from the principal · we also heard songs from our amazing upper school christmas choir! this was a...

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As I rounded the corner to head down to the early childhood wing today, I found twenty students waiting silently for their afternoon sessions to begin. I was amazed at how attentive they were and commended their teacher for what wonderful behavior they were exhibiting. Their teacher was kind enough to tell me that the children were being quiet because someone was watching them. When I investigated further, the children told me about their Elf of the Shelf. When I asked the kids who watches over them every day, not just at this time of year, I was inundated with “SANTA” as a response. I then suggested that there was an even more important person who watches over them every day of the year and after a brief moment of silence, two young children shouted “GOD.” This brief encounter with some twenty children prompted me to begin writing my December newsletter in late November. It is remarkable that our students are allowed to express that they know who God is and at such a young age. Our youngest students start learning prayers in nursery school at the early age of three. They say grace before snack time, learn how to bless themselves, visit the church and get to know more about this man named God that watches over them all year long. I am reminded, especially at this time of year that most schools cannot discuss the wonderment of God or our Catholic faith. They refer to this time of years as, “the holidays” without allowing students to share fully with each other. At St. Michael School, we celebrate Advent and the four weeks leading up to the miraculous birth of Jesus. We set up nativity scenes, Advent wreaths, Christmas trees, sing carols and more and we are able to share this joy with each other as we approach Christmas day. We continued our celebration with our annual Christmas Nativity Program on December 18th. Our second grade students dressed in costume and told us the story of the birth of Jesus. Students in K-4 also participated by singing traditional Christmas carols that tie into the Christmas story. We also heard songs from our amazing Upper School Christmas Choir! This was a wonderful celebration! Thank you to those families who were been able to make some children’s Christmas just a little brighter by donating new, unwrapped toys. We’d also like to thank those who have donated to the Sr. of Charity collection of hard candy, notecards, fancy soap and tissues. Your generosity toward these wonderful collections has been remarkable. Your support is yet another testimony to all the goodness that we can provide when we work together during this Christmas season. I’d like to leave you with the story from a recent cartoon I was shown. There are 3 children sitting outside of the principal’s office. They are discussing why they got in trouble and were seeing the principal. The first student said, “I called another student a bad name.” The second student said, “I was rude to my teacher.” The third student said, “I said the word Christmas.” Aren’t we all glad our children attend a Catholic school where referring to Christmas doesn’t land a student in the principal’s office. Merry Christmas! Let us all celebrate that at this school we all know Jesus is the reason for this season! Sue Gosselin From The Principal Saint Michael School · 80 Maple Avenue · North Andover, MA 01845 Tel (978) 686-1862 · www.SaintMichael.com · [email protected]

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Page 1: From The Principal · We also heard songs from our amazing Upper School Christmas Choir! This was a wonderful celebration! ... First Friday Mass We will celebrate the First Friday

As I rounded the corner to head down to the early childhood wing today, I found twenty students waiting silently for their afternoon sessions to begin. I was amazed at how attentive they were and commended their teacher for what wonderful behavior they were exhibiting. Their teacher was kind enough to tell me that the children were being quiet because someone was watching them. When I investigated further, the children told me about their Elf of the Shelf. When I asked the kids who watches over them every day, not just at this time of year, I was inundated with“SANTA” as a response. I then suggested that there was an even more important person who watches over them every day of the year and after a brief moment of silence, two young children shouted “GOD.” This brief encounter with some twenty children prompted me to begin writing my December newsletter in late November.

It is remarkable that our students are allowed to express that they know who God is and at such a young age. Our youngest students start learning prayers in nursery school at the early age of three. They say grace before snack time, learn how to bless themselves, visit the church and get to know more about this man named God that watches over them all year long. I am reminded, especially at this time of year that most schools cannot discuss the wonderment of God or our Catholic faith. They refer to this time of years as, “the holidays” without allowing students to share fully with each other. At St. Michael School, we celebrate Advent and the four weeksleading up to the miraculous birth of Jesus. We set up nativity scenes, Advent wreaths, Christmas trees, sing carols and more and we are able to share this joy with each other as we approach Christmas day.

We continued our celebration with our annual Christmas Nativity Program on December 18th. Our second grade students dressed in costume and told us the story of the birth of Jesus. Students in K-4 also participated by singing traditional Christmas carols that tie into the Christmas story. We also heard songs from our amazing Upper School Christmas Choir! This was a wonderful celebration!

Thank you to those families who were been able to make some children’s Christmas just a little brighter by donating new, unwrapped toys. We’d also like to thank those who have donated to the Sr. of Charity collection of hard candy, notecards, fancy soap and tissues. Your generosity toward these wonderful collections has been remarkable. Your support is yet another testimony to all the goodness that we can provide when we work together during this Christmas season.

