Week of February 7, 2016

"Men and women love to wonder, and that is the seed of science."  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Everywhere you turn, the seeds of science are being sown on both of our campuses and are motivating our students to think harder, dig deeper and "wonder" more. 

In sixth grade science, students recently designed and built roller coaster tracks out of foam tubing, tape, books, marbles and other classroom items.  The project challenge was to see who could design the most effective, creative and safest roller coaster in the class.  This STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Art and Math) project ties in with their current studies of kinetic and potential energy.

Homeostasis, endoskeletons and nematodes, oh my!  In seventh grade life science, students are studying the anatomy of roundworms, sea stars, fish and frogs to determine the differences and similarities between echinoderms, chordates and vertebrates.

From experiments on mold and plants, to determining the effects of caffeine on typing speed and launching small vehicles with various propellants, to name a few, our fifth graders are creating hypotheses and conducting their individual experiments and analyses for the upcoming Science Fair on Friday, February 19.

As part of a third grade insulation science and engineering project, students recently built homes for a snowmen (in this case,  insulated structures for ice cubes) to see how long they could keep the ice from melting. Next week they will be designing and testing engineering structures to protect and prevent an egg from breaking when dropped from a high distance.

Re-Enrollment Contracts:
Contracts for the 2016/2017 School year have been mailed to our current families. Thanks for returning them to us by Monday, February 22.

Believe it or not, spring is right around the corner! Thus, the following after school spring sports options are open now for signup:

• Interscholastic Middle School Boys Lacrosse (grades 6-8)
  
• Interscholastic Middle School Girls Lacrosse  (grades 6-8)
• Middle School Mountain Biking (grades 6-8)
  
  
• Lower School Fishing (grades 1-5) - Monday Session OR Friday Session
  
• Lower School "Fun and Games" (Grades 3-5)
  

We are trying out a new digital sign up form for activities. Click HERE and follow instructions to sign up for selected activities.

We will be posting spring signups later this month for: 

• Lower School Lego Engineering
• Lower School ArtHaus Art Classes
• Lower School Championship Chess
  

Any questions? Please contact Athletic Director Wally Kern.

Faculty News

After a long career, we would like to share with you that a beloved member of our Middle School staff, Anne Mikula, will be retiring at the end of the School year.  Mrs. Mikula has left an indelible mark on St. Michael's and our love and best wishes go with her as she begins her next adventure outside of our School walls. (Rumor has it, spoiling her new granddaughter plays big in the mix.) 

In the days ahead, please join the School in thanking her for all of her contributions to St. Michael's. Mrs. Mikula shared that she will miss most being around our St M young adults who give her extra energy each day.

Mrs. Mikula, always remember... Once a Dragon, always a Dragon! 

Birthday Books

The presentation of Birthday Books to the library is a special tradition at St. Michael's. Each year, students may choose a favorite book from a selection of new books set aside in the library, from a bookstore or by special order through the library. The second assembly honoring Birthday Book presentations will be held on the Bon Air Campus on Thursday, March 31.

The deadline to submit Birthday Books is March 17. If you have questions, please contact Carol Wise.

What a GAME!

Congrats to the WHITE team for winning the 2016 SMBA Championship against the Blue team in DOUBLE OVERTIME!

The best part of our unique SMBA basketball program is COMMUNITY! Our teams are co-ed and foster cross-grade relationships (as the teams include Lower School and Middle School players). St. Michael's alumni eagerly come back each year and coach. (Thank you Coaches!!) Our students and families cheer the players on and celebrate the hard work, sportsmanship and efforts of all of the teams. And our faculty even provides final game half-time entertainment. Special thanks to the SMPA for hosting the pre-game s'mores roast and thanks to everyone for a truly memorable season! GO DRAGONS! 

Have You Ever Tasted Stone Soup?

A band of hungry soldiers, denied food by some suspicious villagers, publicly declare that they can create soup from STONES. They just need an onion, and perhaps a carrot, and maybe a rutabaga to make it taste first-rate. As pantries are pilfered and root cellars ransacked, everyone in the village provides something. In the end, the stone soup is proclaimed scrumptious, and more importantly, this little hamlet discovers the true magic behind the recipe: SHARING.

Applause to Mrs. Baldwin's first grade class for a fun and memorable performance on Friday! A big THANK YOU to all of our family volunteers, Mr. Tickle and Mrs. Baldwin for all of their hard work and efforts to make this performance a success!

Girl Scout Food Drive for the St M Church Food Pantry

Girl Scout Troop 426 will be having a canned food drive to benefit the St. Michael's Church food pantry during the week of February 12-18. Please encourage your child to support this community service project by donating canned food items during this period!  (no glass items)

The Girl Scouts will place boxes for food collection in the front halls of the Lower and Middle Schools on Friday, February 12.  They will collect food boxes on Thursday, February 18 for distribution to the St. Michael's Church food pantry.

Lots of Exciting After School Enrichment Opportunities 

St. Michael's Church Extended Day Program is excited to announce the following after-school enrichment opportunities:

• Jump Starz uses the sport of double-dutch to build confidence and improve cardio-health while empowering youth to set and reach goals. Weekly classes start on 2/10, every Wednesday from 3:30-4:30 p.m. 
  
• Registration is also NOW under way for Multi-Media ART Lessons (by ArtHaus). Classes are on Thursdays from March 3-April 28. Cost is $175.  All new art lessons!
  
• For information and to register, please contact Colby Nauth  at 804-272-0992, Ext 106.
  

Ash Wednesday & Lent, from Rev. Jeunée

Ash Wednesday (February 10)

• St. Michael’s students, families, teachers and staff are invited to join St. Michael’s church for the Ash Wednesday services, held at 7 a.m., noon or 7 p.m.
• Additionally, Rev. Jeunée will once again offer “Ashes to Go” on February 10 for parents and students at the Lower School campus at morning drop off, 8:00 a.m., at Ticer Hall near McRae Rd, and then at the Middle School Campus during pick up at 2:50 p.m.

Let's Be Friends! 

Current and past issues of "This Week at St. Michael's" are now archived on our website under "News and Events," as well as under "Community."