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Deirdre V. Cryor
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Challenge Foundation
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Wildcat Weekly
A Weekly Newsletter from St. Mary's Academy
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The Wildcat Weekly is a weekly newsletter for our St. Mary's Academy families published every Wednesday. Look for it to include information, updates and good news from the Premier Academy of the West!
Deirdre V. Cryor
Academy President
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Have a Happy Halloween & Fall Break!
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More than 140 SMA family members and friends joined together for BINGO Night last night in the Forum! The night was filled with prizes, trivia, a costume contest, pizza, snacks and more. Thank you to all the volunteers!
 
 
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All Academy Open House: November 10
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The All Academy Open House is Saturday, November 10. If you would  like to volunteer at Open House, we need you!! Please contact Seely Greenberg in the Admissions Office at sgreenberg@smanet.org. If you're family is nearing fifth grade and you want to visit the Middle School, please attend Open House. If you are nearing 8th grade, we hope you will come and tour the High School. Be sure to share with your neighbors and friends the date of the Open House. Click here for more information.
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Paige Stock: Perfect Score on ACT
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 Congratulations to Paige Stock, 12th grade, who scored a PERFECT score on the ACT! This score puts her in the top 1% of test takers in the country. The ACT is an achievement test that tests content and subject knowledge; so, in many ways, it's a test of our content and what the students have learned at SMA. Paige is also one of our National Merit Semifinalists. Congratulations Paige!
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SMA Senior named John Lynch Star of the Month
| Senior Volleyball Team Captain Jesse Vega-Parkins has been selected as  the John Lynch Star of the Month for October! The Star of the Month program recognizes Denver area middle and high school student-athletes for their accomplishments in academics, athletics and community involvement.
Scroll down to Athletic News to read more. Congratulations Jesse!
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Celebrating our Semifinalists!
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Gales of sweeping snow, sleet and freezing rain whipped across the turf field  illuminated by the unnatural glow of the floodlights. No, not the beginning of a mystery, these were the not-so-welcoming conditions of Wednesday night's CHSAA Semifinal Field Hockey match between the St. Mary's Academy Wildcats and the Palmer Ridge Lions. Though the temperature had plummeted below 30 before all was said and done the SMA Wildcats demonstrated grit, passion and strength. And our fans matched the will of the athletes and showed an equal amount of spirit. President Deirdre Cryor stated it best, "I am not a sports aficionado, so I can't give you a rundown of strategy or techniques, but I can tell you what I saw: A team working hard, coached by an alumna who loves SMA and the stands filled, to the bitter end, with school mates cheering "We Love SMA" and "We're Marching..." And lots of parents and teachers bundled up cheering on their school. It was pretty great to be connected to this community last night. It made a bitterly cold night feel a bit warm!!"
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Annual Fund: A Facelift for the Forum
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It's time for the Forum to be updated. Thanks to this year's Annual Fund  and funds raised in 2011-2012, renovation of the High School Forum will begin in June.
Plans and discussion for this exciting update are underway. Renovation will include updating the lighting, the acoustics, the entrances and much more. The Forum is the location for so many community activities at SMA: HS Mass and Town meetings, Grandparents Day, Fifth Grade Continuation, Back to School Nights, BINGO night, and much more! Stay tuned for more details for this update of the center of our community. You can help Fund the Forum through your Annual Fund contribution.
The 2012-13 Annual Fund also will support Division Investments, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Athletics, Teacher Appreciation and greatest need. To make a gift online click here.
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Community News
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- The SMA Astronomy Club will be holding two star gazing events in
 November for all members of our SMA community. Monday Morning Moonshine, November 5 starting at 6:30 AM on the ring road by the softball field. If the weather is bad, they will hold it the next morning in perpetuity until clear skies. Star Party, November 10, 6:30 - 9:30 PM behind the Middle School. The usual applies: dress warmly, no bright lights please and we need to be quiet for our neighbors. For more information please contact Pete Sniegowski at psniegowski@smanet.org.
