FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Parents:
What a year we've been through! While it has been challenging in many respects, our STA community has much to be thankful for.
STA is one of the few schools in the Greater Kansas City area to have maintained full-time, in-person schooling since last fall. Because of incredible perseverance and collaborative efforts of STA parents, students, faculty, staff, and key community organizations, this has resulted in a fact-based, coordinated and comprehensive approach to in-person learning, all with no campus-related COVID-19 transmissions! I am appreciative and inspired by the STA community’s commitment to our mission, which serves as proof of what we can accomplish together.
STA is blessed to have faculty who are dedicated to their vocations and students. We could not have made it through this year without their dedication and innovative approaches to teaching. I thank every one of them for their outstanding work, and I wish all the best to those leaving STA at the end of this semester (see details in Faculty Updates section below). I know it is difficult to leave a position after one has invested so much time and effort but I appreciate that, as individuals, we must continue to progress. I also appreciate the need to be closer to family. If this past year has taught us anything, it is the importance of maintaining relationships with those we are closest to. I am grateful for and look forward to working with all faculty and staff members who are returning next year to continue the great mission of STA. In addition, we are very excited to welcome accomplished new faculty members who support our mission and are eager to join our community.
Last but not least, the STA student body is to be commended for their resilience. Despite the challenges they faced this past year, our students continued STA’s tradition of excellence through their academic and extracurricular achievements. I especially want to recognize our seniors -- the STA Class of 2021 -- on a tremendously successful year. They have demonstrated incredible determination and have shown their STA sisters that obstacles are meant to be overcome. I wish them all the best as they continue on their life journeys, and I invite them to remain engaged with the STA community so they may serve as inspirational role models to future students.
As I continue to reflect on this past year, I am grateful to God, whose goodness has continually blessed STA. As it is written, "When the peace of Christ rules in our hearts, thankfulness overflows. Even in the darkest of times, we can praise God for his love, his sovereignty, and his promise to be near us when we call." (Psalm 145:18)
We will continue to look to God for strength in facing whatever trials may come. Together, our STA community, we continue to soar.
I wish you all a healthy, happy and blessed summer of joy and family renewal. And I look forward to the hope and promise of a new school year.
God Bless,
Dr. Siabhan May-Washington
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May 3
Teacher Appreciation Day
Final Day of Classes (seniors)
May 4-6
Final Exams (seniors)
May 7
Class Day - Special Schedule
Graduation Rehearsal
May 8
SAT Exams
May 10
STA Golf Classic
May 13
Parents in Prayer (virtual & in-person/on campus) - 12 p.m.
Meeting code: 839 9332 4131
Passcode: 2fzXZt
Star Parents Association (virtual & in-person/in Quad) - 7 p.m.
Meeting ID: 832 3709 7752
Passcode: gC1X5C
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May 14
Baccalaureate Mass
May 15
Graduation (rain date: May 16)
May 19
Last Day of Classes
May 19-21
KAIROS
May 27
College Application Workday (Class of '22)
June 5
STA Reunion for Class of 1970
Distinguished Alumna Award Presentation
June 12
ACT Exams
Trivia Night (virtual)
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STA held its annual Awards Ceremony on April 27 to recognize 2020-21 awardees in a variety of categories. STA congratulates Academy Woman Adelle Quick, Salutatorian Abby Farmer, Valedictorian Ella Sowle and all award recipients. Click here to see the full list. |
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Teacher Appreciation Week (May 3-7)
STA extends our heartfelt appreciation to all faculty for their commitment to STA's mission and students. Their dedication and extraordinary efforts make STA a truly special place.
STA also recognizes the need for personal and professional change. Accordingly, we would like to acknowledge outgoing faculty for their tireless work during their time at STA. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors.
STA Faculty & Staff Members to Receive Master's Degrees
STA congratulates the following individuals who will receive their master’s degrees in commencement ceremonies this spring: Kathleen Daily, social studies teacher; Maria Laura Lopez Gonzales, Spanish teacher; and Brianna Walker, director of Equity Outreach and Inclusive Education.
Kathleen Daily
Master of Arts in Secondary Education, emphasis in Social Studies (Avila University)
"I have always been interested in research and pedagogy and this degree will help me advance in both of these areas, making me qualified and prepared to teach students using evidence-based practices. Teaching is a reflective practice -- our work is never done! Therefore, it is important to me that I continue my education."
Maria Laura Lopez Gonzales
Master of Arts in Romance Languages and Literature (University of Missouri-Kansas City)
"I chose to continue my education in order to teach a greater breadth of material at STA. This degree allows me to incorporate different perspectives in Spanish literature and bring an additional perspective to the Spanish program."
