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Thanksgiving
Written by Patricia Barr, Principal   
Thursday, 06 November 2008

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Patricia Barr, Principal
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. There is little pre-season commercial hype, really good food is plentiful, and most of us are fortunate to be surrounded by familial love and tradition. It is a wonderful time to bank family memories and to reflect on all that is rich in our lives.

My mom liked to cook, so we always had a house full of people. It was the only time my bachelor Uncle Ole was seen. After dinner, the extended family always played a rousing game of Tripoli. It’s where I learned a fear and love of gambling. I remember the year the electricity went out and we carted all the half-baked food to my aunt’s, whose house miraculously had power. Each of my brothers and I had to “man” a dish so no food sloshed over onto the car’s upholstery.

When I was about five years old, I remember crying profusely because my brother won the larger portion of the wishbone. I thought I was suddenly going to have a life of doom and darkness without the luck that came with that silly little bone. My wise father wrapped his arms around me and said, ”Don’t worry Pumpkin Head, in life you make your own luck.” That advice has served me well in the years that have followed. This year will be especially sweet as my eldest son will be home from his first quarter at college.

I wish you God’s blessings on this wonderful holiday. Knowing He holds us in the palm of his hand IS the luck of the wishbone. Enjoy your memory-making and this precious time with your daughters. Happy Thanksgiving!

Last Updated ( Sunday, 09 November 2008 )
 
Tidbits from Sister Linda
Written by Sister Linda Patrick, Asst Principal Student Life   
Wednesday, 05 November 2008

Driver’s Permit Test for Oregon Residents

Students are required to have a “Proof of Enrollment” when they take their Driver’s Permit Test. This is a state requirement. Before students take the test, they need to stop by Sister Linda’s office to get the form and her signature and fill in their name, address, and date of birth. The entire process takes about one minute and is FREE! These forms cannot be faxed or emailed. The form is good for several months, so girls can get them well in advance of taking the test.

Seating for Assemblies

If you would like to attend one of our all-school liturgies or a school assembly, please remain in the lobby until the students and faculty are seated. With a full enrollment, we have only a few unassigned seats. Once the students and faculty are in and seated, visitors can take unassigned seats or those left vacant due to absent students. We welcome you to join us, but we have very limited seating.

Autumn Night Dance

November 15 is our first dance of the year. It takes place in the gym at St. Mary’s Academy and is open to all grade levels. Area Catholic high schools are invited. Students may invite two guests from non-Catholic high schools. SMA students must complete a guest form to register these guests, who must be ninth grade or above. In an effort to increase safety at St. Mary’s Academy school dances and to support positive student choices, we conduct random breathalyzer tests at all dances.

If you have any questions, please contact Sister Linda at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or if you would like to chaperone, please contact George Zaninovich at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , our Activity Director to see if you could be a part of this fun event! Ear plugs are not provided.

Hangin’ Out at SMA

There are lots of activities that happen in the evening at St. Mary’s Academy, from athletics and play rehearsals to TIES and Mock Trial and many, many other things. When students are here for these and other activities, thay are to be under the supervision of the teacher, coach, or a member of the faculty or staff. The library is open until 5:30PM Monday through Thursday. Ashlee Baylis, our school receptionist, is here until 6:00PM. Frequently, there are girls here who are not involved in school activities, but are waiting for rides or waiting to attend something in the city or...or...or... Our concern is your daughter’s safety, so we ask that your daughter be on her way home or picked up by 6:00PM. If she is riding the bus, we encourage girls to head home before it gets too dark.

November 6, 1859

This date is an important one in St. Mary’s Academy history. On this day 149 years ago, the school opened its doors to the first six girls. We hold the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating high school in Oregon. Given all that our Church, nation, society, and world has been through in the past 149 years, this is remarkable.

Thank you for being part of this long tradition of education, for the precious daughters you have sent us, and pray for God’s blessings on our next 149 years.

Calendar Reminders

November

10, 12 Joston’s graduation orders due for seniors

12 Food for Thought Scholarship Luncheon

20-22 Junior Encounter

26 11:30AM Dismissal

27-28 No School, Thanksgiving Holidays

December

4 College Financial Aid Night, 7PM

6 CMS Service Day, Caroling @Terwilliger Plaza

11 Advent/Christmas Liturgy

13 Class of 2013 Placement tests

14 Marians perform at the Festival of Lights, Grotto, 8PM

16, 17 Christmas concerts

18 Family Christmas Basket Delivery

19 Early dismissal, 11:55AM

22-31 Christmas Break

January

1,2 Christmas Break

5 Classes resume

 

 

Last Updated ( Sunday, 09 November 2008 )
 
So Much to be Thankful For
Written by Randy Kollars, Campus Minister   
Tuesday, 04 November 2008

As we approach Thanksgiving, I find myself so grateful for the tremendous response from our Juniors interested in attending the Encounter Retreats on November 20-22 and March 19-21. 

Almost 90% of this very large junior class has registered or at least signed up for one of the two retreats. When all is said and done, we are likely to have over 140 students participate in this specific retreat experience this year. This is a remarkable and historic turnout for this voluntary three day experience. I have been extremely impressed and humbled by the response, both in terms of interest and in terms of the love and care that has been expressed through their sacrificial efforts to choose one date over the other in order that we would have room to fit everyone. 

As you can imagine, this huge turnout has created some very interesting challenges for the retreat facility, the group dynamic, schedule, etc. As I keep reminding myself: What great problems to have! We have stretched our facility and program to the limit in order to assure that everyone who wants to participate can do so. We have had to add some extra leadership to our adult and student teams, as well as adjust some of the retreat schedule.

Amidst all of this, we have had to ask the juniors to talk with one another and to look hard at perhaps choosing one date over the other so that all of their classmates might be able to participate. The response from this junior class has been a tremendous and inspiring model of love, care, and compassion. A wonderful expression of our SMA community.

Please keep all of us in your prayers and thoughts.

Last Updated ( Sunday, 09 November 2008 )
 
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