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Deirdre V. Cryor



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Wildcat Weekly
A Weekly Newsletter from St. Mary's Academy 
The Wildcat Weekly includes news from the Academy and updates on events and activities. Watch for the Weekly in your email inbox every Wednesday afternoon.  If you have news to share, please email Kat Challis in the President's Office at [email protected]. And, be sure to click here to read my weekly blog. 
Deirdre V. Cryor
Academy President 
Alexa Beckwith Named Diving Sportswoman of Colorado
Senior Alexa Beckwith has been selected as the 2014 Diving Sportswoman of Colorado for the second consecutive year.  Alexa is gearing up to compete for her fourth state title next weekend.  This Friday she will compete at League Championships where she holds the meet record. Congratulations Alexa and good luck to the Varsity Swim & Dive Team at the Inter-League Championships at Colorado College!
Registration for the 2014-2015 School Year Due Now
Please turn in registration forms for 2014-15 as soon as possible.  If you have already, thank you!

"In the coming weeks we will be sending out acceptances for new students to join SMA. We want all of our current families to be registered this month so their spots are a sure thing!" said Deirdre Cryor Academy President.  "'Also, we depend on registration forms for making decisions regarding class sizes and teacher responsibilities. Turning in your registration in a timely manner is appreciated and assists us in making good hiring decisions."  
 
You can email or drop off your registration form as well as make deposits online.  If you need a new form or have questions, please call the Admissions Office.
Concert Pianist to Perform for SMA & Loretto
Concert pianist Dr. Denine LeBlanc will perform for SMA and the Loretto Community on Tuesday, February 25, at 7:00 p.m. in the Forum. This free concert will include works by Beethoven, Scriabin, Debussy, Gershwin and a few new works written for her.

 

Dr. LeBlanc shares her love of traditional and new music as an educator and concert pianist. She is an instructor of piano at the University of Louisville and teacher of arts and humanities at a Montessori school. Dr. LeBlanc's performance schedule has taken her to concert stages throughout Europe and the United States plus institutes and summer programs such as the famed Interlochen Arts Camp. Her CDs The Sun Shines Bright and Weep No More show her dedication to promoting new piano works by Kentucky composers. She lectures widely and is a published author.

 

"Denine frequently plays concerts at Loretto Motherhouse so it's wonderful to welcome her to Denver and SMA," says Regina Drey SL. "The concerts at the Motherhouse gather an audience from the counties in Kentucky and always feature very accomplished musicians. We are happy to host Denine in Denver."

 

Click here to read more about Dr. LeBlanc and enjoy videos of her performances

Carpool Safety Reminders and Guidelines
Safety comes first when it comes to Carpool and driving on campus.

While waiting to enter campus, please know that parking on University Boulevard is never allowed. It is unsafe for those on campus and those driving by on University Boulevard.  Cherry Hills Police will ticket you if you park there.  

Please remember to follow all traffic rules while on SMA campus in Carpool line.  Drive slowly, follow the teachers' directions and be aware in the parking lot.  Thank you!!  
Two High School Students Honored with 
Regional Scholastic Art Awards

The Colorado Scholastic Art and Writing Awards last week announced area honorees.

Junior Emily Ragan,
pictured top right,
received Honorable Mention for her ceramic jar titled Serengeti Sunset.  See below in High School News for more news about Emily!

Senior Megan Karbowski
, pictured bottom right, received a Gold Key Award, the highest placement in the statewide competition, for her black and white photograph titled Limbs
.  Megan's photograph will be judged at the National level.

The Colorado Scholastic Art Region is hosted by Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD) and sponsored by the Colorado Art Education Association.  All pieces of the winning work in the Colorado region will be displayed in the Phillip J. Steele Gallery and Rotunda Pavilion on the campus of RMCAD February 8 through 26.

Faculty Feature: Marla Giardino, Kindergarten Teacher
What is your education?
I earned my BA in social science/elementary education from the University of Northern Colorado.

 

How many years have you been at SMA?

This is my first year teaching at SMA, and all of the parents and staff have been so welcoming and supportive!  

 

What is your working/teaching experience beyond SMA?

I taught kindergarten in Douglas County School District for the past seven years.     
 
What awards or honors have you received?

I was nominated for an Apple Award by Douglas County parents.  This annual event recognizes teachers who make a difference in the lives of their students.

 

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

I love to incubate chicken eggs in the spring and watch the baby chicks hatch with my students!  The kids are so excited, which motivates them to do some great writing when we describe the baby chicks!

 

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

My husband and I lived in the San Francisco area for a couple of years right after we got married.  It was so fun living there, but we wanted to come back home to Colorado to raise our four kids.   

