To view the entire Parent News, please click "[Message clipped] View entire message." at the end of this email.
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DEAR PARENTS,
Despite a few snow days, the St. Teresa's Academy campus has been alive with exciting events, including Interim Week
(see details below).
The following are just a few of our recent updates:
- Please extend congratulations to Mary Massman, valedictorian, and Lauren Wittek, salutatorian, from the graduating class of 2020. These two aspiring young women have worked hard to achieve the honor of representing their class!
- During the month of February, juniors and seniors will be giving their time and talent to junior/senior service projects. Please take a moment to pray that each student has a rewarding and enriching experience. We are so proud of their dedication to the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph by serving the dear neighbor.
- Current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors have begun the course request process for 2020-21 school year. Students are meeting with counselors and their advisors to prepare for course enrollment. Check out the Course Selection Guide 2020-21 with your daughter and join us in guiding her in choosing classes. Watch for more information to be emailed to you soon regarding online registration, tuition, and fees for the 2020-21 school year.
- Congratulations to our students who made the Honor Roll for the fall semester:
Blessings,
Barbara McCormick
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UPCOMING EVENTS:
February 1, 2020
Scholarship Applications Open for the 2020-21 School Year
Financial Aid Applications (FAIR) Open for the 2020-21 School Year
February 4, 2020
Mass Advisory Group C
February 5, 2020
Late Start, Schedule 4
Freshman/Sophomore Course Registration Night, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
February 8, 2020
GAME ON! Trivia Night, 6:00 p.m.
February 11, 2020
Mass Advisory Group D
February 12, 2020
Late Start, Schedule 4
February 13, 2020
Parent/Daughter Mass & Adoration
Star Parents Association Meeting, 8:00 a.m.
February 17, 2020
No School, Presidents' Day
February 18, 2020
Mass Advisory Group E
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February 19, 2020
Late Start, Schedule 4
February 19-22, 2020
Men on Boats
Play
February 21, 2020
Fame Games
February 23, 2020
Father-Daughter Dinner Dance
February 24-28, 2020
Service Week
February 25, 2020
Freshman/Sophomore Course Meeting
February 26, 2020
All-School Liturgy
eCybermission Competition Expo
February 27, 2020
Freshman Pre-ACT
Sophomore Retreat
February 28, 2020
Women's Symposium
February 29, 2020
Winter Parent Social
Linger over Breakfast
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The registration fee of $350 for the 2020-21 school year will be billed to your Smart Tuition account in February and is due
March 10.
Note that your tuition account for the current year must be current in order to finalize your daughter's 2020-21 enrollment. All seniors must be paid in full by
April 10
in order to participate in graduation-related activities. Please contact Smart Tuition at 888-868-8828 or Cheryl Givens at
cgivens@stteresasacademy.org
if you have questions about your account.
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Scholarship Applications for the 2020-21 School Year
Open on February 1, 2020
Students should look for an email with the application link that will be sent on
February 1, 2020. The application deadline is March 1, 2020, closing at 3:00 p.m.
There are over 100 scholarship opportunities. Over seventy scholarships are
needs based
and require a
financial aid (FAIR
)
application. Over thirty scholarships are
academic or leadership
based. There is one application for all scholarships. Students should fill out the entire application. An essay is required.
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Financial Aid Applications (FAIR) for the 2020-21 School Year
Open on February 1, 2020
Please see the St. Teresa's Academy
website
for information on how to access the application.
The deadline for FAIR is March 6, 2020.
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Just Mercy
Viewing Invitation
Tuesday, February 4, 4:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m.
AMC Ward Parkway
AMC welcomes students from Sion, STA and Rockhurst to see a great movie,
Just Mercy,
for free! The movie is based on the powerful and thought-provoking true story of young lawyer Bryan Stevenson and his history-making battle for justice.
Click here
to view the trailer. Your student will receive further information about how to sign up (student IDs will be needed).
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STA Annual Trivia Night!
Saturday, February 8, 2020
Doors open at 6:00 p.m., Trivia begins at 7:00 p.m.
