Hark! The Herald.
September 8, 2017
Letter from the Principal
Dear SMS Families,
On behalf of the Saint Michael School Advisory Board, teachers, staff, administration, and Father Justin, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2017 – 2018 school year! The beginning of a new school year is always full of promise, excitement, and enormous learning possibilities. I am personally looking forward to all that your children will accomplish and to the continued prosperous growth of our school community.
We are excited to have students back in our classrooms and hallways filling the building with energy and enthusiasm for learning. All staff work to provide a compassionate learning environment where we encourage children to utilize their unique talents and gifts, to serve God and others, and to strive for academic excellence. Our SMS mission statement integrates the spiritual, academic, social and emotional wellbeing of each student based on a love for God and service to those in our community and world. As principal, I am fully committed to this mission and will work with you to instill the foundation for your child’s success.
It is also important that we provide meaningful opportunities for parents to connect with our school. We all welcome your feedback and input and feel it is essential to the success of our school. I encourage you to keep connected with events and opportunities by visiting our website and reading both school and classroom newsletters. It is our goal to have every child and family feel welcomed, connected, and part of our SMS family.
With many wishes for a blessed school year,
Mrs. Elaine Beam, Principal
SUPER RAFFLE!
We are so excited to have SIX cash prizes to offer this year, and hope you have a great time raising money for our school community.
- Father Justin has generously opened up the time after each Mass, beginning this weekend, for our families to sell tickets to parishioners. This is on a first come, first served, basis. Please call or email the office to reserve your ticket time.
- PLEASE turn tickets in as you sell them. There is a lot of behind the scenes bookkeeping that happens, and it is easier for everyone if we are able to do the work as we go.
Thank you all for your consideration!
Drama Club - 2017/2018
When: September 20, 2017 at 3:15
Where: Rand Hall
If accepted, practices will be held Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:15-4:30, and 3:15 to 5 as Production Day draws near. There is a $30 fee per child, but if you have more than one child participating, there is a $60 cap per family.
Those interested in helping with behind the scenes work (props, etc), or for any other questions, please contact Mr. Thies at bobthies@smsvt.info.
Soccer Teams!
The beginning of school means the beginning of soccer - and we are having some beautiful weather for it. We have teams for both the 2-4 grades and the 5-11 grades, and room on both teams. If you were considering it, but haven't checked it out yet, please do!
- Practice is from 3:30-4:30 Mon, Wed, and Friday at the SIT field
- 2-4 grade MUST have a parent/responsible adult present
- Coach Gooley will help parents run drills for the 2-4 grade, and will coach the 5-11 graders.
- Permission slips are in the office
GO SMS!!!!
2017-18 Billing Statements
Please note: Your Lunch and Extended care balances will be billed to you on a monthly basis. These are due monthly and will be highlighted for you and delivered to you within the first 10 days of the month. Please pay these balances as soon as possible. If your bill becomes 45 days in arrears, you will need to bring money daily for lunch, and your child(ren) will not be permitted to attend extended care until your account is brought current.
You can add your Lunch/Extended care charges to FACTS or we can process a CC or check for you.
Thank you, Pichette Family!
Any time we use a band-aid, we'll think fondly of you!
Important SMS Reminders!
- If you need to contact your student during the day, please contact the office. School policy dictates that students phones be off and in their bag until the end of school. This promotes an environment of learning and social interaction, and helps us keep your students safe. We are happy to help when you need to talk to your child(ren).
- Homerooms open at 8:15. Before care is available from 7:15-8:15 if you would like to drop your child off. Otherwise, please have your students wait outside until 8:15.
- When your child is sick or will not be at school for any reason, please let the office know no later than 8:30 am!
- Please send in new notes for the 2017-2018 school year regarding after school plans/permissions that your child has.
- Office hours are 8:00-3:30. If you need to reach the Extended Care staff before or after these hours, please call their mobile at 802-451-6260.
Thank you for your cooperation!
SMS Development Corner! Updates from Mrs. Thies
Building/Grounds Development
- GaGa Ball Pit! That's right, GaGa BALL is coming to SMS! The plan has been approved and will be built in the square of green space behind Rand Hall. It will be approximately 18 feet across and 30 inches high. We are very excited! If you are not familiar with GaGa Ball, you can learn more about this (awesome) game here: https://www.gagacenter.com/nyc/about/what-is-gaga/
- New Bottle Filling Stations! I am researching and obtaining quotes to update our water fountains to a more eco-friendly model that includes a bottle filling station! We are looking into a duel water fountain/bottle filling station for the Elementary level and a bottle filling station for the Middle/Upper level. I'm really excited about this upgrade. Bottle filling stations help keep children hydrated during the day by making it fun! These have been proven to reduce trips to the nurse's office for headaches due to dehydration. It's a win-win! We'll keep you posted on this great addition.
