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SJA E-NEWS | December 21, 2016 In This Issue Student Spotlight College Corner Christmas Blessing Senior Parent Information Robotics Team Competes at VEX Competition Therapy Dogs' Visit Relieves Test Stress National Honor Society Organizes Collection for Soldiers Seeking Summer Reading Recommendations Holiday Hours at the Paw Prints Store Sports Highlights

Parents: At-A-Glance Thursday, December 22-Wednesday, January 4 Christmas Break, No School

Tuesday, December 27-Thursday, December 29 No School, Office Open

Friday, December 30-Monday, January 2 No School, Office Closed

Thursday, January 5 Classes Resume

Friday, January 6 Senior Class Field Trip to Cleveland Orchestra Formal Uniform Mandatory

Saturday, January 7 Admission Test, SJA, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. 8th grade girls considering SJA are invited to take our Admission Test. Click here to register.

Quick Links School Calendar Paw Prints Store Calendar

January 11 Early Dismissal, 2 p.m.

January 11

Christmas Blessing May Pope Pius XII's words ring out during this Christmas season: "Peace is a gift of God which today too must find hearts willing to receive it and to toil to be builders of reconciliation and peace." Wishing you a blessed Christmas and a happy new year! Click here to watch our video wishing you a blessed Christmas season!

Mandatory Senior Parent Meeting, 7 p.m., Auditorium

January 16 Martin Luther King Jr. Day No School, Office Closed

January 18 STARTS Meeting, 6:30-8 p.m

Senior Parent Information

Faculty Spotlight

Senior parents, in order to ensure we have the correct information for your daughter, please respond to these essential questions by clicking on this link. There will be a Mandatory Senior Parent Meeting on Wednesday, January 11 at 7 p.m. We request at least one parent/guardian attend this informational meeting regarding Senior events and expectations from the start of second semester through Commencement. Wine and cheese will be provided. Questions? Please contact Assistant Principal Miss Megan Gaffney.

Name: Performing Arts Vocal Music | Department Chair, Miss Kathleen Cooper Accomplishments: This time of year is quite busy for the Performing Arts Department and for Performing Arts Vocal Music teacher Miss Kathleen Cooper. "Members of The Academy Choral and SJA Choirs held the flag and sang the National Anthem at the Cavs game," stated Ms. Cooper. "December has held a variety of activity for me. The Sophomore class was treated to a field trip to see The Nutcracker, featuring the Cleveland Orchestra! The Academy Chorale has had performances including Kamm's Corner Winter Wonderland, singing at the Cavs game, Fairview Hospital's Trees of Hope Celebration, before A Christmas Carol at Playhouse Square, St. Mark School and the SJA Christmas Concert," shared Miss Cooper. In the classroom, "Music Theory students have written their own musical compositions. Advanced Choir and Concert Choir students, on top of preparing their concert music, are learning to research and audition for a musical in one of these choirs. Each student will learn and perform a piece from the announced Spring musical, Songs for a New

Robotics Team Competes at VEX Competition

L-R: Seniors Annie Wolodzko and Greta Noeth diligently work on their robot

This past weekend, 74 elite Robotics teams from 19 high schools representing three states competed in the Kalahari Classic with the VEX Robotics Competition. Saint Joseph Academy sent 17 students representing five teams. Each robot represented over 300 hours of intense student work. Each team designed their robot from scratch for the event to play a game. Teams had the opportunity to write software that could operate their robot without a driver to earn more points during the autonomous period.

Juliana Howe '18 and Lizzie Lewandowski '18 participated in building a specialized robot for bonus scoring and their robot climbed a pole and hung 13 inches above the ground. They achieved bonus scoring in 7 of their 8 matches. The Senior team of Liz Renner, Sarah Dever, Greta Noeth and Annie Wolodzko scored well in every event during the autonomous and driver operated portion. The newcomer team consisting of Emily Austin '20, Alyssa Gallagher '20 and Maggie Cornelison '19 learned to write code and built a competitive robot. They consistently placed in top third of all teams, which is rare for a beginner team, and they did it with very little help. Grace Semon '18 and Grace Grove '18 along with Kaitlyn Nieto '17 were able to score well in spite of some technical difficulties with their equipment. Honor Fournier '17, Stephanie Rolon '18, Joslyn Muniz '18, Mira Earhart '19 and Genevieve Kramer '19 built a robot that could score in multiple ways. Every member but Stephanie was a rookie and they worked well together to design and write code for their robot. Parent volunteer Mrs. Joyce Brady Dever '83, P'17, Deputy Chief (Acting), Materials & Structures Division (LM), NASA Glenn Research Center shared, "During the Kalahari Classic, SJA teams returned to the pit after each match energized with ideas on how they could improve their performance through minor mechanical adjustments and revised programming, which they were often able to implement in time for their next match. SJA students that pursue engineering will be well-prepared for the multi-disciplinary projects that will be incorporated into their engineering curriculum. Students will all be prepared for the workforce of the future, able to solve complex problems through collaboration and innovation." Congratulations, ladies!

