NFTH: October 8, 2019

From the Head of School

Dear Saint Mary's Hall Community,

On Wellness, Mental Health, and Balance at Saint Mary’s Hall

Our strategic plan, A Bold Plan for Excellence, calls for expansive and aspirational work to “Enhance the SMH Experience.” Specifically, our plan calls for us to:

Inspire programmatic innovations that advance the mission.
Enhance student, faculty, and staff wellness.
Benchmark curriculum (and workload) in all divisions against best practice standards.
Research and consider an innovative schedule that allows time for reflective learning, offers learning opportunities off-campus, improves student wellness, and provides dedicated time for faculty meetings to support planning and professional development.
Thoughtfully consider and prioritize the implementation of the Wellness Program Task Force recommendations.
Examine the benefits and viability of creating campus spaces that support student and faculty wellness and designating quiet/contemplative space for students and faculty/staff.
Consider ways to increase the time available for in-house faculty/staff development on wellness topics.
Create a robust and vertically aligned character development program focused on our core values and servant leadership; provide opportunities for students to develop personal strengths, to recognize need within their communities and gain authentic leadership experience and mentoring. This will includes a spiraling curriculum that is integrated throughout all divisions to promote good decision-making and ethical behavior.

This work is ambitious, important to our mission, and is well under way! I look forward to updating you on our progress throughout the year. Saint Mary’s Hall will sustain and even improve our academic, athletic, and artistic experience, and similar focus and attention will be given to helping our students “find fulfillment in life.” Authentically and intentionally supporting the mind, body, and spirit of our students is an area of strong emphasis, which is why I want to make sure you know that we are fortunate to have an extraordinary counseling and wellness team supporting your children, beyond their classroom teachers, advisors, and coaches. This team is composed of:

Three divisional counselors
- Lower School Counselor Susan Moore-Sickmann – 33 years of experience; Bachelor of Arts from Baylor University and a Master of Arts from The University of Texas at San Antonio; Certified Professional School Counselor; Trained Play Therapist
- Middle School Counselor Leslie Palmer – 20 years of experience; Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, San Diego and a Master of Social Work from San Diego State University; Licensed Clinical Social Worker; Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor
- Upper School Counselor Liz Clark – 31 years of experience; Master of Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis; Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Director of Wellness Sandra Lopez-Morales – 16 years of experience; Ph.D. in school psychology from The University of Texas at Austin; Post-Doctoral Intern and Fellow at Harvard Medical School; former director of psychological services at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts
All-School Chaplain Rev. Dr. Cameron Gunnin – 14 years of experience; Bachelor of Arts from Baylor University, Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from Palmer Theological Seminary
Interim All-School Chaplain Susan Douglas – 20⁺ years of experience; Bachelor of Arts from University of Maryland and a Master of Science from Troy State University; Board Certified Chaplain
School Nurse Melissa Baumholtz – 26 years of experience; Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Immaculata University; Registered Nurse
Part-Time Nurse Eileen Petter – Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The University of Texas Health Science Center; Registered Nurse
Middle School and Upper School Health Educator Amelia Teodosio – nearly 10 years of experience; Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota

Coupled with small class size and caring teachers, our pledge to you is that students will not fall through the cracks at SMH. Students are known and have trusted adults to help them. If we can be of support to your child in any way, please contact us so we may partner together to provide the support and love needed.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Eades
Head of School

All-School

Come See the Moons of Jupiter, the Rings of Saturn, and the Moon with Us!

It's an All-School No Homework Night! Tonight (October 8), from 7pm - 9pm, all Saint Mary's Hall students and families are invited to gather on Lewis Field for an incredible community Star Party.

Need an Incentive?

It's an All-School No Homework Night.
There will be food and music.
In-house experts will help you know what you're seeing .

Need a Telescope? No problem!

Community telescopes will be available to take turns.
Binoculars can work, too.

Need a Nap?

Feel free to bring a blanket to lie down and enjoy the world's greatest view.

Join your friends, family, and your friends' families for this unique Saint Mary's Hall gathering! No RSVP necessary!

After-School Enrichment Session 2

After-School Enrichment Fall Session 1 was a great success and now it's time for Session 2.

We have a wide variety of fun and educational courses. Don’t miss out! View upcoming sessions or contact us at enrichment@smhall.org.

Special Events

Fiesta is This Friday!

It’s almost here!

Fiesta, our all-school carnival, is this Friday, October 11 from 3pm - 6pm. Wear your Fiesta t-shirt and have your tickets ready for a crazy, fun afternoon – it only comes around once a year!

A few Fiesta pointers:

Be sure to have tickets so you avoid standing in line while everyone else is enjoying the fun — preorder closes October 9 at 8pm.
Consider bringing a change of clothes – the foam pit gets pretty foamy!
A reusable grocery bag is a great tool for hauling home all of your prizes.
Grab a seat in the shade early for a cooler Fiesta experience.

Upper School

Come See the Moons of Jupiter, the Rings of Saturn, and the Moon with Us!

Need an Incentive?

It's an All-School No Homework Night.
There will be food and music.
In-house experts will help you know what you're seeing .

Need a Telescope? No problem!

Community telescopes will be available to take turns.
Binoculars can work, too.

Need a Nap?

Feel free to bring a blanket to lie down and enjoy the world's greatest view.

