SMA Newsletter • January 20, 2022
Dear Spartan Families,

Hopefully, you all enjoyed a nice long weekend. Students and staff came together in the garden for a peace prayer service to remember the unwavering efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to promote peace. Students made peacemaker pledges and Ms. Julia led everyone in song. Ask your child how he/she is doing with keeping peace in class and on the playground.

God wants all of us to live in peace. In these whirlwind times where many are affected by anxiety due to the unknown, illnesses, stress, and quarantines, it is important that we all take a moment for ourselves to pray each day and find peace. God has already made a plan for each one of us. Often I remind myself to "let go, let God". I've used this quote many times recently, especially when beloved staff members have made a difficult choice to leave SMA. As you will read below, Coach Gus made an important choice for himself and his family and our beloved Pam is saying good-bye to care for her father. (There will never be another Pam, but we will do our best to find someone to help us in the office.)

At the Diocesan level, we recently learned that John Galvan will also be leaving us at the end of the school year. This is a tremendous loss for us as he has been a huge supporter of principals and teachers these past 8 years. We wish him all the best in his new venture. To learn more, read John's letter and the letter from Bishop McElroy.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

On that note, we are currently planning for the future. We want our academy and preschool to prosper in many ways. Please help us by answering 5 questions here & below about tuition and enrollment. This is our community. Everyone's input matters.

Many blessings,
Jennifer Miller
Principal
School-wide Parent Group Meeting Tonight @ 6 PM
SMA Parents, Preschool Parents, Teachers,
Parish Community Members WELCOME!

What is Life Like for Teens Online?
Agenda will be short allowing maximum time for our speaker

SMA Parent Group Open Meeting - Guest Speaker Dr. Rienzi Haytasingh
Thursday, January 20th @ 6 PM

*in-person option cancelled*
PLEASE Click Here to ANSWER TUITION & ENROLLMENT Questions for '2022-23
Catholic Schools Week!
Jan. 30th - Feb. 5th
CLASS COLORS
K=yellow, 1=red, 2=orange, 3=turquoise, 4=black & white,
5=purple, 6=gold, 7=hot pink, 8=rainbow
preschool=green
Classroom Newsletters
SMA & PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE!
SUNDAY, 1/30 10 - 11 AM

Everyone is invited to the Academy and Preschool Open House on Sunday, Jan. 30th following the 9 AM Mass. Visit the classrooms, meet with faculty and staff and tour the campus. This is also perfect time to check out the kindergarten classroom. Places have been reserved for those children in the Pre-K class. Space is limited. If your child is not enrolled in the preschool, and ready for kindergarten, email the school office for more information. Children must be 5 years old by Sept. 1st. to register.
A Sad Farewell to
Pam Barclay
Pamela sadly has left the SMA work force to devote time with her family. Please keep her dad in your prayers as he is healing from heart surgery and complications. This past month she has been by his side helping in every way she can to make his life easier. Pam has worked in the office for 17 years. Before working in the office, she was School Board president and worked in various volunteer positions often taking leadership roles. Pam's children are graduates of SMA: Lauren, '01, Tessa '05, Garrett, '09 and Bridget, '15. She will be sorely missed by all.
Coach Gus Serrano
Where Is He Now?

Prior to Christmas break, Coach Serrano was offered a position too tempting to resist. He is now working full-time at the Burn Institute of San Diego. Mr. Serrano is in charge of the Fire Safe Kids Program that goes around all over San Diego county teaching fire safety and prevention in conjunction with local fire departments to students in kindergarten through 6th grade. Mr. Serrano says it's the best of both worlds for him because he gets to work in education and go back to using his first responder skills teaching fire safety. I've already put in a request for a visit to SMA!
Reminders
Star Testing- 1/10-1/28

Please email the office and the teacher if you child is absent by 8:15AM.
COVID-19 Updates
An updated Decision Tree as of Jan. 19th is on the school website for your reference. If your child has any symptoms, please report them to the school office. Do not send your child to school (vaccinated or unvaccinated) if they have any of symptoms listed.

Possible symptoms include fever, chills,
cough, shortness of breath or difficulty
breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches,headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and/or diarrhea.

If your child has been vaccinated and you would like to update their health record, email a copy of the vaccination card to the school office. Youth Ages 5-11 are eligible to get vaccinated.

Order free at home Covid-19 tests HERE. Four tests per resident.
Click HERE for COVID Free Testing Sites • Click HERE for COVID Vaccine Sites
Yasukochi Family Farms delivers to SMA on Mondays or at your home if you live in La Mesa. Order by noon on Sundays. Call the office if you have any questions. The standard size box is $25.
Nine Days for Life novena will take place from 1/19 through 1/27. The prayer service will be held each evening in the Church. 
St. Martin of Tours Academy