Dear Middle School Families,
I hope this message finds you well and enjoying the final days of summer! As we prepare to begin another school year together, I'm excited and grateful for the year ahead, and I'm inspired by the ways our Middle School community continues to grow.
We are thrilled to welcome three new teachers to our faculty this year: Mrs. Rachel Taggart and Mrs. Katrina Holmes, who will lead the Math Department, and Mrs. Kristy Petroski, who will teach English. Each of them brings a wealth of experience, energy, talent, and a genuine love for working with middle school students. We are fortunate to have them join our team, and I am delighted for you all to meet them.
We are also thrilled to share that Mr. Tom Spivey, our long term-sub in Social Studies last year, has been hired as a full-time member of our faculty. He, too, brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and love for working with middle school students that was so evident during his time with us last year, and we welcome him fully into our Middle School family.
Finally, I want to share an update from our Science department. Mrs. Allison recently delivered a healthy and happy baby boy, John Rives Allison, born on August 6th. As a result, she will be out on maternity leave through mid-October. We are grateful to have Mrs. Amber Crawley serving as her long-term substitute during this time. Mrs. Crawley is no stranger to our St. Michael’s community. She has previously served as a long-term substitute in Science when we had a need several years ago, and has remained a familiar and beloved presence as a substitute ever since. She is also a parent to two Dragon alums (Cruz Crawley '24 and Milo Crawley '26) and a current 8th grade Dragon (Dax Crawley). Mrs. Crawley is a veteran educator with more than 20 years of experience, having spent the majority of her career in the Richmond and Henrico Public School systems. She has a unique talent for implementing teaching strategies that promote both academic and personal growth, and she is deeply committed to creating an inclusive, engaging classroom where every student feels a genuine love for learning. We are confident that her familiarity with our community and her wealth of experience will make for a warm and seamless transition for our students.
Amid all this growth, one thing hasn’t changed: our unwavering promise that every student in our Middle School will be known, loved, and supported academically, socially, personally, and spiritually. We remain committed to cultivating a community rooted in genuine belonging, where students and families feel safe taking risks, trying new things, and growing into the very best versions of themselves.
As we embark on this school year together, I invite all Middle School families, both new and returning, to connect with me one-on-one. These conversations give us an opportunity to talk through how we can best partner in support of your child as they grow into a capable and confident young person ready to conquer the year ahead and beyond. Please feel free to reach out to me via email (
jwilliams@stmschool.net) whenever it’s convenient for you to set up a time to talk. Your insights and perspectives are invaluable as we work together to shape an enriching and supportive learning experience for our students.
I could not be more excited and grateful for the opportunity to begin this school year with you. Together, we’ll continue to build a vibrant, mission-driven community where our children can thrive!
Please see additional details regarding the August 31 Orientation Day schedule below.
With excitement and gratitude,
Jonathan