Join your friends, family, and your friends' families for this unique Saint Mary's Hall gathering! No RSVP necessary!

SMH Biology Students Attend Trinity Lecture

A total of 45 AP Biology students gathered in front row center seats at Trinity University on September 30 to hear a lecture from distinguished scientist Dr. Barbara Schaal. Dr. Schaal is an American scientist, evolutionary biologist, and professor at Washington University in St. Louis. She also serves as vice president of the National Academy of Sciences. She is the first woman to be elected vice president of the academy. Since April 2009, Schaal has served on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Her lecture was titled, Science for the Public Good. AP Biology Teacher Dr. Jamie Holbrook, who promoted the event to her students, remarked, “I am so happy that these students came out to hear this message and even more excited that the research student who introduced our speaker was Aamu Karla, an SMH alumna from 2016!”

National Merit Scholars

Head of Upper School Brent Spicer celebrated the outstanding success that 27 members of the senior class have had this year in the National Merit Scholarship Competition (which amounts to 31% of the senior class).

Five seniors, out of the 1.6 million current seniors who took the PSAT last year as juniors, are among the top 55,000 students in the National Merit Scholarship Competition. Congratulations to these National Merit Semi-Finalists:

Aidan Campbell
Shilpa Gunuganti
Sam Hernandez
Victoria Kim
JD Walls

SMH also had 14 National Merit Commended Scholars, who are in the top 3% of all seniors in the United States:

Elizabeth Adams
Weston Bohne
John Bourland
Grace Boyan
Sarah Dickerson
Ben Eugster
Paris Johnson
Aryan Kapoor
Caleb Miller
Isaac Miller
Marguerite Morgan
Anisha Patibandla
Shane Rybacki
Drew Stewart

A total of 10 seniors were named National Hispanic Scholars, who rank among the top 2.5% of all Hispanic and Latino PSAT test takers in the region:

Hunter Allen
Aidan Campbell
Claudia Danysh
Elizabeth Fowler
Sofia Gutierrez
Sam Hernandez
Angelo Huff
Sophie Silva
Nicholas Trujillo
Sophie Velez
Kelsie Westmoreland

Congratulations to these individuals, their families, and their teachers, whose hard work, support, and love have helped them arrive at this moment. SMH is so proud of you and your accomplishment!

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.

In-House Professional Development Ensures the Most Bang for Our Bucks

SMH faculty periodically offer in-house professional development to share the knowledge and skills they have, or that they pick up from conferences and workshops, so that they maximize their investment and stay sharp in their fields. On September 27, the latest Faculty Forum saw the following workshops offered to SMH teachers in all divisions:

AP Classroom Exploration and Q&A (by Upper School Science Teacher Brian Kaestner and Robotics/Computer Science/STEM Teacher Dr. Hong Zhou)
- Faculty had an opportunity to explore AP Classroom, AP Classroom Q&A, login to AP Classroom, AP teachers to collaborate on utilizing the resources provided for AP classrooms (i.e. setting up quizzes and tests, identify commonly misunderstood concepts, etc.).
Beehive Inspection! (by Upper School Biology Teacher Dr. Jamie Holbrook)
- Faculty experienced the thrill of beekeeping by suiting up and observing an inspection of the campus beehives. Are our bees gathering pollen and nectar? What does their honey taste like? Is our queen still accepted in the bee colony and is she laying eggs? How well prepared are the bees for cooler weather? And most important ... how could we work between disciplines to incorporate these magnificent creatures into what you currently teach?
Exploring Interdisciplinary Essays (by Upper School English Teachers Breanne Hicks and Megan Soukup)
- Breanne and Megan shared their experiences developing and teaching an interdisciplinary unit, including informational handouts, brainstorming concept maps, and process and product rubrics.
Focus on Fitness (by Assistant Athletic Director Josh Baker)
- Introductory course to the fitness center, weights, and general health topics. Faculty learned basic fundamentals in how to use the fitness center equipment.
Surface On The Go (by Director for Instructional Technology & Libraries Barb Bertoldo and Instructional Technology Coordinator Matt Montez)
- This session allowed Surface Go users to work with a Microsoft team to achieve optimum performance from their devices. Teachers who use Surface Go were also introduced to the Microsoft TEAMS component of Office 365.

Museum Field Trip

Upper School 3D Art Teacher Nate Cassie took the Art History students and one senior studio student to the San Antonio Museum of Art on September 27 to see the Egyptian, Greek, and Roman galleries, as they have just finished that unit of study. They also saw some of the contemporary and Latin American galleries. They even managed to work in lunch at Tre (on the museum campus) to discuss what they saw.

SMH Alumni Brothers Share Business Concept (by senior Elizabeth Adams)

Brothers Francisco (Class of 2012) and Tomas (Class of 2013) Pergola, founders of Cheddies cheesy cracker snack, visited Upper School Math Teacher Jose Molina’s Principles of Finance and Investing class on September 26. Cheddies began in San Antonio as a healthier, more natural alternative to other cracker snacks in the market like Cheezits and Goldfish. The brothers founded their business (then called Wuel) in 2016 and achieved success by mid-2018 as they began mass-production, introduced three new flavors, and partnered with leading businesses including Amazon, H-E-B, and, most recently, Barnes & Noble. Although they faced many challenges as a startup, the Pergolas shared how they persevered and offered advice about the business world. It was an honor to hear from these SMH alumni!