Community News
  • Tickets are available for SMA's All-Academy Musical Peter Pan, March 6 - 9.  Purchase tickets in the Advancement Office (2nd floor of the Sanders House) during school hours or call Amy Albi at 303.762.8300 x285 to place your order (credit card payment required for all phone orders).  Please note that current SMA students receive one (1) complimentary ticket for one (1) performance with seating in the General Admission section.  Student complimentary tickets must be picked up in the Advancement Office prior to the show.  Students may purchase tickets for additional shows for $7.00 each.  Please click here for more information. 

  • St. Elizabeth's School presents Welcome to the Magical Middle School Years on February 20 from 5:45 - 7:15 PM at neighboring Loyola Church in Denver. Veteran middle school principal, Marsha Hirsch, will share her expertise and provide sound advice for parents as they and their children begin this journey into their teens. With eight years experience as a middle school counselor and 22 years as a middle school principal, Marsha's career has been with the age group she most loves.  Appreciating the uniqueness of the middle school years, Marsha's tips for parents have stood the test of time.  Please click here for more information and to RSVP. 

  • The High School Astronomy Club is hosting a Star Gazing Party February 8 at 7:00 PM behind the MS.  They will be viewing the first quarter moon, Jupiter and other stellar delights!  They extend a warm welcome to all those interested to join for some star gazing.  Please email High School teacher Iswari Natarajan with questions at [email protected].
  • High School Art teacher Andrew Beckham has a portion of the work from his recent museum show in Colorado Springs on exhibition at Goodwin Fine Art (located a few blocks from the Denver Art Museum), through February 22. Please click here for more information about the exhibition.  Congratulations Mr. Beckham!
Lower School News Events

News:

  • The Destination Imagination "Helping Hands" Team is collecting playground toys for our sister school, Escuela de Guadalupe for Late Start Great Start, February 12 and 26. Please help by donating new toys: balls, frisbees, hula hoops, chalk, jump ropes and toy trucks.  Cash donations are also being accepted to purchase these items and bins to store them in.    
  • The Kindergarten had their annual Kindy Cowpoke at Assembly last Friday. Their presentation was filled with choreographed dance, songs and some energetic parachute maneuvers!  Please click here for more photos.    
      

Events:

  • February 6, 7:30 AM, School Store Open for JK - Third Grade 
  • February 7, 8:10 AM, Assembly, Third Grade Music
  • February 7, 5:30 PM, Cub Scouts Blue & Gold Dinner and Cross-Over, MS Commons
  • February 12, Late Start, classes begin at 9:05 AM 
  •  February 13, 9:30 AM, First & Second Grades to Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Cinderella
  • February 14, No Classes, Faculty Retreat Day
  • February 17 -18, Academy Closed, President's Day 
  • February 20, 7:30 AM, School Store Open for Fourth & Fifth Grade
  • February 21, 8:10 AM, Assembly, First & Second Grade Dance
  • February 25, Fourth & Fifth Grades to AmeriTowne
  • February 26, Late Start, classes begin at 9:05 AM  
  • February 28, 8:10 AM, Assembly, Science  
  • March 5, Ash Wednesday, No After School/Evening Activities 
  • March 5, 10:00 AM, LS/MS Mass, MS Commons
  • March 6, 7:30 AM, School Store Open for All Students  
  • March 6 - 8, 7:00 PM, All Academy Musical, Peter Pan, Forum
  • March 7, No Classes, Faculty Work Day
  • March 9, 2:00 PM, All Academy Musical, Peter Pan, Forum 
Middle School News & Events

News:

  • The second session of Parent Tech Workshops is Thursday, February 6, from 8:00 - 9:00 AM in Mr. Rodgers room in the 6th grade pod.  The topic is iOS tips and tricks and will take on a workshop format.  20 iPads will be provided for use during the workshop, with the goal being to help familiarize you with the device and perhaps teach you a trick or two.  If you have an iPad or iPhone, feel free to bring it along.

  • Several Middle School student's artwork has been selected to be in a student art show at Next Gallery in northwest Denver.  LS/MS Art teacher Kelly Mansfield is a member of the gallery along with another middle school art teacher from Weld Central MS. They proposed hosting a student art show at the gallery, which will run from February 7 - 23. The opening reception is on February 7 from 6:00 - 10:00 PM.  The following students have their work on display:
    • Lost, Cadence Litt, 8th grade, painting 
    • The Other World, Hannah Sapienza, 7th grade, painting  
    • Dark Shadows, Julia Edwards, 7th grade, painting
    • The Beauty of Death Series, Ryan Furman, 7th grade, painting

    • Eye of the Owl, Lauren McKee, 7th grade, drawing
    • Lines of Flight, Lauren McKee, 7th grade, print

