Week of September 22, 2014

Helping Our Children Discover Their Gifts

At St. Michael's, developing values is an integral part of our mission.

This past week, our Lower School students and faculty assembled in the church for the new school year opening liturgy and blessing. The theme of the sermon was "Discovering Our Gifts."  Rev. Godsey shared with our School community that the most important gifts we have are not "objects." Rather, they are the gifts of faith, love, peace and friendship. She reminded our students that they come to school to discover the unique talents and gifts that God has given each and every one of them and challenged them to use their individual gifts to be "the best they can be."  From our fifth graders serving as Chapel Dragons and pals for our kindergarteners, to our middle schoolers sharing their musical talents at Chapel and their hearts via community service, these are just a few of the many ways that our students share their talents and gifts with others.

When your children come to St. Michael's, they enter a warm, welcoming and inclusive learning community that is small enough to foster a real sense of belonging and where they can safely take risks in learning and self-discovery. Yet, St. Michael's is also wonderfully large enough to offer them an engaging array of academic challenges and social development experiences.  Our goal is and always has been to nurture the whole child, and to guide each of our students to discover and share their own unique gifts.

Having your children with us this school year is OUR greatest gift. Thank you for sharing them with us every day.

Important Dates and Announcements:

School Directories: The new directories have arrived!  Lower School parents should have received them at Back to School night.  Directories for Middle School parents were sent home with the students. (Directories go home with the youngest child.)  Please contact the office if you did not receive one.

Robotics Team: Let's Build!  Our fifth grade and Middle School LEGO Robotics teams have begun practicing. The theme this year is “World Class.”  The students must identify and research something that people can learn and then design an innovative solution that will improve the way people learn the chosen topic.  Our students will also design and build a robot which will accomplish various tasks on the game board.  The season will culminate in a regional tournament where teams will share project ideas and run the robot.  We are proud to have two fifth grade teams and two Middle School teams this year! 

Sports Salutes! CONGRATULATIONS to our Cross Country boys’ and girls’ teams for their First Place victories at the Pole Green Classic Invitational.  It was an awesome sight watching the blue and white of our runners crowding the front of the competition.  The girls captured 5 of the top 10 places and the boys grabbed 6 of the top 10 places.Their success continued at the Home Meet this week too! Dragon PRIDE! 

The Middle School Field Hockey team played their first game on Wednesday and showed tremendous potential for a strong season ahead! Our Dragons tied up the game 1 to 1 until the last few minutes when Collegiate scored one last goal. It was an exciting game!

Lower School: 

• 2nd and 3rd Grade Bookworms: Our monthly after-school book club will begin on October 14th.  Interest forms will be sent home on Monday, 9/22, and must be returned the next day, 9/23. Space is limited for this popular program. Please contact Carol Wise with any questions.
  
  
• Championship Chess: Wednesday, 9/24, 2:40 to 3:40 p.m. There is still time to register!
  
  
• Intramural Field Hockey: Friday, 9/26, 3-5 p.m.   
  
• Intramural Soccer (grades 3-5): Tuesday, 9/23, 3-3:50 p.m.
  

Middle School:  

• Middle School Back to School Night and SMPA Fall Meeting:  Wednesday, 9/24 at 7 p.m. in the Great Hall, followed by classroom visits.  
  
  
• Challenge Discovery Trip Registration Needed by 9/28:  The sixth and seventh grades will be spending an exciting day at Challenge Discovery at the University of Richmond on Friday, October 10. Parents: Please register your child online at www.challengediscovery.com.  There are two forms, medical information and a participant agreement. After completing the Participant Agreement, a confirmation email will be sent to you.  Please forward that confirmation page to Mrs. Dutton at bdutton@stmschool.net by September 28. 
  

• Your Vote Counts! The SCA election process has begun. Campaign speeches and the final election will take place on Friday, 9/26. Good luck to all of the candidates!

• Boys (grades 5-8) Lacrosse Clinic: Wednesday, 9/24, 5:30-6:45 p.m. (Bon Air Campus upper field)
  
  
• Cross Country Team Practice: Monday-Friday, 3:15-4:45 p.m.
• Cross Country Meet (Maymont Festival Invitational): Saturday, 9/27. 
  • The Boys will race at 8:30 a.m.; The Girls will race at 8:45 a.m.
    
• Field Hockey Team Practice: Monday, 9/22 and Wednesday, 9/24, 3-4:30 p.m. 
• Field Hockey Game (Blue and White teams): Tuesday, 9/23 at Home (against Orchard House), 4 p.m. 
  
• Field Hockey Game (Core and White teams): Thursday, 9/25 at Home (against Steward), 5 p.m. 
  

Planning for High School (A Program for our Eighth Grade Families)

For Eighth Grade families, choosing the right High School to meet your child’s needs and interests is a big decision. As part of our parent engagement program, St. Michael's cordially invites you to attend our High School Planning Program on Friday, October 10, 1:00-2:30 p.m. to learn about options and the application process. 

The schedule for this program is as follows:

1:00 p.m.   8th Grade Parent education program (Singleton Library)

1:55 p.m.   8th Grade students join conversation (Singleton Library)

2:05 p.m.   Open House with High School representatives (Great Hall)

All area independent and public high schools have been offered the opportunity to have informational tables at the Open House. (At this time, we are awaiting final word as to which schools will be in attendance.) High school representatives have been encouraged to bring with them one or two St. Michael's alums who can speak to their High School experiences.  Please contact Cheryl Broga with questions.  

Seventh grade students and parents will have the opportunity to explore their high school options next year.

We've Got Spirit, Yes We Do! Want Some Spiritwear? Orders Are Due!

Showcase your Dragon Pride with St. Michael's Spiritwear! Spiritwear also makes great stocking stuffers and Holiday Gifts (think hats and apparel, jewelry and key fobs, flags and umbrellas, and even dragon stuffed animals!) Order now to receive items before the holidays. Don't miss out! Click here for the order form. Order forms are due in by October 6. Q's? Contact Sandy Myers.

Join us for the Annual Auction! Celebrating Blue and White!

Mark your calendars for November 22, at 6 p.m., for an evening of fun, culinary delights and competitive bidding. Auction items and volunteers needed!  Click here to volunteer and to donate! Q's? Contact Mary King Coleman. 

Rackets Up! St. Michael's SMPA Tennis Social

Please join us for our annual St. Michael's Tennis Social on Friday, October 3rd from 9 a.m. to noon at Bon Air Community Center.  (Note: The date in the master calendar given out at the SMPA class meetings was incorrect. Please note this date correction.)  The cost is $30 per person.  Make checks payable to SMPA.  Cash is also acceptable.  Please indicate your USTA/Suburban ranking when turning in your payment to the front office. ALL tennis levels are welcome.  Please contact Carol Pfeiffer or Bo Ewell with any questions.  (Rain Date:  Friday, October 10th.)

Our Eighth Graders soared to new heights during two days of outdoor learning and team-building at Camp Chanco.

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