NFTH: November 4, 2019
- From the Head of School
- All-School
- Upper School
- Middle School
- Lower School
- Fine Arts
- Athletics
- Chapel Corner
- Healthy at the Hall
From the Head of School
From the Head of School
Dear Saint Mary's Hall Community,
Our Wellness, Student Success, and Mental Health
Supporting student wellness, success, and positive mental health in our children is an admittedly complex endeavor that requires strong partnership between a school and parents. As the saying goes, it literally takes a village. I want to take this opportunity to share three articles that were instructive to me as an educator and as a father. I have shared these articles with all faculty and staff as they are on the “front lines” of supporting our students in mind, body, and spirit.
The first article is a New York Times article, How To Help Your Child Succeed at School, and it provides practical, research-based insight into motivation, social media, goal-setting, balance, routine, study habits, communication, promotion of self-advocacy, sleep, and more.
The second article is from the Huffington Post titled, How To Tell If Your Child Needs Therapy. The article presents a few key signs that your child might need outside help, and how to get started.
A final, short article for your consideration is by Kim Brooks titled, We Have Ruined Childhood. This article wisely espouses the great importance of free, unstructured play. While the previous two articles are insightful regardless of the age of your child, this article is geared a bit more to parents of Lower School children.
This year we look forward to partnering with you to intentionally support the social-emotional needs of your children.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Eades
Head of School
All-School
All-School
SMH Student Transportation Service
We heard you!
Based on feedback and interest in a transportation service, we are now able to offer increased convenience and accessibility. Saint Mary’s Hall is excited to partner with our families to provide a student transportation service to certain areas.
- Transportation service begins January of 2020.
- Each route will offer one morning bus.
- Each route will offer two afternoon buses.
- Our late afternoon bus is a perfect option for students participating in extracurricular activities.
Please contact the Associate Head of Admission and Enrollment Management Mark Remington at (210) 483-9140 or mremington@smhall.org for more details and to see if we will be offering the transportation in your area.
SMH Celebrates Founders’ Day
Founders’ Day is a special event unique to Saint Mary’s Hall, in which the school annually celebrates a person or family whose faith, vision, and determination have made a lasting impact on the school. Introduced in 1998, the Founders’ Day Award is the highest honor given to the school’s benefactors, and is presented at the Founders’ Day event.
This year's Founders' Day Award recipient was Ruth (Ruthie) Bowman Russell (Class of 1966). Presented by Head of School Jonathan Eades, she was honored with the 2019 Founders’ Day Award in the Alonso Ancira Event Center on October 29. Ruth and her family have an extensive legacy with Saint Mary’s Hall, with several facilities baring their name, including the Extended Care building, Middle/Upper School Library, and the Bell Tower, among others. In 1938, Ruth’s mother, Ruth McLean Bowman Bowers, graduated from SMH and was honored with the same award in 2003. Ruth has served as a Board of Trustees member, among other official capacities; a benefactor; and an SMH parent and grandparent. She was a recipient of the 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award.
In true Founders’ Day tradition, the following extraordinary educators were surprised with the SMH Master Teacher Award ($10,000 each) in appreciation of their contributions to the school: Upper School Social Studies Teacher Adrian Viccellio, Middle School English Teacher Deborah McInerney, Lower School Science Teacher Bitsy Mayberry, and Middle School Art Teacher BJ Pyrc.
The teachers were selected by the community because of the impact they have had on students’ lives.
Upper School
Upper School
2019 SMH Grad Wins National Award
Congratulations to Laura Kayata (Class of 2019) for being named a National Award Winner based on her National Spanish Examination score from 2019.
As a result, Laura was named as a 2nd place recipient of the 2019 Senior Scholarship and received $1,000 toward her fees and tuition at George Washington University. SMH is so proud of Laura and her AP Spanish Language Teacher from last year, Mrs. Denise Diaz.
SMH Alumnus and Entrepreneur Visits Finance Students (by Form 12 student Sarah Dickerson)
On October 28, Eric Bell (Class of 2002) came to speak to Upper School Math Teacher Jose Molina’s Principles of Finance and Investing classes about his experience in the professional world and especially the role appearance has played in business. To describe this concept, Mr. Bell employed the analogy of a costume, one that has vast power if the wielder knows his audience. He detailed the striking differences not only between acceptable costumes in Los Angeles and San Antonio, but also the different reactions he got from his many previous looks. While in L.A., it is perfectly acceptable to conduct business in swim trunks and flip flops, that type of costume is looked down upon in San Antonio. Your costume, in a sense, influences your acceptance into the local group and, therefore, your success in that specific interaction. Additionally, Mr. Bell recalled the stark contrast between how he was treated when he had long hair and wore tie-dye shirts versus when he wore his hair short with more “professional” attire. For successful business, it is important to know your room and dress accordingly, because victory in one area looks vastly different from that in another. It was a pleasure to hear from Mr. Bell as he detailed his exploration of attire and its relationship to business.
