Leadership Conference to feature National Geographic TV Correspondent: Oct. 20
St. Mary’s Academy will present its seventh annual Leadership Conference for girls, grades 6-12, and their parents on Saturday, October 20, 2007, from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Mireya Mayor, two-time Emmy Award-nominated field correspondent on the National Geographic Explorer TV series, will present the keynote address “My Wild Life.” Attendees will relive with Mayor her wild ride as the daughter of Cuban immigrants blossoms from NFL cheerleader to Fulbright Scholar to field scientist and National Geographic TV correspondent.
Panel speakers will offer practical leadership advice that girls can apply immediately.
Cost is $25 for students not currently attending St. Mary’s Academy, if purchased by October 19, $35 on October 20. There is no charge for parents accompanying their daughter. For reservations, call 303-762-8300, ext. 264.
For a flier, click here.
Photo far left: Mark Thiessen, NGT&F
"The Human Rights Pep Rally"
St. Mary’s Academy hosted the 2007 Denver High School Human Rights Symposium on September 15. Sponsored by the Colorado Model UN, the United Nations Association of Colorado, and the International Studies Department at the University of Denver, day featured workshops, speakers and panels on issues of global concern. Over 150 students from metro area school attended.
Professor Ved Nanda, Director of the International Legal Studies Program at the University of Denver, spoke on the topic, “Why Should We Care About Human Rights?,” and a senior at the Denver High Center for international Studies shared a recent human rights study trip in Africa.
Students from three school led panels on “How to Get Actively Involved in Human Rights Issues” focusing on their schools’ involvement in Amnesty International, STAND (focused on genocide on Darfur), and Educate Africa (education in Uganda).
In addition to these inspiring speakers and panels, the students participated in workshops to refine their skills in debating an issue from the viewpoint of a particular UN country as the do as part of the activities of their Model UN clubs.
Jennifer Klein, High School teacher and sponsor for SMA’s Model UN club, served on the committee to organize this event. Anyone interested in knowing more about Model UN are encouraged to contact her at jennifer_klein@smanet.org.
SMA's Racing for the Cure: October 7
Join the St. Mary’s Academy team for Komen Denver Race for the Cure on Sunday, Oct 7. This is an all-Academy activity that welcomes families from all divisions. “We would love your 
participation, support, thoughts, and prayers,” says Amber Smith, Director of HS Community Service, is organizing the team again this year. Amber will check the names of people registering for the SMA Wildcat team and email details about the meeting place.
To access the SMA Wildcats' team page, go to http://www.komendenver.org. The name of the team is SMA Wildcats.
Once participants are registered, Amber will email them details about a location to gather the morning of the race.
Be part of an SMA community experienceand help others!
Becoming Peacemakers
The first liturgy of the year and the dedication of the new Peace Pole and dove release focused on the Lower School’s theme of 
being peacekeepers. Through prayer, song, and reflections offered by LS Principal Mary Jane Frederick and Father Marty Lally, students and parents were inspired to bring peace to all the activities of their lives.
Each year Mary Jane Frederick has selected an annual theme that nurtures students’ spirituality and their sense of community. Beginning with the Loretto School Values of faith, community, justice, and respect, students spent the next years thinking about “growing their hearts,” joy, avoiding hurtful language, and being peacemakers. Thanks to the work of Lower School teachers, these themes are more than pretty message. They are incorporated into the daily life of the Lower School and internalized into students’ sense of self and sense of community.
Real-life Chemistry: Space Exploration
Dr.Abbud-Madrid a Professor of Chemical and Mechanical Engineer and Director of the Center for Space Resources at the Colorado School of Mines spoke to Greta Glugoski-Sharp’s classes about Chemistry and Space Exploration.
With a bit of humor and a lot of scientific knowledge, Dr. Abbud-
Madrid traced the evolution of space travel as an introduction to his own work with various space missions. Without telling students the source of a diary written by an explorer, he read passages that depicted the crowded conditions of travel, the dusty, new surroundings; and the perseverance no matter the obstacles. Students thought the explorer was Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon. Instead, the diary belonged to SMA’s own Sister Johanna Walsh, one of the founders of the school, who was indeed an explorer recounting the arduous trip from Santa Fe to Denver in 1864.
While female astronauts is not unusual today, Dr. Abbud-Madrid told students that Mercury 13, women who had passed the same physical and psychological tests as the Mercury 7 astronauts, but never flew a mission.
“Space exploration is definitely going to be part of their future,” says Greta Glugoski-Sharp. In order for students to prepare for their future, she regularly invites speakers to talk about chemistry and the careers that involved chemistry.
