| Week of December 8, 2014 (It's a long issue this week, but lots happening in December!)
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| HOUR OF CODE: A GLOBAL EVENT We live in a world surrounded by technology. And we know that whatever fields our students choose to go into as adults, their abilities to succeed will increasingly hinge on understanding how technology works. Helping our students lay the foundations for 21st century skills and building their confidence in technology and computer science are built into our curriculum.
That’s why our School will be joining in on the largest learning event in history: The Hour of Code, taking place this week during Computer Science Education Week (December 8-14). Last year, 15 million students tried computer programming in one week. This year, we're joining students worldwide to reach the global goal of 100 million students!
Across both Campuses, our students will code using kid-friendly computer games and tutorials. Yes, even kindergarten!
Our Middle School students are already experienced at coding. In fact, our 7th and 8th graders have completed over 20 hours of code this year on various technology and website projects, including writing HTML and video game design.
Check out learn.code.org to see examples of the coding games and projects our children will utilize this week and even try your hand here at coding the lights of the White House Christmas trees. Be sure to ask your kids for help if you need it!
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Join Us for the Next "Meetings With Michael" Conversations
Mr. Turner invites families to join him for an exchange of ideas on the topic of "Outside the Classroom." The meetings will explore the school’s co-curricular program as well as students' activities beyond St. Michael’s.
If you’re planning to attend, please consider the following questions:
- How do adults invest and manage students' time?
- How do students invest and manage their own time?
- What is or might be an “awesome” element in St. Michael’s co-curricular program?
The meetings dates are as follows: (feel free to attend the date/time/ location that best fits your schedule)
- Tuesday, December 9 at 2 p.m. AND 7 p.m., on the Bon Air Campus (in the Atrium)
- Wednesday, December 10 at 8:15 a.m., on the Singleton ampuCs (Great Hall).
Thank you to the SMPA for hosting this program. Hope you can join us!
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| Our LEGO Robotics Team at the State Championship! The Blue Dragons LEGO Robotics team headed to the Virginia/DC First Lego League State Championships this weekend to compete with 40 other Division II regional robotics tournament winners at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. DRAGON PRIDE!
Book Fair Gift Cards: The SMPA is selling Book Fair Gift Cards that can be redeemed during the St M Book Fair on January 27-29. Gift cards can be purchased November 24-December 17. Click here for more information. Lower School Holiday Community Outreach: The Lower School will be participating in an outreach project to help the Children's Hospital of Richmond, The Virginia Home and Ronald McDonald House during the Christmas season. Our students will learn about the wonderful missions of each of these organizations, make Christmas cards in art class for the patients and residents and collect needed toiletry and personal care items for these organizations. Click here for more information and a list of needed items. Please bring these items to School by Wednesday, December 10th. Thank you! Middle School Holiday Community Outreach: Our Middle Schoolers will be selling Candy Cane's for $1.00 to benefit Heifer International.
Spirit wear orders have arrived! Lower School families: please pick up your orders in the SMPA room no later than Friday, December 12. Middle School orders have already been distributed. Thanks! A Fruitful Competition: The November Fruit Challenge wrapped up on Friday, November 21st. A total of 2,661 fruit notes were earned by the Lower School students. The fruit sticky notes actually surrounded the walls half way around the gym! For the 15 days of the challenge, students averaged eating 11.1 pieces of fruit. Congratulations go to the 2nd grade students, who won the challenge, averaging 12.1 pieces of fruit per student during the 15 days. This was one competition, however, where everyone who participated really was a winner! Coming in January: Look for our Fitness Challenge!
Friendly Reminders: - The Reason for the Season: As St. Michael's emphasizes the religious part of the Christmas season, gift giving at school is discouraged. As we do understand that families want to acknowledge our wonderful teachers during the holidays, on behalf of all families, the SMPA provides funds for room parents to provide a class gift.
- Remember to support St M when you shop at Target, Amazon, Kroger and Martin's! Click here to register and support our School and the SMPA.
- Missing a Coat? Our Lost and Found is really growing with lots of coats and other items. Please check in the office and the gym for any missing items.
