NFTH: March 2, 2020 - Saint Mary's Hall

From the Head of School

Dear Saint Mary's Hall Community,

Relationships for a Lifetime

The fact that our alumni stay in touch with each other and with us is one of the aspects about Saint Mary’s Hall that I cherish most. During their time at Saint Mary’s Hall, our students develop relationships with each other, their teachers, coaches, and administrators that truly last a lifetime. It means so very much to the faculty, staff, and me when our alumni return to campus and when they email us updates with photos. We celebrate their successes, and we’re here for them during challenging times, too. Our faculty remain mentors and supporters of our students, long after they walk the graduation stage. Please enjoy this slideshow of some of the alumni who have stayed engaged with us this school year. And all alumni, please accept my invitation to come knock on our door anytime and reconnect! SMH will always be your home.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Eades
Head of School

All-School

School Nurse Speaks to Students About Keeping School Healthy

Today, School Nurse Melissa Baumholtz addressed the Lower, Middle, and Upper School students during Chapel about how to help our school mitigate the spread of germs and discussed some basic healthy hygiene habits.

Everyone plays a role in keeping the school healthy. We all know how disruptive it can be when your child and their teachers are out sick. Let’s work together to keep our school healthy and reduce the number of days staff and students are out because of sickness by taking the appropriate steps to help prevent the spread of illness. Please talk to your children about:

Washing their hands often.
Coughing properly into their arm or a tissue.
Not sharing personal items (such as chapstick, water bottles and food).
Keeping their hands away from their mouths.
Staying home when you or your child is sick.
Trying to avoid others who are sick.

We are taking all recommended precautions. In addition to our housekeeping staff, who do a thorough clean of each room and spot check common areas throughout the day, faculty and staff are cleaning as necessary in their classrooms and offices. We are using an anti-viral disinfectant cleaner on all desks, door knobs, restroom fixtures, and floors.

Come One Come All!

Join your fellow Barons on Lewis Field for the first-ever All-School Movie Night on Wednesday, March 25 to watch Shrek. Families with students of all ages are encouraged to gather starting at 6:30pm to enjoy complimentary burgers, hot dogs, chips, and desserts.

The movie will begin promptly at 8pm, and prior to 7:45pm, Lewis Field will be open for students to run, play tag, or throw a ball or frisbee while parents visit and set up their viewing area. Families are encouraged to bring games and are welcome to bring their own snacks or dinner (to be enjoyed in the Russell Field House area) in addition to chairs and blankets.

Save the date for this fun, community building movie night!

For more information, contact Fabiola Kaase at fabiola.kaase@icloud.com or Lauren Bullock at laurenbullock@gmail.com

Support Serna Day

Register Today!

Get ready to swing into summer with The Ben McMurrary Golf Classic on Saturday, May 2!

Register and learn about sponsorship opportunities!

Register Here

The tournament is a four-man scramble with a shotgun start. Awards are given to the top three teams with the 1^st place team crowned as the Purple Jacket Champions. Each member of the 1^st place team receives a custom purple jacket and his or her name engraved on the Ben McMurray Memorial Cup.

Your chance to win the coveted Purple Jacket and enjoy a day of on-course games, food, beverages, and prizes is only two months away!

Upper School

Junior Earns 1st Place in Regional Science and Engineering Fair

Over the February 21- 23 weekend, Form 11 student Vivek Beeram competed in the Alamo Regional Science and Engineering Fair.

The project, titled Association of genetic variation on the PTPRC gene with HIV-1 pathogenesis and AIDS, won 1^st in region, advancing him to the Texas Science and Engineering Fair at Texas A&M on March 27-28. In typical gracious Vivek fashion, he sent a sincere thank you note to his teachers and mentors, Upper School Biology Teacher Dr. Jamie Holbrook and Upper School Science Teacher Hepsy Singh.

School Nurse Speaks to Students About Keeping School Healthy

Today, School Nurse Melissa Baumholtz addressed the Lower, Middle, and Upper School students during Chapel about how to help our school mitigate the spread of germs and discussed some basic healthy hygiene habits.

Everyone plays a role in keeping the school healthy. We all know how disruptive it can be when your child and their teachers are out sick. Let’s work together to keep our school healthy and reduce the number of days staff and students are out because of sickness by taking the appropriate steps to help prevent the spread of illness. Please talk to your children about:

Washing their hands often.
Coughing properly into their arm or a tissue.
Not sharing personal items (such as chapstick, water bottles and food).
Keeping their hands away from their mouths.
Staying home when you or your child is sick.
Trying to avoid others who are sick.

We are taking all recommended precautions. In addition to our housekeeping staff, who do a thorough clean of each room and spot check common areas throughout the day, faculty and staff are cleaning as necessary in their classrooms and offices. We are using an anti-viral disinfectant cleaner on all desks, door knobs, restroom fixtures, and floors.