- Join the SMA Community for an exclusive tour of Becoming van Gogh
 at the Denver Art Museum.
November 17
8:00 AM at the Denver Art Museum
$35/person
The event will start with an overview given by the exhibition curator, Dr. Timothy J. Standring, DAM's Gates Foundation Curator of Painting and Sculpture. Timothy is also the father of Hadley Standring '01 and Zoe Standring '07.
The event will be closed to the public and the SMA Community will have private access to Becoming van Gogh.
Please click here to RSVP by November 7 as we expect this event to be sold-out!
- Congratulations to fourth grader Annabelle Stevens and seventh
 grader Abigail Stevens, who competed this summer with their father in the US Open for Taekwondo held at the Olympic World Arena in Colorado Springs. Anabelle, a high red belt, placed 4th in Traditional Poomsae (forms) in her first competitive tournament. She received the Spirit Award for her efforts. Abigail won a silver medal in Traditional Poomsae for 2nd Degree black belts, losing the gold by .2 points. Congratulations to the Stevens girls!
- Lower School Science teacher Deb Kasberg has been selected to present her Fire Ecology unit at the Colorado Science Conference for Professional Development on November 16.
- Kelsey Vroomunn, High School French teacher and Blended & Online Learning Specialist, has been selected as one of 50 educators invited to Google Teacher Academy in Mountain View, CA this December, where she will become a Google Certified Teacher.
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Special Events
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- In honor the Loretto's 200th Jubilee, Colorado Historian Tom Noel
 and Denver City Auditor Dennis Gallagher present "Sisters of Loretto in Kentucky, Santa Fe, Colorado and Wyoming." November 4, 2:00 - 3:30 PM, Denver Central Library, B2 Conference Center.
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Denver Jewish Day School presents Dr. Harley Rotbart, pediatric  specialist and nationally recognized parenting expert, on the topic of No Regrets Parenting. This is a free program on November 5, 7:00 PM in the Upper Division Strear Family Gymnasium. Please RSVP to dmartin@denverjds.org or call 720.449.9522 for more information.
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Cherry Hills Village Mayor Doug Tisdale has announced a competition for the creation of student-produced videos  celebrating the beauty, history, legacy and value of the High Line Canal Trail that traverses through Cherry Hills. Entries will be due by January 7, 2013. The winning entries will be broadcast over the Cherry Hills Village Cable TV Channel. For more information click here.
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Lower School News & Events
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News:
- The LS celebrates Red Ribbon Week every October where they
 focus on making healthy choices every day. As part of the fun, they have a daily theme and dress code: wearing our favorite SMA clothing, favorite hats, slippers, team jerseys, and finally, dressing in all red for the Friday assembly. At the assembly each grade level performs a song that also focuses on making healthy decisions and being positive. The week also includes activities, books and discussions on personal safety and healthy habits like healthy eating, exercising, making and keeping friends, and respecting ourselves and each other. It's a crazy, but informative week that all of the teachers and students enjoy!
- The next SMA Cub Scout Pack 861 meeting is November 8 at 3:00
 PM at SMA. The Scouts have been busy this year with rocket launches, go carts, homemade boat races and more! For more information about the SMA Cub Scouts please contact Amy Quinette at amyquinette@aol.com.
- Lower School Birthday Book Club. Looking for a special way to
 celebrate your child's birthday? The Lower School's librarian and teachers have compiled a list of books they "wish" would be added to the Lower School library. You can purchase one of these books on their wish list, and donate the book to the library, in honor of your child's birthday. A bookplate/sticker will be placed on the inside front cover of the book to commemorate the donation.
