FROM THE PRINCIPAL


Thank you to the parents who joined us on campus for Back to School Night. It was a beautiful evening and we enjoyed seeing so many of you.


During the month of September, we will begin celebrating class Masses with each grade level. These Masses will be held at 7:50 a.m. in the Chapel of St. Joseph as designated on the calendar. Students scheduled to attend Mass must arrive no later than 7:40 a.m. and check in at the chapel entrance. Mass will begin promptly at 7:50 a.m. Students arriving after that time will be marked tardy.
 
All students within the designated grade level are expected to participate in Mass celebrations. If a student is absent or tardy on Mass days, the school attendance policy will apply. Students arriving early on campus who are not a member of that grade level will be supervised in the Commons from 7:50-8:20 a.m. Advisory check in for non-Mass students is 8:20-8:25 a.m. Teachers will be in meetings, and classrooms will be closed until 8:20 a.m.
 
As a reminder, our first Parent/Daughter Liturgy began today in the Chapel of St. Joseph. These liturgies are usually the first Thursday of the month. Please refer to the online school calendar. We look forward to seeing many of you there.
 
Thank you as always for your support,


Barbara J. McCormick
Principal of Academic Affairs  
 
Please note the list of scheduled Mass dates below as well as other important dates in September. 
Sept. 1

Parent-Daughter Liturgy @ 7:10 a.m.

Sept. 7

Freshman Class Mass

Sept. 8

All School Portrait Day

Sept. 14

Sophomore Class Mass

Sept. 21

Junior Class Mass

Sept. 28

Senior Class Mass
UPCOMING EVENTS


New Moms Morning Social for moms of transfer students and freshmen sponsored by the Star Parents Association: 
Friday, Sept. 9

Windmoor Center
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.

Click
here to reserve your spot.
 
Come Fly With Us!
Anniversary Pre-Gala Party
Join us for the newest event celebrating our 150th Anniversary year. 

The Pre-Gala Party replaces the alum and parent pre-auction parties typically held each year.
DEPARTURE DATE:

Thursday, September 22, 2016

DEPARTURE TIME:

6:00-9:00 p.m.

TERMINAL:

Airline History Museum
Hangar 9 at the Kansas City Downtown Airport


Enjoy an evening of non-stop food, beverages, and good friends as you step back in time to the lost age of propeller airplanes and luxurious travel.
PASSENGERS:

$50 Individual Ticket

FLIGHT CREW:

Support the event by becoming a Pilot ($500 includes two event tickets and recognition that evening) or Co-Pilot ($150 includes two event tickets) for the evening.

BOOK YOUR FLIGHT:

Purchase here before September 15, 2016.



Freshman Mixer
The annual Freshman Mixer will be on Saturday, Sept 17. The event will be held in the Goppert Gymnasium starting at 7:30 p.m. (doors lock at 8 p.m.) and ending promptly at 9:30 p.m. All STA freshmen are encouraged to attend this annual event. Freshmen from other Catholic high schools are also invited. Attire is casual and the cost is $5 at the door. Contact teacher Kim Sirridge with any questions.


Autumn Choral Concert and Reception
Join us on Wednesday, October 12, for the STA Choirs' Fall Music Festival. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m. performance. Please stay for the reception. Admission is free.


Open House 
All Future Stars and their parents are welcome! 
Sunday, October 9, 2016
10:00 a.m.

Mass (optional)

11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Campus Tours


150th Anniversary Gala

November 19, 2016
Join us for this very special event to mark the conclusion of the school's 150th Anniversary. Enter into a magical evening as performance art creates moments in time throughout the celebrated history of St. Teresa's Academy. It will be an evening like none other in the Academy's history. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities and the event here.


Travel Opportunities for Summer 2017 
There are trips being offered for students next summer to Italy, Paris, and England/France combined. Check the website for more information.
SCHOOL PORTRAIT DAY IS SEPTEMBER 8


Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors 
Portrait Day order forms were sent home on Tuesday, Aug. 30. If you'd like to purchase any of the portrait packages available, place your order on or before September 8 to receive discounted pricing.


1)  Order online at www.rollandkc.com. Enter the password ST16. Follow the online instructions. Have your daughter bring a copy of the receipt with her on Portrait Day.
OR
2)  Complete the paper order form and turn it in to the photographer at school on Portrait Day, September 8. 


Discounted prices apply only to orders received by September 8. Prices will increase after this day.


On Portrait Day, please make sure your daughter is dressed in formal uniform (this includes her sweater). Photos will be taken during English class.


Seniors 
Seniors who did not have their photos taken in the summer with Rolland Studio can take their photos on Thursday, October 6, from 10:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. in the Commons.


Seniors should wear a nice top (no t-shirts, tank tops, halter tops, or spaghetti straps).
BUSINESS OFFICE


Fall sports fees will be included in your September billing and are due on Oct 10.
ACADEMICS


National Honor Society
NHS will continue to recycle small ink cartridges. Please place ink cartridges in a plastic bag and forward to Mrs. Major's mail box in M&A.
  
NHS applications will be available online November 1. The application deadline is Nov. 15. Criteria: junior or senior, 93.0 or higher cumulative GPA as of June, 2016 (and prior to induction in Feb., 2017), a minimum of 15 hours of service to STA, a minimum of 15 hours of community service to a non-profit organization, leadership, and character. Service hours must be from March 15, 2016, through the application deadline. 


