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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 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 kchallis@smanet.org. And, be sure to click here to read my weekly blog.
Deirdre V. Cryor
Academy President
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Congratulations to the Class of 2014
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This past Saturday morning, St. Mary's Academy graduated sixty-five students at the 139th Commencement Exercises. The ceremony took place on the fields in the view of the mountains and featured student speeches, songs and an address from High School teacher and alumna Nina Ehrlich. "It was a beautiful morning," said Kathryn McNamee, High School principal. Please click here to see more photos.
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Follow High School Science Teacher Lauren Watel
During Her Arctic Adventures This Summer
| High School Science Teacher Lauren Watel was selected earlier this year to participate in a field research experience with PolarTREC (Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating). In this program, teachers spend three to six weeks in hands-on field research in the polar regions. Lauren sent in the following request for her students, colleagues and friends at SMA:
"I want each and every one of you, whether student, faculty member, staff, parent, alum, or friend, to join me on my Arctic expedition this summer! I leave in less than a month (June 15th to be exact) to head up far north of the arctic circle in Alaska to assist with a research project. Please watch the following video to learn about how you can be a part of it. Subscribe to my journal updates at: http://www.polartrec.com/expeditions/microbial-changes-in-arctic-freshwater. I look forward to having you join me in the field this summer!"
 | | Microbial Changes in Arctic Freshwater Commercial |
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Summer Programs at SMA
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 It is time to sign your student up for summer camp at SMA! Please click here to learn more about the many offerings here at SMA this summer. Click on the links below to register your student today! Academy Adventures - 3 Sessions June 16 - 27, July 8 - 18, July 21 - 25 REGISTRATION DEADLINE FRIDAY, MAY 16Click Here for Online RegistrationWildcat Sports CampsWildcat Volleyball Camp, Grades 6 - 8 - July 28 - 30 All American Volleyball, Grades 8 - 12 - August 4 - 6 Wildcat Running Camp, Co-ed for Grades 6 - 12, August 4 - 7 Click Here for Online Registration  Count Me In Math Camps for Girls Girls Entering 2nd/3rd Grades - August 4 - 8 Girls Entering 4th/ 5th Grades - July 28 - August 1 Click Here for Online RegistrationGet it in Writing - The Persuasive Essay Booster Course For Students entering 7th through 12th Grades - July 7 - 10 Click Here for Online Registration
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Varsity Tennis 2nd Place at State Championship
|  The Varsity Tennis Wildcats played in the 4A State Tournament last week. During three days, the Wildcats played 29 matches against intense competition.
Three positions made it to the finals; congratulations to #1 singles player, Alex Weil, and our #2 doubles team, Rachael Haas and Jigyasa Sharma, who earned 2nd place overall. The #4 doubles team, Julia Chowdhury and Kate Melberg, battled in the finals and came out with a big win as the State Champions. With Kate and Julia's big win, the Wildcats hurdled rival Kent Denver to finish as the runner- up for the second year in a row.
A huge congratulations to the 10 seniors on a fantastic end to their Wildcat tennis career! Please click here to see all the results from the State Tournament.
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Save the Date! The 11th Annual Graham Family Golf Tournament
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Parent Satisfaction Survey
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If you have not already, please take a moment to fill out the Parent Satisfaction Survey. It will be available until May 30.
Parents, you have received the link to the survey in a separate email. The survey will be open for the month of May. If you need that link sent to you again, please email
kchallis@smanet.org.
Written by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the survey seeks your level of satisfaction with SMA academics, extra curricular offerings, services, communications, school climate, expenditures, and admission and selection process. Your answers will provide valuable information for us on campus as we advance and strive to offer the best program for you and your children.
Questions, please don't hesitate to contact Deirdre Cryor or Katherine Challis.
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Breaking Ground: Community Center
Sets the Stage for the Next 150 Years
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 Our SMA community gathered for a Groundbreaking Ceremony of our Community Center two weeks ago.
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150 Years of Inspiring Generations.
Enrich the SMA story with your story!
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During the 2014-15 school year, St. Mary's Academy will celebrate its historic 150th Anniversary. Along with festivities, special events, community gatherings and other surprises, we're marking this milestone by creating a collection of stories from our community. Stories that will keep our history alive and inspire generations to come. We invite you to add yours by clicking here!
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Community News
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- Interested in coaching Mock Trial for the High School? Please contact Ms. Mac in the High School at kmcnamee@smanet.org. We need you!
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Faculty Feature: Mary Kolbach
Associate Athletic Director/Cross Divisional PE teacher
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What is your education? 
