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 will be held Thursday, September 14 at 7:10 a.m. in the Chapel of St. Joseph. Please refer to the online school calendar for future dates. 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. 6
Senior Class Mass
Sept. 13
Junior Class Mass
Sept. 14
Parent-Daughter Liturgy @ 7:10 a.m.
Sept. 20
Sophomore Class Mass
Sept. 27
Freshman Class Mass
UPCOMING EVENTS

Welcome Breakfast for Dads of Incoming Freshmen and Transfer Students
Thursday, Sept. 7
Commons
7:30 - 8:30 a.m.
Click here to reserve your spot.
Sponsored by the St. Joseph's Society

Nell Hill's STA Shopping Day
Mark your calendar for  Saturday, September 16,  and bring your family and friends to shop at Nell Hill's and give 10% of your purchase back to St. Teresa's Academy. Mention St. Teresa's Academy at checkout to give 10% of your purchase to STA.
Nell Hilll's
4101 N. Mulberry Drive
Kansas City, MO 
STORE HOURS
Saturday:  10am - 6pm
Refreshments will be served.
RSVP here.
 
Light Their Way  Pre-Auction Party
Please join us!
Thursday, September 21, 2017
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
at the beautiful home of
Rosie Privitera-Biondo ( '76) AND Anthony Biondo
4408 N. Hickory Lane, Kansas City, MO
$50 SINGLE TICKET. Purchase tickets here.
Cocktails and heavy appetizers included.
Consider hosting or sponsoring the Party at the following levels:
Host: $500 - 4 tickets included, recognition at the event
Sponsor: $150 - 2 tickets included, recognition at the event
Host and sponsor here.

Teresian Dance
The Teresian dance will be held on Saturday, September 23rd, in the Goppert Center Gym from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Tickets will be on sale during Activity on the following dates: Monday 9/18, Tuesday 9/19, Wednesday 9/20, Thursday, 9/21 and after school on Thursday 9/21. Tickets will not be available at the door. Tickets are $35/couple and $20/single. Due to construction taking place in the Goppert Center, students must enter the North doors of the gym, closest to the bleachers. More information to come to help ensure everyone's safety during the dance this year. 

Fall Mum Sale
It's once again time for the annual FAB Fall Mum Sale. Please support your STA Fine Arts Boosters and enrich the fine arts programs at STA by purchasing locally grown GORGEOUS 2 gallon potted mums for only $10.00/ea. Available in white, yellow, purple, bronze (orange), and burgundy (red). Mums available for pick up in the M&A lobby October 18th 5:00-6:30 p.m. (prior to the STA Autumn Concert) and October 19th at 8:00-10:00 a.m. and 2:00-4:00 p.m. Available for purchase online or by returning completed order form with your check payable to STA/FAB to Donnelly Office.

Open House 
All Future Stars and their parents are welcome! 
Sunday, October 29, 2017
10:00 a.m.
Mass (optional)
11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Campus Tours

Light Their Way Auction 2017
Saturday, November 18, 2017
Mark your calendars to attend this fun-filled evening on Saturday, November 18, in the Goppert Center Gym on the St. Teresa's Academy campus. The Light Their Way Auction will be filled with bright lights, delicious food and drink, and silent and live auction entertainment! Join in the fun and help us light the way for STA students' bright futures. 

Learn more about sponsorship opportunities and the event here.

Donate an item for the live or silent auction here.
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, 2017 (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, 2017, through the application deadline.  Click here for more details.
WELLNESS TIPS FOR TEENS

Watch this column for helpful tips and information on challenging topics facing teenagers and their parents.

Click here for this month's topic: drugs and alcohol.
COLLEGE COUNSELING

Catholic College Day at STA will be held on Tuesday, September 5, during Activity 2 in Windmoor. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors are welcome to come meet with over 35 Catholic colleges from around the country.
 
College Info Night for Junior Families (students & parents)  
Wednesday, September 6, from 7:15-9:00 p.m. at Rockhurst High School, Rose Theater. 
Sessions offered: 
  • ACT & SAT
  • Financing a College Education & Admission Timeline
  • College Visits
  • Essays & Resumes
  • Selective Admissions
  • Honors Programs
  • Engineering/STEM Careers
  • College Athletics
College Night is open to all families of Kansas City's private high schools on  Thursday, September 7, 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. 11, 7:50-11:15 a.m. for sophomores and juniors. Click here for more info.
Practice ACT
 Fri., Oct. 27, 7:50 a.m.-noon for sophomores and juniors
Pre ACT Test
 Fri., Oct. 27, 7:50-11:00 a.m. for freshmen
Bring No. 2 pencils and calculator for all tests.

