DEAR PARENTS,

The season of Thanksgiving has been a time for me to reflect on how thankful I am for you, our wonderful STA community of students, parents and friends. Throughout this special 150th anniversary year, you have gone beyond the call of duty to support this school in so different many ways, whether through financial support, attendance at special events, or endless hours of volunteer work. Because of what I witness daily in our students and teachers as they follow the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph, I am confident St. Teresa's Academy will continue to thrive another 150 years!

This past semester has been a time of both immense joy and enduring sorrow with the loss of our piano instructor and accompanist, Steven Karlin. He was beloved by our students, faculty, and staff, and will be dearly missed within the greater community. A scholarship has been set up in his name, the Steven Karlin Memorial Scholarship , to be given to a student in need whose passion for music matches that of Steven's. If you are considering an end-of-year gift to the Academy, this scholarship may be one way to honor his legacy at STA.

And as we begin to enter the Holy Season of Christmas, it is my hope that everyone in our STA community will remember the legacy of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet to love their dear neighbor without distinction.

Have a blessed Christmas and a joyous New Year,
Nan Tiehen Bone,
President
UPCOMING EVENTS

Help Break A Guinness Book of World Records
Spirit and SJC Clubs will be attempting to break a Guinness Book of World Records by collecting as many coats as they can on December 3, from  9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  The STA class that brings in the most coats will receive a dress down day the following Monday. All donations will be given to Catholic Charities to provide our coatless population in Kansas City with warmth this winter. Their goal is to collect 5,150 coats, so please support this effort when you're cleaning out your closets at home.

Hour of Code
St. Teresa's Academy is hosting its 3rd Annual Hour of Code event on December 5. Students will have the opportunity to spend a free period exploring the world of Computer Science by introducing them to fun, basic programming tutorials. The Hour of Code is held in over 180 countries and reaches millions of students. STA students who participate will receive a dress down day in January.

STA Christmas Concert
Wednesday, December 7
7:30 p.m.
Reception to follow sponsored by FAB.
If you are able to provide items or help with the event, please sign up here.

Mad for Plaid/Project Runway
Friday, January 13
7:00 p.m., M&A Auditorium
$5 General Admission
$10 Reserved Seating | Reserve your seat here.
STA student design teams promise to entertain as they make it work in their quest for a $500 cash prize.

Star Parents Association Parent Social
Friday, January 20
at the home of Fred and Peter Ryan
Look for your email invitation in early January.

Mother/Daughter Self-Defense Course 

Don't miss out on this opportunity to take a comprehensive course on self-defense with your daughter(s).  The three-session course will be held in the STA gymnasium (Goppert Center) on consecutive  Sunday afternoons: January 22, 29 and February 5, from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.  
 
The three-session course will introduce new techniques each class. The cost is $30 per mother/daughter team, $45 for mothers with two daughters, and $60 for mothers with three daughters. F riends and sister teams are also welcome.  Space is limited, so don't hesitate to reserve your spot now. Reservation deadline is Jan. 16, 2017. Sign up here.

Contact  Stacie O'Rear, P.E. instructor at STA, with questions.

Online Auction
Although the gala is over, the fun continues through the end of December with the Online Auction. You'll find fantastic items to bid on, including vacation homes, restaurant packages, gift items, sports tickets, and much more. Each week, new items are introduced on Tuesday; bidding closes on Sunday. Start bidding today!

Interested in donating to the Online Auction? Find the tab "Donate Auction Items" under "Quick Links" in the left-hand column of BidPal, or contact Sarah Ralph in the Development Office at 816-501-0385.

Reminder: Donate Your Non-Working Holiday Lights
The STA Book Club is collecting non-working holiday lights.
Please send your holiday lights to school with your daughter before January 6, 2017. The collection box is on the main floor of Donnelly Hall.  If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Hershewe .

High School Placement Test (HSPT) for 8th Grade Students
Saturday, January 7
8:30 a.m. (arrive by 8:15 a.m.)
Calculators are not permitted. The test will conclude at 12:45 p.m. Complimentary pizza will be served to all testers in the Goppert Center immediately following the test.

Parents are invited to meet in the Goppert Center during testing for coffee and donuts from 8-9:00 a.m.  Students may pre-register by downloading the Application for Admission (which contains the Placement Test registration). Return this form, along with the $20.00 test fee, to the Admissions Office. Call 816-501-0035 for more information.

Father-Daughter Dinner and Dance
Sunday, February 12
More information to follow.




Anniversary Gala Wrap-up
Thank you to our very generous supporters of the Anniversary Gala. It was an exciting conclusion to our 150th anniversary year. For all those able to attend the Gala, we hope you had an enjoyable evening.

Through the combined efforts of our Gala attendees, table sponsors, raffle purchasers, underwriters, and attendees of the pre-gala party this past September, we were able to raise over $1,023,000! We are confident nearly $800,000 of this amount can be directed to endowment and financial aid for current and future students of the Academy.  Donation receipts will be emailed to you in December. If you prefer a paper receipt, please email  Sarah Ralph  in the Development Office.  Find great snippets of video taken during the gala on our  Facebook  page and re-watch the alum video shown during the gala on  Vimeo .

