note of these important upcoming dates:
 
Drumming - every Wednesday

Wednesday, September 20, 2017 at 5:30 p.m.
School Board Meeting

Wednesday, September 20, 2017 from 5:30 - 7 p.m.
Middle Level Dance
SMA Gymnasium

Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at 6 p.m.
Back To School Night
SMA Gymnasium

Thursday, September 28, 2017
Humanics In Action
Springfield College comes to SMA


 
Please remember to attend Church as a family.


Before and After School
 
There are so many forms and different papers that come home at the beginning of the school year.  Just a reminder to keep an eye out for your Before and After School bills. They are sent home with your child every Friday. 

Also, please be aware that the after school program closes at 5:30 p.m. If your child is picked up after 5:30 p.m., a $25 fee will be charged and added to your bill. 

Thank you!


 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! 
 
             Cadence - Gr. 2A                              Julianna - Gr. 5B

Miles - Gr. 6C

 
From The Classroom of  Mrs. McQuade- Gr. 5
  
Shake It Up!
 
The 5th grade students have been hard at work during the first few weeks of school. They have been learning new routines and procedures, catching up with old friends and making new ones, and are now diligently working to learn new skills and concepts.
 
In between decimals, classifying animals, and reviewing geography, they have also been taking "brain breaks"!
 
"Movement increases brain function. It's as simple as that. Using physical activity breaks in the classroom helps children get ready to learn and remember information better. Physical movement increases blood flow, bringing more oxygen to the brain and leads to improved concentration. Physical activity breaks can be used to energize a group after lunch or relax and calm a class before a test, after lunch or at the end of the day."  www.actionforhealthykids.org
 
As the students settle into the more sedentary life of school, 5th graders are trying brief activities like "Sports Galore", "Wiggles", and "Hit the Deck" to maximize their learning!




  Social Media

Help Us Spread The Word!

Have you visited the SMA Facebook page and liked it?  Did you know that if you "like" and "share" the SMA Facebook posts, it helps distribute posts to a wider audience and increases our Facebook ranking?

So....don't forget to " Like and Share!"   


SchoolsNEXT

And The Competition Continues....

The winning 2016-2017 St. Michael's Academy Schools NEXT team competed Thursday at the national level via Skype.  Teams from across the country skyped in to speak with more than 10 professional judges from throughout the United States.  They presented a video and power point of their project as well as engaged in a live presentation and Q&A session.  We won't know the results from the Jury until late next week.  
 
We want to congratulate Anthony Yacovone, Ava Barrett, and Emma Feeley for making it this far.  We are proud of all they have accomplished.



 Facilities Update

St. Michael's Looks Nice!

You may have noticed a few changes around our school.  Guess what? They are not done yet!  In an effort to keep parents "in the loop," we wanted to update you on what's been going on. 

Many have seen the lobby undergo a transformation but there is still more  to come!  The main office windows that are on an angle will be replaced by windows that open and a counter will be built on the outside in the lobby.  This will make communication much easier with the office staff.  We will also have a large SMA logo (it's currently in production) embedded in the lobby floor in front of the office counter.  New stair treads and moldings will be installed shortly as well as new floor mats at both entrances.  It's going to look great!

You may have heard that all of the classroom windows on the Eddywood side of the building were replaced during the summer as well as all the windows in the "convent" side.  (The two buildings were separate many years ago - one was the original school and the other was a convent. An addition was built joining the two buildings.)  All the classrooms had new light filtering shades installed and beginning next week, all the gymnasium windows up high that were boarded up years ago will have replacements installed. This should make a great improvement to the gym.

Stay tuned for further updates as they occur!    

  Walk-a-thon
       
Get Your Sneakers Warmed Up!

Dust off your sneakers and get ready for the eighth annual SMA annual Walk-a-thon on Friday, October 6th! The event begins at 9 a.m. with our preschoolers doing laps around the parking lot and grades kindergarten and first doing laps around the track. 

Information with a sponsor sheet was sent home with students last week and we hope everyone is ready to participate.  There are lots of prizes to be awarded including the famous limo ride to school for the top fundraisers from the middle school level (6-8). 

To ensure the safety of our students, we are in need of as many volunteers as possible for the morning. Thank you to all who have already volunteered - you will receive a confirmation email.  For those who are still contemplating it, it's not too late!  Just call the main office or email n.coley@smaspringfield.org.  It's a fun day and the students have a blast - join us!




 Annual Pink Mass

THE ANNUAL PINK MASS 
IN HONOR OF MR. RANCITELLI

The annual PINK MASS will be celebrated this year on  Saturday, Sept. 16th at 4 p.m.  at St . Michael's Cathedral on State Street in Springfield. 

This Mass which is said for any and all impacted by cancer of any kind will be celebrated in h onor of  Mr. Michael Rancitelli  this year. It is open to all faiths.  Mr. Rancitelli and his wife , Laurel wrote the song  for the Mass,  Hope   is our Light , in 2011 and Michael performed it there. 

The family would like to invite you to attend. A reception with complimentary refreshments hosted by the Celebration of Hope follows immediately afterwards. 
 
 Spirit Days

Did You Know.....?

Did you know that every Friday at St. Michael's Academy is Spirit Day and students can wear their red T-shirts from last year's health fair?

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:

Dave Cross
Mamie Crawford
Josephine Cuoco
Shannon Friedrich
Alisha Harlow
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Kakley


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

Linda Scalise Perry

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 Cross Parish
First Communion & Confirmation
Sacrament Preparation

All Holy Cross Parishioners that attend St. Michael's Academy second grade, must attend First Confession as well as First Communion classes at Holy Cross. Please call Cathy Daniel at  413-372-6239 to schedule an intake as soon as possible. Classes will be starting very soon.  

The same applies to Holy Cross Parishioners that attend Pope Francis High. All tenth grade students should call to register. We now have a two-year Confirmation Program.


 Food For Thought

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."

                                                  Mother Teresa


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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