Since our return to school in early January, we have been engaged in a number of meetings and discussions on the topic of Campus Security. I am so appreciative to the many parents who have stopped in, sent emails or called me to talk about security. As you already know, a safe campus is a top priority for all of us.

My conversations during these past few weeks have been with representatives of Cherry Hills Village Police, national and local security experts, fellow school personnel both here at SMA as well as around the Denver area, as well as members of our Board of Trustees and parents. The conversations have been rich with information, and will continue to occur as we monitor and review our security plans.

I am writing to you today to share with you changes we have made that will affect you most directly. The biggest change that we will be implementing is that we will be controlling access to our buildings.

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Alexa Beckwith is a 2013 Sportswomen of Colorado Award Winner in  Diving.  This award honors outstanding female athletes for their performance in 2012. Alexa will be honored at the 39th annual awards banquet on March 10. Congratulations, Alexa!

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What is your education?  

I have a BA in Elementary Education from Central Michigan University with a minor in Spanish.

How many years have you been teaching at at SMA?

This is my 23rd year at SMA.

What is your teaching/work experience beyond SMA?

I began teaching at St. Mary's Academy Early Learning Center in the Denver Tech Center when I first moved to Denver. I was hired by Sister Susan Swain as a second grade teacher in 1990 and have been at SMA ever since.  Last summer I taught SMA's first Math Camp for Girls, and hope to do so again next summer.

What awards or honors have you received?

I have received three Excel Energy Classroom Connection Grants, which awarded money for me to use in my classroom. I have presented at numerous National Council of Teachers of Math conferences with my colleague Judy Johnson, as well as two National Science Teacher Association conventions.

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

I find that teaching in the primary grades is rewarding everyday. I love to see the look on my students' faces when they've reached that "aha" moment. There is no greater joy than teaching a child to read, and instilling in them a love of learning.

What is something you want to share with the SMA community?

My oldest daughter graduated last May from the SMA High School. She says that her twelve years at SMA prepared her so well for her first year at college. I'm proud to be a part of a community that strives for academic excellence in such a loving and nurturing environment.  

News:                

Events:

• February 1, 8:10 - 9:10 AM, Assembly, Kindergarten Cowpoke

• February 1, 3rd Grade PJ's on the Prairie

• February 5, Grades 4/5 to AmeriTowne

• February 8, 8:10 - 9:10 AM, Assembly, 3rd Grade presentation

• February 15, No Classes, Faculty Retreat

• February 18 - 19, Academy Closed, President's Day

• February 20, 8:00 AM, 5th Grade to Cathedral Mass

• February 22, 8:10 - 9:10AM, Assembly, Primary Dance 

• March 1, No Classes Faculty Work Day

• March 7 - 8, LS Conferences, No Classes 

News:

• SMA Middle School presents its annual Courage for the Journey program for Middle School fathers, male mentors and sons, today, January 30, beginning after school at 3:30 p.m. The event will include presentations from Denver Mayor Michael Hancock; Jamie Van Leeuwen, PhD, chief of staff for Governor Hickenlooper; Woody Roseland, a seven-time cancer survivor and our own Justin Wimbish who served in Afghanistan and is our Technology Director. Each speaker will bring his personal story of challenge and success. RSVP by calling the Middle School - Diane Siennicki at ext. 250 or email Martha Ashley at mashley@smanet.org. 

• Mike Harris, the District Attorney Investigator for Jefferson & Gilpin counties, visited the MS today to talk about Internet safety.  Since November 1996, Harris has headed the District Attorney's Office of Child Sex Offender Internet Investigations (CSOII) Unit.  His work is dedicated to stopping Internet sex offenders from victimizing unsuspecting and vulnerable children. Investigator Harris and his team have established themselves as leaders in this field, providing assistance and training to other law enforcement agencies in and outside of Colorado, as well as provide education and prevention programs for children and adults.  

• Last weeks Spelling Bee included delegates from Fourth through Eighth grade, each grade had five representatives.  Sixth grader, Lauren McKee won the competition.  Seventh grader Stefan Fischer was runner up and Eighth grader Annie Hess was second runner up.  Congratulations to all the participants!