Thank you again to our Gala Co-Chairs Katie & Ryan Duffy and Denise & Dave Schloegel for your generous and enduring support.
Financial Aid & Scholarships 
St. Teresa's Academy works with FAIR (Financial Aid Independent Review, Inc.) for financial aid assessment. Please note that returning students must apply with FAIR between February 1 and March 4, 2017. More details will be forthcoming. Note: the access code to FAIR is 184 and the password is sta184. The preferred deadline for incoming freshman families applying for financial aid is December 16, 2016.
 
In addition, St. Teresa's offers many scholarships in the following categories: 1) academic and financial need; 2) service; and 3) spirit and leadership. Scholarship applications for returning students are available on Jan. 9, 2017 and will be due on Friday, February 10, 2017. More information and details will be coming soon.













Saturday, December 3, from 9 a.m. -3 p.m. in Verheyen/Goppert Center . Special merchandise will be debuting at the Christmas Sale. Find lots of great Christmas gift ideas for your daughter.
BUSINESS OFFICE

Tuition and fees must be current through November in order for your daughter to receive her final 2nd semester schedule (these are distributed via advisory the week of  December 5 ).  In order for your daughter to return for second semester, anyone with a delinquent account must meet with the Finance Committee for approval.  PowerSchool will be inactivated for delinquent accounts.
ACADEMICS

PowerSchool
PowerSchool will be down for maintenance from Tuesday, January 3, through Monday, January 9, 2017. Your daughter's first semester report card will be emailed to you through School Messenger the week of January 3, 2017. The grade reports will be prepared in a secured document. You will need to use your daughter's student number as the password to open the document. This information is located in the Student or Parent Portal on the "Grades and Attendance" page in the upper left hand corner. The student number is not found on the PowerSchoolParent or Student app. If you have any problems, please contact Kathy Walters.

Semester Exams
In preparing for semester exams, the faculty and administration have outlined a schedule assessing students by discipline. Students with more than three exams on a given day will need to meet with their teachers to schedule a future test date, time, and location. The Testing Center will be open for exams throughout the week. If students are not testing, they may study silently in the library or auditorium while on campus. We also encourage students to bring lunch if they plan to eat between morning and afternoon finals. First Semester Exam Schedule .
COLLEGE COUNSELING

Parents of the Class of 2020
PreACT scores and test books will be returned in January during freshman seminar along with tips for college planning.

Parents of the Class of 2019
Practice ACT scores were mailed home on November 16. Families are strongly encouraged to keep this information and use it as a test prep tool. ACT testing should begin in the winter of junior year- details to follow in the future. If a student noted an email on their answer sheet, they should receive an email on December 5 with information on how to access their scores online. PSAT score reports (paper) should arrive in mid-January and will be distributed with test books. Detailed information will be shared with sophomore parents once PSAT scores arrive. Mark your calendar: Sophomore College Planning Night (students and parents) will be  Thurs., March 23, at 7 p.m.   
 
Parents of the Class of 2018
Junior Parent College Info. Night is Thurs., Jan. 26, at 7 p.m. in the M&A Auditorium. Parents will be given their registration code and information for Naviance. This is an online tool that allows you to search colleges and track applications. We will also discuss calendar planning, college visits, ACT and SAT, and helpful hints for parents as you navigate the college process. Please note the registration deadline for the February 11 ACT is January 13; go to  www.actstudent.org to register. When registering, look for St. Teresa's as Saint Teresa's (school code is 261700). PSAT score reports (paper) should arrive in mid-January and will be returned to students with their test book. If a student noted an email on their answer sheet, they should receive an email on December 5 with instructions to access their scores online.
 
Parents of the Class of 2017 
To date, we have submitted over 650 applications to colleges and universities nationwide. Congratulations to those who have received acceptances and scholarship offers. Please see your detailed College Planning News for more information on scholarships, deadlines, enrollment details, and much more.
SCHOOL COUNSELING

Freshman and Sophomore Parents
Please join members of the Counseling Department for an informational meeting about course planning and registration on Thurs., Feb. 2, at 7 p.m. in the M&A Auditorium. We will discuss courses, the registration process and timeline, as well as AP and college dual-enrollment courses.

Study tips to remind your daughter:
  • Avoid Cramming! Start preparing far enough in advance so that you are able to identify any areas you do not understand and  can get the help you need well in advance.
  • Consider creating a study group with classmates to compare your class notes, listen to and discuss concepts in a new way, and help motivate and encourage yourself in the studying process.
  • When studying, ask yourself what questions are likely to be asked and answer them by using ideas from lectures, textbooks, and handouts.
  • Get plenty of sleep, especially the night before the exam. Staying up late studying the night before the exam will hurt more than help.
  • Eat a healthy meal before the exam. Avoid processed foods, soft drinks, and sugar.
  • Have all the materials you will need for the test gathered together the night before the exam and try to arrive at the test location early so that you can relax and mentally prepare.
  • Visit the guidance counseling Moodle page for links to websites with additional information on how to study!
STAR PARENTS ASSOCIATION



Click the Donate Now button and choose Faculty and Staff Christmas Fund in the Gift Details section.
CAMPUS MINISTRY
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ATHLETICS

Attention Club Sport Athletes
MSHSAA policy requires advance notice and approval from school administration before any school time can be missed to attend club sport competitions or practice. Please protect your high school athletic eligibility by contacting Dr. Baker in advance of any planned missed school time for club sports. Teachers will be notified and an approval letter will be kept on file. Students are expected to meet with teachers in advance to make up assignments and tests.