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St. Michael's Academy
:
As we begin the season of Lent, I think about our school mission of educating our students in their faith and of helping them to grow in their relationship with our God.
Throughout our school building, during this holy season, our students are receiving lessons on prayer, sacrifice and almsgiving. Included down below is the link to the NCEA Parent News newsletter which includes suggestions as to how to embrace Lent as a family. As home and school work together, and as our students continuously hear a consistent message from both environments, they grow by leaps and bounds.
Just as you support their academic development, please spend some time, especially during this season of Lent, focusing on the spiritual development. I guarantee you, done sincerely, it will be time well spent.
Peace and God's blessings,
Ms. Ann E. Dougal
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Important Dates
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Please Make A Note Of These Important Dates
Tuesday, March 12, 2019 at 5:30 p.m.
Home School Executive Committee Meeting
Thursday, March 14, 2019 at 9:30 a.m.
8th Grade Grandparent Breakfast
Friday, March 15, 2019
NO SCHOOL
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Monday, March 11, 2019 through Friday, March 22, 2019
IOWA Test of Basic Skills
See Test Taking Tips Below
Please remember to attend Church as a family
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The First SMA Cornhole Tournament!
St. Michael's Academy is hosting a Cornhole Tournament for alumni and current families on Saturday, June 8th beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Nathan Bill Park. We are encouraging all interested, and especially alumni, to form a team, come up with a creative team name and join us for an afternoon of spirited competition, along with food, fun and friendship!
Two food trucks, Foley's Franks from Nothampton and Mr. Whippy's Ice Cream truck will be present from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three winners.
Two amazing sets of cornhole boards, one Patriot themed, will also be raffled off that day. Online registration should be available by the end of March. More information to follow. Save the Date now!
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Perfect Attendance
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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. Here are this weeks winners!
Patrick - Gr. PreK-4 Justice - Gr. 4A
 
Tiffany - Gr. 7A
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From The Classroom of Mrs. Cullen - School Counselor
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What Do School Counselors Do?
I am blessed to have been hired and welcomed to The St. Michael's Academy community as your School Counselor this year! Since starting, I have been trying to connect with and learn the names of our students, administrators, families and staff. I believe it is helpful to explain the varied role of School Counselors in general as described by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA):
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Support academic progress via partnership with families and teachers.
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Help students who are struggling socially and/or emotionally either with individual meetings, classroom lessons, or connecting them to out of school support services.
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Help all students in the areas of academic achievement, career and social/emotional development, ensuring today's students become the productive, well-adjusted adults of tomorrow.
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School counselors support a safe learning environment and work to safeguard the human rights of all members of the school community.
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Please check out this video
here
about the importance of parent involvement.
Some of what I have worked on thus far as your School Counselor...
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Communication with teachers and families about student needs for either group or individual meetings.
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Writing student success plans when needed to promote positive student behavioral changes.
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Coordinating meetings for collaboration with administration, families and out of school professionals to increase student progress.
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Support students in transition.
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In collaboration with teachers, mediate peer social tensions as they arise for students.
I am grateful for the opportunity to get to know our students and how I can best support their social, emotional and/or academic needs. I am constantly reminding students to use kind words and actions. I also remind them of Psalm 46:1..."God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble".
God's blessings to all, Mrs. Cullen :-)
  
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Lent
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Embracing Lent As A Family
This month's Parent Engagement flyer
(in
English
and
Spanish
)
from the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) encourages families to observe Lent together. Simple, yet impactful activities can help strengthen family ties and educate everyone on the true meaning of the Lenten season.
These Parent Engagement flyers are meant to be tools you can use to support home and school relationships and to help build community spirit, as well.
May love be with you during this holy Lenten season.
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Catholicity
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Ash Wednesday Mass
Thank you to Msgr. Christopher Connelly from St. Michael's Cathedral for celebrating Mass with our school community on Ash Wednesday this week. Msgr. Connelly encouraged the students to pick someone everyday to pray for and reminded them that the season of Lent is about doing for others.
We also thank the 5th grade students for doing a great job hosting the Mass.
Stations of the Cross
We thank our 7th grade students who led us in the praying of the Stations of the Cross this afternoon. You are invited to join us on Fridays (when school is in session) during Lent at 2:15 p.m. at Holy Cross Church.
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Pray The Rosary
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NEW!
NEW!
NEW!
NEW! NEW!
NEW! NEW!
NEW!
Parents' Rosary Group
You are invited to join other parents to pray the rosary for our wonderful school - for our students, our families, and our teachers and staff. Please join us on Tuesdays at
8:30 a.m.
at Holy Cross Church. Rosaries and booklets will be provided. This will be an ongoing group.
We hope you can come!
