August 2023
Principal's Newsletter
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WELCOME TO OUR NEW PRIEST CHAPLAINS: We welcome Fr. Albert Blount and Fr. Joseph Bresowar, who are both newly ordained for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Fr. Albert is a former teacher and Campus Minister at St. Michael. We are so blessed to have them as part of our Warrior family! Welcome Fathers!
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OUR LADY OF WISDOM CHAPEL: The school chapel is open in the morning and at lunch for students to stop in and pray. We will be scheduling Friday morning mass or adoration of the Blessed Sacrament by the end of August. More information will be given to students in theology classes and to parents via email.
PARENT PRAYER WARRIORS: If you are interested in being part of a prayer team both on and off campus, please complete this online form https://forms.gle/21tCFjfABhUiSL4n9. Parents can be a part of prayer for community intentions, prayer during retreats and events, novenas for special intentions, prayer on campus one day a week, or take part in parent Bible studies.
MP3–MUSIC PRAYER PRAISE PLAY “SACRAMENT OF LOVE”: High school students from across the Diocese are invited to this awesome St. Michael back to school kick off event. It will take place on Friday, August 11 from 6:00 - 10:00 PM in the St. Sebastian Multipurpose Building. This is a fun night of fellowship and faith – including games, trivia, live band, food, keynote by Fr. Brad Doyle, and opportunity for Eucharistic Adoration and confession. Cost is $10.00 per person. Sign up at https://forms.gle/WgDC6AioB7yae1Nj8 and pay at the door. St. Michael students should register as individuals. See the flyer for the event at
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WpKMauYllQkzqPk3vB-Z5YmST9Vb3czA/view?usp=sharing
CELEBRATION OF MASS: Our first all school Mass is Tuesday, August 15 at 8:50 AM. We will celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary in the St. Sebastian Multipurpose Building. Our celebrants will be Fr. Joseph Bresowar and Fr. Albert Blount. Students must wear their dress uniforms all day on Mass Days.
CLASS PATRONS: One of our new traditions at St. Michael is having Class Patrons. Each grade level has a Saint or Blessed that will be inspiration and intercessor for them during their four years of high school. Graduating seniors will pass on their patron to an incoming freshman class. For extra fun each Patron has a theme associated with them. Check out this link for resources to learn more about the Patrons. We will update this link and welcome additional fun things that you find. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13cLCVF5Wsz3WPzPIvCepNDPWwIfYu_ZY2XWarPqNLVM/edit?usp=sharing.
- Freshmen Class of 2027 – Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati’s Athletes (The Frassati’s)
- Sophomore Class of 2026– St. Joan of Arc’s Soldiers (The Arc’s)
- Junior Class of 2025 – Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Fiesta (The Lupe’s)
- Senior Class of 2024 – St. Damien of Molokai’s Hawaiians (The Kai’s)
GRADE LEVEL RETREAT SCHEDULE: Below are the dates for Grade Level Retreats. These dates are subject to change (weather incidents, etc). Because each school retreat is a graduation requirement, any student who is sick on the day of the retreat must attend another administration-approved Diocesan retreat. Please see the SMHS Student/Parent Handbook for more information. Please pray for our retreat preparation.
- Freshmen – November 15: School day retreat at St. John the Evangelist, Prairieville
- Sophomores – September 20: School day retreat at St. John the Evangelist, Prairieville
- Juniors – March 15: School day retreat into the early afternoon/ Location TBD
- Seniors – October 30: School day retreat into late evening/Location TBD
FIGHT THE NEW DRUG (PORNOGRAPHY) PRESENTATION FOR PARENTS: All parents in the Diocese of Baton Rouge are invited to attend this important presentation on the dangers of pornography in our culture and families on Tuesday, September 5 at 6:30 PM in the St. Sebastian Multipurpose Building. This is open to parents of children of all ages, but parents only. This talk will accompany a school day assembly for the student body and faculty on Wednesday, September 6. More information can be found at www.fighthenewdrug.org. A shareable flyer can be found at
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BTMYphSDxD51Yc0qATuu7SxErJwVhLz3/view?usp=sharing. For more information or if you are interested in praying for this event please email efroeba@smhsbr.org.
