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Deirdre V. Cryor


Challenge Foundation
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
Paul Tough, Author of How Children Succeed to speak at St. Mary's Academy
January 10, 6:30 PM in the High School Forum

Paul Tough was recently featured on the show Colorado Matters on Colorado Public Radio.  The show was called "It May Be Grit, Not Test Scores, that Matters."  We are excited to host Paul Tough here at St. Mary's Academy in January.  

 

Please click here for more information and to RSVP. 

Please click here to listen to Colorado Matters on CPR. 

Save the Date for SMA Nuggets Night!
January 18, 7:00 PM

Denver Nuggets vs. Washington Wizards
Come out to watch the Nuggets take on the Wizards and support SMA! Click here for more information.
Kindergarten Roundup - Tell Your Friends!

Wednesday, January 16, 2013, 8:30-10:00 a.m 

 

Kindergarten lays the critical foundation for your child's love of learning and ultimate academic success. Come to our Kindergarten Roundup to learn about our curriculum, which includes early-learning basics, as well as Spanish, art, drama, music, PE and computer classes.  Please contact Seely Greenberg at 303-762-8300 to secure your place at our Kindergarten Roundup.  Click here for more information.

Faculty Features:
Katy Cooper, MS Language Arts
Mark Garcia, MS Language Arts

This week we are pleased to feature two of our stellar Middle School teachers. Ms. Cooper and Mr. Garcia teach language arts. Ms. Cooper teaches eighth grade and Mr. Garcia teaches sixth. Mr. Garcia also coaches all three seasons. Who teaches seventh grade language arts? Debbie Sanders. Watch this space for a future feature on her!

 

Katy Cooper: 

What is your education?

BA in English from Georgetown University; MA in English from California State University, Los Angeles

 

How many years have you been at at SMA?

I'm in my second year here.

 

What is your teaching/work experience beyond SMA?

I taught seventh and ninth grade English, eighth grade debate, and eighth grade public speaking at a independent school in Los Angeles.  I also wrote television animation for Fox, WB, and Disney studios. Before that, I worked as a paralegal at Fox and Sony.  

 

What awards or honors have you received?

Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi

 

What would you name as an impressive classroom/curriculum moment you have experienced?

My favorite moments are when students are able to compose questions for class discussion that I would ask myself, and then conduct class discussion on their own as I observe.  

 

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

I can do funny voices and imitations--a useless talent, but it comes in handy in the classroom     

 

Mark Garcia:  

What is your education?

For my undergraduate degree I attended the University of Washington and majored in English Literature. For graduate work, I studied education the University of Colorado in Denver.

 

How many years have you been at SMA?

I am in my fifth year.

 

What is your teaching/work experience beyond SMA?

I have taught at Arvada West High School and Niver Creek Middle School.

 

What awards or honors have you received?

The honor of working with such a fantastic group of people here at St. Mary's Academy!

 

What would you name as an impressive classroom/curriculum moment you have experienced?

I always love it when students come tell me about or to show me words they find outside of school that they've learned in my class.

 

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

Not many people know that I spend a lot of time in the kitchen; my secret dream is to be on an episode of the television show CHOPPED!


A Thank You From SMA

A big Thank You and a Menchie's yogurt party went to the 5th grade class for reaching more than 70% participation in the Annual Fund!  
 
Which class will be next?
 
Please see chart to find out how close your grade level is.

 THANK YOU 5th grade parents!
 
Click here to make your Annual Fund gift online.
  

 

 

Enjoy a special message of thanks from SMA. Click on the video above. 
 
Community News
  • Congratulations to High School Art Teacher, Andrew Beckham, who has published his book, The Lost Christmas Gift.  This holiday treasure is on the best seller list in Denver!   
  • St. Mary's Academy has launched a partnership with Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA). As a PCA partner St. Mary's Academy is offering workshops during the 2012-2013 school year to coaches, parents, and student-athletes. On January 17 we will host "The Second-Goal Parent: Developing Winners in Life Through Sports."  Parents will come away with knowledge and tips to support their child in his/her sports experience.  Click here for more information. 
  • Join the HS Astronomy Club for an All Academy Star Party,  December 19 from 7-9:30ish behind the MS.  The Great Orion Nebula as well as Jupiter will be visible during that viewing. All are welcome.  Please contact Pete Sniegowski, Astronomy Club advisor, with questions at [email protected]
Lower School News & Events

News:                

  • Last Friday the LS Orchestras and Bands performed a festive holiday concert during Friday Assembly.  They even had a guest solo violinist, Mrs. Frederick!  Click here for more photos. 

