Dec. 2011
Read the latest edition of The Eagle's Nest, SMA's school newspaper

December 12, 2011

Remembering Those Who Served

Lights and ribbons adorn the Civil War Monument in Hoosick Falls for the holidays.  Father Tom Zelker and students from St. Mary’s Academy gathered in the park on High Street to remember this historic event and honor those who served, both from the North and the South.

 

Veteran's Wall Memorial Dedication in Wood Park

SMA students participate in the Veteran's Wall Memorial dedication in Wood Park in Hoosick Falls that took place on Veteran's Day. SMA's own Jerry McAuliffe played in integral part in bringing the vision of the wall to fruition.  The wall is a beautiful dedication to those members of the Town of Hoosick, past and present, who served in the military.  

Stomping Out Homelessness with St. Mary’s Academy Students, Siena College and Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless

Donna Cuddihy’s Sixth grade class at St. Mary’s Academy visited Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless in Albany.  They arrived with boxes of much needed wish list items including liquid laundry detergent, soap, shampoo, boxes of cereal, socks and toothpaste and toothbrushes. The concerned class also collected donations of money which resulted in the youth purchasing the ingredients to make a healthy meal for the guests staying at the 30 bed emergency shelter. The meal was prepared in Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless’ kitchen and the students enjoyed eating lunch with the guests. 

During the visit the class helped prepare for the shelter’s adopt a family program by decorating ornaments which will be hung on a holiday tree.  The ornaments will list wish list items and help individuals and families who are homeless or are facing homelessness.

The students took a tour of the shelter and learned about homelessness and the programs and services that Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless provides.  The organization which opened its doors in 1984 serves over 4000 individuals a year and offers emergency shelter, drop-in center, housing, summer youth and health and wellness program.  All programs help the individuals and families become self sufficient, find affordable permanent, housing and obtain the resources and skills to remain in their housing. 

The visit ended with the students, Interfaith Partnership for the homeless staff and Emergency shelter guests dancing to the Cha Cha slide in a symbolic effort to Stomp Out Homelessness.  The series of activities which took place during the visit support “Homeless Awareness Month”.

Also during November, representatives from St. Mary’sAcademy’s girl’s basketball team joined the Siena College’s Women’s team at Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless. The two groups also participated in Homeless Awareness Month activities and did the Cha Cha slide in an effort to Stomp Out Homeless. 

To find out ways in which you can help “Stomp Out Homelessness” visit www.interfaithpartnership.com.  

St. Mary’s Academy participates in community service activities throughout the entire year. Visiting residents in the Hoosick Falls Health Center and Danforth Center, holding food drives for the local food pantry, raising funds for the Karen McGovern Fund and helping the flood victims are some of the most recent activities. 

Congratulations to the following SMA Alumni who are 2011-2012 inductees into the National Honor Society at Hoosick Falls Central School...

Julia Baker
Grace Delurey
Alice Hayden
Mary Peters
Evan Phillips 

October 31, 2011

A Halloween Tradition at St. Mary’s Academy

Students from St. Mary's Academy participate in the annual Halloween Parade to the Danforth Adult Home and Hoosick Falls Health Center

 

St. Mary’s Academy Holds Dress Down Day for Cancer Awareness

   

The students, faculty, staff and families of St. Mary’s Academy in Hoosick Falls recently held a dress down day to raise funds for the Karen McGovern Fund, a local organization that supports victims of cancer and other illnesses.  The theme of the dress down day was Cancer Awareness and at the daily school assembly many of the students shared their personal stories of how cancer has affected their families.

SMA students share family stories using totem poles and kachinas

St. Mary's Academy seventh graders constructed totem poles and kachina dolls and masks using the methods of the Northwest Coast and Southwest Native Americans. Mrs. Prendergast's Social Studies students creatively illustrated their families' great deeds and characteristics.  They shared family stories and projects with an enthusiastic audience of SMA students in grades kindergarten through fourth grade.

