“Another Great Week” Newsletter from Principal Ferguson

Dear Lancer Families,

Spring seemed to be in the air this week and the children absolutely loved the warmer temperatures. We are still a few weeks away from completely leaving behind the dreary winter months, so for now please make sure that your child is coming to school prepared to be outside for recess. Take a few minutes to look at the forecast to determine what type of outerwear your child might need for the day.

On Monday of this week, Report Cards went live in FACTs Family Portal. Please take a few moments to check out these grade reports for your child(ren). We are very proud of the hard work from all the students.

The deadline for anyone interested in applying for Financial Aid through the CEFis March 1st (TOMORROW). Please be sure to visit the FACTs Family Portal website and complete the online application. This same application is used by SMPS to determine each families need for assistance through the Tuition Assistance Fund available at SMPS.

This weekend, we have some exciting Basketball Playoff Games taking place. Best of luck to all of our teams…make us proud!! Check below under Announcements for remaining Championship games or in your email inbox from Mr. Wolf.

Make it a GREAT day, Lancers!

Adam Ferguson

Principal, St. Michael Parish School

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND!!!
FIVE of our Lancer Hoops teams are still competing for a TCC Championship this upcoming weekend!
Get there! Get LOUD! Get NUTS!
This weekend’s Schedule is….
(2) St. Paul vs (3) St. Michael - Boys 7th Grade A - Semi Final Game FRIDAY 3/1/2024 @8:30:00 PM / Location - St. Pius X
This is a fantastic rivalry that is sure to be high intensity. Our B7A team already avenged an early season loss to St Pauls with a resounding beatdown at home a few weeks ago.
This well coached and high energy team looks to put them away and play for a championship.
(1) St. Michael - Boys 8B2 vs (5) St. Mary of Gostyn (DG) - Semi Final Game SATURDAY 3/2/2024 @ 9:00:00 AM / Location - St. Michael
A VERY good team that started off the season on fire. They look to regain that heat with a HOME PLAYOFF GAME against a team that ruined their perfect home record on 8th grade night.
Our boys are ready to rock and earn a chance to play for the championship! Wake up early and pack the Cashin gym!
(1) Ss. Peter & Paul vs (2) St. Michael - Boys 7th Grade B2 - Championship Game SATURDAY 3/2/2024 @ 1:45:00 PM / Location - Joliet Catholic Academy Main Gym
An awesome Championship matchup… the two top teams in their division will go head to head. Our boys have been trophy hunting for that season end tourney trophy for three seasons now.
This is their year and this is their game. Get in the car and get down to JCA!
(2) St. Michael - Boys 8th Grade A vs (3) St. Joan of Arc - Semi Final Game SATURDAY 3/2/2024 @ 4:00:00 PM / Location - St. Michael
A team that can hang with any 8th grade team in the area… these boys are looking to keep it up tempo and dominate down low with their two big guys. There is NO better team to finish up the 2024 basketball season
in the Cashin Gym. Get here and help them feel the Lancer love for a HOME PLAYOFF GAME and push them to a Sunday Championship!
(1) St. Petronille vs (2) St. Michael - Girls 8th Grade A - SUNDAY 3/3/2024 @ 2:30:00 PM / Location - Providence Catholic H.S. Main Gym
I wish I could say this is going to be easy, but it’s not. The Pets team has been the thorn in our team’s side all season. If you could see how hard our coaches and girls work in the gym…
blood, sweat and tears at every practice and every game… you would get in the car and make it to this game. They need you on that wall!
There's no better way to spend the weekend than cheering on our teams.
GO LANCERS!!
A message from Mr. Wolf about Track & Field Registration…
Thank you for considering signing your child up for the 2024 Track and Field Season. It is a sport offered to all of our 5th through 8th graders. Track and Field is traditionally one of St. Michael’s most successful sports!
Events - Track and Field includes traditional Track Events like running, hurdles, relays, and medleys. It also includes field events that can be grouped into jumping events like long jump, triple jump, and high jump or throwing events like shot put, discus and javelin.
Practices - Optional indoor strength and conditioning will be available as early as March 9th and will be held in the Cashin Gym.
Outdoor practices start the week of April 1st and will run from 6-730p. Boys 5th - 8th grade practice together and Girls 5th - 8th grade practice together. There may also be co-ed practices. Generally your daughter or son will have two practices per week with the possibility of adding more. Practices are held at Wheaton College’s McCully Stadium. This unique opportunity gives our athletes the experience of practicing at a top notch track and field facility. In an effort to give your daughter or son plenty of options… if their “assigned practice day” does not work because of other commitments, they may attend the other practices.
Meets - There are 6 meets held throughout the season on April 13, April 20, April 27, May 4, May 11 and May 18 are the divisional and championship meets. The first 4 meets of the year are scored and offer individual ribbons and awards. The divisional meet on May 11th is a qualifying meet for the championship meet on May 18th. The divisional and championship meets are available to all of our athletes and should be prioritized to help St Michael’s Track and Field earn a league championship.
Generally, meets for 5th and 6th graders run from 8a-11a and meets for 7th and 8th graders run from 1130a-3p.
Flexibility - An important thing to know about your child’s involvement in Track and Field is that the coaches understand many of our Lancer athletes have commitments to other spring sports and activities. There is still a place for them on the Lancer Track and Field Team! As previously mentioned, they may switch to the other “assigned practice day”. We always have quite a few girls at the boys practice and vice versa.
In light of that flexibility, we would like to ask as many athletes as possible to prioritize the divisional and championship meet on May 11th and 18th.