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Spelling Bee
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St. Michael's Academy Attends Spelling Bee!
We congratulate all the 25 SMA students who participated in the big six Catholic school Spelling Bee that took place last night at St. Mary's Academy in Longmeadow.
We especially congratulate Lucas from 4B and Kiera from 6B who placed in the top six! We are very proud of you both!
Congratulations Lucas!
Congratulations Keira!
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Bake Sale
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Bake Sale Raises Money For Annual Appeal
We send out a HUGE thank you to all of the families that provided baked goods for our "Fat Tuesday" Bake Sale. The school was able to raise $1,100 which will be donated to the Annual Catholic Appeal.
Thanks for helping us to help others!
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Iowa Testing
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Tips For Test Prep
Getting Off On The Right Foot!
We will be beginning our two weeks of IOWA testing next Monday. Just a reminder of a few guidelines to help your child get off on the right foot:
- Make sure your children have eaten well on test days. Studies suggest that good nutrition is related to improved attention and concentration.
- Help your children by encouraging a good night's rest before exams. Children who are tired will have difficulty focusing on their work.
- Make the morning of test days pleasant. Stress will impair your children's ability to perform their best.
- Remind your children to dress comfortably, perhaps in layers, so that they are able to adjust to the temperature in the room.
- Ensure that your children make it to school on-time so that they do not miss any instructions and are allowed ample time to settle in and relax before the test begins.
- Don't be too anxious about your children's test scores. Although it is important to let them know that the tests should be taken seriously, it is also important not to increase test-taking anxiety.
- Don't underestimate your influence on your children. Taking an interest in what they are doing at school and helping them prepare for tests will certainly have a positive impact on them!
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Girls On The Run
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Attention Middle School Girls!
It's going to be a great season of learning to build confidence and self-esteem, managing stressful emotions, and making healthy choices.
We offer free running sneakers for girls who need them, and financial assistance is available (see the registration page for both).
Our Final 5k is at Springfield College, and we are expecting close to 2,000 runners! Don't miss out! Register today!
Practice Mondays and Fridays starting
March 18th
3:30-5:00 at St. Michael's Academy
Families, help your girls develop essential skills to navigate their worlds and establish a lifetime appreciation for health and fitness. Girls learn to recognize their strengths, gain a better understanding of who they are, what's important to them, the value of teamwork, and develop healthy relationships. Financial assistance is available.
Empower your girl today!
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Food For Thought
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"Our true worth does not consist in what human beings think of us. What we really are consists in what God knows us to be."
- St. John Berchmans
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Parish News
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Holy Name
Annual Lenten Mission
Date: Saturday, March 23rd
Time: After the 4:30 Mass (5:30-7:45 p.m.)
Where: Holy Name Social Center
Speaker: Deacon William Toller
Topic: "Catholic Social Teaching:
The Church's Best Kept Secret"
Cost: $10.00 (includes supper)
(Sign-up at church Masses the weekends of March 9 & 10, and 16 & 17; or at the rectory M-F, 8:30 a.m-4 p.m.)
Please join us for an evening of enlightenment, supper and final session with a closing blessing. We look forward to sharing this Lenten Mission with you.
Sponsored by the Holy Name Spiritual Life Commission
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St. Michael's Cathedral
We save the best 'til last. Wrap up the "Irish Season" at St. Michael's Cathedral's Irish Celebration dinner and revelry on March 30 after the 4 pm Famine Mass. Have fun with Jerry Murphy and Friends who will entertain. Tickets $20. for adults and $7. for kids ten and under. Please bring a non-perishable food item to help eliminate the problem of hunger in Springfield.
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RECONCILIATION SERVICE
Holy Cross Church, Holy Name Church,
and St. Paul's Church
Our shared Lenten reconciliation service will take place on Tuesday, March 19th, at Holy Cross Church, 221 Plumtree Road, Springfield, MA, starting at 5:30 p.m.
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Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Tomorrow night's Kof C pasta supper at Mt. Carmel is a mid winter evening out designed for families. Come and enjoy homemade Italian food for all ages, and children's activities and crafts.
That's tomorrow, Saturday, March 2, serving 5 to 6 p.m. Tickets at the door, $12 adults, $5 ages 5 to 12.
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Holy Cross
LENTEN ADULT FAITH FORMATION
"SABBATH: CREATING SACRED SPACE IN OUR LIVES"
A video series with Fr. Ron Rolheiser followed by discussion 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. On the following three Mondays: March 11th, March 18th, and April 1st. Please call Deacon Bill at the Holy Cross Church rectory to register.
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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.
And we pray in a special way for our recently departed.
Susan S. Campbell
Habonimana Matirde
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.
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Thank you for your interest in St. Michael's Academy. To ensure receipt, please add [email protected] 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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