AP Biology Visits Texas Biomedical Research Institute
AP Biology students in Upper School Science Teacher Dr. Jamie Holbrook’s class accepted a special invitation to tour the Texas Biomedical Research Institute in San Antonio. This institution functions as a biosafety level 4-laboratory, which allows its scientists to study the most deadly pathogens in the world. SMH students were greeted by a scientist who shared details of the institute’s own cutting edge research on drug resistant malaria. Avery Eugster (Form 12) even tried on a hazmat suit. The students then took a tour of the Southwest National Primate Research Center and observed many of the non-human primate colonies that are the research subjects for the fight against diseases like HIV and hepatitis. Texas Biomed is dedicated to improving human health and saving lives worldwide. Dr. Holbrook commented, “It was a great experience and the students loved it! We owe a special thanks to The Texas Biomedical Forum for providing the students at SMH with enriching and fascinating opportunities!”
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.
AP Biology Students Study Zebrafish
Near the end of October, Upper School Science Teacher Dr. Jamie Holbrook and her AP Biology students completed their project on “The Effects of Environmental Contaminants on the Development and Functioning of Skeletal Muscles in Zebrafish,” which was funded by the Texas Biomedical Forum. Students were allowed to pick a substance to test on the developing embryos including copper, zinc, and lead. They carefully chose a concentration of their substance to expose the embryos to and monitored development over 120 hours. Each day they recorded photos, descriptions of structures, descriptions of behavior, heartrate, and swim behavior. They then discussed, in a formal report, why their substance could have caused any abnormalities. The goal of the project was to show how heavy metal contamination in the environment can affect living organisms. Their summary stated, “As the dose of the heavy metal is increased, there may be observed muscular degeneration in developing zebrafish as well as measured abnormalities in normal swimming behavior.” Beyond the results of the study, this real-world experience had important secondary results for the students involved. For instance, Form 11 student Izzy Castillo remarked, “I would just really like to say that this was the best lab I have ever done and it really solidified my desire to pursue a career in medicine. Thank you so much!" Congratulations to Dr. Holbrook for seeking out the grant to make possible yet another Saint Mary’s Hall experience that just does not happen anywhere else.
Mole Day Celebration
On October 22, one day before the actual Mole Day (observed by science-lovers each October 23), Upper School AP Chemistry students shared their love of science experiments involving molarity through a video made especially for their Form 9 – Form 12 counterparts. Form 11 emcees Karl Sanjana and Marcel Chavez added to the celebration with home-made Mole jokes (think dad jokes gone wrong, then imagine something even worse), capping off the event with live exploding balloons. Click here to see the full 16-minute video.
The accompanying pictures feature Form 10 Chemistry students’ contributions to the culinary treats of the day: GuacaMOLE and chips, GraMOLEa bars, AniMOLE cookies, chocolate chip oatMOLE cookies, Blueberry MOLEfins, Chocolate MOLEk, FriMOLE y queso tacos, Donut MOLES, and more.
Faculty Spotlight
This week’s Faculty Spotlight features Upper School Science Teacher Dr. Jamie Holbrook and Upper School English Teacher Breanne Hicks.
Jamie Holbrook (AP Biology)
Jamie grew up in Wharton, Texas, which is a small town one hour southwest of Houston. She completed a five-year medical program which saw her complete her first two years at Louisiana State University, then finishing up her PharmD (Pharmacy Doctorate) at The University of Texas at Austin. She began teaching at SMH in 2018 and feels her favorite SMH memory so far is performing Reba McEntire’s “Fancy” during the Talent Show last year.
What people might not know about Jamie is that she’s very much into spirituality. She has found that prayer, meditation, and “using something bigger than me to help get through the hard times,” have made a very positive difference in her life. She also runs around five miles each morning! Jamie’s favorite SAGE Dining Services meal is the beet and goat cheese salad. She loves it so much that she checks the SAGE app each week hoping to see it. If Jamie could have any other career it would be performing as Queen Elsa from Frozen on a Disney Cruise Ship (is it coincidence she wants to be a queen, and she’s also responsible for bringing a beehive to SMH?). What she hopes never to do again in her life is to have a twin pregnancy. We can’t begrudge her that, can we?
