What is your education?  

I have a Bachelor's Degree in Electronics & Instrumentation Engineering from Birla Institute of Technology, Pilani, India and a Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Maryland, College Park. I have a Degree in Early Childhood Education and am also Directress Certified to teach at a Montessori School.

How many years have you been at SMA?  

This is my first year and I have loved every minute of it!

What is your working/teaching experience beyond SMA?   

I worked as a Research Assistant at the Laboratory of Physical Sciences in Maryland and then moved on to work as an Electrical Engineer at Medicom Solutions. During my Graduate Study program I had the opportunity to work on some fun projects for NSA (National Security Agency) and NASA. My teaching experience includes teaching undergraduate courses at University of Maryland. I also worked as a Lead Math Instructor at a math-learning center and taught students from the Cherry Creek and Douglas County Public School System.   

What would you name as a memorable classroom/curriculum experience you have experienced?  

One of my biggest goals is to teach Math in a way that makes sense to the students while building confidence and forging a positive attitude towards the subject. So one of my most rewarding experiences is when I see a student's eyes light up with understanding and leaving my classroom feeling that Math isn't half bad!

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

Along with my love for Math I also love learning new languages. I read, write and speak four Indian languages fluently. I have traveled extensively through Asia and the Middle East, and I take every opportunity to travel, experience new cultures and learn about different languages. 

News:                

Events:

• 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 & Challenger Soccer

• April 9, 9:00 - 11:30 AM, 1st/2nd Grade Arapahoe Philharmonic Children's Concert Field Trip

• April 12, Faculty In-Service - No Classes 

• April 16 - 17, TerraNova Testing

• April 21, Grade 4 students will serve as Docents at History Colorado

• April 23, 11:00 - 11:30 AM, Kindergarten Performance, HS Forum

• April 26, 8:10 - 9:10 AM, Assembly, Kindergarten Performance 

News:

• 6th, 7th and 8th grade students will take the TerraNova standardized tests on the mornings of the April 23 and April 24. These tests measure achievement in reading, language and mathematics.  Please encourage your son or daughter to eat a hearty breakfast.  A healthy mid-morning snack will be provided by Academy Parents.  If your child has had educational testing that indicates the need for a testing accommodation, please contact Donna Sullivan at 303.762.8300 x 215 or dsullivan@smanet.org before April 19.  

• Don't forget to check in on the MS Peru Service Trip blog at http://stmarys-peru-2013.blogspot.com/. Posts to the blog will be updated every few days with pictures and text. They are having a wonderful time!

• SMA is offering the Get It In Writing Essay Booster Course this summer for 7th & 8th graders.  Please click here for more information and to register.

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

• April 12, Faculty In-Service - No Classes 

• April 23-24, TerraNova Testing

News:    

• Come study in Spain this summer with SMA.  Applications are currently being accepted for the trip to Cádiz, Spain.  The trip runs from June 29 to July 13.  During their stay students will live with families, study three hours a day at a language school, have afternoon cultural classes and will take a weekend trip to Sevilla.  If you are interested please contact Ms. Ehrlich at nehrlich@smanet.org or Ms. Pfeifer at epfeifer@smanet.org.  To view a short video about the high school program click here.  To visit the school website click here.   

• This summer SMA is offering the Get It In Writing Essay Booster Course to all 9th through 12th graders.  Please click here for more information and to register.

Events:

• March 20, 9:55 AM, HS Concert, HS Forum

• March 22 - April 1, Spring Break, classes resume April 2  
•  
• April 12, Faculty In-Service - No Classes

• April 18 - 20, 6:30 PM, HS Musical Snoopy, Forum

• April 20, 1:30 PM, HS Musical Snoopy, Forum 

Alumnae on Campus:

• Jane Nady Sigmon '66, a Senior Advisor to the Director in the Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons at the  U.S. Department of State
  , spoke to juniors and seniors last week about her work in combating modern slavery.

• Six SMA alumnae came back to campus to speak to the Senior Class for the 2013 Senior Seminar. Cathy Bell Darnell '67 spoke about the Alumnae Board and the Alumnae Community; Amber Grisley McGown '06, Alix Pavek '08 and Molly Guerin '12 gave the Seniors advice on the transition from SMA to college; Monica Tovar '96 had everyone rolling with laughter as she discussed life as a personal chef and following your passion; and finally, Lucy Roucis '77 spoke frankly about life with Parkinson's Disease and being a working actor with a disability. We are so lucky to call such wonderful women SMA alumnae!

Alumnae News:

• SMA alumna Daniella Avila '10 has been elected to Escuela de Guadalupe's Board of Trustees as the first alumna trustee.  Daniella, who is currently a nursing student at Regis University, was in Escuela's first graduating class, before attending SMA.  Escuela de Guadalupe is a Catholic, dual-language K through 5 school of excellence that serves a diverse student body - ethnically, economically and linguistically - from across the metropolitan Denver area.   

• Greetings to our New Families!! A special welcome to all of our new families who have recently enrolled children at St. Mary's Academy.

• Current families! If you have not re-enrolled your student, please do so at your earliest convenience. We are experiencing a robust response to our offers of enrollment to new students and we highly encourage you to return the contracts and deposits as soon as possible to ensure your child's enrollment in next year's class. Thank you so much!

• SMA 2013 Gala - A Night at the Derby 
  Friday, April 26, 2013 
  An event benefiting the SMA Tuition Assistance Fund    
• Pre Gala Auctions, April 4 - 16.  The Sanders House Auction will take place in the Auxiliary Board Room of the Sanders House and will be open from 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. each weekday. You will receive the link to the Online Auction in the next Gala News You Can Use.  Please click here for more information.
• THANK YOU for supporting the Gala!