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Founded by St. Katharine Drexel
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October 2015
importance of washing their hands prior
to eating, after using the restroom and the
many different ways germs can spread.
High schoolers helped with the clean-up
efforts to end the activity. They made sure
there was no glitter left behind.
Sparkly germs
Senior Caleb Duncan demonstrates the movement of germs to a Junior Kindergarten student Clayton Henderson
while using glitter as a visible source.
The Kindergarten class got to play with
germs but it’s not what you think.
High school Anatomy Instructor Jamie
Blazak conducted a Project Base Learning
Activity using Styrofoam covered in
glitter to teach the Kindergarten class
about germs.
“The kids loved it,” Blazak said. “They
looked at their hands, pointed to the tables
and floors full of glitter and would say
‘GERMS, look at the GERMS.’
The students rubbed the glitter on their
hands to see how germs spread. Blazak’s
Anatomy students were on hand to assist
in teaching the youngsters how germs can
lead to sicknesses and can be prevented by Kindergarten student Aiden Shirley learned to wash
hands thoroughly with soap, water and hand sanatizer
properly washing their hands.
High schoolers demonstrated how
to thoroughly wash their hands to kill
all the germs. They also explained the
Notre Dame visits SMIS
The Assistant Director for the Office
of Undergraduate Admissions from
University of Notre Dame gave a
presentation to SMIS students interested
in possibly attending.
Kathryn Andersen presented to 15
students from grades 7th to 12th.
“I really do hope some of our kids go
there,” said Tazbah Shorty, Vice Principal
and an Alumni of Notre Dame.
“I loved it. The mission of the University
of Notre Dame includes the development
of the students in mind, body and spirit.”
For Senior Buddy Joe he said, “I’m
considering prestigious out of state
colleges.”
Junior Paige Ashley has attended SMIS
since she was an 8th and prefers the
smaller school environment.
“Public school is too big,” Ashley said.
“You’re basically teaching yourself. At St.
Michael you can ask for help because of
smaller classes.”
She noted that college presentations
are good because they are informative of
campus life.
This “altered my decision for NAU,”
she said. “Gives us an option. Keeps our
minds open about other colleges.”
No one said it was never too early to
learn about colleges and that’s exactly
why 7th grader Ryan Ayze attended.
“My uncle is a Notre Dame Alumni,” he
said. His uncle Virgil Loretto graduated
from Notre Dame in 1988 and is currently
an employee with the Navajo Nation.
Ayze started in a public school but wants
to finish at a catholic high school and
college. He believes he has a better chance
at St. Michael to go to Notre Dame.
“My old school didn’t give work and
didn’t help,” Ayze said. “St. Michael’s
challenges me with homework, school
work and better prepares me for college.”
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New restrooms.
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SMIS receives much-needed facelift
New hallway floors.
New Junior Kindergarten classroom.
It has been a busy summer for the
Buildings and Grounds Department.
New Facility
Due to your support we were able to
do some remodeling last summer. Once
the school year ended in May the old
Theology classroom at the south end
of the high school was converted into a
Boy’s and Girls’ Restroom.
Previously high school students shared
two single occupant restrooms on the first
floor where 13 classrooms and lockers
are located. The other option was to go
up the stairwell, on the north side of the
classrooms to the second floor restrooms
available also to the current fifth and sixth
grade class.
To better accommodate the students the
classroom was remodeled into restrooms
with a water fountain and custodial closet
installed.
The project was completed
days before school started and students
were surprised.
Junior Kindergarten
The Junior Kindergarten classroom
was another renovation project which
allowed for St. Michael Indian School to
offer this program for the first time. Junior
Kindergarten teacher Lavina AitOurasse
is excited about the program.
“It’s good for the surrounding areas,” she
said, “A lot of daycares have a waiting list
and having a junior kindergarten at SMIS
is good for the community. Especially
because it’s Catholic.”
New Floors
Gone is a light green linoleum floor
tile in the high school hallways. The new
black tile was installed for safety reasons
and for a fresh new look. With the help
of summer volunteers some of the high
school classrooms were re-painted.
Please send in your BoxTops
for Education. We will use the
funds to purchase student desks
and educational materials.
SMIS has a new Principal/AD
A familiar face is back as Bill
McLaughlin is the Athletic Director and
appointed Interim Principal.
“This will be my third time to work for
SMIS,” McLaughlin said. “I previously
worked here from 2005 to 2008 and 20092010. Overall, this will be my fifth year
working at St. Michael Indian School.”
McLaughlin wants to establish
consistency in the quality of the athletic
programs while growing the number of
sports and participants. Currently the
high school soccer team is co-ed but
McLaughlin hopes to split the soccer
program into a separate boys and girls
team. He also looks to develop the
numbers for baseball and improve the
quality of our facilities.