Goppert Center Gym
Gather a team, bring some food/drink, and get ready for a fun evening of trivia! Let your creative juices flow with your table decoration or costume (if you choose). Prize given for the most creative team. Individual players welcome! You may enter the contest as an individual and be grouped together to form tables of eight. Make some new friends and share your knowledge of all things trivia! Click below to register.
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Exploring our Interior Castle
Thursday, February 13, 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m
The Benedictine Sisters of Mt. St. Scholastica invite the STA community to attend Exploring our Interior Castle. St. Teresa of Avila compares the contemplative life to a castle with many chambers, and describes the soul's journey to the innermost chamber where there is union with the Divine. The expressive arts (movement, sound, visual art, storytelling/poetry, and silence) are the language of the soul. With St. Teresa's metaphor as a guide, we will explore our own inner landscapes and the pull to the center, using expressive arts.
Wear comfortable clothes for movement and art-making. No experience in the arts is necessary! Just bring a playful and curious spirit and an open heart.
Fee: $70 ($20 non-refundable deposit). Register by February 3.
Register online
or call 913.360.6173.
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STA Shooting Stars Theatre Proudly Presents
MEN ON BOATS
by Jacklyn Backhaus
February 19 - 22
7:30 pm
Ten explorers. Four Boats. One Grand Canyon.
Men On Boats
is the true(ish) history of an 1869 expedition, when a one-armed captain and a crew of insane but loyal volunteers set out to chart the course of the Colorado River.
Tickets available on the
STA
Eventbrite page or at the door.
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Kansas City Independent Schools Diversity Career Fair
February 22, 2020
12:30 - 3:30 p.m.
St. Teresa’s Academy, Goppert Gymnasium
Kansas City Independent Schools value and embrace racially, culturally, religiously, and ethnically diverse candidates. Candidates are sought who are searching for positions at a Kansas City Independent School. Attend the Diversity Career Fair and meet with area schools, including Cristo Rey, Rockhurst High School, Brookside Charter School, Barstow School, and more!
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eCybermission Competition EXPO
Wednesday, February 26, 3:30-5:00 p.m.
All freshman biology students are participating in the eCybermission competition this year. Ecybermission is a national STEM competition for 6-9th graders sponsored by the National Science Teachers Association and Army Outreach. Teams of students choose, research, design, prototype, and test a solution to a problem in their community. Please join us as the 40 participating teams will showcase their projects at the 2nd eCbyermission Expo.
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Freshman PreACT Testing
Thursday, February 27, 8:00 a.m. to approximately 10:30 a.m.
St. Teresa's Academy
Students will be dismissed following the exam.
PreACT simulates the ACT testing experience within a shorter test window on all four ACT test subjects: English, math, reading, and science. Results predict future success on the ACT test, and provide both current achievement and projected future ACT test scores on the familiar 1-36 ACT score scale. Students need to bring two #2 pencils and a calculator. Dress for the day is casual. There is no advisory check-in, students report to assigned rooms which will be emailed the week of testing and posted on building doors the day of the test.
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Linger Over Breakfast: Sisters of Selma: The March to Dismantle Racism Continues
Saturday, February 29, 2020
9:00 - 11:00 a.m. (doors open at 8:30 a.m.)
St. Teresa's Academy, Windmoor Center
Sisters Rosemary Flanigan, CSJ, and Barbara Moore, CSJ, are two of the sisters who marched from Selma to Montgomery in March 1965. The Sisters of St. Joseph mark the 55th anniversary of the marches from Selma, Alabama, to the state capital of Montgomery, that were a part of the civil rights movement in 1965. Sisters Rosemary and Barbara will share how their experiences at Selma shaped their futures, as well as that of their fellow sisters', to be at the forefront of social justice issues. How far has our society come addressing racism, and where do we still need to go? Cost is $15 per ticket.
Please
click here
to register by February 26.
