St. Mary's Academy school year began its 148th year August 27.  By most accounts, it was a great first day. We opened with more than 150-new-to-SMA students.  Our community now includes children representing eight different countries, in addition to the USA: Peru, Australia, United Arab Emirates, China, India, Japan, England and Korea.  As a school community we represent 75 zip codes; and the ages of our students range from four years old to 17 years old. We are a strong, diverse, wonderful community.  If you want to tell your friends and neighbors about SMA, our Admissions Office is ready to offer a tour and information. Just stop by Sanders House or call the office.  We would love to meet your friends!

News:   

• Welcome to Mary Bowers, our new full-time aide in the Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten classrooms.  Mary holds a Masters in Education, and has taught on the elementary level as well as working in the non-profit world.  Mary is happy to be in the classroom and looks forward to getting to know the children.  

• New for Fall 2012, the Lower School is hosting a number of after school activities this fall, ranging from introduction to Chinese to Soccer Skills to Chess to Tennis to Taekwondo among more options!  Click here to learn more about these opportunities.    

Events: 

• 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 

News:

• The Middle School heads on its annual camping trips this month.    We are always grateful to the Duncan family who welcomes our students to their ranch in northern Colorado, Diamond Tail.  The 7th grade girls head to the ranch this week, and trips continue next week.  Letters filled with information about packing and plans have been sent home.  Any questions, please contact Mrs. Siennicki in the office.  The 8th grade will head to Cochiti Lake in New Mexico in September.  Mrs. Ashley and the Eighth Grade team will hold a meeting at 7:15 AM on Tuesday, September 4 for parents and 8th grade students in the HS Forum.  Again, much information has gone home already, please contact the Middle School office if you have questions.   

Events: 

• 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, New Mexico 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

• September 17 - 21, 8th Grade to Cochiti Lake, New Mexico

• September 26, MS Pictures

• September 27, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m., MS Overview Night, HS Forum 

News:   

• The Jesuit Excellence Tour College Fair at SMA September 6, 9:45 - 10:45 AM.  This fair is set-up for SMA HS students only (not parents!) to visit with 18 different Jesuit schools including, Creighton University, Fairfield University, Gonzaga University, John Carroll University, Loyola Marymount University, Loyola University Chicago, Loyola University Maryland, Loyola University New Orleans, Marquette University, Regis University, Rockhurst University, Saint Joseph's University, Saint Louis University, Santa Clara University, Seattle University, Spring Hill College, University of San Francisco and Xavier University.  Jesuit institutions are known for holistic education, a commitment to social justice, and teaching students to think critically.    

• SMA Junior, Jigyasa Sharma, took part in the 2012 Girls'  Leadership Council Program, created by the Women's Foundation of Colorado.  High school girls from across the state lived on the University of Denver campus this summer for a week.  The Girls' Leadership Council seeks to inspire girls to be future leaders and philanthropists.  "The 10 young women were selected at the end of their sophomore year in high school through a statewide, highly competitive and rigorous application and review process. The girls engaged in a challenging hands-on program that allowed each girl to discover how she can make an impact through individual and collective leadership and philanthropy," said Louise Atkinson, WFCO's President and CEO.   

• Twelve students from the SMA Varsity Volleyball team along with Coach Smith, took part in a Habitat for Humanity Women's Build House in Denver last week.  The team built and raised two exterior walls, while also bonding as a team and giving back to the community.   

Events: 

• August 30 - 31, HS Retreat, Snow Mountain Ranch, CO

• August 30, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m., 9th Grade + New 10th, 11th & 12th Grade Parent 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   

• 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, Middle School Commons

• 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 . 

• From Advancement Committee Chairman Byron Haselden: Welcome back to school. Many improvements have taken place during the summer to make sure that we have the best possible learning environment for our children at SMA.  Annual Fund contributions, the cornerstone of our fundraising efforts, make many of these improvements possible.  During the month of September you will receive in the mail two informational pieces related to this year's Annual Fund.  Please take a few minutes to review them. Our goal is 100 percent participation by December 31, 2012.  We look forward to your support and welcome your questions and input. Thank you. 

• Academy Parents Certificates Booklet available for purchase in each Division office or online by clicking here.  

• Register now for the 9th Annual Graham Family Golf  Tournament, September 17 at Columbine Country Club. Click here for more information.

• Fall Festival is Sunday, October 7.  This is an All-Academy event  from 12:00 - 3:00 PM on the SMA campus.  Volunteers are needed, please email Yolan Brooks at ms.yo@sprint.blackberry.net to sign up to volunteer. 

• Academy Parents are looking for Parent Volunteers, please click here to check out all the opportunities! 

• Alumnae working at St. Mary's Academy for the 2012-2013 school year include: Nina Ehrlich '02 (High School Social Studies); Lisa B. Weinberg '97 (High School English); Julie May '84 (High School Counselor) Allie Bronston '03 (MS Library Media Specialist); Theresa Lorenzo '88 (Lower School, 1st Grade); Amber Grisly McGown '06 (Lower School, 3rd grade); Lisa Stroz '83 (Lower School, 3rd Grade); Linda Deits '75 (Lower School, 5th grade); Amanda Dwyer Savage '92 (Admissions Director).

• St Mary's Academy presents Challenger Sports' MiniKickers Program, to all our Junior Kindergarten & Kindergarten families!  MiniKickers is a 45-minute soccer program for three to five year olds that runs every Saturday morning for seven weeks in the fall.  Click here to register today!

Upcoming Games:

• August 29, 3:45 p.m., Coed MS Golf @ Broken Tee Golf Course.
• August 31, 5:00 p.m., JV & Varsity Field Hockey vs. East @ EHS.
• Spetember 1, 10:00 a.m., JV & Varsity Volleyball vs. Arrupe Jesuit HS @ SMA.
• September 6, SMA Wildcat Invitational, Bible Park.   

• Click here to see all scheduled games. 

GO WILDCATS!!!