8^th Grade Advanced Placement Art Class at St. Mary’s Academy

 

Neighbors Helping Neighbors
September 2011

When the staff and students of St. Mary’s Academy heard that 8-year old Alesea Phillips from Berlin Elementary School had been diagnosed with cancer, they sprang into action to do what they could to help ease the family’s financial burden.  Spanish teacher Judy Dupuis (right) made a donation on behalf of the Jim Dupuis Memorial Fund, Science teacher Donna Cuddihy (left) presented a donation from the Karen McGovern fund, and the school community held a dress down day to bring in more funds. 

Monkeying Around!
September 29, 2011

Ms. Christoffersen's Pre-School 3 class celebrated Curious George's 70th birthday. The children and Ms. C shared stories about Curious George, practiced positional words with red and yellow balloons, and, of course, ate bananas for a snack. A mini show and tell time satisfied some of the curiosity about their new friends. With monkey masks in place, the children danced to the rhyme Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. All in all, National Curiosity Day proved more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

St. Mary’s Academy School Board Recognizes Teachers for National Teachers Appreciation Week.

St. Mary’s Academy, Hoosick Falls, May 12,2011 – In recognition of National Teachers Appreciation week, May 2^nd through May 6^th, St. Mary’s Academy School Board hosted a luncheon for the teaching staff at the school.

St. Mary’s teachers were appreciated for duties above and beyond the academic classroom. Amanda Patten, second grade teacher, donates her time to coaching Odyssey of the Mind. Donna Cuddihy, middle school Science teacher, coaches the girls basketball and softball teams while David Bromirski , English Language Arts teacher gives his time to coaching the boys athletic teams.

St. Mary’s elementary school teachers, Joan Nolan and Linda McGuire are both celebrating thirty plus years of teaching. St. Mary’s Middle school teachers, Judy Dupuls (Spanish) Margaret Merwin (Mathematics) and Lesley Prendergast (Social Studies) have also made long-term commitments to academic excellence at the school.

Margaret Restino, St. Mary’s academy School Board President said, “This (luncheon) was a perfect way of showing gratitude for the commitment of St. Mary’s teachers.

St. Mary’s Academy is celebrating 120 years of educating students pre-kindergarten through eighth grade in a faith-based curriculum.

Enrichment opportunities include, Art, Athletics, Language, Music, Odyssey of the Mind and Student Government.

If you would like more information about the programs at St. Mary’s Academy, visit www.stmaryshf.com or call 518.686.4314.

Below are few photos of just some of the SMA teachers enjoying the luncheon:

Photo 1: left- Judy Dupuis-Spanish and Margaret Merwin-Math
Photo 2: left- Reena Jones-Kindergarten and Donna Cuddihy-Science
Photo 3: left- Alicia Sawyer and Lori Christoffersen-Pre Kindergarten
Photo 4: Lisa Adrion-Cafeteria Manager

St. Mary's Academy May Crowning
Honoring a long-standing tradition, the 8th graders of St. Mary’s Academy in Hoosick Falls crowned the school’s statue of the Blessed Mother Mary on Thursday, May 19th. Joined by the 2nd grade class, Maeve McAuliffe and Jacob Nolan placed a crown of flowers on Mary’s head as the school assembly joined in song.

(right) 8th grade students Maeve McAuliffe and Jacob Nolan crown the statue of the Blessed Mother

(below) Students celebrate the Crowning of Mary-Glory and Praise to those who give light to our days

St. Mary’s Academy Needs New Roof

The Eastwick Press
March 25, 2011

by Bea Peterson

More than 70 inches of snow has fallen in the area this winter. Seventy inches of snow that was routinely cleared off the flat roofs  of St. Mary’s Academy. “Maintenance Supervisor Jerry McAuliffe organized groups of volunteers to shovel the roof,” said Principal Maureen Daurio, “sometimes Jerry was up there day and night.” The volunteers who spent hours lightening the roof load week after cold winter week included Immaculate Conception Church Pastor Tom Zelker. The roof over the gym was replaced seven years ago and is holding up well.  The same cannot be said for the roof over the classrooms and reception area.