Breanne Hicks (Advanced Topics in Composition; American Literature and Composition)
Breanne’s home is Bandera, Texas where her family has a ranch. She’s quick and proud to share that Bandera is the Cowboy Capital of the World because they have the most world champion bull riders despite having only around 700 people. Breanne got her Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Education (once she changed her major from Political Science) from Texas A&M. She later moved to the coast to earn her Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Composition from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Breanne started at SMH in 2007 and says her favorite SMH memory so far comes from when we had a snow day two years ago. “I was so mad that we had to come to school, but then we had so much fun. I got Jillian [Spicer, Form 12] so bad in the head with a snowball.” What Breanne’s colleagues outside of the English Department might not know about her is that all of her free time away from school is spent with her nieces and nephews (five now, but another one’s on the way). Her favorite movie is Man on Fire with Denzel Washington. If she could have another career it would be as a stay-at-home mom. When asked what animal she identified with most, she replied, “Duh, leopard!”
Middle School
Middle School
Life Science Cell Week
Middle School Science Teacher Patti Nicoll’s Form 7 Life Science students presented their science classroom as a cell this week.
Students made life-size models of cell organelles and invaders under the premise that their room represented an average eukaryotic cell. Visitors from Forms 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, and 12 toured the cell and learned from their student “teachers.” All worked hard and really enjoyed presenting – some made up stories, poems, raps, and videos to help teach about their subjects. Many students quizzed their visitors to test their knowledge after their presentations, and offered small prizes for successful responses. It was a great learning day!
NJHS Creates Posters for Serna Elementary
The National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) spent the past several weeks creating festive posters for the Serna Elementary School Fall Carnival. The theme this year was “Fall,” so the students decorated with pumpkins, fall leaves, and wonderful rich colors. Serna Elementary, just outside school gates at Starcrest and Loop 410, which we call our “sister school,” serves a large community of migrant and transient families, and NJHS has committed this year to several projects that SMH hopes will support these students and make their lives a little better. Middle School Spanish Teacher Lourdes Saks and Middle School Math Teacher Stephen Hudson, NJHS sponsors, are so proud of the students’ kind dedication and creativity!
Form 7 Vision and Hearing Screening
As part of SMH’s ongoing wellness initiatives, today and Wednesday, November 5, all Form 7 students will have their hearing and vision screened by the school nurses. Parents will be contacted by School Nurse Melissa Baumholtz if there are any concerns raised about your student’s vision or hearing from the testing. Saint Mary’s Hall understands that having good hearing and vision is instrumental in students’ ability to function optimally in the classroom.
Movie Night
Middle School students were treated to a movie, pizza, and drinks, and a pumpkin decorating contest on November 1 at the Sports Council’s Middle School Movie Night. Sports Council representatives selected the movie, plan the entertainment at intermission – a great pumpkin party – and served the pizza and drinks to their classmates. Everyone had a blast singing along and decorating their pumpkins. Thanks to our great Sports Council leaders and their sponsors, Middle School Social Science Teachers Brian Fleming and Joe Karpman, and our teacher chaperones for a great event!
Lower School
Lower School
Baron Sportsmanship
Once a month, two students from each Form level (1 – 5) are recognized by their coaches during Morning Moments.
These students are honored for their excellence during PE classes. Coaches select students with good attitudes who participate, cooperate, play fair, and show overall good sportsmanship.
Congratulations to:
- Form 1: Siddhi Patel and Brylan Chamberlin
- Form 2: Ariana Wali and Jack Barta
- Form 3: Kennedy Chang and Ewan McNab
- Form 4: Myrka Alvarez and Weldon Wolff
- Form 5: Clayton Hixon and Ethan Ton
Descriptive Writing in Form 2
Form 2 students are beginning their descriptive writing unit by taking in sensory details of the Lower School courtyard. Students listed adjectives using their five senses that best describe what they see, hear, taste, touch, and smell. By generating descriptive words, the students will then apply this vocabulary by writing their own descriptive essays. Form 2 Teacher Courtney Pierce said, “The pictures you see do a great job of reflecting the students most repeated adjectives about Saint Mary's Hall, ‘relaxing’ and ‘peaceful.’”
Piaget’s Theories Proven True, Again
Upper School Psychology students visited the Montessori classrooms to work with the students. The students had studied Piaget’s theory on cognitive development and shared some of his pre-operational learning activities with the Montessori students. This collaborative learning experience was a great opportunity for students across campus to interact and learn from each other. The younger ones were, of course, thrilled to be working with the “big” kids, and the older students had light bulbs going off, as they practically saw theory turn into reality.
