Happy New Year!
Three cheers for a new school year! For over 66 years, St. Michael's has welcomed Dragons to our vibrant learning community. Congratulations and thanks to all for making the first week such a success. The sense of joy and excitement in our halls and classrooms this week was captivating!
We also extend a VERY warm St M welcome to all of our new families. It's an exciting time to be at St. Michael's!
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| Stay In The KnowFor those who are new to St M, "This Week at St. Michael's" is our weekly newsletter which comes out via email every Sunday morning to help you prepare for the week ahead. You may also find copies of this newsletter on the St M website.
These first few newsletters of the year are unusually long as there is a lot of important information to share. Thank you for your understanding.
Let's Be Friends: Be sure to check out our St M social media gallery to view fun pics and videos from the first week of school. (Please follow and like our pages!)
A REMINDER THAT MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, is a SCHOOL HOLIDAY. Extended Day is also closed.
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Back to School Nights for K-8
Save the date(s) below for Back to School Nights by grade --for parents only.
Lower School (Grades K-5)
- Tuesday, Sept 19, Perkinson Arts Center, 6:30 p.m.
Middle School (Grades 6-8)
- Wednesday, Sept 20
- 8th grade parents will come early to meet with Middle School Director Jessica Stargell in the MS Allen Library at 6:30 p.m.
- 6th & 7th grade parents, joined by 8th grade parents, will meet in the MS Great Hall at 7 p.m. Classroom rotations begin after the meeting.
St. Michael's will ALSO hold separate Calendar Meetings by grade this year (to review key school and classroom events, volunteer opportunities, and more). Locations will be announced by room parents. Please attend.
- 6th Grade: Tuesday, Sept 5, 7 p.m., MS Great Hall
- 7th & 8th Grade: Calendars will be completed using SignUp Genius
- K & 1 Grades: Tuesday, Sept 12, 6:30 p.m.
- 2 & 3 Grades: Wednesday, Sept 13, 6:30 p.m
- 4 & 5: Grades: Thursday, Sept 14, 6:30 p.m.
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Friendly Reminders: PLEASE READ
- All visitors to the school must enter at one of the front offices and receive a visitor badge. Thank you for supporting our school safety protocols.
- Per our Dress Code, boys should be in collared shirts every day, with the exception of wearing above-the-waist spiritwear on Dragon Dress Fridays.
- All students should come to school with a water bottle and a snack EVERY day. Students should also bring their own utensils for lunch.
- All Middle School students should bring home their tablets/Chromebooks each night, charge them, and return to school with them each day.
- Please, PLEASE label all water bottles, lunch boxes, jackets, and school items with your child's name so that if lost, we can return them to your child.
- Dress your child(ren) for the weather and with sturdy shoes as they will be going outside for learning, recess, and other school activities.
- New families should bring student birth certificates to the front office if they have not already done so.
- Carpool Placards: Please place the nameplate for your student(s) on the front passenger visor facing out (not on the dashboard as we can't see it.)
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Picture Days - Lower School Picture Day: Tuesday, Sept. 19
- Middle School Picture Day: Wednesday, Sept. 20
We are happy to announce that Picture Day is coming soon!
HJ Virginia Photo is excited to capture the beautiful smiles and memories of our amazing students. Families will have the opportunity to purchase pictures after viewing a proof. Proofs will be brought home by students around 2 weeks after picture day. A portion of the sales goes back to the St. Michael's Parents' Association!
NOTE: All students will be photographed regardless of whether they choose to purchase photos, as these photos are used for the annual yearbook.
For any questions, please contact HJ Virginia Photo at 804-256-3246 or photo@hjvirginia.com.
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ERB Week: October 2-5 for Grades 3-8
What we call the "ERBs" is actually the Comprehensive Testing Program produced by the Educational Records Bureau (hence ERBs). ERB is a non-profit organization that provides admission and achievement assessments used by independent schools across the county. The specific test our students take is a leveled assessment for high-achieving students across a variety of subjects including reading, listening (3rd and 4th grades only), vocabulary, writing, and mathematics. Our faculty uses ERB results as a tool in curricular and instructional review. More details will be sent out closer to the date.
For planning purposes, please note that per our handbook, it is not possible for students to make up missed achievement tests. Thus, thank you for not scheduling student doctor appointments for the week of Oct 2-5 during the first two hours of each day.
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Challenge Discovery: Sixth & Seventh Grades
Sixth Grade:
- Sixth Grade students will participate in on-campus Challenge Discovery team-building activities on Thursday, Sept 14, 8:15-10:15 a.m.
- Students should wear PE-appropriate athletic clothing and bring a water bottle.
Seventh Grade:
- Seventh Grade students will be engaging in community-building activities and the ropes course at Challenge Discovery on Friday, September 15.