Events:
- November 1- 2, Academy Closed, Fall Break
- November 8, 3:00 - 4:00 PM, LS Room 5, Cub Scout Pack Meeting
- November 9, 8:10 - 9:10 AM, Assembly, Kindergarten Presentation
- November 15, Picture Re-take Day
- November 16, 8:10 - 9:10 AM, Assembly, Drama Club Thanksgiving Play
- November 20, Grandparents' Day, 11:40 AM dismissal
- November 21 - 21, Academy Closed, Thanksgiving Break
- November 28, 6:00 - 7:30 PM, Junior Kindergarten/Kindergarten Information Night
- November 30, 8:10 - 9:10 AM, Assembly, 5th Grade Presentation
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Middle School News & Events
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News:
- SMA hosted the 4th Annual Monster Dash on Monday, a MS Cross Country race in costumes. More than 90 runners competed from 9 schools. SMA's team won the Hardest to Run in Costume with the boy's and girl's teams running in Chinese Dragon costumes.
 
- Tuesday was Community Service Day for several CATs; Mrs.
 Fonseca's CAT traveled to Morning Star Preschool, Mrs. Rutan's CAT to Martin School of Early Education and Mrs. Cencula's and Mr. Rodger's CATs went to Meridian Retirement Community. The MS has a long standing relationship with these agencies and CATs travel there throughout the school year volunteering their time.
Events:
- November 1- 2, Academy Closed, Fall Break
- November 8, 7:00 - 8:00 PM, Choral & Instrumental Concert, HS Forum
- November 9, 2:30 - 3:30 PM, Trimester 1 Closing Ceremony
- November 12, Trimester 2 Begins
- November 15, Picture Re-take Day
- November 15, 11:40 AM, MS Prayer Service
- November 20, Grandparents' Day, 11:30 AM dismissal
- November 21 - 23, Academy Closed, Thanksgiving Break
- November 30, 3:30 - 5:00 PM, Mixer
- December 1, 8 AM - 12 PM, HS Placement Test
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High School News & Events
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News:
- SMA High School Recognizes 2012 AP Scholars. The Advanced
 Placement Program offers several AP Scholar Awards to recognize high school students who have demonstrated college-level achievement through AP courses and exams. This year SMA has 13 AP Scholars, with an average score of 3.84, 3 AP Scholars with Honors, with an average score of 4.08 and 9 AP Scholars with Distinction with an average score of 4.45. Click here to read the detailed list of all 25 AP scholars.
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Last week's Wildcat Weekly erroneously reported the winners in
 the Model UN conference at Kent. Congratulations to Claire Chrisman and Madeline Plachy who received Best Delegation and the Delegates' Choice Award. The next meet will be held by the University of Colorado at the Boulder campus. At that meet the girls will debate issues ranging from child soldiers to the second Kashmir crisis.
- This summer High School students who have completed Spanish Three have the opportunity to join a two-week trip trip to Cádiz,
 Spain from June 29 to July 13. The trip is open to current freshmen, sophomores and juniors. An informational meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 8 at 5:00 in Ms. Krueger´s room. A representative from the school in Spain will be present to answer questions. Please make every effort to attend, but if unable email questions to bkrueger@smanet.org or epfeifer@smanet.org. ¡Nos vemos pronto!
Events:
- November 1 - 2, Academy Closed, Fall Break
- November 9, HS Winter Sports Practice Begins
- November 13, 9:55 AM, HS Mass
- November 14, 10 AM - 1:30 PM, Junior Food Court
- November 14, 6:30 - 8:30 PM, HS Fall Sports Awards Ceremony, HS Forum
- November 17, HS Fall Ball
- November 20, Grandparents' Day, 12 PM dismissal
- November 21 - 23 Academy Closed, Thanksgiving Break
- November 27, 10 AM, Town Meeting
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Admissions News
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- The All Academy Open House is Saturday, November 10. If you would like to volunteer at Open House, we need you!! Please contact Seely Greenberg in the Admissions Office at sgreenberg@smanet.org. If you're family is nearing fifth grade and you want to visit the Middle School, please attend Open House. If you are nearing 8th grade, we hope you will come and tour the High School. Be sure to share with your neighbors the date of the Open House. Click here for more information.
