The Defender
April 21, 2023
Important Upcoming Dates
- April 28, 2023 Go Forth to Serve Day
- May 6, 2023 Parish May Crowning following 8:15 Mass
- May 11, 2023 8th Grade Graduation 4:15 PM
- May 12, 2023 Kindergarten Mother's Day Tea
- May 16, 2023 Field Day K-5
A Message from Mrs. Tate
Dear St. Michael families,
What a joyful week of celebration! Please join me in congratulating our First Communicants and Confirmandi at SMA! We had absolutely beautiful celebrations of these sacraments this week. Thank you for joining us in praying for and supporting our children as they grow in their love for Jesus Christ.
And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; and behold a voice from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17)
I would like to ask for your help in these last few weeks of school. Please be diligent about checking your email and reading our newsletters. If you know of friends/neighbors who do not read our newsletter or check email, please encourage them to do so. We have so many wonderful things happening at SMA that we don’t want anyone to miss an opportunity to support their children, join in fellowship, or share in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
- Please check out the information below on the Solidarity Walk for Go Forth To Serve. It’s a wonderful opportunity for the whole family to get involved in our school community.
- Please note that all students will need a sack lunch on Go Forth to Serve Day. They'll be eating outside for a picnic with their classes.
- Field Day is coming up for grades K-5. Information is available below.
- VSL sign-ups will go live next week in the newsletter! This is an awesome way for our parents to get involved. There are big jobs and little jobs…please consider volunteering your time to make our parent community organization a huge success.
- If you haven’t already done so, check out the information on pre-packaged school supplies below. It’s a great way to avoid the crowds searching for school supplies in the fall.
Thank you for your love of the Lord and support of our school!
I welcome everyone’s participation in the weekly chapter commentary on The Collapse of Parenting: How We Hurt Our Kids When We Treat Them Like Grown-Ups. This week’s commentary is chapter 8.
Sincerely,
Diana Tate, Principal
Go Forth to Serve Solidarity Walk
Lunch on GFTS Day
Uniform Closet
As we are in the last quarter of the school year, we are looking to restock the uniform closet. We are needing smaller Kindergarten size uniforms ASAP. We will be having a uniform "Swap and Shop" this summer, dates and times to be announced.
2023-2024 Tentative Calendar
School Supplies for the 2023-2024 School Year!
I am happy to announce we have paired with School Specialty for the upcoming year. Would you rather spend a summer day driving from store to store to purchase school supplies or get everything you need in one easy box? Great news! We are offering a pre-packaged school supply program this year. Supply orders include the exact colors, quantities, and brands your teachers have approved for class. Get your back-to-school shopping out of the way early and enjoy a summer day!
Simply place your order by MAY 26TH, 2023.
Order online at www.shopttkits.com.
Enter our school’s account number 88588.
Questions? Contact MOLLY COLE at MBAUER36@GMAIL.COM
Join the SMA Mathletics Team!
Join the SMA Mathletics Team! All 4th, 5th, and 6th graders are invited to participate in Mathletics, a diocesan-wide math competition between schools. This year, we will meet for two practices and an intra-SMA competition. Next year, we will be participating with other diocesan schools. All skill levels are encouraged to join! Practices will be held in Mrs. Wilkerson's room (206). Sign up here.
The following are the dates & times we will be meeting.
April 13, 3:30-4:15 (Practice) April 20, 3:30-4:15 (Practice)
April 27, 3:30-4:30 (Intra-SMA Competition)
Christ's Light Award: Teacher's Edition
Each family is invited to submit a video nomination of a school staff who have exemplified living Christ's light in the classroom and beyond. Families can choose either a new teacher (who has been at SMA for less than 5 years) and/or a veteran teacher. The submissions will be reviewed and the best nomination will be announced at the final all school Mass.
Teacher's Christ Light Video Submission
We are excited to begin this new tradition at SMA!
Parish News
Diaper Drive
On Go Forth to Serve Day, some students will work with HappyBottoms to package diapers for distribution to local families in need. Mothers of Young Children is having a diaper drive to support HappyBottoms April 22 & 23. Diapers of all sizes can be dropped off in the Narthex after all Masses.
Parish May Crowning
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
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!