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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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Summer Camps at SMA
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 Whether it's sports, arts & crafts, theater, technology or science, it is time to start thinking about summer camp programs! Please click here for more information or to register for any summer programs offered at SMA including Academy Adventures, Wildcat Sports Camps & British Soccer Camp. |
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HS Art Teacher Andrew Beckham's
Photography on Exhibit in Denver
|  March is Month of Photography Denver, an event in which museums and galleries across the city all have photography-themed exhibits. High School Art teacher, Andrew Beckham will have work from his second book Firmament on exhibit at Walker Fine Arts, click here for more information. Mr. Beckham's book will be out in October and is comprised entirely of his photographic work, and features an introductory essay by Blake Milteer, Museum Director and Curator of American Art at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. To read more about Firmament click here.
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MS Principal Martha Ashley to Present
at TedXDenverTeachers Symposium
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Our very own Martha Ashley has been selected to be a presenter at this special TedXDenverTeachers event on March 14 that is sponsored by ACIS, Denver Public Schools and Colorado Academy. Her presentation focuses on the 8th grade trip to the Cochiti Pueblo in September. Please click here to live stream the event; Mrs. Ashley's presentation is at 10:00 in the morning.
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Faculty Feature: Lisa Stroz, LS Teacher
|  What is your education?
I have a BA in Communications from the University of Colorado and my Masters of Education from Regis University.
How many years have you been at SMA?
This is my fifth year teaching at St. Mary's Academy.
What is your working/teaching experience beyond SMA?
I taught second grade in Douglas County.
What would you name as an impressive classroom/curriculum experience you have experienced?
Pioneer Day and AmeriTowne have been terrific examples of real world learning that I have experienced with my classes.
What is something about yourself to share with the SMA community that we might not already know?
I am an SMA alum! St. Mary's Academy runs deep in my family; my mom was secretary to the President under Sister Mary Ann Coyle, my dad was a Board of Trustees member and my brother attended the middle school before attending Regis Jesuit High School.
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Community News
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 - The SMA community is invited to join the HS Astronomy Club to view the Comet PANSTARRS on March 13 from 5:30 to 8:00 PM behind the Middle School. The comet will be most visible at twilight. Please contact Pete Sniegowski with any questions, psniegowski@smanet.org.
 - Tickets for the HS Musical, Snoopy, are on sale in the Advancement Office (2nd floor Sanders House) during school hours or call Amy at 303.762.8300 x.285 to place your order (credit card payment required for all phone orders).
- Performances are April 18, 19, 20 at 6:30 PM and a matinee April 20 at 1:30 PM.
- Please note: current SMA students and faculty receive one (1) complimentary ticket for one (1) performance. Students and faculty must still pick-up their complimentary ticket in the Advancement Office.
- Students and faculty may purchase tickets for additional shows for $6.00 each.
- Doors open one hour prior to show.
- The Loretto in Colorado exhibit at the Denver Public Library has been extended through March 17 because of its popularity. Please click here for more information.
- The SMA Prayer Group, a monthly prayer group and 24-7 email prayer chain, meets every first Tuesday of the month at 8:15 AM in the Chapel next to the HS choral room. Please email prayer requests to smaprayergroup@gmail.com or click here. All petitions are honored and kept confidential.
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Lower School News & Events
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News:
 - This summer SMA is offering Count Me In Math Camp for Girls, 2nd through 5th grade and Exploring Experiments & Equations Science & Math Camp for Boys in 4th and 5th Grades. Please click here for more information and to register.
 - The March Late Start, Great Start is being lead by the Kindergarten who are collecting non-perishable foods and money to help support the food pantry of the Southwest Improvement Council (SWIC). SWIC was started and is run by a Loretto Community co-member. It serves many needs in the southwest Denver area including a food bank and senior lunch program. March 13 is the only Late Start, Great Start this month, but all homeroom classes will be collecting donations through March 20.
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 Click here to see photos from the first and second grade dance assembly! PE teacher Linda Marsh worked hard with the three groups on creating and performing the original dance routines.
Events:
- March 7 - 8, LS Conferences, No Classes
- March 11, 8:30 AM, 4th Grade Field Trip to History Colorado
- March 12, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, LS Health Fair
- March 15, 8:10 - 9:10 AM, Assembly, Science
- March 22 - April 1, Spring Break, classes resume April 2
- April 4, 3:00 PM, Cub Scout Pack Meeting, LS Room 5
- April 5, 8:10 - 9:10 AM, Assembly, 4th Grade Colorado History
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Middle School News & Events
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News:
 This summer SMA is offering the Get It In Writing Essay Booster Course for incoming 7th & 8th graders. Please click here for more information and to register.
 The Second Trimester MS Drama class, made up of 18 students 6th through 8th grade, presented a cut version of Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare, last week in the HS Forum. Isaac Morales brought down the house with his rendition of Nick Bottom. Please click here for more photos.
Events:
- March 15 - 28 - Peru Service Trip
- March 22 - April 1, Spring Break, classes resume April 2
- April 5, 6:00 - 8:00 PM, Social, HS Forum
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High School News & Events
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News:
- This summer SMA is offering the Get It In Writing Essay Booster Course to all incoming 9th through 12th graders. Please click here for more information and to register.