MO A+ Program
St. Teresa's Academy is a State of Missouri A+ School and our Missouri residents may apply for the A+ Scholarship at various Missouri colleges/universities. 
Requirements:
  • Missouri resident for three years
  • U.S. citizen
  • 95% average attendance (no more than 5 unexcused absences per semester while @ STA)
  • 75. cumulative GPA & 17 or higher on the math section of the ACT or 80. cumulative GPA & 15 or higher on the math section of the ACT
  • NO SBRs for unlawful drugs/alcohol use
  • 50 hours of approved tutoring (unpaid) prior to May 1 of senior year. (Tutoring must occur at an organization/school with a designated tutoring program. Hours may be used from junior/senior service project if applicable.) 
  • Complete FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) in fall of senior year.
  • Be a degree/certificate-seeking full-time student at a participating institution. Additional requirements for renewal while in college will apply.
Missouri A+ Scholarship amounts vary by participating institution.
See  our website  for more info/application.
COUNSELING DEPARTMENT

Welcome to the 2017-2018 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 Whitcomb-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.
International Students at STA

STA welcome's four international students for the 2017-2018 school year. (left to right):
Erina Onishi is an exchange student from our sister school in  Japan living with  the Begnaud Family (senior Isabelle and junior Camille).
Charlotte Lind is an exchange student from  Germany who is living with the Ryan Family (senior Clare).  Charlotte (Laurien) Krueck is an exchange student from  Germany living with the  Klumb Family (junior Jordan).  Denisia (Deny-Maria) Pintillie is an international student from  Romania living with the  Starcev Family .
STAR PARENTS ASSOCIATION

Get involved at your daughter's school by volunteering for events and activities. Here's how:
  • Access the Sign Up Genius on the STA website within the Parents tab under Parent Volunteers.
  • Click the link below on this monthly Parent E-Newsletter or the Parent Volunteer email.
  • Click the volunteer tile on the STA app.
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 informational 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 email. For planning purposes, here are the dates for the 2017-18 retreats:   
  • October 24-27, 2017 (seniors only)
  • January 2-5, 2018 (juniors and seniors only)
  • March 20-23, 2018 (juniors and seniors only)
  • May 29 - June 1, 2018* (juniors and seniors only)
Senior parents should have received information via email, and junior parents will be contacted later this fall. For additional information about the KAIROS program, contact Mrs. Robin Good or Mr. Bobby Tonnies, Retreat Coordinators, at [email protected] or [email protected].

*This retreat takes place after the school year ends.
STAR SHOP

The Star Shop is now located in the Donnelly building across from the main office during the construction of Goppert. Don't forget any spirit wear item from the Star Shop can be worn with uniform skirts on Fridays. Place your order online and have your daughter pick it up at school or stop by and shop.

The Star Shop will be open  Monday through  Thursday,  2:45-3:30 p.m., or by appointment. The Star Shop is also a great way to volunteer and get involved at STA! Sign up today using one of the three options available under the Star Parents Association section of this newsletter.  
FINE ARTS BOOSTERS

Thank you for your generous support of FAB!
Nearly 50 FAB Members and Friends provided financial support, and countless volunteers provided hours of assistance to the mission of FAB: to provide support to our Fine Arts faculty and students to enrich the Fine Arts programs at STA! 

Let's keep the ball rolling into 2017-2018!
Please click here to join or renew your membership for 2017-2018.

FAB also needs parent involvement to fill leadership positions for 2017-2018. There are several ways that you can help. Parents please get involved now so that FAB will continue to have a positive impact on the Fine Arts programs at STA for years to come.  Specifically, please considering being a FAB Class Parent Representative. We need to fill two positions for each grade year. All parents contribute by volunteering to help out with the Fall Mums Sale, donating cookies and treats for concessions and receptions, running concessions during shows, helping organize receptions after concerts, and in countless other ways. All of these tasks are very manageable since we have such great parent volunteers, so please consider sharing your leadership skills. 

For more information on FAB, please click here. 

Can you help? Have any questions? Contact FAB at [email protected].
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ATHLETICS

The fall sport season has officially kicked off at St. Teresa's Academy. Cross country, golf, softball, tennis and volleyball are all several games into the season, while the dance team is preparing for individual performances and competition season.