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Wildcat Weekly
A Weekly Newsletter from St. Mary's Academy 
On Mice and Birds and Stress in the Academy President's Blog: 

There are mice in my house. This has happened before...the weather changes and the mice find a way in. Upon first sighting of these rascally critters, I screech. And when I screech, I cause one of my dogs to hide and another to chase the mouse. It's a ridiculous scene. And, then, if I am honest, I think about taking the dogs and leaving my house forever. I eventually calm down, make a plan and work the plan.


Deirdre V. Cryor
Academy President

SMA Faculty Members Teach Students and Fellow Colleagues 
St. Mary's Academy employs a well-qualified faculty and staff who are dedicated to their profession and embody the qualities of a strong work ethic, desire for personal growth, and commitment to life-long learning that St. Mary's Academy also expects of students. Accordingly, we proudly acknowledge the following teachers who will not only be participating in enriching professional development opportunities in the coming months, but also presenting to their peers at these notable conferences:
  • High School math teacher Iswari Natarajan will be presenting at the 2016 Global Forum on Girls' Education, Creating a World of Possibilities. Scheduled to take place February 7-9, 2016 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City, her proposal entitled "Teaching Girls AP Calculus: Making the Shift from A(nswer getting) to P(roblem Solving)" will be an INSPIRE! roundtable session for the conference programming. Her topic was selected among over 250 proposals submitted nationally.
  • Middle School Spanish teacher Celsa Rutan (pictured above with one of her students) has been invited to present at the 2016 Colorado Conference of Foreign Language Teachers. Taking place February 18-20, the conference is always a highlight for foreign language teachers to discuss new ideas and teaching techniques within their field. Celsa will focus on ways to teach literature in Spanish class.
  • The Association of Practical Theology has accepted a paper proposed by Campus Minister Paula Lee. She will be presenting it at their April 8-10 Biennial Meeting at Fordham University. The paper titled, "Lonely Mystics: The Great Migration of the Spiritual but not Religious" is sure to draw interest at the conference, which is focusing on Live, Move, and Have Being: Migration and Practical Theology.
Community News
  • Come join us for Academy Parents' January meeting on Thursday, January 14 from 8:00-9:30 AM in the Community Center. This month's speaker is Martha Ashley, SMA Middle School Principal. All parents are welcome!
  • St. Elizabeth's School invites you to attend a special screening of Standing in the Gap, and discussion on race in education guided by Rocky Mountain PBS producers Alan Gottlieb & Mateos Alvarez. It will take place on Thursday, February 4, 2016 - 6:00-7:30 PM at St. Elizabeth's School, Denver, CO. Click here for more details and to register.
  • 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.   
Update From Florence Swanson, LS Principal:
Dear Parents,
I recently attended the SMA prayer group. They meet the first Tuesday of every month from 8:15-8:40 AM in the chapel located in the High School. Students, staff and parents submit prayer requests to the group. It is a wonderful time of prayer and giving thanks for so many special people. Each Division has a prayer box and students and families are welcome to submit prayers. Parents, we would love to have you join the prayer group at any time. It is a time of peace, reflection and joy. Prayer requests may also be submitted by clicking here.  All prayers are confidential.
Thank you,
Florence Swanson

Events: 
  • Friday, January 15: BRONCOS SPIRIT DAY! Faculty and students may wear Broncos attire or blue & orange!
  • Monday, January 18: Academy Closed in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  • Wednesday, January 20; 8:10 AM: Lower School Assembly featuring Kindy Cowpoke
Middle School News & Events
News:
  • Congratulations to seventh grader Jack David, pictured at right, who competed in the 2015 Orange Bowl Youth International Regatta in Miami. Among the 500 participants, Jack navigated the waters exceptionally. He also stood out to coaches when on the first day of racing, he pulled a fellow competitor out of the Biscayne Bay and returned him to his capsized boat downwind. This selfless act earned Jack a bowl of oranges inside one of the most celebrated trophies of the event, the Sportsmanship Award. We are proud of Jack and thank him for representing Colorado and SMA's Loretto School Values so well at this international event.  A member of Community Sailing of Colorado, click here to read more about Jack's experience!
     
  • The seventh grade leads the way for the Middle School and all of SMA parents with 63% participation in the Annual Fund. Congratulations and thank you! For a full list of Middle School parents who donated to the Annual Fund, click here. Click here to add your name to the list!
     
  • Please order your Middle School yearbook today. The cost is $35 and checks may be made out to St. Mary's Academy with "yearbook" on the note line. Please remit the check or cash to Mrs. Siennicki or Mr. Mayfield by January 31.
     
  • Two hours to dance, snack, laugh and play in the Forum is coming on Friday, January 22 from 6:00-8:00 PM.  This is the first Middle School social. Dress is slightly up, meaning no t-shirts, spaghetti straps, short shorts, or sportswear. A movie will be provided in the HS cafeteria while the DJ spins the music in the Forum. Parents, teacher chaperones respectfully request your prompt retrieval of students at 8:00 PM in the BESC parking lot. Thank you!
     
  • 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:
  • Friday, January 15; 11:40 AM: Middle School Prayer Service in the Commons
  • Monday, January 18: Academy Closed in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
High School News & Events
News: 
  • Parents may now sign up for High School conferences by clicking here. Have your daughter's schedule/teacher names available when you do. If you need to CANCEL a conference, please call the High School Office. Conferences will be held on:
    • Feb 3: 4-6:45 PM
    • Feb 4: 12-6:45 PM 
    • Feb 5: 7:30-11:45 AM
  • 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:
  • Thursday, January 14; 6:30 PM: FASFA Workshop for Seniors and Parents in HS Rooms 8/9
  • Monday, January 18: Academy Closed in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  • Wednesday, January 20; 9:55 AM: High School Mass in the Forum
Admissions News & Events
  • Re-enrollment for 2016-17 is underway. Look for your student's packet arriving in the mail this 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 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.

  • Thank you for sending friends and families our way. Shout out to: Karen Atkins, Ambar Solis, Shara Castle

     
  • If you have any questions please contact Gracie Carr or Seely Greenberg in the Admissions Office.
Advancement News
  • Our Eight Weeks of Giving was a big success thanks to your generosity. We have raised $332,368 vs. our goal of $350,000 with 49% parent participation (our goal is 100% parent participation). We would especially like to thank our President's Partnership members. To review the current list of President's Partnership members, click here. Take a look at Annual Fund participation by grade level below:

Alumnae News
Lydia Peña SL will be inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame in March 2016. Sr. Lydia, who taught at SMA and was a member of the Board of Trustees, is being honored as an educator, author, art historian and community leader. 


 

 

Athletic News
  • JV and Varsity SMA Dance teams had the opportunity to perform downtown at Metro State. JV performed during halftime of the women's basketball game and Varsity (pictured at right) performed during halftime of the men's game. Both teams had amazing performances! What a great experience for our girls to dance in the Denver community and show off their talent and pride for SMA! Way to go, SMA dancers!
  • 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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