This project is a great educational, cross-divisional opportunity for some of the oldest students on campus to interact with some of the youngest students.
Come Take a Glimpse Into the Future
All parents are invited to Glimpse Into the Future on Thursday, November 14 at 8am. Head of School Jonathan Eades and SMH administrators will lead you on a 75-minute walking tour of the Saint Mary’s Hall campus which will illustrate your students' journey at Saint Mary's Hall … a relationship that we hope will continue through Form 12. The tour will begin in the Extended Care Building in the Lower School.
Parents will:
- learn about SMH academics, arts, athletics, and school-wide educational and extracurricular programs;
- tour the amazing facilities and learn more about the special resources and opportunities afforded to our Saint Mary's Hall students;
- meet department chairs, faculty, and staff from all divisions;
- receive valuable and insightful information about the SMH Middle and Upper School;
- speak one on one with administration, department chairs, and faculty during a small reception at the end of the tour.
Please reserve your spot at the Glimpse Into the Future event by responding directly to Head of Lower School Khristi Bates at kbates@smhall.org.
Veterans Day Recognition
Saint Mary’s Hall Lower School (Forms 1-5) would like to invite family and friends to participate in a Veterans Day recognition next Monday, November 11. Please invite family members who are serving or have served in the military to join the Lower School at Morning Moments at 8am in the Coates-Seeligson Theater/Chapel for a special observance. Guests may come in uniform or civilian clothes. If a family member is currently serving out of the country, another adult is welcomed to come as a representative. Each guest will be asked to tell where and when he or she served. SMH wishes to honor these wonderful heroes who have given so much to the country.
News from the Lower School Library
Mark your calendars now for the Winter Book Fair that will take place in the Lower School Library the week of December 2 - 6. Lower School Librarian and Instructional Technologist Linda Wells is planning an organizational meeting for mid-November. If you would like to volunteer your time and energy, the Lower School Library would welcome your help to make this book fair fun and memorable for the students. More information will be sent home soon. Proceeds from the book fair are used to bring amazing authors to Saint Mary’s Hall Lower School students.
Lower School Library October Mystery Readers surprised the students with many Halloween stories and costumes. Enjoy the pictures from the week. Lower School students look forward to seeing their parents and grandparents in the library for that special time.
Professional storyteller and former SMH Lower School Spanish Teacher Mary Ann Blue shared her spooky stories with several classes this week. Have you heard the story of "Clickety Clack Huesos." It is all true!
The October Bluebonnet Book Club for Forms 3-5 met during lunchtime and talked about the Bluebonnet books. There are a variety of best-loved books among the Bluebonnet Book Club attendees. Which book will win? See the complete list here.
The 2020-2021 Bluebonnet list was announced in a special ceremony at the Texas Book Festival on October 26. The Lower School Library has ordered the new books and they will be in soon.
Montessori Science Dad Works with Class
Did you know that cornstarch and water can be both a solid and a liquid? Recently, Full-Day Montessori student Brandt Chandler's dad, Dr. Bryce Chandler, helped students in Room 2 discover these properties during a science lesson. Dr. Chandler is the class's "science dad" and helps students do simple science experiments. Montessori Teacher Kathy Fetzer said, "Science helps children develop key life skills as they form their opinions based on observation. Science also helps children develop their senses and overall awareness." According to Mrs. Fetzer, when everyone is working together in the best interest of the child, everyone reaps academic and social benefits. Another Full-Day student in Room 2, Barrett Rouse, said, "It is fun to have parents do science projects because they are neat and messy."
Saint Mary’s Hall Honor Code
During October, Assistant Head of Lower School Nur Mangalji and Lower School Counselor Susan Moore-Sickmann taught a lesson on the Saint Mary’s Hall Honor Code with each class in Forms 1-5. During the classes, there were insightful discussions about what it means to lie, cheat, or steal. Students showed great understanding while talking about how you can steal something that is not material, like someone’s friend, happiness, or dignity. There were discussions about the significance of one’s signature and why it is important to keep one’s word. The discussions of adhering to the Honor Code included that each student not only should follow the Honor Code, but that each student had the right to be treated with honor. Students were reminded that the faculty are here to help insure the physical, mental, and emotional safety for all students. After the classes, homeroom teachers followed up the discussions and had each student sign the Honor Code. The signed documents are in each classroom.
