Defender News

School Summer Office Hours:

August 19- 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

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

Aug 26 - First Day of School for P3 and P5

- PTC Meeting 6:00 pm

Aug 27 - First Day of School for P2

Aug 28 - K-8 Meet the Teacher - evening times for parent only meetings

Aug 29 - Mass - 8:35 am (8B host class)

Aug 30- NO SCHOOL

Sept 2 - NO SCHOOL

Sept 4 - MAP Reading Test (K-8) - 8:30-10:30 am

Sept 5 - Mass - 8:35 am (7A host class)

Sept 6 - MAP English test (3-8) - 8:30-10:30 am

Sept 8 - 2nd Grade Retreat for First Communion - 1:00 - 4:00 pm

Sept 9 - Athletic Boosters Meeting - 8:00 pm

Sept 10 - MAP Math test (K-8) - 8:30-10:30 am

- Beginning Band Mtg (5th grade) - 7:00 pm (auditorium)

Sept 12 - MAP Science Test (5 & 8) - 9:45 - 11:00 am

Sept 13 - Student Council Elections

Meet the Teacher Night is Wednesday, August 28 and is intended for parents only. Students should not be in the meetings. Each teacher will give a presentation at the three times listed below. Feel free to join the presentation time that best works in your schedule. K-6 presentations will be homerooms while grades 7 & 8 will meet in the auditorium. You may park at the gym or main doors to enter. Administrators will be in the front office if you need any help finding classrooms or answering questions.

6:00 - 6:35 pm

6:40 - 7:15 pm

7:20 - 7:55 pm

Only 53% of our families have Final Forms completed. Most of the incomplete forms are families that need to sign one last addition about the VIRTUS requirement if you want to volunteer. Signing the form only verifies you understand the procedures. Please be sure you check your family portal at t https://findlaystmichael-oh.finalforms.com.

The 2024 - 2025 Parent/Student Handbook is on Final Forms and on our school website. Please be sure it is read and understood.

• All preschool - 8th grade students are expected to wear closed toe shoes.
• Socks or tights (for females) are to be worn at all times with the shoes. Socks with visible logos are not permitted.
• K-8 sock/tights/legging color choices are: white, khaki, gray, black, navy.
• CROCS, fashion boots, sandals, and shoes that light up, roll, or are platform style are not permitted.
• Shoes must have a heal no higher than 1.5 inches.

Grades KR-5:

• clean pair of shoes is to be kept at school and worn for gym only
• may wear the CURRENT year SMS spirit shirt on gym day (will be sent home when the order is ready)
• wear with uniform bottom or approved preschool items

Grades 6-8:

*These grade levels change for gym and should bring items in a small bag. Extra deodorant is a great thing to keep in the bag for after class.

• clean pair of shoes is to be kept at school and worn for gym only
• Any SMS spirit/club/team shirt or PLAIN colored t-shirts with no writing/logos
• Solid color shorts or athletic pants. Leggings and spandex type shorts are not permitted.

Behavior notifications will be tracked and communicated through FACTS this year. Parents will receive an email notification when an incident has been recorded by a staff member. The email will direct you to log-in to FACTS to see the details so please be sure you have FACTS site saved and your parent account created. Although we do not have a demerit system, a demerit level will be issued in the notice. This is to rank the severity of the incident.

Level 1: MINOR INCIDENTS - These are common infractions that a typical student might make.

Level 2: SERIOUS INCIDENTS - These are less common, more serious infractions.

Level 3: SEVERE INFRACTIONS - These are uncommon, very severe infractions that are serious enough as to result in unenrollment.

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.

We have MORE cars than ever dropping students off to school this year. We are continually backing up to Bright Road and blocking traffic from 7:40-7:50 am. In order to better serve our car riders, we will also institute the 2 line route like we do in the afternoon. Please begin to form the 2 lines and then merge as you come to the curb area. The map below is for afternoon procedures but will help you understand the big picture if you are not a normal KR-2 pick up person. Please be sure there is only one line of cars unloading along the curb.

