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Deirdre V. Cryor


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Wildcat Weekly
A Weekly Newsletter from St. Mary's Academy 
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
HS and MS Students Meet 
Nobel Peace Prize Winner Leymah Gbowee

Middle and High School students recently attended a luncheon to meet Nobel Peace Prize winner Leymah Gbowee. The luncheon was sponsored by the organization PeaceJam that works to put "youth in the authentic position of being peace builders."

 

In Seventh grade religion, students study the meaning of Jesus' parables and then work to apply those lessons to the lives of the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates. Much of the curriculum about the Laureates comes from PeaceJam. For her admirable and powerful work to end the civil war in Liberia, the students have been studying and learning about Leymah Gbowee, even before she received the Peace Prize. The students who had the opportunity to meet her on Tuesday included eighth graders Annie Tobler, Rebecca Kite, Pepijn van Ede, Corey Peck, Mary Kate Highum and tenth graders Emily Ragan and Maitland Hennessy. All agreed that it was an honor and a thrill to meet such an extraordinary person. In a stirring speech that had everyone mesmerized, Leymah Gbowee told the group, "keep moving forward" in working to make the world better.

 

Additionally, during the lunch, Ken Fellman, former Mayor of Arvada and City Attorney for Cherry Hills Village, was honored for his work with PeaceJam. Mr. Fellman stopped by the St. Mary's Academy table to say hello to the students and give a good shout out to SMA!

Grandparents' Day: November 20

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. For more information please click here.

Faculty Feature: Tanya Komandt, 
Coordinator of Instructional Technology

Watch this space for the Wildcat Weekly Faculty Feature.  Each week we will highlight one of our faculty members.  We look forward to introducing you to many of our teachers--all who are outstanding!

  

This week, we begin with Tanya Komandt. In July, Tanya was named Coordinator of Instructional Technology. During her time at St. Mary's Academy, Tanya has been a teacher in our Lower School as well as a math teacher in our High School. Today she is coordinating instructional technology across the Academy as well as continuing to teach in the High School. Additionally, Tanya works with the Model U.N. Team in the High School.

 

What is your education?  

I have a BA in both Mathematics and Education from the College of William and Mary. I just graduated this past May with an MA in Instructional Technology & Media from Columbia University.

 

How many years have you been working at SMA?  

This is my 12th year at SMA.

 

What is your teaching and/or work experience beyond SMA?

Out of college, I taught fourth grade at the American International School in Kfar Shmaryahu, Israel. I worked for Borders Group, Inc. for eight years and ultimately managed the Store Planning Department for the Borders side of the business. I was responsible for the project management and opening of several hundred stores over the course of my tenure there (sad now that they're all gone!). My favorites were the Glasgow, Scotland store in an old classic bank and our first bilingual bookstore in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

 

What would you name as an exciting or memorable classroom/curriculum moment you have experienced? 

I think it is important for students to know that their teachers are learners, as well. Our all-girls high school technology club, Mouse Mischief, teaches me every day to be open to the fact that I am a learner and not just a teacher. The girls in the club are constantly trouble-shooting, problem-solving, and coming up with innovative new ideas on behalf of both their peers and their teachers. I'm constantly learning from them. To show enthusiasm for and be open to bi-directional learning and teaching allows us to have a more collaborative and engaging learning environment.

 

What is something about yourself to share with SMA community that we might not already know?  

I'm a big traveler and have spent a good chunk of my life either living or traveling abroad. I actually started kindergarten in India.  Also, I co-founded and run a math camp for girls every summer, in which we practice the belief that setting up girls for success in math and science should start as early as possible and be as fun as possible.  

Annual Fund: A Facelift for the Forum

It's time for the Forum to be updated.  Thanks to this year's Annual Fund and funds raised in 2011-2012 Annual Fund, renovation of the High School Forum will begin in June. Click here for artist renderings of the "new" Forum.  