I’d like to leave you with the story from a recent cartoon I was shown. There are 3 children sitting outside of the principal’s office. They are discussing why they got in trouble and were seeing the principal. The first student said, “I called another student a bad name.” The second student said, “I was rude to my teacher.” The third student said, “I said the word Christmas.” Aren’t we all glad our children attend a Catholic school where referring to Christmas doesn’t land a student in the principal’s office. Merry Christmas!

Let us all celebrate that at this school we all know Jesus is the reason for this season!

Sue Gosselin

From The Principal

Saint Michael School · 80 Maple Avenue · North Andover, MA 01845Tel (978) 686-1862 · www.SaintMichael.com · [email protected]

Saint Michael School · 80 Maple Avenue · North Andover, MA 01845Tel (978) 686-1862 · www.SaintMichael.com · [email protected]

Page 2: From The Principal · We also heard songs from our amazing Upper School Christmas Choir! This was a wonderful celebration! ... First Friday Mass We will celebrate the First Friday

Saint Michael School Mission StatementSaint Michael School offers an exceptional Catholic education to our students, nurturing their desire to achieve academic excellence and encouraging spiritual, artistic, and athletic development in a caring, family environment. We motivate our students to become well-rounded, moral young men and women who are prepared to live a faithful life with intellectual rigor and spiritual awareness.

Extended Day Billing ChangesAll Extended Day charges will be billed through our RenWeb/FACTS system. Please note:

~ Hours will still be tracked by completing the form at drop off and pickup.  Please make sure to write   legibly.  Cost is $10/hour

~ At the end of each month, all fees (including the registration fee if applicable) will be uploaded to FACTS

~ You will be given 30 days to make that payment before late fees will be applied

~ All payments must be made via your FACTS account—the school can no longer accept cash/checks

~ Only one parent/guardian can receive the billing for FACTS.  If you have multiple parents/guardians you’ll need to contact Mrs. Rogge to tell her who to bill.

Any questions or concerns, please reach out to Mrs. Rogge at [email protected]

Pastor’s Corner

Just before break as I was crossing the parking lot to enter the school, I met several of our students carrying boxes and boxes of toys to place in police vehicles. I learned that the toys were collected by our students to be distributed to needy children in our area by a local police department. I was so glad that I saw that scene because my reaction was, yes, we are really helping our students to look beyond themselves. I know that there are many other examples of our students sharing with others but that scene really set the tone for me about our school and the students and all of you, their families. Thank you for all your generosity….it is a beautiful example of Christianity in action.

God Bless

Fr. Deeley

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NoticeThis notice is per the "Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act."  An asbestos management plan has been developed for St. Michael's School which has asbestos containing material present.  These plans are available and accessible to the public by contacting Nick Ippolito at 978-686-4050 at the Parish Offices as well as at the LEA administration office.

First Friday Mass

We will celebrate the First Friday of each month by coming together as a school community for Mass at 9:15 AM in the Church. At each Mass, a specific grade will lead us. Mark your calendar, the next First Friday Mass is January 3rd.

Dates To Remember

December 23-January 1 …….....Christmas BreakJanuary 16 ………….......................PTO Fun Run

January 17 ...........................................No School

January 17 ...........................................No School

January 24 ………………..........K-8 Report Cards

January 26-3 ...................Catholic Schools Week

February 7 ………………..........First Friday Mass

February 12 ....................................Spelling BeeJust A Reminder Please do not bring in food for your child's birthday.  Also, do not send flowers, balloons, or large gifts for your child.  Some great ways to celebrate your child's birthday are: a book for the l ibrary, gel pens, goodie bags, pencils, bookmarks, stickers, coupons for ice cream cones, etc. 

Food Allergy PolicySaint Michael School strives to be a nut  free school. Please do not send in items that contain peanut butter or tree nuts. Please direct any questions to the Health Office. Thank you for your consideration.

Tuition UpdateFor Active Contributing Parishioners

As a reminder, to be considered an active parishioner (and receive a parishioner tuition rate for the 2020-21 school year) families must make a minimum total offertory donation of $400 to our parish beginning July 1, 2019 to April 1, 2020. This can be done on a weekly basis when you attend mass BUT it must be made in a trackable manner. You NEED to be a registered parishioner. If you wish to receive offertory envelopes from the parish, please email [email protected]. Donations made at Easter and Christmas are for the benefit of the Clergy Health & Retirement Fund and therefore do NOT count toward the annual $400 donation to St. Michael Parish.

Do Not Send Cash or Checks Into School

When paying for field trips, art projects, club, etc. for your child, all payments must be made through our Student Information Service Program, RenWeb/FACTS.

