Hark! The Herald
Special Teacher Edition: Friday, May 10th, 2019
What a wonderful way to start the week!!!
Thank you everyone for a really meaningful Teacher Appreciation Week!
A special thank you to Inga Paluch and her team of parent volunteers who helped to coordinate appreciation events each day.
Our teachers and staff arrived Monday morning to smiling faces and a table of delicious breakfast foods to kick off the week. Over the past five days, the teachers have received beautiful bouquets, healthy snacks and baked treats, personal gifts (like a fun new tie, see below!), plants, lots of hugs, and heartfelt notes and cards of thanks. We received sporty SMS "STAFF" tshirts for our dress down day thanks to Mrs Beam and the help of Silver Screen Design. Thank you for taking such good care of our teachers this week! Those who teach at SMS are here for a reason, called by God to this special little corner of the world, and they are so personally invested in all of your children.
Each person on our staff plays a vital role in the experience SMS students have during their school day. Of course, there are the core subjects of mathematics, literacy, history, religion, and science etc. But we have a vibrant community of staff who also quietly help to maintain the building, tend to boo-boos, provide quality aftercare for younger students, and fill 115 bellies every day! To celebrate the uniqueness of our teachers and staff, I have peppered this Special Edition Hark with photos of everyone.
There are a handful of teachers who have had very special roles with our students this year and deserve our recognition as well. Though not on our "teaching staff", they have donated their time, their unique talents, and their brilliant minds to work one on one with our students in specialized areas of study.
Thank you to Marissa Meyers, Bill Steele, Sean Wolf and Serenity Wolf for your work this year in the areas of mathematics, photography, SAT prep/math, and drafting.
Please know that we are all so honored to spend our days with your children and share in their upbringing.
Happy Mother's Day Weekend!
Important Dates and Reminders
Thursday, May 16th: Kindergarten/1st grade Snack Bar and Dress Down Day
** please send snacks if your child is in Kindergarten or 1st grade.
***Please send money in with your child if they would like to dress down or purchase some treats for snack. Thank you for supporting one another. The funds raised will help our K/1 students to pay for their end of year class trip!
NEXT FRIDAY, May 17th: Early Release for Teacher In-Service Day, after care until 3pm
Also on Friday, May 17th: High School Spring Formal 6-10pm (see flyer below for details)
Saturday and Sunday May 18 and 19th: 2nd Grade Class Collections at Mass
Wednesday, May 22nd: SMS Health Fair sponsored by VTC nursing staff
Thursday, May 23rd: Spring Concert
Friday, May 24th: Race for Education (see flyer below for details)
Monday, May 27th: Memorial Day, No school
First Holy Communion this Sunday at Saint Michael Parish
Sacrament of Confirmation
Spring has Sprung!
May is finally here and the Great Books Group is in full swing! The GBG will next meet on Tuesday, May 14, 2019 from 7:00-8:30 PM to continue its reading and discussion of the fascinating drama Oedipus Rex by the great Greek playwright, Sophocles. Readers will discuss Scenes III & IV. If you would like to join us but have not read the first two acts, fear not! The play is short and simple; you can easily catch up and be current by the next reading session. You may purchase this inexpensive volume here: https://www.amazon.com/Sophocles-Oedipus-Cycle-Colonus-Antigone/dp/015602764X/ref=sr_1_2?crid=29MG1VSWND82Y&keywords=oedipus+rex+by+sophocles&qid=1557424361&s=movies-tv&sprefix=Oedipus+Rex%2Cmovies-tv%2C154&sr=1-2-catcorr
Do you enjoy good company and good conversation? Are you a lifetime learner? If so, come and join us! There is no cost or obligation to join the group.
The SMS Great Books Group is an outreach of St. Michael Catholic School. The GBG is an adult reading group that offers adults in the Saint Michael school and parish communities an opportunity to enjoy and be enriched by the great literature of western civilization. The GBG follows a course of readings that roughly coincides with the reading lists in the classical core curriculum followed by high school students at St. Michael Catholic School.
A New Standard, A New Tradition - The Senior Thesis
A New Standard, A New Tradition - The Senior Thesis
This year St. Michael Catholic School seniors have been preparing their senior theses in fulfillment of a new academic standard at SMS. As part of its program of Catholic classical education SMS seniors began their work on the thesis projects last September when they selected a topic and formulated a research question to guide a scholarly investigation into the topic. In the intervening months students have researched, outlined, drafted and revised their papers.
This week seniors will participate in the final phase of the project - an oral defense of their theses before a panel of SMS faculty. The thesis project, a capstone to an SMS education, marks a rite of passage as seniors prepare the next steps in their lives.
The following seniors will present their theses this week:
Monday, May 13, 2019
Rodney Duteau - Identity Politics
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Gabe Wilkinson - Nuclear Power
Friday, May 17, 2019
Connor Andrus - The Future of Trains in Vermont
Enrollment is underway, and most families have completed their packets... thank you!!
https://logins2.renweb.com/logins/ParentsWeb-Login.aspx
On the left side, select Apply/Enroll, the rest is self explanatory.
Our district code is sm-vt.
The enrollment packet should be completed by the person who is responsible for student enrollment, i.e the "primary parent or guardian".
UPDATE: You cannot access the online enrollment portal through a cell phone. You must use a traditional computer to view "Apply/Enroll" in the menu and move forward in the system.
Race for Education will be held on May 24th, 2019... Please support our students!