Chat n’ Chew in Form 4
Thirty-nine Form 4 readers met to discuss The Thrifty Guide to Ancient Greece, by Jonathan Stokes on October 28. "The book was a natural dive into informational text following their in-depth study of the topic in Form 4 Teacher Duzie Queen's Social Studies class," said Form 4 Language Arts Teacher Tess Eggleston. Ms. Eggleston said, “This time, we chewed before we chatted with the book's author via Skype. Although Mr. Stokes is a screenplay writer living in Los Angeles now, the kids were surprised to find out that he was a music teacher before that. He delighted the packed room with his knowledge not only about ancient Greece, but also about ancient Rome, which is currently being taught in social studies now.” Mr. Stokes also has an Indiana Jones like character series entitled, Addison Cooke, published. He ended his time with Form 4 by sharing a little bit about the movie that he is currently working on with Robert Zemeckis, starring The Rock!
Form 4 will end 2019 with one final book club. Hint: it is on the 2020-2021 Texas Bluebonnet list!
Thank You Lower School Parents
Lower School parent volunteers make life in the Lower School amazingly fun. Enjoy the video (above) of the spooky times created by SMH parents for students and teachers on Halloween.
YBIC Service Days
Fine Arts
Tobin Fine Arts School
Director's Corner
Next week 20 Middle School students in Forms 6-8 will see the success of their two months of hard work rehearsing their one-act plays come to fruition when Middle School Comedy Madness opens.
The American Alliance for Theater & Education is a great resource for how participating in drama increases test scores, improves reading and communication skills, and builds self-esteem in children. Yet, when you ask most students about what they like about drama and being in shows, they will mention that it is fun, they like being with friends, and they like experiencing the different world of the play.
Whatever the reason, we are looking forward to seeing our talented Middle School cast on stage in the Remmert Theater next week. Performances are Wednesday, November 13 at 4pm and Thursday, November 14 at 6pm in the Remmert Theater. Tickets for the Thursday night performance are available online at www.smhall.org/fineartstickets. Wednesday’s show is free of charge.
The students and I look forward to seeing you at the theater!
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
Dance Takes Center Stage
This week is the opening of our contemporary Dance Production Kaleidoscope!
SMH’s first Dance Production of the year, Kaleidoscope, performs on Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9 at 7pm, with the theme of “Take a Chance” and will feature our Middle and Upper School students in contemporary dance styles including hip hop, jazz, modern, Irish, Folklorico, and even contemporary ballet with guest artists from Ballet San Antonio. The Dance Program will also be presenting two annual highlights “Jenny’s Piece” and “Senior Piece” as part of the production.
“Jenny’s Piece” was choreographed by Guest Artist Justin Tornow, who was inspired by the work of famed choreographer Merce Cunningham. “Senior Piece,” choreographed by our own Dance Hip Hop Teacher AJ Abrams, features SMH senior dancers, most of whom started dancing at SMH when they were only in Montessori.
Kaleidoscope is a wonderful evening out for all ages. We encourage you to bring your friends and families to attend this exciting event. Performances are Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9 at 7pm. Tickets are available online at www.smhall.org/finearts/fineartstickets. We look forward to seeing you and yours next week for Kaleidoscope 2019!
Cheesy Janes, SMH’s favorite food truck, will have dinner available before the show on Friday starting at 4:30 pm. The truck will be parked out in front of the Theater/Chapel. Cash or cards accepted.
Upper School Art Teacher Represented in New York
Upper School 3D Art Teacher Nate Cassie and his wife, artist Ethel Shipton, traveled to New York City in late October to participate in the International Fine Print Dealers Association (IFPDA) Print Fair, the largest and most celebrated art fair dedicated to fine prints. Ruiz-Healy Art represented their work at the fair. They attended Sunday’s Meet the Artists event sponsored by the fair.
While in New York, Cassie also visited the newly renovated Museum of Modern Art and other museums and galleries where he was able to collect images of artwork to share with both his studio and AP Art History students as well as other visual art faculty.
Fine Arts Events
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Mandatory Musical Rehearsal
all day
Fall Production Rehearsal
Theater/Chapel
Fall Musical Production
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
Athletics
Cheerleading Honors Their Senior
The Athletics Department took the time before the last volleyball game of the season to honor SMH’s lone senior cheerleader.
Isabella Sanchez was escorted by her parents Teri and Steven Sanchez. Isabella began attending Saint Mary’s Hall 10 years ago, with this year being her first year cheering. Isabella would like to attend college in the Northeast or Ottowa, Canada, with plans to major in journalism or international affairs.