Mu Alpha Theta Inductions, by John Bourland (Form 12)

On February 11, the Rene Descartes Chapter at Saint Mary's Hall of the Mu Alpha Theta National High School Mathematics Honor Society inducted 18 new students from Form 11 and Form 12. Chapter President John Bourland, Chapter Vice President Isaac Miller (Form 12), Secretary Paris Johnson (Form 12), and Treasurer Shane Rybacki (Form 12) welcomed these juniors and seniors, who have each reached the level of AP Calculus while maintaining high grades in math and other courses, through the presentation of pins, certificates, and membership cards. To congratulate the inductees on their significant accomplishment, the society held a reception for new members and their families with lemonade and delicious cookies from SAGE Dining Services®. Congratulations again to all of the new members listed below for their outstanding work, and SMH looks forward to seeing them continue to grow and develop as mathematicians and incredible individuals.

Seniors:
- Hunter Allen
- Weston Bohne
- Aidan Campbell
- Sarah Dickerson
- Samuel Eckert
- Avery Eugster
- Shilpa Gunuganti
- Javier Hernandez
- Caleb Miller
- Darian Stewart
- Raj Talukdar
- Nicholas Trujillo
- John David Walls
Juniors:
- Vivek Beeram
- Alexandra Dalrymple
- Leah Gomez
- Sarah Hernandez

28th Annual Saint Mary’s Hall Issues Day

The 28^thAnnual Saint Mary’s Hall Issues Day took place on February 27. The SMH Upper School welcomed a distinguished panel of experts to discuss the question, "Who should make the choice?" This is an annual Saint Mary’s Hall tradition that allows the junior class to select and conduct an in-depth discussion of an intellectual and timely topic of our day. This year the junior class chose the subject of abortion with its three essential questions: 1) Why should we make the choice? 2) Who should make the choice? 3) What does the future hold?

View the program from Issues Day to learn more and see the distinguished panel of experts.

Issues Day Speaker Team committee members included select members of the junior class who have been engaged in weekly early morning meetings to choose the delegates who will be participating on this year’s event panel. They have been guided carefully by the Issues Day faculty leadership that include Director for Instructional Technology & Libraries Barb Bertoldo, Upper School Social Studies Teacher Jill Severe, Middle/Upper School Assistant Librarian Gerri Walls, Upper/Middle School Library Assistant Allyson Allen, Head of Upper School Brent Spicer, and Assistant Head of Upper School Jeff Hebert.

As in the past, this year’s topic was not one which yields an easy answer or simple consensus. However, students’ active participation helped them view opposing opinions as they solidify their own thoughts and beliefs. SMH encourages Upper School students to examine the topic with openness and respect for self and others.

Upper School Celebrates Darwin Day

Darwin Day is a special day set aside during the month of February when AP Biology students celebrate the birthday of Charles Darwin, the English naturalist, who is considered the "Father of Evolution." On February 11, students presented video clips to the Upper School, educating them on who Charles Darwin was and portraying (in very creative ways) the ideas that he published in his book, On the Origin of Species. The AP Biology classes then threw a potluck birthday party in his honor and enjoyed fun and fellowship with their classmates. View a video form Darwin Day.

Robotics attend Central Texas Regional FTC Championship Tournament

Over the weekend of February 22 - 23, Middle and Upper School Robotics Teams participated in the Central Texas Regional FTC Championship tournament. Leading up to the tournament, approximately 180 FTC teams in central Texas participated in multiple qualifier competitions. Fifty-two teams advanced to this regional event, eight of which were from San Antonio, including both SMH teams. Although the teams did not win any award at the regional championship, they represented SMH very well. The robots performed consistently, and were recognized by several strong teams. Here is a video of the Upper School team playing their first round of game. The FTC8295 team included Upper School students John Bourland (Form 12), Leo Cheong (Form 9), Alejandro Delgado (Form 10), Joy Ding (Form 12), and Felicia Early (Form 12), and Middle School students Will Carter (Form 8), Foster Hixon (Form 8), Christian Moreno (Form 8), and Jackson Schuleman (Form 8).

Early Release for Middle and Upper School

Parents, mark your calendars that on Wednesday, March 18, Middle and Upper School will have an early release at 11:30am. Students will attend shortened classes that day, and no lunch will be served for students. Any students who need to remain on campus after 11:30am will be allowed to eat, but SMH will not be serving the usual amount of food. Athletes should check with their coaches about early practice start times.

This is also an All-School No Homework Night!

Health and Wellness Class Look Ahead – Healthy Relationships and Sex

The Form 9 Health class is designed to give students the facts they need to make wise decisions and to help them reflect on their own values and those of their families when making those decisions. They hope to put them squarely in charge of their own wellness, with the ability to recognize unhealthy behaviors to which they may be exposed.

In the coming weeks, Health and Wellness Educator Amelia Teodosio will be covering the important topic of healthy relationships and sex. The first part addresses defining and building healthy relationships with an emphasis on friendship and dating relationships. Students will consider the topic of sex as it relates to spiritual, emotional, and physical health. They will discuss their own relationship, family values, and the concept of consent as it regards sexual activity. They will also identify and analyze the consequences of sexual activity. Finally, students will learn the risks factors for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS.

Students will work through the following questions in small groups, then share their conclusions with the class:

What are the primary values you hold about sex and where do they come from?
Based on your values, what would be your definition of “a healthy sexual relationship?"
Based on your values, what would be your definition of “an unhealthy sexual relationship?"
What do you feel like you need in order to stick to your definition of “a healthy sexual relationship?”
When can someone be said to have given consent to sexual activity and at what age?
What are some of the spiritual, emotional, and physical consequences of sexual activity?

