Brochure
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About Us
Fides et Ratio
Latin for Faith and Reason, our school motto is the cornerstone of education and life at St. Michael’s School. We are a thriving, faith-based school community where children become independent thinkers and grow into responsible young adults grounded in Catholic values. Our preschool through grade 8 program encourages a love of learning and the development of habits and attitudes that promote personal growth within the spirit of community. St. Michael’s teaches each child the importance of building a relationship with God that they can carry with them into the world. Our students receive religious education every day and regularly attend Mass with their classmates. There are also frequent retreats and other faith-based activities to help our children grow spiritually.
Academic Success
Catholic schools are generally recognized for superior academic achievement, and Middle States accredited St. Michael’s is no exception. Over the past five years, St. Michael’s students have on average surpassed nationwide standardized test scores and ranked ahead of other Archdiocesan schools. High test scores are just one indicator of our students’ academic achievements. Walk through St. Michael’s halls and look into any classroom, and you will see our students actively engaged in inquiry, discovery, and learning. You may see preschoolers sitting in a circle learning the Spanish alphabet, or visit a second floor classroom and watch the seventh graders debate the environmental impact of a recent lab experiment. Our certified teachers are integral to our students’ academic success. They bring to their classrooms diverse educational and professional backgrounds that contribute uniquely to academic enrichment. St. Michael’s teachers are committed to bringing out the best in our students through individualized attention in controlled class sizes. St. Michael’s graduates are well prepared for high school and beyond. Alumni go on to top area schools such as Union Catholic, St. Peter’s Prep, Seton Hall Prep, Mother Seton High School and Mount St. Mary’s Academy. Georgetown, Marist, Fordham University, Seton Hall, Notre Dame, and New York University are among the universities our graduates attend.
Student Life
New students soon discover that St. Michael’s fosters a truly friendly and nurturing environment. Mornings will find Mrs. Miragliotta, the school principal, greeting students by name as they come into the building. Children who are dropped off early are welcomed into our before-care classroom by Mrs. McGlynn. As children head to their classrooms, they are also warmly greeted by teachers and friends in other grades and classes. The school’s facilities – which are superior to those of many public and private schools in the area – also contribute to a positive environment for students. The spacious, well-maintained gymnasium allows each grade’s weekly gym classes to be conducted in an atmosphere that promotes fun and physical activity. The auditorium, with its large stage and sound system, is well-used for school activities including assemblies, drama club performances and book sales. The school also offers a sizable library and a separate computer lab with state-of-the-art networked computers, with ChromeBooks in each classroom(Grades3-8). Stroll down to our ground level to notice a beautiful mural that leads into our vibrant Art Room. Look inside and you will see children in paint-splattered smocks diligently working on their masterpieces. When walking through the lower level you may view more murals painted by our graduates. Lunchtime in our cafeteria is a very social time, giving students the opportunity to relax and enjoy each other’s company, and reconnect with siblings and friends from other classes. Each meal is preceded by and closed with a prayer. At St. Michael’s, the school day may end at 2:45, but the activities continue and students are encouraged to participate. From Kindergarten on, the children are actively engaged in in Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. SMS boasts a thriving sports program. The program provides the opportunity to participate in instructional and competitive sports such as basketball, softball, volleyball and track. Home School Association activities such as Spooky Bingo and Breakfast with Santa Claus, allow our children and families to socialize outside of the school day, deepening bonds among students, siblings and parents. To accommodate working parents, the school also offers a daily After Care program. Our After Care personnel continue the friendly and nurturing environment. The aftercare staff works with the students on their homework, engages them in playtime activities.
Community Service
St. Michael’s students are encouraged to put their faith into action through community service. This begins in the younger grades with students bringing in gifts for the Christmas Giving Tree, offering canned goods for an area food bank, or donating a new hats, gloves and scarves for the less fortunate during our cold New Jersey winters. For the last few years, after the Epiphany, when the ornaments are taken down from our tree, we decorate the tree with hats, gloves and scarves donated for the needy. We call it our Winter Tree Collection. Students take an active part in service focused on community outreach and stewardship. In the past they have worked with the Cranford Family Care, Mercy House, Archdiocesan Emergency Relief Services, Heifer International Hunger Programs and various local service projects. Upper grade students actively mentor our younger students. The eighth-graders also frequently serve as “bigger buddies” to the preschoolers, walking with them in events like the annual Butterfly Parade and Early Childhood Block Party.