One of Isabella’s favorite cheer memories was her first day of cheer practice. Having never done cheer, jumping, tumbling, and stunting were initially difficult. However, her teammates and coach cheered her on and encouraged her all the way through. It was a very fun practice, and she unsuccessfully tried to do a front handspring in her living room that same evening.
Thank you, Isabella, for your commitment to the success of athletics at Saint Mary’s Hall.
2020-2022 Athletics Alignment Announced
Every two years, the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS), announces the realignment of districts for the upcoming forthcoming athletics seasons. Alignment is based on average school enrollment and geographic location. Please see the new districts that all Saint Mary’s Hall athletics will be playing in for the 2020-2022 seasons.
Athletic Director Barry Chamberlin said regarding the realignment, “We are pleased to be back at the 5A level for the 2020-2022 TAPPS alignment. Our district will be a great competitive fit for our programs, and we are thrilled to come back to our traditional local rivalries. I am eager for the exciting future of Baron athletics.”
2020-2022 TAPPS Alignments:
- 5A VOLLEYBALL (District 3)
- Brentwood – Austin
- Geneva – Boerne
- Hyde Park – Austin
- Providence – SA
- Regents- Austin
- St Anthony – SA
- Saint Mary’s Hall
- St Michaels – Austin
- TMI – SA
- GIRLS WINTER SOCCER – DIVISION II (District 3)
- Brentwood – Austin
- Geneva – Boerne
- Hyde Park – Austin
- Regents- Austin
- St Anthony – SA
- Saint Mary’s Hall
- St Michaels – Austin
- TMI – SA BOYS WINTER SOCCER – DIVISION II (District 3)
- Brentwood – Austin
- Geneva – Boerne
- Hyde Park – Austin
- Regents – Austin
- St Anthony – SA
- Saint Mary’s Hall
- St Michael’s – Austin
- TMI – SA
- 5A BASKETBALL – GIRLS (District 3)
- Brentwood – Austin
- Geneva – Boerne
- Hyde Park – Austin
- Providence – SA
- Regents – Austin
- St Anthony – SA
- Saint Mary’s Hall
- St Michaels – Austin
- TMI – SA
- 5A BASKETBALL – BOYS (District 3)
- Brentwood – Austin
- Geneva – Boerne
- Hyde Park – Austin
- Regents- Austin
- St Anthony – SA
- Saint Mary’s Hall
- St Michaels – Austin
- TMI – SA
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!
Follow @SMH_Barons on Twitter
Field Hockey Finishes Season
Varsity field hockey wrapped their season last weekend, hosting and finishing fourth overall in the TAPPS State Tournament.
The first match against the number one seeded Fort Worth All Saints, a team to whom the Barons fell 1-6 in September, was a back and forth match until the very end. The Barons scored first on a set play with a when junior Caroline Berridge’s shot was finished by senior Captain Mia Sabom. But the Barons couldn’t hold back the relentless Saints attack. Sophomore keeper Abbie Zeller notched four saves in the cage and was supported in the backfield by stellar games by seniors Lily Miggins and Lucia Canseco.
The consolation game was a rematch of the last conference game against Houston St. Agnes a week prior, but the Barons came out with a renewed vigor on their home field. With each team scoring once in regulation and battling through to the third and final overtime period, it was certainly a game to remember. Junior Sophia Meagher scored at the post off of a shot from Sabom in regulation. Sabom and junior Annika Blomster scored for the Barons in 1v1s (Shootout). In the end though, the St. Agnes Tigers put away three of their 1v1s to clinch the over two-hour-long match.
Congratulations on a well-fought and tremendous season!
College Corner
The Case for High School Athletics Continued
In the continuation of our focus on “The Case for High School Athletics,” by the National Federation of State High School Associations, we will take a focus on athletics and its impact on youth development and life skills.
Positive Youth Development/Life Skills
Co-curricular activity programs promote positive youth development and provide opportunities for learning a number of life skills and values not typically taught in classroom education.
- In a study looking at learning life skills through high school sports, a very diverse group of students participating in high school soccer reported learning skills related to initiative, respect, and teamwork/leadership, despite the authors noting they “did not find evidence that the student-athletes were directly taught about the life skills that were reported.” (Holt et al., 2008).
- A study of life skills developed through football by award-winning high school coaches found that these coaches saw that the process of participation and striving to win taught life skills such as discipline, work ethic, and emotional control. In addition, “these coaches did not view the coaching of life skills as separate from their general coaching strategies for performance enhancement and while highly motivated to win, personal development of their players was a top priority.” (Gould et al., 2007).