Saint Michael School holds two major fundraisers each year to provide quality educational opportunities to our students, and to give tuition assistance to students who would otherwise be unable to attend SMS.
Our school's goal is $20,000. The success of Race for Education relies on the number of sponsors and amounts they pledge to give. Think of relatives, friends, neighbors, business associates, coaches, and anyone else you know who could sponsor your child. We have received some really generous pledges from friends, family and local businesses already. It's so exciting to see this event come together!
You can encourage sponsors to visit the website: race4ed.com/sms on your Facebook page, on Instagram, Twitter, via emails and any other social media. Please please, spread the word. You may be surprised at who sponsors your child and supports our school!
YEARBOOK and Parent Dedication/Commercial Ad ordering has been extended.
Contact Jason Coplan on his cell phone: 802-579-8832 and/or email jasoncoplan@smsvt.info to finalize any ad submissions.
The yearbook ordering link will continue to be active for another two weeks.
The absolute final deadline is Sunday, May 12th.Order your yearbook and design your student dedication page here:
https://www.shop.memorybook.com/school/082855stmichaelcatholicschool/
SMS Preschool Summer Program.
We have a few spots still open for three weeks of our
SMS Preschool Summer Program.
Registration forms are available in the office if you are interested. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Don: daydonharvey@smsvt.info.
Please note: There are 10 spots available per week.
Registration is on a first come, first served basis.
Thank you!
Looking for some parent volunteers
Have you fulfilled your volunteer hours yet for the year? We have about 6 weeks left and lots of ways we can use help.
We have some exciting events on the horizon but they will require some parent helpers:
- PLEASE check in with your teachers... they are all planning end of year class trips. They will need drivers and chaperones to accompany them. Many of them are seeking volunteers right now so please ask how you can help!
- Race for Education on May 24th
** Finally, WE NEED SOME HELP IN OUR KITCHEN!**
Could you spare an hour here and there to help Bobbi Jo with dishes after lunch service. Anytime after 12:30 pm would be extremely helpful.
She is a magician in the kitchen but she is preparing 3 meals a day for 115 kids... with NO HELP! If you would like to come in and provide some sunshine in someone's day, this would be the way to do it. It doesn't have to be daily but anything you can give would be a gift.
Breakfast Lunch and AMP Menus
Breakfast is $2.25 and Lunch is $3.50
Check out all of these delicious breakfast options for the month!
If you would like your child to have breakfast, please make sure they order it the day beforehand.
After School Meal Program
This is a free meal program, sponsored by the state, and available to all students who stay after school for any reason.
Other Community Events And Opportunities
This week NEYT opens its Spring Musical, "Dear Edwina, JR"
Thirteen-year-old problem solver, Edwina, dishes out advice with the help of her friends and a little song and dance.
Dear Edwina JR. follows the adventures of plucky advice-giver-extraordinaire, Edwina Spoonapple, as she directs the neighborhood kids in a series of buoyant production numbers for the latest edition of her weekly "Advice-a-Palooza.” Edwina and her friends share wisdom on everything from trying new foods to making new friends, through clever, catchy and poignant songs.
SHOWTIMES
Friday, May 3 at 7pm
Saturday, May 4 at 2pm and 7pm
Friday, May 10 at 7pm
Saturday, May 11 at 2pm and 7pm
“Vermonters Helping Vermonters” event on June 5th at St. Michael’s College.
Come Help Us Fill the Gaps
Vermont Catholic Charities is holding a “Vermonters Helping Vermonters” event on June 5th at St. Michael’s College.
The event will feature tastings from Vermont breweries and wineries, food catered by the Old Lantern Inn, and live music will be provided by the Guitar Chant Trio.
Proceeds from the event will help Vermont Catholic Charities continue to fill the gaps for the most vulnerable Vermonters. By attending you will help emergency aid clients like “Kira”. Kira was a single mom working full-time and trying to make ends meet, when her hours were cut. She got behind on her rent and faced an eviction. Vermont Catholic Charities helped with rent so she could stay in her home. To learn more about the event and purchase tickets, visit vermontcatholic.org/vermontershelpingvermonters
Mary Beth Pinard
Executive Director, Vermont Catholic Charities, Inc.
(802) 658-6111, Ext. 1110
MATH TUTORING CENTER IN DOWNTOWN BRATTLEBORO!
MATH TUTORING
Brattleboro Math Center, 139 Main St. Brattleboro
Math tutoring for elementary and middle school
Multi-sensory approach to understanding the math
Call Marissa at (510) 919-0843
½ off first session for Saint Michael students
PIANO AND ORGAN LESSONS NOW AVAILABLE
Hi! I'm Breton Abbondanzio, the music teacher at Saint Michael School and Music director for the parish. I'm pleased to offer private lessons in piano and organ to interested families. I teach all ages and levels, and some of my students have won prizes in the ATAM Music Competition in Newton, MA. Lessons are a half hour in duration and my fee is reasonable and competitive.
Please give me a call at (802)251-0644 or email me at babbondanzio@gmail.com.
I look forward to teaching your child!
We'd Love to Hear from You!
If you are not already a friend of SMS on Facebook, please come join us!
We will post school cancellations, fun photos and events that happen during the week that don't make it into the Hark! Please click this link, like and follow our page so you can continue to stay involved.
Email: lindsayoneil@smsvt.info
Website: www.saintmichaelschoolvt.org
Location: 48 Walnut Street, Brattleboro, VT, USA
Phone: 802-254-6320
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SMSVT