Middle School

Come See the Moons of Jupiter, the Rings of Saturn, and the Moon with Us!

Need an Incentive?

It's an All-School No Homework Night.
There will be food and music.
In-house experts will help you know what you're seeing .

Need a Telescope? No problem!

Community telescopes will be available to take turns.
Binoculars can work, too.

Need a Nap?

Feel free to bring a blanket to lie down and enjoy the world's greatest view.

Join your friends, family, and your friends' families for this unique Saint Mary's Hall gathering! No RSVP necessary!

Middle School Artists Display Their Work

Hello art enthusiasts! If you happen to be on campus from now until November 8, be sure to stop by the Saint Mary’s Hall Middle/Upper School Library to check out the Middle School artwork. Middle School Art Teacher Benjamin Pyrc’s Form 6, 7, and 8 artists each have a piece highlighting a different aspect of the “Element of Art, Form.” The exhibit explores how the art concept is introduced/reinforced/explored as the artist grows throughout their time in Middle School Art.

SMH hopes you enjoy the first of four Middle School Art exhibits!

NJHS News

The National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) officers – Sophie Holder (Form 8), president; Ria Mehta (Form 8), vice president; Bardia Mizani (Form 8), secretary; and Zizi Azar (Form 8), historian – along with all the other councils, traveled to Camp Aranzazu in Rockport, Texas to begin working on their vision and plans for this upcoming school year. This was an important time for the NJHS to really think about what was important to them and where they felt like we could be of best service to the Middle School.

NJHS key plans include:

Developing ways for their membership to be a positive influence in the school
Coming up with practical, meaningful ways to create a relationship with our Form 6 students
Engaging all students in an attitude of gratitude
Promoting school activities
Supporting Young Barons in Community (YBIC), the Lower School community service organization
Continuing to support SMH sister-school, Serna Elementary
Creating new initiatives for promoting academics in the Middle School

A lot of creativity and leadership is represented in NJHS, among all 31 of their members, so they think that they will have a great chance at making this the best year ever!

Also, the NJHS teamed up with YBIC to prepare blankets for the Linus Project, which supplies soft, cuddly blankets to children who are in the hospital undergoing treatment. NJHS was involved in the “first phase,” cutting the blankets to get them ready to be tied by students in the Lower School. NJHS students volunteered many hours, most of them after school, to cut the fringes and corners.

NJHS hopes that the blanket recipients all get better very soon!

Leadership Councils Enjoy Retreat

On September 25-27, all 48 members of the Middle School leadership councils travelled to Rockport, Texas at Camp Aranzazu for three days focused on leadership development, service, and planning for the upcoming year! The Senate, Sports, Community Service, and the National Junior Honor Society Council officers engaged in both individual and group reflection on their personal values and leadership strengths, spent time working through various team-building challenges and initiatives. They left Rockport with stronger bonds, and impressive foundations, and plans for a plethora of events to make this year in Middle School the best yet!

Teachers Explore Innovative Ideas in Faculty Forums

Teachers from all three school divisions came together on September 27 to attend Faculty Forums after school. Faculty Forums are learning opportunities created by faculty for faculty to share innovative teaching and learning ideas with each other. This gives faculty who attend professional development workshops and conferences around the country a chance to seed new ideas here on campus with their colleagues. Topics for the Faculty Forums were as varied as SMH faculty:

Assistant Athletic Director Josh Baker: Focus on Fitness (using the Fitness Center)
Director for Instructional Technology & Libraries Barb Bertoldo: Surface on the Go (how to use the new Surface devices with the CleverTouch Boards)
Upper School Biology Teacher Dr. Jamie Holbrook: Beehive Inspection (introduction to the SMH beehives on campus)
Upper School English Teachers Breanne Hicks and Megan Soukup: Exploring Interdisciplinary Essays
Lower School Music Teacher Liz Troutwine: Drumming
Form 4 Math Teacher Natalie Miller: Using Smart Notebook with Everyday Math
Lower School Librarian/Instructional Technologist Linda Wells: Collaboratory: STEAM in Action
Form 2 Teachers Suzanne Williams and Courtney Pierce: Master Storytelling for Both Student and Teacher with Novel Effect
Form 3 Teacher Jane Viccellio and Form 2 Teacher Rachel Moczygemba: Flexible Seating
Upper School Science Teacher Brian Kaestner and Robotics/Computer Science/STEM Teacher Dr. Hong Zhou: AP Classroom Exploration and Q & A

Lower School

Come See the Moons of Jupiter, the Rings of Saturn, and the Moon with Us!

Need an Incentive?

It's an All-School No Homework Night.
There will be food and music.
In-house experts will help you know what you're seeing .

Need a Telescope? No problem!

Community telescopes will be available to take turns.
Binoculars can work, too.

Need a Nap?

Feel free to bring a blanket to lie down and enjoy the world's greatest view.

Join your friends, family, and your friends' families for this unique Saint Mary's Hall gathering! No RSVP necessary!

