St. Mary's Academy celebrates its 138th Commencement Exercises this Saturday morning at 10:00.  The outdoor ceremony is a beautiful one filled with, of course, pomp and circumstance.

In addition to our student speakers, Sarah Castle, Class of 2002, will offer the Graduation Address.  Sarah is a Special Assistant US Attorney in Kansas City, MO.  Additionally, Sarah is a four-time Paralympic athlete and was most recently captain of the Womens Wheelchair Basketball team in London.   

The Class of 2013 has distinguished themselves in the classroom, on the playing field, on stage, in the art studio.  Each of our graduates is heading to her first or second choice college (keep an eye on this spot for a final college list in the coming days).  Congratulations to the Class of 2013!  

In this class, 85% of the 54 students in this year's senior class has earned more than $5.3 million dollars in merit-based scholarships for college.  Additionally, we want to note that this class also has two Finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program, a recipient of a Silver Key Scholastic Art Award, an Outstanding Participant in the National Achievement Scholarship Program, a recipient of the Aspiration in Computing Award, a recipient of the Daniels Scholarship and many more! Please click here to read more about the achievements and accolades of the SMA Class of 2013! 

We invite you to come to school Thursday, May 16 for a special morning gathering featuring guest speaker Kelley King as she presents and discusses her research on teaching and raising children, particularly boys. Kelley King is an international educational consultant and author of three books including, Writing the Playbook: A Practitioner's Guide to Creating a Boy-Friendly School.  This is a special event to launch an exciting, new partnership between SMA and Kelley King. 

Join us in Sanders House Third Floor, coffee at 7:45, presentation 8:00.

The SMA Wildcat League & Regional Championship Tennis Team made their mark earning Second Place at the 4A State Tournament last week in Pueblo.

Four of the six Wildcat teams who competed at State finished on top.  Congratulations to #1 Doubles team Claire Chrisman and Nicole Schlatter who placed fourth, #1 Singles player Alex Weil who placed third, and #2 Doubles team Rachael Haas and Elaina Villanueva who placed second. 

And congratulations to Suzy Xiao who is the 4A #3 Singles State Champion.

The All Academy Concert on Monday night was not only beautiful to hear, but also goes into the history books.  It was the last concert to be held in the "old" Forum.   Renovation of the Forum begins June 1.  Plans include air conditioning, acoustic improvements, new lights, new floor and a new stage.  Many concert goers on Monday night agreed that air conditioning will be an excellent improvement.  Watch our website for pictures as the project advances!

Monday night's concert included LS, MS, HS orchestra, band, handbells as well as Academy Singers, SAIMARAC and the MS Choir.  Congratulations to our musicians and singers.   

What is your education?  

I have a Masters of Science in Geophysics from Colorado School of Mines, and a Bachelors of Science in Geology and a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics, both from the University of Texas at Austin. I hold a Colorado Secondary Science Teaching Certificate from University of Colorado Denver.

How many years have you been at SMA?  

What is your working/teaching experience beyond SMA?   

I taught physics, geology, algebra, meteorology, and physical science at Northglenn and Overland High Schools in Denver for ten years, as well as undergraduate geophysics at the University of Oklahoma for two years.  Prior to that I worked in the oil and gas/coal industries for 15 years as a geophysicist in Australia (University of New South Wales and BHP), Germany (Julich Research Center and WBK),
and Houston (ARCO/Vastar and Fina).  I am a member of the Physics National Honor Society Sigma Pi Sigma, and speak German fluently.  

My greatest joy comes from the students as they excitedly explore science in the lab and in the field.

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

I love to hike, camp, snowshoe and travel with my family. I am always outside picking up rocks and fossils, investigating plants and animals. I spend summers in Steamboat.

News:                

Events:

• May 17, 8:10 - 9:10 AM, Assembly, Band/Orchestra

• May 17, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM, 5th Grade to Lone Tree Rec Center

• May 22, 1:30 - 3:00 PM, 5th Grade Continuation Practice, HS Forum

• May 23, 8:00 AM, Primary Donuts with Dad

• May 23, 12:30 - 2:00 PM, 5th Grade Continuation Practice, HS Forum

• May 24, 8:10 - 9:10 AM, Assembly, Junior Kindergarten Presentation/Awards  

• May 24, 1:30 - 2:30 PM, Maypole & Ice Cream

• May 27, Memorial Day - Academy Closed

• May 28, 12:30 - 1:30 PM, 5th Grade Continuation Practice, HS Forum 

• May 30, 1:45 PM, Assembly, End of Year Celebration

• May 30, Final Day for JK - 4th Grade 

• May 31, 1:00 - 3:00 PM, 5th Grade Continuation Ceremony, HS Forum

News:

• St. Mary's Academy is excited to announce a 1:1 iPad Learning Initiative, the pilot program which has been designed for the Middle School in the upcoming school year.  While many wireless iPad and Macbook labs are already in use in each division at SMA, the rationale for providing each student in the middle school with an iPad is multi-dimensional, the primary targets being collaboration, mobility and differentiation. Middle School teachers have been engaged in training sessions with the iPads throughout the Spring.  Summer classes also will focus on integrating the iPad.  

• The annual Middle School Olympics were held this week out on Biddle Field.  Teams competed enthusiastically in multiple relay events, a mile run, 100 meter dash and tug-o-war.  The day ended with an awards ceremony. Please click here to see more photos. 

• Sixth grader Burl Shepherd was awarded MVP in the US Soccer Colorado State Cup Championship on May 12.   His team, Real Colorado U12 National took the Cup with a 2-1 victory in overtime.  The team will travel to Hawaii in June for the West Regionals.

• 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:

• May 17, 11:40 AM, Drama Presentation

• May 20 - 24, 8th Grade to Washington DC

• May 22 - 24, 6th Grade to Golden Bell Retreat Center

• May 22 - 24, 7th Grade to Keystone Science Center

• May 29, 2:15 PM, Tri III Closing Ceremony

• May 30, Final Day for 6th & 7th Grades

• May 31, 8:00 AM, 8th Grade Closing Ceremony, Quad 

News:

• St. Mary's Academy students received top honors in the Mayor's Competition for Student-Produced Videos celebrating the beauty, history, legacy and value of the High Line Canal Trail.  Cherry Hills Mayor Doug Tisdale announced the winners this week.  Two teams from St. Mary's Academy High School, were awarded the First Place for the High School Division and the Grand Prize for the entire Competition, walking away with the coveted Leone d'Oro Prize. The team consisting of high school juniors Kelsey Waldron, Kathryn Harhai and Sara Van Velkinburgh will share the $1,000 Leone d'Oro Grand Prize Award.  The High School Division First Place Award of $500 was awarded to the team of seniors Hayley Lansing, Hanna Pardee and Liz Van Dorn for their four-minute video entitled, "Experiencing  the  High  Line  Canal Trail."  All of the videos will be broadcast on Cherry Hills Village cable.  Please click here to read more.   

• 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:

• May 17, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Graduation Practice

• May 18, 10:00 AM, Graduation

• May 21, 9:55 AM, STUCCO Elections

• May 23, 9:55 AM, Class Elections

• May 29 - 31, Final Exams 

• The Admissions office hosted an Middle School information session for fourth and fifth grade parents this morning.  It's never too early to think about Middle School.  Please contact the Admission office for information. 

• The Admissions team would like to thank our wonderful parents and teachers for your continued support with new families and student visitors. 

• "Caught in the Act"  Thanks to our wonderful parents and teachers who are in the community promoting SMA. We cannot do our work without you! This week we wish to thank: Angie State, Shara Castle