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Catered Lenten Seafood Boil and Fish Fry
Friday, April 3 (during Lent)
STA Campus
$50 per person
The first 50 people who sign up will devour a catered Louisiana Lenten Seafood Boil and Fish Fry, including live entertainment by Road Trip, a classic rock journey through the decades, featuring John Ammatelli and Josh Batz, parents of students in the classes of ’20 and ’23.
The mouthwatering menu includes:
Louisiana Shrimp
Fried Catfish
Louisiana Fixings
Refreshing Beverages, including wine and beer
The feast is generously hosted and donated by Angele & Brian Ashley, parents
of students in the classes of ’21 and ’23.
Click here
to sign up now!
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Lenten Individual and Group Prayer Retreats
The Ignatian Spirituality Center of Kansas City
Choose between an individually directed prayer retreat meeting weekly with your Ignatian prayer guide or a group retreat with an Ignatian prayer guide who will facilitate group shared prayer experiences. In each of these retreats, you will learn Ignatian prayer methods and grow in your attentiveness to God’s action in your life and prayer.
“Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart.” Joel 2:12
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Incoming Freshman Course Registration
Thursday, March 5
3:30 - 6:00 p.m.
Goppert Center
At registration, you and your incoming freshman will meet with a member of the STA faculty to discuss your daughter's courses for freshman year. Watch your email for complete details coming soon. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Becky Flores, Admissions Director, at
bflores@stteresasacademy.org
or 816-501-0035.
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Save the Dates
You won't want to miss these upcoming spring events! Mark your calendars for the following:
- Father-Daughter Bags Tournament: March 8
- Mother-Daughter Luncheon & Fashion Show: April 5
- STA Golf Classic: May 11
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Mary Massman Named Candidate in U.S. Presidential Scholars Program
Senior
Mary Massman
has been named one of more than 4,500 candidates in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The candidates were selected from nearly 3.6 million students expected to graduate from U.S. high schools in the year 2020.
Inclusion in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is one of the highest honors bestowed upon graduated high school seniors. Scholars are selected on the basis of superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character and involvement in community and school activities. Congratulations, Mary!
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2018-2019 Yearbook Award
STA's 2018-2019 yearbook,
In This House,
was awarded 6th place out of 10 at the National Scholastic Press Association's (NSPA) National High School Journalism Convention.
At the Convention, NSPA hosted a variety of competitions, including Best of Show There were over 6,000 students present from over 200 high schools. Congratulations to the yearbook staff for this huge honor!
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STA Senior Honored with Service Award
On December 17,
Mollie Plas
, STA senior, received the Neil Smith Community Service Award from the Derrick Thomas/Neil Smith Third and Long Foundation. This special honor is presented to a female athlete in the class of 2020 who has demonstrated outstanding community service. Mollie received $1,000 and a traveling trophy for display at St. Teresa’s. Way to go, Mollie!
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Best-Selling Author Speaking with the Junior Class
The Social Studies Department is excited to share that they are hosting Candice Millard,
New York Times
best-selling author of historical biographies, including
River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey. River of Doubt
won the William Rockhill Nelson Award and was a finalist for the Quill Awards. Candice will be speaking to the entire junior class on Wednesday, February 5.
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STEM/STEAM Certificate
The STEM/STEAM Certificate was introduced in the spring of 2016. Over the past two years, STA has had over 15 students graduate with the Certificate.
Requirements for the Certificate include:
- 93. cumulative GPA at the time of application.
Requirements below must be completed by
March 1
of senior year to receive designation at graduation and on the transcript.
- Course Requirements:
- Math - 4 credits, Science - 4 credits (biology, chemistry + physics or an AP level science course required for STEAM) (biology, chemistry & physics required for STEM).
- STEM/STEAM Electives - 2 credits (math, computer science, science, &/or digital medium courses). Courses will determine STEM Certificate or STEAM Certificate designation. Online Personal Finance may not be used to meet course requirements.
- E-mentor (assigned in the junior year)
- Membership in a STEM or STEAM-related club or extracurricular activity.
- Three job shadow/STEM/STEAM-related professional events totaling 9 hours.