Mrs. Teodosio stresses that the age of consent in Texas is 17, but that the adolescent brain is not fully developed until about 25-26 years of age. She’ll note that just like with other risky behaviors, the goal is to graduate students that do not get involved in adult activities before they are at an age when they are physically, mentally, and emotionally ready to make the best decisions. Student questions are answered with medically accurate information as appropriate. Mrs. Teodosio also encourages students to speak to their parents as their first, best resource if they have questions on topics covered in class.

Please feel free to contact Mrs. Teodosio at ateodosio@smhall.org if you have any questions.

The Week Ahead

For a look at everything that's happening in the Upper School this week (including college visits to SMH, varsity and JV games, important assemblies, meetings, and upcoming birthdays), please read The Week Ahead.

Middle School

SMH Robotics Competes in FTC Championship Tournament

On February 22 and 23, both Robotics/Computer Science/STEM Dr. Hong Zhou’s Middle and Upper School Robotics Teams participated in the Central Texas Regional FTC Championship tournament.

This season, there were approximately 180 FTC teams that participated in multiple qualifier competitions in the central Texas region; fifty-two teams advanced to this event. Among the qualifiers, eight teams were from San Antonio, including two from Saint Mary’s Hall. Although SMH's teams did not win any awards at the regional championship, they represented SMH very well. Their robots performed consistently, and were recognized by several strong teams. Here is a video of the upper school team playing their first round of game. Competitors included John Bourland (Form 12), Leo Cheong (Form 9), Alejandro Delgado (Form 10), Joy Ding (Form 12), and Felicia Early (Form 12) on Upper School team FTC8295. Also, Will Carter (Form 8), Foster Hixon (Form 8), Christian Moreno (Form 8), and Jackson Schuleman (Form 8) from the Middle School.

School Nurse Speaks to Students About Keeping School Healthy

Today, School Nurse Melissa Baumholtz addressed the Lower, Middle, and Upper School students during Chapel about how to help our school mitigate the spread of germs and discussed some basic healthy hygiene habits.

Everyone plays a role in keeping the school healthy. We all know how disruptive it can be when your child and their teachers are out sick. Let’s work together to keep our school healthy and reduce the number of days staff and students are out because of sickness by taking the appropriate steps to help prevent the spread of illness. Please talk to your children about:

Washing their hands often.
Coughing properly into their arm or a tissue.
Not sharing personal items (such as chapstick, water bottles and food).
Keeping their hands away from their mouths.
Staying home when you or your child is sick.
Trying to avoid others who are sick.

We are taking all recommended precautions. In addition to our housekeeping staff, who do a thorough clean of each room and spot check common areas throughout the day, faculty and staff are cleaning as necessary in their classrooms and offices. We are using an anti-viral disinfectant cleaner on all desks, door knobs, restroom fixtures, and floors.

Area B Latin Convention

On February 22, a total of 21 Middle School students competed in the Area B Latin Convention at Brennan High School. Here are the results:

Overall Sweepstakes
- 1^st Place Saint Mary’s Hall Middle School
- 2^nd Place BASIS Shavano
- 3^rd Place St. Luke’s Episcopal
- 4^th Place TMI Middle School
- 5^th Place Alamo Heights Junior School
- 6^th Place YMLA Middle School
Certamen
- 1^st Place Clark High School
- 2^nd Place Saint Mary's Hall Middle School
- 3^rd Place Antonian High School

Clark High School, BASIS Middle School, Antonian High School, Johnson High School, Saint Mary’s Hall Middle School, and Reagan High School, entered the novice preliminary rounds on Friday night. The core team was made up of Form 8 students Sofia Bishop, Sofija Dudhia, Emilia Kniestedt, and Leonora Leykum. Due to various scheduling commitments, SMH never had a full team playing in the prelims or in the final. On Friday, Sofia, Sofija, and Emilia managed to score enough points to gain a 3^rd place position in the final against Clark and Antonian. On Saturday, Leonora was able to join Sofia for the final, in which they managed to beat Antonian, placing 2^nd after Clark.

Pentathlon

All 700 students at the convention take the Pentathlon test. The same test is given to all levels. It consists of a difficult Latin reading passage with comprehension and grammar questions, and other questions on Roman daily life, mythology, and Roman history. Students are ranked within their own level, but can compare scores across levels, too. Levels of recognition (increasing) are: Cum Laude, Magna cum Laude, Maxima Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude. Students earn 1-4 points for these levels respectively. This year, Leonora scored highest overall on the Pentathlon out of approximately two hundred Level 1 students at the convention.

Decathlon

The Decathlon is similar to the Pentathlon, but much more challenging. Only the keenest Latinists are encouraged to take the Decathlon test. This year, one Form 7 student and three Form 8 students placed on this test. George Braden (Form 7) and Leonora Leykum (Form 8) placed 1^st at their respective levels on the Decathlon.

View the Individual Results.