- The 9th and 10th graders are heading out on their annual Class Retreats this week. The 9th grade will focus on self respect, identity and the question of who am I? The 10th grade will focus on community, getting to know each other on a deeper level and the question of where do I belong?
 - Congratulations to our Mock Trial teams! On February 22-23, St. Mary's Academy competed in the Colorado Bar Association Mock Trial Regional Competition at the Arapahoe County Court House. The regional competition included 17 teams, only four schools advance. The SMA "A" team qualified for the Mock Trial State Tournament March 8-9 in Fort Collins. Click here to read more.
- Presentations of Learning are scheduled for March 15. 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 presentations are on March 15 in the High School.
Events:
- March 7 - 8, Community Days
- March 7 - 8, 7:00 PM - 8:30 AM, Senior Lock Out
- March 12, 6:30 - 8:00 PM, HS Winter Sports Ceremony
- March 15, Presentations of Learning
- March 15, Juniors' Retreat
- March 19, 7:00 PM, College Night for Juniors, HS Forum
- March 20, 9:55 AM, HS Concert, HS Forum
- March 22 - April1, Spring Break, classes resume April 2
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Alumnae News
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 Rachel Graham '05 is one of the lead actors in No Dogs Allowed at the Arvada Center Children's Theater as the dog "El Exigente". The show runs through April 12, please click here for more information or to buy tickets.
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Admissions News
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 - Welcome New 9th Graders! On February 28, our High School student ambassadors welcomed the newly accepted 9th graders to a pancake breakfast in the Forum. The new students enjoyed performances from the dance team, a welcome video, and cheers. The class of 2017 will come from over fourteen different middle schools.
- Welcome New Middle School Students! Middle School welcomed newly accepted students and parents in a celebration just this morning, March 6, with doughnuts, games and discussion.
- For our newly accepted students remember: High School contracts are due March 8 and Middle School March 11.
- Lower School Decisions will be sent March 7!
- If you lost your re-enrollment or didn't receive it in the mail, please call admissions and ask for a new one. We need all re-enrollments turned in as soon as possible. On-line credit card deposits are still available for your convenience. If you have paid on-line please remember to send in your contract to the Admission office.
- Parents Caught in the Act! Marlo Wagner, Monica Hustead, Amy Quinette, Stacey McKee, Angie State and Liz Carr, thank you!
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Advancement News
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- Dates you want to remember!
- May 2, Grandparents' Day Open House 8:00 - 11:00 AM
- September 16, Graham Family Golf Tournament, Columbine Country Club
For more information on these events please contact the Advancement Office at 303.762.8300.
 - THANKS for reloading! Here's an update on the results for the month of February from our King Soopers Reloadable Grocery program.
- Number of cards reloaded: 86
- Total $ amount reloaded: $27,560
- SMA Net: $1,378
86 cards reloaded is 13% of what we distributed. We have enormous room for growth in this program! David & Tracey Gau, are you reading this? If you are, and you email Amy at aalbi@smanet.org before March 15, you will win a special prize for being our top "Reloaders" in February. Thanks to everyone who participated in our Grocery Certificate program - every dollar helps. Keep reloading!
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Athletic News
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News:
 - Varsity basketball player, junior Emma Selner received the Touching Hearts Through Athletics Award at the Pack the House game against Kent. The award is given to those who exemplify the values of being a team player, academically responsible, show sportsmanship and participate in community service. Over 250 athletes from 20 states have received this unique award. Congratulations Emma!
 - Wildcat Sports Camps registration is open. Gain skill development and game experience in lacrosse, basketball, tennis, field hockey and volleyball! Click here to check out all the camps offered this summer and to register today!
 - St. Mary's Academy partners with Challenger Sports to offer the most popular soccer camp in the country. British Soccer Camps are for players of all ages and abilities, and will be offered at SMA June 3 - 7. For more information and online registration click here.
Events:
- March 6:
- 4:00 PM, Varsity & JV Lacrosse Scrimmage vs. Palmer Ridge @ PRHS
- March 8:
- 3:45 PM, Varsity & JV Lacrosse vs. Golden HS @ SMA
- 3:45 PM, Varsity & Varsity 2 Tennis vs. Pueblo West HS @ SMA
- March 9:
- 3:00 PM, Varsity & JV Lacrosse vs. Chaparral HS @ CHS
- March 11:
- 4:00 PM, Varsity Soccer vs. Golden HS @ GHS
- March 12:
- 3:30 PM, Boys 7th/8th Lacrosse vs. Kent @ Kent
- 3:45 PM, Girls 7th & 8th Soccer vs. Kent @ Kent
- 4:00 PM, Varsity 2 Tennis vs. Conifer Senior HS @ SMA
- March 13:
- 3:30 PM, Girls 7th/8th Lacrosse vs. CA @ CA
- 4:00 PM, Varsity 2 Tennis vs. D'Evelyn HS @ DHS
- 4:00 PM, Varsity & JV Tennis vs. D'Evelyn HS @ SMS
- 4:00 PM, Varsity & JV Lacrosse vs. Palmer HS @ SMA
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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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