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LETTER TO OUR SMA PARENTS/GUARDIANS
REGARDING SMA AUTOMATIC RE-REGISTRATION
December 4th 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians:
Greetings in the Lord! Hope your Advent season is filled with the love and light of the Lord! As we all work through the many challenges caused by the coronavirus, we are already thinking about the 2021 - 2022 school year. It has been exciting to think ahead when everything returns to normal.
Last year with everything going on, St. Michael the Archangel School moved to a continuous enrollment process. This makes the process much simpler, since you will no longer have to complete a re-registration form. Your family will be automatically enrolled at St. Michael the Archangel for the 2021-2022 academic year. By automatically registering our students for next year, we hope to save you time and trouble. We also now have a waiting list for next year so we so we need to get our class numbers in line.
If you are not opting out, please send in deposit amount with the form below ASAP. TY!
If you want to register any additional family members PreK – 8 Grades for the 2021/2022 school year please email sdicicco@sma-pa.org and copy to ewurtz@sma-pa.org and jbrown@sma-pa.org. If you wish to receive information or have questions about SMA school, please feel free to contact Mr. “D”. (sdicicco@sma-pa.org.)
If you are not planning to return to next year, please visit www.sma-pa.org/continuous-enrollment and look for the “opt out” form. Please complete that by Friday, December 18, 2020.
Thank you for your continued wonderful support and your amazing children!
God’s blessings!
Father DiIorio Mr. Stephen D. DiCicco
Pastor Principal
ADMISSION OF NON-CATHOLICS
Our school serves a variety of purposes, including the academic, social and physical development of students. However, the primary purpose of our school is religious. We exist for the purpose of evangelization and catechesis, that is, the proclamation of the Gospel and the formation of the entire school community of Faith. Our school offers a complete Catholic religious education program and makes every effort to develop the Faith in all the students so that they may live a full Christian life.
Non-Catholic students may be admitted to our school under the following conditions:
- The permission of the Pastor is obtained.
- Adequate facilities and space are available, without denying the admission of eligible Catholic students.
- The parents/guardians agree in writing to permit their child(ren) to attend Religion classes and Religious functions that are offered as part of the school program.
- The parents/guardians commit themselves in writing to accept and promote the philosophy, goals, objectives, and regulations of our school.
- The parents/guardians agree in writing to assume responsibility for all the financial obligations.
Special Features of Saint Michael
the Archangel Catholic School!!
SMA School Mission To provide a Catholic faith-filled education based on the teachings of Jesus Christ in a nurturing family that strives for excellence.
Faith * Family * Excellence
In addition to the Core Curriculum, Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic School offers many special services:
· SMA School is a pilot AOP STREAM School. One of only two Catholic schools picked in Bucks County.
· Winner Number #1 Best Private School Bucks County! 2019.
· Runner up to #1 Best Private School “Best of Bucks” 2019.
· Pre-K Program (3/ 4 years old) ~ This program offers full / half day Pre-K classes.
· New and Improved Extensive Website ~ www.sma-pa.org Our new redesigned school website hosted by eCatholic posts our School Calendar, Handbook, Faculty E-Mail, Special Announcements, Parent/Student Pages, Alumni Page, Picture Page, Teacher Homeroom Sites, learning links, FACTS application, and many more special features.
· Bishops’ Tuition Transfer Grant Program. ~ Any student from a public / charter school or non-Catholic school who transfers to Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic School (Grades 2-7) will receive a tuition grant discount of $1000.00 the first year, $500.00 the second year and $250.00 the third year. (St. Michael was chosen by AOP along with twenty others from over 200 schools to be in this program.)
· Certificate of Achievement Award ~ Issued by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (2018) for SMA School’s outstanding academic growth from Terra Nova Standardized Test scores.
· CARES ~ After school child care program. (PreK to 8th Grade) 3:00 PM – 6:00
· Morning CARES Program ~ Available to children PreK to 8th Grade. 6:30 AM – 8:30.
· Computer Lab ~ Students attend technology class every week. The lab is currently being updated with 16 new computers!! $10,000 Grant!!!
· Google School. SMA School is now a full member Google School. All students 4th Grade through 8th receive a Google email address and full Google School services. Teachers were extensively trained in many of the applications of Google School. (More training coming)
· MSP – My Student Progress all students’ grades are available online 24/7.
· School Messenger – Phone messages, texts, and emails sent to all parent and guardians. A voice update message sent weekly by principal.
· Active Alumni ~ SMA Alumni & Friends, this organization holds several events during the school year and gives several tuition scholarships.
· Music Program ~ Includes classroom instruction, reading music, playing instruments, singing and movement, liturgical song, and special student performances. All grades attend music class every week.
· Art Program ~ Includes Art instruction and a SMA Art Room. Special events including “Night at the Museum”. All grades attend art class every week.
· Physical Education Teacher ~ Our extensive Gym Program offers exercises and many interesting group activities. All grades attend gym classes every week.
· Library ~ Two classrooms: upper / lower grades. This program provides the opportunity for students to choose books weekly and to learn additional library skills.