I have a double major in Physical Education and Health Education and earned my Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse.
How many years have you been at SMA?
This is my 32nd year at SMA.
What is your working/teaching experience beyond SMA?
Before moving to Colorado, I spent four years teaching high school and lower school physical education and 7th grade Health for a K-12 school in Wisconsin. I also coached varsity volleyball and JV basketball.
What awards or honors have you received?
I received four Xcel Energy grants, COAHPERD Recognition Award, 3A Skyline League Basketball Coach of the Year 1985 & 1989, SMA Coaches' Award 2007, and I have been a presenter at the ACIS and COAHPERD conventions.
What would you name as an impressive classroom/curriculum experience that you have experienced?
I enjoy seeing the value of participation in sports and physical activities, especially when leaders emerge, teams form close bonds, underdogs prevail, individuals take risks or when a student experiences his/her "shining moment."
What is something about yourself to share with the SMA community that we might not already know?
I coached SMA high school varsity and JV sports when our original mascot (back in the day) was the SMA "Spirits." While coaching varsity basketball, our SMA teams competed in five state tournaments and played in the 3A State Championship game in 1989.
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Lower School News Events
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News:
 The Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten had their annual Field Day last Friday under beautiful blue skies. The students enjoyed a fun morning of obstacle course relay races, bean bag toss, lacrosse, fishing, hula hoops and more. Thank you to all the parent volunteers and faculty that helped to make this a memorable day! Please click here to see more photos.
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 The fourth grade has a sculpture display off the Forum (south entrance of the High School next to the Forum and fine arts wing) from May 8 through May 22. The Optical Illusion Sculptures were inspired by the abstract sculptures of Chris Diersen. The students created papier-mache sculptures, with wire armature, to give the form an illusion of movement. Inspired by the optical painting of Victor Varasely, students used pattern and contrasting colors to enhance the illusion of movement on their sculpture.
Events:
- May 21, 12:30 PM, 5th Continuation Ceremony Practice
- May 21, 7:00 PM, Lower School Spring Concert, Forum
- May 22, 12:30 PM, 5th Continuation Practice
- May 23, 8:10 AM, Assembly, Junior Kindergarten
- May 23, 2:15 PM, Maypole & Ice Cream
- May 26, Academy Closed, Memorial Day
- May 28, Late Start, classes begin at 9:05 AM
- May 28, 12:30 PM, 5th Continuation Ceremony Practice
- May 29, Last Full Day of School for JK - 8
- May 30. 1:00 PM, 5th Grade Continuation Ceremony, Forum
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Middle School News & Events
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News:
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 Putting the big bad wolf on trial is just what the Middle School Drama Class did yesterday! With Sofia Avila as the Big Bad She-Wolf and Anel Oaxaca Rivas as the Honorable judge, the cast was led by two strong young actors. Casey Slaybaugh and Cami Brew made up the formidable and competing law teams of Evil Stepmother and the sisters versus the Fairy Godmother Litigation Firm.
Little Red Riding Hood (Julia Edwards) and the Boy Who Cried Wolf (Maggie Swank) along with the three little pigs and a few other notable fairy tale characters decided to sue the Big Bad Wolf for all sorts of heinous crimes. It is only after the wolf's impassioned speech that the jury realizes there is more to this wolf than meets the eye...a vegan who swore off of meat long ago to nurture a human baby girl in the den. Please click here for more photos.
 Get it in Writing Essay Class, July 7 - 10, 9:00 - 12:00, for students entering grades 7 and 8. The Persuasive Essay Booster Course is the simple way to master the basic format of every paper you'll have to write, from now through college. These seminar-style classes give you the individual help necessary to rapidly improve your daily class composition. Please click here for more information and to register today.
Events:
- May 21 - 23, 6th & 7th Grade Trips
- May 26, Academy Closed, Memorial Day
- May 28, Late Start, classes begin at 9:05 AM
- May 28, 8:00 AM, 8th Grade Breakfast, Commons
- May 28, 2:15 PM, Trimester 3 Ceremony, Commons
- May 29, Last Full Day of Classes JK - 8
- May 29, 9:00 AM, 8th Continuation Practice and Photos
- May 30, 8:00 AM, 8th Grade Continuation Ceremony
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High School News & Events
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News:
 Ms. Pfeifer and the Cultures and Conversations class took a field trip to the Ink Lounge Creative in Denver. To culminate a unit entitled LAS GARRAS DEL PODER, students created screen printed posters in response to a social or political injustice in a Spanish speaking country.