 

Renovation will include updated lighting, stronger acoustics, snazzy new entrances and much more. The Forum is the location for so many community activities: HS Mass and Town meetings, Grandparents Day, Fifth Grade Continuation, Back to School Nights, BINGO night, and much more! You can help Fund the Forum through your Annual Fund contribution. To make a gift online click here

Community News
  • Thanksgiving Pie Drop Off!!  Monday, November 19 at carpool. Academy Parents volunteers will be on hand to collect them. Thank you for supporting this annual tradition for the faculty and staff.
  • Thank you to our Trustees, parents, students, faculty and staff who volunteered at our Open House and demonstrated what an amazing community we have here.
  • OUR KIDS OUR SCHOOLS is now WHOLESOME FOOD SERVICES! Same great lunches! Improved website!  If you haven't already logged into the new site www.wholesomefoodservices.com, please do so with your OKOS login email address and the password we sent two weeks ago. If you can't find that email or didn't get one, select "forgot password" on the new site and a new temporary password will be emailed to you. If you are new to our lunch program, select "sign up" or "register here". If you have further questions, please check our FAQ tab.  If you can't find what you are looking for there, please feel free to contact Nancy at 303-378-2766 or [email protected].
Special Events
  • The LS Presto Orchestra (Grades 3 - 5 Honor Orchestra) will have the honor of performing at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House on Sunday, December 9. The Colorado Ballet will be performing its traditional Nutcracker and our LS Presto Orchestra will be performing before the show in the lobby and again at the intermission. 
  • In honor the Loretto's 200th Jubilee, President of the Sisters of Loretto, Cathy Mueller SL present "Global Loretto."  November 18, 2:00 - 3:30 PM, Denver Central Library, B2 Conference Center. 
  • 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.  

Lower School News & Events

News:             

  • Last Sunday, 17 Lower School girls representing St. Mary's Academy braved the 20-degree temperatures to complete the Race for Fetal Hope at Washington Park. This event marked the completion of the fall season of Girls on the Run, a 10-week-long program designed specifically for third through fifth grade girls. Girls on the Run is a national program dedicated to creating a world where every girl is free to pursue her dreams. Congratulations to all the girls for their hard work, commitment and dedication!
  • The November Lower School Late Start/Great Start project was food collection for the annual Thanksgiving Basket Program for Friends of St. Andrew Hospitality Center.  Students brought in all sorts of food donations to help accomplish the goal of serving 200 households in Aurora. Our Lower School boys in the SMA Cub Scout Pack 861 helped to load the food into cars.  Thank you for making this giving program a success! 

Events:       

  • 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 - 23, 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
  • December 6, 3:00 - 4:00 PM, Cub Scout Pack Meeting, LS Room 5
  • December 7, 8:10 - 9:10 AM, Assembly, Beginning & Advanced Band/Orchestra
  • December 12, 6:30 - 7:30 PM, LS/HS Concert, HS Forum 
  • December 18, 8:10 - 9:10 AM, Primary Performance 
Middle School News & Events

News:

  • The MS Robotics Team is in a FIRST Lego League Competition this Saturday at Westminster High School. They are competing in two categories, service and robotics.  The service component revolves around developing technological solutions to aid senior citizens, and the robotics challenge gets students to develop robots to 'master' as many challenges as they can. Since the MS has a long-standing connection with Meridian Retirement Community, they have partnered with two of its residents, Harriet & Lucille, to identify issues the team can work on. They have converged on an 'e-neighbor', a system that utilizes many of the robotics sensors to automatically assist the elderly. The students are making prototype systems using our robotics equipment to present to the judging panel.   

      
  • Sixth grader Catie Groves has been selected to be on the Colorado Youth Soccer Olympic Development Team (CYS ODP).  After being recommended by her coach from her Colorado Youth Soccer team, Storm 2001 COPA, Catie was invited to tryout with the top 135 players for the CYS ODP team.  Each state has an ODP team and Catie is one of 35 in her age group to be in a pool of players for training and national/international competition representing Colorado.  Congratulations Catie!    
  • Eighth grader Samantha Schaffer placed 13th at the Colorado state cross country meet, qualifying her for the US Track and Field Association Junior Olympic Regionals in Albuquerque, NM on November 17.  Congratulations Samantha!

Events:       

  • 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, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, HS Placement Test 
  • December 18, 7:00 - 8:00 PM, MS Concert, HS Forum  
High School News & Events

News:    

  • The SMA Model UN team traveled to University of Colorado Boulder last weekend to compete against high school teams from all over the state. 10th graders Maitland Hennessy and Anne Clinton received an award for Best Position Paper. 11th grader and co-Secretary General of the Model UN Club, Madison Taylor, received the Delegates Choice Award.  The team will compete on December 8th at a joint conference hosted by Regis Jesuit High School And Smoky Hills High School.  
  • This week 38 High School students attended the Colorado-Wyoming Junior Academy of Science "Medicine and Science Conference" at Anschutz Medical Campus where they connected to some of the best scientific minds and some of the finest research in the nation. The conference offered students a tiny glimpse of the prospects of what is available to them in the field of science.  The CO-WY Junior Academy of Science offers scholarships, field trips and the opportunity for students to compete nationally and internationally in science fairs and to present papers on scientific topics.  
  • 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.  