That roof has been a periodic issue,” said Daurio. This year leaks began in mid-January and kept expanding. During that time teachers and administrators came into the building to find ceiling tiles on the floor, books soaked and leaks everywhere. Linda McGuire’s third grade classroom had to be rearranged and, at one point, had 10 to 15 containers for collecting water. “We would listen to the plink plink throughout the day,” she said. Fortunately the leaks have subsided, though not before almost every room was affected.

The School Is Safe
Daurio emphasized that the building has been checked by Albany Catholic Diocese engineers and there are absolutely no health issues with the building. Four large dehumidifiers are working in the hallway and a few smaller commercial ones are at work in some of the classrooms. She said, because of the dehumidifiers, they expect no future health issues either.

Cost
The school was built in 1959. Undoubtedly the main roof has been repaired during those years, but no one believes it was ever replaced.The most recent quote SMA had to replace the roof was a few years back. That quote was $150,000. “The roof has been looked at, and we are waiting for a proposal from the architectural firm of Peterson Engineering, from Clifton Park to put a package out for bid,” said Daurio. “There are a lot of variables, including the possibility of doing some of the work ourselves.” The Principal said they are actively seeking grant funding from several different sources.“Insurance,” she said, “will cover the cost of the inside repairs but will not cover the roof.” St. Mary’s Academy already holds a number of fund-raisers to keep the vibrant school going for its 148 students.Fr. Zelker kicked off the roof funding drive two weeks ago from the pulpit by contributing the first $1,000. He said if 100 people contributed $1,000 each, the roof would be paid for. He will thankfully accept donations of any size, however. To date $22,000 has been collected.

To read more of this article go to:http://eastwickpress.com/news/front-page/



SMA students raise money for Japan Tsunami Relief

Students at St. Mary's Academy recently engaged in a Penny War to raise funds to help the tsunami relief efforts in Japan. The students efforts raised $540. The goal of the Penny Wars is for one classroom to have the greatest number of pennies. Every classroom has a jar that the students bring in pennies to fill-students from other classes can put silver coins into other jars to decrease their totals- so a quarter would decrease the total by 25. The faculty suggested the idea, it was used last year successfully for Haiti relief efforts.

Students from St. Mary’s Academy in Hoosick Falls delivered cookies to firefighters and emergency personnel on Tuesday as their way of saying THANK YOU to everyone that worked so hard to keep the residents of our town safe after the propane truck accident in Hoosick this week.

SMA 2010 graduate chosen as a People to People Ambassador

HFCS Freshman to be student ambassador
February 16, 2010
As reported by Dawson Raspuzzi, Bennington Banner
www.BenningtonBanner.com

Anthony Chapones was recently selected as a People to People student ambassador, which will bring the Hoosick Falls Central School freshman to three European countries over a 19-day period this summer.
Through the program launched more than 50 years ago by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Chapones and a handful of students from the region will visit England, France and Italy. Some of the experiences awaiting the student ambassadors include an official briefing in London from a member of Parliament, undergoing leadership training, visiting the Roman Colosseum, and rappelling down an Italian castle.
Chapones, who has never been to Europe before, said he's anxiously awaiting the opportunity to learn about the different cultures and meeting new people.
The country he's most looking forward to exploring is Italy.

"Italy is a center of culture, especially in European and Mediterranean worlds," Chapones said.

Students on the trip are also required to perform a day of community service. Past groups have done projects such as building parks, although Chapones said he doesn't know what the project will be this summer.

Through the program, students can also receive high school credit for coursework completed abroad.

People to People was organized to promote opportunities to bride cultural and political borders through interactions and unique experiences while building leadership skills.

Chapones said he was invited to apply to become a student ambassador from his work with his St. Mary's Academy's Odyssey of the Mind team last school year. Then he had to get letters of recommendation and go through an interview process to be accepted.

The cost of the trip, with everything included, is about $7,000. Chapones has already raised $1,500 selling cookie dough around the holidays and from local businesses that have sponsored the trip. He's also planning a dinner fundraiser in April, in which he'll deliver dinners to people in the Hoosick and Bennington area.