· Active SMA Home and School Association ~ Provides many educational and fun social activities for our students, families, and staff.
· CATAPULT ~ Students receive speech therapy, educational remediation, counseling for children and families, and group sessions for special needs children. New this year full time remedial teacher.
· Science Lab ~ Operating science classroom with experimental activities.
· Foreign Language Study ~ Grades K- 4 feature Spanish, Grades 5-8 students choose their language from over thirty. Students are provided site licenses to continue their studies after school and throughout the summer.
· SMA Band Program ~ Supplement program where students learn to play instruments and perform in concerts.
· Active Music Concert & Theater Series Program- Free NDS Hot Lunch and Breakfast Program ~ This is a free program available to students in all grades.
- Several Clubs are an important part of SMA School: Rosary Club / Book Club / Reading Olympics / Chess Club / Musical Theatre Club (performs a play at Conwell – Egan) / Two Art Clubs (Lower and Upper Grades) / Robotic Club 5-8 /Tutoring Club / Service Club
- Student Council ~ The purpose of this organization is to promote good citizenship, encourage a high standard of scholarship, arouse a spirit of pride within the school, demonstrate the practical application of democracy, and contribute to the general welfare of the school. Representation on the Student Council is made up of students in Grades 5-8 who are elected by their peers.
- IPads ~ Students Grades 4-8 are provided with an IPad for use at school and home. All teachers have one; every classroom has an apple TV, document reader, projector, and smartboard (new three year full activity Smartboard licenses established.)
- Laptop Staff Computers: In addition to every staff member receiving an IPad, Smartboard, Doc reader, apple TV new this year through a grant all teachers will receive a laptop computer.
- New Fusion Online Science Program ~ Offered to Grades 3-8. Students may participate in digital labs and connect to online video instruction. We just purchased a five year subscription to this program.
- “First in Math” Program ~ Students K-8. Encourages students to practice and improve math skills through various games and activities. Site license enables students to participate in school and at home. SMA School won an award last year for placing 62 out of 2700 schools
- SMA Security Committee ~ Every classroom contains a red security folder (in special door bins) containing Crisis Management directives.
- Board Works Member ~ all students use new innovative smartboard learning program.
- Kagan Cooperative Learning Method is utilized.
- ESIG established.
- New SMA School Uniform with new logos established.
- SMA School participates in major media events: Fox 29 (3) / Channel 6 (2) Levittown Radio students broadcast live with Merrill Reese (2)
- Raz-Kids Plus: Raz-Kids Plus includes a personal library of leveled books and additional reading resources that can be printed out or accessed online using a computer or mobile device. Raz-Kids is a dynamic website where kids can listen to, read, and even record themselves reading literary and informational eBooks anytime, anywhere! With Raz-Kids, students have access to hundreds of interactive, leveled books spanning 27 levels of difficulty, covering a wide range of subjects. In addition to engaging kids at their reading level and in their area of interest, this is built for students website gives kids 24/7 access to the practice they need to become better, more confident readers. At the same time, teachers can customize assignments, view reports, and track student progress every step of the way.
- DLFF Pathways and SMA Alumni & Friends Tuition Scholarships offered.
- Philadelphia Jr. Flower ~ SMA School is a proud participant in the annual Philadelphia Jr. Flower Show. Last six years our SMA students’ winners’ art work was on display in the Philadelphia Flower Show.
- STREAM EXPO COMING! ~ New this year.
- SMA Curriculum Festival ~ Grades Pre K - 8 use presentation skits and songs that highlight the curriculum and present a highlight video of the school’s many activities.
- SMA Tradition Events ~ Pennywalk – Home & School Activities – Spirit Day – CSW-Winterfest – Catholic Schools Week – Green & Gold Day – Fun Day – Carol Night – Dr. Seuss Day – Pi Day – Principal for the Day
- Remind App in use lower grades.
- Religious Events ~ First Friday Masses -Prayer Services -Stations of the Cross – Prayers Buddies – Reconciliation – Weekly Adoration – First Holy Communion, First Reconciliation, and Confirmation Programs
- New Financial Resources: Last year a new Parish/School Advisory Committee was formed. Our goal was to raise $150, 000. We accomplished that and have set a similar goal this year. We are also seeking new funding for major capital improvements. We partner with the Catholic Foundation and received a welcoming grant for our first grade. We also work closely with the Danaher Lynch Family Foundation which established a new Pathway Scholarship Program for 5/6/7/8 graders. SMA is also working hard to establish EITC and OSTC monies and met with Bill O’Brien (BLOCS to increase the monies dedicated to SMA School.
- SMA School offers Kimmel Center ~Classes and various concerts, plays, and musicals.
- SMA School Philosophy: To provide a Catholic faith-filled education based on the teachings of Jesus Christ in a nurturing family environment that strives for academic excellence.
Thank you for your time and consideration. If you have any questions, please contact me at school 215-943-0222 /Cell 215-806-3248 or sdicicco@sma-pa.org.
Thank you. God’s light! Mr. Stephen D. DiCicco ~ Principal