Forms 5-6 Art Show

On February 20, the Tobin Fine Arts School at SMH presented a brand-new, cross-divisional exhibition. The show is a collaboration between Lower School Art Teacher Kellen Stanley and Middle School Art Teacher BJ Pyrc to bring Lower and Middle School students and their artwork together. The Middle School artists have pushed their comfort levels to the max with their nearly 4' charcoal drawings of the much smaller Form 5 clay pieces. The show will be open until Spring Break, so be sure to check it out!

Dates to Remember

March 2 - Summer at Saint Mary’s Hall registration begins
March 4-6 - Form 7 overnight field trip to Port Aransas
March 6 - Form 8 field trip to downtown San Antonio
- Form 6 “Staycation” at SMH
  
  Friday, March 6 Special Schedule:

Time	Event
8am-8:30am	1^st Period
8:35am -9:05am	2^nd Period
9:10am -9:40am	3^rd Period
9:45am -10:15am	4^th Period
10:15am -10:25am	Break
10:25am -10:55am	6^th Period
11am -11:30am	7^th Period
11:35am -12:10pm	Lunch
12:15pm -1pm	5^th Period (Study Hall, Dance, Tennis, Fitness)
1:05pm -2:45pm	Special Activities!

French Students Celebrate Mardi Gras

On February 25, Middles School World Languages Teacher Kristen Villalvazo’s French students celebrated Mardi Gras by learning about the history of the celebration, where it is celebrated, and sharing a delicious King Cake. Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Lower School

Friends Are Like Baseball Cards

Saint Mary’s Hall Head of School Emeritus Bob Windham spoke in Morning Moments to students in Forms 1-5.

Mr. Windham is an ardent baseball fan and collector of baseball cards. He described the ratings of collectable cards, and explained that a Gem Mint 10 card is a virtually perfect card. He said that friends were like baseball cards, and some are rare and very valuable. Mr. Windham said, “Some friends are ‘Gem Mint friends’ and like baseball cards that get more valuable the longer you have them.” At the end of his presentation, Mr. Windham told his audience about some of his “Gem Mint Friends” and why they were so valuable to him and he ended saying that one of his valuable friends was Saint Mary’s Hall Head of School Jonathan Eades.

School Nurse Speaks to Students About Keeping School Healthy

Today, School Nurse Melissa Baumholtz addressed the Lower, Middle, and Upper School students during Chapel about how to help our school mitigate the spread of germs and discussed some basic healthy hygiene habits.

Everyone plays a role in keeping the school healthy. We all know how disruptive it can be when your child and their teachers are out sick. Let’s work together to keep our school healthy and reduce the number of days staff and students are out because of sickness by taking the appropriate steps to help prevent the spread of illness. Please talk to your children about:

Washing their hands often.
Coughing properly into their arm or a tissue.
Not sharing personal items (such as chapstick, water bottles and food).
Keeping their hands away from their mouths.
Staying home when you or your child is sick.
Trying to avoid others who are sick.

We are taking all recommended precautions. In addition to our housekeeping staff, who do a thorough clean of each room and spot check common areas throughout the day, faculty and staff are cleaning as necessary in their classrooms and offices. We are using an anti-viral disinfectant cleaner on all desks, door knobs, restroom fixtures, and floors.

Here are some links to things kids might want to know:

Form 5 Original Drama Production

Dusty Diner was a great success! The complete production was created and written by this year’s Form 5 students. Lower School Drama Teacher Clea Underwood said, “Through teamwork, dedication, and plenty of creative energy, the students accomplished a great feat. Every child was integral to the process and every child was featured on stage. The learning experience included the entire process of creating a play, as well as putting together a polished production. I am very proud of each and every Form 5 student!” Thank you Mrs. Underwood and Form 5 students for another outstanding job. In case you missed it, watch on the SMH Livestream channel.

News from the Lower School Library

Lower School Librarian/Instructional Technologist Linda Wells gave a presentation in Morning Moments about the Texas Library Association Award Winners and also the American Library Association Award Winners for 2020.

Students Teach Parents

Thank you to all the parents and families who participated in Montessori/Kindergarten Parent Participation Night. Several of our current Montessori/Kindergarten students’ parents are Saint Mary’s Hall alumni, and it is fun having the second generation reteach the previous generation what they learned when they were in Lower School. This photo (above) shows Full-Day Montessori student Will Russell showing his parents, SMH alumni William (Class of 2002) and Jayme (Class of 2003) Russell, one of his favorite activities.

Assistant Head of Lower School Nur Mangalji said, “Students at SMH begin their journey toward independence in Montessori and Kindergarten. The evening is a delightful opportunity for parents to see their children’s tremendous growth and joy for learning within the classroom.”

Board Games for Family Fun

Whether your family is traveling or staying in San Antonio for Spring Break, there can be some great opportunities for something fun for families to do that doesn’t involve screen time. Here is a teacher and mom approved list of board games that are engaging for children (and parents) of all ages and reinforce skills learned at school. Some of the tried and true games will be easily recognized, but there are some great new options for old fashioned family fun! See 21 of the Best Board Games for the Elementary Classroom.

It’s Just Around the Corner

The maturation videos that are shown to Forms 4 and 5 students will be previewed for parents on Tuesday, March 24, from 8am-9am in the Lower School Science Lab. Each video is about 15 minutes long. In case you would like to only see your child's video (not all of them), they will be previewed in this order:

Form 4 girls
Form 4 boys
Form 5 girls
Form 5 boys

The videos are produced by Marsh Media, and you can see a short preview on their web site.

