"The Messenger"


            February 28, 2020
      Vol. VII, No. 28
St. Michael's Academy
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On Tuesday, we celebrated Shrove Tuesday with a big bake sale, a last hurrah before we began the season of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Thank you to everyone who supported this event by baking and/or sending in a few dollars for some treats. Through this event, in just a few hours we were able to raise a little over $1,000 to support the Annual Catholic Appeal. The money raised through this Appeal is used to support the many ministries and service organizations of western Massachusetts. What a great way to enter into the season of Lent, where the focus turns from our needs to the needs of others! To learn more about the Annual Catholic Appeal or to make a donation, click here.
 
Next week, testing begins for students in Grades three through seven. As we all know, testing requires a lot of effort, so it's important that our students come in prepared to do their best. You can help by making sure they are well rested, well fed and on time for school. There are some tips down below in this newsletter. 
Thank you in advance for your support!
 
During Lent, we pray the Stations of the Cross every Friday at 2:15pm. We would love to have you join us if your schedule allows. It's perfect timing, especially for those who may be waiting in car line to pick up their child.
 
Peace and God's blessings,
 
Ms. Ann E. Dougal
Principal

  Important Dates
 
Please Make A Note Of These Important Dates

Banking every Wednesday
Violin every Thursday - Grade 2

Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at 5:30 p.m.
Enrollment Management Committee Meeting

Thursday, March 5, 2020 at 9:30 a.m.
School Mass with Fr. Warren Savage

Friday, March 6, 2020 at 2:15 p.m.
Stations of the Cross
Grade 6 Readers
Holy Cross Church



Please remember to attend Church as a family!

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.  Here are our recent winners:

         Suriena - Gr. KA                              Gavin - Gr. KA
                       Ted   - Gr. 3B                             Daniella - Gr. 4B
                 Nora - Gr. 8B                                Delianah - Gr. 8A
     
 Lenten Season 
 
The Season of Lent 

Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving

Lent is a time to open the doors of our hearts a little wider and understand our Lord a little deeper, so that when Good Friday and eventually Easter comes, it is not just another day at church but an opportunity to receive the overflowing of graces God has to offer.

We will pray the Stations of the Cross every Friday in Lent at 2:15 p.m. at Holy Cross Church.  Please feel free to join us!

 
 Registration
 
It's That Time Of The Year - Registration!

Yes, it's time to register for next year! Registration materials were sent home with your child today. and are due back on or BEFORE MARCH 27TH.  Registrations received after that date will be subject to a higher registration fee. 

As in years past, we have new students waiting to hear about their acceptance. Please help us by completing your paperwork and returning it with the appropriate registration fee as soon as possible. 



Iowa Testing

 Iowa Testing - Begins Monday!
How To Prepare
 
Students in grades 3 through 7 will be participating in Iowa testing for 2 weeks beginning on Monday and running through to March 12th.  As in the past, we recommend the following strategies to help your child prepare:

- 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! 


 From The Classroom of  Ms. Kaimi - Gr. 8

Lent Begins - Grade 8

Students returned to school this week after a well-deserved break!

We celebrated "Fat Tuesday" this week with our school-wide bake sale to support the Annual Catholic Appeal. Through the support of our St. Michael's Families, the guidance of our 8th grade students and the participation of the entire school community, we were able to raise $1,017.95.

To begin our Lenten season, Msgr. Connelly celebrated Mass with us on Ash Wednesday. As part of our teaching, students are reminded how to prepare themselves during Lent by participating in prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

This week, their prayer life included receiving ashes at Mass on Wednesday, participating in the Stations of the Cross, and being given the name of a fellow student to pray for throughout Lent.

The donated money from the school bake sale represents almsgiving and the Annual Catholic Appeal will use it to help those less fortunate. Individual almsgiving may also be continued through the use of the rice bowls sent home today.

And each of our classes have talked about fasting that might include reducing screen time, limiting the intake of sweets, and truly making a personal sacrifice in remembrance of Christ's sacrifice for us. 

We are off to a very positive start to the Lenten season!


Living Our Mission

Ash Wednesday

We began our Lenten season this week with a Mass on Ash Wednesday celebrated by Msgr. Christopher Connelly from St. Michael's Cathedral. We also thank our 6th grade students for hosting the Mass and participating as altar servers, readers and choir members.





Stations of the Cross

Our 7th grade students led us today as we began our weekly praying of the Stations of the Cross. 



 Step-Up Day 
   

A Brief Glimpse of 
Next Year!

All of our students were treated to a "sneak peek" of next year this week as we had our Step-up Day.  Students were able to go to next year's grade, visit the classroom and hear from the teachers                                         what exciting things will be in store for                                         them!


Kindergarten

Mardi Gras Fun!

Our Kindergarten students had some Mardi Gras fun this past Tuesday!



 
 Art Display
   
Getting Ready For Some Art Creativity!

Mark your calendars for the week of March 9th through the 13th. Why you ask? Because during that week, St. Michael's Academy will have an Art Show displaying the artwork from all of the St. Michael's Academy students. It will be displayed throughout the building. You will be amazed at the creative students that we have here!

Feel free to browse the artwork when you attend your parent/ teacher conference on Friday, March 13th!


