| St. Michael's Does Small in a BIG Way!
Everywhere you turn at St. Michael's, exciting things are happening in and outside our classrooms.
To name just a few highlights from this week.... Our kindergarten and first grades dove into Earth Day by planting seedlings, cleaning up playground trash, posting recycling tips and using their problem-solving and engineering skills to build simple, simulated water-filtering systems to take pollution out of rivers and streams. Our third graders stepped back in time to experience life in colonial times during their Colonial Day. Our fourth graders presented their research on animal adaptations with very creative 3-D models of their animals (using upcycled materials), and our fifth graders made models of hydrogen and oxygen molecules. Our Middle School technology classes are learning to code websites in HTML. Our seventh graders became newscasters in their social studies classes and reported on key events during the Korean War, the Space Race and the Red Scare, with reporters taking opposing sides of an inquiry question. Our sixth graders completed research papers on energy poverty in developing countries and responsible uses of modern energy sources. And a group of our Middle School students spent an outreach day volunteering and serving meals for Meals on Wheels.
Our students are motivated, engaged, challenged and making connections. It is an exciting time to be at St. Michael's! (Check out more photos on our Facebook page!)
| |
|
ERB Testing Tips
This week, St M is conducting our annual ERB testing in grades 3-8. Mr. Turner sent a note out to our families earlier this weekend regarding how ERB results are used. In summary, ERBs are used for instructional review and in longitudinal data gathering to help us refine our curriculum.
Here are a few strategies families can do at home to help students feel confident and “ready” for test days: - Keep your child’s afternoon/evening as routine and consistent as possible
- Make sure your child has a restful night’s sleep, eats a healthy breakfast and is hydrated
- Treat test day no differently than any other school day
- Arrive at school on time every morning. Thanks!
| |
|
Eighth Grade Graduation Ceremony: New Start Time
Eighth grade families, we are making an adjustment to the start time of the graduation ceremony on June 3. In order to allow sufficient time prior to the ceremony for students to gather, receive flowers, and to take class and individual pictures, the graduation ceremony will now begin at 9 a.m.
| |
| Parenting in the Digital Age
Parenting is never easy. But today's parents have to grapple with technology usage in a way that no other generation has ever had to before.
Thank you to everyone who attended our "Meetings With Michael" on Parenting Digital Natives this past week.
Click here for a copy of the presentation and helpful resources.
| |
|
Transition to Middle School
We cordially invite our rising sixth grade parents to a Middle School Orientation on Thursday, April 28 from 8:30-9:30 a.m., at the Lower School. Bon Air Campus, in Dundas Hatcher Hall.
Digital invitations were sent out. Thank you for responding by Monday, April 25.
| |
|
New Faculty Welcome
St. Michael's extends a warm welcome to Mr. Christian Hansen, who will be joining our faculty in the coming school year. Christian joins the St. Michael’s team as School Chaplain and Coordinator of Church Children & Youth Ministry after serving most recently as the Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries at Christ Church Grosse Pointe and as the Youth Minister at Old Donation Episcopal Church. A proud Trinity Episcopal IB alum and graduate of Elon University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance, he began to feel a call to children and youth ministry during his collegiate career. During this time, he worked at Camp Westview on the James, was a youth and music intern at Christ Church Richmond, taught music classes at the Exploration Intermediate Program, and served as the Worship Coordinator for Intervarsity. As an Episcopalian for most of his life and an avid youth group participant in his younger days, Christian has a passion for developing welcoming, thriving and intentional communities of faith for all ages. He was recently married in June of 2015 to his wife, Nicole, and lives with her and their two miniature long haired dachshunds, Cooper and Samson. Welcome aboard Christian!
| |
|
Lower School Safety Reminder
A friendly reminder that for their safety, Lower School students are not to be dropped off in the morning along McCrae Road. Families are welcome to park in the lot across the street and beginning at 7:55 a.m. and escort children to the Ticer Hall entrance.
| |
|
Extending the Day
St. Michael’s strives to meet the needs of children and families beyond the traditional school day. We are pleased to announce that our School will be assuming oversight of the Extended Day program from the Church and that we are commencing the search for a Director of Extended Day.