- Ten hours of related volunteer experience (tutor in math hub, STEAM summer camps, KC STEM Alliance, etc.)
- Maintain an online portfolio with Wix or Google Docs folder with STEM/STEAM-related projects, papers, PowerPoints, etc.
- Meet quarterly as a Certificate cohort about STEM/STEAM opportunities.
Interested students should apply in the spring semester of sophomore year or fall semester of junior year. For more info and a link to the application,
click here
and scroll down to the STEAM Certificate Program. Questions - contact
Debi Hudson
.
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On January 18, STA-hosted over 200 robot enthusiasts from 15 schools at the First Tech Challenge Robotics Competition! STA's StarBots competed in the following week's qualifying round at Lee's Summit High School.
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STA's Mandarin Chinese class celebrated the Chinese New Year by making dumplings and crafts! Students in the picture are writing two messages. 新年快乐/新年快樂 (xinniankuaile), which means "Happy New Year," and 恭喜发财/恭喜發財(gong xi fa cai), which means, "May you be happy and prosperous."
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Martin Luther King Jr. Day Program
On January 20, In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a group of STA students attended a program that educated participants about health and public policy, in addition to providing free health screenings, healthy food, and a fitness workout. The program was held in partnership with the American Heart Association, Plain Talk about Diabetes, Community Diabetes Plan Group, Urban League of Kansas City, KC Parks, UMKC School of Medicine, Generation Rap Hot 103, Blue KC, Health Forward Foundation, and STA. Thank you to Kat Williams and Bri Walker for leading students in this wonderful program.
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Interim Week 2020 Recap
Interim Week 2020 experienced tremendous growth in terms of number, diversity, and quality of courses. Led by Experiential Education Coordinator Kelly Fast, this year’s
Interim course catalogue
included the following developments:
- 15 additional courses in 2020 for a total of 57 courses
- 20 off-campus experiences, including ROKC climbing gym, Missouri Court of Appeals, UMKC School of Law, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and The National Quilting Museum in Paducah, Kentucky.
- New community and corporate partnerships:
- Barkley Advertising Agency - A Design Thinking Challenge
- Waddell and Reed - Women in Finance
- Dimensional Innovations - Building Better Experiences Through Design
- Kansas University and Mayor Lucas - A Documentary Project with the Mayor of Kansas City
- McShane and Brady LLC - Do You Want to Be a Lawyer?
- The Guadalupe Center - Kansas City Perspectives: Food, Art, Music, and Poetry
- Six student-led courses, including World Dance, Holiday of Food (an introduction to Jewish cultural celebrations), and Introduction to Film Photography
Interim Week surveys were administered to
students
with the following positive feedback:
- 97% of students enjoyed the opportunity to participate in a non-graded Interim learning experience.
- 94% of students agree/strongly agree that Interim Week provided them with the opportunity to have hands-on learning experiences.
- 91% of students agree/strongly agree that Interim Week sparked new interests that they would like to continue learning/exploring.
- 91% of students agree/strongly agree Interim Session encouraged them to think/react/participate in new ways that were different from the traditional classroom experience.
For Interim Week 2021, we plan to expand to several Global Experiences, including an environmental course in Costa Rica, a STEAM course in Panama, and a conservancy course in Kenya. Additionally, we will continue to develop off-campus, real world learning, community, and corporate partnerships.
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In World Dance (left), professional Latin dance and west African teachers introduced the cultural history of their dance forms. Kansas City Perspectives: Food, Art, Music, and Poetry (above) allowed students to explore Kansas City--its cultural neighborhoods, its eateries, its literary, and artistic figures.
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True Justice Viewing and All-School Mass
On January 31, the entire student body will view the HBO documentar
y True Justice: Bryan Stevenson's Fight for Equality
. The film, small-group conversations reflecting on the film, and all-school Mass will celebrate the culmination of Catholic Schools Week and the beginning of Black History Month.