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Intellectual
ACT/SAT: It is recommended that students register for the ACT or SAT after completing the first semester of Algebra II, typically in the spring of their junior year. Seniors who have not already taken either the ACT or SAT should register soon. These test scores are essential when seeking admission to colleges and universities and qualifying for TOPS. Please be aware that some colleges and universities, including LSU’s Honors College, require that applicants take the written assessment component of either the ACT or SAT at least once. To sign up for the ACT or SAT, please visit the following websites:
ACT: www.act.org SAT: www.collegeboard.org/sat
The following codes may be useful when taking the ACT:
- St. Michael High School Code/CEEB: 190186
- LSU: 1590
- TOPS: 1595
- NCAA Eligibility Center: 9999
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT: Mark your calendar for Back to School Night at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, August 23 beginning in the St. Sebastian Multipurpose Building. This event is sponsored by the Home & School Association to give parents the opportunity to meet the faculty, staff, Home & School Association representatives, Warrior Club representatives, and members of the St. Michael Advisory Board. Parents will also have the opportunity to walk through their child’s school schedule and purchase Warrior Club merchandise.
BELLS:
- First bell at 7:10 AM
- Senior dismissal bell at 2:26 PM
- SMHS shuttle bus riders and EBR Parish bus riders dismissal bell at 2:26
- Carpoolers dismissal bell at 2:30 PM
CARPOOL: Parents may not pull into the parking lot to pick up their students. This is a safety hazard because our student drivers are exiting all of our parking lots. Please wait in the school carpool line that begins by the baseball field.
CALENDAR FOR 2023-2024: This is the calendar for the 2023-2024 school year. It is important that students be present each day of school in order to get the most out of the education being offered. Please plan your vacations, family trips, and college visits accordingly.
CALENDAR 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR
August 4, 7 First Days of School—Orientation
August 8 Full Day for All
September 4 Labor Day Holiday
October 6 End of the 1st Nine Weeks
October 9 Teacher Inservice--No School for Students
Contingency Day
October 27 Fall Holiday
Contingency Day
November 20-24 Thanksgiving Holiday
November 20, 21, 22 Contingency Days
December 12-15 Midterm Exams
December 18 – January 2 Christmas Holiday
January 2 Contingency Days
January 3 Students Return for 2nd Semester
January 15 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
February 12-16 Mardi Gras Holiday
February 14, 15, 16 Contingency Days
March 8 End of the 3rd Nine Weeks
March 29-April 5 Easter Holiday
April 2-5 Contingency Days
May 17 Graduation
May 20-23 Final Exams for Underclassmen
Attendance each school day is an essential part of learning. Please plan absences and vacations accordingly. Contingency days will be used as school days to make up any days that may be missed due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. The administration will inform parents and students if and when contingency days are needed.
FALL AWARDS: Fall Awards will be held Friday, September 1. This is a special event to recognize students with special honors for the 2022-2023 school year, along with inducting National Honor Society (NHS) members. Parents of NHS members are welcome to attend.
ISN PROGRAM: Any student with a diagnosed disability may be eligible to receive classroom accommodations. Parents and teachers may refer a student to be considered for the ISN program. Disabilities under the Individual Student Needs program (ISN) are defined as mental, physical, or psychological disorders interfering with learning that have been diagnosed by undergoing the process of a full psychoeducational evaluation. Documentation of a disability is NOT forwarded by a student’s previous school. In order to remain current in the St. Michael ISN program, the student’s disability must have been diagnosed or reconfirmed within three academic years prior to the date of the request to receive accommodations. Requests for information or placement must be made to ISN coordinator Mrs. Taylor Flowers at tflowers@smhsbr.org.
SMHS SHUTTLE BUS: The SMHS Shuttle Bus will begin Tuesday, August 8. The monthly fee for this service is $95. Parents who are interested in this service may access our website at www.smhsbr.org and will find the Shuttle Bus form under Quick Links. You may submit the form to the Registrar. Once you submit the form, the fee will be added to your FACTS account.
Routes -
- St. John (Prairieville) pick up at 6:20 AM and drop off at 3:30 PM
- ·St. George School pick up at 6:40 AM and drop off at 2:55 PM
Buses will depart from SMHS each day at 2:30 PM, with approximate arrival time depending upon traffic conditions. Bus routes will be adjusted as needed. Contact our Registrar Lori Steib at lsteib@smhsbr.org with questions.
SMHS AFTER SCHOOL CARE: St. Michael will offer an After School Care program beginning Tuesday, August 8. This program provides a safe place for students to wait for their parents. The cost of this program is $125 per semester. Parents who are interested in this service may access our website at www.smhsbr.org and will find the After School Care form under Quick Links. You may submit the form to our Registrar. Once you submit the form, the fee will be added to your FACTS account. Contact our Registrar Mrs. Lori Steib at lsteib@smhsbr.org with questions.
COLLEGES VISITING SMHS: Throughout the fall, admissions representatives from a number of colleges and universities will be visiting our school in order to share information with prospective students. Emails or announcements will be sent to seniors by our Senior Counselor & College Advisor Mrs. Rachel Cart, alerting students of these opportunities. Please continue to monitor emails, Moodle, and the SMHS Online Calendar for dates/times of upcoming events held at St. Michael.
