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The Defender
October 27, 2023
A Message from Mrs. Tate
Blessings to you and your family on this day of fasting and prayer for peace as we join with Pope Francis in uniting our world in prayer. May we always be attentive to Our Lady’s maternal voice and respond with courage, conviction, and zeal to her calls!
We are getting closer to the start of our preparation for Marian Consecration that will begin on Sunday, November 5 and end with the Consecration Day on Friday, December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. We are inviting, asking, and encouraging our St. Michael Families to engage in this important preparation and Consecration. This is the moment in which the Lord really needs us, needs us to “step up our game” and battle with him more intensely, knowing that we WILL have victory in the end. We just need to be faithful. Although we will be praying as a school, it is through family prayer and devotion that will draw our community together.
For more information about the Marian Consecration, click here for Sr. Lucia’s explanation or come to the Marian retreat on Saturday, November 4 in the parish hall (starting with mass in the church) from 8:15-12:00.
Sign up at this link to receive the daily email prayers for the 33-day preparation period leading up to the Consecration.
Stay warm this weekend! May God bless you always!
Sincerely,
Diana Tate, Principal
Mass Times for All Saints Day
October 31 - 5:30 PM
November 1 - 6:40 AM, 8:15 AM, Noon and 6:00 PM
Stewardship Renewal
As school families, we demonstrate partnership with the church and school by completing an annual stewardship renewal form for time, talent, and treasure. Stewardship renewal is required for school enrollment -- no exceptions. Please complete your renewal online or return the card you recently received in the mail. Doing so now will avoid the rush of returning it when school enrollment for 2024-25 begins in January! Direct questions to Parish Manager Rob Lisch at rob.lisch@stmichaelcp.org or 913-402-3907.
2nd Annual Faith Family Thanksgiving Feast
We are excitedly planning our Faith Family Thanksgiving Feast this year! The feast will be held on Tuesday, November 21. All Faith Families will attend an all-school Mass at 10:00 a.m. and then celebrate Thanksgiving with a turkey feast at 11:00 in our cafeteria/gymnasium. All kids will sit with their Faith Families and enjoy the meal, great conversation, and gratitude for the blessing of our school and parish.
Please help us start the planning process by filling out this form. It has the menu, an rsvp for your family and an opportunity to sign-up to volunteer.
This was a huge success last year, and we’re looking forward to continuing the tradition!
Red Bag Program
This year many of our grade levels are adopting a child through the Red Bag Program. This is a great opportunity to teach the children about the less fortunate in our community. If you would like to participate as a family as well, please click on the link below.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D4FA8AA22ABF49-45314395-redbag#/
TRUNK OR TREAT IS TONIGHT!
Birthday/Class Party Treats/Cafeteria Guidelines
**If you are bringing your child a special event lunch (ie: fast food) please DO NOT include a soda. We do not allow students to bring soda with any lunch. Thank you for your cooperation in maintaining this policy. (page 28 of the Handbook)
Veterans Day Celebration, Friday, November 10th
Veterans Mass & Reception
Friday, November 10, 2023
8:15 AM Mass, reception following
Students are welcome to invite a family member, friend or neighbor to Mass and the reception to honor those who served/serve our country. If you are bringing a visitor to be honored, please RSVP the number of guests to your homeroom teacher.
Questions: Beth Hintz hintz0612@aol.com
Archdiocese Office of Marriage and Family Life
Please see the newsletter from the Archdiocese Office of Marriage and Family Life. Included in the newsletter is information about upcoming feast days, locations to reverence a first-class relic of St. John Paul II, and much more.
Defenders' Ball 2024 Presents Family Game Night
Get your tickets now by clicking here! Don't miss out on this fun new event for the whole family. Tickets include pizza, drinks, and snacks plus a fine night of games. No need to arrange childcare - nursery available for infants and toddlers. Ticket sales close Fri Oct 20th.
After School Care Update
Heartland Campfire has diligently worked with the State of Kansas to get the program opened. The licensing process requires quite a bit of paperwork, and they have moved quickly to get everything to them promptly. The Camp Fire team member who was leading the licensing process resigned and they now need to change the name of the lead staff person on all the documents. The new lead started Monday, Sept. 18 and immediately began the process to change the paperwork.
Because of this change, it looks like the start date will be late October/early November. As soon as they have the license, they will start. The team has been hired, and the supplies have been purchased. Everything in place. They are just waiting for the stamp of approval from Kansas.
We apologize for the delays. We are doing everything humanly possible to get our after-school care in place.
Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedures
VSL Updates
Fun First Friday – November 3
The sign-up list is available for the November 3rd Fun First Friday! Fun Fridays are celebrated only on the FIRST Friday of the month, but there are 4 slots available to honor our teachers and staff! The November Fun First Friday sign up is listed here. Each homeroom teacher has assigned support staff and it’s great to acknowledge their hard work as well. Staff favorite things are listed here.
Guardian Angels
Guardian Angels are present in the Narthex to oversee who comes into the Church as another layer of security. Guardian Angels are needed while the students are at Mass, Rosaries, Stations of the Cross and Penance Services. Please sign up! Guardian Angel available slots are listed here. Before your shift, please stop by the school office to pick up a radio and badge.
Fun Printable Monthly SMA School Calendar
Please check out the VSL website for a fun and printable SMA monthly school calendar and much more! So many wonderful activities are coming up in November and December! Here’s a direct link to the SMA 2023 November calendar!
Presidential Service Award:
For the past several years, St. Michael the Archangel School has participated in the President’s Volunteer Service Award Program. The award recognizes US citizens who have achieved minimum hours of service over a 12-month period. For St. Michael the Archangel School, this period is from April 1, 2023-March 31, 2024. It is an amazingly simple process - just keep track of service hours. Forms can be found on the SMA website. Hours must be submitted to the front office by MONDAY, April 3, 2024. If you have any questions, email Megan Morris.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:1
Dennis Uniform
August Discount Code-23FACAGISM
SMA School Activities
Parish News
Team Formation / Player Evaluations
5th through 8th grade teams will have tryouts, which will be held the week of October 30th in the St. Michael’s gym. The purpose of tryouts is to form the St. Michael’s basketball teams, not to cut players. All students registered for CYO basketball will be placed on a team as long as there are sufficient players from their grade to form at least one team. The exact days and time for each grade will be communicated mid-October. Tryouts typically last two days and players must attend both days. Practices will start the week of November 6 and the games will start the first weekend in December.
Coaches
We need coaches! If you are interested in coaching a team, please send an email to Scott Hardgree: shardgree@hotmail.com.