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Wildcat Weekly
A Weekly Newsletter from St. Mary's Academy 
Why Pray? in the Academy President's Blog: 

The Loretto Community has offered a challenge to all of us connected with Loretto: pray for the end to gun violence. We are invited to pray for twenty minutes on the first Monday of the month. Through a collective effort of prayer, the hope is, maybe we could bring some peace.


Deirdre V. Cryor
Academy President

College Acceptances are Rolling In
Graduation day for the Academy's Class of 2016 will be here before we know it. With the help of their parents, advisors and college counselors, these bright and talented young women have been planning for the next step in each of her academic careers.  

SMA is proud to share that students have already received acceptance to the following colleges and universities to date: Johns Hopkins University Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan College of Engineering, Swarthmore College, School of Mines, and Pomona College to name a few.

Congratulations to our phenomenal students. We will continue to update this list as acceptances are reported.

Alumna Named One of Forbes' 30 Under 30

Congratulations to alumna Milagros Barsallo '05, who has been named one of Forbes' 30 Under 30 of 2016. Having earned praise from none other than President Obama for her work, she is affiliated with RISE Colorado, a nonprofit focused on closing the opportunity gap for low-income and minority students.

 

Community News
  • Come join us for Academy Parents' January meeting on Thursday, January 14 from 8-9:30 AM in the Community Center. This month's speaker is Martha Ashley, SMA Middle School Principal. All parents are welcome!
  • The Sisters of Loretto are taking on a campaign to pray to end Gun Violence. SMA has accepted the challenge to join the campaign. On the first Monday of the month, Loretto communities across the country will stop to pray for 20 minutes for an end to gun violence. Here at SMA, beginning next month, each Division will modify the program according to age and opportunities in the schedule. Faculty and staff began this moment of prayer during Monday's Faculty Work Day.
  • A striking wooden carving representing Ghana graces the Sanders House reception area. The design is called gye nyame, a  traditional symbol meaning "God Is Enough" or "Only God." The painted cross in the center is a modern addition representing the 200-year history of Christianity in Ghana.  

    The Loretto Committee for Ghana gave the carvings to the Loretto-sponsored schools in gratitude for their involvement with Loretto's sister community, the Daughters of the Most Holy Trinity in Ghana, in building a school in the rural village of Akokoamong. SMA was particularly proud when Blessed Trinity Leadership Academy opened in fall of 2009 knowing that SMA high school students and alumnae had spent several weeks over the summer getting the school building ready to open. Today over 400 children in pre-school through seventh grade proudly attend the school.

  • SMA Nuggets Night is March 8! Join the Denver Nuggets for the annual St. Mary's Academy Community Night with the Nuggets on Tuesday, March 8 at 7:00 PM. All participants can join in the VIP Experience prior to the game and 40 select students will be able to take part in the Red, White and Blue Crew and SAIMARAC will sing the National Anthem. Don't miss it. Click here for more information.
Lower School News & Events
News:
  • Guided by our Loretto School values, this month the Lower School is collecting loose change for an organization called Haitian Families First (HFF). This will be our fifth year supporting HFF. The money we raise will be used to send Haitian children to school and provide them with life-saving healthcare. The Junior Kindergarten and First Grade classes are leading this effort. LS parents, please support with your child doing small chores or in looking into their own piggy banks for small change. Individual classrooms will be accepting the change all month. So send in whenever! Click here to view a video was sent by HFF to thank SMA and inspire us to continue our service and support.   
Events: 
  • Wednesday, January 13: Late Start for Students. Classes begin at 9:00 AM.
Middle School News & Events
News:
  • The Middle School is pleased to announce that art teacher Cheri Buxman has taken on the role of Middle School Diversity Liaison. This is a role that the MS has desired to implement for sometime and one that Cheri's experience supports. She is forming a diversity committee and exploring ways to enhance students' community experiences. Jean-Claude Pritchard and Cheri are planning to provide a 45 minute activity in January or February that will prompt student reflection on diversity.  As well, Cheri's work will influence and carry into Community Service and CAT activities. Congratulations and thank you, Cheri. 
     
