November 7, 2025 Volume XII, No. 11

From The Desk Of The Principal

Greetings!:


We’re looking forward to Monday and our first round of Parent/Teacher Conferences. At this meeting, parents and teachers will have a chance to review the first quarter report card together, discuss the child’s strengths and weaknesses, and share other pertinent information. These meetings are an important opportunity to strengthen the partnership between home and school, as teachers and parents work together to support each child’s growth academically, spiritually, and socially. We are so grateful for the ongoing commitment of our families in helping students reach their full potential.


Next week, we welcome the Ignatius Book Fair. This year’s book fair has been carefully curated to align with our school’s mission, promoting a love of reading while supporting materials that reflect our Christian values and commitment to character development. We look forward to seeing students and families explore books that inspire curiosity, creativity, and faith-filled learning! Parents, guardians, and grandparents are asked to complete a short survey after visiting the book fair to assist us in evaluating this fair for the first time.


Peace and God's blessings,


Ann E. Dougal

Principal

Dates To Remember

Monday, November 10

NO SCHOOL- Parent Teacher conferences

1st Quarter Report cards distributed (at conferences)

Ignatius Book Fair Begins


Tuesday, November 11

NO SCHOOL- Veteran's Day


Monday, November 17

Food Drive Ends- Delivery at 11:00 a.m.


Tuesday, November 18

Middle Level Living History Museum 6:00-7:00 p.m.


Wednesday, November 19

Board of Trustees Meeting 5:30-6:30 p.m.


Thursday, November 20

Walk-A-Thon Limo Ride to School


Friday, November 21

Dress Down Day for those who had $25 or more for Walk-A-Thon


Tuesday, November 25

Thanksgiving Mass- Grade 5 Readers, 1:00 P.M.


Wednesday, November 26-Nov 28

No School- Thanksgiving Break


Sunday, November 30

Advent Begins



Please remember to attend church as a family!

Reminders:

  • As we are heading into cooler temperatures, please be sure your child has appropriate outerwear for recess and the after-school program.



  • We will began our Winter Uniforms on Monday, November 3rd. This means no shorts are allowed until we move to our Spring Uniform in May. Please review the uniform policy in the student handbook by clicking HERE.


Virtue of the Month- Humility

Humility is the mother of all virtues; purity, charity and obedience. It is in being humble that our love becomes real, devoted and ardent. If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are. If you are blamed you will not be discouraged. If they call you a saint you will not put yourself on a pedestal.- St. Teresa of Calcutta

Classroom Notes- Mrs. Duplessis


Music classes have been off to a great start this year! In October, we began preparing for our December school-wide Christmas Pageant (apologies if your student is already singing holiday songs around the house!). As we get closer to the big event, some students may want to practice at home. You can find practice tracks here: Musical Moments with Mrs. D.


Our youngest musicians in PreK and Kindergarten have been exploring the fundamentals of music: keeping a steady beat, understanding pitch, dynamics, and tempo, and discovering the four ways we can use our voices: whispering, speaking, singing, and calling. We’ve also been doing plenty of movement activities! Seven Jumps and The Goldfish are a couple of their favorites!


1st–3rd grade students have been reviewing musical terminology and diving into more complex rhythms through fun fall percussion activities. We’ve also been focusing on techniques for healthy singing, and 3rd graders have started learning the basics of musical notation.


In 4th and 5th grade, students have been reviewing notation in preparation for their Recorder studies, which will begin in late January. They’re also working on expanding their vocal range, blending their voices to create a unified sound, and practicing simple harmonization.


Our 6th–8th grade musicians have been reviewing and expanding their knowledge of musical notation while developing critical listening skills. They’ve also been learning how to thoughtfully evaluate music across different genres, a skill that sharpens both their ears and appreciation for music’s diversity.

It’s a privilege to work with so many talented young musicians, and I’m excited for a fun, joyful, and music-filled year ahead!


Grade 5 Grandparent Event

The fifth grade students gave a moving presentation. In honor of Veteran's Day, they put on a show of patriotism that touched everyone.


Of particular highlight, they sang a compilation song saluting all branches of the military. As they sang about each branch, they had any grandparent serving in that branch stand. They also did a fabulous job memorizing the lines they recited during the event.

Walk-A-Thon Assembly

Friday we celebrated the successful Walk-A-Thon at our awards ceremony.


We had 142 students who received medals, 171 students who were entered into the raffle for a gift card, 346 students who earned a dress down day, and 26 students who earned two dress down days.


Top Fundraisers for the Elementary Level (Gift Cards)

Left to Right: Reagan ($535) and Ayden ($1,200)

Top 6 Fundraisers for the Middle Level (Limo Ride)

Left to Right: Andrew ($300), Aryana ($500), Giavonna ($776), Clara ($375), Lauren ($400), Bridget ($1,111.11)

Top Fundraisers School Wide (Trophy)

Left to Right: Giavonna, Bridget, Ayden

Living History Museum Preparations

For the past month, our middle school students have been working hard on their Living History Museum projects. Students have been researching people and time periods in history and will present their projects at the Living History Museum on November 18th. Mark your calendar to attend this event as our students have put much time and effort into their projects.

Ignatius Book Fair

St. Michael's Academy will be holding our annual book fair next week! This year, we will be hosting an Ignatius Book Fair. As you visit the book fair at Parent/Teacher conferences, we ask that you complete the survey at the cash register.

Food Drive

The Gray House food Drive continues next week. There is still time for us to help those in need!

Alumni Spotlight

Scholarship Opportunity

Prayer Corner


St. Michael the Archangel,

Pray for us!


Heavenly Father,

We come to You with open hearts, asking for peace and harmony in our home. Help us to treat one another with kindness, patience, and love each day. Fill our hearts with calm and understanding, even in difficult moments.

Lord, we ask that You protect our nation. In times of uncertainty, guide our leaders and comfort those who are afraid. Keep our communities safe and surround us all with Your peace.


Be our constant source of strength and security. May we always feel Your presence with us, reminding us that we are never alone.

Amen.


We pray in a special way for all of our families and friends in need:

Cathy Macini

Jeff Neitzel

Susan Wuller


We pray for our recently departed:

Pasqualina Gioiella

Hermino Sanabria-Rivera Jr.


Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. 

 

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St. Michael's Academy 

153 Eddywood Street - Springfield, MA 01118

www.smaspringfield.org

413.782.5246 office 

413.782.8137 fax