Baron Sportsmanship

Once a month, two students from each Form level (Forms 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: Makenna Graf and Jero Carvajal
Form 2: Stratton Bright and Alex Blanco
Form 3: Talia Propper and Augie Cummings
Form 4: Lizzy Bruso and Mac Berridge
Form 5: Clara Wallisch and Andrew Shields

Let the Games Begin!

Has anyone ever heard of the Paper Plate Discus or the Cotton Ball Shot Put? The Ancient Greeks enjoyed the thrill of athletic competition, and Lower School Form 4 students have now joined their ranks in the spirit of the games! On September 26, Form 4 athletes competed in their own Saint Mary’s Hall version: the Mini-Metric Olympics. While completing a unit of study on Ancient Greece and the Trojan War in Social Studies, students practiced the scientific art of estimation with metric measurement, then competed and measured (with the expert help of parent Olympians). To the tunes of trumpets, these Lower School Olympians will finish by accepting medals for the most accomplished athletes and estimators in Form 4. From 776 B.C.E. to 2019 C.E., the Olympic spirit lives on at Saint Mary’s Hall! View a fun video of the Mini-Metric Olympics.

Creative Art Section in Room 1

Full-Day Montessori students Rachel Sohn and Marco Ramirez created bracelets on the first Fiesta Out-of-Uniform day in Lower School. Montessori Room 1 Teacher Jennifer Hinson said, “Montessori children have time during their day when they can use their imagination to create anything they like using scissors, glue, crayons, colored paper scraps, colored pencils, markers, and paints.” Rachel and Marco made their bracelets to match their Fiesta logos.

Form 4 Monthly Book Club

Form 4's monthly book club headed by Form 4 Language Arts Teacher Tess Eggleston kicked the year off with Holes, by Louis Sachar, at the Holes Chat n’Chew. Not only a National Book Award winner and New York Times bestseller, this Newbery-Awarded title has been the debut book for two years. A total of 35 eager readers enjoyed eating lunch and talked about word palindromes (the main character's name of Stanley Yelnats is one), what makes a protagonist vs. an antagonist, how the setting is important to a story, as well as the magical mixing of genres in books. The students even enjoyed a little ice cream since it was Thursday, after all! See a video of the Holes Chat n’Chew.

Form 4 readers are already hard at work devouring the second book, The Thrifty Guide To Ancient Greece A Handbook For Time Travelers, by Jonathan W. Stokes, selected for their book club, which ties into their Social Studies unit they just finished with Form 4 Science/Social Studies Teacher Duzie Queen.

Form 2 Book Talks

Have you ever read a fabulous book that you wanted to share with your friends? That’s what Form 2 students did in September with their first Book Talk of the year. Form 2 has been studying silly stories and the differences between reality and fantasy, so each student selected their favorite silly story to share. After planning their book talks and preparing note cards, they were eager to share their books in small groups. Students also presented creative projects to represent their favorite characters in their books. The projects are on display in the Form 2 hallway. Thank you to the parents who helped with the groups and shared their own favorite silly stories. It was an exciting day in Form 2 with our first presentations of the year.

Looking Ahead

Veterans’ Day Celebration

Saint Mary’s Hall Lower School (Forms 1-5) invites family and friends to participate in Veterans Day Recognition on Monday, November 11 at 8am in the Coates-Seeligson Chapel/Theater.

Glimpse Into the Future

Mark your calendars for Glimpse Into the Future on Thursday, November 14. If you have not already done so, 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.

How Do You Honor 45 Years of Service?

Form 1 Teacher Donna Inscore has taught at Saint Mary’s Hall for 45 years. She has taught children of previous students and knows and cares about all her students’ families. At the end of last school year, Mrs. Inscore received her own parking place. This year’s students are honored to have Mrs. Inscore as they begin their journeys up the hill.

Special Guest Reader in Extended Care

San Antonio Police Department Officer Rodney Aguilar, who is part of the Saint Mary’s Hall security team, is constantly patrolling the campus, usually on his bicycle on Fridays. Students in Extended Care love to wave at him as he rides by their building, and recently Officer Agular stopped and read a book to the Half-Day Montessori students as they were beginning nap time.

Head of School Jonathan Eades said, “Officer Aguilar is the coolest cop in town! He is truly a great person.”

Project Linus in Review

Young Barons in Community (YBIC) began this school year’s projects with students in Forms 1 and 2 working on blankets for Project Linus. It was hard, but fun work. There were more than 35 student volunteers that enjoyed making blankets for kids in need. YBIC would also like to thank the strong support of teacher and parent volunteers.

These Barons are young but they sure do make a difference. Please enjoy a short video of YBIC volunteers at work.

Learning to Balance on Many Levels

Half-Day Montessori students are working on motor movements and learning to balance on objects at different levels. See a video (above) of this fun activity!

News from the Lower School Library

Birthday Books

The Saint Mary’s Hall Lower School Library has purchased many new books courtesy of generous birthday book donations by our Lower School parents. The birthday book donations helps build the library’s collection each year. Lower School Librarian Linda Wells states, “I am always so appreciative of our generous donors for the birthday books. The children love to see his/her name inside the cover of the book and they return every year to find that book. They lovingly show their friends the name inside the book. I love to see this tradition each year.”

Mystery Readers

Mystery Readers, please remember if a snack is brought, it must be a healthy one. This year the rule will be strictly enforced. Mystery readers are still needed for some of the Montessori and Kindergarten classes. Please contact the library staff to sign up.

