EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
Beginning July 1st, the Diocese of Toledo implemented a new on-line, one-stop registration program so that any adult who volunteers with our youth (at St. Michael School and through all parish activities) can complete their needed Protecting Youth requirements through an on-line system called VIRTUS. This requirement pertains to, but is not limited to, adults who volunteer with children in the lunchroom, Discipleship/FROGS, youth group, field trips, classroom helper, coaching, retreats, 8th grade trip, Scouts, nursery, prayer groups, choirs, festival, servers etc.
Effective immediately, any and all adults whose ministry includes any contact with children are expected to complete three (3) on-line components of Protecting Youth registration at VIRTUS which remain on-file for 5 years.
They are:
(1) reading and signing an electronic expectation form,
(2) completing a social security number based background check ($25) (through Fastrax) – which replaces fingerprinting (and was previously $50-$60). The parish has generously offered to cover the $25 fee for volunteers if that is necessary.
(3) completing Protecting God’s Children Online Awareness Session 3.0 (also available in Spanish) at no charge, which will take about 75 minutes (formerly the Shield the Vulnerable course was $6).
(If you had fingerprints and/or the Protecting Youth course completed within the last five years, those should still be on file, and should not need to be repeated for 5 years but you will still need to register on the VIRTUS system.)
Please contact Susan Campbell our St. Michael Compliance Officer as soon as possible at scampbell@sms.noacsc.org if your service in our parish includes ministry with children to learn all you need to complete your registration.
We'd like to have all this on file by December 31, 2016.
CONTINUE TO SITE
St. Michael School offers a wide variety of sports for students. We are a Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) school, so there are no tryouts to join a team. Visit Toledo Diocese CYO or CJ Kin for more information.
CYO TEAM PRAYER
BASKETBALL
Lord God, we thank you for bringing us together today and we ask that you watch over and guide us. Help the athletes to use their talents to the fullest and remain injury-free. Help the coaches to teach these young athletes not only about the game, but more importantly about being good Christians. Help the game officials to do their best to enforce the rules and remain fair at all times. And help the spectators to be considerate of all players, coaches, officials, and each other. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to put our faith into action today.
Any student/parish member in 4th - 8th grade can join a basketball team. Practice starts in early November; games begin in December and generally run to the end of February. The teams are divided into boys’ and girls’ teams by grade, and all teams are coached by helpful and caring volunteers that are knowledgeable about the game and have specific CYO coaches training. CYO basketball helps to provide children with a positive, character-building experience through the sport. Through basketball, kids have the opportunity to practice Christian attitudes and responsibilities and build confidence and self-esteem.
For more information about the Tri-Deanery league
CHEERLEADING
We have a Cheerleading Club here at SMS for 4th - 8th graders. You will see them at several basketball games.
CROSS COUNTRY
Students in grades K-8 can participate in our Cross Country program. The team holds a family spaghetti dinner every Thursday night during the season. Many parents help volunteer with coaching and dinners; which makes this a great sport for the whole family!
FOOTBALL
Although St. Michael does not offer football as a CYO sport, St. Michael students often join the Flag City Youth Football League as "Findlay Crusaders,” a middle school team that competes against other area schools. The team is designed to give the players that attend a school without a football program the chance to participate in middle school football. The team is comprised of St. Michaels, Faith Academy, Heritage Christian, and Home Schooled students. Football practice for 7th and 8th grade students starts in late July, and the last game is around mid-October.
TRACK
St. Michael participates in CYO track, with teams being coached by CYO-trained volunteers who understand the importance of the sport and the values it teaches. Any girl or boy who is a student/parish member in 4th - 8th grade can join the team. The teams will assist youth as they develop into adults, and teach the fundamental values of compassion, self-awareness and teamwork. All children, regardless of athletic ability can flourish and grow in the track program through CYO and St. Michael. The season starts in the spring, generally at the end of March, and runs through the middle of May.
Visit the Track website for more info:
http://findlaysmstrack.weebly.com
For more information about the Tri-Deanery league
VOLLEYBALL
St. Michael participates in CYO volleyball, and any female student/parish member in 4th through 8th grade can join. The goal of CYO volleyball is to facilitate a positive environment in which athletes can grow physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually. Whether a volleyball player is bumping, setting, spiking or serving, CYO Volleyball develops a wide range of skills. Teams are coached by volunteers that love the sport and have attended a mandatory CYO coaches training. Practice starts in August and games go through October.
For more information about the Tri-Deanery league
WRESTLING
St. Michael students/parish members Kindergarten and older can participate through the Findlay Youth Wrestling Program. Please contact coach Bryan Perkins @ 419-957-3452 with any inquiries or visit their website at findlayyouthwrestling.com