February 8, 2011

St. Mary’s Academy Celebrates Catholic Schools’ Week

Despite the crazy winter weather, St. Mary’s Academy in Hoosick Falls had a week full of celebrations in honor of Catholic Schools’ Week. The week began with Mass at Immaculate Conception Parish on Saturday evening followed by a spaghetti dinner and talent show. On Monday, the students were each presented an award recognizing their work in portraying the fruits of the spirit such as patience, kindness and love. When school resumed on Thursday after the snow days, parents, friends, and community leaders joined the students in their annual Reading Train. Rensselaer County Legislator and SMA Alumnus Peter Grimm presented St. Mary’s Academy with a proclamation from the Legislature acknowledging the school’s commitment to Catholic education in our community. To cap off the festivities, students celebrated School Spirit Day on Friday. Everyone was dressed in the school colors of purple and gold and cheered on their favorite team in the annual basketball game featuring the 7th and 8th graders playing against their favorite teachers and parents.








SMA 8th Grade student awarded Catholic Central High School Scholarship
January 2011

St. Mary's Academy is proud to announce that 8th grade student Madison Woodley has been awarded a scholarship to attend Catholic Central High for four years beginning with the 2011-2012 school year.  Catholic Central awarded 13 scholarships to students based on academic performance on the CCHS' placement exam.   Madison is an active member of 4H and participates in both soccer and basketball at St. Mary’s. Madison is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Woodley of Petersburgh.


Article courtesy of The Eastwick Press, Bea Peterson

Siena basketball adopts St. Mary's Academy
January 5, 2011

Article courtesy of The Eastwick Press, Bea Peterson

On Wednesday, January 5, members of the Siena College Mens and Womens basketball teams visited four Capital District schools as part of the College’s annual Adopt-a-School program. This year, thanks to the efforts of SMA Board President Margaret Restino, St. Mary’s Academy was one of the schools selected.The players, junior Kyle Downey, 6’2", guard, from Fairport, NY, junior Brandon Walters, 6’9", center, from Staten Island, NY, sophomore Jonathan Breeden, 6’5", forward, from Harrisburg, PA, junior Maja Gerlyng, 5’1", guard/forward, from Horsholm, Denmark, freshman Allison Mullings, 5’8", guard, from Bloomfield, CT, freshman Clara Sole Anglada, 6’1", forward, from Barcelona, Spain, and freshman Ciara Stewart, 5’7", guard from Pomfret, MD, along with Assistant Coach Michelle Collins, entered the gym amid boisterous cheers. The players introduced themselves to the assembled school and shared a little of their backgrounds with the students.

There was a question and answer time when the students asked about balancing sports and school work, some basketball statistics and, for the foreign players, what the transition from their homes to here was like for them. After the assembly the students broke into small groups for basketball drills,
some games and, of course, collecting autographs. All the while the Siena players emphasized the value of hard work and staying in school.

The project didn’t end with two hours at the school. SMA students will attend a Siena Mens home game and a Womens home game in the near future. The Siena students/players will keep in touch with the SMA classes throughout the remainder of the school year via email. Hoosick Falls is the farthest the Siena athletes have ever come to visit a school. It appeared to be a worthwhile trip all the way around.




St. Mary's Academy Athletes Stomp Out Homelessness
November 2010

St. Mary's Academy athletes attended Siena College Women's   basketball game on Saturday, November 20th.  The trip to Siena has been a tradition for the girls basketball teams coached by Donna Cuddihy, Lisa (Baker-'85) Schneider and Judy (Bromirski- '85) Epler.  Thirty St. Mary's Academy athletes cheered on the Siena Saints, then participated in a half-time event which brought awareness to homelessness.  Over 500 participants dance the "cha-cha slide" at center court in a symbolic effort to "Stomp out Homelessness".  Several SMA students were chosen as ball girls and contest participants.  All students made a donation to the cause and received a festive t-shirt for their participation.  Proceeds from the Siena game benefitted Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless which is located in Albany.  St. Mary's Academy basketball teams are gearing up for their season which begins after the holiday season.