Online Resources

Our Online resources, e-books, and magazines are always available to SMH families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Just log into the SMH Community Portal, click on Lower School Library, and a vast, wonderful world of books and resources are available. For assistance, please call the Lower School Library at (210) 483-9174.

Fine Arts

Tobin Fine Arts School

Director's Corner

A total of 10 Saint Mary’s Hall Upper School Cinema students are in New York City this week participating in the All American High School Film Festival and Film Invitational.

Students will have 48 hours in which to film, edit, and complete postproduction of the screenplay, Brightest State of Mind, by Form 12 student Natalia Zambrano. The students will be filming at such iconic locations as Times Square and Central Park and have been working all semester to prepare for this unique opportunity.

Following the film festival submission, students will attend the Film Invitational, which will screen student films from across the country at a movie theater in Times Square. The trip will conclude with the awards ceremony at the world-famous Kings Theater in Brooklyn, New York. Students participating in this unique opportunity are Wilson Jones (Form 12), Maggie Leavitt (Form 11), Edward Snyder (Form 10), Isabella Sanchez (Form 12), Sofia Mauri (Form 10), Peter Beaudette (Form 11), Bella Munoz (Form 10), Alex Glast (Form 10), Natalia Zambrano (Form 12), and Emi Kosterlitzky (Form 10). Upper School Cinema Teacher Will Underwood, as well as SMH Lighting Designer Javan Johnson and Lower School Art Teacher Kellen Stanley, are supporting the students’ creative efforts.

To see the students on their journey in New York, follow the Cinema Twitter account at @SMH_Cinema and the Fine Arts Instagram at @smhall_fine arts.

Good luck this week Baron filmmakers!

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

San Antonio Museum Month

Aspiring artists might want to check out a new or familiar museum in our beautiful city this month. There is always great art to see in San Antonio, but even more this month! October is Museum Month in San Antonio, which “celebrates the museums and other cultural institutions of San Antonio.” Museum members of any of San Antonio’s arts and cultural organizations receive free general admission to any area museum. Participating organizations include familiar names such as the McNay, Southwest School of Art, and San Antonio Museum of Art, as well as places that may be new to students and families, such as Ruby City.

Looking for some art a bit closer to home? Check out the Middle School section of this News From the Hall for information on the Middle School art show now on display in the Middle/Upper School Library!

The Upper School Musical is Coming Soon!

9 to 5 is a Tony Award-nominated score by Dolly Parton. The story follows the fun and trials of working women in 1979. Check out the trailer from the Broadway show for a taste of this exciting show.

Performances of 9 to 5 will be held on Friday, October 18 and Saturday, October 19 at 7pm, and Sunday, October 20 at 2pm. The production is rated PG-13 and is a fun night out for family and friends. Purchase your tickets early for best seats at www.smhall.org/fineartstickets

The cast and crew of 36 Upper School students are excited to have you be part of the magic on stage at the Coates-Seeligson Theater!

Speech and Debate Results

On September 27 and 28, a total of 36 Upper School Speech & Debate students competed at the Douglas MacArthur Five Star Invitational. This tournament was yet another great showing from these incredible students. SMH is pleased to share that Saint Mary's Hall earned the Overall Speech and Debate Sweepstakes Award! In addition, SMH is proud of the six Tournament Champions:

Shilpa Gunuganti (Form 12) for Congressional Debate and Domestic Exempt
Jonathan Largoza (Form 9) for Novice Exempt
Devika Kumar (Form 11) for Humorous Interpretation
Nitya Patel (Form 10) for Informative Speaking, and Sophie Velez (Form 12) for Program of Oral Interpretation

Congratulations to these students and their coaches, Upper School Debate Teacher Colin Malinak and Speech and Drama Teacher Joe Muller! View the complete results.

Fine Arts Events

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Lower School Parent Dance Observation Week Subscribe to Alerts

Dec 9

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Dec 10

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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

Friday Night Lights Returning Fall 2020

The Saint Mary’s Hall Athletic Department is excited to announce the return of varsity football to the Upper School next year. Starting fall of 2020, the Upper School will compete in TAPPS 6-Man football.

“While we are awaiting the final alignment numbers and divisions from TAPPS, we are excited about this step forward for the football program at SMH,” said Athletic Director Barry Chamberlin. “Having the Friday Night Lights experience is an important part of any school's culture.”

When asked if this was a permanent move, Coach Chamberlin responded, “We look to build a strong foundation for football by competing at 6-man for two years, and then re-entering 11-man in the 2022 TAPPS alignment. This model has been used by other strong private school 11-man programs in the state, so we know this can work for development and growth of a program.”

In 2019, a total of 102 public schools and as many as 60 private schools participate in 6-man football.

Fort Worth Trip Proves Difficult for Field Hockey

Field hockey took the long trip to Fort Worth to face some of the most challenging competition Texas and Oklahoma have to offer.

In the All Saints game, keeper sophomore Abbie Zeller recorded five saves, with senior Mia Sabom scoring on a short corner direct shot, off of an insert by senior Claudia Espy. New players senior Sloane Basse, junior Sofia Meagher, and sophomore Nicole Mays held their own against a more veteran All Saints team. Junior Caroline Berridge led the Barons up top and Claudia was a force to be reckoned with on defense. The Barons ultimately lost the competition 1-6.