B ake Sale

Thanks For A Great Bake Sale!
 
We send out thank yous in so many directions for helping to make our annual Bake Sale a huge success!  Through the kindness of our bakers, the organization and hard work of our 8th grade students and all of the bake sale customers...St. Michael's Academy was able to raise $1,017.95 for The Annual Catholic Campaign!

Of special note was the hard work of 4th graders, Zelie, Caroline and Daniella who wrote and produced an SMA student newsletter that they sold at the Bake Sale for 25 cents.  The three students raised $16.25 that they donated to the campaign!  Nice work ladies!



Effective Parenting
 
Effective Parenting

As we hear often with absolute truth, there is no parenting manual about exactly how to raise our children.  There are many challenges along the way due to our own life stressors, how we were raised, and our beliefs. There are times of extreme joy!  There are also times we feel like we are failing and our children will be unsuccessful. 

There are several researched strategies to effective parenting that maximize our ability to ensure their overall successful development.    Click here  to read the full article and learn more! 

 

  Amazon Smile



How many people shop Amazon? Exactly! 

Here is an easy effortless way to donate to St. Michael's Academy every time you shop online through Amazon. We are encouraging all families to sign up for AmazonSmile because Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of all eligible smile.amazon purchases to eligible charities. Since SMA has already registered with AmazonSmile, we now have our own unique link which you can click on when making a purchase online. This will automatically ask if you want to support St. Michael's Academy so that you can skip the charity selection process.

Our unique AmazonSmile link is https://smile.amazon.com/ch/27-0291815

Please feel free to share this link with other family and friends!

Girls on the Run


Attention Girls in Grades 3-5!

      Do you want to:
  • Build confidence and self-esteem
  • Manage stressful emotions
  • Make healthy choices
  • Make connections with other girls
  • Increase physical activity while having fun
  • Run a 5k at the end of the season
  • Practices begin on March 9th!
Then Girls On The Run is for you!
 
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!


Bottle and Can Drive
 
  Save Your Cans And Bottles!

Please Note DATE CHANGE!

St. Michael's Academy will be holding another can and bottle drive so start saving your cans and bottles!  You will have the opportunity to bring them in during Parent/Teacher conferences on Friday, March 13th or during the drive on  Saturday,  March 14th   between 9 a.m. and noon.
  
Help us earn money for St. Michael's Academy!



Social Media

Help Us On Facebook

Here is a simple way to help St. Michael's Academy on Facebook - If you receive a post from St. Michael's - please simply "share" it! 

This is a great way to extend our outreach and to improve our algorithms with Facebook! The more we share, the higher rating we have with Facebook.



 Breakfast and Lunch Menus  

Springfield Public Schools
 "Meal Viewer" 

Just a reminder that the breakfast and lunch menus are no longer being sent home with your child. The Springfield Public Schools has introduced the "Meal Viewer" where you can go to view the breakfast and lunch menus. 

To access the menus, please go to schools.mealviewer.com or download the app on your mobile device.  You will be asked to create a login and input any allergies your child might have. Search Springfield and find St. Michael's Academy and you will then be directed to the menus.  You can bookmark the site to make it easier for future access. 

The link will also be located on the St. Michael's Academy website under the student life section.  Once you log in, subsequent visits should take you right to the St. Michael's Academy menus.


 Parish News

St. Catherine of Siena

Corned Beef Dinner Fundraiser! 

St. Catherine of Siena invites you to join them for a corned beef dinner on March 14th in the Parish Center, 1023 Parker St., Springfield from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. 

Dinner includes corned beef, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, dessert and beverage for $7.50 per person. Tickets are available after all Masses and at the Parish Office. Take out is available. 
All proceeds to benefit the Parish.


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Holy Cross Church

Deacon John Miller and Holy Cross Church invite you to attend a "Catholicism" series on Wednesday evenings during Lent beginning on March 4th. The series will be hosted by Bishop Robert Barron and take place from 7-8 p.m. in the Holy Cross rectory parlor.  

This is a wonderful Lenten formation opportunity!


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Holy Name Church

Holy Name Parish in Springfield invites everyone to their Annual Lenten Mission on Saturday, March 7th in the Social Center right after the 4:30 p.m. Mass. Fr. Warren Savage will be presenting, and his topic will be "The Transfiguration". The cost is $10.00 and includes a light supper.  

Tickets will be on sale the weekend of February 22 & 23, and again February 29 & March 1. They are also available at the rectory office Monday-Friday 8:30a.m.-4p.m. Deadline for tickets is Monday, March 2nd. Call 733-5823 with any questions.





Food For Thought
 
"The fast of Lent has no advantage to us unless it brings about our spiritual renewal. It is necessary while fasting to change our whole life and practice virtue. Turning away from all wickedness means keeping our tongue in check, restraining our anger, avoiding all gossip, lying and swearing. To abstain from these things-herein lies the true value of the fast."
                        - St. John Chrysostom

Prayer Corner
 

St. Michael the Arch angel, pray for us! 
 
We pray for all St. Michael's Academy students, families, faculty, and staff, and their special intentions:

And we pray for all of our recently departed:

Mary Margaret Pellerin

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. 



Thank you for your interest in St. Michael's Academy. To ensure receipt, please add smanews@smaspringfield.org 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