Faith & Reason Continue
A strong testament to the worth of a St. Michael’s education is the number of parents who attended St. Michael’s as children and later chose to send their own sons and daughters to our school. Our legacy families are successful and active members of our local community. Many of them say the purpose and direction of their lives were influenced by the values they learned while attending St. Michael’s School. This is never truer than for the alumni who return to us as teachers, choosing to give back to the St. Michael’s community much of what they received from it themselves.
Our Church
A Catholic Community
From its modest beginnings in 1872, when a small group first gathered for Mass in the home of Terrance Brennan, St. Michael’s Church has grown to become a thriving parish community serving over 3500 families. We are blessed with a committed pastoral staff and active parishioners who share their unique gifts to build a spiritually vibrant community. Step through the church doors on any Sunday morning – or stop by the Parish Center on many a weeknight – and you will see our people leading, reflecting, studying and acting as disciples of Jesus Christ. The Lenten Fish Fry, the St. Nicholas Giving Tree and the Father-Daughter Dance are some of the many visible signs of the Holy Spirit at work in our parish community. The Feast of St. Michael, held each fall, is another shining example of parish and school working together to reach out to the local community with a fun, family-centered event.
Witnesses To Our Faith Worship
The celebration of the Holy Eucharist is the central act of worship of the Catholic Church. Mass is celebrated daily at St. Michael’s, with special liturgies on Holy Days of Obligation. Our Church is open from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day. All are welcome to visit and spend some quiet time in the presence of the Lord. St. Michael’s students attend mass on a regular basis and parents are always welcome to participate in our special school mass celebrations.
Teaching
St. Michael’s School provides a spiritual environment in which our children experience God’s love through a growing knowledge of Jesus Christ and the Gospel message. Teachers and staff are role models who share their faith, their talents and their time with our children. Our Religious Education staff serves over 1000 children through the CCD program and offers teen and adult programs for both recreation and religious study. The programs encourage cooperation among families, catechists, and the parish so that our children can grow in faith and become living signs of Christ’s presence in the world. The school, religious education program, and parish actively participate with parents to prepare our children for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion, as well as Confirmation.
Service To Others
As St. Michael’s parishioners, we seek to share our time, talent and treasure with our church, and the local and world communities through a variety of ministries. Our Liturgical Ministries include the very popular Children’s Liturgy of the Word, which is celebrated at the 10:30 Mass on Sundays. Our Sacramental Preparation Ministries help individuals and families to prepare for the sacraments of Baptism, First Eucharist, First Reconciliation and Confirmation. The Ministry of Motherhood (MOM) offers a way for mothers to come together to share in the joys and challenges of motherhood. The St. Michael’s Youth Group has worked on building and restoring homes in the Appalachian Mountains. Through the Samaritan Ministry, the parish works to help the homebound and disadvantaged in the surrounding communities. And our Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts provide a range of wholesome activities and service projects for our children.
Welcome
We openly welcome new members to the St. Michael’s community. If you are interested in joining our parish, please stop by the Parish Center, 40 Alden Street, during office hours, or call (908) 276-0360. You can also stop by the Parish Desk in the church vestibule on Sunday mornings, or visit us online at www.stmichaelscranford.com. Our parish staff and volunteers are here to answer any questions you may have about parish life.
SMS Curriculum
St. Michael’s teachers contribute to the moral, spiritual and academic development of our students. Teachers and parents form a working relationship to help ensure students’ success. Parents have the opportunity to meet with teachers to discuss student progress. The parent/teacher relationship continues to grow through worship and many social activities sponsored by the school and parish such as athletic events, the Feast of Saint Michael and our annual SMS Tricky Tray. Our dedicated teachers involve themselves with students as coaches and moderators, further strengthening the bonds of our community here at St. Michael’s School.
Computer Technology
St. Michael’s uses networked computers with filtered Internet access. The school also has several laptop computers for student use. We have introduced Chromebooks to expand instruction. Computer instruction begins in Kindergarten with an introduction to Kid Pix. While children have fun creating pictures and learning to read, they also learn computer terminology and become skilled in the use of computer equipment. Computer instruction continues weekly, with age-appropriate software added to the each grade’s curriculum. By the time students reach fifth grade, they are able to create Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint & multi-media presentations, web pages and simple programs. Eighth-graders work on a variety of projects designed to expand their knowledge of the core curriculum through word processing, spreadsheets and presentations to classmates. Throughout the curriculum we teach our students ways to use the Internet safely, as a research and communications tool. SMS enables the students to develop 21stcentury literacy by collaborating on various projects with students around the globe. They share work via podcasts, wikis and video production. Class assignments, homework and various projects are posted on Google Classroom.
