The Defender
March 3, 2023
Important Upcoming Dates
- March 5, 2023 Altar Server Training (5th grade or above) 2:00 PM-3:30 PM in the Church
- March 10, 2023 NO SCHOOL - Professional Development and SOF
- March 13-17 Spring Break
- March 20, 2023 NO SCHOOL - Professional Development
- March 27, 2023 Kindergarten Round Up-(No school for current Kindergarteners)
A Message from Mrs. Tate
Dear St. Michael Families,
This has been a beautiful week at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic School! We began our week with all-school adoration on Monday. Many homeroom classes joined us in the church for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and the feedback from teachers and students was awesome! The kids said things like, “I loved being with Jesus! I saw Jesus today! It was nice to be in church when it was so quiet; it helped me pray.” What beautiful witnesses to the power of prayer and adoration.
Please join us for Eucharistic Adoration this Monday between 8:15-11:00. Some classes stay for 5-10 minutes, and some classes stay for longer periods, depending upon the age of the children. Any amount of time is wonderful…we welcome all parents, grandparents, and families to join us in the church during this special time.
All are also welcome to join us each Friday in Lent for the Stations of the Cross. This devotional service commemorates Jesus’ passion and death on the cross for our sake. As we reflect on Jesus’ final days on Earth, we pray and meditate on each of the events that Jesus experiences. The history of the Stations of the Cross dates back to the 4th century and is an important devotion during Lent. Reminding us of Jesus’ experiences involves us in his life and death and reminds us that God triumphs over all evil, something we need in today’s world.
“Why, one will hardly die for a righteous man – though perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die. But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:7-8)
Please join me at this link for commentary on chapter 3 of The Collapse of Parenting: How We Hurt Our Kids When We Treat Them Like Grown-Ups, by Leonard Sax, MD, PhD.
Sincerely,
Diana Tate, Principal
Join us this weekend at Mass! Saturday 5:00; Sunday 7:30, 9:00, 10:30, 12:00, 5:00. See you there!
A Note from Sr. Lucia
Dear SMA Family,
May we journey this Lent to console and repair the Heart of Jesus!
My heart is filled with so much gratitude to Father Brian, Mrs. Tate, and you all for having welcomed me here with so much love. I am blessed to be part of this beautiful SMA Family and look very much forward to serving each one of you in whatever way I can do so. I have had the great blessing of visiting many classrooms and walking in the hallways, meeting families and I am so moved and edified by everyone’s zeal and joy. I am deeply grateful to God and our Blessed Mother for this beautiful gift! You are all a gift to my heart.
It is my prayer that during this Holy Lenten Season, we may together enter into the Heart of Jesus through the Heart of Mary. That we may come to deeply understand that holiness is the capacity to choose with freedom and with generosity, to give oneself, to serve and wash the feet of others, and to give our life for the good of the other. Holiness is the total identification of our hearts with the Heart of Jesus and the Heart of Mary… not as a devotion or an external form of spirituality, but as a supreme and demanding path of transformation and conversion. Love is demanding… because it reaps our hearts more than our clothing. (Joel 2)
“May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord uncover His face to you and bring you peace.” (Num 6:24-26)
All for the Heart of Jesus through the Heart of Mary,
Sr. Lucia Maria Sol, SCTJM
All-School Adoration – Volunteers Needed
We are thrilled to be able to offer all-school adoration during Lent this year. We will have Eucharistic Adoration on March 6, March 27, and April 3 from 8:15-11:00 in the church. Please sign up here if you are able and willing to help us keep at least two adults in the church adoring during each of these dates/times. Feel free to sign up for as many days/times you wish. We welcome all adorers!
Training for New Altar Servers
Altar servers have the privilege of assisting the priest as he does the most important thing on earth -- celebrate Mass! Their prayerful manner and reverence communicate to everyone assembled that God is truly present.
Training for new servers in 5th grade or above will be offered on Sunday, March 5*, from 2-3:30 p.m. in the Church.
Register for the training on our website.
*The date has been changed from the original published due to spring break.
Presidential Service Award Program
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 SMA, this period is from April 1, 2022-March 31, 2023.
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, 2023.
For student service and community outreach ideas, check out SMA VSL - Student Volunteers.
If you have any questions, email Megan Morris
CYO Track & Field 2023 – REGISTRATION OPEN!