LSU APPLICATION REMINDER: APPLY EARLY! LSU Admissions applications will open August 1 for the next fall semester at LSU. Seniors who are on target for meeting LSU admissions requirements should apply between August 1 and December 15, 2023. The priority date for full consideration for all LSU scholarship opportunities and Honors College admission for entering freshmen is December 15. The LSU Application for Undergraduate Admission also serves as the automatic application for all entering freshmen scholarships. To apply, go to the LSU Undergraduate Admissions website: www.lsu.edu/admissions. Students’ official high school transcripts, official ACT or SAT scores, and any other required information must be received by LSU prior to the December 15 priority deadline.
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Personal Development
ADDRESS/TELEPHONE CHANGE: If you have address and/or telephone changes during the school year, please reach out to our Registrar Mrs. Lori Steib at lsteib@smhsbr.org with the information.
ASBESTOS FREE & IPM PLANS: St. Michael High School is an asbestos free school. In compliance with the asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986, Operational Technologies of Baton Rouge re-inspected the schools in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan for schools (indoors and outdoors) is done on a yearly basis. Copies of both plans are in the school office and available to the public for inspection.
CHECK OUT POLICY: Parents are reminded to send a note with their student who needs to check out during the school day. The student should bring the note to the office before school. We will not call into classrooms to ask a student to come to the office for dismissal. This interrupts the learning process for everyone in the class. If a parent shows up to check out a student without sending a note, there will be a delay in getting the student from the classroom.
CLUB DAY: On Tuesday, August 22 during all lunch periods, students will have the opportunity to visit and learn about and/or sign up to participate in clubs. All clubs will be represented on this day, and students are encouraged to get involved. Please advise your student to get involved and join a club or sport. All clubs are listed on our website under About Us, Campus Life, Clubs and Activities. If you have questions, you may email our Activities Director Mrs. Jackie Moseley at jmoseley@smhsbr.org.
DISCRIMINATION POLICY: St. Michael High School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, or ethnic origin in administration of educational policies, admission processes, extra-curricular activities, or other school related programs.
HOME & SCHOOL FREE TUITION RAFFLE: It’s time to kick off the Home & School Association’s annual Free Tuition Raffle Campaign. This is Home & School’s only fundraiser for the year. The proceeds will be used for the many activities that support our students, parents and faculty. Without a successful campaign, we cannot continue to provide this support. For only $30 you may be the winner of one year’s tuition valued at $10,300. Tickets returned by noon on Wednesday, August 16 will be eligible for an Early Bird Drawing, where one ticket will be drawn to win the cost of the Technology Fee ($650). That ticket will also be eligible for the 2023-2024 Free Tuition Drawing on Wednesday, August 23. Tickets were mailed on August 1. If you do not receive your tickets, please contact our Activities Director Mrs. Jackie Moseley at jmoseley@smhsbr.org.
PERMISSION FOR COLLEGE VISITS: When a student is planning a college visit or tour day, his/her parent(s)/guardian(s) must forward a written request to our Dean of Students Mr. Kegan Keller at least five business days prior to the actual date of the visit. The Excused Absence Form may be found under Quick Links on the school website. The student should return to school the day following his/her absence with a letter of verification of attendance which will be provided by the college or university upon request. Mr. Keller will review the requested information prior to and following the event when considering the validity of granting an educational excused absence for the time missed away from school. Please refer to the SMHS Student/Parent Handbook for further details regarding educational absences.
SCHOOL PICTURE DAY: School pictures will be taken on Monday, August 14. All students must be in dress uniform. All grooming must be aligned with the St. Michael Student Handbook. Barberitos will be emailing parents information on how to order your student's school pictures. Please note, the following day is Mass, so dress uniforms must be worn again on Tuesday.
PROCEDURES TO ADDRESS CONCERNS: As we begin this school year, it is appropriate to inform parents of the procedure for addressing concerns. If an academic or procedural concern arises, the parent should first consult the teacher. If the issue is not resolved, the parent may take the matter to either the Dean of Students or an Assistant Principal. If the matter remains unresolved, it should be referred to the Principal.
SENIOR SUNRISE BREAKFAST: The Class of 2024 will be invited to a Senior Sunrise Breakfast on Thursday, August 17. Information will go out to each senior soon.
STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE: All students enrolled at St. Michael High School are automatically registered for school accident insurance. The cost of insurance is included in the tuition fee.
STUDENT/PARENT DIRECTORY: The Student/Parent Directory is available online through your PlusPortal account. To be listed in the directory, you must opt-in. Simply log into your PlusPortal account, click on School Announcements. There you will see instructions on opting into the directory. You will also find information on the Parent and Student PlusPortal apps for your mobile devices.
