The Defender
January 13, 2023
Important Upcoming Dates
- January 16, 2023 NO SCHOOL - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- January 29 - February 3, 2023 Catholic Schools Week
- February 2, 2023 New Family Meeting 7:00 PM in school library
- February 5, 2023 New Family Meeting 1:00 PM in school library
A Message from Mrs. Tate
Dear SMA Families,
Today is the feast of St. Hilary of Poitier’s. This morning at Mass, Fr. Luke shared his feast and the origin of his name, comes from Latin Hilaria meaning joy. Fr. Luke challenged us all to be more like St. Hilary in both name and works. St. Hilary is described as a gentle and courteous man. His life was lived out in both scholarship and controversy. He often found himself completely alone defending the divinity of Christ.
Fr. Luke compared St. Hilary to people today, asking the students if we 100% defend Christ in our lives and make him our focus. He asked if we choose Tuesdays and Thursdays to defend Christ or are we like St. Hilary and defend and follow Him every single day.
Fr. Luke encouraged us all to look for the areas in our lives where we are stuck or where we are blind to Jesus. Like the man in the Gospel today who was lowered through the roof to be healed, sometimes we are paralyzed or blind to Jesus in our lives. Can we find those places and let Jesus in? Will we allow ourselves to be led to Him and give ourselves over to Him in ALL areas of our lives?
As a new Catholic school principal, I will defend Christ in both scholarship and controversy, hoping to be more like St. Hilary. Thanks be to God that I don’t find myself completely alone in defending Christ and His teachings. From the integration of theology into our curriculum to the expectation of virtue through our dress code, I have amazing support and love in our community.
I also have pressure and push-back. As I work with those not wishing to comply with our school expectations, please know that Jesus and his teachings will remain at the center of our expectations. Fashion won’t play a part. What other schools are doing won’t play a part. Responsibility, virtue, and love will play a part. Protecting the dignity of the human person will always play a part.
The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching. As Catholics, we are called to be countercultural, to live in a way that reflects an authentic faith in Christ that translates into loving, virtuous action.
May the Holy Spirit be with you and your family always.
Sincerely,
Diana Tate, Principal
Lunch Program Change-Effective January 17, 2023
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
TTT
7th & 8th Grade Mixer
VSL Highlights
Help make Near and Dear Day a Success
We need volunteers and donations to ensure we have a welcoming event for our Near and Dears. If you would like to be a part of the event, sign up to assist on Friday, February 3 welcoming attendees to the church and school, directing them to classrooms, setting up, etc.
If you can’t attend, we still need you! Sign up to bring food and drink items for the reception.
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.
Second Semester Library Duty spots available
Slots have been added for second semester library volunteer opportunities. Sign up to help your child’s kindergarten through 5th grade class in the library.
Parish
Knights Free Throw Contest
Saints Trivia Challenge
Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedures
Dennis Uniform
SMA School Activities
Parish Acivities
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
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