|
Like us on Facebook!
Follow us on Twitter!
|
|
|
|
|
St. Michael's Academy
:
Well, we've opened school, transitioned in grades 1 through 8 and PreK and K, started up the breakfast and lunch program, engaged our remote learners, settled into the car lines and completed a full week. We're ready to take on the Extended Day Program!
 On Monday, the Before School Program will open its doors at 6:30 a.m. Students should be dropped off at the cafeteria entrance (only entrance with outdoor steps) on Eddywood Street and be housed in the cafeteria at grade level tables. During the morning program, students may use the time to finish up homework, study for their classes, or bring along with them coloring books, puzzle books, or some other kind of independent activity to keep them occupied. Unfortunately, because of the restrictions on sharing and distancing, we cannot provide toys, games, etc. for the students to use. Students may also bring with them a morning snack. The program will run until 8 a.m. at which time they will be dismissed to their homeroom classes.  The After School Program is not quite so straight forward as the Before School Program. Between 3:30 and 4:30 we will be housing the Grades 4-8 students in the cafeteria, the Grades K-3 students in grade level classrooms and the PreK students in the gym. During this time period, PreK parents should pick up their children at the gymnasium parking lot door (park on Wheeler St., NOT Arvilla St.). Look for the doorbell by the gymnasium glass doors. If the PreK student has older siblings, the teacher will call for them to be dismissed to the gymnasium with their younger sibling (one stop shopping!). All other students should be picked up at the Eddywood St. cafeteria door. When you arrive at the door, the teacher will call for your children located in the cafeteria as well as the classroom spaces.
After 4:30, the plan is to move all the students to the cafeteria, but really that time is fluid, it will depend on how many students we have at that moment. So, be ready to be flexible, at least for awhile. Eventually, we settle into a routine and everything becomes easier. The one other possible scenario is that we take the younger students out to the playground to play. (This probably will happen in time). In this case, parents would park on Wheeler St. and sign their child out with the supervising teachers on the playground. Students may (and should) pack a snack for the After School Program.
 Parents, pat yourself on the back for your car line etiquette! Very nice! (Keep it up!) Overall, now that the After School Program is starting, the lines should get shorter. However, Wheeler car line is much longer than the Eddywood car line, so, we're moving the M's back to Eddywood, starting on Monday. And please remember, Arvilla St. is reserved for PreK parents only. Please do not use it as a cut through street. Thank you! Looking ahead on the calendar, our first transition day back into the classroom for remote learners, is scheduled for Thursday, October 1st. To prepare for the transition, parents should notify the homeroom teacher by Friday, September 25th, if you intend to have your remote learner return to in school learning.  This week we also started a daily Mass program. Starting with the eighth graders, and working backward to the second graders, each grade level is taking a turn to attend Mass. Since we cannot gather in large groups, this program allows our students the opportunity to celebrate Mass together as a class and to spend time deepening their relationship with God. We are grateful to Fr. David Raymond and Deacon John Miller from Holy Cross Parish, for making this commitment to St. Michael's Academy and for providing spiritual direction for our students. Finally, mark your calendars! This year, due to the pandemic, we will be conducting a Virtual Walk-a-thon. Technically, we have designated Friday, October 9th as the Walk-a-thon date, but the Walk-a-thon may be completed any day that (extra) long weekend. Friday will be considered an All School Remote Learning Day and the work for the day will be to complete a walk with the family and to complete a short assignment related to the walk. Our hope is that families will embrace this opportunity to spend time as a family and will be creative in their walk choice. More information about the Walk-a-thon will be sent home next Friday.  As our community settles back into the routine of school and everyone becomes more comfortable, please remember not to falter in your diligence in conducting the daily wellness checklist with your child(ren) and adhering to the mighty three (mask, hand washing, social distancing). This is especially true over weekends, when we tend to visit others. We've enjoyed two beautiful weeks back in school. Let's keep our track record going!
Enjoy a restful weekend!
Ms. Ann E. Dougal
Principal
|
|
|
Extended Day
|
Before and After School Program Opens!
The SMA Before and After School Program will begin on Monday, September 21st. Please make sure you have submitted an extended day form in order to participate. For additional details, please see Ms. Dougal's message.
|
|
From The Classroom Of Mrs. Alves - Art Room
|
The Art Room Is On The Move!