WARRIOR FOOTBALL:
- Scrimmage at Live Oak on Thursday, August 17 at 6:00 PM
- Jamboree at Episcopal vs Ascension Catholic on Thursday August 24 at 7:30 PM
- Game 1 at Episcopal on Friday, September 1 at 7:00 PM
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STUDENT BACK-TO-SCHOOL DANCE: The SMHS Student Back-to-School Dance will be held Friday, August 25 in the St. Sebastian Multipurpose Building from 7:00 - 10:00 PM. This dance is a St. Michael student dance only - no outside guests are allowed. The theme is Red, White & Blue. Please dress accordingly to the theme for this dance. Tickets are $15 per student when purchased online and tickets will go on sale Wednesday, August 9 through Wednesday, August 23. An email with a link will be sent to students and parents. Tickets will also be available at the door for $20. Please note, this is the only dance where an entrance ticket may be purchased at the door.
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Advancement News &
Important Events
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A NOTE FROM THE PRINCIPAL:
GOD WITH US - Our school theme for the 2023-2024 school year challenges us all to remember God’s promise to remain with us. He is with us through the Eucharist and the other sacraments, through prayer, and through our fellow man. Matthew’s gospel reminds us of Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” We recognize that we are not alone on our journey through life as Jesus walks with us and this gives us great hope. We also understand that this is a call for us to be Christ-like to each other. We are called to build up and not tear down. We are called to treat every person with dignity and respect for God is with us.
As we begin this school year, parents and students are reminded that the procedures and guidelines we follow at St. Michael High School are explained in the St. Michael Student-Parent Handbook. A copy of the handbook was emailed to every student and parent at the end of July. Please read through this document carefully with your student. A copy of the handbook can be found on the school’s website. Parents who did not receive the handbook email should check to make sure they have a valid email address in PlusPortals.
Our Warrior faculty and staff renew our commitment to partner with our parents to foster the spiritual, intellectual, and personal development of our students. At St. Michael High School, we are an extension of the Catholic Church as we challenge our students to grow into the young men and young women God calls them to be. We look forward to a year filled with hope as we know God is with us in our day-to-day lives here at St. Michael.
Blessings,
Ellen B. Lee, Principal
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Welcome back to school! This month Home & School sponsored lunch for the teachers and staff on an In-service Day. On the first day of school, Home & School will provide a grab and go style breakfast for teachers in the Faculty Lounge. The teachers were surprised with a Faculty Lounge makeover that took place over the summer. Special thanks to Colleen Lagarde who spearheaded the makeover, which included new furniture, new window coverings and fresh paint.
Please follow our Home & School Facebook page for all upcoming events and volunteer needs. To find our page, use the QR code or click the link below.
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Parents, our challenge to you is to make a 3ForMe Promise. Can you commit to actively participating in three events as a family for the school year? Follow the link to our form listing all our events for your consideration. Pick three and submit. Thank you!
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Home & School Executive Board
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Back Row: Rachel Goff, Jackie Moseley, Alicia Quebedeaux, Molly Sanchez.
Front Row: Colleen LaGarde, Tracy Hamilton, Abby Tate
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Faculty lounge makeover. New furniture and fresh paint!
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MEMBERSHIP: Want to meet new Warrior Families? Want to support Warrior Athletics & Spirit Programs? Joining the Warrior Club accomplishes both! Details are available on our website at www.smhswarriorclub.com. In addition to other benefits, securing a membership offers eligibility to purchase an annual Warrior Club Pass. Warrior Club Passes provide entrance to all regular season home athletic events.
FOOTBALL PROGRAMS: Time is running out! The deadline to place an ad in the 2023 Football Programs is August 6. Highlight your student or business and raise money for your favorite St. Michael Sport or Spirit Team at the same time. Use the following link to submit your ad: www.smhswarriorclub.com/football-program-ads
WARRIOR CLUB DANCE: Let’s celebrate back to school by having a dance of our own. This event is open to all who are 21 years of age and older. August 26 is the day, 7:00 PM is the time, and the St. Michael Multipurpose Building is the place. You will enjoy live music from The Chris LeBlanc Band, followed by The Eddie Smith Band, as well as DJ music. Reserved tables and sponsorships are available. Details are available on our website at www.smhswarriorclub.com. This event is a way for us to have fun and support St. Michael athletic and spirit programs.
WARRIOR GEAR: A return to school means a return to many school and sporting events. Show off your Warrior spirit! The Warrior Store will be open for all student lunches on August 18 as well as t he first Friday of every month now through December. (Please consider volunteering to help by signing up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A4CAFA72BA4FE3-warrior12.) You may also shop online from our website at www.smhswarriorclub.com. Once your order is ready, you’ll receive a notification and you or your student may pick it up from the front office.
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