SMA Newsletter • May 27, 2021
Dear Parents,

As we near time for graduation, I cannot help but reflect on the tremendous advantage our graduating students have upon entering high school. The education they have received at St. Martin of Tours Academy, both academically and spiritually, is exceptional and of the highest quality. The Pilon® Workshop Way® system of education, their daily religious instruction and the teaching of both academic and life skills have prepared them well for their future goals. The teachers, staff and I are extremely proud of the Class of 2021, and we wish them much success in high school and beyond. Graduation will be on June 4, by invitation only. Please keep all of our graduates in your prayers.

In addition to offering congratulations to the Class of 2021, we congratulate each parent and teacher who has instructed, guided, influenced and helped them to be better people. When the foundation is strong, the chances for success increase dramatically. It is rewarding to see this when our “alums” visit us and tell of their accomplishments, or when a parent calls and is bursting with pride because their child has been honored in high school or college.

I am very happy to introduce our new first grade teacher, Olivia Donnelly, to our Academy families. She is thrilled to be a part of the SMA family and wrote a short introduction below. Also, our school bookkeeper, Lynne Johnston, who has been with us for a long time, will be retiring at the end of the year. We wish Lynne well as she enjoys more time with her grandchildren and for traveling.

I am also proud to announce that SMA was recognized by the Diocese of San Diego at this year's Catholic Educator's Award Ceremony. It took place via Zoom last Thursday. Please see the article below.

Lastly, before report cards can be disbursed, all Chromebooks, books, sports jerseys or anything that is the property of St. Martin Academy needs to be returned to school next week.

Hybrid Students will leave Chromebooks/books
at school on Thursday, 6/3
Distance Learning Students bring Chromebooks/books to school on Thurs. 6/3 from 12pm to 3pm or 8:00am-11:30am on Friday, 6/4.

Diane Hartley
Miss Olivia Donnelly
Hi, St. Martin Families!

My name is Olivia Donnelly, and I will be the First Grade Teacher at SMA next year!    
Teaching is my calling– I know that God created me to be a teacher. I was raised in Connecticut in a Catholic family, the oldest of three children. My second language is Spanish and I am of Hispanic heritage. I have a dog, Fiona. Traveling is one of my greatest passions– I have been to all 50 states! 
This past year I taught Second Grade in the Diocese of San Diego. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame in 2019, where I was a member of the Marching Band as a piccolo player. I earned my Master of Education in Elementary Education and Tennessee Credential from Vanderbilt University in 2020. During my graduate program I was a student teacher in a First Grade classroom- I am thrilled to be returning to First Grade! As an educator, I am passionate about fostering an environment in which students can grow into inquisitive and conscientious global citizens. I am honored to have the privilege of cultivating future generations of lifelong learners.
 
I look forward to learning and growing alongside my students next year! Thank you for the warm welcome into your wonderful community of faith. See you in the fall!
Blessings,
Miss Olivia Donnelly

Where the Class of 2021
will be next year . . .
Laila Baca
Dominic Bartel
Diego Bertolino
Carly Brashear
Mia Casanova
Christian Fortuna
Massimo Fortuna
Gabriel Giordano
Rachel Glick
Malosi Iuli
Asa Jacobs
Sophia Kellems
Liam Kingston
Ryan Kovar
Kinsley McCormick
Declan McNulty
Paige Ongtawco
Joaquin Padilla
Abraham Perez
Liam Rager
Evan Rogers
Jaeden Roy
Kaden Schen
Grisel Stauder
Avery Stenehjem
Marcus Stokely
Grace Tayco
Isabella Virissimo
Kallie Waldron
Sophia White
Giselle Williams
Grossmont High School
St. Augustine High School
Steele Canyon High School
Patrick Henry High School
Mater Dei Catholic High School
Valhalla High School
Valhalla High School
Helix High School
Assumption High School
St. Augustine High School
Academy of Our Lady of Peace
Academy of Our Lady of Peace
Mater Dei High School
Academy of Our Lady of Peace
Valhalla High School
Helix High School
Mater Dei High School
Helix High School
Christian High School
St. Augustine High School
Olympian High School
Grossmont High School
West Hills High School
Helix High School
Cathedral Catholic High School
St. Augustine High School
Patrick Henry High School
Academy of Our Lady of Peace
Steele Canyon High School
Mater Dei High School
Grossmont High School
God bless and be with the Class of 2021 during their high school years.
Best wishes to all of them from all of us at SMA.
When we say good-bye to the Class of 2021 we are also saying good-bye to some of the parents of our graduates who will no longer have children in the school. The following are also “graduating” and we want them to know we will miss them as parents in our school community: Alicia & Alex Baca, Daniela & John Lara, (Bertolino), Gary Brashear, Claudia & Hector Casanova, Stephanie & Sergio Fortuna, Marie & Rush Glick, Stephanie & Robert Horsman, Clare & Blue Ongtawco, Linda & Mark Padilla, Crystal Keyte & Jason Roy, Shari & Sean Stauder, Natalie & Ian Stenehjem, Nadine & Joshua Stokely, Shirley & Richard Virissimo, Yuviani White and Donna & Richard Williams.
Seventh Annual
Catholic Educators’ Awards Ceremony
The Diocese of San Diego recognized a few of our teachers & staff who are retiring this year. Diane Hartley with 32 years of Catholic Education, Marie Glick with over 30 years and Lynne Johnston, bookkeeper with 20 years of service. Congratulations!
Southern Cross • Denis Grasska
Published on 23 May

All of the diocese’s schools shared equally in this year’s “Re-Imagine Catholic Schools” Award, which is “given to a school that recognizes the needs and interests of the 21st-century student.” John Galvan, the office’s director, said all of the schools “had to re-imagine themselves” to re-open safely after the suspension of in-person instruction and the shift to distance learning last year. “We thought, this year, it would be really important to memorialize for all of our schools what they’ve been through and the hard work that they’ve put in,” Galvan said.

The recipient of this year’s “All Are Welcome” Inclusive Education Award, presented annually to a school that is striving to make education accessible to students with disabilities, was St. Martin of Tours Academy in La Mesa for its work with dyslexic students. Read more about the event here.
Reminders - Important!
Before Report Cards and packets are distributed, Chromebooks, books or anything that is the property of St. Martin Academy needs to be returned
to school next week.

Hybrid Students - leave Chromebooks, books at school on Thurs. 6/3
Distance Learning Students bring Chromebooks/books to school on Thurs. 6/3 from 12pm to 3pm or Friday, 6/4 from 8:00am-11:30am

Report Cards and packets will be distributed at pick-up on Friday until 12:30pm
and will be available for pick up M-F from 9am to 3pm the following week.
Only five applications have been received. Please consider becoming a room parent for your child's class.
Email your application to info51@stmartinacademy.org

• School holiday, Monday, 5/31
______________________________________
Yearbooks are being shipped tomorrow for delivery next week.
Order yearbooks on-line this weekend. (last call!)
All incoming 7th graders are required to meet immunization requirements for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis booster (Tdap) and Varicella (Chickenpox) before they can attend classes. Students admitted for kindergarten will need to meet all requirements for entrance.
St. Martin of Tours Parish
Mass Schedule
Saturday - 5pm
Sunday: 7am • 9am • 11am

Keep up with parish news at:
St. Martin of Tours Academy