  • The LS Presto Orchestra (Grades 3 - 5 Honor Orchestra) performed at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House on Sunday, December 9. The Colorado Ballet performed its traditional Nutcracker and our LS Presto Orchestra performed before the show in the lobby and again at the intermission.

Events:

  • December 12, 6:30 - 7:30 PM, LS/HS Concert, HS Forum 
  • December 18, 8:10 - 9:10 AM, Primary Performance  
  • December 19, Half Day of Classes No ASA/EDC
  • December 20 - January 6, Academy Closed, Winter Break
  • January 7, Classes Resume  
  • January 10, 3:00 - 4:30 PM, Cub Scout Pack Meeting, LS Room 5
  • January 11, 8:10 - 9:10 AM, Assembly, Prayer Service 
Middle School News & Events

News:

  • Mr. Gesler's 7th grade math class is in the midst of the first part of a three part Chanute-Herring glider project.  The classes are "creating a well-scaled, orthographic drawing" of the glider.  What's challenging? There are no publicly available detailed drawings of the glider! To complete this project, the students are researching, looking at historic photographs and developing a proficiency with scale and proportion. Students are enjoying this new-found ability to draw three dimensional and scaled objects accurately. They are also calling on their perseverance and lot of imagination! In the future, the classes will build scaled models of each wing, and test each in a wind tunnel and then build four differently-scaled gliders (one per class) according to their drawings. In the end, as a class, they will finalize their glider drawing, write a detailed summary of the work and submit it to the Museum of Flight in Indiana. Stay tuned for future updates!
  • Auditions for Snoopy! The Musical will be held on December 14,     4 - 6 PM in the HS Forum.  Auditions are open to All HS girls and 8th grade boys. Come prepared to to sing a song with sheet music, perform a one-minute comic monologue and dance!!  Questions, email Roberta Hamilton Griggs at [email protected].

Events:

  • December 18, 7:00 - 8:00 PM, MS Concert, HS Forum  
  • December 19, 11:30 AM Early Dismissal, No ASA/EDC
  • December 20 - January 6, Academy Closed, Winter Break 
  • January 7, Classes Resume
  • January 11, 11:40 AM, Liturgy Service    
High School News & Events

News:    

  • Last weekend Ms. Horning and Ms. Smith accompanied a group of HS students to the People of Color Conference (POCC) in Houston where they attended the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC).  Ms. Horning reports: The keynote speaker was Helene Cooper, White House Correspondent for the New York Times and closing speaker was Baratunde Thurston, director of digital media for The Onion and author of How To Be Black. The purpose of the conference is to have both students and adults learn to suspend judgment of themselves and others and learn to listen and think before speaking from their perspectives. They are encouraged to lean into discomfort and learn to accept conflict as a catalyst for change. The students come back with a deeper understanding of diversity and their affinity groups and bring back ideas to help build community and stand up for justice for all. 
  • Last weekend St. Mary's Academy Model UN attended a meet at Regis Jesuit High School.  Smoky Hill High School co hosted the meet. Iriana Belen Reyes-Corral, 9th grade, and Latavia Pineda, 9th grade, received Honorable Mention (3rd place) in a beginning Security Council that addressed the conflict in Syria and the situation in Mali and Algeria. Sara Van Velkinburgh, 11th grade, received Outstanding Delegation (2nd place) in the advanced Future Security Council that debated the 2014 Afghanistan pullout.  The next meet is January 26 at Cherokee Trails High School.
  • Freshmen advisories adopted families through Inter-Faith Community Services for their service project this holiday season. Ms. Boehmer's advisory delivered the collected gifts to the agency. Inter-Faith Community Services provides basic human services and enrichment programs to low-income people using community resources. Inter-Faith fosters self-sufficiency and respects the dignity of each client. Inter-Faith serves the people of Centennial, Englewood, Glendale, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Lone Tree, Sheridan and unincorporated Arapahoe County.
  • Auditions for Snoopy! The Musical will be held on December 14    4 - 6 PM in the HS Forum.  Auditions are open to All HS girls and 8th grade boys. Come prepared to to sing a song with sheet music, perform a one-minute comic monologue and dance!!  Questions, email Roberta Hamilton Griggs at [email protected].  

