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The Defender
January 5, 2024
A Message from Mrs. Tate
Dear St. Michael Families,
Happy New Year! May the blessings of Christmas remain with you and your families throughout the year. We loved welcoming our students back to school yesterday, and this morning I realized how much I missed celebrating Mass with them. Thank you for sending your students back to school rested and ready to learn!
We have a busy couple of months ahead of us! Catholic Schools Week is the last week of January and packed with fun activities to support and celebrate our Catholic School. Please see the information below with highlights of the week. Look for details in the newsletter and/or backpacks in the coming weeks.
Jan. 28 – Sunday – Celebrating our Parish – Open House from 9:30-12:30
Jan. 29 – Monday – Celebrating our Parents and Volunteers – Living Rosary at 2:30
Jan. 30 – Tuesday – Celebrating our Priests and Religious – Eucharistic Procession at 2:30
Jan. 31 – Wednesday – Celebrating our Faculty and Staff – Teacher Appreciation Luncheon
Feb. 1 – Thursday – Celebrating our Students – Spirit Day/School Colors and 8th gr. vs. staff volleyball game 1:30
Feb. 2 – Friday – Celebrating our Families – Near and Dear Day at 8:15 with Mass and activities in the school after
The parish will host the Defenders’ Ball on Saturday, Feb. 10 this year. We are grateful to be the recipient of the Fund-A-Need donations this year. Proceeds from the Defenders' Ball 2024 Fund-A-Need will directly support technology improvements in our school by establishing the Blessed Carlo Acutis Fund. The fund is dedicated to a 4-year process of refreshing and expanding access to technology for teachers, staff, students, and volunteers on the SMA campus, including the purchase of over 530 new Chromebooks. For more detailed information, please visit the Defenders’ Ball website at smadefendersball.com/bcaf/.
We have also included information below to be prepared for inclement weather closings. Please see the information in the newsletter below to be sure you’re prepared for any such situation.
I want to sincerely thank our school community for such a wonderful first semester. Our school is a special place, and on behalf of our entire faculty and staff, I want to thank you for your support, prayers, and love. Be assured of our prayers for our SMA families. Please pray for our teachers, staff, and students as we draw closer to Christ in 2024.
Sincerely in Christ,
Diana Tate, Principal
Inclement Weather Procedures
As the threat of inclement weather increases, please be aware that we make every effort to make the call about school closings by 9:00 p.m. the night before or 6:00 a.m. the day of a weather event.
We will use the School Messenger system for texts and the Educonnect email system to notify teachers and families of any school closing. Catholic schools are not listed on radio or television news stations.
Families are not automatically added to our texting system; families must opt-in to the system. Please text Yes to 68453 to receive text messages from St. Michael the Archangel School. Message and data rates may apply.
SAVE THE DATE - Near and Dear Day
Friday, Feb. 2 is our celebration of Near and Dear Day. Fliers were sent home in backpacks today. If backpack mail didn't arrive at your home, please click here for the information. We'd like to have an idea of how many guests will join us to plan for Mass seating and reception food/drinks.
After School Care is up and running!
We have had a great start to our After Care Program. Starting in January, there will be a part time option. They are currently accepting new enrollments. Please click here to register. For questions about the program please call Brittney Lewis at 660-232-0878.
Cyber Safety Resources
During our last Parent Formation Night: Building the Domestic Church, we hosted two speakers on the topic of keeping kids safe on the internet and when using technology. Our speakers were from the Sunflower House and the FBI. They shared many great resources and examples during their presentation and were kind enough to share some of the documents/resources with us. Please click on this link to be directed to those resources.
Watch the newsletter for more opportunities next semester to engage in this and similar discussions.
Uniform Code Reminders
- All boys’ hair must be cut above their ears and collar. Hair should not hang down in their eyes or hang over their ears.
- The length of all girls’ skirts and jumpers must be at the knee. Skirt/jumper length should not hit anywhere on the thigh.
- After Thanksgiving, all boys are to wear long pants. Shorts are not permitted again until after spring break.
Please help your children practice the virtues of respect, responsibility, obedience, and modesty by complying fully with our school’s uniform code. The uniform code is a condition of attendance.
Drop Off Reminder
It is safer for students to exit from the driver's side back seat whenever possible so that children exit curbside. Please help us keep all kids safe by having your students exit the car curbside.
Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedures
♥️ VSL Updates ♥️
All parents are asked to prayerfully consider participation, which varies to fit your schedule or interests. Please go to the VSL website and be sure to scroll through the TABS AT THE TOP.
VSL daytime volunteer and coordination options include:
Evening, weekend and at-home options include:
- Christ Light Award for Staff 2024
- Lenten Season Lead: New this year! Work with Sr. Lucia to help families incorporate the Lenten season in the domestic church.
- Memorial Garden
Let's start the year fresh with renewed excitement! Volunteers are the backbone of our thriving school. There is a role for everyone.
Save the Date
Please save the date - ♥️ Tuesday, February 13 ♥️ - for our St. Valentine's Day parties. ALL CLASSES need multiple parents to assist in snacks and activities. The students really look forward to these parties and parent support is crucial. Room parents will be reaching out with individual class sign ups!
Dennis Uniform
SMA School Activities
Parish News
Knights of Columbus Annual Free Throw Contest
Come show off your basketball skills at the 2024 Knights of Columbus annual Free Throw Championship on Jan 25. The event is open to all boys and girls age 9-14, as of Jan 1. The gym opens at 3:30 p.m. and the event runs from 4 p.m. until approximately 5:30 p.m. Winners of each age/gender division receive a prize and advance to the District contest. We strongly recommend each participant complete the entry form in advance. For more information, contact Steve Hopfinger at 913-530-7164. Entry form can be found here.
DB CLASS AUCTION ITEMS
Every year each class contributes an auction item to DB. We're asking parents to consider something different and change to hosting a class activity. Tickets to the event will be sold at DB. Are you interested in helping out? Have a good idea for a class activity? Fill out this form to get started. Or reach out to Jocelyn Gaddy (Jocelyn.gaddie@gmail.com) or Erin Jurado (erin.jurado@gmail.com) with any questions.
⭐ Defenders' Ball 2024 is just over a month away! Get those tickets now! Don't have a group of 8? No worries! Use the "special requests" tab on your ticket to list grades of your kids, CHRP group, etc and the DB team will find a great group for you! Buy your tickets here!
⭐ Trivia Night is next weekend! You don't need a table of 8 to participate. Come join the fun! Trivia Night tickets here!
⭐ Donations for the Wine and Whiskey Pull! The next time you're at the store grab a few extra bottles and help the cause! You can donate bottles of wine, whiskey, or both! Drop your bottles off in the parish office. Please reach out to Kristi Starr or Jackie Walker if you want to help out!
⭐ Introducing new Fixed Price Parties! These events are for kids, adults, and sometimes both! Many of these are listed on the ticketing site already so start marking your calendars. Tickets for these will go on sale January 10th!
⭐ Are you willing to help?? Volunteers are needed with set-up for the event and the night of! Please reach out to Kristal Ronnebaum (620-786-5039) if you are willing to help!
⭐ Follow us on social media! We'll be posting videos of our LIVE auction items and much more!