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Wildcat Weekly
A Weekly Newsletter from St. Mary's Academy 
A Few Words about Word of Mouth in the Academy President's Blog: 

Like many schools, St. Mary's Academy knows that word of mouth is the number one approach for growing inquiries among prospective families.


Deirdre V. Cryor
Academy President

Eight Weeks of Giving: Schedule Now to Make Your Dollar Go Further
St. Mary's Academy is one of 1,700 nonprofits participating in Colorado Gives Day on December 8. Every nonprofit receiving a donation on December 8 will also receive a portion of the $1 million Incentive Fund, which increases the value of every dollar you give.

Early scheduling has begun so there is no need to wait until December 8! Click here to schedule your gift. Simply select "CO Gives Day" under Donation Type to ensure your donation is processed on Colorado Gives Day and make your dollar go further!

During our third week of Eight Weeks of Giving, we are highlighting the importance of the activity buses and all that they do for our community. You can click here to learn more about what your Annual Fund donation will support and watch a video featuring the Golf Team getting ready to head to their tournament!
SMA has Halloween Spirit!

Students, faculty, and parents alike enjoyed last week's Halloween festivities on campus. From carved pumpkins in third grade to Dia de los Muertos alters in the Middle School, SMA was filled with Halloween spirit. Here are just a few of the sights and spooks from Friday...

Community News
  • Throughout the month of November, as we remember the faithful departed, St. Mary's Academy makes available a Book of the Dead in which students and faculty can share the name(s) of those loved ones who have died so that they may be remembered in prayer. The book is located in the High School outside of Principal, Ms. McNamee's office. 
  • Montessori School of Denver is excited to be offering a parenting program designed by the Love and Logic Institute, beginning Thursday, November 5. Please click here for more information.
     
  • Loretto: From Kentucky to Pakistan. Join Sister Regina for coffee, conversation and slides about Loretto. Experience the Motherhouse virtually, hear about the mission to China in the 1930s, find out about Loretto's work in Denver and lots more. We will gather in the third floor of Sanders House on Friday, November 6 from 8:15-9:15 AM. Click here for more information. 
  • The Graland Parent Association's Parent Education Network (PEN) will welcome K. Brooke Pengel, M.D., on Tuesday, November 10, 6:30-8:00 PM, to discuss sports specialization, the importance of sport diversification and prevention of youth sports injuries. Dr. Pengel is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, who specializes in sports medicine, and she is the medical director of the Youth Sports Medicine Program at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children. The event is free; however, you are asked to register online.
  • The next Academy Parents monthly meeting is Thursday, November 12 at 8:00 AM in the Community Center. All parents are welcome and invited to join us. This month's guest speaker is Holly from The Challenge Foundation.
  • Support SMA by shopping at Amazon! St. Mary's Academy is now participating in the Amazon Smile program. Simply log onto smile.amazon.com and select St. Mary's Academy for the Sisters of Loretto. SMA will receive 5% of your purchase!
  • Thanksgiving is right around the corner and that means grocery shopping, baking and entertaining. Please consider using your re-loadable King Soopers card when purchasing holiday groceries. We also have other grocery cards available for purchase including Tony's Market, Safeway, Whole Foods, Sprouts and Natural Grocers. These cards can be purchased in the Business Office in Sanders House or by contacting Kathleen Hogan.
 
Lower School News & Events
News:
  • A big thank you from seventh graders, Nicolas Rodriguez, Kevin Reyes, and Ethan Carr, for the generous donations and support of the Lower School Peru donut sale last week. With the help of LS supporters Emily Rodriguez, Hannah Reyes, and Madeline Carr, all pictured together at right, they raised an incredible $360 for the people of Peru!
  • November Late Start Collection: Friends of St. Andrew provides families in need with food for Thanksgiving dinner. This collection only runs through November 11. Please click here for details. 
  • LS Picture Retakes are Wednesday, November 11. Order forms will go home in Friday Folders.
  • 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. 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.
Update From Florence Swanson, LS Principal:
The Spirit of Giving is alive in the Lower School! Please join us in celebrating Mass on November 13 at 8:15 AM in the Lower School.  It's the feast day of St. Frances Cabrini, who is revered for her service to others in need. Our families and students have been so generous in our monthly collections--snacks for grieving families, coats for the homeless, and more! It is wonderful to see our Loretto Values being put into action again and again. 

Events: 
  • Tuesday, November 10; 9:00 AM: Lower School Preview beginning in the Community Center. Click here to RSVP.  

  • Wednesday, November 11: Late Start for Students. Classes begin at 9:00 AM.

Middle School News & Events
News:
  • CAT service continues! Take a look at Mrs. Garcia's CAT helping with food prep at St. Elizabeth's recently. We are grateful to all who brought in the food supplies.
  • Parents of Middle School girls are invited to learn more about the SMA High School by attending an informational parents-only evening with both current and former high school parents. Hosted by the Academy Parents, we encourage all parents of Middle School girls to come Thursday, November 12 from 7:00-8:30 PM in the Community Center at SMA. It is sure to be a fun and informative evening!
Events:
  • Friday, November 6; 3:30-5:00 PM: MS Mixer in the Commons
  • Tuesday, November 10; 7:00 PM: MS Concert in the Forum

  • Wednesday, November 11: Late Start for Students. Classes begin at 9:00 AM.

