Week of January 26, 2015

“Reading should not be presented to children as a chore or duty. It should be offered to them as a precious gift.” (Author Kate DiCamillo)

It is widely recognized that the better the reading skills children have, and the earlier they have them, determines how rapidly and how well they will achieve in school. Our librarians, Carol Wise and Melanie Price, offer the following tips and ideas on how to get your children jazzed about reading:

Where to find books your kids will gobble up:

• NPR has a Book Concierge website that lists "great reads" for kids and young adults from 2014 .
  
• ReadKiddoRead.com, and GuysRead.com are some excellent resources, and they're simpler to use than an iPhone.
  
• The Association for Library Service to Children identifies the "best of the best" in children's books. Here is its list of the 2014 Caldecott and Newbery award winning children's books for K-8. 

How to get kids excited to read:

• Visit author websites with your children as many contain reading games and activities to gets kids excited about reading.  Some great examples:
  • http://www.bignatebooks.com/
  • http://www.pilkey.com/
  • http://www.mowillems.com/
    
  • http://www.codebustersclub.com/
  • http://www.treasurehuntersbooks.com/
  • http://middleschoolbook.com/
    
• Even better, come to the SMPA Book Fair this week where we will have a wonderful selection of recommended reading for grades K-8!
  

For more great ideas and family tips on encouraging a love of books, click here for a recent article Mrs. Wise recommends. 

 Important Announcements:

4th Grade intramural LEGO Robotics:  All fourth grade families have been sent registration materials detailing the specifics of this year’s 4th grade LEGO completion.  If your child is interested in participating, please fill out the registration form that was given to your child and return to homeroom teachers no later than Monday, January 26th.  This competition relies heavily on parent volunteers.  If you are excited and enthusiastic about, LEGO’s, robots, engineering, science, math, technology, or just coaching in general, please indicate your desire to help out on the registration form that has been sent home with your child.  Questions can be directed to the St. Michael’s LEGO robotics coordinator, Michael Jones.

Join us for After School Fun and Games: We are excited to offer a new after school opportunity for Grades 3-5 called "Fun and Games." A different game will be played each week, including kickball, pickle ball, Frisbee golf and more! These will be held on Tuesday afternoons from 3-4:00 p.m., beginning March 17 and ending April 14. Click here to sign-up! Sign-ups due in please by March 6.

THE ZOMBIES ARE COMING!   This fun-filled spring play, "10 Ways To Survive The Zombie Apocalypse", needs your help! The performance dates are: May 7-10, 2015.

There are speaking roles, non-speaking roles, backstage jobs, set building jobs, hair and make-up jobs and costume making jobs!! Auditions and sign-ups for non-acting jobs will be happening next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (January 28th, 29th and 30th) at 3 p.m. in the Great Hall.

To join the fun, you MUST come to one of these above days to audition for a speaking role, or to sign up to be a zombie or to work backstage.   We'd really love for you to be a part of this fun-filled fear fest!

Sign Up Now for Spring LAX: Middle School lacrosse will be offered for both boys and girls this spring. Girls’ practices begin Monday, February 23rd. Boys’ practices begin Tuesday, February 24th. Signup forms are due by February 13th to Mr. Kern or Mrs. Martin. Here is the form.

Gearing Up for Magic Dragon Day: T-Shirt Art Contest!

Calling all St. Michael's artists!  Your dragon artwork could be chosen to appear on the 2015 Magic Dragon Day T-Shirts!  Contest Rules:

1. All entries must be submitted on a piece of white paper (8.5 x 11 inches). The drawing must include a picture of a dragon.

2. Please use a black marker or black ink pen (no colors or pencil) so that the design can be copied easily onto a shirt. Write your name and grade in pencil on the back of the drawing.

3. Submit your entry to the office (Bon Air or Singleton) by the end of the School day on Thursday, February 12, 2015.   Questions? Contact Madeline Gorman @ 929-1290 or Alison Roussy @ 855-9090.

Character Matters!

Can Hansel and Gretel teach the witch to be a helpful neighbor? Will the Troll stop bullying the glamorous Three Billy Goats Gruff? Shouldn’t Snow White thank the Seven Dwarves? In our fourth graders' wonderful production of "Character Matters II" this week, nursery rhyme characters got advice and lessons on gratitude, being polite, the golden rule and being a helpful neighbor.

BIG thanks to Ms. Bockish, Mrs. Geier, Mr. Tickle and all of our amazing parents and volunteers who helped bring this show to life! (Check out the St M facebook page for more photos!)

“What's past is prologue”, wrote William Shakespeare in "The Tempest." Our Middle School Shakespeare Club brought the drama and intrigue of Shakespeare to the stage this week as they performed "The Tempest." Applause to all of our wonderful actresses, actor and stagehands. And BIG thanks to Sra. Corinna for her leadership and guidance and to Mr. Tickle for his surprise understudy performance! Bravo!

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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."