| Message in a Bottle
A message in a bottle invokes all sorts of imagery: castaways and pirates, lost loves and exciting adventures, memories of the past and hopes for the future. An exciting story unfolded this week at St. Michael's when Elizabeth Webb, a schoolteacher from Norfolk, Virginia, posted on her Facebook page that her son had found a message in a bottle at Yorktown Beach linked to St. Michael's that was put in the ocean 17 years ago. The message was from Mrs. Augst's first grade class of 1998 as part of a parent-led classroom science experiment. The Norfolk family turned to social media for help in reuniting the bottle message with our School and soon the news of this discovery had permeated the web and deluged our inboxes as folks all up and down the east coast shared the story.
St. Michael's was delighted to host a special homecoming gathering on Friday as the Webb family came to Richmond to return the note to our current first grade class. We are appreciative that Mrs. Augst and Mrs. Catherine Hamlet (mother of Sarah Kate Hamlet) could attend as honored guests.
Seventeen years later, this message in a bottle is truly symbolic of our school culture of meaningful parent-involvement and of our students making connections to the world around them.
Life has such a wonderful way of coming full circle!
Click here for the WRIC Channel 8 video clip and here for the Richmond Times Dispatch story. Be sure to check out our St M Facebook and Twitter pages for additional photos and local news coverage of our message in a bottle!
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| A Community Commitment to Honor
At St M, we strive to treat others as we would like to be treated. Honor, integrity and accountability are an integral part of our core values. Our honor pledge below is signed each year by every Middle School student at the Honor Assembly, which took place on Friday. A big THANK YOU to our speaker and St. Michael's alumna, Katie Cantone (St M '12). for her very insightful words.
"I pledge to be honest in everything I do; therefore I will not lie, cheat or steal. I will not do things that might injure other people because I believe that I should treat others as I would like for them to treat me. I promise to prevent, discourage and report all bullying while doing my best to treat others with respect. Because I respect myself, I will not do what I know to be wrong, and I will not abuse my privileges. If I break a rule, I will accept responsibility for my actions without arguing or excuses."
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We're ALL a Part of the SMPA!
St. Michael’s Parents’ Association (SMPA) plays an active role in the life of the School. The purpose of the Parents’ Association is to promote the welfare of our children and the School and to bring parents into a closer relationship with the School through culture and community-building programs and events, family education opportunities and more. We invite you to get to know this year's SMPA officers and to reach out to them for information. From left to right, they are: Laura Stewart (President), Kim Dobzyniak (Vice-President), Dia Flora (Secretary) and Jana McQuaid (Treasurer) .
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Planning For High School: A Program for our Eighth Grade Families
Choosing the right high school to meet your child's needs and interests is a big decision. Fortunately, St M families have many resources and choices at their disposal. As part of our parent engagement program, St. Michael's cordially invites our Eighth Grade families to attend our High School Planning Program on Friday, October 16 from 1-2:30 p.m., to learn about options and the application process.The schedule for this program is as follows:
- 1:00 p.m. Parent education program (Allen Library)
- 1:55 p.m. 8th grade students join the discussion (Allen Library)
- 2:05 p.m. Open House for high schools (Great Hall)
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Athletic Forms Needed for Grades 3-8
A friendly reminder that all students participating in St. Michael's athletics in grades 3-8 must have an Athletic Participation form (with a portion completed by a doctor) on file.
Click here for a copy of the form.
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We've got SPIRIT, how about YOU? New Spiritwear Site!
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Student Handbook
Have a question about school policies, the dress code, community service requirements and more? Our 2015-2016 Student Handbook is now available online as a reference tool under Documents and Forms. Click here to review.
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Pizza! Pizza! Last Call!
Pizza Friday orders were due last week, but we will accept any last minute orders up until 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 7. Click here for the order form. The next chance to order Pizza Friday Lunch will be in November. Contact Dave@Davelundgren.com with questions.
