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Wildcat Weekly
A Weekly Newsletter from St. Mary's Academy 
To Be Magnificent in the Academy President's Blog: 

Every day I teach a creative writing class in the Middle School. Daily, sixth, seventh and eighth grade students walk over from the Middle School, up the three flights of stairs in Sanders House and spend 45 minutes in class talking about writing, reading their writing and best of all...writing. To say I love the time with these students would be an understatement.
 
Deirdre V. Cryor
Academy President

Eight Weeks of Giving Bursts onto Campus!
Eight Weeks of Giving is coming soon!  Help St. Mary's Academy to raise $350,000 for the Annual Fund by December 8, Colorado Gives Day. This year, the Annual Fund will specifically support:
        • STREAM (STEM+): Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts and Math
        • Athletics, Fine Arts and Performing Arts
        • New Activity Bus
        • Buildings and Grounds
        • Teacher Appreciation
        • Academy Parents
Every student's curiosity, creativity, and motivation deserves to be explored to its full potential, and your contribution to the Annual Fund makes that come to fruition. 

SMA Board of Trustees Welcomes New Leadership
This summer, the St. Mary's Academy Board of Trustees welcomed Bob Flynn as new Board Chair. Assuming the position from Maureen Reidy Witt '73 at the culmination of her three-year term, Mr. Flynn has served on the Board since 2011 and brings extensive real estate, accounting and finance, property and asset management experience to the role of Board Chair. 
 
With two daughters who graduated from the High School (and attended the Lower and Middle schools!) and a nephew who went through the Middle School, Bob and his wife Kathy comment that all three students have "...greatly benefitted from being a part of the close-knit community that is a defining characteristic of the school." He continues, "Accordingly, Kathy and I have been vocal advocates of St. Mary's Academy within our respective business and social circles."

Pictured together at right, SMA thanks Maureen for her dedicated leadership, and appreciates Bob's vision as he leads the Academy beyond our sesquicentennial year.
 
We are also pleased to welcome four new Trustees to the Board this year: High School Parent, Billy Aud; Middle School Parent, Diana Rael; and Sisters of Loretto, Denise Ann Clifford SL and Cathy Mueller SL.
 
A National Merit Semifinalist in our Midst

Congratulations to senior, Abby Clements, pictured at right, who has been named a semifinalist in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program. The program is an academic competition that awards more than $32 million in scholarships to approximately 7,400 students each year. Students qualify by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. 

 

Not only did she do well on the PSAT, Abby recently learned that she earned a perfect score on the ACT exam! 

 

SMA also congratulates Claire State and Kristina Karasch who were recognized as National Merit Commended Scholars this year.

Lower School News & Events
News:
  • Conferences are just around the corner. Please contact Jackie Neal if you still need to sign up. And don't forget to plan on visiting the Book Fair in the LS Gym before or after your conference time!
    • Wednesday, October 21  3:30 - 7:30 PM, no after school classes, EDC available until 6:00 PM.
    • Thursday, October 22  Noon - 7:30 PM
    • Friday, October 23 7:30 AM - Noon
  • LS Field Days and the Family Picnic were picture perfect events! Thanks to all who volunteered and attended each event. We couldn't have asked for better weather to enjoy time together and get active. A special thanks to Ms. Gayley and the Advanced Band who serenaded Field Day participants as they processed out to the Pam Bent Turf Field on Biddle Fields.  Here are a few pictures of the occasions to enjoy... 
  • The overnight death of two of the Junior Kindergarten class's goldfish became a teachable moment when the students decided to honor them with a funeral. Seeing an opportunity to gently guide the students to an age-appropriate understanding of death, the JK teachers helped the children hammer together a small wooden box, dig a grave near the butterfly bridge and write a prayer together.

    The prayer spoke of gratitude and trust in a loving God. It envisioned heaven as a happy place of flowers and ziplines where the fish would play, swim, and hear the students talk to them. The service was a sweet reminder of how children's faith is beautifully uncomplicated and deeply profound.
     
  • The SMA Presto Orchestra will once again have the honor of performing at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, prior to a Colorado Ballet production of The Nutcracker. The Presto Orchestra consists of LS, MS and HS students. This event will take place on Sunday, December 12. The matinee begins at 1:00 PM, and our orchestra will perform for a full 45-50 minutes in the lobby of the Ellie Caulkins, once the doors open at 12:00 PM to the general public. To place a ticket order, please click here or contact Cherie Swisher. We hope to see you there!
Events: 
  • Thursday, October 15
    • Middle School Preview: 9:00 AM beginning in the Community Center
    • 5th grade testing all day
    • 1st grade Field Trip to Childrens' Museum 
  • Wednesday, October 21
    • JK/Kindergarten Coffee and Tours: 9:00 AM beginning in the Community Center 
    • Scholastic Book Fair Begins! Look for the flyer that went home in Friday Folders.
Middle School News & Events
News:
  • As pictured at right, it was all blue skies for the eighth grade as they had a wonderful experience on the trip to Cochiti. The Middle School looks forward to hearing their reflections during this week's prayer service. Please visit the Cochiti 2015 Trip blog to see more pictures and read about their activities. 
  • Next week is MS Preview and we are all looking forward to the new families who will be touring on October 15!
  • Don't forget to sign up for conferences on October 22 & 23!  If you did not receive the email, please contact Diane Siennicki at 303-762-8300, ext. 250.
Events:
  • Tonight, October 14; 6:00-7:30 PM: Boys High School Fair for 7th and 8th grade in the Community Center
  • Friday, October 16; 11:40 AM-12:15 PM: Cochiti Prayer Service in the MS Commons
  • Saturday, October 17; 10:00 AM-1:00 PM: High School Open House in the High School
High School News & Events
News: 
  • Seniors Latavia Pineda and Abby Clements each won "Outstanding Delegation" at the Model UN meet at Boulder High School on Saturday. Model UN is an educational simulation and/or academic competition in which students learn about diplomacy, international relations, and the United Nations. Congratulations ladies and thank you for representing St. Mary's Academy!
  • The Outreach Club has once again partnered with the Gabriel Project of Denver in a drive to collect disposable baby diapers. The Gabriel Project is committed to helping pregnant women and families meet their basic needs to provide for their children. The Gabriel Project, through its five Gabriel Houses in Denver and Boulder, last year gave away more than 100,000 diapers to 7,000 families in need and continues its efforts. 
     