Head Coaches - We are blessed to have two dedicated, passionate and patient Head Coaches. Greg Kojak, our sport coordinator for both Cross Country and Track and Field leads our Boys Team! Mike Abernathy will be in his 30th year as Head Coach of the Girls Team!
Additional Coach Staff and Parent Helpers - Greg and Mike have some excellent assistant coaches and parent volunteers who have been with them from the very beginning, but there is always a need for more help. If you are a former track athlete or just love physical fitness please consider helping with practices and athlete focus at meets. If you prefer to be a parent helper, every meet has a need for parents to help facilitate events.
Registration
St. Michael’s utilizes an online registration process.
Please sign up for the Team Snap App. St. Michael Athletics will be using this App for registration, team organization, team communication, and scheduling throughout your child’s Lancer Athletic experience. Here is the link… Team Snap Home
Through a web browser and not the App, please register for the Track and Field Team through this link… 2024 Track and Field Registration Link
After you have registered online, please send an envelope into the school office. It should include a check for $50 made out to St. Michael Parish School, and if you haven’t already done so already this school year, a copy of the Concussion Protocol Form and a Sports Physical Form.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Jim Wolf at
jwolf@stmichaelcommunity.org
The calendar dates for the 2024-2025 school year are now available. Click to view or scroll to bottom of the AGW.
This calendar will be posted on FACTS and the website for future reference also.
The St. Michael Women's Faith Group is calling All women of St. Michael School and Parish to join us for our Lenten Brunch (click for flyer) on Saturday morning, March 9th! Come treat yourself to a morning with mass, a catered brunch, a talk titled "Abiding in Jesus, Our Eucharistic Love and the Interior Life", and fellowship to renew our love for the Lord. We pray that this time will be a refuge of peace and rest for all of us women amidst our busy schedules. Please see the attached flyer with more information and to register.
Our speaker, Mary Dausman, married to Chris for 28 years is a mother of nine, physical therapist, Eucharistic Minister and Lector at her home parish, Saint Bridget in Rockford, IL. Chris and Mary have given talks to engaged couples and have chaperoned a multitude of trips to Steubenville conferences with their children over the years. Mary is a member and woman’s leader in the People of Praise prayer community.
Please contact Gina Carroll at sjsginacarroll@yahoo.com with any questions.
Click for details on this upcoming March Madness Mens Tourney & Poker Night come-back!
Dads and Daughters…
This is your St. Mike’s Era! Join in the fun of this special evening on Saturday, April 6th, 6-8pm in the Cashin Gym!
CLICK to view flyer!
CLICK to Buy Tickets!
Save the date for this special Mothers & Sons event on 4/13 @ 6pm in Cashin Gym! Click for flyer!
A letter from Mr. Farmer...
Lancer Basketball Enthusiasts, I am excited to have the opportunity to resume basketball camps this summer at St. Michael’s School. I will be offering camps for current 3rd through current 7th grade boys and girls.
Each camp will run Monday through Friday for 90 minutes per day. The cost of the camp is $100 with half of that cost going directly to St. Michael School. For practical purposes, each camp will be limited to a maximum of 20 players. Camps will consist of drills, contests, and scrimmages.
Over the years I have had the pleasure of coaching many basketball teams through both the Wheaton Park District and St. Michael’s School. I have coached many boys, girls, and co-ed teams.
This will be an excellent opportunity for your children to play basketball with their classmates at an extremely convenient location while helping raise money for St. Michael School. Please remember to sign up quickly as camps will have a maximum of 20 players.
Camps will be run at the following dates and times:
June 3 – June 7 (Monday – Friday)
Current 3rd and 4th grade girls @8:30-10:00
Current 5th and 6th grade girls @10:30-12:00
Current 4th and 5th grade girls @1:00-2:30
Current 6th and 7th grade girls @3:00-4:30
AND
June 10 – June 14 (Monday – Friday)
Current 3rd and 4th grade boys @8:30-10:00
Current 4th and 5th grade boys @10:30-12:00
Current 5th and 6th grade boys @1:00-2:30
Current 6th and 7th grade boys @3:00-4:30
Please fill out the accompanying registration form and return it with payment to the main office as soon as possible. Please email me with any questions at tfarmer@stmichaelcommunity.org. I am looking forward to seeing your kids back on the court! Go Lancers!
Regards,
Tom Farmer
June 17 - 21 - click for details!
Catholic Heart Workcamp is a unique mission trip experience for current 8th-12th grade students. From June 9-14, 2024, our participants will travel to Louisville, KY where they will help residents with home repair, painting, and yard work, or serve at local agencies that support local families, children, or seniors in need. Nightly programs include Mass, skits, music, prayer, game, adoration, and lots of fun. Adult chaperones are also needed. Watch this video for a glimpse at last year’s mission, check out the CHWC Louisville website, or click on this link for more information. Contact Darci Mills with any questions at dmills@stmichaelcommunity.org or 630-462-5044.
All current 7th-12th graders and adults are welcome to attend the first ever Joliet Youth Day held at Lewis University on Saturday, June 1st. This fun-filled event will include great rock music, nationally known speakers, Eucharistic Adoration, and end with Mass with Bishop Hicks (his personal invitation to all our teens is here). If you're interested, watch this video for a glimpse at last year’s conference or check out the Joliet Youth Day website. You can purchase tickets through the St. Michael Youth Ministry by submitting $75 per person to WeShare. Contact Darci Mills with any questions at dmills@stmichaelcommunity.org or 630-462-5044.

