Dear St. Michael School Families,
I wanted to take the opportunity to let you know how much time and effort our teachers and volunteers have been working to meet the needs of our students. For the past few months, I tasked the teachers with looking at learning and teaching in a new way. Many have risen to the challenge to integrate small group learning opportunities blended with the use of technology. This time allows for the teacher to work with small groups of students in order to provide re-teaching and challenging learning opportunities as appropriate. The iPads and Chromebooks allow the opportunity for independent working time as others may be working with a partner or with the teacher in a small group. Whether it is called Daily 5, small reading or math groups, science lab stations, or simply centers/stations, it's being integrated across all curriculum areas in grades TK - 8. Check-out our Facebook for just a few pictures of small group learning in action. Stay tuned for more examples throughout the school year!
We are also blessed to have many others who work with our students and the teachers to provide support services. We have Amy Bucker, our School Counselor, Suzy Hites, our outside contracted Speech Therapist, Sharon Calhoun as part-time Exceptional Needs Coordinator and Teacher mentor, and Madeleine de la Fontaine, our part-time volunteer Resource /Exceptional Needs teacher. With the exception of Suzy, each of these women will be working with groups of students within a classroom setting. For group sessions, including Miss Amy's lunch bunch sessions, no permission is needed. If a one-on-one session is to take place, parents will be notified for permission. Each of these women are dedicated to helping us to create a community of care and support for all students to feel emotionally safe and prepared to meet their academic goals.
It is a joy for me to come each day to work with a tremendously talented and dedicated faculty and staff who care so deeply about each student; mind, body, and spirit!
Autumn Blessings, Alison
Please click the grade title below and select an available time slot for you to meet with your child's teacher. Conferences will be held on November 6th, 7th, and 8th.
As of Thursday morning, we have raised $36,471 or 60% of our goal!
Congratulations to TK and 2nd Grade for being our first classes to reach 100% participation! We also have 4 other classes that are close to earning a party, too:
1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th!
Each class that gets to 100% will receive an Otter Pop party. It takes just one pledge per student to qualify.
Kindergarten is quickly closing in on the $6,000 gold class level, having raised $5,544. Classes that reach the $6,000 level earn a movie party in the hall.
The Top Class contest is incredibly tight!
Current Leader: 4th Grade with $293.33 average per student
2nd Place: TK with 284.25 average per student
3rd Place: 2nd Grade with 282.53 average per student
Remember, the Top Class winner receives a Boomers outing for the students and a PAID day off for their teacher.
There are still slots open for this weekend's after-mass pledge drive. Sign up here.
We are seeking donations for the Eagle Run After-Party. Hours can be traded for donations. Click here to sign up.
Items needed:
Whole watermelons
Granola bars
Capri Suns
With just 8 days left to go, let's keep those pledges coming in!
Our next PTG meeting will be this
Thursday the 17th at 7 pm
in the S.T.R.E.A.M room. All SMS parents are welcome to attend.
We're in desperate need of help with the following events. Please consider stepping up to help support the school and ultimately the experience your child has here. A core group of parents already works hard to ensure each event is a success. However, they can't do it alone and need the entire SMS community to lend a hand. Show your child what it is to be an active participant in their community and lead by example.
"Many hands make light work." ~ John Heywood
If you have any questions pertaining to the below events, volunteering in general or about any aspect of the PTG please don't hesitate to ask us. Click here to submit a question or phone/text Arnette Leonetti (PTG VP) at 925-212-0826
Livermore Kidztown Halloween Hay Day
Donations and Volunteers to work the booth are needed.
We're looking for volunteers to man a shift at the St. Michael's booth at the downtown Halloween event on Saturday, Oct. 26. This is a great way for the entire family to get involved with volunteering. Put in an hour at the booth and then hit the rest of the festival. Can't make the day, but still like to donate to the fun? We're looking for bags of candy, small to medium stuffed animals, or children's books as prizes too.
Click here to view the signup page.
Click here to view the sign-up page.
Tabletop Luncheon
Two Co-Chairs are needed.
For this event, SMS Parents and Community members volunteer to decorate tables according to a theme of their choice. Guests purchase seats at different tables and enjoy the same catered lunch.
Click here to view the sign-up page.
Please continue to bring
peanut butter and canned tuna
for this Friday's collection.
Eagle’s Nest News
This past week we enjoyed making all kinds of creepy spiders to hang about the classroom!
Reminders and Information:
10/23 is a minimum day with 12:15 dismissal for students and Eagle’s Nest is open until 6:00 pm. If your child will be attending Eagle’s Nest that day please remember to pack them a lunch from home as there will be no Choice Lunch available that day.
10/31 is Halloween and is also a minimum day. Eagle’s Nest will be open until 6:00 and we will have games, food and a costume contest! We will have a sign-up sheet to let us know if your child is attending that day (most likely as I know plans change:) and we will have another in case you would like to bring a food item or a fun surprise to share that day We hope to have a fun-filled afternoon for all!!
Will you be on the Drive Through Prayer Advent 2019 Team? We need...
Got a friend who wants to join the team?
Have them sign up here.
Orientation Day
We will announce soon when Orientation Day will be, to get together, refresh our memories on what to do and to train our new ministry members.
Please Click Below To join the Advent 2019 Team!