Therapy Dogs' Visit Relieves Test Stress

World, as well as one other assigned musical after receiving individualized coaching," said Miss Cooper.

On Monday, students were treated to a visit from four patient and loving dogs, courtesy of Therapy Dogs International. Students spent time with

Activities & Interests: Miss Cooper is active in the Irish community, where she is a delegate for the St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee. She is a musician for the Sunday morning television Mass, plays organ as well as sings at several parishes weekly and plays the accordion and keyboard at a weekly Irish music session. Miss Cooper also enjoys dancing, arranging music for students and spending time with her family.

the dogs to help ease stress of upcoming final examinations. Enjoy an album of the visit here.

Students visiting with Fiona, a therapy dog

National Honor Society Organizes Collection for Soldiers The National Honor Society (NHS) sponsored a twoweek collection of items for soldiers passing through Cleveland this holiday season. Students had the opportunity to make cards for soldiers outside the Dining Hall during activity blocks. Students created more than 150 cards, collected $60 for Giant Eagle gift cards, made more than 40 snack packs of various food items and gave more than 90 toiletry items.

College Corner

NHS worked with volunteers at the Bob Hope United Service Organizations Northern Ohio (USONO) Lounge at the Cleveland Hopkins Airport to create these care packages for soldiers. L-R: Chloe Mash '19 and Andrea Horrocks '19 supporting the NHS Collection for Soldiers

School: Emerson College Location: Boston, MA (11 hours from Cleveland) Urban Enrollment: 3,655 undergraduates Strongest Programs: Film/Video Production, Writing/Literature & Publishing, Performing Arts, Journalism, Marketing Fun Facts: Students from Emerson created the iconic "Boston Strong" t-shirt campaign that raised nearly $900,000 within two months for victims of the Boston Marathon attacks. emerson.edu

Seeking Summer Reading Recommendations Parents, the Nazareth Library is looking to generate a list of books exemplifying Empathetic Justice for our summer 2017 reading program. As defined in the Character of a Graduate statement, a student with Empathetic Justice is "devoted to doing justice with compassion and respect for others, she works for systemic change to bring about global equality." If you know of a title that reflects this statement, please email your suggestion and rationale to Instructional Librarian Mrs. Meagan Fowler. The deadline for submission is Friday, January 6. Thank you in advance for your help.

Holiday Hours at the Paw Prints Store As you are making your list, be sure to include some purple and gold items for the Jaguar fans on the list! The Paw Prints Store has new items including winter accessories, Ugly Christmas socks, Ugly Christmas "sweater" sweatshirts, as well as Mom and Dad shirts. Wednesday, December 21: 4-7 p.m.* Tuesday, December 27: 5-8 p.m.** Wednesday, December 28: 9-12 p.m.**

*Last Chance Sale **After Christmas Sale

Sports Highlights Basketball: Jaguars Win Against Hathaway Brown Saint Joseph Academy picked up an important road win on Saturday evening as the Jaguars had big quarters in both the second and fourth periods to post a 38-18 win at Hathaway Brown. The Jaguars were led by an outstanding overall performance from Molly Dever '18. The Junior had teamhighs in points with 15 and rebounds with 19 in the victory. Gia DiMassa '17 added 13 points and connected on three three-pointers in the win. Currently, the Jaguars are 6-1.

Swimming and Diving Makes Waves at Chardon Hilltopper Invitational

Molly Dever '18 against Hathaway Brown

The Swimming and Diving team finished 3rd out of 16 teams in Sunday's Chardon Hilltopper Invitational at Spire Institute. The Jaguars were led by Maddy Kelly '20 who set school records in both the 100 and 200 yard freestyle. Here are Jaguar finishers in the top four in each event. A great showing for the Jags!

Members of the Swimming and Diving Team at the Viking Invitational

3rd Place - 200 yard medley relay (Maddy Kelly '20, Anna Marsick '20, Rachel Strick '17 and Kassidy Gartin '19) 1st Place - 200 yard freestyle (Maddy Kelly - school record) 3rd Place - 50 yard breaststroke (Anna Marsick '20) 1st Place - 100 yard freestyle (Maddy Kelly - school record) 4th Place - 50 yard butterfly (Rachel Strick) 4th Place - 100 yard breaststroke (Paola Camacho Colon '19) 3rd Place - 200 yard freestyle relay (Maddy Kelly, Allison Sheehan '18, Kassidy

Gartin and Rachel Strick) To check out photos or to see schedules for the upcoming week, click here.

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Saint Joseph Academy | 216.251.6788 | www.sja1890.org 3470 Rocky River Drive | Cleveland, OH 44111