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| August 25 Newsletter: Hooray for the First Day of School!
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| It's the MOST wonderful time of the year...
Back-to-School time!
We hope all of our Dragons had a fun and restful summer. We are so very excited to have our learning community back together. (The positive energy in our halls during Lower School Meet Your Teacher Day was amazing and we can't wait to see our Middle Schoolers for orientation on Monday!) We also extend a very warm welcome to all of our new students, families, and faculty! It is an exciting time to be at St. Michael's!
This first weekly newsletter contains all of the info you need to get through the first week of school. Moving forward, please note that our "This Week @ St. Michael's" newsletter goes out every SUNDAY morning to help you prepare for the week ahead. Copies are also posted on the St M website.
Let's be friends! Be sure to check out and LIKE our St M Facebook and Instagram pages for photos and videos from the first week of school and beyond!
Not on social media? We also have a Media Gallery page on our website under News and Events so you can follow all of our St M social media in one place!
IMPORTANT:
- Students, remember to bring a nut-free snack and refillable water bottle DAILY to school.
- A reminder that students in grades K-5 do NOT have school on Monday, August 28.
- All NEW students need to bring their birth certificates to the front office (if you have not already done so).
Welcome Back, Dragons!
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| Middle School Orientation Schedule (Grades 6-8) for Monday, August 28 - All Middle School students should bring their school supplies to orientation.
- Sixth graders should also pack a bag lunch and water bottle.
- PARENTS MUST ATTEND. See the schedule below for exact times and instructions by grade.
- New students should bring their birth certificates to the front office.
- COME SHOP! The Spiritwear POP-UP SHOP continues in the Perkinson Arts Center from 8 a.m. to noon on Monday.
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School Hours (Starting Tuesday, August 29)
Tuesday, August 29, is the first FULL day of school for ALL students.
For the 2023-24 school year, St. Michael’s standard school hours are:
- School Day: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Free Morning Gym beginning at 7:20 a.m.
- If not attending free Morning Gym from 7:20-7:45 a.m., the morning drop-off window is 7:45-7:55 a.m. (Students should be in their seats and ready to start the school day by 8 a.m.)
- Afternoon pickup is between 3 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. (Any students not picked up by 3:15 p.m. will be sent to Extended Day and billed the drop-in fee.)
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Show your DRAGON PRIDE on the First Day of School!A rite of passage each year is the taking of first day of school photos. Click and post!
Show your DRAGON PRIDE by taking a photo of your child on the first day with the St. Michael's sign below and posting it on your social media with the hashtag #STMDragon2023. Or, email your photos to our Communications Office for posting. Go BLUE! Go WHITE! Go DRAGONS!
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Carpool Maps and Assignments
A lot of thought has gone into our carpool procedures. We do ask for your patience, support, and understanding as families learn new patterns and routines.
To help our families learn the carpool routine for campus drop-off and pick-up, below please find a carpool map. Each family is assigned a carpool location by color with color assignments noted on car visor placards.
IMPORTANT INFO ON CARPOOL LANE ASSIGNMENTS:
LOWER SCHOOL:
- Lower School families received their carpool placards/loop assignments at Meet Your Teacher Day on August 24.
- If you did not pick up your carpool placard/loop assignment: For the first day, Lower School families should drop off/pick up at the loop corresponding to each family's youngest child. Families with a K-1 youngest student should drop off/pick up ALL riders in the BLUE loop and families with a Grade 2-5 youngest student should drop off/pick up ALL riders in the GREEN loop. We will send the carpool placards home with your student on Tuesday.
MIDDLE SCHOOL:
- Middle School families will receive their carpool placards at Monday's orientation.
ALL FAMILIES: PLEASE ENSURE YOUR CARPOOL PLACARDS are always on your right passenger side VISOR.
CARPOOL SAFETY GUIDELINES
- Always drive S L O W L Y
- Always stop at the 4-way and 3-way intersections
- Always have your sun visor name placard visible (We’ll print you as many as you’d like)
- Always go to your assigned loop, even if a student is absent
- Always pull up to the farthest cone
- NEVER PASS another car (ALL carpool lanes are NO PASSING zones)
- NEVER EVER be on the phone while in carline
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Time to Order Hot Lunch!
At St. Michael’s, students may bring their own lunch or pre-purchase lunch in advance through our hot lunch program. Our hot lunch program begins on Tuesday, August 29.
We’re excited to welcome back our lunchtime partner, Yay Lunch, where families can order healthier versions of foods kids love. All meals are local, made fresh every morning, and delivered directly to the School. The program includes an easy-to-choose Lunch Calendar where you can schedule lunches for the upcoming week or the entire semester.
Lower School families need to include 2023-24 teacher assignments. (Be sure to update your child's teacher in your account if you are a returning student.) Middle School just needs grade level.
Order Deadlines
- The cut-off for placing orders is always NOON on Sunday for the upcoming week.
- If you miss the window, contact Yay Lunch directly at info@yaylunch.com.
- Parents and faculty may register on Yay Lunch anytime during the school year.
- Parents can place orders each week, skip any weeks, and place orders for the entire semester in advance.
NOTE: Parents’ billing questions, cancellations, technical support, and all other lunch-related questions should go directly to info@yaylunch.com, as Yay Lunch is managing the entire lunch program for St. Michael’s.
IMPORTANT: For grades K-8, please have your child bring a snack and a water bottle EVERY DAY, including half-days.
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Friday, Sept. 1 is DRAGON DRESS DAY!
Which class will have the MOST school spirit?
Friday, September 1, is our first Dragon Dress Day of the school year and we want to see a SEA of school colors in the halls.
Wear blue and white OR St M spiritwear shirts with pride!
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Safety FirstAs part of our school safety protocols, all school doors (including the front doors) are locked during the school day.
Parents and visitors to the School will need to be buzzed in at the main office entrances by front office staff in each building, sign in, and wear a visitor badge. We want to reassure you that our number one priority is the safety and security of our students and faculty.
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Dress Code & Spiritwear Pop-Up Shop
As our students select their clothes for the first day of school, please remember to refer to our 2023-2024 Dress Code below. Parents, we need your help. Thanks for ensuring students are dressed appropriately each day.
Spiritwear:
- Be sure to check out all the St M items available through our Spiritwear website! We have lots of exciting items!
- COME SHOP! Our Back to School Spiritwear Pop-Up Shop will continue in the Perkinson Arts Center on Monday, August 28, from 8 a.m.-Noon.
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Digital Back-to-School Forms
Be sure to complete all digital Back-to-School and Magnus Health forms BEFORE the first week of school. You may access them by logging into your PowerSchool account.
Please contact Michael Jones, Director of Technology, with any questions.
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Let's Be Good Neighbors: Please Drive Carefully!
As our campus is in a residential neighborhood, thank you for driving VERY slowly and carefully as you drive to and from School.
Please note that we expect that Richmond City Police will have an increased presence around our campus monitoring the posted 25 mph (10 mph around the curves) speed limits. As well, Richmond City installed several speed humps this summer on neighborhood roads as you approach the school.
If you are approaching a pedestrian exercising, walking a dog, or pushing a stroller, especially given that neighborhood roads are narrow and without sidewalks, we also EXPECT our families to significantly reduce their speeds to WELL BELOW the posted limits (<20 mph). Thank you!
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Join the St M Team for the CKG Speak Up 5K
The SpeakUp5k is a flagship community run/walk event in support of 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 Team
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.
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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