    The High School will be having a diaper drive the week of October 19-23. Donation boxes will be in Advisory Rooms. Get ready, the grade that brings in the most diapers will win spirit points, and an out of dress code day! The advisory that brings in the most diapers will win a treat from Voodoo Doughnuts! We invite students and faculty to participate in the following ways:
    • 9th grade: sizes 4-6
    • 10th grade: sizes 3-5
    • 11th grade: sizes 2-4
    • 12th grade: sizes newborn-2 
    • Faculty without advisories: Wipes 

Events:

  • Thursday, October 15
    • Picture Retakes
    • Field Hockey; 4:15 PM @ SMA
  • Friday, October 16: End of the Grading Period
  • Saturday, October 17; 10:00 AM-1:00 PM: High School Open House in the High School
  • Monday, October 19; 7:00 PM: College Info Night for 10th grade
  • Tuesday, October 20; 9:55 AM: High School Mass in the Forum
Admissions News & Events
Please join us or share with a friend one of the many upcoming events and tours!
  • October 15: Middle School Preview at 9:00 AM-10:30 AM beginning in the Community Center
  • October 17: High School Open House at 10:00 AM-1:00 PM in the High School
  • October 21: Junior Kindergarten/Kindergarten Coffee and Tours at 9:00 AM-10:30 AM beginning in the Community Center

Thank you to all of the SMA families that send prospective families our way!  Shout out to: Meg Deline, Bonnie Sutherland,  Marna Belfance, Charles and Amy Von Thun, Jacqueline and Frank Bonanno.


If you have any questions please contact Gracie Carr or Seely Greenberg in the Admissions Office.
Advancement News
It takes a village to make Grandparents' Day great! Volunteers are needed as follows:
  • Invitation preparation - this Friday, October 16 from 8:00-10:00 AM in the Sanders House Board Room, 2nd floor
  • Set-up - the afternoon of Thursday, November 19 
  • Serve breakfast to our grandparents - Friday, November 20. 
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Kathleen Hogan via e-mail or at 303-762-8300, ext. 284.

You are invited to join the SMA Community on Tuesday, October 27 in the Sanders House Board Room as we kick-off our 2016 Gala, Walk on the Wild Side. Come learn about this year's Gala! We'll have celebratory mimosas and bundt cakes from 8:15-8:45 AM and we'll get down to business from 8:45-9:25 AM. Door prizes will be handed out from 9:25-9:30! Please r.s.v.p. to Kathleen Hogan via e-mail or at 303-762-8300. ext. 284. Click here for more information!

Join us for Bingo Night on Thursday, October 29! Bring the whole family and enjoy bingo games, pizza, snacks, and beverages. Door prizes, trivia question prizes, game winner prizes and fun all night long!  Click here for more information and click here to r.s.v.p.
Athletic News
Field Hockey
We congratulate our Varsity Field Hockey players on celebrating their senior game Saturday, October 10 against Smoky Hill. Coach Sarah Jacobs began by sharing how bonded the team was this year and attributed it to the leadership of the seniors. She then honored each of the seniors and their parents for their contributions to the team and their commitment to the sport over the past four years. 

Here's to #6 April Morland, #16 Captain Kate Norton, #19 Lilia McGee-Harris, #21 Maddie Moore, #23 Lauren Holmes, and #36 Captain Brittany Taylor! We will miss you all next year as you journey on to college. Our Wildcats had a strong performance with a goal scored by Lauren Holmes off of a beautiful assist by sophomore, Raegan Rychecky. Thank you to everyone who attended the game and who made the day so special. Up up Wildcats! 

Cross Country
The Wildcat Cross Country team scored 120 points to take 6th place at the Metro League Meet Thursday at Anthem Park in Broomfield!  Led by Isabella Morrissette, who finished in 12th place, Mariah Horvath, Hannah Staker, McKenna Nading and Lauren Carroll all finished with in 22 seconds of one another. The team successfully organized this "Wildcat Pack" running!

Our Wildcats also took 7th place with 172 points at Saturday's Windjammer Meet. Isabella Morrissette finished 11th. 


For details and schedules, contact the Athletics Office, check the calendar on the St. Mary's Academy mobile device App, or visit the website.  Go Wildcats!

   
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