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

Aug 18 - Open House/Ice Cream Social - 4:30-6:00 pm

- Back to School Dinner - 4:30-7:30 pm

Aug 20 - First Day of School KR - 8

Aug 22 - Mass - 8:35 am (8A host class)

Academy of Angel Meet the Teacher - evening times for parent only meetings

Aug 26 - First Day of School for P3 and P5

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

Final Forms are up and running for all enrolled students. Please be sure to click the link in your Final Forms email or visit https://findlaystmichael-oh.finalforms.com to complete the forms. These need to be completed by August 16.

Join us today, Sunday, August 18 - 4:30-6:00 pm

Auditorium:

• Administrators and Office Staff to answer any questions

• Extended Day information and key pick up

• Club and Organizations Information Booths

• Ice Cream served by School Advisory Council

• Lunch cashier to place money on student accounts

• Yearbook Pick Up

Classrooms: meet your teachers and drop off school supplies

Activity Center: Back-to-School dinner hosted by the Class of 2025 from 4:30-7:30 pm

All doors will be open for entry into the school.

Welcome to all of our new families. We are so happy to have you as part of our Defender Family. We know a new school can be overwhelming, so we have a slideshow you can click through to help you learn more about the school! Don't be afraid to email or call if your question isn't found here.

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

Student water bottles must have a lid that closes. Water bottles with straws that stand out the top are no longer permitted. This change was made due to the numbers of spills experienced in the building last year. Water is only the beverage that may be in the water bottle.

In alignment with the Ohio bill requiring schools adopt policy to limit students’ cell phone usage in schools our policy is:

St. Michael School is not responsible for any devices in the building and we advise against bringing them. Students may be in possession of a cell phone, tablet, watch, or other electronic devices under the following circumstances:

• All electronic devices, must be turned off and kept in a backpack or locker upon arrival at school and will not be able use them until they are loaded on the bus or in the car.

• Smart watches may not be worn during school hours and may be restricted at extra-curricular or sporting events.

• Cell phone usage may be restricted during extracurricular activities by the coach or adult in charge.

• Students who need an electronic device for medical purposes, must consult with the administration to seek permission and have a student medical plan created.

First violation: The device will be placed in the office and sent home with the student at end of day. Parents will be notified.

Second violation: The device will be placed in the office. Parents will be notified and required to pick it up.

Your student will receive a new school spirit shirt this year. This version is the one that may be worn on gym days and other published spirit days. Until you receive it, please just wear your normal uniform shirt for gym. Grades 6-8 need plain shirt and shorts to change for gym. All KR-8 students need a clean pair of tennis shoes for gym to be left at school for gym.

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://sms-oh.client.renweb.com/pw.

Our district code is SMS-OH.

Any new family will need to "Create New Family Portal Account" using the email address provided to the school.

All busses will drop students off at the main school entrance on Sutton Place. Staff members are stationed at the doors to greet students and help them find their classrooms. Students are expected to go directly to their classrooms.

*The parking lot is busiest from 7:40-7:55 am. If all families follow the procedures we can get you unloaded in 3-5 minutes. NO VEHICLES ARE PERMITTED TO PARK AND WALK STUDENTS ACROSS THE LOT. IF YOUR CHILD NEEDS A MOMENT, PARK FIRST AND THEN JOIN THE END OF THE LINE.

• Drop off starts at 7:30 am and ends at 8:00 am.

• Students are held in the Activity Center until 7:40 am when classrooms open. Teachers or aides will walk students from the Activity Center to their classrooms for the first couple of days. Extra staff members are stationed in this area to help direct students if needed.

• Students must be in their room by 8:00 am to avoid being tardy.

• All cars enter the SOUTH parking lot, turn left, and follow the outside perimeter of the lot.

• The lead car will pull up to the large, orange cone and the next 5-6 vehicles will line up along the curb.

• Students exit vehicle/parents remain in vehicle. Staff can help students needing assistance.

• Pull away slowly and exit to Bright Road:

• If turning north, please pull under the bell tower, turn left in front of the church and exit from the north exit .

• If turning south, please continue straight to exit and turn right from the south lot.

KR-5th grade students will be accompanied to the busses by a staff member. It is important that each child knows what bus they ride. If they are a county bus rider, we refer to the bus as Liberty-Benton, Van Buren, Cory-Rawson, etc. Findlay City busses are referred to by their number.

Grade 6-8 students will be dismissed to walk from their classrooms to the busses on their own.

All cars enter the SOUTH parking lot, turn left, and follow the outside perimeter of the lot to your assigned line or parking spot area. Parents will stay in the car as staff load the students. KR-2nd grade students need to know their last name and you have a placard in the car with your last name to match.

Exiting to Bright Road:

• If turning north, please turn in front of the church and use the north exit to turn left.

• If turning south, please continue straight to exit and turn right from the south lot.

KR-2 families will form 2 lines (like Chick-fil-a). When you get to the top of the line, you will zig zag back and forth to join the single line at the curb. Students will dismiss from their rooms at 2:28 pm and we will begin loading all cars when the classes are present outside. If you have older students, you will then pull to the right to park and wait; otherwise, please exit to Bright Road.

Grades 3-8 families will enter the lot, follow the perimeter and park in the top half of the lot. Grade 3-5 students will be dismissed from classrooms at 2:35 pm and grade6-8 will be dismissed at 2:37 pm. Students will not cross to cars unti the KR-2 carline is finished. Please turn south towards the houses to exit your row and exit to Bright Road.

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.

1. Students entering kindergarten and 7th grade are required to receive updated immunizations. Please be sure to send a copy of the updated immunization record to school. Students not in compliance will not be able to attend school after day 14.
2. All students enrolled in the Academy of Angel classes need a current physical on file. Please be sure you are in compliance by their first day of school.
3. Students who have an inhaler or epinephrine injector will need a release form signed by the physician.
4. Students who will need to take prescribed medications during school hours will need a release signed by the physician.
5. Medical supplies can be brought to school office during August hours or at the Open House on August 18.
   

Physical Forms for Preschool or Sports can be found at https://www.findlaystmichaelschool.org/athletic-forms

Findlay City Bus Routes can be viewed on their website. Please be sure your child knows which bus number they ride. Younger students benefit from having a tag attached to their bookbag with their bus number.

***County transportation offices should have been in touch with families on route times/locations. If you have questions, please reach out to your county school transportation office.***

School Supply Lists are available on our school website at https://www.findlaystmichaelschool.org/supply-lists.

For those that ordered the 2023-2024 yearbooks, they will be available for pick up at Ice Cream Social on August 18 or sent home with students in the first week of school.

Meet our Parent Teacher Officers for 24-25

PTC President - Lindsey Hosler

PTC Treasurer- Brigette Sadowski

PTC Secretary - Anne Kremer

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 (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

Attendance Secretary: attendance@findlaystmichael.org

Website: http://www.findlaystmichaelschool.org

Phone: 419-423-2738

Fax: 419-423-2720

723 Sutton Place, Findlay, OH