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Advancement News
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- 2013 Gala Meeting, Tuesday, November 6, 8:15 - 9:45 AM, Sanders
 Board Room. Come and learn about this year's Gala and volunteer opportunities.
- November 20 is Grandparents' Day! Grandparents are invited to a pancake breakfast and a performance by SMA's musical groups. Grandparents then join grandchildren in their classrooms. Invitations were mailed to all Grandparents on record this past Monday. Please RSVP to Molly del Monte at mdelmonte@smanet.org.
- THANKS for re-loading! Here's an update on the results from our
 King Soopers Reloadable Grocery program.
- Number of cards reloaded: 82
- Total dollar amount reloaded: $76,667
- SMA Net: $3,833
82 cards reloaded is less than 15% of what we distributed. We have enormous room for growth in this program! Howard & Catherine Clarke: are you reading this? If you are, and you email Amy at aalbi@smanet.org before November 15, you will win a special prize for being our latest top "Reloaders". Thanks to everyone who participated in our Grocery Certificate program - every dollar helps. Keep re-loading!
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Athletic News
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News:
- Senior Volleyball Team Captain Jesse Vega-Perkins has been selected as the John Lynch Star of the Month for October! The Star of the Month program recognizes Denver area middle and high school student-athletes for their accomplishments in academics, athletics and community involvement. Jesse has played Varsity Volleyball all four years, earning letters her Junior and Senior years as a setter. She is Senior Editor of Literary Magazine, Senior Student Association Secretary, on National Honor Society, National Art Society, and CHSAA Academic All-State First Team with a GPA of 4.16. Jesse is involved in community service at Girls Incorporated of Metro Denver and Habitat for Humanity. Congratulations Jesse!
Upcoming Games:
- November 3:
- TBA, Varsity Volleyball @ Regionals
- November 6:
- 3:45 PM, MS Field Hockey vs. Kent @ SMA
- November 7:
- 3:45 PM, MS Field Hockey vs. Colorado Academy @ CA
- 4:00 PM, Boys 7th/8th Soccer vs. Alexander Dawson @ SMA
- 4:00 PM, 8th Navy & 7th Volleyball vs. Alexander Dawson @ AD
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Inclement Weather Policy
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St. Mary's Academy encourages parents to use their own judgment about the safety of roads on snowy days. Teachers waive late arrivals and tests on severe weather days. 
In the event of inclement weather, St. Mary's Academy might call a "Delayed Arrival" for the campus. On a Delayed Arrival day, all classes will begin at 9:05 a.m.
For students who might arrive earlier than the 9:05 a.m. start time, school personnel will be present in the school buildings beginning at 8:00 a.m. In the Lower School, students should go to the gym.
The decision to announce a Delayed Arrival day will be made according to the following factors:
- quantity of snow fallen or forecasted;
- ability of students and staff to travel to school;
- ability to clear and maintain parking lots and pathways;
- ability of school function (heating, water, etc.)
As soon as the decision is made to change the schedule, we will put a message on our main phone line: 303.762.8300, and on our website, www.smanet.org. Usually this decision is made and posted by 6:00 a.m.
Further, we will announce any school closing or schedule change due to weather or other emergency by 6:45 a.m., as best we can, on television stations including: KCNC (TV) Channel 4, KDVR Fox 31 (TV) Channel 31, KMGH (TV) Channel 7, KUSA (TV) Channel 9, KWGN (WB2 TV) Channel 2; and on radio station 850 KOA Storm Center.
When school is in session and we have inclement weather, decisions related to activities/athletics will not be made until after 1:30 pm. Weather changes quickly in Colorado, and we will do our best to make the decisions as efficiently as possible. If school is cancelled due to weather concerns, activities and athletics will be cancelled. Information about cancellation of events or school closing is available by calling the school at 303.762.8300.
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