Events:        

  • December 12, 6:30 - 7:30 PM, LS/HS Concert, HS Forum 
  • December 17 - 19, HS Final Exams 
  • December 19, 11:30 AM Early Dismissal, No ASA/EDC
  • December 20 - January 6, Academy Closed, Winter Break  
  • January 7, Classes Resume
Advancement News
  • The Loretto Legacy Society recognizes the generosity of alumnae, parents, grandparents and friends who make provisions for St. Mary's Academy in their estate plans.  A bequest or life income gift demonstrates a partnership with SMA and its mission to provide an excellent education in the Loretto tradition.  For more information contact Charlie Arbogast, Director of Advancement at [email protected] or 303.783.6227.
  • With significant tax uncertainty for 2013 - now is the time to focus on year-end planning strategies. Such strategy includes charitable giving. In addition to outright donations you might consider being a 2013 Gala Sponsor. Gala Sponsor levels are $1,750, $3,000, $5,000 and $10,000.

    For more details please click here or call the Advancement Office at 303-783-6227. Thank You!

  • 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).

 

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!     

  • $25 Gift Cards Needed for the 2013 Gala!  When you Spin the Wheel at the Gala, you have a 50/50 chance to win a $25 gift card AND you will be entered into a drawing to win a $1000 Tuition Voucher for the 2013-2014 school year. Click here for more information.
  • THANKS for re-loading!  Here's an update on the results for the month of November from our King Soopers Reloadable Grocery program
    • Number of cards reloaded: 97 
    • Total dollar amount reloaded: $53,938 
    • SMA Net: $2,696.91

Paul and Sandy Montville: are you reading this?  If you are, and you email Amy at  [email protected] before December 14, you will win a special prize for being our top "Reloaders" in November.  Thanks to everyone who participates in our Grocery Certificate program - every dollar helps. Keep re-loading! 

Alumnae News
  • Audrey Moton '07, a West Point graduate, was featured on NBC Nightly News, "Women prove tough at Sapper training." Sappers are combat engineers or other personnel who support the front-line infantry. The Sapper Leader Course is a 28-day course designed to train joint-service leaders in small unit tactics, leadership skills, and tactics required to perform as part of a combined arms team. Click here to watch the video.
  • 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.  
Athletic News
News:
  • Congratulations to the SMA Swim/Dive team on a successful finish at the Denver East Angels Invitational on December 7! The team placed 7th in overall competition in a very competitive meet.  Alexa Beckwith won the diving competition and set a new meet record with a team score of 488.35.  The 200 medley relay team of Claire State, Jackie Melberg, Katie Remington, and Sophia Richardson placed 7th and qualified for State with a time of 2:03.55.  The 400 freestyle relay team (State, Remington, J. Melberg were joined by Kate Melberg) placed 6th and were less than a second from qualifying for State with a time of 4:06.32.  Claire State earned state qualifying times in the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke. She joins Alexa Beckwith and Katie Remington who achieved state qualifying scores/ times last weekend.  Good luck to our Wildcats who qualified and will be competing at the Colorado HS Coaches Swim/Dive Invitational this weekend- Alexa Beckwith, Katie Remington, Claire State, Jackie Melberg, Kate Melberg, Sophia Richardson, and Claire Chrisman.  
  • Varsity Wildcat Basketball had an exciting 28-25 overtime victory against the visiting Brush Beatdiggers, ranked #8 going into the game Friday night.  After a tough first quarter, SMA went on to outscore the Beatdiggers 18-14 and pull out the big win.  St. Mary's Academy travels to Kennedy Tuesday evening for their final game before the holiday break.    

Upcoming Games:     

  • December 12:
    • 4:00 PM, Girls 7th & 8th Silver Basketball vs. Peak 2 Peak @ SMA with MS Dance Team performance at half time
  • December 13:
    • 4:00 PM, Girls 8th Silver & Boys 8th Basketball vs. Alexander Dawson @ SMA
    • 4:00 PM, Girls 6th & Boys 6th Basketball vs. Cherry Hills  Christian @ CHC
  • December 15:
    • 8:30 AM, Varsity Swim & Dive @ CHSCAA Invitational
  • December 17:
    • Boys 6th & Girls 6th Basketball vs. Denver Christian VanDellan @ SMA
  • December 18:
    • 3:30 PM, Boys 7th & 8th Basketball vs. Denver Christian-Highlands Ranch @ DCHR
    • 3:30 PM, Girls 6th & 8th Navy Basketball vs. Denver Christian-Highlands Ranch @ SMA with MS Dance Team performance at half time 

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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