Students will see the videos on Friday, March 27 during PE classes. Form 4 students will see Just Around the Corner and Form 5 Growing Up! The boys will be with the male coaches and the girls with the nurse and female coaches. For more information, you may contact Lower School Counselor Susan Moore-Sickmann at smoore@smhall.org.

Fine Arts

Tobin Fine Arts School

Director's Corner

Last weekend, a total of 34 students competed at the 2020 National Speech and Debate Association's (NSDA) Central Texas District Tournament.

This tournament is different from any other we attend, as it is the only opportunity for our students to qualify for the National Tournament this summer in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Consisting of public, private, and charter schools across San Antonio and the surrounding area, the reputation of this district in the nation's eye is that of excellence and character. Therefore, it is with great privilege that we share a record number of students will be attending the NSDA national tournament representing SMH this year! See the results.

Saint Mary's Hall placed 1^stin District Speech Sweepstakes and placed 2^nd in District Debate Sweepstakes! After the District Congress tournament, the district will then award an overall District Championship Award. Individual results and explanations are below:

Qualifiers to NSDA Nationals

Thus far, 19 students have qualified to compete this summer:

Vivek Beeram (Form 11) - International Extemporaneous Speaking
Kathleen Benson (Form 10 - Duo Interpretation
Caroline Coley (Form 11) - Program of Oral Interpretation
Ben Cruz (Form 9) - Humorous Interpretation
Bailen Ganeshappa (Form 9) - Informative Speaking
Emily Garrett (Form 12) - Dramatic Interpretation
Leah Gomez (Form 11) - Original Oratory
Isabel Hackney (Form 11) - International Extemporaneous Speaking
Jonathan Largoza (Form 9) - Informative Speaking
Tori Menendez (Form 12) - Public Forum Debate
Grace Ogden (Form 9) - Original Oratory
Ethan Parkhurst (Form 11) - Duo Interpretation
Nitya Patel (Form 10) - Informative Speaking
Trey Plante (Form 12) - Public Forum Debate
Jack Rykert (Form 9) - Duo Interpretation
Rylan Schendel (Form 12) - Public Forum Debate
Adam Swider (Form 11) - Duo Interpretation
John David Walls (Form 12) - Public Forum Debate
Clark Webb (Form 11) - Original Oratory

In addition to the great programmatic accomplishments that occurred this weekend, SMH Barons were also honored for their leadership in the Central Texas District. They will each now be entered into a pool with the rest of the country's district winners for national consideration which will be selected at the NSDA National Award Ceremony this summer in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Student of the Year

The NSDA states:

"The District Student of the Year award is presented to a graduating senior in each district who best represents the tenets of the Association’s Code of Honor: integrity, respect, humility, leadership, and service. Nominees must also demonstrate strong academic credentials and a commitment to the speech and debate community."

This year, we are proud to celebrate Form 12 student Shilpa Gunuganti, who was selected by the district committee as the 2020 Central Texas Student of the Year! Shilpa is the third SMH student to receive the District Student of the Year award.

As Head of School Jonathan Eades announced last week, Upper School Drama Teacher Joe Muller also won the Coach of the Year for the district.

Congratulations to all!

Artily yours,

Bethany Bohall
Wanda Wiley Atkinson Director of Fine Arts
Tobin Fine Arts School at Saint Mary’s Hall
bbohall@smhall.org
(210) 483-9253

Spring Concert

Please join SMH on Tuesday, March 3 at 8:15am and/or 6pm for the Saint Mary’s Hall Children’s Choir and Orff Ensemble Concert, The Beatles, in the Coates-Seeligson Theater/Chapel. View tickets and information.

Sculpture and Design Students Inspired by English Project

Upper School Sculpture and Design students embarked on a creative project based on The Great Gatsby, which is read as part of the Form 11 English curriculum. Upper School Sculpture and Design Teacher Nate Cassie stated, “This was not really a collaboration (at least not this year), but I asked students as a team to create sociological or political artwork based on themes present in The Great Gatsby at the start of this quarter.” The pieces are on display in the Marrs and Verna McLean Library Complex.

The Form 11 students involved in the project are:

Vico Abel
Curtis Benson
Caroline Berridge
Annabelle Huang
Sean Mulrow
Rett Pena
Taylor Wyatt

Cello Student Performs for Star Cellist

Matthew Averyt (Form 10) had the opportunity to play for Andrei Ianito, Romanian cellist and the 2015 winner of the International Tchaikovsky Competition on February 19. Ioniță was in town to play the Dvorak Cello Concerto with the San Antonio Symphony. It was a great honor!

Speech and Debate Harvard Results

On February 14-15, a total of 26 Speech & Debate students competed at the 46^th Annual Harvard Forensics Tournament. As the largest tournament of the regular season, Harvard brought together 431 schools from 37 states! Largely comprised of underclassmen, Saint Mary’s Hall had a phenomenal showcase, with students from every grade level advancing to out-rounds. The present, as well as the future, are bright indeed!