Brianna Walker
Master of Science in Education (University of Kansas)
"I chose to pursue this degree to expand my knowledge about social justice, inequity, and multiculturalism in education. Throughout the program I was able to take a close and critical examination of the institution of education from its inception to its purpose and effect on today's society. The program was interdisciplinary, so aside from the core requirements, I was able to choose other classes such as Program Design and Evaluation, Philosophy of Education and Critical Readings in Education that will provide me with the necessary skills and applicable knowledge to best serve in my role as director of Equity Outreach and Inclusive Education."
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Existing STA Smart Tuition accounts will automatically roll over to the 2021-22 school year (plans from prior schools cannot be converted to an STA account). The $45 Smart fee is waived for accounts that are set up with an annual payment plan, to be paid in full by July 10. If you want to make changes to your current payment plan (monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, annually) please send an email to Cheryl Givens (cgivens@stteresasacademy.org) by May 5. After that date, the Smart fee will be charged for all non-annual plans.
In mid-May, you will receive an email from Smart to let you know your account is activated. You can then make changes to your banking information and other items and start making payments. The first payment is due July 10.
Transcripts and grades will be held for any delinquent accounts. For those with senior students, your account must be paid in full in order for your daughter to participate in graduation activities.
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Grandparents' Day - Virtual Mass
Sunday, May 2
Students and their grandparents are invited to celebrate Mass together on Sunday, May 2, with Father Don Farnan. This virtual, pre-recorded event is available online to watch with your family at your convenience. |
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STA Golf Classic
Monday, May 10
Get ready for a fun day on the links at Country Club of Leawood! All players will receive an STA Golf Classic Yeti mug. Registration is closed, but sponsorships are still available for a limited time. |
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STA Trivia Night
Saturday, June 12
Get ready for a fun evening of trivia! We promise this year's event will be enlightening! Mark your calendars and get ready for showtime!
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Relay for Life
Fundraising for a Future Free of Cancer
STA congratulates everyone involved in this year's Relay for Life event. This reimagined event moved to an online fundraising format and was a resounding success! Students raised $29,623 -- 98.7% of their $30,000 goal. If you would like to help them reach their goal, please visit this link. STA's Relay events are considered one of the most successful high school events the American Cancer Society has in the nation and have earned national attention the past two years. |
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Final Exams
Seniors - Final exams will be administered Tuesday, May 4; Wednesday, May 5; and Thursday, May 6. All exam dates, times and locations are listed here. The worksheet includes tabs for each day of finals week. Seniors are expected to be on campus for all exams and arrive on time in the assigned classrooms per the scheduled class period. Seniors may come and go from campus or remain on campus throughout the day. If remaining on campus, students must follow their schedule and report to all assigned classrooms/open rooms. Students may not wander about the campus inside or outside.
Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors - Classes will be held through the last day of school on Wednesday, May 19. Students will follow Schedule 1 that day unless noted otherwise on the school calendar. There will be no large gathering of students for the typical final exams. Click here to access due dates for final papers, projects and assessments. See tabs at top of page for information organized by grade level.
Students with any questions about final exam dates, times or locations should contact their teacher directly.
Quad Use During AP Exams
Students may not gather in the Quad on the following days and times due to AP exams taking place on campus.
- Tuesday, May 4 from 7:30 a.m.-noon
- Wednesday, May 5 from 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
- Thursday, May 6 from 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
National Honor Society (NHS)
2021-22 NHS Qualifications: Applications will be available November 15 and due December 1. Summer is a great time to work on service requirements!
NHS Requirements:
- Junior or senior
- GPA - 93.0 or higher cumulative GPA as of June 2021 (note this GPA must be maintained for continued membership. Applications will not be reviewed if a student does not hold a 93.0 cumulative GPA).
- Essays (topics on application)
- Character - review of SBR history
- Leadership - evidence of involvement and leadership in the STA and KC communities
Service: A minimum of 15 hours of service to the STA community and a minimum of 15 hours of service to the KC community. Service must be completed between March 15, 2021 and the application deadline. Service is an annual requirement for membership. Community service must be performed at a non-profit school, agency, or organization. STA hours may be fulfilled by assisting teachers, development, or recruitment activities, summer athletic camps, etc. Hours must not be affiliated with a class or STA scholarship. The service-hour requirement for graduation may not be applied to the NHS requirement. Students are responsible for finding their own service opportunities.
STEM Career Opportunities
Burns & McDonnell, a global architecture and engineering firm, is offering a virtual event to help students explore the possibilities of a career in engineering, architecture, drafting, environmental science and construction management. The virtual event, scheduled for Wednesday, May 6 from 6-7:30 p.m. is open to parents and students. Register here. A link to the event will be provided upon registration.
