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Deirdre V. Cryor

Challenge Foundation
The Challenge Foundation has partnered with St. Mary's Academy since 1998.  With offices in our Middle School, the Challenge Foundation supports and mentors 36 St. Mary's Academy students.  Admitted in the 6th grade, the students travel through St. Mary's Academy until graduation.  We are proud of our commitment to Challenge and look forward to a long partnership. If you want to get involved by being a mentor to an SMA Challenge Scholar, please contact their office at 303.762.8300 x 256.
Wildcat Weekly
A Weekly Newsletter from St. Mary's Academy 
Welcome to the Wildcat Weekly, a weekly newsletter for our St. Mary's Academy families.  We look forward to sharing information, updating you on events and offering good news from the Premiere Academy of the West!   
Deirdre V. Cryor
Academy President
Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff!
 (From left to right: Anne Albeck, Katie Rand, Molly del Monte, Ronee Looney, Iswari Natarajan, Nina Ehrlich '02, Kathleen Hogan, Kim Siffring)
 

We welcome Ronee Looney to the front desk in Sanders House. Ronee is an accomplished artist, and has taught ceramics for many years in Castle Rock. Diana Kummer will be retiring in January, but for this first semester, she will be here every Wednesday. 

 

Kathleen Hogan is at the front desk of the Lower School. The administrative assistant to Mrs. Frederick, Mrs. Hogan has moved to Colorado from the Wichita Collegiate School in Kansas where she worked as the administrative assistant to the Head of Lower School.

 

In the fourth and fifth grade, we welcome Katie Rand. Katie has been in Colorado for five years, having earned her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Colorado. An experienced teacher, Katie is originally from Connecticut and also has experience with the non profit world.

 

Anne Albeck joins us as the Lower School Librarian/Media Specialist. Most recently Anne was the librarian at Most Precious Blood. Holding a Masters in School Library Media, Anne is looking forward to sharing her skills with the Lower School faculty and students.

 

Elizabeth Dowling comes back to SMA to teach second grade.  Elizabeth is a familiar face in the Lower School having taught with the third grade team before.  Additionally, Elizabeth has helped out with the primary team.  We are thrilled to have her back. 

 

In our brand new Junior Kindergarten room is Kim Siffring. With more than 15 years of teaching experience, Kim comes to us most recently from My School Preschool where she was the director. Kim is an expert in early childhood education, we are thrilled to welcome her to our new program.

 

Molly del Monte has joined the Advancement Team as Advancement Events Coordinator. Molly is a graduate of Nerinx Hall, our sister school in St. Louis, so she is thrilled to be with a Loretto school! Molly holds an MBA from Webster University. She will be responsible for events including Gala, Grandparents Day, as well as alumnae events.

 

A familiar face at St. Mary's Academy, Nina Ehrlich, Class of 2002, has joined the High School faculty to teach in the Social Studies department. Nina holds a Bachelors in History from Duke, a Masters in History from CSU and studied in Florence, Italy, during her college years. Nina was most recently teaching at Machebeuf High School, she is very excited to be back at SMA.

 

Iswari Natarajan joins the Math department in the High School. Iswari holds degrees in Engineering, one from India and one from the University of Maryland. Iswari is an accomplished teacher and has worked three years as a hardware engineer and research assistant.  She is familiar to SMA as a Lower School mom.  

Congratulations to Kelsey Vroomunn

Kelsey Vroomunn, a teacher of French and Social Studies in our High School, was selected by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) as part of the annual Teachers of the Future program. 

 

This is the second time this year for Kelsey to be recognized by a national organization for work with technology. In April, Kelsey was honored by the International Society for Technology in Education as a 2012 Emerging Leader.

 

The NAIS Teachers of the Future were selected from a large pool of nominees who inspire academic excellence in students and who serve as opinion leaders among their colleagues and peers. The Teachers of the Future were also chosen for their expertise in particular areas- environmentalism, globalism, technology, and equity and justice-which NAIS believes are hallmarks of a high-quality education for the 21st Century. 

 

As one of only 20 teachers nationwide chosen for the program, Kelsey will lead an online discussion forum designed to share innovative ideas and teaching techniques and she will create a demonstration video to inspire others.