Individual results are as follows:

Congressional Debate (528 entries)

5^th Place - Shilpa Gunuganti (Form 12)
- Quarterfinal Leadership Award
- Round Robin Participant (Top 13 Nationally)

Public Forum Debate Round Robin (Top 20 Teams Nationally)

3^rdPlace - Sam Hernandez (Form 12) / Trey Plante (Form 12)
5^thTop Speaker - Sam Hernandez (Form 12)
6^th Top Speaker - Tori Menendez (Form 12)
Participants - Tori Menendez (Form 12) / John David Walls (Form 12)

Public Forum Debate (392 entries)

Double Octafinals (Top 32) - Sam Hernandez (Form 12) / Trey Plante (Form 12)

Humorous Interpretation (200 entries)

Semifinalist - Kathleen Benson (Form 10)
Octafinalist - Ethan Parkhurst (Form 11)

Program of Oral Interpretation (199 entries)

Quarterfinalist - Kathleen Benson (Form 10)

Duo Interpretation (156 entries)

Quarterfinalists - Ethan Parkhurst (Form 11) / Adam Swider (Form 11)

Dramatic Interpretation (291 entries)

Octafinalists - Jack Rykert (Form 9), Clark Webb (Form 11)
Double Octafinalist - Kathleen Benson (Form 10)

Original Oratory (348 entries)

Octafinalist - Grace Ogden (Form 9)
Double Octafinalist - Abbie Zeller (Form 10)

Informative Speaking (207 entries)

Octafinalist - William Herff (Form 10)

Musician wins scholarship at ATSSB All-State

Form 12 student Caleb Miller won a $500 scholarship at the Association of Texas Small School Bands (ATSSB) All-State Music Concert earlier this month for being a senior invited to participate in All-State Band for at least 3 years. Caleb played 7^th chair French horn in the All-State Band.

Congrats Caleb!

Fine Arts Events

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Lower School Parent Dance Observation Week Subscribe to Alerts

Dec 9

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Lower School Parent Dance Observation Week

Lower School Parent Dance Observation Week Subscribe to Alerts

Dec 10

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Lower School Parent Dance Observation Week

Lower School Parent Dance Observation Week Subscribe to Alerts

Dec 11

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Lower School Parent Dance Observation Week

Fine Arts Social Media

Check out the Fine Arts Instagram page. This account is a great way to get an up-close and personal look at the day-to-day excitement in these amazing, ever-buzzing programs. In addition, check out Saint Mary’s Hall main social media channels for more Fine Arts news
on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Athletics

Men’s Basketball Earns State Tournament Birth

The Barons varsity men's basketball team had a dominating performance in the TAPPS 6A Regional Championship Game, defeating the #8 state ranked Tomball Concordia Lutheran, 74-49.

The Barons were lead in scoring by senior Max Terry who had 26 points, hitting 6 3’s on the night. The team also had three other senior players in double figures, with Dane Huggins scoring 13, Avery Eugster with 12, and Ben Eugster chipping in 12 points. After racing out to a 23-12 first quarter the lead, the Barons came out hot in the 2^nd half where they outscored Concordia 25-5 in the 3^rd quarter, putting the game out of reach.

Golf Continues Early Season Success

Event 3 for the Barons women’s golf team is in the books, and it was more of the same this week at Fair Oaks Ranch! Solid performances from both Julia Garcia and Emily Harris shooting rounds of 76 earned them 2^nd and 3^rd place individual honors. These scores helped the golfers capture a 4^th place finish in the event as a team.

The boys finished in the middle of the pack as a team in a field packed with some of the areas stronger golf programs.

Small Numbers Yield Big Results

The Barons track team hosted their annual all-relay meet this past weekend, and turned in some great performances.

The varsity girls team with just six girls were able to finish 5^th in the standings out of 12 with 62 points and were 3^rd place overall in the field events. The boys only had five in attendance but they were able to take 9^th with 24 points.

The girls team were led by junior Sophia Meagher who had the best girls jump of the day at 15'2.50 inches, and with her teammate freshmen Ainsley Hunter at 14'5.5", who had the second best overall jump, won the varsity girls long jump easily. In the triple jump, Ainsley's individual performance of 32'10" was good enough to lock 5^thoverall and it was also the best individual performance in triple for the event. In high jump, sophomore Remy White clamed 4^th place with a jump of 4'6" and was tied with two other's for the best jump of the day. Freshmen Adele Davidson's 5'6" performance also claimed 3^rd place for the team in the pole vault. In the throws, Adele Davison (51.7') and Ava Pace (88'6") combined for a 6^th place finish in discus. Ava was third best overall individually. In the running events, the 4 x 100 team of Remy White, Adele, Ainsley Hunter, and Sophia Meagher were able to secure a 5^th place in a time of 55.50 and in the 4 x 200 the team of sophomores Katherine Drawert, sophomore Ansley Steele, Ainsley Hunter, and Remy White took 4^th in a time of 2:00.31. In an exhibition event the Freshman Relay, the SMH team of Jasmine Adolphe, Grace Phillips, Adele Davison, and Laney Hopkins got a 3^rd place finish in a time of 1:03.87.

