Wednesday, September 12 marks our first Late Start Wednesday.  All teachers are in curriculum meetings during these mornings.  Classes in all divisions will begin at 9:05 AM.  In the Lower School, students who need to be dropped off earlier may join the activities in the LS gym beginning at 8:00.  In the Middle School, a supervised Study Hall begins at 7:30.  All LS and MS students must report to these areas if they are at school before the start of classes.   

Sunday, October 7

12 Noon - 3:00 PM

SMA Campus Quad

St. Mary's Academy Fall Festival is a day of fun for the whole family.  There will be arcade games, crafts, face painting, food, music and much more.

If you would like to volunteer please click here to sign up!  Or contact Lisa Cowden at tcowden6@comcast.net or Yo Brooks at ms.yo@sprint.blackberry.net. 

News:   

• The first Lower School Assembly of the year was filled with introductions, information and fun!  Mrs. Frederick introduced new students and new teachers to a resounding round of welcoming applause.  Mrs. Stroz and Mrs. Swisher then starred in the annual Dress Code Fashion Show.  Teachers wore the best "out of dress code" outfits while students showed how to be in dress code.  Many thanks to Ms. B who wore papier mache shoes!  We all now know to leave those at home.  And remember, no prints, no patterns and no logos (other than SMA!). Finally, the Assembly ended with the faculty's rendition of the popular song "Call Me Maybe," but written with SMA lyrics and the title "Teach Me Maybe."  A great start to the year.  Remember, Parents, you are welcome to attend Friday Assembly.      

• Interested in being a Lower School Room Parent?  Please contact Rhondi Clark at rhondiclark@gmail.com or Lynn Malik at ljacobsmalik@gmail.com by September 10.  

• 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: 

• September 5, 6:00 - 8:30 PM, LS Back to School Night

• September 7, 8:15 - 8:45 AM, Assembly, Prayer Service 

• September 11, 8:15 - 9:15 AM, Grades JK-2 Muffins with Mary Jane, 3rd Floor Sanders House

• September 13, 11:40 AM, Lower School Picnic (JK to Grade 2)

• September 13, 12:15 PM, Lower School Picnic (Grades 3,4,5) 

• September 14, 8:15 - 8:45 AM, Assembly, Community Opportunities

• September 27, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM, 2nd Grade Field Trip 

• September 28, LS Picture Day  

• September 28, 8:15 - 8:45 AM, Assembly, 2nd Grade Presentation

• October 5, 8:15 - 8:45 AM, Assembly, 1st Grade Presentation 

News:

• The 7th grade girls had an incredible experience last week camping at Diamond Tail.  Trips continue this week for the 6th grade girls and next week for the 6th and 7th grade boys.  We are grateful to the Duncan family who welcomes our students to their ranch in northern Colorado. Informational letters about packing for the trips and travel plans have been sent home.  Any questions, please contact Mrs. Siennicki in the office.   

• Traveling to Pueblo de Cochiti, New Mexico
  On September 17, the Eighth Grade students and teachers head to Pueblo de Cochiti in New Mexico for a trip that is sure to be awe-inspiring and life-changing.  Thanks to work with our partner organization, World Leadership School, our students will be engaged in learning about the Native American community in ways that not many students are invited to.
  
  During a meeting yesterday morning, Mrs. Ashley shared with parents and students the plans and the goals for the trip.  The trip comes after many years of exploration and discussion by the eighth grade team hoping to create a service learning trip with the Native American community during the eighth grade year.  Through conversations with World Leadership School, Mrs. Ashley learned that they, too, have been working on designing a trip with Pueblo de Cochiti, which is 55 miles north of Albuquerque and contained within 53,779 acres of reservation land that sustains 1,175 Pueblo members. Cochiti is 35 miles southwest of Santa Fe.  
  
  While the students will camp at Cochiti Lake (but not near the lake, Mrs. Ashley assured them), they will be engaged during the day in service at the Cochiti Elementary School.  The students will help with campus improvements at the school.  Mrs. Ashley noted camping builds community, and will help to bond the eighth grade class.  The eighth grade team of Mr. Pattison, Mr. Sampson, Mrs. Rosborough, Mrs. Cooper and Mrs. Fonseca will all attend.  Additionally, Mrs. Cencula (7th grade) and our own MS alumni Greg McVie will also chaperone along with Mrs. Ashley.
  