- A study of model high school coaches and their athletes found that these coaches taught life skills, their student athletes learned the skills and were able transfer them to other areas of their lives. The study found that these coaches “had specific strategies to coach life skills”, which in addition to modeling behavior included “peer evaluations, taking advantage of teachable moments, and volunteer work,” as well as teaching “student-athletes how to transfer life skills.” (Camiré et al., 2012).
- A survey study of Life Skill Development in Ontario High School Sport concluded that parents, coaches, and student-athletes all perceive high school sport as positive and is a context where life skills are developed, that student-athletes score higher on most developmental assets than students who are not in high school sports, and that student-athletes appear to be more engaged and enjoy school more as a result of participating in high school sport. (Williamson et al., 2013).
- Examination of different adolescent activity patterns (sports-focused, sports plus other activities, primarily school-based activities, primarily religious youth groups, and low activity involvement,) “with five categories of youth development outcomes, including competence (e.g., academic ability), confidence (e.g., self-concept of ability), connections (e.g., talking with friends), character (e.g., externalizing behavior problems), and caring (e.g., pro-social behavior),” showed that participation in only sports or primarily only in other school activities was associated with more positive outcomes than little or no participation in activities, but less positive outcomes than participation in sports plus other activities. (Linver et al., 2009).
Chapel Corner
Chapel Corner
October 28 Chapels
As is SMH tradition, all Chapels began with a call and response from Psalm 118: 24 – “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Lower School
Upper School Spanish Club leaders from Form 11 Sophie Jaafar, Mehwish Rehman, Taylor Wyatt, and Fletcher Spear delighted students with a short Morning Moments presentation about Día de los Muertos. They taught students about Día de los Muertos and included some fun trivia questions and a short music video as well.
Middle School and Upper School Chapels
In both Middle and Upper School Chapels, Spanish students taught their classmates about the ancient tradition of Día de los Muertos and shared a fun video showing what students and faculty already knew – or thought they knew – about Día de los Muertos. Students involved included Upper School Spanish Club leaders Sophie Jaafar, Mehwish Rehman, Taylor Wyatt, and Fletcher Spear and Middle School Form 8 students Maximilian Dabbous, Melianna Davis, Ava Greenberg, Sabrina Esmail, Alexis Fuetsch, Emma Lavender, Ximena Mora, and Nico Zavala.
Additionally, in Middle School Chapel, Julie Post, Director of Middle School Strings, presented her orchestra students performing the fun Halloween piece, Have You Seen the Ghost of John? and in Upper School Chapel, Form 12 student Polly Powers sang and played the guitar for the song, Recuérdame. Following the presentations, everyone in Middle School and Upper School headed outside to enjoy a Día de los Muertos photo booth, flower making, and freshly made churros (traditional fried dough pastries).
A Look Ahead
- November 11
- All divisions will have a special Veterans Day Chapel program. Rear Admiral A.B. Cruz III, U.S. Navy (retired), an SMH parent and Board member, will be our guest speaker at Middle and Upper School Chapels.
- December 2
- All divisions will learn about the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Rabbi Ben Richards of the Agudas Achim synagogue will speak at Middle and Upper School Chapels.
- December 9
- All divisions will learn about the Christian season of Advent. Father Ram Lopez, Rector of St. George’s Episcopal Church and School, will speak at Middle and Upper School Chapels.
- December 16
- In Lower School, students will hear a traditional Christmas story, scripture, and song.
- In Middle and Upper School Chapels, ChapSu will lead a traditional Christian Lessons and Carols service. All students are welcome to attend. However, SMH will offer an alternative Chapel on the subject of hope, led by faculty members, for those children whose parents request they be excused from regular Chapel. Further information will be provided in December.
Please contact Interim All-School Chaplain Susan Douglas if you have any questions at sdouglas@smhall.org.
Día de los Muertos at Saint Mary’s Hall
Last week students from the World Languages and Cultures Department presented their yearly Día de los Muertos Chapel in all three divisions. Día de los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead, is a traditional Mexican holiday, which is also celebrated widely in the United States. San Antonio holds the largest celebration of this holiday in Texas. The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died.
A huge thank you goes out to our Lower, Middle, and Upper School Spanish teachers (Alex Nicoll, Zarela Ríos, Lourdes Saks, Laura Renard, Denise Díaz, and Elsa Tonone de Sala) for making this happen and supporting our students’ learning both in chapel and in the classroom. Additionally, a special kudos to Upper School Spanish teachers Sra. Tonone De Sala and Sra. Diaz for coordinating the Upper School Spanish Club’s efforts and student leadership of the event.