On the boys side they were led by the long jump combination of juniors Kia Komatsu (17'4") and Quentin Adolphe (18'8.5") who were able to secure 2^nd place overall and Quentin recorded the third best individual performance in the event. In the high jump, freshmen Patrick Lang jumped 5'2' which was good enough for 4^th overall in the competition. In shot put, junior Charles Danysh was able secure 9^thplace by himself with a best throw of 32'1". On the running event side the team of junior Kaiyu Komatsu, freshmen Ty Komatus, junior Quentin Adolphe, and freshman Patrick Lang were able to take 7^th place in a time of 1:41.36.

Please congratulate the athletes who performed well and wish them the best on their next meet.

College Corner

Alumni Brian Garrett ties for 1^stat the Wexford Intercollegiate Tournament

Class of 2019 graduate Brain Garrett ties for 1^st place at the Wexford Intercollegiate Tournament at Wexford Country Club, Hilton Head, South Carolina. SMH loves seeing alumni being successful beyond SMH. Congratulations Brian!

See the tournament results.

LAX Drops to St. Stephens

The Barons lacrosse team (LAX) jumped to an early lead with an impressive behind the back shot from sophomore Lance Berryman, but ultimately fell to St. Stephens. Junior Sam Riggs scored a goal just before half with sophomore Andrew Fisher adding his own to open the second half. The defense held in the first quarter but got tired as time rolled on.

Baseballs Loses Home Opener

Saint Mary's Hall Barons varsity baseball fell to Randolph 15-2. Randolph pulled away for good with 13 runs in the third inning. Freshmen Max Huddleston allowed three hits and six runs over two and a third innings, striking out five. Max Rosenbloom hit his first homerun of the year, while senior Dawson Smith and sophomore Donovan Bowley each collected one hit for the Barons. Box Score below:

1 2 3 4 5 R H E

RNDL 0 0 13 0 3 15 6 5

SNTM 0 1 1 0 0 2 3 8

Softball after Early Lead

Barons softball suffers a tough loss after jumping out to a nine-run lead. See the box score below.

Box Score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs	Hits	Errors
FEAST	0	0	3	0	12	1				16	9	7
SMH	5	4	0	0	0	0				9	9	6

Senior Jillian Spicer pitched the first 4^1/2with three strikeouts and junior Cliare Brown finished the game with two strikeouts.

Junior Claire Brown went 2 for 3 at the plate.
Junior Caroline Berridge went 3 for 4 at the plate.
Sophomore Nicole Mays had 5 of our 18 outs.

Tennis Takes Down SACS

The men and women’s varsity teams had a successful day against SACS last week with the men going 6-0 and the women going 7-3. Senior John Bourland won his singles match 6-3, with a clean sweep from the doubles teams. The doubles teams led the way with six of the seven victories for the women’s side.

Show Baron Pride with a Letter Jacket

The next letter jacket fittings will be Tuesday, March 17 at 3:15pm in the Team Room. Please stop by the athletic offices today and pick up a jacket packet. Packets are due the day of the fitting. Payments may be made by check or credit card the day of the fitting or online with-in five days of the fitting.

Athletics Livestream Channel

Can't make it to the game? Tune in from home or while on the go via any device to watch SMH sports events live as they unfold. You can also relive the glory again and again, as all events are archived for future access. When you follow us on Livestream, you'll get updates anytime we add or update an athletic event.

It's easy! Join Livestream today:

1. Go to Livestream.com/smhathletics
2. Click the black "Follow" button on our page.
3. Create an account using your email or connect with Facebook.
4. Sit back and enjoy the game!

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Chapel Corner

Lower School Learns about Ash Wednesday

On February 24 at Chapel, Lower School welcomed back All-School Chaplain Rev. Dr. Cameron Gunnin from his recent deployment to Kuwait.

Lower School gave Rev. Gunnin an amazing and warm welcome back, and Rev. Gunnin thanked them for all the support, care packages for troops, and prayers sent his way while away.

Also, Rev. Gunnin discussed the importance and meaning of Ash Wednesday and the symbolism of the ashes that many Christians receive. Students and faculty learned that palm branch ashes in the shape of a cross on Ash Wednesday represent one’s sadness or deep remorse for not loving God and others fully. In addition, students learned that the ashes in the sign of the cross represent God’s unfailing love and forgiveness, as well as one’s commitment to make their love for God and others a renewed priority or focus during the season of Lent.

Due to time at Chapel, the students were prepared to understand the significance of the ashes that were offered at school on Ash Wednesday and why many Christians find such meaning and peace by receiving the ashes to begin Lent.

The pictures here are from Ash Wednesday when students and families received ashes before and after school on February 26. Thanks especially to SMH parent Marlena Alvarez for offering ashes along with Rev. Gunnin.

Upper and Middle School Ash Wednesday Chapels

On February 26, Upper and Middle School Chapels were Ash Wednesday services full of prayers, responsive readings, gorgeous music, and the distribution of ashes. In both Chapels, Assistant Band Director Jaime Ramirez and Guitar Teacher George Gaytan led in music, playing beautiful pieces such as “Hallelujah” and “O Sacred Head” to bring a sense of beauty and sacredness to a truly important day and service.

