"Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation." Psalms 85:8
Message from the Principal
Dear St. Michael-St. Gabriel Families and Friends,

We are excited to welcome both our new and returning students to St. Michael-St. Gabriel this year. We want to thank those families who joined us for our Town Hall meeting this past Monday. If you still have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Below this newsletter, you will find information about our re-entry plan for the year. Remember that per the guidance of the Marion County Health Department, our students in Grades 6-8 will need to start the year in a hybrid model. 

We want to remind our families that at this time, parents will not be allowed into the school building. We understand that this is difficult as we begin a new year, but it is for the safety of all students and staff members, as we need to limit who enters our building. We will have staff members available to see that students get to the cafeteria or to their classrooms when they are dropped off. 

Additionally, if a student or family member has come in contact with someone outside of school who has COVID-19, the student is required to stay home and quarantine for 14 days. Also, if a student has been tested and is still waiting for test results, please do not send your student to school until you receive those test results. Notify the school office if either of these situations are applicable to your family. We all need to do our part to ensure the safety and wellness of all. 

School begins on Tuesday, August 11th for students in Grades 5-8 only. Students in Pre-Kindergarten-Grade 4 will have their first day of school on Wednesday, August 12th. We will dismiss at 1:30 p.m. each of these days. Please also remember that hot lunch will not begin until the following full week of school, so students need to bring their own lunches from home. Also, per our wellness policy, students may not consume fast food, so please do not send your child to school with fast food. See that they have these lunches when they are dropped off in the morning to minimize disruptions throughout the school day. 

Remember that masks are required. We ask that you consider placing a spare mask in your student’s backpack as well. Each student who does not have a mask will receive one cloth mask from the school at the beginning of the year, as needed. Please remember to also provide a mask for PreK students for those times they are in the hallways. 

Please remember to return your Health and Safety Plan sheet for each child enrolled in our school. If you need another copy, please ask. This is a requirement of all students returning to our building. 

Again, we appreciate your willingness to work with us as we navigate this unknown territory. Please know that we continue to pray for you and your families. We ask that you also keep us in your daily prayers as well.

God Bless,

Mrs. Ramos
St. Michael-St. Gabriel Re-Entry Plan

The following plan will be implemented for students at St. Michael-St. Gabriel to begin the year.

*Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 5 will receive in-person instruction on campus Monday-Friday.

*Students in Grade 6 will receive in-person instruction on campus Monday-Tuesday and Thursday-Friday. They will conduct E-learning on Wednesday. 

*Students in Grade 7 will receive in-person instruction on campus Monday and Tuesday. Students will participate in virtual learning on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday via Google Meetings. 

*Students in Grade 8 will receive in-person instruction on campus Thursday and Friday. Students will participate in virtual learning on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday via Google Meetings. Please note that those students who are taking high school classes at Cardinal Ritter will be able to join the Google Meeting of their class on days when they are not on campus.

Update: We will implement the hybrid model for Junior High beginning August 13th. 

Additionally, we have some families who have inquired about virtual learning for their child(ren) for the school year, regardless of the above plan. If you are interested in this option, please contact Mrs. Ramos or schedule a phone call to discuss this plan and to complete our remote learning agreement. Families will need to complete an agreement in order for this request to be honored. Please note that at this time, the On My Way PreK grant will not fund virtual learning, which means families would be responsible for the tuition to cover virtual learning. 
In case you missed it here is a link to the replay of our Re-Entry Town Hall Webinar we held last Monday. We answered a lot of question some of which you might have.
Faith & Service
PRAYER TO END RACISM

God of love and justice, St. Paul proclaimed that “there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. May we be emboldened by your living Word to rid the world of the sin of discrimination in our attitudes and actions. Help us to seek the unity that Paul saw so clearly so that all forms of injustice will cease. Grant us the courage and determination to be prophets of peace. May we welcome one another as brothers and sisters, rooted in your everlasting love. Amen.
Prayer Requests 
As a Catholic and Christian community, we believe in the power of prayer, and we certainly want to keep your intentions in our prayers. If there is anyone or anything for which you would like us to pray, please submit your request using this link: forms.gle/uzxArWikcsHtvyuMA. We have various groups throughout the school who will be praying for your intentions each week. Feel free to bookmark this tab and use it regularly. 

