The Defender
November 4, 2022
Important Upcoming Dates
- November 7th NO SCHOOL (Professional Development)
- November 8th - 11th Veterans Clothing Drive
- November 22 All School Faith Family Thanksgiving Feast
- November 23-25 Thanksgiving Break
A Message from Mrs. Tate
Dear SMA families,
Happy November! We had such a great week at SMA! Yesterday, we had our second Faith Family meeting, and it was so much fun! We are so happy to have our Faith Family program back in our school. We took a hiatus during the pandemic, and as we bring it back, the kids and staff are responding with such joy and love.
All our students are placed in a Faith Family with students from multi-aged grade levels. They will remain with that Faith Family each year that they are part of the St. Michael school community. Each faculty member serves as a Faith Family Mentor. We are excited to meet regularly with the goal of every student feeling like they belong to a much larger school family giving them a unique connection with Christ and their fellow school members. They have a sense of being known and loved. Faith Families help create relationships and bonds amongst all grade level students and it enables our older students to embrace their potential for leadership.
In the past, Faith Families met every month, but last year, we were only able to meet once. This year we have planned more consistent meetings and special events that will draw us closer as a school community. So far, we have met twice, and we’re all looking forward to our Faith Family Thanksgiving Feast on November 22. Please fill out the link in the newsletter (below) and RSVP to help us prepare for the feast. We need responses from all families so we can prepare the space and the meal. On November 22, we’ll go to Mass and sit with our Faith Families, and then we’ll come back to school and have a Thanksgiving meal with our Faith Family.
Building community strengthens the bond we have with each other and leads us to a deeper communion with Christ. Thank you for supporting our efforts to strengthen our community and lead our students and staff closer to Christ.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Diana Tate
Faith Family Thanksgiving Feast Questionnaire
On Tuesday, November 22, we will have our very first Faith Family Thanksgiving Feast. We will all be eating lunch together at the same time. The feast will take place at 11:00am and will be in the cafeteria/gym. The menu includes: turkey, mashed potatoes w/gravy, corn, a Hawaiian roll, a pumpkin spice muffin and a small bottle of water. The meal is being sponsored by the Parish at no cost to you. This will be the only lunch served for the day. Your child(ren) can bring their own lunch if they do not want to eat the turkey dinner. Please indicate on this Google Form whether or not your student(s) will be eating the Faith Family Thanksgiving Feast. https://forms.gle/2V7N8ZhpfixNHEEt7
VSL
Deck the SMA halls
It is time to Deck the halls with Christmas cheer. Sign up to decorate November 27 from 12-7 p.m. Classrooms have been assigned a Christmas theme based on the grade. Parents claim a teacher's door and decorate accordingly. Parents can work individually or as a team. Students will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite door. The door with the most votes wins a pizza party with the priests!
Sign up today to be a Guardian Angel
A Guardian Angel volunteer has the unique opportunity to serve the school during the time children are in Mass or attending other religious activities within the church. This is a person who volunteers to be in the Narthex during these times to keep an extra eye on the doors of the church looking for suspicious behavior.
Please consider signing up for as multiple shifts. The children love to see familiar faces! Thank you for volunteering your time to ensure our children are safe!
Grades 5-8 Mass is on Tuesday. Kindergarten- 4th grade Mass is Wednesday. All school Mass is Friday.
Clothing drive next week
SMA is collecting clothing and food items the week of November 8-11 for the St. Michael’s Veterans Center. Please see flier for grade assignments.
Living the Liturgical Calendar in Your Home
The feast of St. Martin of Tours is November 11. Learn more about St. Martin and how you can celebrate this saint in your home.
St. Thomas Aquinas Presents Freaky Friday
Saint Thomas Aquinas High School students will present the musical “Freaky Friday” November 3,4, 5, and 6 at our school Theater. Please join us for this family-friendly version of “Freaky Friday” that all will enjoy! Thursday-Saturday performances will be at 7pm and the Sunday performance is at 5pm. Tickets may be purchased at the door or please visit our website at www.stasaints.net
SMA Social needs your photos
As we get further into the school year and begin to have projects and parties at school, snap some pictures and send to VSL so we can post on Facebook and Instagram. We would love to feature more of our kids smiling faces to help tell our SMA story!
CYO Help Needed
Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedures
Dennis Uniform
SMA School Activities
Parish Acivities
Serve Saturday-November 12th
Volunteer at ScrapsKC, please click here for more information:
Companions in Faith Volunteer Opportunity at OLU School
Have some free time during the school day? We are looking for volunteers to work with teachers and students at Our Lady of Unity School for the 2022-2023 school year. Volunteers are needed from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. but we can accommodate almost any schedule. The day of the week is flexible and as well as the frequency of your volunteer visits. You must be VIRTUS trained to volunteer but no teaching expertise is needed, just a willing heart to work with students.
If you would like more information or would like to volunteer, please visit http://companionsinfaith.weebly.com/volunteer-at-our-lady-of-unity-school.html or e-mail Ann Ekis at ann.ekis@yahoo.com