- Volunteers driving for field trips are please asked to wait outside the office for students to come from their classrooms to depart. This keeps volunteers from having to sign-in and classroom/instructional areas from becoming crowded with understandably excited volunteers.
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Middle School Admissions
'Tis the season… to start thinking about Middle School Admissions! Please help us spread the word to prospective rising sixth grade families that we are accepting applications and Middle School tours are every Friday. (Please call to schedule.)
Our Middle School Open House is Sunday, January 11, 2015, at 2 p.m. for prospective families and at 3 p.m. for our current St. Michael's families at the Singleton Campus. Click here to register. We hope you will visit and see how We Do Small in a BIG Way!
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| A Penguin Christmas
Penguins and a film crew at the North Pole? There must be some mistake! Did these pesky penguins really think they could replace the elves and reindeer at the North Pole on the busiest night of the year? What a fun morning of mayhem and merriment on Friday as Ms. Somerville's class presented "A Penguin Christmas!" (BIG thanks to Ms. Somerville, Mr. Tickle and ALL of the parent volunteers who helped make this show happen!)
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| Let's Be Friends!
Get connected to keep abreast of St M news, events, calendar changes and information.
Current and past issues of "This Week at St. Michael's" are now archived on our website under "News and Events."
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| 10 more school days until Christmas break, not that our students are counting... ;) Lower School: - Band Concert, Monday, December 8, 8:30 a.m., Dundas Hatcher
- Chapel, Tuesday, 12/9, 8:30 a.m.
- Chapel Pal Ornament Exchange, Tuesday, 12/9, 9 a.m. (K and 5th Grades)
- Book Club, Tuesday, 12/9, 3 p.m.
- Championship Chess, Wednesday, 12/10, 2:40 to 3:40 p.m.
- Holiday Community Outreach Toiletry Donations due by Wednesday, 12/10. Thank you for your support!
- Boys JV Bball practice, Tuesday, 12/9, 5:30-7 p.m.
- Boys JV Bball practice, Thursday, 12/11, 7-8:30 p.m.
- Boys JV Bball GAME, Saturday, 12/13, 4 p.m. @STM vs. Seven Hills
- SMBA GAMES, Saturday, 12/13, 8:30 a.m. (1 vs.3) and 9:30 a.m. (2 vs. 5)
Middle School: - Band Concert, Monday, December 8, 2 p.m., Great Hall, Singleton Campus
- Advent Chapel, Friday, 12/12, 2:10 p.m.
- MS Christmas Dance, 12/12, 7 p.m.
- Coming up: Eighth Grade Exams, December 12-19. Click here for the exam schedule.
Sports:
- Boys JV Bball practice, Tuesday, 12/9, 5:30-7 p.m.
- Boys JV Bball practice, Thursday, 12/11, 7-8:30 p.m.
- Boys JV Bball GAME, Saturday, 12/13, 4 p.m. @STM vs. Seven Hills
- Boys Varsity A Bball practice, Monday, 12/8, 3-4:30 p.m.
- Boys Varsity A Bball practice,Thursday, 12/11, 3-4:30 p.m.
- Boys Varsity A Bball GAME, Saturday, 12/13, 2 p.m. @STM vs. St. Christopher's
- Boys Varsity B Bball practice, Monday, 12/8, 6:30-8 p.m.
- Boys Varsity B Bball practice,Wednesday, 12/10, 6:30-8 p.m.
- Boys Varsity B Bball GAME, Saturday, 12/13, 3 p.m. @STM vs. Lourdes
- Girls Bball Varsity A&B practice, Monday, 12/8, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
- Girls Bball Varsity A&B practice, Thursday, 12/11, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
- Girls Varsity A&B Bball GAME, Saturday, 12/13, 10:30 a.m. @STM (vs. AJ Cooper)
- SMBA GAMES, Saturday, 12/13, 8:30 a.m. (1 vs.3) and 9:30 a.m. (2 vs. 5)
- Swim Team practice: Sunday, 12/7 and 12/14, 4:30-5:30 p.m. (at St. Catherine's pool)
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