High School News & Events
News: 
  • Get ready for Daria Boulos, Macey Hills, Sarah Hoogerwerf, Sophia Larabee, and Allie Putze to tickle your funny bone and warm your heart in Dixie Swim Club. Supported by an awesome crew led by Kristina Karisch and Director Deborah Curtis, you do not want to miss this show. Performances are November 5, 6 and 7 at 7:00 PM. For reserved seats, contact  Roberta Hamilton-Griggs. Students and faculty see the show for free, and all other tickets are $6.00. Please enter through the west doors of the High School at the top of the ramp. This show is rated PG 13. 
  • Many congratulations, again to the SMAbotics Team for their exceptional performance at the BEST Competition. Click here to see the awards video that the team created capturing the five prizes they received. 
  • Junior Food Court is on Thursday, November 12. The Junior Student Association will start selling tickets on Thursday, November 5-12 during lunch. Tickets are $10 for all you can eat, and they highly encourage everyone to buy in advance to avoid a long line on the 12th. The SMA Food Store will be closed and there will be no off campus lunch to support this annual fundraiser for Prom. Students may also want to bring extra cash that day to buy raffle tickets for Not So Silent Night tickets and various gift cards.  
Events:
  • Thursday, November 5; 7:00 PM: Dixie Swim Club in the Forum
  • Friday, November 6; 7:00 PM: Dixie Swim Club in the Forum
  • Saturday, November 7; 7:00 PM: Dixie Swim Club in the Forum
  • Wednesday, November 11: Late Start for Students. Classes begin at 9:00 AM.
Admissions News & Events
Please join us or share with a friend one of the many upcoming events and tours!

Tuesday, November 10: Lower School Preview from 9:00-10:30 AM beginning in the Community Center. Click here to RSVP. 

High School Placement Test will be Saturday, December 5 at 8:00 AM. Registration is easy. Click here to begin.
 
Financial Assistance Portal at sss.nais.org is NOW OPEN. New and returning SMA families are encouraged to begin the process of applying for financial assistance and note that the application must be submitted by February 12, 2016. Please apply at sss.nais.org and begin uploading documents requested. 
For additional information, and to reference the list of documents needed, click here. If you have any questions, please email Gracie Carr.

SMA Junior Kindergarten/Kindergarten Siblings: Please contact Admissions to RSVP for the required group visit.  
  • Junior Kindergarten Applicants: December 16 or January 21; 9:00-10:00 AM.  
  • Kindergarten applicants: January 13; 9:15-10:45 AM or January 26; 8:30-10:00 AM.  
Click here for the online application, parent comment form and teacher recommendation! 
 
Shout out of thanks to: Marna Belfance, Holly Butler, Patricia Skinner, Molly McCray Finke, Cynthia Friedland, Kim Davis, Alli Jones, Jodi Jones, and Mike Roybal.  
 
If you have any questions please contact Gracie Carr or Seely Greenberg in the Admissions Office.
Advancement News

  • A big THANK YOU to Academy Parents for sponsoring Bingo Night! It was a packed house in the Forum! We are also grateful to all the families who attended - it was a great night of fun.
  • Grandparents' Day is coming up on Friday, November 20 from 8:00-11:30 AM. All grandparents should have received an invitation in the mail. For more information, click here.
Alumnae News
Save the dates for the Young Alumnae Coffees:
  • Friday, December 18
  • Tuesday, January 5

Both events will take place from 9:00-11:00 AM in the HS Forum. 


All Alumnae from the classes of 2005 - 2015 are invited. 

Athletic News
Way to go Wildcat Cross County- Successful Running at State!
Running in a 5K race, our Wildcats scored 345 points to take 12th place in the state. Finishing with a time of 20:58.90, Isabella Morrissette is now the 25th fastest 3A runner in the STATE! Mariah Horvath ran a career race and achieved her personal best of 22:30 at the meet for 59th place. Our other runners finished with the following times:  
  • Lauren Banko; 22:53
  • McKenna Nading; 23:17  
  • Kate Windler; 23:39   
  • Hannah Staker; 23:53
  • Lauren Carroll; 24:21
Congratulations to the SMA Varsity Volleyball on making Regionals!  
They play Saturday, November 7, 2015 at Coal Ridge High School (35947 Highway 6, New Castle, CO 81647). The first match will begin at 11:00 AM against Coal Ridge. 

At the completion of that match, there will be a 15-minute break and 15-minute warmup before SMA takes on La Junta at approximately 1:00 PM.

All matches will be best 3 out of 5 sets to 25.

Last chance to help FILL THE HILL and COME TO THE COURTS for our fall athletes:
  • Thursday, November 5: 7/8 Soccer at 3:30 PM on the Turf Field
  • Thursday, November 5 at Colorado Academy
    • Tennis at 3:45 PM
    • 7th Navy Volleyball at 3:45 PM
    • 8th Silver Volleyball at 4:45 PM
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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