Saturday morning brought on another state powerhouse team, with Forth Worth Country Day controlling the game from the first whistle. Abbie did her best to stop the on slot of shots, recording six saves. The Barons dropped the game 0-6.

The second game on Saturday brought about Oklahoma’s Holland Hall. The Barons struggled to defend the counter-attack throughout the bulk of the game, but finished the game and the weekend on a high note with 15 minutes of composed and aggressive hockey, and left the field with their heads held high. Abbie made five saves, and the Baron burst of energy late in the game was spearheaded by senior Ellie Anderson and freshman Ava Daetwyler.

The Barons look to rebound with Parrish Episcopal on Monday, October 14 at 4pm on Lewis Field.

No Slowing Down Cross Country

The Barons cross country team took off for the Hill Country before dawn once again to race in the Comfort High School Octoberfest Invitational Cross Country Meet. The injury bug had bitten the boys team prior to the race, but this did not slow down the five runners in the meet. The boys team of four freshmen and one senior fought their way to another top-ten finish. Leading the way for the Barons was freshman Jonathan Largoza, who took with a time of 19:28. Following him was another freshman, Patrick Lang, turning in a time of 20:00. Senior Captain Weston Bohne was the next to come across the finish line in a 21:53, which was his best 5K time of the season so far. Freshman Ojus Dutta and Jonathan rounded out the team with Seasonal and Personal Best (PR) in the 5K race performances.

The girls cross country team fought through a large field of competitors, resulting in another top-ten finish for the team as well. Continuing her stellar freshman year campaign, Julia Garcia was the first to finish in the 2-mile race coming in at a time of 14:58. Finishing just seconds behind her was senior Caroline Largoza at 15:17, recording a Seasonal Record (SR) with her time. The team finished strong with junior Sarah Hernandez, finishing in 15:49; junior Nikki Winter at 17:29, senior Jillian Spicer at 17:35, freshman Camila Navas-Hahn at 17:35, and junior Margaret Equinca-Moreno, who ran her first race of the season in 18:51.

Show Baron Pride with a Letter Jacket

The next letter jacket fittings will be Thursday, October 17 at 3:15pm in the Team Room. Order packets will be arriving soon. Stay tuned for more information!

Middle School Spotlight

Football Dominates

The Middle School football team continues to dominate their competition with another strong performance against the Winston School. The game was called three minutes into the second quarter, with the Barons taking the victory 47-0.

Sorensons Shine

A late September swim meet brought some of the strongest swimmers in the area to the South Texas AAAA Nadadores Swimming Competition. The Form 6 sister/brother duo of Abi and Adrian Sorenson brought home 1^st place finishes in the 100 meter Breaststroke.

Abi also received 2^nd in the 50 Backstroke, 3^rd in the 100 Individual Medley, and 4^th in the 200 Freestyle.

Adrian received 4^th in the 50 Freestyle, 4^th in the 200 Freestyle, and 5^th in the 100 Individual Medley.

Abi and Adrian have both qualified for South Texas Championships, and South Texas JR STAG State Championships in the event of 50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle, 50 Breaststroke, 100 Breaststroke, 200 Breaststroke, 50 Butterfly, 100 Butterfly, 50 Backstroke, and 100IM.

Daskevich Delivers

Form 6 student Dillon Daskevich took to the trail on September 28 for the Texas Mountain Bike Racing Associations cross country mountain bike race in Troy, Texas. Dillon smashed the competition, taking 1^st place by more than six minutes. Dillon placed top 10 at Nationals over the summer, and looks forward to competing in the Middle School Division of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association Texas Championship Series in the spring.

College Corner

College Quarterback Loves His Roles as a Star of Stage and Turf

By Hannah G. Johnson

Whenever Zach Fogel needs a reminder not to take off for Broadway, he reads a note he left to himself on his phone titled, “Why I Play Football.”

A multitalented sophomore at Claremont McKenna College, Fogel has been the leading man in both theater and football since elementary school. By the time he was finished with high school, Fogel was the quarterback of the football team and had played a multitude of lead roles across 14 school productions. His success in musical theater led him to perform in New York City at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards in summer 2018, where he was encouraged to stick around and take a shot at a Broadway career fresh out of high school.

When the temptation to abandon college to pursue acting full time gets overwhelming, Fogel only needs to read his own words to remember why he stays in the game: “It’s the greatest game ever created and I get to play it. I don’t have to. I get to.”

Although it is sometimes difficult to juggle his dual passions, Fogel has managed to strike a balance. Rather than attend an acting conservatory or a school better known for football to pursue just one of his interests, he decided on Claremont McKenna so that all doors would remain open. This way, Fogel gets to play quarterback for the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Stags while also doing professional theater and performing in his a cappella group. Needless to say, he’s quite busy.

“In order to play Friday night football games, in order to have Thursday nights and Saturday nights of theater, it takes me having those daily schedules of not having any free time,” Fogel says.

“I don’t have time to hang out — ever.”

While theater and football have long been regarded as being completely different from one another, maybe even opposites, they share more common ground than one might think. If anyone can attest to their similarities, it would be Fogel, who says that each enterprise has taught him skills that are essential to the other. The most important of which is leadership, Fogel says.