Healthy at the Hall
Healthy at the Hall
Red Ribbon Week 2019
On October 24, Middle and Upper School students heard from three professionals in the field about the dangers of vaping: Cara Hausler, Amy Newman, and Dr. Manica Isiguzo. Ms. Hausler is the program manager for Metro Health’s new free SA Kids BREATHE: Asthma Home Teaching Program since January 2019 and a former SMH student. Ms. Newman is a regional vice president for the American Heart Association. Dr. Manica Isiguzo is a triple board certified physician in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, and critical care medicine. Currently she serves as the director of clinical operations, the director of interstitial lung disease clinic, and the co-director of pulmonary hypertension clinic at Texas IPS (Intensivist, Pulmonary, and Sleep Medicine). She is also the proud mother of two SMH students: Raj in Form 4 and Nikhil in Form 2.
The students listened attentively as the panelists described the dangers of teenage vaping, related medical issues, addiction, and public policy regarding tobacco in Texas. The primary take away points were that people who use substances in their teenage years are more likely to become addicted to substances during their lifetime. Vaping is not harmless. Media and marketing from the tobacco industry has attracted the next generation following all-time lows for smoking in the United States. Saint Mary’s Hall has a self-report policy that does not have behavioral consequences if a student seeks help from adults on campus (before any sort of discipline has ensued).
On October 25, Dr. Isiguzo addressed Saint Mary’s Hall parents regarding the dangers of vaping and ways that parents can support their teenagers most effectively. View a copy of Dr. Isiguzo’s slides for parents who were unable to ake it to the coffee.
Founders' Day Gratitude
Celebrating traditions and honoring colleagues is a phenomenal way to build community. It was heartwarming and inspiring to hear such thoughtful and kind words about four Saint Mary’s Hall educators who were awarded Master Teacher Awards: Lower School Science Teacher Bitsy Mayberry, Middle School English Teacher Deb McInerney, Upper School Social Studies Teacher Adrian Viccellio , and Middle School Art Teacher BJ Pyrc. Through reflection on their work, it is clear that Saint Mary’s Hall is innovative, creative, and responsive to the changing needs of students and the changing role of education in 2019. Emotional intelligence and social connection were two characteristics repeatedly highlighted in every description of these educators. These colleagues represent a faculty and staff that are dedicated to educating the next generation of leaders at the highest level with empathy, fun, consistency, and structure. Additionally, Ruth (Ruthie) Bowman Russell (Class of 1966) and her family have repeatedly demonstrated their commitment to the development and prosperity of the Saint Mary’s Hall community. Ruthie was awarded the 2019 Founders' Day Award. The school is fortunate to have her family as well as each and every family who shares their children and their time with this amazing community.
To read more, see the All-School section of this News From the Hall.
Autumn Art Activity: Exercise, Create, Bond, and Boost Self-Esteem
November is a perfect time to de-stress and connect with your kids of all ages. An idea to consider is creating a fall wreath with your family. Find time to go for a walk in nature and observe your surroundings. Pick up leaves that you think are beautiful. Come home and trace them with a color over a simple 8.5” x 11” piece of paper using different color crayons. Cut the traced leaves out and adhere them to a cardboard wreath. The product really does not matter, it’s the process and spending time with your children regardless of age. Please check out this link for a more detailed description and suggestions as well as the article, Why the Arts Matter for Kids’ Self-Esteem, which addresses the benefits of art on your child’s self-esteem.
LIKE Film Screening at Saint Mary’s Hall
On October 29, parents gathered to watch LIKE, an IndieFlix documentary that discusses the impact of social media on lives. Following the screening, parents had the opportunity to discuss their thoughts and questions with the following panelists: Dr. Soad Michelsen, Dr. Geoff Gentry, Wilson Jones, and Scilla Andreen. Dr. Michelsen is a board certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist as well as an SMH parent of Sofia in Form 3. Dr. Gentry is a licensed psychologist. Wilson is an SMH senior. Ms. Andreen is the award winning producer and director of the film. Parents asked thoughtful questions and the panelists reflected on the importance of balance when using social media as well as the addictive nature of intermittent reinforcement. The group also emphasized the importance of human and interpersonal exchange in contrast to online dialogue. Another important focus was discussing replacement behaviors and strategies so that parents and children reduce their unnecessary use of technology and increase connectedness with one another.
Please visit thelikemovie.com for additional resources. You can also view a fact sheet here. If you were unable to attend and you would like to schedule a pay-per-view viewing of the film, please email Dr. Sandra Lopez-Morales at slopezmorales@smhall.org.