Parents, 

Thank you for taking the time to complete the Parent Survey. We appreciate you sharing your thoughts and opinions with us.  It was encouraging to see 51% of respondents would recommend St. Michael School to family and friends.  We have begun the work of reviewing the responses and want to share some initial information. Common themes noted in the survey responses include the following areas of strength: community, small class sizes, happy kids, family support, Catholic education/identity/values/faith, nurturing environment, teachers, and creation of well-rounded individuals. Noted areas of growth include communication, curriculum/clubs/after school enrichment, facilities, professional development for teachers, and volunteer service hours.  

We have a dedicated team of school board members and parents working together to use this information to help build our 5 year strategic plan for St. Michael’s.  This team will also identify ways to implement improvements based on the survey responses. Where something can be addressed quickly we will do so.  While other changes may take longer to implement, we are committed to sharing the actionable items as we move forward into the New Year. 

Blessings,
Alison Wilkie, Principal & St. Michael School Board 

• Phase 2 of our parking lot and asphalt maintenance in the schoolyard is scheduled for April 13th, 2020 during Easter Break (weather permitting).     
• Sound dampening panels have been purchased for the Large and Small Hall to help with the acoustics.  These will be installed in December and January.   
• Improved LED exterior lighting around our entire campus took place in Spring 2019 
• Surveillance cameras are constantly monitoring the campus with a bank of t.v. screens mounted in Principal Wilkie's office displaying numerous angles of both the interior courtyard as well as the exterior of the school.
• As part of Eagle's Nest services, the 5th and 8th grade teachers are offering a homework club for students in grades 5 - 8 from 3:00pm - 4:30pm.

We have big news!  We smashed our Eagle Run goal of $60,000 and raised an impressive $68,000. After expenenses, the school will keep $61,300. We want to extend a HUGE thank you to our parents, students, staff, and sponsors for the support it took to make this event a succcess. 

• Eagle Run sweatshirts are here! If your child(ren) earned one, they will be distributed tomorrow.
• The remaining family level prizes - Sundaes with the Principal and Principal for the Day will be scheduled soon.

While holiday shopping online this season please consider logging into Amazon Smile and choosing St. Michael School, Livermore as your charity of choice.


Care to donate a specific item our school needs? 
Check out our Amazon wish list here >>

There are a limited number of volunteer opportunities left for the remainder of the school year. We want to ensure everyone has the ability to sign up to volunteer to support these important events for our students and school. Please review the below opportunities and sign up where you are able to help.  

• Christmas Concert After Party (Dec 17) - set up, replenish refreshments, clean up positions available 
• Book Fair (Jan 24 - 31) - several positions open
• Grandparents/Special Guest Day (Jan 31) - 1 spot left to help with refreshment/greeting table
• Father/Daughter Dance (Feb 22) - event coordinator needed & donated items for event needed 
• Wine Tasting Gala & Auction (Feb 29) - several positions open before and the day of the event
• Tabletop Luncheon (April 25) - several positions open
• Mother/Son Sports Night (date TBD) - a few positions open
• Yearbook (all year) - photo coordinator needed 

Sign your child up to ride the SMS Christmas Parade Float.
Click here for more details and to signup.

Build community and organize with other SMS families to sit together to watch the Christmas parade downtown this Saturday.  Don't forget the umbrella, rain poncho or quickly set up a pop-up to protect your group from the drizzle.  

Pancake breakfast this coming Sunday hosted by the Knights of Columbus and the St. Michael Welcoming Ministry.  It's FREE, but any donation to the Christmas Basket campaign would be greatly appreciated.

This week we'll focus on Canned Soups. 
Please share what you can and help feed a hungry belly through this cold weather.

We hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving and relaxing break!

We had a fun time in Eagle’s Nest in November!  We enjoyed our Harry Potter theme and corresponding crafts and we had fun making various fall trees and even painting one using broccoli as the brush!

Our “broccoli tree”

Hogwarts!

December’s  literary focus is on Charles Dickens and all of his amazing works!   Of course our spiritual focus is on Advent and Christmas!  

We started decorating the room and the first craft we did was ornaments for our Christmas tree!

Upcoming events:

12/17:  The all-school Christmas concert.  Students are required to be dressed and ready to go in their classrooms by 5:30. If your student will be in Eagle’s Nest after school, we ask that you please come at least by 5:00 with a heavy snack/ meal for them and to help them get ready. 

12/20: Minimum Day. There will be Eagle’s Nest in the morning before school but there will be No Eagle’s Nest after school as we start our Christmas vacation.