| Week of February 28, 2016
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| Teaching Kids to Think Like Engineers
When Leonardo da Vinci envisioned a flying machine in the 1480's, the idea of humans being able to fly was so preposterous that his design for a helicopter-like “aerial screw” never left the pages of his sketchbook.
Yet the idea triggered four and a half centuries’ worth of engineering thinking, building, crashing and improving upon da Vinci’s original notion, until the first airplane finally took off in the early 1900s. Further refinements have since turned the once-imaginary hovering vehicle into a powerful and prevalent machine.
At St. Michael's, we challenge our students to think and learn the way engineers do — creatively, critically and collaboratively — even if the ideas they come up with are ahead of their time or technology. Our students learn how to navigate a challenge by trying, sometimes failing, rethinking their designs and then trying some more.
This week, our seventh grade technology class "Driven" project required students to design alternative ways to power an automobile. In pairs, students used the design cycle (inquire and analyze, develop ideas, create and evaluate) to research, design, test, build and reflect on a vehicle design that is powered without the use of fuel or electricity. The goal of the challenge was to create a vehicle that would travel a longer distance than any other vehicle in the class. The students then competed to see which design was the most successful.
At the Lower School, teams of students were challenged to build the tallest free-standing towers they could build using provided materials in a 30-minute time limit. Using spaghetti and marshmallows, students experimented with different structures to determine which ones were able to handle the greatest load. Their experiments helped them to further understand the effects that compression and tension forces have with respect to the strength of structures.
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| Kindergarten Enrollment Contracts Due by Noon on Thursday, March 3. Thank you.
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| Support the St. Michael's Annual Fund! (% to date)
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| Your support makes the difference --making the St. Michael's experience an exemplary one for our students. From academics to athletics to the arts to technology, your Annual Fund gifts ensure a challenging, competitive and vibrant community for students. Click here to make a difference!
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Got Lunch? - HOT LUNCH orders are due tomorrow, Monday, 2/29.
- PIZZA FRIDAY orders are due on Wednesday, 3/2.
Click here for the order forms.
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| MS Girls/Boys LAX and Track Starts This Week
- The Girls Lacrosse team will start practice on Monday, February 29. Practices will run from 3 to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Players should bring a stick, mouth guard, eye guards, a water bottle, running shoes, and season appropriate clothes. We will be practicing outside if the weather permits. Cleats are optional. Questions? Please contact Mrs. Martin.
- The Boys Lacrosse Team will start practice on Monday, February 29, Practices will run from 5:30-7:00 p.m. Equipment needed: helmet, shoulder pads, stick, mouth guard, gloves, cup. Questions? Please contact Mr. Kern.
- The MS Track team will meet for Orientation and a Fun Run at the Singleton Campus, 3:30-4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1.
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Last Call for LS/MS Spring Sports And Activity Signups! Still need to sign up for Lower School and Middle School spring sports and activities? Click here to view activity information and registration links.
Any questions? Please contact Athletic Director Wally Kern.
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| Share with Us What You Love MOST About St M!
Every day our faculty and staff bring into our classrooms their love of teaching and passion for inspiring children, as they strive to make every child's and family's experience at St M a meaningful and special one. Will you share with us what you LOVE MOST about St. Michael's? Click HERE and send us your thoughts.
We LOVE all of our St M families and thank you to all who have already submitted input!
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| Bravo! Brava!
This past weekend was an eventful one! After months of hard work and preparation, our Middle School drama club debuted their entertaining production of 2 one-act comedies, Bad Auditions by Bad Actors and The Internet is Distract--Oh Look a Kitten! Kudos to all of our actors and actresses for a wonderful performance!
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| MS Recognition
On Friday at our Middle School Recognition Assembly, we honored the academic achievements, as well as community service and co-curricular efforts, of our students this past quarter. Congrats to all!
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| We are the CHAMPIONS!
BIG congrats to our Boys Varsity A basketball team for winning the season championship against St. Mary's on Saturday, 46-33. DRAGON PRIDE!
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NEW Long Sleeve Polo Shirts in our Spiritwear Shop!
(Note: the shirt logo is smaller and fits our dress code standard.)
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| St. Michael’s Church 65th Anniversary Celebration
Sunday, March 6th, 9:30 a.m.-- Joint Service and Potluck Brunch
St. Michael’s School families, staff and faculty are invited to celebrate on this special day. Rev. Isabel Steilberg (Lizzie Steilberg’s grandmother) will be the guest preacher. Her husband, Bob Steilberg, served as rector of St. Michael’s Church from 1966-1989. Click here for more information.
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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," as well as under "Community."
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- Growing Engineers
- Kindergarten Enrollment Contracts Due by Noon (3/2)
- Your Annual Fund gift counts!
- Got lunch? Orders Due
- MS LAX.Track Practices Start
- MS/LS Spring Sports and Activity Signups -Last Call
- Tell us why you LOVE St M!
- MS Play Accolades
- MS Recognition Assembly
- MS Boys Varsity Bball Wins Championship!
- New Spiritwear Long Sleeve Polos
- St M Church 65th Anniversary Celebration
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| Dates to Remember... Please check our improved online School Calendar for updates, events and weekly activities/sports schedules.
Click here to download an updated Academic Calendar. Click here for next year's 2016-2017 School Year key planning dates
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| EARLY DISMISSAL ON FRIDAY, 3/4 for Spring Break
This Week:
Sunday, 2/28:- MS Play Performance, 2 p.m. (Tickets are $3 at the door)
Monday, 2/29:- MS Girls LAX practice begins, 3-4:30 p.m.
- MS Boys LAX practice begins, 5:30-7 p.m.
Tuesday, 3/1:- Fourth Grade Student-Led Chapel (Geier), 8:30 a.m.
- MS Girls LAX practice, 3-4:30 p.m.
- MS Boys LAX practice, 5:30-7 p.m.
Wednesday, 3/2:- MS Girls LAX practice, 3-4:30 p.m.
- MS Boys LAX practice, 5:30-7 p.m.
- MS Track Orientation/Fun Run, Singleton Campus, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Thursday, 3/3:- Kindergarten Play (Adams), 8:30 a.m.
- K CONTRACTS due at noon
- MS Girls LAX practice, 3-4:30 p.m.
- MS Boys LAX practice, 5:30-7 p.m.
Friday, 3/4:- EARLY DISMISSAL
- MS dismisses at 11:45 a.m.
- LS dismisses at Noon for start of Spring Break
Looking Ahead:- Spring Break: March 5- March 13
- Classes Resume: Monday, March 14
- Save the Date for "Meetings With Michael" on 3/17 at 7:20 a.m. (Lower School Campus, child care will be provided) and 2 p.m. (Middle School Campus). The topic is Health and Wellness.
- Deadline to submit LS Birthday Books: 3/17
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