HBO's description of
True Justice
states,
"For more than three decades, Alabama public interest attorney Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, has advocated on behalf of the poor, the incarcerated and the condemned, seeking to eradicate racial discrimination in the criminal justice system. True Justice: Bryan Stevenson's Fight for Equality follows his struggle to create greater fairness in the system and shows how racial injustice emerged, evolved and continues to threaten the country, challenging viewers to confront it."
Click here
to watch the trainer for the film.
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Poverty Simulation
On President's Day (February 17th), STA's students groups GIVE, Black Student Coalition, and Current Events Club will be working in conjunction with Catholic Charities to bring a poverty simulation to campus. A poverty simulation is an interactive learning experience where participants take on roles similar to those who are experiencing poverty and trying to survive month-to-month.
The exact time of STA's Poverty Simulation is TBD, but will be after noon. If you are interested in signing your daughter up, email
Andrea Arredondo,
Director of Ministry and Service.
Junior/Senior Service Week
Junior/Senior Service Week is February 24 - 28. During Service Week, all juniors and seniors are expected to report to their service agencies all five days of the week and complete 30 hours. Wednesday, February 26, is Ash Wednesday. We will celebrate Ash Wednesday on campus with freshmen and sophomores. Juniors and seniors are not obliged to come to campus, but are encouraged to attend morning or evening services at a local parish. Agencies will be asked to provide flexibility so that students can attend services. Email
Andrea Arredondo
with any questions.
Sophomore Retreat
On Thursday, February 27, sophomores will have their Class Retreat on campus from 7:50 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Students can dress down and lunch will be provided. The theme of this year's retreat is "Living in a World of Unifying Love." Email
Andrea Arredondo
with any questions.
The Presidential Volunteer Service Award Application Due March 1
The Presidential Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) is the premier volunteer awards program, encouraging citizens to live a life of service through presidential gratitude and national recognition.
If your daughter has spent more than 50-100 hours serving her community, she may be eligible to apply for this award. For information about the program and the STA application, please
click here
.
Applications and service logs for the Presidential Service Award are due by midnight on March 1, 2020.
No late applications will be accepted. Contact
Andrea Arredondo
with any questions.
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Congratulations to science instructor and STA alumna Mary Montag! Mary had been selected as one of the dozen or so educators to give an International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) TED Masterclass talk in Philadelphia last summer. ISTE is the premier educational technology conference and organization. STA follows their standards as part of our educational technology strategic plan. Of her experience, Mary stated, "
It was the most work and time I have ever spent for 5 minutes of talking.
"
The video is now available to share.
Please
click here
to enjoy!
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Junior and Senior Parents
Please see your detailed college planning newsletter. Congratulations to our seniors who are receiving acceptances and scholarship offers. Please forward copies from the college/university or scholarship organization to Debi Hudson at
dhudson@stteresasacademy.org
or 816-523-0232 (fax).
Sophomore Parents
Mark your calendar for our Sophomore Family College Planning Night on
Thursday, March 26
, from 7:00-8:30 p.m., in the M&A Auditorium. This event is for students and parents. Speakers for the evening are Karen Chen, Vice President of Enrollment Management at Oklahoma State University, and Brian Troyer, Dean of Admissions at Marquette University.
Freshman Parents
PreACT - Thursday, February 27. Details are in the Upcoming Events section.
Summer Enrichment on College Campuses
Check out
summer enrichment opportunities
on college campuses. The Summer Enrichment page includes programs for high school students of all ages located on college campuses and abroad. Summer programs on college campuses allow students to get a taste of college life, live in residence halls, meet other students from around the globe, explore possible majors, and possibly earn college credit. Programs vary from a few days to a couple of months. The page is updated frequently.
"
In the summer of 2018, I participated in a two-week-long introduction to an architecture program called "Experiment in Architecture" at the Illinois Institute of Technology. I had the opportunity to live in the campus dorms, work with other students from around the nation and abroad in the University's studio, as well as go on professional firm tours in the city of Chicago. It pushed me outside of my comfort zone, but in the best way possible. I left Chicago with my own professional architectural plans and models that I used later in my college applications, as well as the certainty that this field of study was right for me."