Ceramic Artwork Receives National Attention
Senior Iyanla Williams's work, One Girl Many Faces, will be on display at the U.S. Department of Education as part of Art.Write.Now.DC, a special exhibition of National Medalist work from the 2016 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Sixty-five of the 832 works were selected to be displayed in the lobby of the U.S. Department of Education's main building in Washington, D.C. Congratulations Iyanla.
COLLEGE COUNSELING


Rockhurst University Dual Enrollment will be held Sept. 6 during Activity 1 or 2 in Verheyen. Students must attend ONE of the sessions to enroll (or have previously enrolled on Aug. 29). Dual enrollment through RU is an option for students in AP Calculus, College Pre-Calculus, College French III & IV, College Latin III & IV, College Spanish III & IV, and College Composition. Students must have a check, payable to RU, at time of registration. Click here for more details on cost, GPA requirement, credit transferability, and more. Students must register on one of these two days. NO late registrations are allowed.
 
Catholic College Day at STA will be held on Mon., Sept.12, during Activity 1 & 2 in Verheyen. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors are welcome to come meet with over 40 Catholic colleges from around the country.
 
College Info Night for Junior Families (students & parents)  
Mon., Sept. 12, from 7:15-9 p.m. at Rockhurst High School, Rose Theater. 
Sessions offered: 
  • ACT & SAT
  • Financing a College Education
  • Engineering/STEM Careers
  • College Visits
  • Health Careers 
  • Essays & Resumes
  • Selective Admissions
  • College Athletics
College Night is open to all families of Kansas City's private high schools on Tues., Sept. 13, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Rockhurst High School gym. Over 140 colleges will be represented. A list of colleges in attendance will be sent in a separate email to parents of sophomores, juniors and seniors.  
  
Standardized Tests
PSAT Test

Wed., Oct. 19, 7:50-11:15 a.m. for sophomores and juniors. Click here for more info.

Practice ACT

Fri., Oct. 28, 7:50 a.m.-noon for sophomores and juniors

Pre ACT Test

Fri., Oct. 28, 7:50-11 a.m. for freshmen

Bring No. 2 pencils and calculator for all tests.


GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT


Welcome to the 2016-2017 school year! We are excited to work with you and your daughter(s) this school year. Please feel free to contact us and encourage your daughters to do so as well. Our contact information is listed below.


Kelly McKee-Academic Counselor
816.501.0030


Amanda Johnson-Personal Counselor
816.501.0039


Kathy Brodie-Director of Learning & Leadership
816.501.0011 x 165


Freshman Interviews
All freshmen will meet with Mrs. McKee, Ms. Johnson, or Mrs. Brodie to complete freshman interviews. This is a process that allows the girls to meet one on one with a counselor to discuss how the year is starting off and what we can do to help make each student comfortable and gain the best possible experience here at STA.


Freshman Star Seminar
Freshmen have begun meeting with Mrs. McKee for Star Seminar. This is a year-long orientation to ease those first-year jitters. They will focus on test-taking strategies, organizational tips, getting involved at STA, and much more.
Sister School in Japan


I would like to welcome Maya Inoue to the St. Teresa's Academy community and thank the Pierson family (Emmet and Marion, Class of 1987) for opening their home to our guest during the fall semester. Maya attends our sister school, Saint Joseph Joshi Gakuen (SJJG), Tsu City. She will spend the year engaging in the STA community and culture, including spending time with her host sisters: Elexa (Class of 2017) and Erris (Class of 2019). We are currently seeking a host family for Maya for the spring 2017 semester; please contact Liz Majors at 
[email protected] for more information.


As part of our strategic plans for the Diversity Initiative and to serve the world beyond our local community, St. Teresa's Academy partners with our sister institution in Japan, Saint Joseph Joshi Gakuen. Through this partnership, St. Teresa's honors a year-long exchange program for the young women of SJJG and the opportunity for our own young women to visit our sister school through St. Teresa's hosted summer study.
STAR PARENTS ASSOCIATION
CAMPUS MINISTRY



Kairos Retreat
St. Teresa's Academy sponsors an optional 3 1/2 day retreat that offers junior and senior students the opportunity to explore their relationship with self, God, and others.   

 
KAIROS information meetings took place in August but sign-ups for seniors are currently underway. We will open the sign-up process to juniors later in the fall. Parents and students will receive further information about the sign-up process via e-mail. For planning purposes, here are the dates for the 2016-17 retreats:   
  • October 25-28, 2016 (for seniors only)
  • January 17-20, 2017 (for juniors and seniors only)
  • March 28-31, 2017 (for juniors and seniors only)
  • May 30 - June 2, 2017* (for juniors and seniors only)
Senior parents should have received information via e-mail already and junior parents will be contacted later this fall. For additional information about the KAIROS program, contact Mrs. Robin Good, Coordinator, at [email protected]. 


*this retreat takes place after the school year ends
STAR SHOP


The Star Shop is now Online. Shop and order online. Ship your items or pick them up in the Star Shop. In addition to uniform shirts and fleece jackets, the Star Shop has a large selection of school spirit wear and has great gift ideas for you and your family. It's also a great place to volunteer! Click here for more opportunities. Hours for the Star Shop during regular schedule school days are: Monday - Thursday 2:45-3:30 p.m

athleticlogo
ATHLETICS



Aug. 19 marked the beginning of fall athletics competition in the state of Missouri. The Stars are out in full force as golf, softball, tennis and volleyball swing into action.

FINE ARTS BOOSTERS (FAB)



Please join us for our next FAB meeting as we kick off the school year on September 14 from 7-8:00 p.m. in the Zahner Lounge, Donnelly Hall. This is our first FAB meeting of the school year. All are welcome!
Questions? Contact: Shana Prentiss at [email protected].




St. Teresa's Academy | 5600 Main | Kansas City | MO | 64113