“The leadership skills I learned in theater are what make me a good captain in football,” Fogel says.

Fogel’s experience in arranging extra rehearsals at his house and working with different types of people gave him the ingenuity necessary to become a personable, motivational and organized quarterback. Although most of his team never knew firsthand why Fogel loved theater so much, they admired him. “They thought it was cool I got to kiss girls on stage,” Fogel remembers. But the charisma he developed from acting helped him to persuade seven of his teammates to perform with him in a production of “Parade” during his senior year of high school. The cast ended up winning best ensemble at the Spirit of the MACY Awards (where Fogel also won best actor).

“That was really cool to see all those guys understand what I had been doing for four years,” Fogel says.

For as much as theater has helped Fogel with football, the versatility goes both ways. Being an athlete has given him the endurance to survive hours of rehearsals and the resilience to recover from the exhaustion of back-to-back performances.

“Football is unique in that it pushes you in a way that — I don’t think there’s anything else in life that can compare to it,” Fogel says. “There’s nothing quite like getting the crap knocked out of you and standing up and doing it again.”

Fogel’s dedication to football is apparent in everything about him, from the way he passionately describes the rush of scoring a touchdown to the action photos of him sporting his white jersey that are spread throughout his Instagram feed. Still, some might wonder why he sticks around when stardom and a full-time career in theater may be waiting impatiently for him somewhere else. The answer is simple, and again can be found in the Notes app on Fogel’s cellphone.

“It’s more than a game,” Fogel wrote. “It’s a gift that eventually won’t be bestowed on me anymore, so I’m going to cherish it while I can.”

Article Courtesy of NCAA.org.

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Chapel Corner

A Thank You

It was so good to see parents in attendance at the division Chapel services this week.

SMH welcomes parents to come see their son or daughter when they have a role in Chapel or when a topic is of interest to you. As much as is possible, the school tries to give you advance notice when your student is speaking. SMH also provides “A Look Ahead” listing of planned topics, although these are sometimes subject to change. The school appreciates your support of this important activity in the life of the school.

September 30 Chapels

As is the custom at all Chapels, Interim All-School Chaplain Susan Douglas (ChapSu) or a student volunteer opens with a call and response of Psalm 118, verse 24: “This is the day that the Lord has made” with students responding “let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Bishops Chapel Society Vice President and Form 11 Student Annabelle Huang led the responsive in Upper School Chapel this week.

Lower School Studies Sacred Spaces

ChapSu introduced the children to the word “sacred” this week, defining it as “connected with God or dedicated to a religious purpose or worthy of awe and respect” and “used in relation to objects, places, or happenings.” She illustrated the concept with a story from Exodus about Moses encountering a bush that burned in the desert and was not consumed by the flame. She noted that because Moses was curious and didn’t ignore the burning bush or flee from it, he discovered God in a sacred space. ChapSu also showed children photos of local houses of worship that are considered sacred spaces and objects too, such as prayer mats, Torah scrolls and shrines, such as the ones seen in Texas dedicated to La Virgen de Guadalupe.

ChapSu asked the students if Saint Mary’s Hall might be a sacred space. After some discussion, most students were open to the idea. Several commented that it must be true because they learn and pray together here. Students were invited to start their week with this prayer, as they felt comfortable:

Dear God,
Thank you for the sacred spaces in our lives.
Please bless our week as we study and learn in this wonderful place you’ve given us.
Watch over Reverend Gunnin.
And teach us delight in simple things.
Amen

Upper School Considers the Paradox of Service

On the first day of school, a Form 12 student requested that students who are doing important things in the community be invited to share their stories at Chapel. The Upper School Community Service Council volunteered to do so. To set the stage, ChapSu asked students three questions.

How many of you think SMH requires you to do community service because it looks good for college? This generated a fair showing of hands.
How many think SMH requires you to do community service because research tells us it’s good for your mental health and happiness? This generated a strong response from Form 10 students, no doubt a testament to Health and Wellness Educator Amelia Teodosio’s good work with them last year.
How many of you think that because of our roots in the Christian tradition SMH views service as a spiritual imperative? This generated the greatest show of hands.

ChapSu noted that all three questions speak to the truth, but that it is this latter question that has primarily driven SMH’s commitment to service for 14 decades. She noted the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 25, where Jesus tells his followers that those who love him will undertake these specific acts of service:

feed the hungry
give drink to the thirsty
welcome the stranger
clothe the needy
take care of the sick
and visit the prisoner

She then suggested that the Book of Common Prayer offers a paradox – that what you give in service to others, returns to you as blessing. She encouraged students to listen to what their classmates’ experience had to teach us.

Upper School Spanish Teacher and Community Service Council Coordinator Elsa Tonone De Sala introduced the work of the council, noting that achievement in life means more than accumulating awards or trophies. She spoke to the intangible and very personal rewards gained by changing lives through community service. The students below then spoke about their work at various organizations and what that service meant to them and to those they served.