Our families can expect an enriched, coordinated program for before- and after-school care and activities, as well as a summer program in 2017. More details will be shared shortly!
| |
|
St. Michael's Community Survey Coming Soon
Strong parent/family engagement is a core strength of the St. Michael's community. As St. Michael's values input and feedback from our families, we will be sending a community survey out on Wednesday, April 27. Our goal is to solicit feedback from our families every year via this annual survey. Thank you in advance for taking the time to share your thoughts with us.
| |
|
Countdown to Magic Dragon Day! We are still accepting gently used spirit wear, blue blazers and used books for MDD. Please drop off any donations in the Middle School office or in the SMPA room at the Lower School. Thanks to all of you who have already donated! More general questions? Contact Jennifer Burke @ 833-9254 or Amy Wozniak @ 269-3384. Spirit Week Schedule for the Week of May 2-6: - Monday May, 2: Hawaiian attire
- Tuesday, May 3: Tie Dye attire
- Wednesday, May 4: Christmas in May attire
- Thursday, May 5: Neon attire
- Friday, May 6: Spirit Day and Field Day! (Wear your MDD T-shirt! Shirts were sent home the week of April 20. Athletic clothes allowed. Students may wish to bring a change of clothes as some of the games include water fun!
- Saturday, May 7: Magic Dragon Day! Wear your MDD T-Shirt!
Reminder: No hair dye or face paint during Spirit Week.
| |
|
Announcing Summer Camps at St M!
We are pleased to announce that in partnership with ArtHaus and Little Scholars, St. Michael's School will be hosting a series of summer camps at both of our campuses. (Note: Camps are open to non-St.M families as well.)
Click here for information and to register!
| |
|
The Weather is Getting Warmer.
Time for a Cool Drink in a St M Tervis Tumbler!
| |
| SPACE Wars Camp (Inspired by Star Wars): June 6-10 Get ready for out of this world excitement at Space Wars Camp! This St. Michael's Church Extended Day camp will take your child on a galaxy full of movie-inspired challenges, from building a spaceship to designing tribal droids and launching rockets. The camp will run June 6-10 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Click HERE for more information! The deadline to sign up is May 6.
| |
|
Let's Be Friends!
Community. Curriculum. Culture. 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."
| |
|
|
- We do small in a BIG way!
- ERB Testing Tips
- 8th Grade Graduation New Start Time
- Generation Digital
- Transition to Middle School
- New Faculty Welcome
- St. Michael's Community Survey
- Lower School Safety Reminder
- Extending the Day
- Magic Dragon Day/Spirit Week
- Summer Camps at St M
- St M Spiritwear
- Space Wars Camp
| |
| Dates to Remember... taking differenst sides of an inquiry question formulate dby their group.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
| |
| This Week: ERB Testing this week!
Tuesday, 4/26:- MS Girls LAX AWAY Game at Weaver, 5 p.m p.m. (Please note later start time)
- MS Boys LAX Away Game at Code, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 4/27:
- 4th Grade Minds In Motion Rehearsal
Thursday, 4/28:- Middle School Orientation for parents of rising sixth graders, 8:30 a.m., Lower School, Dundas Hatcher Hall
- MS Girls LAX Away Game at Steward, 4:30 p.m.
- MS Boys LAX at Home vs. Steward, 5:30 p.m.
- MS Golf against St. Bridget’s at Willow Oaks, 3:30 p.m.
Friday, 4/29:- 1st Grade Greek Day
- MS Chapel, 1:05 p.m.
- 4th Grade Minds In Motion Dress Rehearsal
Looking Ahead: - Field Day, 5/6
- MS Semi-Formal Dance, Friday, 5/6, 7-9 p.m.
- Magic Dragon Day, 5/7
| |
|
