SMA Now: Online News
December 14, 2007
Fliers and Announcements
Buy your tickets now for Nuggets Night! (.pdf)
Join SMA's Prayer Group (.pdf)
Lower School Carpool Reminder
Carpool can be challenging in the Lower School lot on Fridays when there are assemblies. Please remember if the Lower School lot is full, you may park in the north lot to avoid frustration and potential citations from Cherry Hills Village.
SMA and Loretto Praying for Peace
On the first Sunday of Advent, members of the Loretto Community joined SMA students to pray for peace. 
The liturgy was planned by the students who have participated in the Motherhouse Community Service Project the past two summers and focused on readings from the major religious traditions and included a slide show on the theme of peace. The students also shared slides of their trip at the Motherhouse. Following the liturgy, students, their families, and Loretto members and friends enjoyed the opportunity to get to know one another.
“You’ve Got Guts”
SMA fourth grade students participated in an outreach program called “You’ve Got Guts” from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. After completing a unit on digestion, Ms. Lynn Heffernan, the outreach educator, engaged the students in demonstrations, discussion, and an actual frog dissection to see the organs of the digestive system firsthand. According to LS science teacher Deb Kasberg, the students handled the experience with the curiosity and interest of true scientists! Here are some quotes from the students about what they learned:
“When we dissected the frog, it was really interesting. I didn’t know that frogs had their tongues at the front of their mouth. I also learned a lot about the digestive system. Ms. Lynn is a good teacher. I didn’t know that we produce about one gallon of saliva everyday. Monday was a lot of fun!”
“I learned that the liver has over 500 functions. I also learned that in the liver, there is a gallbladder that stores bile that helps us digest fat in our food.”
Kudos!
At the Model United Nations meet on Saturday, December 8, at Boulder High School, the following SMA students won awards:
Marina and Phoebe won Honorable Mention for their representation of Cuba in the World Health Organization.Crystal and Katie won Best Delegation for their representation of the United Kingdom in the Security Council.
Rachel’s Challenge
Rachel’s Challenge inspired seventh and eighth graders to be kind and compassionate as they learned about Rachel Scott through her life and writings. Rachel was the first person killed at Columbine High School in 1999. An evening presentation for all SMA parents complemented this day-long program, continuing the message to recognize the positive effect one person’s actions may have on others and, ultimately, on the world. 
Students describe the day as a mix of sadness and laughter and came way with a sincere desire to do small things that make a difference in the lives’ of others.
In order to make their hopes a reality, students committed themselves to accept Rachel’s Challenge to:
At the end of the day, students signed their name to a banner that is now posted in the Middle School to serve as a reminder to share kindness and compassion.
Photo Pages: Enjoy These SMA Activities
Instrumental Concert
All-Academy Sing-Along
SMA Gets Reading!
SMA celebrated Reading Day on December 3. All of the students had a chance to take time out during the day to read for fun. This year, the Lower School students stayed in their classrooms to read with the help of adult volunteers and their reading buddies from the Middle School advisories.
In the spirit of Reading Day, the Lower School, Middle School, and High School librarians have compiled a list of some popular books that have been capturing the attention of SMA students. If you haven’t checked these books out already, take a look. They are sure to make for some interesting reading over winter break. (Click here for photos of Reading Day.)
Primary:
Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor: A young girl who loves fancy things helps her family to be fancy for one special night — with disastrous and heartwarming results!
Grades 3, 4, and 5:
Arnie the Doughnut by Laurie Keller: Arnie the talking doughnut convinces Mr. Bing that not all doughnuts are meant to be eaten. This book is full of humor, puns, and ingenuity.
Middle School:
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli: Stargirl Caraway is a new 10th grade student who wears pioneer dresses and kimonos to school, plays the ukulele in the cafeteria, and dances when there is no music. According to Leo Borlock, the 16-year old narrator, “She was elusive…the flitting shadow of an elf owl."
High School:
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak: Trying to make sense of the horrors of World War II, Death relates the story of Liesel, a young German girl whose book-stealing and story-telling talents help sustain her family and the Jewish man they are hiding, as well as their neighbors.
(Click here for a .pdf file of more book suggestions.)
Step Right Up for Your Chance to Win
Sixth graders invited fifth graders to play carnival-type Math Midway games they’ve created. In preparation, the sixth graders established and tested and predicted outcomes and tracking the profit and loss of constructing the game. Having the fifth graders play the game was an opportunity to gather new data when the fifth graders played these games of chance and math skills. Fifth grade teacher Sandi Krebs and sixth grade teacher Kay Medvig collaborated on the games. (Click here for photos.)