  Thanks to Mrs. Rosborough and Mrs. Cencula, the students will also engage in scientific studies of the local plants and animals as well as a geologic study.  Mrs. Rosborough is starting to prepare the eighth grade now for their scientific studies.  
  
  And finally, the students will be introduced to the Cochiti community.  The students will have the opportunity to meet with an elder and to learn the craft of drum making.  And, the whole time our students will serve as ambassadors of the SMA Community to the Pueblo community.  
  
  Mrs. Ashley will keep a blog during their travels.  We look forward to "watching" this extraordinary trip!  

Events:  

• 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:   

• Ninth grade parents, please join Ms. Mac, 9th grade teachers and 9th grade advisors for an informative evening Thursday, September 6 in the HS Forum.  This is an opportunity to meet the teachers and learn about the 9th grade academic experience.  The evening will begin at 7 pm and run for 60 minutes. 

• All High School students and teachers traveled to Snow Mountain Ranch in Estes Park for SMA's annual retreat last week.  The days were spent making new friends, building community and enjoying the mountains.  For more photos of the HS retreat click here.

• College Events at SMA -                                       The Jesuit Excellence Tour College Fair, 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. Notre Dame College Evening, September 10, 6:30 - 9:00 PM, an event for the entire Denver area.  College Evening for Seniors and their parents, September 11, 7:00 - 8:00 PM.  This is a presentation by the SMA College Counseling faculty about the program, what to expect and how to plan for this year.  

Events:  

• September 6, Admissions Reps From Jesuit Colleges Visit 

• September 6, 7:00 - 8:00 PM, 9th Parent Night

• September 10, 6:30 - 9:30 PM, Notre Dame College Evening

• September 11, 7:00 - 8:30 PM, College Night for Seniors 

• September 12, HS Pictures

• September 14, 8:00 - 11:00 PM, HS Welcome Dance

• September 19 - 21, HS Conferences

• September 25, 7:00 - 8:00 PM, 10th Parent Meeting   

• From Advancement Committee Chairman Byron Haselden:  Many campus 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 our 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! 

• Reunion Weekend 2012, October 5 - 7.  Return to St. Mary's Academy beautiful campus this fall for Reunion Weekend.  Click here for more details.

• SMA Girls Club Event!                                            Saturday, September 15, 11:30-2:30 at Hudson Gardens, 6115 South Santa Fe Drive, Littleton.  Please join SMA alumnae, family and friends for an afternoon at Hudson Gardens.  We will meet at the tables outside the Solid Grounds Cafe and enjoy a picnic lunch together (please bring your own lunch or plan to purchase something from Solid Grounds).  After lunch we will tour the gardens at our own pace.  Admission is Free.  RSVP online by clicking here.  For more information, please contact Molly del Monte, Advancement Events Coordinator at (303) 762-8300 ext. 283 .  

• 7th & 8th Grade Girls Gold Crown Volleyball Tryouts, Monday, September 10, 6:45 - 8:00 PM Bishop Evans Sports Center.  Click here for more information. 

• 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:

• September 5:
• 3:30 PM, Coed MS Golf @ The Links Golf Course
• 4:00 PM, MS Tennis vs. Alexander Dawson @ SMA
• 4:00 PM, Boys 7th/8th Soccer vs. Peak 2 Peak @ P2P
• 4:30 PM, C Level, JV & Varsity Volleyball vs. Platte Canyon HS @ SMA
• 4:30 PM, MS Field Hockey vs. Cheyenne Mountain @ SMA
• September 6:
• 3:30 PM, MS Cross Country @ SMA Wildcat Invitational, Bible Park
• 4:15 PM, JV & Varsity Field Hockey vs. Regis @ SMA
• 4:30 PM, Cross Country @ SMA Wildcat Invitational, Bible Park 
• September 8:
• 8:30 AM, Varsity Volleyball @ Englewood Tournament
• 9:30 AM, Cross Country @ Ramcharger Invitational, Sheridan HS
• September 10 @ 4:00 PM, MS Tennis vs. Littleton Academy @ LA 
• September 11:
• 4:00 PM, 7th & 8th Silver Volleyball vs. Colorado Academy @ CA 
• 4:15 PM, Varsity & JV Field Hockey vs. Kent @ SMA  

• Click here to see all scheduled games.   

GO WILDCATS!!!