Special Events

There are a number of exciting special events held throughout the school year. These events are not only major fundraising activities to benefit our School, but they are also important for community building. The Gala Dinner and the Golf Tournament are special events just for the adults, while the Marathon is a student-led service event and fundraiser. SpringFest is our parish-wide community-building event for kids and adults.

Gala Dinner & Auction

The Gala Dinner & Auction is a very special evening event held in January. The Gala Dinner is an exciting night out for adults featuring a dinner, dance, and auction. Through special donations from our school families, parishioners, and the business community, we host a live auction and silent auction with many special items available for bidding. Our goal is to raise $40,000 from this event and the proceeds are used for general operating purposes. Each year at the Gala we offer a special opportunity to make a donation to our Fund-A-Need. In 2009 and 2010 we used donations from the Fund-A-Need at Gala to purchase SMARTBoards in our classrooms. The 2011 Gala Dinner was held on Saturday, January 29, 2011 at Brackett’s Crossing Country Club in Lakeville. For more information, please contact the Gala Dinner Chairperson Keri Thayer or the school office.

Golf Tournament

The annual Golf Tournament, held in August, is a great community-building event for adults. The tournament is an important fundraiser benefitting our St. Michael Catholic School Athletic Department.

Marathon

The Marathon for Non-Public Education is an annual fundraiser to support Catholic education. The Marathon is a vital source of income for our School. This student-led fundraiser has been generating over $30,000 for the general operating budget. At St. Michael Catholic School we have shifted the focus to a Service Marathon. Each year, students are organized by grade to perform a service to support our community. The 2011 Marathon will be held on Friday, September 30th. For more information, please contact the Marathon Co-Chairs Heidi Preslicka and Linda King.

Mix-It-Up Day

More than 8,000 schools and 3 million students from all 50 states, representing grades PreK-12, participate in the annual National Mix-It-Up at Lunch Day.

We are excited as a St. Michael school community to be part of this national effort. Our St. Michael students, grades Kindergarten Prep (KP)-8, will answer a simple charge: Step out of your comfort zone and sit next to someone new at lunch.

“When we mix and mingle with people who are different from ourselves, biases, and misconceptions fall away,” says Mix-It-Up Director Tafeni English. “Mix-It-Up at Lunch Day gives students an opportunity to bring down the walls in their schools and get to know people they might not otherwise interact with.”

The St. Michael Mix-It-Up at Lunch committee, composed of student representatives from each grade and staff members, plans a unique school wide lunch day where students of varying grades and social groups mingle and meet through ice breaker activities, bag lunch circles, and a team building challenge.

SpringFest

The Church of St. Michael hosts an annual fundraising festival entitled SpringFest. This is a parish wide celebration and is also open to the public. This festival is held on the parish grounds each year. Mark your calendar to celebrate with delicious food, children’s events, a family dance and much, much more. SpringFest 2011 will be June 3 through June 5. Over 700 volunteers are required to make this festival successful. Volunteering to work this festival is a great way to meet fellow parishioners and celebrate fellowship at St. Michael.

Religious Events

Catholic Schools Week

Catholic Schools Week began in 1974 and is a joint project of NCEA and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Catholic Schools Week is celebrated nationally the last week in January. Each year, a different theme is chosen. These themes embrace how Catholic Schools weave Catholic values into our communities. Because of their traditionally high academic standards and high graduation rates, all supported by strong moral values, Catholic schools and their graduates make a positive contribution to American society. Catholic schools give a high level of service (the A+ level) to local communities because of the many service projects students undertake. “Giving back to the community” and “helping others” are values instilled in every Catholic school student. Schools typically celebrate Catholic Schools Week with special Masses, activities for students, administrators, faculty, school staff, the community and families.

For 2011, Catholic Schools Week at St. Michael Catholic School was celebrated January 24-28. St. Michael Catholic School had a fun-filled week of spiritual, community building and spirit related (“Blues Day,” sports day, etc.) activities planned.

Living Stations

Each year around fourteen eighth graders volunteer to take time away from class to rehearse and present this drama for the school students and parishioners. It is a service project and learning experience for each of the students involved.

Eighth graders have several challenges in presenting the Stations. The work is very slow and somber. The rhythm of the Stations demands that the students slow down from their fast paced lives and explore the sadness and injustice of Jesus’ death. Rehearsing and presenting this drama requires a focus beyond the world of iPods, Facebook, pop music and the social life of an eighth grader.

The students from St. Michael Catholic School perform the Stations with grace and presence beyond their years. They are truly a gift to the community.

May Crowning

May Crowning is an event that eighth graders look forward to every year. It is a day to dress up and have fun, but more importantly it is a day to honor Mary as queen of heaven and earth. It is a tradition at St. Michael Catholic School to have the eighth graders lead a Mass to crown Mary and recognize her for her vital role as the mother of Jesus. May Crowning reminds us to remember Mary and to always pray to her to intercede for us to her Son Jesus. Mary is crowned with flowers each year with reverence and joy because of her willingness to serve God and her total unselfishness. May Crowning is an exciting day and will always be remembered with great memories and honor for Mary.