Thinking Catholic Podcast
Anthony Basso, a theology teacher at CRHS, is now hosting a podcast about living the Catholic faith. Each episode is about a different aspect or topic related to understanding and living the teachings of the Church and strengthening our discipleship of our Lord, Jesus Christ. If you have feedback, questions or would like to suggest future topics for the podcast you can email Mr. Basso at abasso@cardinalritter.org. You can listen to the Podcast by the button below, Twitter: @TCpodcaster, or Facebook: Thinking Catholic Podcast.
Pope Francis prayer for protection from Coronavirus

O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign
of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick.
At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain,
with steadfast faith.
You, Salvation of the Roman People, know what we need.
We are certain that you will provide, so that,
as you did at Cana of Galilee,
joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the Father’s will
and to do what Jesus tells us:
He who took our sufferings upon Himself,
and bore our sorrows to bring us,
through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection.
Amen.
We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God.
Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test
– and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
Announcements
Note from Our Counselor

We understand that this period of time can be challenging. If you're finding yourself in a difficult situation financially or emotionally, please contact Mrs. Samperio. We have a limited supply of uniforms, backpacks, school supplies, masks, and basic need items. We can also make referrals to other agencies that can help. Please contact by email at esamperio@archindy.org or text message at (317)662-4234. 
 
Entendemos que este período puede ser difícil. Si se encuentra en una situación financiera o emocionalmente dificil, póngase en contacto con la señora Samperio. Tenemos un suministro limitado de uniformes, mochilas, útiles escolares, máscaras y artículos de necesidad básica. También podemos hacer referencias a otras agencias que pueden ayudar. Póngase en contacto por correo electrónico en esamperio@archindy.org o mensaje de texto al (317)662-4234.
Seeking Parents to Lead Our PTA for 2020-2021

St. Michael-St. Gabriel is currently looking for a few parents to Co-Chair our PTA for this year and to also assist with larger events. While many of our annual events have already been canceled or postponed for the coming year, we still have some activities to plan, as well as our Walk-A-Thon. If you are interested, please contact Mrs. Ramos at lramos@indyarchangel.org.
News from the Catholic Identity and Mission Effectiveness Committee

This committee is made up of representatives from our 3 West Deanery Unified Catholic Schools, Cardinal Ritter, St. Michael-St. Gabriel Elementary School and St. Anthony Catholic School, our chaplain coordinator Father DeCrane, and board members. We are charged with ensuring the Catholic identity of our schools through participation in liturgies, faith formation, retreats , prayer and so much more. 

This year the committee has identified a central theme that will be integrated throughout the buildings.

We are excited to make
"One Body in Christ, One Spirit of Christ,One Mission United in Christ"
our Schools theme for the 2020-2021 school year
Volunteers Needed for Morning Drop-Off and Afternoon Pick-up

This fall we are in need of dedicated volunteers to help with our morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up, as teachers and staff will have additional duties and supervision roles within the school. Volunteers will be asked to help with directing traffic and guiding cars to the proper locations for drop-off and pick-up. Morning volunteers are needed generally from 7:00-7:50 a.m. Afternoon volunteers are needed from 2:00-3:00 p.m. All volunteers, even those working outside our building, must have completed the Safe and Sacred training required by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. If you can help, please contact Mrs. Ramos at lramos@indyarchangel.org. 
SCHOOL CHOICE APPOINTMENTS - UPDATED

Hello SMSG Families,

At this time, we can safely begin having our Choice Scholarship meetings for the 2020-2021 school year. I will be available on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Please contact me (Misty Areal) or Mrs. Terminio de Celis to make your appointment.

Appointments will look a little different this year. We are asking that when you arrive for your appointment, you do the following: 
 
  1. Please remain in your vehicle.
  2. Call the school office to let us know that you have arrived - (317) 926-0516.
  3. I will come down to greet you and gather income information and return to my office to submit the application. 
  4. After completing the application, I will return to you with the Choice Paperwork that requires your signature.
 
If you have any questions, please contact me.
 
Misty Areal
Accounts Representative
Required Devices Incoming for Grades 7 & 8 

This is a reminder that all incoming seventh and eighth grade families must have a device (iPad, Chromebook, tablet, or laptop) for school next year. Cell phones will not count as one’s electronic device. Families may purchase a Chromebook through the school. You just need to complete the purchasing agreement you were sent with the school to have one ordered. If you have any questions, please contact us. 
Gym Uniforms
Remember that all junior high students are required to have a gym uniform purchased through the school. The cost for each set (one t-shirt and one pair of shorts) is $20. Additional shirts and shorts may also be purchased for $10 a piece. These can be purchased during the summer months through the main office. Just call us in advance so we can have the items waiting for you. 
Box Tops for Education

In case you haven’t heard, the collection of Box Tops is now moving away from the traditional clipping of Box Tops to now scanning your receipt! The new and improved Box Tops mobile app uses technology to scan your store receipt to find participating products and then instantly adds the Box Tops to our school’s earnings online. Simply go to your app store and download the Box Tops for Education app. Then choose St. Michael School (3352 West 30th Street, Indianapolis). It’s easy and saves you time! For more information, click here.