Form 12 students: Mia Sabom, Isabella Sanchez, Lily Miggins, and Claudia Danysh
Form 11 students: Olivia Zachary, Vivek Beeram, Leah Gomez, and Karl Sanjana
Form 10 students: Peyton Randolph, Andrés Trujillo, Patience Locke, and Payton Wood

The work they described was beautiful, meaningful, and clearly left memories that will likely stay with them for a lifetime. One described how an elderly woman kept him close by mistaking him for her son. Another one shared the delight of children receiving a book they could take home or the joy of a child taking part in an activity they never dreamed they would be able to do. Others talked about the great need in the community for some of the very basics of life.

In the sure knowledge that not all education happens in a classroom, the Community Service Council learned much during their service and did an excellent job of sharing that education with their classmates.

Middle School Called to Lead and Serve

ChapSu began Middle School Chapel by sharing some thoughts about the importance of leadership and service in the life of the school and community. She pointed out that the task of leadership is not just to get individuals to do specific tasks, but rather, to inspire others towards a common vision, or as Antoine de Saint-Exupéry suggested, to help a group “… yearn for the vast and endless sea” rather than just focus on the task of building the boat.

Such leadership is essential in the service of others. Noting that service is both a social good and a spiritual imperative, ChapSu reminded students that the school takes seriously the call made on people of good will and of faith to share our many gifts with our community. View the slideshow from Middle School Chapel here.

Assistant Head of Middle School Mike Mayberry then spoke about the difference that a group of committed individuals can make in changing the world. Reflecting on the good work done on the recent leadership retreat in Rockport, he invited student leaders to share their vision, hopes, and aspirations for the school year with their classmates. Parents would have been very proud and impressed by the thoughtful remarks and extensive planning laid out by these students.

Speakers included:

Nandini Cheruku and Sophie Junaidi from the Community Service Council
President Sophie Holder, Vice President Ria Mehta, Secretary Bardia Mizani, and Historian Zizi Azar from the National Junior Honor Society
Bailey Captain Chloe Serot and Bennett Captain Campbell Cage from the Sports Council
Secretary MK Lutz and President Ines Wallisch from Senate Council

ChapSu’s closing prayer asked God to guide these young leaders and bless their endeavors as students seek to create the kind of school they want to attend and the best school year of their dreams.

A Look Ahead

October 14
- All divisions will have the opportunity to learn about Diwali from their classmates who celebrate this important holiday that is a tradition in India, Singapore, and other Asian countries. Diwali (also called Divali or Deepavali) is a “festival of lights” that celebrates the triumph of light over dark and good over evil, and the blessings of victory, freedom, and enlightenment.
October 21
- Lower School students will learn about the Jewish High Holy days of Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur.
- Upper and Middle School students will have a guest speaker in support of Red Ribbon Week.
October 28
- Lower School students will learn about the traditional celebration of Dia de los Muertos.
- Upper and Middle School students will see a Dia de los Muertos presentation from the Upper School World Languages Department.
November 4
- Lower School will consider why how one treats others is important, drawing from scripture and tradition about how all live in right relationship with one another.
- Lower School will have a guest speaker from the Holocaust Memorial Museum of San Antonio.
November 11
- All divisions will have a special Veterans Day Chapel program

Yom Kippur Academic Accommodations

Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) begins on Tuesday, October 8 at sundown and continues through Wednesday, October 9 at sundown. Students observing Yom Kippur with their families are able to receive additional time to complete work due Wednesday, October 9 and Thursday, October 10 by request to their teachers. Please note that Tuesday, October 8 is an All-School No Homework Night.

The additional time to complete work allows students time to observe the holiday by attending services and spending important time with family. Parents, please communicate with your student’s teachers if you have any questions. To all SMH families and students observing the High Holy Days, Shanah Tovah! Have a good and sweet year!

Saint Mary’s Hall encourages families of all faiths to be active in their religion and faith communities, as stated in our Statement of Religious Expression, and the school strives to provide all the support and flexibility needed for students and families to put faith first. If you have any questions, please contact Interim All-School Chaplain Susan Douglas at (210) 823-7020 or sdouglas@smhall.org.

Healthy at the Hall

Coping Strategies for Life at Home

Parents often wonder, What can I do to support my child?

How can I give them the skills necessary to be able to succeed in life? As you know, the Saint Mary’s Hall community is actively working to make sure that your students are learning the appropriate skills for both success in college and fulfillment in life. These are academic goals, but also wellness goals. You heard mention of gratitude at Saint’s Mary’s Hall parent nights. As you recall, gratitude is about being appreciative of things in your life, both big and small. Below is a coping strategy that you may want to consider incorporating or expanding upon in your life at home. Parents are the primary role models for children. They will see your efforts and may similarly incorporate this strategy in their lives.

Gratitude – Three Good Things

For a week, reflect and write down three good things that happened in your day before you go to bed. Again, they can be big or everyday things. You’ll want to keep them in the same place. Some people use journals and others use apps. Happyfeed is an app that has consistently received positive reviews. If you want to do this as a family, you could even do it over dinner or in the car ride home. If you have teenagers, you could consider a group text where everyone sends their “three good things” to the whole family. There is no wrong way to feel gratitude so it is about finding a modality that works for you. Click here to learn about what the Greater Good Science Center says about the “three good things” exercise.

One thing that we can all be grateful for is having the opportunity to work with Head of School Jonathan Eades. Thank you for all that you’ve done for the Saint Mary’s Hall community. You will be missed!