- Get it in Writing Essay Class, July 7 - 10, 1:00 - 4:00, for students entering grades 9 through 12. The Persuasive Essay Booster Course is the simple way to master the basic format of every paper you'll have to write, from now through college. These seminar-style classes give you the individual help necessary to rapidly improve your daily class composition. Please click here for more information and to register today!
Events:
- May 23, 10:00 AM, Final Awards Ceremony
- May 26, Academy Closed, Memorial Day
- May 28, Late Start, classes begin at 9:05 AM
- May 30, Last day of Classes
- May 31 - June 6, Student Motherhouse Trip
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Admissions News
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- It is time again to thank families for recommending St. Mary's Academy to their friends and neighbors. A big shout out of gratitude to: Patty and Brian Haas, Ashley Goldberg, Kelley McConnell and Kim Vance! There are still places available in certain grades, so please continue to encourage folks to apply!
- Would you like to join other Academy Parents in welcoming our new families with a phone call or email to SMA this summer? Please contact Gracie Carr at gcarr@smanet.org.
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Advancement News
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 SMA has gift cards available for upcoming events and holidays! We've got one stop shopping for you! Purchase gift cards for Graduation, Teacher's Appreciation, Father's Day. Questions, please contact Carolyn Wilson in the Business Office at cwilson@smanet.org or click here for more information.
- THANKS for reloading! Here's an update on the results for the month of April from our King Soopers Reloadable Grocery Program:
Number of cards reloaded: 49
Total $ amount reloaded: $15,003
SMA Net: $750.16
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!
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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 May 21, 2014.
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Athletic News
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News:
- All SMA Sports Team Photos for the entire school year, along with hundreds of action shots, are now on-line. Please click here to view all the action shots and order on-line or pick up an order form from the athletic department. Order Your Sports Team Pictures, Action Shots, and Keepsakes from all three seasons today!
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 The High School Spring Sports Awards Ceremony was held on Tuesday night to honor over 90 athletes who competed for SMA. Congratulations to our student-athletes on a great spring season! 16 spring athletes earned All League Honors in tennis, soccer and lacrosse. Claire Chrisman and Emma Selner received Senior of the Year Awards and Allison Grenney was honored again this year as Coach of the Year (2011, 2013, 2014). We had 35 juniors and senior varsity athletes recognized for meeting CHSAA All-State academic criteria and the golf, lacrosse, and tennis teams earned All-State team recognition. We also want to congratulate our eight Wildcats who participated in three sports this year including two seniors who have played three sports all four years, Claire Chrisman and Kate Melberg.
- ACADEMIC AWARDS - CHSAA Academic All-State Teams (cumulative GPA)
- Varsity Lacrosse (3.5)
- Varsity Golf
- Varsity Tennis (3.8)
- Varsity 2 Tennis (3.8)
- VARSITY AWARD RECIPIENTS
- Kate Coviello, Golf
- Lexi Maerz, Lacrosse
- Emma Selner, Soccer
- Becky & Jenny O'Brien, V2 Tennis
- Rachael Haas, Tennis
- COACHES AWARD RECIPIENTS
- Brenna Sauer, Golf
- Chase Morris, Lacrosse
- Rachel Cella, Soccer
- Virdiana Bonilla, JV Tennis
- McKinley Hamilton, V2 Tennis
- Elaina Villanueva, V Tennis
- 3 SPORT ATHLETES
- Rachel Cella (Field hockey, basketball, soccer)
- Claire Chrisman (field hockey, swimming, tennis)
- Gabby Lorence (field hockey, basketball, tennis)
- Lilia McGee-Harris (field hockey, dance, lacrosse)
- Kate Melberg (field hockey, swimming, tennis)
- Lynnae Pacheco (volleyball, basketball, soccer)
- Sophia Richardson (cross country, swimming, soccer)
- Kate Windler (cross country, swimming, soccer)
- Sign up for Wildcat Sports Camps today!
- Wildcat Volleyball Camp, Grades 6 - 8 - July 28 - 30
- All American Volleyball, Grades 8 - 12 - August 4 - 6
- Wildcat Running Camp, Co-ed for Grades 6 - 12, August 4 - 7
Click Here for Online Registration
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Casino Royale 007 was a night to remember! More than 400 SMA parents, faculty, staff and friends came together for our annual Gala. The preliminary tally shows that we raised more than $260,000 to support the St. Mary's Academy Tuition Assistance Fund and Robotics Program. 
SMA will begin participating in the Box Tops For Education Program next school year! Start saving Box Tops now. 