Cardinal News
Academically he wants to develop a
school with a strong sense of community
that embraces the importance of a true
operating partnership between home and
school. “I want to recognize that parents
are the prime educators of their children
and therefore a strong sense of parent
participation is encouraged within the
school, both informally and formally,”
said McLaughlin.
Mr. McLaughlin believes, “the pursuit
of academic excellence and the education
of the whole person in a safe and happy
school setting are of high priority.”
Tracie Lee, Vice Principal is focusing
on the accreditation that will be coming
up in 2018. She is also focusing on High
School Counseling and College Prep.
See Principal/Page 3
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Principal/ from page 2
Tazbah Shorty, Vice Principal is focusing
on Early Development Education as well
as the curriculum of the school.
In an effort to save on the cost of books
and provide modern education the students
will be using the Fire HD6 Kindles by
Amazon. Teachers can order textbooks,
reading materials and other academic
materials for a low cost. Students will
update their kindles and download all
the materials need for their classes. This
was made possible by your generous
donations.
Eighth Grader Cameron Nelson and Sophomore Sydney
Terry program their new Amazon Fire HD 6 Kindles
that will be used to download textbooks and other reading materials for their classes.
Lady Cardinals soar
The Lady Cardinals Volleyball team are
ranked No.1 in the state for their division.
They are 15-0 overall, 12-0 in their
division and 7-0 in their section.
The best part is a leadership that shines
and a sisterhood strengthened from the
highs and lows as a team.
“The teams’ performance this year has
been great,” said Andrea Ashkie, head
coach. “I feel that much of this success
has to do with off season training and that
the girls have a stronger mental game this
year than in previous years.”
Last year the team went 9-7 overall
and 5-13 overall in 2013. This year is a
big improvement and it shows with all
players.
Cardinal News
“Everyone on the team has stepped up
in one way or another making the knit
stronger on our team,” Ashkie said. “I
have had numerous highlights this season
with the girls and I see it in every game.
The girls have come a long way and I am
proud when the girls can run the game
on the court without having me to dictate
their every move.
“All of this has to do with leadership,
confidence, and just simply knowing the
game of volleyball,” she said. “Overall,
the girls work hard in practice, have
positive/competitive attitudes, and use
feedback to improve. Any coach loves
that kind of fire in an athlete and team. I
am proud and excited for what is to come
in the post season. Go Cardinals!”
The Lady Cardinals are also Champions
of the Joseph City Invitational Volleyball
tournament.
On Oct. 20, 2015, during the home
game against Red Mesa High School’s
Lady Redskins, the team took the time to
honor the Senior athletes and their parents.
Athletes were given flowers, as well as,
their parents and were recognized before
a standing-room-only audience.
The Lady Cardinals ended the evening
with a 3-0 win. They will play the Rock
Point Lady Cougars and the Pinon Lady
Eagles for their final home games.
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From the President
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For over a century Saint Michael Indian School, founded by Saint Katharine Drexel,
has stood as a pillar of Catholic education on the Navajo Nation Reservation. Today in
a community where the public schools earn a D or F grade in scholarly performance,
we are here to instill strong Catholic values and to give children a first-rate academic
foundation. This year we welcomed 126 new students to our school for a total of 396 in
grades Junior Kindergarten to 12th.
This higher population of students means the need for raising money is more
important than ever. The gap between what we charge for tuition and actual cost
averages about $2,700 per child. Scholarship funds help our families afford to send
their children to our school and donor dollars help offset the gap between the low
tuition we charge and actual instructional cost. This is why we appreciate and count on
your involvement in our school so much.
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St. Michael Indian School
Development Office
PO Box 650
Saint Michaels, AZ 86511
Phone: 928.871.3140
www.stmichaelindianschool.org
Arizona Tax Credit
With your support to the Arizona
Tax Credit, the programs offered
by Catholic Education Arizona and
As we move into the season of giving thanks please know that our students, parents Catholic Tuition Support Organization
and staff are so thankful for you.
provided scholarships to nearly 50
percent of enrolled students this school
year.
Please contribute for next school
year’s support to our families. Visit
Dot
www.catholiceducationarizona.org &
www.ctso-tucson.org for information.
Did you know that in a community where the average graduation rate is less than
61% we are proud to say our graduation rate is consistently 99%. On average 96% of
our students continue on to higher education; with one or more receiving the Gates
Millennium Scholarship annually.
Address Service Requested
St. Michael Indian School
PO Box 650
Saint Michaels, AZ 86511-0650