St. Michael Catholic School has a strong academic base, strong moral values, and a strong faith in God. These strengths are the foundation for us to continue to build a legacy of academic success. St. Michael is a Blue Ribbon School of excellence, a Four Star School and an A rated school. Our students have graduated and become the top scholars in their continuing education. To continue this, we will need to work together as parents, students and educators to accept nothing less than the best. Teachers will receive regular observations to ensure that they are teaching students according to Indiana State requirements and the requirements of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Students will be challenged to excel. The challenge will include students becoming active participants in their personal learning goals. Periodically throughout the year the students take the NWEA MAP assessment. Instead of only looking at the results once and moving on, students will be involved in goal setting. Teachers will be working side-by-side with students to set specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely goals. A copy of the goals will then be sent home to parents. This will give our parents the opportunity to help their child succeed. Change is good, hope combined with action is success.
Strong moral values and a strong faith will continue to be a focus at St. Michael Catholic School. One of our goals for this year is to be known as a school that has a culture of respect. As a school with a culture of respect we are striving to listen to each other, care about each other, help each other, and encourage each other. Our Catholic virtues are one key component to this culture of respect. Each month we will focus on a different virtue to help the students understand how they can live a life of virtue. Students and staff members will be recognized monthly for living a life of virtue. Our virtues are hope, faith, temperance, prudence, charity, justice and fortitude.
Communication between home and school is a top priority. Parents will be given the opportunity to grade the school four times throughout the school year. We need to know what you are thinking about your child’s education. Unless we accept and then discern upon the feedback we receive we cannot be in partnership. Weekly newsletter, Facebook, emails, text messages, Twitter, phone calls, and face to face conversations will be tools we use to communicate effectively with families. We are partners in the journey to educate the children at St. Michael and consistent communication is one way we are joined bringing hope.
I welcome all to our partnership at St. Michael Catholic School. Our goals are to have a strong academic base, strong moral values, and a strong faith in God. I look forward to working with each of you for the success of your children. We are told, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope,” (Jeremiah 29) Let’s work together for the future God has planned.
Yours in a Christ centered Education,
Mrs. Ruth Hittel, Principal