Caroline Willis, class of 2020
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Group Counseling Program
STA's Group Counseling Program is back for another semester of great discussion and support! Work will be continued with outside therapists from Resolve Counseling to bring new and fun groups, which can help students to manage stressors and other events in life.
Group Counseling is available on an as-needed basis with different topics to choose from each week. This semester, Resolve will be bringing groups on the following topics:
January 27: How to Set Achievable Goals that You’ll Be Able to Accomplish
February 3: How our Relationships Affect our Inner Self
February 10: Self Love: Why Having a Valentine Doesn’t Define your Worth
February 17: Values: How to Live by Yours
February 24: Stress Management: Navigating What Seems Unbearable
March 2: Realistic Self Care
March 9: Spring Break: How to Make the Most of It
March 23: Spring Cleaning: Out With The Old
March 30: Body Image: All Bodies are Summer Bodies
April 6: You Lead, We Follow
In order to participate in any session,
students must have a signed release on file.
If a signed consent has been received from last semester, that will work for this semester as well!
This is a great way to take advantage of counseling services along with other students who may be experiencing some of the same things. It's a great opportunity for students to meet new people and talk about what is happening in their lives.
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In providing students a safe online communication environment, St. Teresa’s Academy is launching the use of the School Messenger app. With the SchoolMessenger app, there’s no need for teachers to use group texting or classroom messaging apps that sit outside of central office control. The App will be used by teachers, coaches, trip moderators, and other STA adults to communicate with your daughter about school assignments, activities, or events. Parents may be asked to download the app by teachers, coaches, or other STA employees to participate in two-way communication.
Click here
to learn more about the app. The Academy will not be using advanced modules of the app.
The SchoolMessenger app is now available on the Android Google Play and Apple iOS app stores under the name “SchoolMessenger." There are two different versions of the app - you will want the one with the
blue
icon. You will need to sign up using an email address that STA has on file for your account. For questions while signing up, please contact our registrar, Alexa Varady, at
avarady@stteresasacademy.org
.
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Tryouts for the 2019-20 spring season begin
March 2, 2020
, for Lacrosse, Soccer and Track and Field. Click below to view the tryout schedule.
Explore the Update to discover exciting news about winter sports!
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New sweatshirts, restocks of sold-out items, and rugbys are all back in the Star Shop! Plenty of great new items to cheer on our basketball girls!
Stop by the Star Shop Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. or check out our store
online
.
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We need your help! Please consider volunteering for one of the following opportunities:
Star Shop
Open daily after school and during special events. Click below to sign up now!
Trivia Night
Score Keepers and Table Runners are needed for this fun-filled evening on Saturday, February 8.
Adoration
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be held following the Parent/Daughter Masses in the St. Joseph Chapel. Please sign up here to come spend an hour in prayer before the Divine Presence.
Note: You can coordinate with your daughters free periods so you can be in Adoration together. Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Thank you!
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Nutrition and Mental Health
STA's Health and Wellness Committee recommends reading more about the effects of Omega 3 on depression and suicide rates.
Click here
to read their recommended article.
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StarCups, STA’s coffee shop, is open on Wednesday morning from 8:00-8:45 a.m., and Friday mornings from 7:00-7:40 a.m. StarCups offers a variety of items including: hot and iced coffee, chai lattes, smoothies, orange juice, chocolate milk, hot cocoa, muffins, and granola bars.
Encourage your students to come to StarCups in the morning for a nice cup of coffee, a delicious treat, and a fun place to hang out before school. Prices are lower than many local chains and profits are used to send students to State and National competitions.
You can learn more about STA FBLA and StarCups by
clicking here
.
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Student Pick-Up Instructions
Please remember to not park in the senior or junior parking lots when waiting for your student. This helps to protect your student, while avoiding potential car accidents.
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Give Back to STA Through AmazonSmile
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support St. Teresa's Academy every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at
smile.amazon.com
, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection, and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to St. Teresa's (when designated as your charitable organization).
AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service. Get shopping and giving now!
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