STA Faculty Member Recognized for Innovations During COVID-19
Renee Blake, science teacher at STA, was nominated for the KC STEAM advisory board's "COVID-19 Lemonade Award" for her extraordinary work during COVID-19. Using a Design Thinking approach, Renee has been instrumental in helping STA students and her colleagues overcome challenges with accessibility and technology. She was recognized by the advisory board during their April 20 meeting.
Theatre Awards
Three STA Theatre students were selected from more than 90 submissions to earn Blue Star nominations. Blue Star, sponsored by Starlight Theatre, recognizes area high school musical theatre programs.
- Liv Collett - Performance Scholarship Nominee
- Darcie Hingula - Performance Scholarship and Rising Star Scholarship Nominee
- Isabel Mayer - Outstanding Actress in a Lead Role Nominee for Rockhurst High School's production of The Last Five Years.
All three will perform live at the May 20 ceremony at Starlight Theatre. The event is free and open to the public, but does require reservations for contract tracing. Click here to reserve your spot.
These students earned awards at the annual STA Theatre Awards night on April 28. The list represents awardees from the last two school years due to last year's cancellation.
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AP Exams
AP exams will take place May 3-17. Dates and times are located on the school calendar and at this link. These are national dates and times; please make sure your daughter reports on time. Late arrivals will not be permitted to test. Morning exams begin at 7:45 a.m. and afternoon exams begin at 11:45 or noon. Locations will be posted the week prior to exams. Bring #2 pencils, pens, snacks, water and a calculator if required for your exam.
Thoughts on Summer Vacation
One of the components of a strong college application is how a student spends their time outside of the classroom. Below are some ideas on summer activities.
· Employment
· Serve your community
· Shadow someone in a career area of interest
· Enter a leadership training program or internship
· Think about your future, research colleges and careers of interest
· Complete your STA summer assignments
· Read for pleasure
· Hobbies – pursue what you’re passionate about and what interests you
Senior Parents
Remember to submit enrollment forms/deposit by May 1, the National Candidate's Reply Date, and submit housing contract/fees to the school of your choice. Pay close attention to your May College Planning News for details on final transcripts, sorority recruitment information, and dual enrollment courses with Rockhurst University, Saint Louis University, and University of Missouri-Kansas City. Please remember to turn in copies of all scholarships (not just the ones you plan to accept) to Debi Hudson at dhudson@stteresasacademy.org. This information is extremely valuable for our data collection. You may forward emails from colleges or drop off printed copies.
Junior Parents
Mark your calendars for the Class of 2022 College Application Kickoff Night on Monday, August 16 at 7 p.m. in the M&A Auditorium. This event is required of all seniors. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend virtually to learn more about deadlines, transcript submissions, testing, and more.
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Please volunteer to assist with graduation activities on Saturday, May 15. Parents are encouraged to sign up your daughters to volunteer with you! Register here.
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Summer camps at STA are designed for campers to have fun as well as to learn and develop their skills. Athletics camps are great for girls in grade school through high school to work on team concepts, wellness and physical conditioning. |
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Athletic Camps
Basketball
Cross Country
Dance
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Tennis
Track & Field
Volleyball
Sports Performance
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STEAM Camps
Art Workshop
Clay
How to be an Environmentalist
The Science of Toys & Games
Mythbusters!
Boats, Planes, Rockets & More!
Coding/Programming
Engineering & Construction
Sport Science
... and more!
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Click here to register and see specific dates, times, locations and recommended ages. |
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Athletics has had a busy start to the spring season! Click here for complete updates.
Additionally, STA congratulates the following students for signing to compete in collegiate athletics. The 2021 senior class is the 21st consecutive class to compete at the next level.
- Claire Faulkner - Regis University (soccer)
- Alana Lamley - Kansas Wesleyan University (volleyball)
- Lauren North - Howard University (track & field)
- Leah North - Howard University (track & field)
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Get in the Star spirit! The STA Star Shop has great gear to get you in the mood to cheer on your favorite STA sports team and show your STA pride. All students can wear STA spirit gear on Fridays, so stop by if you need a refresh! |
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Visit the Star Shop in Goppert Center or check out Star merchandise online. Hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. when school is in session. Email the shop (starshop@stteresasacademy.org) with any questions. Follow us on Instagram to see the latest in Star gear! |
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Give back to STA through AmazonSmile
AmazonSmile provides a simple and automatic way for you to support STA every time you shop with Amazon, at no cost to you.
Simply use smile.amazon.com the next time you shop and select St. Teresa's Academy as your designated charitable organization (you'll only need to do this once). You'll find the exact same offers, prices and shopping experience, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of your spending to STA every time you shop.
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