Fall Newsletter -September 2019
Vikings Begin Another School Year
(Above) Everett Wilson '94 and 7th grade daughter Maddie Wilson. (Right) Jennifer Colgan Tritle '05 and her son, Daniel Tritle, who entered kindergarten this year.
The 2019-20 St. Mary school year is off to a great start! Our enrollment is up for a fourth year in a row, and 25% of our new students are children of alumni! It is great to see the next generation of Vikings walking through the doors!
Graduate Every Day!
The middle school and high school kicked off the school year with the theme of "Graduate Every Day." Every middle and high school student was greeted by faculty dressed in their gowns, and each student was presented with a diploma.

Students were reminded to start the school year with the end in mind, encouraged to end each school day strong, and to stay focused on what is ahead.
Alumni Play in Back to School Soccer Bash
Both current and graduate Vikings participated in the annual Back to School Soccer Bash on Friday, August 9th. This great annual event is full of fun, food, games, and some friendly soccer rivalry between students and alums!

Members from the Class of 1987 to the most recent Class of 2019 were part of the Alumni team, and nearly 30 alumni took the field for this great tradition!
Opening Mass Celebrated
O pening Mass was celebrated with the entire school system on Thursday, August 15th. Father Brad officiated for the elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as family and alumni. Fr. Brad Whistle shared the following thoughts with us:

"We need to let God do great things in us as he did in Mary. Mary's prayer was not about "me" but about God. She trusted God so much she gave Him complete control of her life.
To the faculty and staff: God wants to do great things through you. You will know, like Mary, it is God through you, modeling and teaching students to know God and to experience His greatness in their lives.

To the students: It is not about your intelligence, athletic ability, popularity, or lack of those things...it is all about God. Proclaim the greatness of God daily and in May we'll see the great things He has done through each of you."

The St. Mary Faculty and Staff were commissioned to teach, lead, and model God in us. Fr. Brad also commissioned the Eucharistic Ministers and blessed the new processional cross donated to our school system.
Alumni Favorite Named Educator of
the Year!
Sue Hein was recently named Educator of the Year by the Diocese of Owensboro. Students, fellow teachers, and alumni alike have all expressed their love of the art teacher who has helped inspire and encourage St. Mary students for over 30 years.

Travis Wurth '00, wrote that he absolutely loved Mrs. Hein. He described her as a very uplifting and positive teacher, regardless of the student's skill level. Alumna Nicole Nelson '14 said that Mrs. Hein was the most supportive teacher she ever had and had a great impact on her life. "She's that teacher that you will remember for a lifetime."
Academy Alumnae Give Back
A St. Mary Alumna gave back in a big way recently. Patricia Galvin, Class of 1945, graciously bequeathed over $20,000 to the Fr. Lew White Scholarship fund.

Patricia and her siblings - Tom ( Class of 1943), Jean ( Class of 1946), Mary ( Class of 1951), and John ( Class of 1955) - all attended and graduated from St. Mary's Academy. Their parents had both attended the school as well. The family were members of St. Francis de Sales and St. Thomas More throughout their lives.

The three sisters were close and shared their gifts of giving in the Church. They volunteered to provide meals for funeral receptions for over 15 years and were recipients of the "Sophia Award."

We are grateful for this gift and the opportunity it allows for many other students to have a St. Mary education.
Alumna Writer Celebrates 50th Reunion
Bernadette Rule, Class of 1969 , returned this summer to Paducah to celebrate her 50th class reunion. Bernadette went on to study at Purdue University before moving to Ontario, Canada where she has lived since 1975.

Her love of writing was sparked at St. Mary, and she is a former professor of English at Mohawk College. She currently hosts podcast Art Waves, a weekly arts-interview program on Mohawk College radio. She has published six collections of poetry.

While she was visiting Paducah, she stopped by the St. Mary Library and donated copies of her books. She hopes that they encourage budding writers of future generations at St. Mary!
Annual Golf Tournament Big Hit
The 11th Annual Shadrach Boaz St. Mary Charity Golf Tournament was held this June at Rolling Hills Country Club. The tournament helps raise scholarship and tuition assistance funds for St. Mary students in memory of Shad Boaz '06. Alumni play along with other community members in this fun annual event.

Plan on joining us next year on Monday, June 22, 2020 at the Rolling Hills Country Club!
(Pictured above) System Director, Eleanor Spry and alum Anthony Milliano '19 get ready to play!
(Left) Claire Carrico '19 thanks the crowd for the scholarship she has received through funds raised from the Shadrach Golf Tournament.
Alumni Reunions
Members of the Class of 1969 met at Green Turtle Bay this summer to celebrate their 50th Reunion! About half of the classmates enjoyed a three-day event sharing memories and lots of good food. They already look forward to their 55th reunion.
The Class of 1979 celebrated their 40th reunion this summer. They enjoyed dinner together on Friday night, then had a tour of the school on Saturday morning with breakfast. They loved remembering old teachers, events, and places around St. Mary! After Mass on Saturday evening, they went to Max's with their families.
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Upcoming Reunions
Class of 1964 55th Reunion:
Saturday, September 21

Class of 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010:
Are you a member of any of these classes?
If your class is planning a reunion in the next year,
please let us know! We will be happy to help spread the word
and work with you on planning!
Please contact Brittney at bwasham@smss.org 
Update Us!

Let us know how things are going in your life! Have you recently graduated with a degree? Started a new job, gotten married or have other exciting news to share? We'd love to hear about it and feature you in our next newsletter. Email us at bwasham@smss.org.
Give Us a Hand!
Do you ever wonder how you can give back to us here at St. Mary? We have plenty of service and volunteer opportunities! Check out some upcoming opportunities below.

In addition, feel free to join us any weekday to pray the Rosary in the Chapel, starting at 7:15 AM. Or celebrate Mass with us!
Volunteer Opportunities:
April 22 - Family Serve Day (We would love to have an alumni team!)
Upcoming Events
The 18th St. Mary Dinner and Auction
Friday, November 1, 2019
Held every other year, the Auction is our premiere funding-raising event!
Raising $250k or more to support the St. Mary School System.
Please join us!
For tickets and details, contact Robin Mowers ( robin.mowers@smss.org)
Other Upcoming Events:
Saturday, October 19th Doors open at 6PM - Fall Trivia
Friday, November 1, 9:00 AM - All Saints' Day System Mass
Friday, November 15, 6:00 PM - Blue/Gold Night
Monday, December 9, 9:00 AM - Immaculate Conception System Mass

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