    • Colorful Cartoons Series, Nikki Ettig, 8th grade, drawing
    • Camera Series, Lauren Bondy, 8th grade, drawing

    • White Biscuit Series, William McCormick, 7th grade, drawing
    • Stress Ball, Carolynn Felling, 7th grade, clay

    • Memory of Portland, Naima Riola, 8th grade, altered book
    • Ant's Picnic, Alexis Tiryakioglu, 6th grade, clay

    • Coke Pepsi Battle, Meriel Upton, 7th grade, clay
  • Recently, eighth grader Matthew Lies wrote to U.S. Representative Michael Coffman for a Boy Scouts project. Much to his surprise, his mother received a message from Rep. Coffman's office that the Congressman was interested in visiting Matthew and his class at SMA. Rep. Coffman spoke on what it is like to be a congressman and why he decided to run for office. Students asked questions about immigration, the federal budget and much more.

    Teacher Andy Blair commented that it was a great experience for students to meet a current member of the US House since in the spring the students will meet a U.S. Senator as part of the annual Washington, DC trip.  "Now we just need the President and a Supreme Court Justice to round out the three branches of government!"

  • If you would like to purchase a MS yearbook for the 2013-2014 school year, please submit your request to Mr. Mayfield with a check assigned to SMA for $30 (or $35 if you would like your name personalized on the cover). Questions, please contact Steve Mayfield at [email protected]

Events:

  • February 11, 3:30 PM, Courage for the Journey    
  • February 12, Late Start, classes begin at 9:05 AM 
  • February 14, No Classes, Faculty Retreat Day
  • February 17 -18, Academy Closed, President's Day     
  • February 20, 11:40 AM, MS Mass, Commons   
  • February 21, 6:00 PM, MS to The Island
  • February 26, Late Start, classes begin at 9:05 AM
  • February 26, 7:00 PM, MS Concert, Forum
  • February 27, MS Health Fair
  • February 28, 2:30 PM, MS Trimester 2 Ceremony   
  • March 5, Ash Wednesday, No After School/Evening Activities  
  • March 5, 10:00 AM, LS/MS Mass, Commons
  • March 6 - 8, 7:00 PM, All Academy Musical, Peter Pan, Forum
  • March 7, No Classes, Faculty Work Day
  • March 9, 2:00 PM, All Academy Musical, Peter Pan, Forum  
High School News & Events
News:
  • Last Saturday at the SMA/Kent Denver Model UN meet, two SMA delegations won awards.  Tenth graders Sadie Largan and Alexandra Ferguson won Honorable Mention and ninth graders Kate Ragan and Annie Hess won Outstanding Delegation. Topics at the meet ranged from wire-tapping and political asylum to the rise of Napoleon and a nineteenth century labor dispute. The interweaving thread through all of the topics was the spread of ideas and information using "social media" of the time in order to communicate relevant information to both individual delegates and entire councils throughout the course of the meet.   
  • This spring break, Junior Emily Ragan will travel to Hawaii to participate in the Brown Leadership Institute (BLI) through a partnership with The Kohala Center and Brown University. This intensive program is for "exceptionally motivated and mature pre-college students with interests in science, leadership, and cultural studies." Students from grades 10 - 12 will study Hawaii's biological, ecological and cultural diversity through marine science, volcanology and the island's culture. Please click here to read more. 

Events:

  • February 7, 7:30 PM, HS Dance, Sponsored by the Ninth Grade 
  • February 11, HS Diversity Day
  • February 12, Late Start, classes begins at 9:05 AM  
  • February 12, 11:30 AM, Clubs Meet
  • February 12, 6:30 PM, 9th Grade Parent Book Club
  • February 14, No Classes, Faculty Retreat Day
  • February 17 -18, Academy Closed, President's Day    
  • February 22, 6:00 PM, HS Father/Daughter Dance, Forum
  • February 24, HS Spring Sports Practice Begins
  • February 25, 10:00 AM, StuCo Town Meeting
  • February 26, Late Start, classes begins at 9:05 AM   
  • February 27-28, HS Community Days
  • February 27, 8:30 AM, Senior Seminar    
  • March 4, 9:55 AM, Honors Assembly
  • March 5, Ash Wednesday, No After School/Evening Activities   
  • March 5, 10:00 AM, HS Mass
  • March 6, Presentations of Learning
  • March 6, Junior Retreat 
  • March 6 - 8, 7:00 PM, All Academy Musical, Peter Pan, Forum
  • March 7, No Classes, Faculty Work Day
  • March 9, 2:00 PM, All Academy Musical, Peter Pan, Forum 

 

Admissions News

  • The Tuition Assistance website, www.sss.nais.org, is ready to accept your application for the 2014-2015 school year.  The deadline for financial assistance is February 10, 2014. If you are currently receiving aid, you must submit an application each year along with the supporting documents. If you have any questions click here or feel free to make an appointment with Gracie Carr at [email protected].