Registration for the CYO 2023 Track Season is now open for grades 3 through 8. Speed on over to https://cyojwa.org/current-programs to sign up!
No tryouts are required and all students are welcome! Joining the track team is a terrific way to get some exercise, have fun with friends and develop a love for running, jumping and throwing. All you need is a pair of shoes (or track spike shoes for more competitive runners) and a little bit of determination.
EVENTS
The 5th-8th grade races include distances of 60m, 100m, 120m, 220m, 440m, 880m and 1 mile. There are multiple relay races, too! Field events are high jump, long jump, ball throw (football for boys, softball for girls), and shot put. The 5th-8th grade athletes may compete in four events per meet.
The 3rd-4th grade races are 60m, 100m, 120m, 200m and 400m. Each runner can participate in two races per meet. Participants in 3rd-4th grade do not compete in any field events.
PRACTICE & MEETS
· For 5th through 8th graders only, practices will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:00 PM-7:15 pm at Prairie Star Middle School, starting Monday, March 20th, and going through Wednesday, May 3rd.
· The 3rd and 4th graders practice Tuesday nights only, and they are from 6:00-7:00 PM at Prairie Star Middle School. The first practice will be Tuesday, March 21st, and the final practice will be Tuesday, April 25th in advance to their third and final meet.
Track meets are scheduled for the following Saturdays: April 15 @ Miege HS, April 22 @ TBD, April 29 @ Miege HS, and then City Finals (for 5th through 8th only) are on Saturday, May 6 @ Miege HS.
FEES & REGISTRATION
Register online now at https://cyojwa.org/current-programs to get the Early Bird pricing. Fees go up $25 as of March 27th for late sign-up.
· $90 for grades 5-8
· $65 for grades 3-4
Your registration fee includes a jersey. More info about track and field is available on the CYO website by clicking HERE.
WE NEED VOLUNTEER PARENT COACHES, NO MATTER YOUR LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE:
Last year we approached 120 kids from 3rd through 8th in participant count, which was great. What was missing though was enough help from parent-coaches at the practices. We desperately seek for VIRTUS trained parents to volunteer at the practices AND if possible, some at the meets as well. Being a former track star is not required. Email Ed Baldwin at ed@communitymortgagekc.com with questions or if you would like to volunteer to help coach.
Parish News
Live Stations of the Cross
Our Lady of Unity Parish is bringing their Live Stations of the Cross to St. Michael the Archangel
Location: St. Michael the Archangel grounds
Date: Saturday, April 1st
Time: 11:00am.
Come walk with us as we see, feel and hear about Jesus' passion. Everyone is welcome. Dress weather appropriate.
Archdiocese Take Back Family Time Challenge
Join the challenge! Take Back Family Time is about spending meaningful, intentional time with your family. Each month families are encouraged to make time to complete the monthly activity. See the attached image for more information. #TakeBackFamilyTime #TakeBackSunday #archkckcs #archkck
Parish Serve Day
Serve at St. Michael and the surrounding community!
Saturday, March 25, after 8:15 am Mass
For more info and to sign up: www.stmichaelcp.org/parish-serve-day
Please consider donating baby themed fleece in 2-yard increments for in-house blanket making, and Easter items (please click link) for Easter Bags that will be donated to a local foster care agency: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3H72M49NGFX7G?ref_=wl_share. Donations can be dropped off in the Parish Hall.St. Thomas Aquinas Summer Camps
During May, June and July, Saint Thomas Aquinas High School offers a variety of sports camps for students entering grades K-8 to explore. Our sports camps include Baseball, Basketball, Cheer, Cross Country, Dance, Football, Soccer, Softball, Strength, Speed & Agility, Swimming, Track & Field (Jumps) and Volleyball.
Saint Thomas Aquinas High School also offers several activity camps. These include Art, Baking, Break Out Boxes (intriguing puzzles similar to an Escape Room), Chess, Crafting, History & Film, Show Choir and a STEM camp!
Registration is available online through our website: www.stasaints.net/summercamps. Or if you prefer, you can download and complete the attached camp registration form and mail it to:
Saint Thomas Aquinas
Summer Camps
11411 Pflumm Rd
Overland Park, KS 66215
We look forward to providing a positive camp experience not only for your son or daughter but for their friends too! Please feel free to pass this information on to friends, neighbors and relatives too!