SMA Now: Online News
May 2, 2008
MS Alumnae/i Return to SMA
Keeping up with old friends, making new ones, playing sports, loving high school, and knowing that the Middle School prepared them well….these were comments often echoed by the MS alums who came to campus for the annual Middle School Alumnae/i Reunion Picnic in mid-April.
Nearly 60 students from the last five continuation classes visited with 15 teachers and many current eighth graders and enjoyed a light dinner. There was laughter and story-telling about the East Coast trip, the 1920s dance, and fun times with their teachers. Frequently they spoke of how SMA had taught them to be involved in all aspects of Middle School life, and, as a result, they have become very active in clubs, sports, and other high school activities beyond the classroom.
The Middle School graduates are fine examples of well-rounded, well-prepared high schoolers! (photo lower right)
HONK! if you loved it!
Here's one last chance to relive a wonderful production, involving 90 students from Lower, Middle, and 
High Schools!
Photos:
HS Students Raku Firing
Contributed by Jamie Hatch
Students in HS art teacher Jaime Hatch’s class braved snow and wind recently to finish their ceramic pieces with a raku firing.
Raku is a form of Japanese pottery that has a unique finish. The process has several steps. First, the ceramic ware is heated in a gas fired kiln to 1900 degrees Fahrenheit. After reaching this temperature, the kiln is shut off and the students remove the pots using metal tongs and place their work into trashcans lined with combustible materials. Due to the extreme heat, the combustible materials catch on fire and the flames begin to swirl around the pots. After 20 seconds, the lids are placed on the trashcan and the fire is suffocated. At this point, the fire pulls oxygen out of the ceramic ware and the glaze, as a result, creates dynamic color patterns on the exterior surface of each piece.
This year, most students used a Copper uster glaze. This glaze yielded metallic surfaces with colors ranging from blue to red to green to copper. These ceramic sculptures will be on display until May 7 in the High School showcase located outside of the High School office. Come by and check out this beautiful pottery!
Moving Up and Moving On…
Although it is not quite time for graduation, seniors took one more step toward passing the torch to the current juniors. The annual Ring Ceremony, an 
important tradition at St. Mary’s Academy, took place last week. This year’s ceremony lived up to its reputation for being a very special occasion filled with laughter, tears and lots of hugs.
One by one, the seniors, who were sitting on stage, called juniors up the podium to share memories, funny stories, words of thanks and admiration. Each junior then accepted a ring and/or flower from the senior and took the graduating girl’s place on stage—a symbol of the junior class moving up and the senior class moving on.
“Anchors Away” Celebrated the Spirit
by Anna Modic, Advancement/Events Coordinator
Thank you to all who participated in this year’s gala, Anchors Away. We do not yet have the final numbers but are convinced that we “cruised to success.” 
The evening was full of great food, friends and fun.
Thank you to our Gala Steering Committee, especially Gala Chair Kim Reifsnider, Auction Chair Monica Hustead, Gala Co-Chair Mary Frances Hummel, Auction Processing Chair Seely Greenberg and all our volunteers. It was a night to remember and would not have been as successful without the contributions of the entire SMA community!
Thank you!
Delicious Science at SMA
Contributed by MIchelle O'Shea, kindergarten teacher
In social studies, the kindergarteners have been studying maps and traveling around the world with a rabbit named Felix. On their adventure to Rome, the kindergarteners learned that gelato is a popular type of ice cream in Italy, and discovered it wasn’t hard to make!
The High School chemistry class eagerly visited kindergarten help the students make their own ice cream in a bag. Zip-lock bags, sugar, vanilla, milk, rock salt, and ice were all of the ingredients needed to do this tasty activity. The students had a great time and their ice cream making was a success. It was also delicious! (photo upper right)
New Art Exhibition in the Coyle Gallery
An exhibition of new artwork by HS students in teacher Andrew Beckham’s Advanced 2D Studio/Drawing class 
is currently on display in the Coyle Gallery. The artwork includes studies of facial expressions inspired by the work of Rembrandt. The exhibition also includes Stereoview (3D) photographs and black and white panoramic photography.
Be sure to stop by and take a look at this exciting new art work.