Defender News

School Day Office Hours:

7:30 am - 3:30 pm

Office Phone Number: 419-423-2738

Fax Number: 419-423-2720

The school must be notified by 8:00 am of a student absence. Please advise school of symptoms and expected length of absence.

Phone: 419-423-2738

Email: attendance@findlaystmichael.org

Sept 25 - DC Mtg for 8th grade parents - 7:00 pm

Sept 26 - Mass - 8:35 am (all grades)

-Reconciliation grades 5 & 7

Sept 27 - All School Adoration - 1:15 pm

Sept 29 - Feast of St. Michael

Oct 3 - Mass - 8:35 am (6B)

-Reconciliation grades 4 & 6

Oct 10 - Mass - 8:35 am (5A)

-Reconciliation grades 3 & 8

Oct 14 - PTC Mtg - 6:00 pm (Teacher's Lounge)

Oct 16 - End of Quarter 1

Oct 17 - Mass - 8:35 (5B)

-Frozen Jr Performance - 7 pm (auditorium)

Oct 18 - Early Release KR-8 (12:28 -12:37 pm)

-Frozen Jr Performance - 7 pm (auditorium)

The Hancock County Engineer Maintenance crews will be doing work on the Bright Road Bridge at the Blanchard River just north of the intersection with SR 568 beginning Monday, September 23. The project will involve shifting traffic to adjoining lanes and lane closures during the repairs. The bridge will remain open to traffic, however, it is recommended that motorists find alternative routes to avoid possible traffic delays. The project is expected to last two weeks, weather permitting.

Our students are being challenged to complete the St. Michael the Archangel Novena as we lead up to our patron feast day next weekend! More information for parents on novenas can be found at:

Catholic Link: https://catholic-link.org/how-to-pray-a-catholic-novena-a-visual-step-by-step-guide/

Hallow: https://hallow.com/blog/how-to-pray-novenas/

Fr. Brice Higginbotham: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c-CFjBxNNM

Fr. Mike Schmitz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSeAYRzrKms

It is not too late to still apply for our K-8 families to apply for extra tuition assistance and/or assistance to pay your $50 school fees through the Diocese of Toledo SGO. You can apply even if you already paid in full or are on monthly EFT payments! Be sure you apply by October 11. Awards will be posted in November and then applied to your accounts!

Diocese of Toledo SGO (Grade K-8):

• Scholarship can cover tuition and classroom fees

• All students are eligible to apply for and receive a scholarship

• Awards amounts will vary and be prioritized for students with demonstrated financial need

• Families can apply at https://www.dotsgo.org/apply-for-a-scholarship

• Scholarship window is open now through October 11, 2024.

The 2024-2025 Spirit Wear Shirts have arrived and will be sent home today or Monday. These are the only t-shirt option for our K-8 students to wear on gym days. Do not wear previous year shirts. They can also be worn on spirit or out of uniform days, to attend SMS sporting events, and when designated by teacher on field trip days.

As attention remains on Springfield and in preparation for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees on September 29, the Catholic bishops of Ohio issued the letter linked below.

In the letter, the bishops of Ohio state, “Today, our nation is divided by partisanship and ideology, which blind us to the image of God in our neighbor, especially the unborn, the poor, and the stranger. These negative sentiments are only exacerbated by gossip, which can spread quickly across social media with no concern for the truth or those involved.”

https://www.ohiocathconf.org/Portals/1/Bishop%20Statements/Catholic%20Bishops%20of%20Ohio%20Letter%20on%20Migrants.pdf

If you have completed your VIRTUS training and have a little spare time over the lunch hour, we would love to have your support in monitoring the cafeteria and playground.

You can sign up to volunteer HERE.

Our Drama Jr cast members will present Frozen Jr on October 17 and 18 at 7:00 pm in the auditorium. Tickets will be for sale at the doors starting at 6:30 pm each night. We hope to see many of you come out to support the 60+ students involved in this performance!

PTC is looking for volunteers for the planned activities during the year. Take a look at the link HERE to see where your time and talent might best be suited to help make our Defender community stronger together!

Join us for the next meeting on October 14 at 6:00 pm in the Teacher's Lounge

Parent Teacher Officers for 24-25

PTC President - Lindsey Hosler

PTC Treasurer- Brigette Sadowski

PTC Secretary - Anne Kremer

Ladies in grades 4-8 can join our winter cheerleading squad. Any student or parishioner may join.

Complete the registration at https://forms.gle/YazU734NnuTgfdQP7.

Please complete the registration form, https://forms.gle/mJwKaroJpPWMnHkF7, for any athlete in grades 3-8 for the 2024-2025 school year interested in participating in the St. Michael Basketball program. Any athletes who are St. Michael parishioners and/or students are able to participate.

3rd-6th Grade Boys & Girls Fall Basketball League through Findlay YMCA. Session 1 runs October 21st-December 14th and session 2 starts in January. Do not register through the YMCA if you plan to play on the SMS team.

Grades 7-8 will primarily play in non-league games against local schools.

The Athletic Boosters have SMS hats and cold weather knits for sale in the concession stand for $25 each. Pick one up next time you're watching our Defenders or email smsathleticconcessions@gmail.com to have one sent home via backpack mail today! Cash, check or Venmo are accepted.

All students who plan to play a sport at St. Michael School will need a sports physical. Please take all paper work to be signed by a physician and then upload to Final Forms. Physicals must be completed before the athlete will be able to begin practices or play in games with the team.

K-8 School Mass: Thursdays at 8:35 am (during school year only)

Parish Mass Times:

Weekday mornings: 6:45 am (main church)

Saturday: 8:00 am & 4:30 pm (main church)

Sunday: 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 pm

9:00 am (downtown chapel)

Findlay City Schools have partnered with Sodexo to provide a hot lunch option to our KR - 8th grade students.

1. The meal cost will be $3.25/milk a la carte $0.55
   

2. You can find the lunch menu for our building here, or download the Nutrislice app! These menus can be translated into multiple languages by clicking the sidebar on the right.

3. Complete the free/reduced lunch application on PaySchools!

4. Load money on your student’s lunch account within PaySchools. You will need your student ID which can be found by signing into FACTS. Information on signing in is found in the FACTS section of the newsletter.

If you have any questions about school lunch, please email Christian Martinez.

All families are enrolled in the Family Portal of FACTS using the email and cell phone provided on student enrollment forms. This allows families to:

• check student grades
• access your child's ID number to make a hot lunch account
• track student attendance
• receive behavior notifications
• check the school calendar

To access your account visit https://factsmgt.com/login/

Our district code is SMS-OH.

Any new family will need to "Create New Family Portal Account" where it will prompt you to enter the district code and your email provided to the school at registration.

All student information forms and handbooks are on Final Forms.

Please visit https://findlaystmichael-oh.finalforms.com/ to complete forms or find the information.

Shopping for Dollars orders can be placed online, through the RaiseRight app, or through school. School orders are placed on the second and fourth MONDAYS of the month August - May. Order are usually here for distribution on Thursdays.

For more information please contact, Lynnsey Jordan at ljordan@findlaystmichael.org

Educational Apparel is our approved uniform vendor. You can shop online or visit their store in Columbus.

Any items sold or purchased through the Used Uniform Sale need to math these items in pattern and design.

Principal: aholzwart@findlaystmichael.org

Dean of Students: dhenley@findlaystmichael.org

Director of Preschool: panderson@findlaystmichael.org

Attendance Secretary: attendance@findlaystmichael.org

Website: http://www.findlaystmichaelschool.org

Phone: 419-423-2738

Fax: 419-423-2720

723 Sutton Place, Findlay, OH