  • Save the date! The Middle School Social is Friday, February 19.  Mark your calendars and plan to spend an evening with your SMA Middle School friends and enjoy great music and beach volleyball at The Island. More information to come.
Events:
  • Wednesday, January 13: Late Start for Students. Classes begin at 9:00 AM.
High School News & Events
News: 
  • Congratulations to Miranda Loughry who will be traveling to England in March to share her academic paper at Oxford Comic Con 2016. The conference will be exploring academic subjects relating to popular comic books, science fiction movies and other forms of popular culture. It aims to use these media to convey academic research to the public in a fun and engaging way. Accepted papers include short presentations, panels or debates.
  • The Class of 2019 is excited to announce the second annual Freshmen Tea Party on January 22 from 2:00-3:30 PM. Watch your emails for the Save the Date and Invitation. Since this is a community event, the Freshmen Student Council is asking for help from families to make this event scrumptious and spectacular. The third week of January we will be asking each advisory to contribute. With your help, it will be a wonderful afternoon of tea, cookies, and bonding. Advisories are asked to bring the following: 
    • Ferguson: Variety of tea bags
    • Weinberg: Variety of tea bags
    • Pfeifer: Cookies
    • Sniegowski: Cookies
    • Jones: Cookies
    • Baker: Cream, sugar cubes and a bag of lemons
Events:
  • Friday, January 8; 7:30 PM: High School Winter Dance
  • Wednesday, January 13: Late Start for Students. Classes begin at 9:00 AM.
Admissions News & Events
  • Happy 2016 from St. Mary's Academy Admissions! Re-enrollment for 2016-17 is just around the corner. Look for your student's packet arriving in the mail early next week. Please let us know if you have recently changed your address or if you do not receive the information by Friday, January 15. 
  • Have you registered for your JK/Kindergarten group visit?  
    • Junior Kindergarten Applicants: January 21; 9:00-10:00 AM. RSVP now!
    • Kindergarten applicants: January 13; 9:15-10:45 AM or January 26; 8:30-10:00 AM. RSVP now!
  • Reminder:
    • High School application deadline: January 15
    • Lower and Middle School application deadline: January 29
  • Financial Assistance applications are due February 12. We recommend that you apply as soon as possible. While we know your 2015 taxes will not be completed by February 12, we must have your application submitted no later than February 12 to be considered for assistance for the 2016-17 school year. Please begin the process by applying at: sss.nais.org.
Advancement News
  • Happy New Year! Thank you for your generous support of the Eight Weeks of Giving Annual Fund campaign. The results are in and we are just $17,652 short of our $350,000 goal!  Much of this success came from your generosity on Colorado Gives Day. Below is a breakdown comparing last year's results to this year's results.  Thank you again to all of the Colorado Gives Day donors! 
     
     Colorado Gives Day 2015Colorado Gives Day 2014
    # of Donors201137
    Total Gifts $157,553$55,267
    CGD Incentive Fund$7,128$2,296
    Total Raised on CGD$164,681$57,563
     
    We are hoping to exceed our $350,000 goal this month. Thank you to the many families (49%) who have made their Annual Fund contribution.  With everyone's support we can reach our goal this month!  $17,652 to go!
Alumnae News
  • More than 25% of the gifts that SMA received on Colorado Gives Day came from our generous alumnae! Thanks in part to your gifts, we were the beneficiary of more than $7,000 from the FirstBank Incentive Fund which was added to the $157,553 donated to SMA that day. THANK YOU!
  • Thank you to all the alumnae that attended the Young Alumnae Coffees and the Alumnae Basketball Reunion. We love seeing familiar faces back on campus. 
Athletic News
  • Challenger Sports' British Soccer Camp registration is open! Sign up now! The experienced staff study the game at all levels and we have identified the key techniques and skills that your players need to work on and master to reach their true potential. With programs for each age, the curriculum includes a variety of foot skills, technical drills, tactical practices, freestyle soccer, small-sided games, coached scrimmages, and a mini tournament play. Location: St. Mary's Academy; Pam Bent Turf Field at Biddle Fields.
  • Come support your high school teams as they compete this week at the following times:
    • Varsity and JV Basketball: Thursday, January 7 @ HOME v. The Academy, 5:30 PM 7:00 PM
    • Dance:
      • Thursday, January 7 @ HOME. JV performs during JV basketball halftime, Varsity performs during Varsity basketball halftime.
      • Friday, January 8 Performance at Metro State University 
    • Swim and Dive: Thursday, January 7 @ Schlessman Family YMCA v. Kent Denver, 4:00 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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