Early Childhood
3-Year-Old Program
Our three-year-olds have fun and enjoy learning. Our patient and caring teachers develop interesting lessons and activities based on monthly themes including the seasons, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Lent. Each day begins with prayer. Students pray in the morning, before snack time and at the end of the day. Children attend Mass on holy days and at the start and close of the school year. A love of Christ and Catholic values are always visible and included in stories and craft projects.Teachers integrate creative hands-on learning materials, songs and play to introduce the alphabet, colors, shapes and numbers. Learning the virtue of patience, along with the social skills of sharing and playing well with others, are part of students’ daily experience. Classrooms are warm and nurturing environments, with children’s names, pictures and birthdays listed on their cubbies. The classrooms are set up with a variety of activities to stimulate learning and play. Bulletin board themes change often to enhance classroom learning and give students an opportunity to display their artwork. Our large and bright playroom provides a stimulating environment with plenty of room for movement. Here children can walk, run, and jump to develop gross motor skills.
4-Year-Old Program
Kindergarten readiness is the theme of this program. As our four-year-olds continue to learn while they play, a rich learning environment provides variety and builds upon the curriculum of the three-year-old program. Look into a classroom and you’ll see sky-scraper cities under construction at our Block Center, children looking at books and aided by listening headphones at our Listening/Viewing Center, or children listening wide-eyed to a book in the Library Corner. Four-year-olds love to talk. Language games, especially rhymes, are an important step toward reading readiness. Pre-reading games are played often to reinforce readiness skills. Thematic curricula in the areas of religion, social studies, and science promote vocabulary building. Four-year-olds are excited to share their newfound knowledge of words like Nativity, cranberry and astronaut. Religious education is taught through songs and games.Four-year-olds at St. Michael’s School receive weekly instruction from our Physical Education and Spanish language teachers. Visits to our playground stimulate their senses and bring forth a great deal of enjoyment. Both 3 year and 4 year old students have the option of staying an additional hour and forty-five minutes to enjoy lunch and play through our Lunch Bunch program. The three and four-year-old programs culminate with a year-end graduation ceremony. Parents and siblings join in the excitement as our Preschoolers joyfully sing for them.
Kindergarten through grade 5
St. Michael’s follows the New Jersey Core Content Curriculum Standards in accordance to Curriculum Guidelines set forth by the Archdiocese of Newark. The curriculum provides a liberal arts foundation on which students can build a life and love of learning in a faith-based environment.Every day begins with prayer, led by a student. Students pray in the morning, at lunch and at the end of the day. Students also attend Mass once a month as a class and in celebration of Holy Days. In the second grade, students receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the Fall and Eucharist in the Spring. Beginning in the first grade, the development of study skills is reinforced through daily homework assignments. In the third grade, students begin to change classes and experience departmentalized teaching. Our Spring Science Fair is always an exciting event. Past themes include civil engineering, architecture, and time. St. Michael’s also offers speech correction, reading, writing and math services provided by Union County Educational Services Commission.Our music program exposes students to several areas including singing and listening to music, playing the recorder, and reading musical notes. Third graders are invited to join Future Musicians of America, the St. Michael’s instrumental program. Our band and choir perform twice a year at the Christmas and Spring concerts.
Grades 6-8
Preparing our sixth, seventh and eighth grade students academically, socially and morally for high school is our main priority. We encourage students to become independent thinkers and responsible young adults grounded in Catholic values. Older students are encouraged to lead and mentor younger students. They are mindful of their position in the school and their responsibility to be positive role models.The essence of the Gospel, to love God and neighbor, is reinforced daily. Students are encouraged to follow the example of Jesus Christ and are challenged to live out their Catholic faith as members of the Church in the world. St. Michael’s students have consistently outperformed the national and archdiocesan averages on standardized tests. Our graduates are accepted into highly competitive high schools, laying the groundwork for entrance into highly respected colleges and universities.
Enrichment Opportunities
Student creativity is expressed in our annual Winter Drama Presentation and the Spring play produced by the SMS Drama Club. Students who prefer not to be in the spotlight play important roles in stage lighting, set and costume design. Other enrichment opportunities available to our students include participation in Scholastic Olympics, Forensic competitions, and a variety of poster and essay contests. Several clubs the children demonstrate interest in are Game, Book, Newspaper, Sports and Arts & Crafts.