- In order to participate, all seventh grade students must have a completed WAIVER FORM.
- Students need to bring a snack, a bagged lunch (please do not place a lunch order for that day), a water bottle, and wear close-toed shoes that lace up or velcro.
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Eighth Grade Camping Trip
Our 8th graders will partake in a much-anticipated overnight camping trip, September 14-15.
Click HERE for an information letter that went out to eighth grade families with all the details, along with a list of what the 8th graders should bring.
Students should be dropped off at the Stony Point Trader Joe's parking lot between 7:15-7:30 a.m. on September 14. Pickup on September 15 is in the same shopping center lot across from McDonald's at approximately 2:30 p.m. St M will text an arrival time to families when we receive updates from the bus transportation that the students are on the road.
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Middle School Choir (Sixth-Eighth Grades) St. Michael's is pleased to announce that we will be offering a new Middle School Choir this year! Under the direction of Dawn Childs, the ensemble's objective is to build vocal skills, expand musical knowledge through various musical styles, and create community partnerships within St. Michael's and beyond. Oh, and we'll HAVE FUN! Students do not need to audition, and everyone is welcome!
The ensemble will meet during Study Hall on D and G Days from 11:30-12:00 p.m., so there is little to no after-school commitment. Performances outside of school will be communicated in advance.
To learn more about our new Middle School Choir, please see the attached registration form and waiver. Please submit all registrations by Friday, September 8.
We will be hosting a "Cookies and Choir" Open House for all interested students in the Perkinson Arts Center on Tuesday, September 5 during study hall. Please encourage your child to come check it out!
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| Campus Movie Night for Seventh Grade Students, September 8, 7 p.m.
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Start Saving School Photos!
Shutterfly will continue as St. M’s photo storage platform this school year!
Shared Sites went away last year, and in their place, each grade now has one Shutterfly Album per year for viewing, uploading, and downloading grade-level pictures. These photos are also incorporated into St M's annual yearbook.
Room parents will be sharing grade-specific Shutterfly album links if they haven’t already. For additional support, contact Jaclyn Witthoefft at Jaclyn.witthoefft@gmail.com.
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Got Lunch?
For those that choose to purchase lunch, lunch ordering with Yay Lunch closes at noon each Sunday before the upcoming week.
Click HERE for info and to register/place an order.
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| COVID Reporting Protocol/Form
If your child has tested positive for COVID-19, please inform the School IMMEDIATELY IN WRITING via the COVID-19 Reporting Form linked below. The link is also on the School website.
Upon receipt of this information, Nurse Maben, St M's school nurse, will contact the family. Please keep your child(ren) AT HOME until contacted by Nurse Maben.
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Show your DRAGON PRIDE with St M Spiritwear!
Visit our spiritwear website below to place online orders for St M apparel. Orders are delivered to the school and sent home in backpacks.
We have just added ALL NEW items like quarter zip jackets, varsity hoodies, Nike dry-fit pullovers, bucket hats, and more!
Every FRIDAY is DRAGON DRESS DAY! Wear St M spiritwear or blue/white with pride!
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Join the St M Team for the CKG Speak Up 5K
The SpeakUp5k is a flagship community run/walk event supporting teen mental health. Full of fun zones, music, bubbles, and loads of inspiration, it is more than a race. It is an experience. Come join the St. Michael's race team!
Click HERE for more info and for a $5.00 coupon for race registration. (Poster designed by St M student Brad Germain.)
- Date: Saturday, September 9
- Location: Byrd Park (1001 Blanton Avenue
- Team Name for Registration: STM Tea
- Race Start: 9 a.m. - Arrive early to line up at the starting line. You won't want to miss the opening remarks
- Parking: Please use the Dogwood Dell lot located next to The Carillon. If possible, carpool with members of your family and/or team! We recommend arriving early.
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Let's Be Friends!
Get connected to keep abreast of St M news, events, calendar changes, and information. Plus, see photos from the first week of school!
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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| Dates to RememberFor planning purposes, click HERE for KEY DATES for the 2023-24 school year.
Never miss an update! Subscribe to our School calendars and receive automatic updates! Please subscribe to the ALL SCHOOL calendar, PLUS the Lower School or Middle School calendar as applicable for your student(s).
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This Week
Monday, Sept. 4
Tuesday, Sept. 5
- E Day
- 6th Grade Calendar Meeting, MS Great Hall, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 6
Thursday, Sept. 7
Friday, Sept. 8
- A Day
- Dragon Dress Day: wear spiritwear or blue/white with pride!
- Movie Night on the Green FOR SEVENTH GRADE, 7-9 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 10
- St. Michael's 66th Birthday! Hurray!
Looking Ahead:
- Middle School Bowling at Bowlero on Friday, Sept. 29, 3-5 p.m. Cost: $10. More details to follow.
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