SMA Receives Accreditation  

How fitting in this time of Advent that we would be waiting in hopeful expectation  on communication from the Minnesota Nonpublic School Accrediting Association ( MNSAA ) regarding the late October accreditation visit. The wait is over. 

I am pleased to inform you that Stella Maris Academy has been fully accredited by MNSAA. The  MNSAA accreditation is a public statement of a standard of excellence achieved and also provides a motivational structure that fosters ongoing growth and excellence. Accreditation affords stakeholder and public credibility and confidence because it is achieved through objective evaluation conducted by educational profession als accrediting only when a school has meet high standards and actively seeks ongoing improvement. 

Stella Maris was recognized for the strength and positivity in our school community as evidenced in  the students, parents, teachers, and leadership. We were also commended for  our safe and clean school environments, the strong instructional qualities of our teachers, and the dedication and desire to advance our schools into the future. Because Stella Maris Academy is committed to providing exceptional education, we continue the pursuit of our mission through a working strategic plan that will bring Stella Maris toward a strong and vital future. 

In January, the SMA Governing Board will review the  MNSAA  team report and work with leadership to establish priority action on the School Strategic Plan. Soon thereafter, work will progress to engage stakeholders in the work that will keep moving us forward toward continuing to provide exceptional education at Stella Maris.

Thank you for your confidence in Stella Maris Academy and for entrusting us with your child's educational experience. 

- Hilaire Hauer, Interim President
  Stella Maris Academy

Grateful + Thankful + Blessed
Thank you for sharing your Time, Talent and Treasure with Stella Maris Academy this year!

You light up our students lives!  Thank you so much for your support and prayers for Stella Maris Academy!  The glow of the children's faces this Christmas season brightens our hallways  with the light of Christ.

Your generosity in 2017 has meant that more than 500 students are receiving a strong academic, spiritual, moral and healthy foundation. We are extremely blessed and so thankful to have your involvement in our school! 

In addition to the generosity of our individual donors, Stella Maris Academy has received CREED (The Catholic Religious Education Endowment Fund) Funding. This fund provides for the financial support of educational opportunities for the enrichment of faith and the spreading of the Gospel by the laity, deacons, priests, and Catholic schools in the Diocese of Duluth. This year we used the funds to attend the October session of the Catechist Formation Program. The fund is supported in part by the Evangelization Through Education capital campaign.

We are ever  so grateful for the monetary donations, as well as all of the supporters who have offered their time and talent to make our school exceptional during this year of transition. 

May God bless you and your families
 during this Christmas season and in the New Year!


Online Giving Now Available
End of the year giving has just gotten easier

Please consider an end of the year gift to Stella Maris Academy and give the gift of Christ through Catholic education.   Give Now

SMA Snapshot
* Stella Maris Serves  510 Students
* With 75 Staff Members
* Covering 3 Campuses
* All Part of 1 School
* With Lots of Heart

Did you know....
The current average cost to educate our 510 students is $6,700/student
* Tuition covers only 50% of the cost to educate each child 
* Thanks to generous donors and support of our parishes, we are able to cover the additional 50%

Donate online now by using  this link or visit our website stellamaris.academy/giving We also invite you to stop by one of our campuses to see the light of Christ at work!

STELLAMARIS.ACADEMY | 218-724-8565


Upcoming Events
Fun things are happening at SMA!
 
United Catholic Raffle Begins January 12th!
Catholic Schools Raffle is an annual fundraiser supporting Catholic schools in Minnesota and the Dakotas. Since Catholic United underwrites ALL expenses for the Raffle, SMA gets to keep every penny of each $5 raffle ticket we sell. Approximately $40,000 in prizes are given away in the Raffle, including the grand prize: a brand new SUV! Tickets will be available at our local campuses and through our SMA students starting on January 12th. 

Catholic Schools Week
SMA will be celebrating Catholic Schools Week from Sunday, January 28 through Saturday, February 3. Please watch the calendar for specific event information.

Annual Alumni Breakfast
Please join us for the Annual Alumni Breakfast during Catholic Schools Week on Wednesday, January 31 at 7am at the Holy Rosary Campus. All alum from St. Michael's, St. John's, Holy Rosary, St. James and St. Rose are welcome to attend. Please RSVP by Monday, January 22nd online at https://sma-alumni-breakfast.eventbrite.com or to Erin Makela at [email protected]

More information on the SMA School Calendar !


Closed Board Session

The January 4th meeting of the SMA Governing Board will be closed to the public. This is intended to allow the board to discuss the SMA budget and high school planning. As always, feel free to send items of interest for the board to your campus principal or via email  at  [email protected] .