We apologize for the need to change the lunch menu so quickly in the school year. Unfortunately our kitchen has a broken piece of equipment meant to keep food hot. Parts have been ordered and we hope we will be up and running in the near future. Until then, our lunch cook, will continue to send a text alert with the menu choice.

Our Preschool dress code encourages comfortable and loose fitting clothing so that we can have freedom of movement in our large motor activities. Preschool students do not need to wear uniforms, however, uniforms are permissible.

• KR students are required to keep a clean pair of tennis shoes at school for use in the gym.

• Tennis shoes are preferred for safety during playtime.

• All shoes must have an enclosed toe and heel or ankle strap.

• CROCS, fashion boots, sandals, and shoes that light up, roll, or are platform style are not permitted.

• Boots may only be worn to/from school or during recess (regular shoes will be worn in the classroom).

• Socks must be worn at all times.

• JEANS are not permitted.

• Be sure the clothing allows for the child to easily use the restroom by themselves.

Students in grades K-8 are expected to wear school uniforms as described in the handbook available in Final Forms or on the school website. Students are also expected to follow the Out of Uniform policies for those occasions when uniforms are not worn to school. Parents are asked to monitor the dress of their child(ren) before they come to school. Faculty and staff members are expected to enforce the student dress code at all times through reasonable observation of the students.

You may only purchase approved uniform pieces from Educational Apparel. We also have a Used Uniform Sale twice a year at school. Used items may include previously approved items from French Toast or Land’s End. Used items should match approved Educational Apparel items in pattern, color, and style.

• Educational Apparel options for purchasing:

• Shop online www.educationalapparel.com - Saint Michael School-Findlay #88

• Shop the store: Hilliard Store, 3906 Brown Park Dr., Hilliard, Ohio 43026

• At-school sales: Held 3 times/year (summer, late fall, spring) in our building

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.

The first PTC planning meeting of the year will take place on Monday, August 26 at 6:00 pm in the Teacher's Lounge. Please park in the front school lot, and enter through the main school doors. A PTC member will be there to greet you and help you find the teacher's lounge!

Meet our Parent Teacher Officers for 24-25

PTC President - Lindsey Hosler

PTC Treasurer- Brigette Sadowski

PTC Secretary - Anne Kremer

Calling all SMS Athletic Supporters!

If you are interested in SMS Athletics, please join us for our first meeting of the 2024-2025 school year!

The meeting is on Monday, September 9th at 8pm in the teachers lounge. Please park in the front school lot, and enter through the main school doors. A booster member will be there to greet you and help you find the teacher's lounge!

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.

Basic Parish Tuition Assistance (Grades K-8):

• Families must complete a FACTS or EdChoice Scholarship application to be considered for basic tuition assistance from St. Michael Parish (this will be similar to previous parishioner/multi-student discounts)

• Assistance amounts will vary based on family need

• Assistance can be considered year-round while funding remains

EdChoice Expansion Scholarship (Grades K-8):

• All Ohio students qualify for a tuition scholarship. Scholarship amounts vary based on the family income level.

• New students or families that have not applied before need to complete a simple scholarship request form and income verification requirements to qualify.

• Students previously granted the scholarship need to complete a renewal form yearly.

• Scholarship packets are available in the office or online through the Ohio Department of Education.

• Application window opens February 1.
  

FACTS Tuition Assistance (Grades KR – 8):

• Tuition assistance provided through our school foundation

• Assistance amounts will vary based on family need

• Families must apply online at online.factsmgt.com

• Application window opens March 1.

OCEN 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://ohiocen.org/ocen-sgo/apply/

• Scholarship window is open December 1 - July 15

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

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, and 6:00 pm (last time for 6:00 pm Mass will be 8/25 (main church)

9:00 am (downtown chapel)

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