Community News
  • At our All Academy In-Service Day on August 20, we honored and congratulated a number of faculty and staff members celebrating milestone years. Honored for 5 years of service: Deb Kasberg, LS 4/5 Team, Courtney McKnight, HS Science, Celsa Rutan, MS Spanish and Carolyn Wilson, Accounts Payable.  Honored for 10 years of service: Mary-Jeanne DeMarie, HS French & Spanish and Mary Jane Frederick, LS Principal.  Honored for 15 years of service: Charlie Arbogast, Director of Advancement, Phil Gentry, HS College Counselor and Ines McCall, LS Spanish.  Mary Kolbach, Associate Athletic Director and Cross Div. PE was honored for 30 years of service at SMA.    
  • St. Mary's Academy teamed with Cherry Hills Country Club during the recent US Amateur Golf Tournament. From August 11 to August 19, club members and VIPs were invited to park at St. Mary's Academy where SMA faculty, staff, parents and grandparents were on hand to drive them to the Club in Lexus SUVs supplied for the event.   Thank you to the many volunteers who made this possible. It was a great tournament with an exciting ending! We enjoyed getting to know so many of our neighbors and being a good neighbor at the same time!
  • Tanya Komandt and Kelsey Vroomunn were presenters at the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Conference in San Diego, CA.  Kelsey received an Emerging Leader Award from ISTE, which was presented at this conference. 
  • This summer, Deb Kasberg, 4/5 Team, applied for and was accepted to attend two Upper Elementary Inquiry Academy Hybrid Courses put on by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science on Fire Ecology and Astronomy.
  • In May, Corey Sampson, MS Social Studies, completed his Masters of Social Science from Fort Hays State University.
  • Eliza Pfeifer, HS Spanish, completed her Master of Spanish from Middlebury College this summer.
  • Tanya Komandt, Coordinator of Instructional Technology, completed her Masters of Instructional Technology & Media from Columbia University.
  • Gerald Harnett, Ph.D, HS Math & Science, traveled to London this summer to attend the International Mathematica Symposium.
  • Luke Lemon, SMA's Athletic Manager and Cross Div. PE teacher, trained this summer for Colorado's newest semi-pro indoor lacrosse team, the Colorado Sabertooths.  After the tough tryouts, Mr. Lemon found out that he made the team!  Home games at the Pepesi Center are Friday, August 24th and Saturday, August 25th at 7:30 pm.  Come on out with your families, and witness our very own Mr. Lemon on the turf playing indoor lacrosse at the Pepsi Center!  Tickets are available to purchase at the Pepsi Center on game day.  
  • In June, approximately 50 faculty members took one or more of the SMA technology workshops taught by Tanya Komandt, Kelsey Vroomunn, Justin Wimbish, Kristen Ferguson and assisted by several HS "Mice"(High School student tech support).
Lower School News & Events

News:

  • St. Mary's Academy Junior Kindergarten

    We are thrilled to report that we are opening a fully-licensed, fully enrolled Junior Kindergarten classroom this year.  We welcome our new families and look forward to getting to know these four year olds!

  • Literacy Curriculum/Terra Nova Scores

    We are starting our second year with the Treasures Literacy Curriculum.  Data is supporting this switch in our curriculum.  In fact, of the third grade students who took the Terra Nova last Spring (who were first-time test-takers!), more than 70 percent scored a high mastery level in the reading and language scores.  "We're thrilled," said Lower School Principal Mary Jane Frederick. "I look forward to seeing further gains in literacy again this year."  

Events: 

  • August 23, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m., Junior Kindergarten & Kindergarten Dinner, HS Forum  
  • August 29, 8:15 - 9:15 a.m., Grades 3-5 Muffins with Mary Jane, 3rd Floor Sanders House
  • August 30, 8:15 - 9:15 a.m., LS New Parent Breakfast, HS Forum
  • September 5, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., LS Back to School Night
  • September 11, 8:15 - 9:15 a.m., Grades JK-2 Muffins with Mary Jane, 3rd Floor Sanders House
  • September 13, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., LS Picnic
  • September 28, LS Picture Day 
Middle School News & Events

News:

  • 6th Grade Sports Teams!

    We are thrilled to include 6th grade girls volleyball and boys soccer this Fall, and boys and girls lacrosse this Spring. The incoming sixth grade students this year may elect to play one, two, or three sports.  Each trimester, students who were not placed on a team will participate in a co-ed 6th grade PE class.  We look forward to seeing these young wildcats out on the field and on the court!