CALENDAR

COMMUNITY POSTS

SFHS SUMMER CAMPS – Registration is open! (pdf attached)
Wide variety of camps and clinics available for students entering grades 1-12. Register at https://sfhs.8to18.com/accounts/login.
Art Camps: Drawing & Painting, Mixed Media
Athletic Camps: Baseball, Basketball, Cheer, Cross Country, Football, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Strength & Conditioning, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball, Wrestling
Band Camps: Beginning Guitar, Jazz Band, Band Camp, Music Ensemble, Drumline, Orchestra
Choir Camps: RockAppella, ILMEA Choral, Vocal Arts, Vocal Jazz
Academic Camps: Fun with Grammar (for incoming 9th graders), ACT/SAT Prep, Chinese Culture
Technology Camp: STEP: Spartan Tech Entry Program (for incoming 9th graders)
Theatre Camps: Summer Musical, Young Spartan Showcase, Stage Crew
Any questions? Please contact Director of Admissions Maureen Isphording at misphording@sfhscollegeprep.org or (630) 668-5800, ext. 1120.
A message from our friends at Rosary High School:
I wanted to let you know of a few upcoming events at Rosary in the next few weeks.
We will be hosting our annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 16 at 10am. This is a FREE event for 5th grade and under, we will have it Rain or Shine.
On Tuesday, March 19 from 3:30-4:45pm will be hosting an Easter Cookie Decorating class, cost is $5 at the door. Pre-registration is required to ensure enough materials for girls 3rd grade and up. www.rosaryhs.com/easter
On Friday, April 19 from 8:30-10:30am we will be hosting 7th Grade Girls in the area for a Royal Ramp Up, a glimpse of a day at Rosary High School. www.rosaryhs.com/rampup
On Tuesday, April 23 we will be hosting a Lil" Royal Picasso class from 3:30-4:30pm. This class will be taught by the Art Club and Ms. Krainak. All girls in 3rd grade and up are invited to attend, pre-registration is required and payment is $5 at the door. www.rosaryhs.com/picasso
On Wednesday, April 24 we will be hosting a Royal Taste and Tour for families interested in learning more about Rosary High School from 6:30-7:30pm. www.rosaryhs.com/visit
You are invited! Click to view: Glenbard Parent Series