The start of this school year has been a transition with new routines and everyone getting back to work. Even without the art room walls around them, all the artists from Pre-K through 8th grade have gotten back into the swing of things and are getting used to the new way of creating art in a new environment.
Students in Pre-K have been working on how to use their crayons to create lines and textures. They will spend a great deal of their art time working through the proper use of tools and materials in a safe and structured way that is engaging and fun for these developing artists. The paper that we use in art is often larger than the students themselves, giving them lots of space to spread out and get creative.
Students from Kindergarten through 8th grade have been discussing the new routines and procedures while getting acquainted with our new students and our online learners. Everyone is settling in for a new year of art experiences. Our plan is to build an Art Portfolio that is representative of all that art can teach us using the elements and principles such as line, shape, value, texture and form. Students will explore the basics of what makes art special and important so that they may be able to apply what they have learned into their other academic classes.
|
|
Remote Learning
|
Remote Learners
Even though your child may be a remote learner, we will still need to have on file the following forms:
Even though your child is learning from home, we still need these forms on file in the event that they return to school in person. The forms were emailed to all remote learning families. If you need another copy, please click on the form above. We ask that you complete and return them to your homeroom teacher as soon as possible.
Thank you!
|
|
Events
|
The Walkathon Is Approaching!
GET READY... GET SET...
LET'S GET OUT AND WALK!
Join us for an exciting twist on our annual Walkathon! St. Michael's Academy will hold its annual Walkathon VIRTUALLY this year from October 9th through 12th. This year your whole family will participate! You will be able enjoy a great time with your family AND raise money for St. Michael's Academy. The route will be your choice! It's a WIN/WIN!
You will have four days to complete your walk - choose any day that works for your family. PRIZES will be awarded in some COOL categories like:
*The longest walk!
*The most interesting historical landmark found on your walk!
*The highest elevation reached on your walk!
*The most interesting nature walk with wildlife and/or water found!
* The best urban walk
*The best video submitted detailing your whole walk (maximum length - 4 minutes)
And we will still have all of the prize categories from previous walkathons like most money raised, the homeroom with the 100% participation, and don't forget that LIMO RIDE TO SCHOOL for top raisers in the middle level!
Mark the date on your calendar and start planning now!
|
|
Advancement
|
Thank You Diocese of Springfield!
St. Michael's Academy sends out a big THANK YOU to The Foundation of the Diocese of Springfield for their generous grant of over $10,000 for the replacement of four exterior doors. We are grateful for their commitment to the safety of our students and Catholic education in the Diocese of Springfield!
|
|
Catholicity
|
Daily Mass
St. Michael's Academy is pleased to announce that Fr. David Raymond from Holy Cross Church has graciously agreed to provide a daily Mass for the school beginning at 1:35 p.m. Due to seating limitations incurred by Covid, we will have one grade level (Grades 2-8) attend Mass each day. This will mean that every grade will have an opportunity to attend Mass every 7 school days!
We are extremely grateful to Fr. Raymond, who has been joined by Deacon John Miller, for providing our students with this wonderful opportunity!
|
|
Fun In Grade 3
|
"Saving Fred"
At the beginning of the year, Ms. Quesnel's 3rd grade class does and activity called "Saving Fred". The students have to save Fred (a gummy worm) from drowning after his raft (a cup) capsizes and his life vest (a gummy ring) gets stuck under the raft. The students can only use two paper clips to get Fred safely into his life vest without him touching the water (or their desks). The students are very creative and come up with great tactics to save Fred!
SUCCESS! 
|
|
Smile!
|
Photos From Around The Classrooms!  
|
|
Food For Thought
|
"We can't have full knowledge all at once. We must start by believing; then afterwards we may be led on to master the evidence for ourselves."
- St. Thomas Aquinas
|
|
Prayer Corner
| |
St. Michael the Archangel, pray for us!
We pray for our brothers and sisters across our nation and across the world. May God give everyone strength during these especially stressful times.
We pray in a special way for all of our families and friends.
We pray for our recently departed and for all those lives that have been taken by the Covid-19 virus across the world.
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 [email protected] to your address book.
You may unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our newsletter and emails. Please note this will remove you from ALL St. Michael's Academy communications. Thank you!
St. Michael's Academy 153 Eddywood Street - Springfield, MA 01118
www.smaspringfield.org 413.782.5246 office 413.782.8137 fax
|
|
|
|
|