Events: 

  • August 27, MS Sports Begin
  • August 29, 8:15 - 9:15 a.m., MS New Parent Breakfast, HS Forum
  • August 29 - 31, 7th Grade Girls to Diamond Tail Ranch, CO
  • September 4, 7:15 - 7:45 p.m., 8th Parent Cochiti Lake, NM Meeting, HS Forum 
  • September 5 - 7, 6th Grade Girls to Diamond Tail Ranch, CO
  • September 10 - 12, 6th & 7th Grade Boys to Diamond Tail Ranch, CO
  • September 17 - 21, 8th Grade to Cochiti Lake, NM
  • September 26, MS Pictures
  • September 27, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m., MS Overview Night, HS Forum 
High School News & Events

News:

  • SMA Joins Online School for Girls

    St. Mary's Academy High School is partnering with the Online School for Girls to offer our students opportunities to take both online classes and classes generally reserved for much larger campus populations. Classes offered include:  Japanese, Latin, Differential Equations, AP Computer Science, AP Macroeconomics, and AP Psychology, just to name a few.  St. Mary's Academy joins a growing consortium of schools emphasizing the growing role of online education, uniquely suited to an all-girls environment.  For more information check out their website at http://www.onlineschoolforgirls.org/.     

Events: 

  • August 30 - 31, HS Retreat, Snow Mountain Ranch, CO
  • August 30, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., 9th Grade + New 10th, 11th & 12th Grade Parent Reception & Dinner, HS Forum
  • September 6, Admissions Reps From Jesuit Colleges Visit 
  • September 6, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m., 9th Parent Night
  • September 12, HS Pictures
  • September 14, 8:00 - 11:00 p.m., HS Welcome Dance
  • September 19 - 21, HS Conferences
  • September 25, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m., 10th Parent Meeting   
Have You RSVP'd for a New Parent Event?
  • August 23, 5:30 p.m. - Junior Kindergarten & Kindergarten Parent Dinner, HS Forum
  •  August 29, 8:15 a.m. - MS New Parent Breakfast, HS Forum
  • August 30, 8:15 a.m. - LS New Parent Breakfast, HS Forum
  • August 30, 5:00 p.m. - 9th Grade + New 10th, 11th & 12th Grade New Parent Reception & Dinner, HS Forum
  • September 11, 8:15 a.m. - Makeup Date, Any/All New Parent Breakfast, Sanders House Board Room 

To RSVP email Jackie Neal at jneal@smanet.org. 

Advancement News
  • Register now for the 9th Annual Graham Family Golf Tournament, September 17, 2012 at Columbine Country  Club.  Click here for more information.
  • Academy Parents are looking for Parent Volunteers, please click here to check out all the opportunities! 
Alumnae News
  • Congratulations to our own Condoleezza Rice '71 who was invited to become one of the first female members of the Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters.  Dr. Rice joined South Carolina financier Darla Moore to be one of the first two women members since the club was founded in 1932.  We'll be looking for Dr. Rice to be in a green jacket soon!
  • Stay tuned to hear from Paige Regan '06 who has left for Ghana after a year of student teaching in our High School.  Paige will be working with the Blessed Trinity Leadership Academy in Ghana.  The Sisters of Loretto have helped to build the school, and St. Mary's Academy students have assisted with fundraising for the school.  Paige will be keeping in touch with us throughout the year.  We look forward to hearing more about Ghana and the school!    
  • Allison Galoob '07 made her debut on CNN reporting on the US Deaf Women's Soccer Team's big win over Germany in the championship tournament.Click here to view the clip.
Athletic News
Fall sports pre-season practices and scrimmages are in full swing with first games just around the corner!
  • August 23, 4:00 p.m., Varsity & JV Volleyball vs. Denver Christian @ DCS.
  • August 31, 5:00 p.m., JV & Varsity Field Hockey vs. East @ EHS.
  • September 6, SMA Wildcat Invitational, Bible Park.  

GO WILDCATS!!! 

Tech Office News
  

St. Mary's Academy has gone Google! At our recent All Academy in-service day, the SMA technology team announced that many services of Google are just a click away for SMA faculty and students.  Similar to many universities and schools across the country, St. Mary's Academy is tapping into the partnership Google offers for schools.  Google Apps for Education will bring easier collaboration, will enhance communication (students grades 6th to 12th will have St. Mary's Academy email addresses), will allow us to create web sites, and will improve presentations among many, many other resources.  

 

Google Apps for Education includes privacy and security for our web-based activities. And Google help is a click away.  The Tech team looks forward to the enhancements this partnership will bring to our academic program.
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