Dear St. Michael's Middle School families,
It's the MOST wonderful time of year: Back to School time! We hope our Dragons are energized and ready to start a brand new year!
When you arrive for Middle School orientation on Monday, you will see some big campus changes. Construction has begun to bring our Lower School to the Middle School-- together on ONE campus.
As exciting as it is that construction is underway, the presence of large equipment and the logistics of creating the new Lower School require flexibility and patience by all Dragons. We are most appreciative of your support and understanding.
With the Middle School being an active construction zone, below please find important information regarding the construction process and upcoming changes to the School routine.
Safety
As our campus is bustling with children, please know that safety is our number one priority. St. Michael's specifically chose the construction firm of Kjellstrom and Lee because of their superior track record in building schools and managing the construction process around children.
K&L has worked with virtually every independent school in the Richmond area and they understand how to manage school, culture and family expectations. Because their crews will be working around children, K&L specifically does background checks on all employees and sub-contractors. They also understand that schools have lots of special events and they do their best to schedule deliveries and construction efforts to have the least amount of impact on these events and traffic.
Internally, the School will have ongoing discussions as well with students in morning meetings and advisor groups about respecting construction barriers and communicating any needed outdoor route changes to the gym or other outdoor spaces as construction continues.
Carpool/Car Circulation
For the first two weeks of School, the carpool route for morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up will run
as normal.
Click HERE for a visual carpool map. To aid with traffic flow around construction barriers, we encourage you to park in the lower parking lot by the gym if you plan to walk up to meet your child or visit the School office.
At the September 12 Middle School Back to School night, we will share information about new carpool routes that will go into effect in mid-September.
Distraction
In many ways, this construction project is a lifesize STEM project. Our Middle School faculty looks forward to incorporating educational activities related to the construction into their science, technology and math teachings.
We do understand that active construction might pose as a distraction for some students. Our teachers are mindful of this and will be guiding students to stay focused and making any classroom adjustments as needed.
Drive Safely
Lastly, thank you for driving slowly and carefully on our Campus and in the neighborhood around the School.
We have been advised by Traylor Estates that Richmond City police will have a presence in the neighborhood monitoring the posted speed limit. As we strive to be good neighbors, please observe all area speed limits, share the road and exercise caution while driving.
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing everyone on Monday!
Sincerely,
Michael G. Turner, Headmaster
Jessica Stargill, Middle School Director
