![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/_fr/computer.fe6dd2e2.jpg)
The Defender
September 22, 2023
A Message from Mrs. Tate
As this week draws to an end, I continue to reflect on the Gospel from yesterday’s Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, Matthew 9:9. “As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.”
Deacon Mark pointed out in his homily that Jesus came to Matthew in the middle of his day’s work in an unexpected time in an unexpected place with an unexpected question and Matthew responded without hesitation. He said YES to Jesus for the rest of his life.
Our kids have been saying YES to Jesus this year. Every day we explicitly teach virtue and practice identifying what is and what is not virtuous behavior. We have been practicing the virtue of self-control for the past two weeks, and our kids are doing an excellent job of exhibiting self-control.
I hope you have had a chance to review and discuss the family questions we send home for each virtue. It’s a great way to continue to build community in our St. Michael school and parish. By using the same language about expectations in virtue, our children receive the same, consistent message throughout their days/nights/weekends.
Next week we will begin our study of the virtue of obedience. Obedience is defined as assenting to rightful authority without hesitation or resistance. Obedience looks like following directions the first time they are given without complaint. Obedience sounds like, “Yes, sir. I would be happy to finish my chores.”
Thank you for supporting our Education in Virtue program. I hope you will join us for our parent formation nights this year. Sr. Lucia will present this Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. Each session will occur on the 4th Tuesday of the month and present a different topic of interest to parents. It’s a great time to build fellowship and community among our parent community. More than anything, however, this session exists for you – to pray for you, to listen to you, to be available to you, to provide resources and support to help you form your children to become the saints they are called to be. We are here for you.
“As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.” Matthew 9:9.
When Jesus comes today, how will we respond?
Sincerely,
Diana Tate, Principal
Parent Formation - Building the Domestic Church
We are excited to invite you to our St. Michael the Archangel “Building the Domestic Church” parent formation sessions taking place every fourth Tuesday of the month beginning on Tuesday, September 26 at 6:30 pm. If you are interested in attending the sessions, please click here to fill out the form and provide input for topics of interest.
Dismissal Note – Please Read
Please do not arrive for school pickup until 2:50 p.m. Parking lot gates cannot be opened until all students are cleared from the parking lot from afternoon recess. Lining up before gates open and blocking the parking lot entrance or inhibiting traffic on 143rd Street is a law enforcement issue.
Picture Make Up Day, September 28th
St. Michael the Archangel Fall Portraits 2023
Makeup/Retake Picture day: Thursday, September 28, 2023
Passcode : 3105
CLICK HERE to place your preorder and receive discounted pricing!
This session is for:
• Students who were not photographed this school year.
• Retakes of any students who received unsatisfactory pictures
• Any students who want to be photographed and place an order
You may have pictures retaken. To be retaken, please return your portrait package to the photographer on Makeup/Retake day. Fill out the retake form on the back side of your picture envelope, and give it to the photographer.
Sept. 29 - All School Lunch-Feast of St. Michael the Archangel
School Messenger Please "Opt In"
Families are not automatically opted in. In order to receive the texts, you must opt in by texting "Yes" to 67587.
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.
Go Forth to Serve
St. Michael the Archangel School strives to guide students to live, love, learn and go forth to serve like Jesus. To achieve this mission, SMA participates in Go Forth to Serve activities throughout the year culminating in a dedicated day of service projects and related activities April 26, 2024. SMA will hold 3-4 collections this year. Items collected will be utilized for the Go Forth to Serve Day service projects in April. Our hope is that students can see how the items they donated throughout the year can impact people in our community, country, and world.
In Faith Families, students will learn about the projects that will receive donated items, as well as discuss the importance of service to our Catholic faith and reflect on a different Saint and their service each month.
The first collection, benefitting the backpack food program at Our Lady of Unity and Christ the King schools, will take place next week, September 25-29. Last year we collected enough items to support this program through mid-March. Please ask your children what they learned about this project in their Faith Family and encourage them to come up with ways they can "work" to gather/purchase donated items. Thank you for your prayers and support throughout the coming week and year to come!
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)
Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedures
Mathletics Information Grades 3-8
Veterans Day Celebration
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.
Questions: Beth Hintz hintz0612@aol.com
VSL Updates
Fun First Friday – October 6
The sign-up list is available for the October 6th Fun First Friday! Fun Fridays are now celebrated only on the FIRST Friday of the month, but there are 4 slots available to honor our teachers and staff! The October Fun First Friday sign up is listed here. Remember each homeroom teacher has an assigned support staff and it’s great to acknowledge their hard work as well. Staff favorite things are listed here.
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
Staff Appreciation
Please click here if you would like to help with a Teacher Appreciation on September 29,
Dennis Uniform
August Discount Code-23FACAGISM
SMA School Activities
Parish News
The Parish Picnic is Saturday, September 30. Mass is at 4 p.m. and the picnic is from 5-7 p.m. For this event to be a success, we need your help. We need adult volunteers, and youth volunteers. Please sign up and help make this our best picnic yet!
ALTAR SERVER TRAINING
Altar Servers assist the priest at Mass and carry cross, candles, and incense in procession. Training is open to both boys and girls in 5th grade and above.
Each server is assigned to a team that serves on a rotating schedule, the same Sunday of the month at the same Mass,(e.g., the 9 a.m. Mass on the second Sunday of each month). It is possible to make trades in order to accommodate scheduling conflicts, but it is important that servers be available to commit to a team.
New Server Training is Sunday, September 24, from 2-3:30 p.m. in the Church. Please register to participate. A parent is asked to accompany each child to the training.
Basketball Registration
CYO online registration is open! St. Michael’s will have teams for 3rd grade through 8th grade boys and girls. To register, please go directly to the CYO website at www.cyojwa.org. Please register by Saturday, October 28.
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.