Page 4: From The Principal · We also heard songs from our amazing Upper School Christmas Choir! This was a wonderful celebration! ... First Friday Mass We will celebrate the First Friday

Saint Michael School second grader, Allyson Faith Brown, attended the Miss American Coed

National Pageant over Thanksgiving and earned two National titles.

She competed in the “Sweetheart” division, ages 7-9, and earned National recognition, winning the 2020 National Academic Achievement award, as

well as the 2020 National Photogenic award.

No Food Policy

For the overall health and wellness of our students, parents should never send in food for parties, special occasions, birthdays, etc. Additionally, we kindly ask that parents refrain from delivering special lunches for their children including McDonalds, Sal's, local sub shops etc. We greatly appreciate your support with this policy.  No popsicles even in hot weather. Please note; that we will continue to have class parties for Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day, etc., however, those parties will be planned and organized by the teacher.  We are doing this to keep all the children safe and ensure that no child will feel singled out or left out. Thank you for your continued support!

Have An Idea or Suggestion?

We love to hear from you! If you would like to send us a comment or a suggestion, 

please email us at [email protected].

Help SMS Without Spending Extra MoneyDid you know you can raise money for SMS without spending extra money? Here‘s how:  Send in your Boxtops (cereal boxes and other items that have the Boxtop label) 

~ Register your Stop and Shop Card (SMS ID 06688)

~ Send in your used ink cartridges from your home computer printers 

~ Send in your company‘s used ink cartridges (not toner) from the copy machine or computer printers 

~ Buy gift cards from the Scrip Program Shop 

~ We‘ll continue to update the list to help you help SMS!

Page 5: From The Principal · We also heard songs from our amazing Upper School Christmas Choir! This was a wonderful celebration! ... First Friday Mass We will celebrate the First Friday

North Andover Santa Parade

Thank you to current and former Saint Michael students for helping us represent Saint Michael Parish in the North Andover Santa Parade.

Jackson BradyCaleb Cascio

Jacoby CascioRyan Hiro

Frankie MargaglioneVeronica Margaglione

Annie MastersonBen Masterson

Joseph MastersonJacob Petrosillo

Nicholas PetrosilloBella Rondinelli

Frankie RondinelliJoey Rondinelli

Nicholas RondinelliNicholas Whitney

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Congratulations!

We would like to congratulate the following Saint Michael School Alumni, who were included in the first quarter academic Honor Roll

at Central Catholic High School.

High Honors

Grade 10 Owen Cook Mia Jimenez

Grade 11

Sweta Alla Michael Apitz Olivia Benvenuto Andrew Bernal Emily Chen Addison Cook Jason Demers Enam Fiattor Alexander Imbornone Elina Khoury Philip Kirby Michael Lesofsky Hugh O'Connor Andrew Parent Makayla Surette

Grade 12 Clare Fallon Julianna Jaworski James Keegan Shane McInnis Noah Norris Audrey O'Connor Emily Sonnenfroh Daniel Thu

High Honors

Grade 9 Bella Bouraphael

Shaelynn Carey Katherine Ciesielski Neko Kady Robert Kirby Mika McLean Brooke Moore Matthew Mucci Michael Pappalardo Stephanie Sayegh

Grade 10

Jonathan Buwembo Isabella Rondinelli Charbel Saouma

Grade 11 Anthony Durkin Brenden Marquis Sydney Marshall Mary McGinnis Lydia Cyr Emanuel Sweeney

Grade 12 Julie DeFelice Cody Matachun Isabella Matachun Adam Norris Abigail Sullivan

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Early ChildhoodNursery, Pre-K, & Kindergarten

Page 8: From The Principal · We also heard songs from our amazing Upper School Christmas Choir! This was a wonderful celebration! ... First Friday Mass We will celebrate the First Friday

NurseryChristmas began with the birth of Jesus and the Holy Family.

What a wonderful way to start the holiday season by gathering our family members on Grandparents' Day.

The Nursery students were very excited to share their classroom with their grandparents and families.

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Page 10: From The Principal · We also heard songs from our amazing Upper School Christmas Choir! This was a wonderful celebration! ... First Friday Mass We will celebrate the First Friday
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We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Happy New Year!

Love,Nursery

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Elementary SchoolGrades 1 - 4

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Page 17: From The Principal · We also heard songs from our amazing Upper School Christmas Choir! This was a wonderful celebration! ... First Friday Mass We will celebrate the First Friday
Page 18: From The Principal · We also heard songs from our amazing Upper School Christmas Choir! This was a wonderful celebration! ... First Friday Mass We will celebrate the First Friday
Page 19: From The Principal · We also heard songs from our amazing Upper School Christmas Choir! This was a wonderful celebration! ... First Friday Mass We will celebrate the First Friday
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Upper SchoolGrades 5 - 8

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5th and 6th Grade ELA

The 5th and 6th grade ELA students had a Cocoa Cafe right before Christmas. They chose one of their stories that they've been writing throughout the year and finished it. They then signed up to read their story to the class and entertained us. The audience brought in an individual snack to eat while they listened to the stories. All of the stories are read by me over Christmas break. I told the kids that their stories are my entertainment!