Events:

• January 30, 3:30 - 6:30 PM, Courage for the Journey for MS Boys

• January 31 - February 1, MS Conferences, No MS Classes

• February 6, 6:00 - 7:00 PM, 7th & 8th Grade Girls/Parent SMA HS Information Night, The Carr Residence

• February 15, No Classes, Faculty Retreat Day

• February 18 - 19, Academy Closed, President's Day

• February 21, 7:00 - 8:00 PM, MS Concert, HS Forum

• February 22, 6:00 - 8:30 PM, The Island sponsored by Academy Parents

• February 25, Trimester 3 Begins

• March 1, No Classes Faculty Work Day

News:    

• Last week was the annual Brain Brawl, a day of costumed, team trivia hosted by the National Honor Society (NHS).  The day started with a costume contest in the Forum followed by timed trivia rounds in each classroom, led by NHS members.  Trivia questions ranged from academic subjects to pop culture. NHS members wrote all the questions.  The winner of the Brain Brawl was a senior team made up of Jamilla Dennis, Dahlia Guiterrez, Abby Kaelberer, Loren Kaszowski and Halley Stennes.  The overall costume contest winner was the junior Mime Team. The runner up was the junior Rockin' Roller Team. Click here to see more photos.      

• Presentations of Learning are around the corner.  If you would like to be a panelist for this outstanding experience in the ninth and tenth grade, please contact Don Nelson, dnelson@smanet.org, for the tenth grade project Understanding 21st Century Problems; and Kristen Ferguson, kferguson@smanet.org, for the ninth grade project: What Does it Mean to be Human?  These are year- long projects that culminate with a presentation to a panel of "judges."  The presentation are on March 1 in the High School.  

• The Outreach Club held the annual Heifer International Week, which raises money for the organization Heifer International. The club auctioned off prime parking spots, hosted a movie night, sold "out of dress code" tickets, and had an ice cream sundae bar. For every $500 raised, a teacher dressed up in animal attire. Pigs, cows and sheep roamed the halls! About $1700 was raised during this successful annual fundraising event!

Events:

• January 30, 10:00 AM, Town Meeting

• January 30 - February 1, HS Conferences - No HS Classes 

• January 31, 6:30 - 8:00 PM, Financial Aid Workshop for College

• February 5, Diversity Day  

• February 8, 8:00 - 11:00 PM, Dance sponsored by the 9th grade

• February 12, 10:00 - 10:30 AM, Mardi Gras Celebration

• February 13, 9:00 - 10:00 AM, HS Mass

• February 14, 9:55 - 10:55 AM, Honors Assembly

• February 15, No Classes, Faculty Retreat Day

• February 18 - 19, Academy Closed, President's Day

• February 23, 6:00 - 8:00 PM, Father Daughter Dance

• March 1, No Classes, Faculty Work Day

• March 2, 6:00 - 9:00 PM, Model UN Trivia Night

• March 5, 10:00 - 10:30 AM, STUCO Town Meeting

• March 6, 10:00 - 11:00, Model UN Munchies

• March 7 - 8, Community Days

• March 7 - 8, 7:00 PM - 8:30 AM, Senior Lock Out 

• 7th and 8th Grade Girls and Parents are cordially invited to our next high school information night February 6 at 6 p.m. at 470 Race Street.  Reservations are required so please call Gracie Carr at ext. 205. Join Ms. McNamee and several SMA high school seniors for a fun evening of Q and A.

• Re-enrollment is due this Friday, February 1! 

• Thank you to all families who have re-enrolled. We are excited to offer an on-line re-enrollment option. You have until February 1 to pay for your re-enrollment deposit online with a credit card. This is for deposits only (tuition payments must still be paid by check). Please remember that the contract must ALSO be signed and mailed in or dropped off to our Admissions office.

• Lower School Admissions Deadline is January 31.  Contact Seely Greenberg at ext. 255 if you have any questions.

• If you missed the High School Placement Test we are offering a make-up test 8 AM, Saturday, February 2.  Please call to reserve a seat or if you have any questions: 303-762-8300 ext. 205.

• "Parents Caught in the Act": We wish to thank Tracey and David Gau, Iram and Aamer Masood.  Thank you for your continued support during the admissions process.  We appreciate you referring friends and family!

• Have a Derby connection? We need your help! We are looking for the following items for a Kentucky Derby Auction Package:
• Tickets to attend the 2013 Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 4 at Churchill Downs
• Clubhouse or Grandstand seats only
• Round-trip airline tickets from Denver to Louisville
• Hotel accommodations in Louisville