- Outdoor Classroom! It has been a dream of mine since 2014 to make our outside space a real part of our vibrant community. With the help, dedication and enormous support from Brattleboro Country Club, specifically Melanie Boese and Glenn Gooley, our green space has flourished (THANK YOU!). It's now time to focus on continued improvements to our Walnut Street space with an outdoor classroom. The photo below is on our vision board. Can you help us make this happen? With a little architecture, a lot of leveling and a LOT of cement, our outdoor classroom could indeed be ready to break ground this Spring!
Curriculum/Program Enhancement
- Middle School/High School Team Building Trip! Save the date, middle school and high school parents - 10/21 and 10/22! More information coming about an incredible opportunity for our 7 - 11 grade students.
- Life Sciences Enhancement Pilot Program (3rd Grade)! Saint Michael School will be participating in a 6-week Life Sciences curriculum enhancement program in partnership with Strolling of the Heifers. This program is scheduled to start shortly and additional materials will be coming home with Ms. Robinson's 3rd grade science students! This amazing 6-week program will take place at the Strolling of the Heifers headquarters at the River Garden on Main St.
- Retreat Farm Program (6 - 8 grade)! The final touches are being placed on our in-depth, curriculum based farm/sciences program with The Retreat Farm. Students in grades 6 - 8 will be spending 1 afternoon per week on an extended cross-curricular program block working in partnership with Faculty and Farm Educators. More details coming SOON!
- World Languages/Culture Program (all-school)! Saint Michael School will be partnering with World Learning/SIT to present an immersive language program slated to begin in Trimester 2. We will be sending home additional information about the program, its mission and a curriculum overview as it becomes available.
- Hands-on Language Arts/Social Studies (Grades 6 - 11)!
- Al Struthers, The Case of Secrets - Al Struthers will be on-site visiting the 6th grade Language Arts classroom on 9/21 to provide an author directed lesson related to the 6th grades summer reading of his book, The Case of Secrets.
- The Kipling House (Naulakha) - Saint Michael School has reconnected with the education coordinator at the Kipling House. This year, our 4th - 6th grade students will be participating in their Just So Stories presentation and writing contest. We look forward to many more events/offerings.
- State Senator Rebecca (Becca) Balint - Vermont State Senator, Becca Balint has graciously offered to visit Saint Michael School to speak with our middle and high school students about state government and her role as a Vermont State Senator. She has also put us in touch with the State House Tours coordinator to schedule an official tour/visit to The State House in Montpelier. We'll be in touch as we book this wonderful visit.
There are many other behind the scenes improvements that will make an overall improvement to our school community such as web and marketing updates, development and donor databases and grant/foundation research. I won't bore you with those details, but...every step forward is a step in the right direction.
If you have ideas about how we could be improving our programs and community outreach, please let me know. I welcome your feedback and, am fully committed to making the Saint Michael School experience as full and rich with meaning as possible.
Around town....
Cub Scouts!
Hi Everybody!
I hope you have all had great Summers?
This September has rolled around faster than I can get prepared for it
It is time to start our Pack Activities and 2017/2018 Cub Scout Year
Going into this year we have lots of Adventures in front of us - and a few challenges
One of our challenges is going to be to launch the Lions Program for our Brattleboro Area Kindergarteners!!
Dates to put on your Calendar :
Sept. 10th - Sunday - 5 to 7pm we will be having our Fall Sign Up at the Guilford Fair Grounds
Everyone is welcome and as many Cubs in Uniform as we can get will help all the new Cubs see friendly faces and feel welcome!
A treat to get you to show up will be a campfire and Smores!
Please invite all your friends and anyone who has made contact and might be interested.
Sept. 14th - Thursday - 6:00 to 7:30 we will have a group Den Meeting at the West Brattleboro Congregational Church to formally launch our new Dens and put plans in place for the Fall Camporee.
Sept. 18th to the 21st - various places and times we will have our first independent Den Meetings.
Sept. 22nd to the 23rd - Fall Camporee at Potters Field in Quechee, VT! Theme is 'First Responders'
Sept. 28th 6:00-7:30 - September Pack Meeting! Camaraderie, Court of Honor, Uniform Inspection, snacks, games, activities, and fun!!
October will be Pumpkin Carving and the Forest of Mystery at BEEC - Dates and Times to be sent out when BEEC confirms them!!
-Papa Chris
We're here for you!
Email: kimmorrell@smsvt.info
Website: www.smsvt.info
Location: 48 Walnut Street, Brattleboro, VT, United States
Phone: 802-254-6320
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Saint-Michael-Roman-Catholic-School-163298257197450/
Twitter: @StMikesVT