The 5th graders will continue in Reading Street when we get back from break. They all have the new Family Times on "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere". It will be due on Monday, January 6, and the Think Critically questions will be due on Tuesday, January 7.

The 6th graders will start a new book, The Egypt Game, when we get back from break. Their homework every night will be reading and answering comprehension questions, similar to the Fish in a Tree packet.

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and will have a very Happy New Year!

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Page 23: From The Principal · We also heard songs from our amazing Upper School Christmas Choir! This was a wonderful celebration! ... First Friday Mass We will celebrate the First Friday
Page 24: From The Principal · We also heard songs from our amazing Upper School Christmas Choir! This was a wonderful celebration! ... First Friday Mass We will celebrate the First Friday
Page 25: From The Principal · We also heard songs from our amazing Upper School Christmas Choir! This was a wonderful celebration! ... First Friday Mass We will celebrate the First Friday
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Page 27: From The Principal · We also heard songs from our amazing Upper School Christmas Choir! This was a wonderful celebration! ... First Friday Mass We will celebrate the First Friday

7th and 8th Grade Science

The Holidays are upon us and school is almost half over. The Upper School Science Students continue to learn and study in their respective Science areas. The students, recently, handed in their first Science Project of the school year. The various topics covered by each grade were very impressive. Even more impressive was the amount of time and effort that the students put forward towards the project. The over-all grades reflect the work that the students put into the project. This only makes me look forward to reading their next project that will be due in the New Year.

The Science Clubs will be starting soon. Each grade will do fun experiments and learn how to recognize certain situations and react. Grade 7 will learn Red Cross First Aid and Safety. Grade 8 will learn Concussion awareness and how to prevent them. The Science Clubs have always been very popular and I hope that the trend continues.

Have Happy and Healthy Holiday Season,

Mr. A

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Specials, Extended Day &Guidance

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Faculty and Staff Directory

Name Email Position

Abate, Kerrie [email protected] Technology

Adam, Debra [email protected] Upper School ELA

Homeroom 5A

Andrewchuk, Jenn [email protected] Grade 4A

Annand, Ronald [email protected] Upper School ScienceHomeroom 8A

Bagge, Kathy [email protected] Pre-Kindergarten

Barry, Justin [email protected] Custodian

Bedard, Michelle [email protected] Pre-Kindergarten

Brady, Sharon [email protected] Nursery

Bryant, Sandra [email protected] Upper School Math

Homeroom 6B

Caffrey, Cynthia [email protected] Grade 2A

Caldwell, Amy [email protected] Upper School ScienceHomeroom 6A

Clifford, Shawna [email protected] Upper School Social StudiesHomeroom 5B

Daniels, Lindsey [email protected] Grade 1B

Diaz, Shawn [email protected] Physical Education

Donahue, Donna [email protected] Receptionist

Donegan, Nicole [email protected] Art

Dore, Patti [email protected] Kindergarten

Gosselin, Sue [email protected] Principal

Grant, Kate [email protected] Grade 2B

Jaworski, Kimberley [email protected] Front Desk

Kropiwnicki, Carrie [email protected] Pre-Kindergarten

Larkin, Katie RN [email protected] Health Office

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Faculty and Staff Directory

Name Email Position

Lavalle, Irene [email protected] Music

Lesofsky, Nicole [email protected] Upper School AideMcCarthy,

Marquez, Brinn [email protected] Kindergarten Aide

Jessica McCarthy RN [email protected] Health Office

Medina, Maria [email protected] Upper School Spanish

Meredith, Michelle [email protected] Librarian

Nagle, Christine [email protected] Upper School Social StudiesHomeroom 7A

Ordway, Mary [email protected] Upper School ELAHomeroom 7B

Paralle, Renee [email protected] Nursery Aide

Parker, Mary [email protected] Upper School Math

Homeroom 8B

Pulveranti, Rosalie [email protected] Reading Specialists

Quimby, Deanna [email protected] Grade 3B

Rich, Cathryn [email protected] Pre-Kindergarten Aide

Robidoux, Catie [email protected] Grade 1A

Rogge, Sue [email protected] Administration

Rowley, Kara [email protected] Director of Student Services

Sleight, Susan [email protected] Kindergarten

Sullivan, Donna [email protected] Grade 4B

Thurmond, Kimberly [email protected] Office Aide

Torpey, Elizabeth [email protected] Grade 3A

Urbanek, Mary [email protected] Lower School SpanishWalsh, Kelsey [email protected] Kindergarten

Willard, Melissa [email protected] Bunch and Extended Day

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