Events:       

  • 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 
  • December 12, 6:30 - 7:30 PM, LS/HS Concert, HS Forum 
  • December 17 - 19, HS Final Exams 
Admissions News

Please take note for some upcoming important events for the Eighth grade girls and their families.   

  • November 15, Eighth Grade Girls' Parent Night: High School Principal Kathryn McNamee and students will share information about their experience in our High School.  This will be an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about our outstanding programs.  
When and where: 6:00 p.m.  
The Carr Home, 470 Race Street, Denver   
  • November 29, Eighth Grade Girls' Parent Coffee:  Another opportunity to meet with High School Principal Kathryn McNamee and several High School students.  
When and where: 8:00 a.m., High School, East Hallway, 
Ms. Applegate's classroom
  • December 1: HS Placement Test at St. Mary's AcademyPlacement test reservations are required.  Please click here to register online, email [email protected] or call 303-762-8300, ext. 241.   
Advancement News
  • Young Alumnae Luncheon, December 18, 11:30 AM in the HS Forum.  Alumnae from the classes of 2008-2012 are invited back to campus to reconnect with one another.  Click here to RSVP.
  • Save the Date for SMA's Nuggets Night, January 18! 
    Click here for more information. 
     
  • Just in time for the holidays ...   

St. Mary's Academy is expanding the Grocery Certificate Program to include the following Scrip offerings:

 

Bed, Bath and Beyond ($25), Chipotle ($10), Container Store ($25), Crate and Barrel ($25), Einstein Bagels ($10), TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Home Goods ($25), iTunes ($15), Macy's ($25), Panera ($25), REI ($25), Sports Authority ($25), Starbucks ($10, $25), United Artist/Regal ($25), Walgreens ($25), Whole Foods ($25, $100).

 

Beginning November 12 you may purchase gift cards for these companies in the SMA Business Office (Sanders House 1st Floor). 

 

SMA nets 3% - 10% (depending on the business) which will benefit endowment at St. Mary's Academy.

 

To maximize the return for SMA - we would prefer payment by cash or check allowing SMA to avoid credit card processing fees - thank you!

 

Whether you reload at King Soopers, purchase grocery cards, or purchase Scrip cards - THANK YOU for the many ways you support SMA!    

  • 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

This is such an easy way to support SMA!  58 cards reloaded is less than 10% of what we distributed.  We have great room for growth in this program.  Keep re-loading!  

Alumni/Alumnae News
  • NFL season is in full swing, so we wanted to give a Wildcat Weekly shout out to Tight End Bo Scaife (SMA Middle School '95), who after graduating from University of Texas, went on to play for the Tennessee Titans, Cincinnati Bengals and most recently with the New England Patriots.
  • Gina Cannataro '11 was featured in a photo published in the November 2012 issue of Glamour Magazine.  Gina had her photo snapped while she was at an Obama Rally in Boulder during the campaign.

 

Athletic News
Middle School Fall Sports News:
  • This past season in MS sports, ten teams competed in six different sports: Field Hockey, Cross Country, Tennis, Golf, Boys' Soccer and Volleyball.  Most of the games/events were scheduled with other ACIS schools.   
  • Middle School Golf enjoyed a great season.  The team included two eighth grade girls, two seventh grade girls and five seventh grade boys.  The team competed in five tournaments sponsored by Gold Crown.  Three boys finished among the top 25 individuals: #8 Nick Falicia, #13 Chris Diab and #24 Calvin Titsworth.  In the girls' competition, Payton Kuchman finished second, Anna Schiavone finished fifth and Ali Leen finished sixth. The season concluded with our third annual Friends and Family Par 3 Scramble where each golfer partnered with an adult in his/her life for a fun afternoon of golf and camaraderie.  
  • Congratulations to the SMA Gold Crown Volleyball team!  The roster this fall included nine Wildcat student-athletes including one 7th grader and eight 8th graders, and the team was coached by Amelia Utash, SMA Class of 2007.  The team competed in the 8th Grade Silver League, and placed 4th in their division.  Gold Crown provides middle school students with an opportunity to spend more time playing a sport they enjoy, and gain exposure to higher level competition.  SMA will have two basketball teams competing in the upcoming Gold Crown winter league...good luck to our Wildcats! 
Inclement Weather Policy
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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