St. Michael's Parish

Community Service Opportunities Abound at SMPS

St. Michael students learn from an early age the importance of helping those less fortunate by getting involved in a variety of stewardship projects during the school year:

• Volunteering at the Catholic Neighborhood Charities (18th Street Center) and donating canned food
• Supporting the Gabriel Project and young mothers
• Collecting food and clothing for the needy
• Creating cards and projects for the sick, elderly and homebound
• Collecting money for Breast Cancer Research, Leukemia Society, and other charities

Faith Formation Program Daily Religion classes/prayer Sacrament Preparation Weekly School Liturgies Monthly Rosary Stations of the Cross Respect Life Week 8th Grade Retreat

BUCKETFILLERS for LIFE Anti-Bullying Program
All students at St. Michael's (TK-8th Grade) participate in the "Bucketfillers for Life Anti-Bullying Program." As part of the program, each child learns that everyone carries a "bucket of happiness" and, thus, an act of kindness or treating another with respect is an action that "fills that person's bucket." Likewise, children who do or say something that hurts someone's feelings are considered "bucket dippers," taking away from that person's bucket of happiness. 

At St. Michael's, each homeroom teacher recognizes his/her students' acts of kindness by contributing an item to the class's Bucketfiller Bucket.  Student Bucketfiller activities are also routinely incorporated into the Religion curriculum.

Additionally, to unite the students and faculty in the Bucketfillers anti-bullying program, a monthly dress down "Bucketfiller Friday" is scheduled for all to wear their neon "Fill a Bucket" t-shirts.

Read Bucketfiller Friday Held Monthly to Promote Anti-Bullying Program.
 

More than 25 Clubs and Extra-Curricular Activities Offered

• Mustang Media Student News Broadcast
• Yearbook Club
• Art Club
• Student Council
• Science Fair
• Social Studies Fair
• Mathcounts
• Math-a-thon
• Math Field Day
• Spelling Bee
• Geography Bee
• Golden Horseshoe
• School Safety Patrol
• Christmas Musical Performance
• Talent Show
• Choir
• Band and Guitar Instruction
• Piano Lessons
• Handbells
• Forensics Club
• Scholastic Challenge
• Science Bowl
• Spanish Club
• “St. Michael Players” Drama Club
• Runners’ Club (Junior High)
• Regional Environmental Action Program (6th grade)

Mustang Media Student News Broadcast
St. Michael Parish School’s Mustang Media, a student news broadcast project, is the first of its kind in the local Catholic grade schools of Wheeling. The goal of the Mustang Media program is two-fold: (1) To keep students/teachers informed of all the classroom activities at SMPS and the achievements of individual students; and (2) to expose junior high students to the intricacies of journalism and other media-focused careers. The 15-minute broadcast, which is transmitted every Friday afternoon to all 19 classrooms throughout the school, includes school/local/national news stories, sports and weather reports.

Mustangs Athletics Program Athletic Director: Mr. Lee Gruber SMPS Athletic Program Mission St. Michael has a very rich and proud tradition in interscholastic athletics. We always strive to best represent St. Michael school at all times, and our goal is to provide the best possible athletic experience as part of the overall school environment. While academics are, and will always be, the top priority, participation in athletics can be a tremendous way to learn life lessons and promote physical fitness. Participation in sports and extracurricular activities is a privilege not a right. Students who do not maintain good grades or good discipline may not participate in extracurricular activities. The school administration will monitor these areas and take appropriate action. Participation in sports is an important facet in the total education program. It fosters the development of coordination, sportsmanship, confidence and school spirit. Program Details The Mustangs Athletics Program, targeted to students in grades 5-8, consists of:  Fall Season...  Football Cheerleading Girls’ Basketball Winter Season... Cheerleading (continues) Boys’ Basketball Spring Season... Girls’ and Boys’ Tennis Girls’ Volleyball  Girls’ and Boys’ Track and Field Students, parents, and parishioners can get the latest information on all Mustangs team practices and game schedules, as well as standings and announcements, from the new Mustangs Sports Line-up website. Be sure to check it regularly! Fine Arts Opportunities Elementary Band Program Children in grades 3-8 at St. Michael's have the opportunity to learn the foundations of music, read music notation, play band instruments and perform at concerts! The following instruments are offered: flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, percussion, violin, or guitar. There is a fee for this program. Piano Class Program Bill and Barbara Hines, piano teachers at the Stifel Fine Arts Center, teach piano to interested St. Michael students. Each week, registered students receive a 30-minute group lesson and a 15-minute private piano lesson over a 30-week period. This program is designed for beginning students. There is a fee for this program.  After-School Art Classes Mrs. Maria Tomacari offers an after-school art program for interested students in grades 1-8. The program incorporates drawing into a variety of art projects using different mediums. Most projects are 2-week projects. Students sign-up for the project(s) they are interested in. Cost is $10 per project. Classes are held as follows:  Tuesdays (3-4 pm): Grades 1-2 Wednesdays (3-4 pm): Grades 3-5 Thursdays (3-4 pm): Grades 6-8