Before the giving of ashes, Rev. Gunnin shared a story about a soldier deployed with him who was deeply moved by a care package sent from Saint Mary Hall that included just what he needed at the time - a toiletry kit with personal care items. The care package became a powerful sign or symbol for this very young troop, who was just beginning his first-ever deployment and was feeling overwhelmed at the time, because it assured him that God would provide for and watch over him during the tough days ahead while far from home.

Just as the care package became a powerful symbol of God’s love for the solider, Rev. Gunnin explained that the ashes worn by Christians on Ash Wednesday are a moving reminder of God’s everlasting faithfulness and love even though we are less than faithful to God ourselves. Rev. Gunnin also led everyone in considering how to use the Lenten season as a time to truly grow as followers of Christ.

Also, much thanks is due to Upper School Biology Teacher Dr. Jaime Holbook, Middle School Spanish Teacher Lourdes Saks, Middle School Science Teacher Valerie Felger, and Middle School Math Teacher Missy Northington for offering ashes along with Rev. Gunnin at the services.

Thanks also to Director of Wellness Dr. Sandra Lopez-Morales for leading the Upper and Middle School alternate Chapels for students not attending the Ash Wednesday services. Dr. Lopez-Morales built on recent Chapel presentations about compassion and love by leading a discussion about the concept of “otherness” or what it might feel like for those who are considered to be the "other" or "different." The discussion considered what it might take for us to love, or at least care about, those that we view as the other. It was a powerful time of reflection on love, inclusivity, and empathy.

Healthy at the Hall

Sleep

Wellness Director Dr. Sandra Lopez-Morales first wrote about sleep in News From the Hall in early December, but parents, students, faculty, and administrators need to keep talking about sleep. According to Dr. James Maas, one needs sleep because: “sleep is vital for learning and processing memories, sleep helps you perfect your motor skills, adequate sleep keeps your immune system strong, and inadequate sleep can contribute to obesity, disease, and early death.” Read 4 Reasons Why You Should Get 8+ Hours Of Sleep Per Night.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following in the article, Healthy Sleep Habits: How Many Hours Does Your Child Need?

The National Sleep Foundation recommends seven to nine hours of sleep for ages 18 to 64 and seven to eight hours of sleep for people over age 64. Read National Sleep Foundation Recommends New Sleep Times.

It is well-documented in almost any article you read on sleep that Americans are not getting enough sleep. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) published this image below on their sleep and health web site.

Beata Mostafavi writer for Michigan Health, encourages the following 10 Tips to Help Your Teen Sleep Better.

Ban electronics from the bedroom
Charge phones elsewhere
Maintain a regular sleep schedule
Discourage afternoon naps
Don’t procrastinate the big tasks
Stick to sleep-friendly bedtime routines
Limit caffeine
Try melatonin
Realize sleep isn’t instant
Consult a health provider

In addition to parents supporting their children and teens adopting healthier habits, Saint Mary’s Hall continues to investigate innovative ways to support student wellness and sleep. In the strategic plan, the school continues to research and consider innovative scheduling and consistent expansion of wellness initiatives to help encourage students to go to sleep earlier. Among others, there are initiatives aimed at helping students prioritize their extracurricular activities and to choose a balanced schedule.

Please contact Dr. Lopez-Morales at slopezmorales@smhall.org with feedback, suggestions, and/or questions.

Health and Wellness Class Look Ahead – Healthy Relationships and Sex

The Form 9 Health class is designed to give students the facts they need to make wise decisions and to help them reflect on their own values and those of their families when making those decisions. They hope to put them squarely in charge of their own wellness, with the ability to recognize unhealthy behaviors to which they may be exposed.

In the coming weeks, Health and Wellness Educator Amelia Teodosio will be covering the important topic of healthy relationships and sex. The first part addresses defining and building healthy relationships with an emphasis on friendship and dating relationships. Students will consider the topic of sex as it relates to spiritual, emotional, and physical health. They will discuss their own relationship, family values, and the concept of consent as it regards sexual activity. They will also identify and analyze the consequences of sexual activity. Finally, students will learn the risks factors for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS.

Students will work through the following questions in small groups, then share their conclusions with the class:

What are the primary values you hold about sex and where do they come from?
Based on your values, what would be your definition of “a healthy sexual relationship?"
Based on your values, what would be your definition of “an unhealthy sexual relationship?"
What do you feel like you need in order to stick to your definition of “a healthy sexual relationship?”
When can someone be said to have given consent to sexual activity and at what age?
What are some of the spiritual, emotional, and physical consequences of sexual activity?

Mrs. Teodosio stresses that the age of consent in Texas is 17, but that the adolescent brain is not fully developed until about 25-26 years of age. She’ll note that just like with other risky behaviors, the goal is to graduate students that do not get involved in adult activities before they are at an age when they are physically, mentally, and emotionally ready to make the best decisions. Student questions are answered with medically accurate information as appropriate. Mrs. Teodosio also encourages students to speak to their parents as their first, best resource if they have questions on topics covered in class.

Please feel free to contact Mrs. Teodosio at ateodosio@smhall.org if you have any questions.

Director of Wellness Writes Blog for Baron Reflections

In the most recent Baron Reflections blog, Director of Wellness Dr. Sandra Lopez-Morales discusses the importance of a parent's love to a child's wellness, and shares ways parents can ensure their child knows they are loved. Read her blog.