Dear Parents and Friends of St. Michael’s School,
It has just been just over one week since our accreditation team concluded their visit and we, as a school community, forge ahead in our determination to exceptionally propel our students toward success, not only academically, but spiritually, emotionally, and physically. A challenge that faces all educators is to prepare our students for future jobs that have not yet been defined. In the past several years, a predominant focus nationwide has been in STEM related fields – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, because many believe the opportunity for jobs in those disciplines will be more abundant. STEM curricula also focus heavily on critical thinking and problem solving which are important skills for application and transfer. We, too, are expanding our STEM program because the interest and demand is high. However, we also believe in providing an education that supports learning across modalities, styles, and abilities, and we believe that students achieve greater success when they draw on the benefits of learning from a multitude of disciplines. We believe in the importance of
Educating the
Whole Child
and we are committed to ensuring that these programs will continue to be a part of the St. Michael’s School experience.
Roman Emperor Charles the Great (Charlemagne) is credited for, among other things, educational reform in medieval Europe. He is responsible for the foundation of the university system and established a course of study in developing essential thinking skills. These included four scientific arts (known as the Quadrivium):
Music, Arithmetic, Geometry
, and
Astronomy
; and three subjects encompassing the humanities (known as the Trivium):
Grammar, Logic,
and
Rhetoric.
While these subjects can trace their roots to Ancient Greece and Rome, the university system was a new concept, and, in fact, a liberal arts education today follows a similar outline. Of notable significance, the Church is largely responsible for much of the educational policies, practices, and scientific breakthroughs from which we benefit today. An excellent resource, if you are interested in this topic, is a book by Thomas E. Woods, Jr. entitled
How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization.
In addition to our basic academic curricula including English language arts, math, science, social studies, and religion, at St. Michael’s School, we also expose our students to the vast benefits of learning skills in art, music, physical education, technology, Yearbook/Theater Tech, and Spanish. Students enjoy an extensive library; they develop leadership potential through Student Council and Mercy Corps; they are supported in their learning by an extraordinary Resource Program, classroom aides, our school counselor, and after school in
PATHways;
and they can demonstrate their expertise by competing as a member on our Academic Decathlon Team. We believe that these programs are vital to Educating the Whole Child and ensuring our students are provided a well-rounded and balanced education that will better ensure them for future success.
Sadly, these programs are not fully funded by tuition revenue, and we must rely on fundraisers and donations to cover the expenses incurred in offering these “value-added” programs. I reach out to you once more and urge you to help our cause. To those who have already made a donation to “
The Fund for St. Michael’s School”
appeal – 35% of you - I am deeply grateful. For those who have not yet understood or embraced the importance of this appeal, or time has just gotten away from you, I ask you to prayerfully consider making a donation. Any gift, no matter the size, sends a crisp message that you, too, are committed and support our quest for excellence for all of our students. Our plans for a GREAT future are at our fingertips.
