Life at San Miguel

A Typical Day:

A typical day at San Miguel Academy runs from 7:50 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The dismissal time is 5:00 p.m. on Monday through Thursday. Friday dismissal is at 3:00 p.m., unless there is a special school event or outing. Students arrive at 7:50 a.m. to prepare and get ready for the day. Breakfast is served at 8:05 a.m., followed by the Morning Assembly. Morning Assembly includes a few traditions like Word of the Week, and Sentence of the Day. Daily announcements and other relevant information are passed along at this time. Morning Assembly sets a positive tone for the day. Students are encouraged to share their concerns and their joys, and to offer intentions for others they may be thinking about.

The first academic period begins at 8:45 a.m. There are nine, 45-minute academic periods during the school day. The 5th and 6th grade classes are self-contained with one teacher responsible for most of the daily instruction. The 7th and 8th grade students switch classes for instruction by teachers specializing in given subjects. The last instructional period ends at 3:00 p.m. Mandatory study hour runs from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., during which time students are expected to make progress on their homework or seek extra help from teachers or volunteers. Sports and clubs take place after 4:00 p.m.

Athletics:

San Miguel Academy currently has two organized sports programs:

• Soccer – Fall Season
• Basketball – Winter Season

Both the soccer team and basketball team practice three days per week and compete against other local independent and/or private schools. Soccer is played in September through early November. The basketball season runs from November through most of February. Additional sports teams will be added as field space and athletic facilities becomes available.

Clubs:

In addition to the sports programs, San Miguel students have six clubs from which to choose for their after school activity. The clubs provide the boys an opportunity to focus on an area of interest in a fun and supportive environment. The club options include:

• Art Club- The art club promotes creativity and artistic development among the students. Students are encouraged to use their imagination while painting, drawing, sculpting, and designing. Some of the projects include ceramics, murals, papier-mâché models, and pencil sketches.
• Media Club- The media club allows students to investigate, research, write, and act out various topics ranging from sports and academics, to events that take place within San Miguel Academy and current world events. The Eagle Hour television show is produced and directed within San Miguel Academy by the students of the media club with the help of an advisor. Visit website »
• Science Club-The science club allows students to perform experiments and projects that are normally too advanced for the general classroom setting. This experiential learning helps to broaden the depth of the students’ curiosity, inquiry and understanding.
• Step Team-The step team performs various dance routines that are choreographed by the step team advisor. Students perform these dance routines with or without music and present their dance skills in the school and at other outside events.
• Astronomy Club- The astronomy club enables the boys to review star and planet formations via the computer and other instructional videos. Once a month, students and their families get together at night with an advisor to utilize the telescope and witness firsthand all they have studied about the night sky.
• Student Council-Student Council gives the students the ability to create and carry out projects that they feel are important to the school and or to the larger community. Membership includes the 8th grade class president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary. Each successive grade level elects a class representative to attend the weekly meetings.
• Photography Club- Four days a week students are instructed in the art of photography.  Tutorials range from the basics of film, optics, cameras, and light web page layout and digital photography.  At the end of the semester, students assemble a portfolio of their free film and digital photographs.
• Rowing Club- In conjunction with the Newburgh Rowing Club, students are instructed in the safety and activity of the sport of Rowing.  The club offers year-round programs that teach the fundamentals of rowing both on water and indoors during the winter season.  Our expectation is that this club will evolve into a competitive interscholastic team.