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Say Cheese! School Picture Day Plan
- Lower School pictures will be taken on Wed., September 16.
- Middle School pictures will be taken on Thurs., September 17.
Please complete the photo order form that came home with your child and return it to your child's teacher in the Lower School or to Erbie Godwin in the Middle School office by Wednesday, September 9. If you're not ordering photos, please complete and return the form anyway, as all students will have a picture taken for the yearbook.
Eighth Grade Class Pictures- Special Instructions
Here is the link for special instructions for 8th grade parents/students regarding school pictures. Parents and students should pay special attention to the information, sign and return the signature portion of the form to Erbie Godwin no later than Wednesday, September 9.
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Lower School Author Visit and Book Order
We are excited to announce that New York Times best-selling author, Judy Schachner ,will be visiting with our K-2nd grade students on Wednesday, September 9th, to discuss her books and the writing process. On tour to promote her new book, Dewey Bob, she is best-known for her very popular Skippyjon Jones books.
We are partnering with our local children's bookshop, bbgb, to make Ms. Schachner's books available for purchase. The books will be personalized and delivered to your child's class that day.
To place an order, go to http://bbgbbooks.com/book-buzz/. You will be asked to provide the name of the child, the school and teacher's name. In the "order notes" section, please write to whom you want the book subscribed. Book orders must be placed by: September 7. Also, as these books make great gifts, all families may buy these books whether or not they have a child in K-2.
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Lower School Intramural Sports Sign-Ups
Signups are now underway for Lower School boys and girls intramural soccer and girls intramural field hockey. Field Hockey began on Friday, September 4 and Soccer starts on Tuesday, September 15.
NOTE: Athletic fees will be billed as part of your St M Statement.
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Field Hockey Fan Fest!
Calling all Intramural Field Hockey players, students, parents and fans: On Tuesday, September 15th at 4:30 p.m., we invite out St M community to come and cheer on our Middle School girls' field hockey team as they take on the Panthers. Drinks, snacks and other food items will be available for purchase. Wear blue and white or your intramural shirt and come out to support our St M Field Hockey program! For additional info, please contact Coach Martin. Go Dragons!
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Learn to Play An Instrument! Join the St M Band! (Gr. 5-8)
Our St M band program consists of three sections: a beginning section for students who have no previous experience with a band instrument (woodwind, brass or percussion) and 2 intermediate sections (based upon playing level/experience) for students who have had a year or more of instruction (either in a school or private lesson setting). Sessions will take place at Trinity Episcopal School. Here are two links for more information: Band Program Overview and Band Schedule. Questions? Please contact Band Director Brian Rollins.
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A School Holiday is not your Work Holiday? We can help!
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church Extended Day Program is pleased to announce that we will be open on many of the days that St M School is not in session, if we have at least 8 children signed up for care on those days. The first day off will be Monday, October 12th. Do you need care that day? Please contact Merry Norris, Program Director at 804-272-0992 x 106.
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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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| Dates to Remember...(Please check our improved online School Calendar for updates, events, and weekly activities/sports schedules.)
Click here to download an updated Academic Calendar.
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Monday, 9/7: Labor Day/No Classes
Wednesday, 9/9:- Author Visit: Judy Schachner (K-2), 8:30 a.m.
- Eighth Grade Camping Trip Planning Meeting, 6-7 p.m., Great Hall
- Middle School Back to School Night, 7 p.m., Great Hall, followed by classroom visits
Thursday, 9/10:- Eighth Grade Camping Trip, Thursday-Friday, 9/10-11
Saturday, 9/12: - Best wishes to our MS Cross Country team for much success as they head to their first meet of the season, the FUMA Invitational! Go Dragons!
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Your Healthy Resource
Coming this fall to our newsletter: We will be including a series of health tips to help you and your family make small changes to promote healthy habits both at School and at home. Topics will vary each month and include: healthy snacking suggestions, quick fitness ideas and first aid tips.
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