Athletics, Physical Education And Health
Good sportsmanship, healthy living and a positive attitude towards exercise are all essential to student development. Our students participate in the Project Alert program, a nationwide police-led program that teaches children to resist peer pressure and live drug- and violence-free lives. St. Michael’s students have the opportunity to participate in instructional and competitive sports. St. Michael’s is a member of the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO).
Admissions & Tuition
ADMISSIONS
Re-Registration Schedule
Renewal January. 16, 2024
New Registration
PreK 3, PreK 4, K- 8 January 25, 2024
New students wishing to register for classes approaching maximum capacity will be placed on a waiting list.
FUNDING FOR SAINT MICHAEL SCHOOL
Education at St. Michael’s is funded by a combination of tuition, family fundraising and Archdiocese parish support. St. Michael’s families take an active role in raising funds for the school. Archdiocesan funding guidelines require that 10% of a school’s operating budget come from fundraising activities. In addition to tuition, each family is required to raise $500 annually through donations and/or fundraising activities.
2024-2025 TUITION SCHEDULE
Half Day Full Day
PK 3
3 Day 4,800 6,400
5 Day 5,700 7,400
PK 4
5 Day 5,700 7,400
Kindergarten thru 8 Parish Rate Non-parish Rate
First child 5,100 6,700
Second child 4,225 “
Third child 3,475 “
Each additional child 0 “
Registration Fee (includes $15 HSA dues & $100 Tech fee)
First child 275
Each additional child 150
Registration fees are due at the time of registration and are non-refundable. Parish rates apply to families who are active registered members of St. Michael’s Parish at the time of registration. Families who are registered members of a parish within the Archdiocese of Newark will also receive the Parish rate provided they are active members in their church.
Payment Options
If payment in full is made to the school by June 30th,a family may deduct $100 in tuition for each child.
Tuition payment may be made in ten equal installments (July through April). St. Michael School has contracted FACTS Management Company to provide tuition billing and collection services.
CHECKLIST OF REQUIRED FORMS & PAPERWORK
- Birth Certificate
- Baptismal Certificate
- School Registration Forms
- Tuition Payment Plan Form
- Student Information Sheet
- History & Physical Form (signed by physician)
- Current Immunization Record
Transfers also require:
- Latest Report Card
- Request for Records Form
SCHOLARSHIP AID
Contact the school office for information on the Scholarship Fund for Inner City Children and the Saint Michael Parish Scholarship. This aid is a need-based scholarship opportunity available to students enrolled in Saint Michael School. For financial aid information contact the school office.
REFERRALS
The St. Michael’s School community welcomes referrals. For every referral that leads to a new enrollment at St. Michael’s School, a $100 referral credit will be applied to the fundraising obligation of the referring family.
DRESS CODE
The St. Michael’s uniform includes khakis and dress white shirts for the boys and plaid skirts and white blouses for the girls, additional seasonal options are also available. Uniforms are available from Flynn & O’Hara (www.flynnohara.com) or the St. Michael’s Uniform Exchange Shop.
ST. MICHAEL’S SCHOOL SCHEDULE
PK 3
3Day T,W,Th 8:15 – 11:00
3Day T,W,Th 8:15 – 2:45
5Day M – F 8:15 – 11:00
5Day M – F 8:15 – 2:45
PK 4
5Day M – F 8:15 – 11:00
5Day M – F 8:15 – 2:45
Lunch Bunch*11:00 – 12:45
*Lunch Bunch is a PreK program offering children the option of staying an extra hour and 45 minutes for lunch & outside play. Children can either purchase a hot lunch or bring their own. The cost for Lunch Bunch is $10 per day.
Kindergarten – 8 8:15 – 2:45
BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL CARE
Students are due for class at 8:15 a.m. and may be dropped off beginning at 7:50 a.m.
Before School Care
Available to students in grades PreK 3 through 8, before care begins at 7:30 a.m. at a cost of $3 per day
After School Care
Available to students in grades Pre-K (Full day session) through Grade 8, After Care is available until 6:00p.m.
AFTER SCHOOL CARE FEE SCHEDULE
Monthly Cost
PLAN A PLAN B
2:45-6:00 2:45-4:00
1stChild Add’l 1stChild Add’l
5 days/week 335 200 215 140
4 days/week 305 185 200 135
3 days/week 245 150 180 125
2 days/week 180 120 155 110
Daily drop in rate – $25
Family Registration Fee – $30
SMS is a wise investment that pays a lifelong dividend.