Advancement News
  • Thank you to our Gala sponsors, especially to our Title Sponsor, Mike Shaw Subaru and Suzanne & Michael Shaw. For a complete list of our sponsors, click here. Interested in being a sponsor? Benefits include reserved seating and complimentary drink tickets at the Gala, recognition on SMA's website and in the Gala invitation and an advertisement in the Gala program. For more information and to sign-up, click here.   
  • Gala Auction Items
    The Gala Committee is currently accepting Auction donations. The deadline to be included in the Gala catalog is Friday, March 21. You can submit your auction items to the Sanders House or any of the division offices. Click here for the Auction Item Donation Form.  Ideas for auction items include:
    o   Restaurant Gift Certificates
    o   Sports Memorabilia
    o   Get-a-way Trips (Gas gift certificates, airline gift certificates, vacation homes, etc.)
    o   Event Tickets (Sports, theater, concerts, movies, etc.)
    o   Themed Gift Baskets (Girls Night Out, Arts & Crafts, Pets, etc.)
    o   SMA parent-hosted parties for your child and his/her classmates
    Thank you for your generosity and for supporting the Gala!  

  • $25 Gift Cards Needed - 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 2014-2015 school year.  We rely on donations of $25 gift cards from our families for the Spin the Wheel Game. For every gift card you donate, your child has a chance to win a special treat! 
    • Lower School - Each class that donates 7 gift cards or more will receive an ice cream treat.
    • Middle School - Each CAT that turns in 7 gift cards or more will receive an ice cream treat.
    • High School - Each advisory that turns in 5 gift cards or more will receive an ice cream treat.
Keep in mind that the Business Office sells a variety of gift cards. Please turn in your gift cards to your school office with your name attached so that we can give you credit. Thank you for supporting the Gala!

  • THANKS for reloading!  Here's an update on the results for the month of January from our King Soopers Reloadable Grocery Program:
    Number of cards reloaded: 55
    Total $ amount reloaded: $19,385
    SMA Net: $969.25
    Thanks to everyone who is participating in our Grocery Certificate program - every dollar helps. It's never too late to join in by using the card we gave you last fall! Let's all use our cards, RELOAD and support SMA! Need a reloadable King Soopers card? Contact Amy Albi at 303.762.8300 ext. 285. Thank you! 
  • Thank you to all of our families who have made a commitment to the 2013-2014 Annual Fund. To make your Annual Fund contribution click here, or pick up a donation envelope in any school office. Thank you! You may click here to see a list of our contributors as of January 31, 2014.

Alumnae News

  • Alumnae Book Club
    Tuesday, February 11
    12:00 p.m.
    Sanders House
    Please join us for the Alumnae Book Club as we discuss "The Road of Lost Innocence" by Somaly Mam. A light lunch will be provided.   
     
  • All Academy Musical Alumnae Reception
    Thursday, March 6
    5:00 p.m. Reception in the Graham Family Volunteer and Alumnae Room in the Sanders House
    6:00 p.m. Peter Pan in the Forum
    Join your fellow alumnae for a glass of wine and light appetizers before we head over to the Forum to see Peter Pan. All alumnae receive two complimentary tickets to the production. For more information and to RSVP, click here.
Athletic News

Games:

  • February 6:
    • TBA, Varsity Swim & Dive @ Inter-League Championship, Colorado College
  • February 7:
    •  5:00 PM, JV & Varsity Basketball vs. Kent @ Kent
    • TBA, Varsity Swim & Dive @ Inter-League Championship, Colorado College
  • February 8:
    • 12:00 PM, JV & Varsity Basketball vs. Estes Park HS @ EPHS
  • February 11:
    • 5:30 PM, JV & Varsity Basketball vs. Manual @ MHS
  • February 12:
    • 3:30 PM, Girls 7th Navy, Girls 6th & Girls 8th Silver Basketball vs. Stanley British @ SBPS
    • 3:30 PM, Boys 7th, Boys 6th & Boys 8th Basketball vs. Stanley British @ SMA  

 

Inclement Weather Policy and Notification
In the 2013-14 school year, SMA implemented a Notification System through the Infinite Campus program.  We will use this notification system in the event of a school closure or delay due to weather.  Notification can go via text, voice and email according to the information the school has on your Infinite Campus profile. If you would like to change that information, please call the division office.  
 
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 send a message via Infinite Campus Notification System, record a message on our main phone line: 303.762.8300, and post an announcement on our website, www.smanet.org.

 

Additionally, we will share any school closing or schedule change with the 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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