1-13-17 Weekly Newsletter

SJA E-NEWS | January 13, 2017 In This Issue Student Spotlight College Corner Reminder About Student Grades 25 Students Honored by The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Fenn Academy Grant Makes Difference for Engineering Students Alumna Shares NASA Experience SJA Poetry Out Loud Contest Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood Celebrate the Academy Scholarship Opportunity Jazzercise Classes Hosted in January SchoolShelf Online Resource Parents, Can You Help Us Meet This Challenge Again?

Save the Date: Special Night for Fathers and Daughters

Parents: At-A-Glance Monday, January 16 Martin Luther King Jr. Day No School, Office Closed

Tuesday, January 17 Winter Concert Band and Orchestra Concert Auditorium, 7-9 p.m.

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

Reminder About Student Grades Saint Joseph Academy believes in empowering young women to achieve academic excellence. In an effort to support your daughter and to assist you in supporting her, midway through the quarter we will be mailing home reports for students who are earning a D or F in any course. If you receive such a report, we encourage you and your daughter to develop a plan with your daughter's teachers, to work toward improving her grade by the time grades close at the end of the quarter (3rd Quarter ends Friday, February 10).

SJA encourages parents and guardians to check on grades regularly and work proactively with your daughter and her teachers to ensure your daughter is achieving her academic best.

As a reminder, all families are able to access their daughters' grades on PowerSchool. If you are unable to access PowerSchool grades, please contact Academic Coordinator Mrs. Angela Altenburger. Thank you for your continued support of SJA and for trusting us to work with your daughter every day.

Sports Highlights

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January 23

25 Students Honored by The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards 25 Art students were recognized by The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, which celebrate student work demonstrating technical skill, personal voice or vision and originality. Click here the students recognized for their work. Congratulations!

Bowling Club Fairview Lanes, 3:30-5:30 p.m.

January 23 Shakespeare Competition, Auditorium, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Student Spotlight

L-R: Gold Key Winners Alexia Alonso '19, Dierdre Patton '19, Renee Senft '18 and Brianna Senkus '17

Fenn Academy Grant Makes Difference for Engineering Students The Fenn Academy's Small Grants Program helps make a significant difference in the educational experience of hundreds of students. The grant provides resources to teachers who have developed creative activities to encourage students to explore engineering careers. Saint Joseph Academy was selected as a recipient for the 2015-16 school year.

Name: Juli Sulzer '18 Accomplishments: Juli started JagsFeed Club this school year "because I've always been a fan of BuzzFeed, as well as film in general. Being behind the camera is a one-of-a-kind experience. It is the best feeling to bring staff, students and faculty together through JagsFeed.

The club has more than 100 members and we spend about 5-6 hours," shared Juli.

Activities & Interests: Juli is involved in the Chess Club, Model United Nations (UN) and Gardening Club.

Her other interests include cooking, film and history.

College Corner

During this timeframe, students created a project which involved a team of SJA Honors Independent Study students that researched the presence of microplastics in Lake Erie. Their preliminary research found that about 80% of the plastics come from beach and boater debris and nearly 15% come from beauty products washed down the drain. Fenn Academy funding supported the students' interest in environmental engineering by contributing to field trip costs for beach clean ups and a visit to Cleveland State University's Washkewicz College of Engineering. At the end of their project, students prepared and shared a public service animation that could be understood by younger students, as well as teens and adults.

We are so proud of our students and teacher Mrs. Mary Ellen Foley Scott '76!

Alumna Shares NASA Experience On Friday, students in English teacher Mrs. Paula Conti's "Women Leading in the 21st Century" class listened to speaker and SJA alumna Mrs. Joyce Brady Dever '83, P'17. Mrs. Dever serves as the Deputy Chief (Acting), Materials & Structures Division (LM) for NASA Glenn Research Center.

The class highlights women leaders through the ages as well as contributions they have made to society. Students develop skills needed to influence both the local and global community for the common good through studying models and theories of leadership, as well as through exposure to female leaders in Northeast Ohio. Guest speakers share their story by discussing the detours along the way, transferrable skills from one profession to the next, support system and education. Click here to read more.

L-R: Mary Simmons '17, Joyce Brady Dever '83, P'17 and Sarah Dever '17

Poetry Out Loud Contest School: Canisius College Location: Buffalo, NY (4 hours from Cleveland)

Last Friday, SJA held its inaugural Poetry Out Loud contest. Poetry Out Loud encourages students to learn about great works of poetry through memorization and recitation. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build selfconfidence and learn about literary history and contemporary life.

Large city Enrollment: 3,400 undergraduates Strongest Programs: Business, Animal Ecology, Education - including Special Education/Autism Research Fun Facts: The campus rests atop a labyrinth of tunnels, so during the bitter cold Western New York winters, students are guaranteed to stay warm as they travel underground! canisius.edu

Seven students performed their memorized poetry.

Mary Simmons '17 received first place in the competition and Karli DeChant '18 was the runnerup.

"I selected 'I felt a Funeral, in my Brain' by Emily Dickinson for the Poetry Out Loud contest. Emily Dickinson is my favorite poet. She uses language in such a masterful way that every piece of hers is a pleasure to read," said Mary Simmons '17.

"I chose this particular poem because I thought it would be a bit of a challenge for me. I did not know this poem as well as some of Dickinson's other poems and wanted to try a piece that I was less familiar with in order to explore my favorite poet's Gabrielle Kim '20 repertoire to a greater extent. To prepare for the participates in the Poetry Out competition, I first memorized the poem using a Loud contest technique I learned in English class. Most of Dickinson's poems, including this one, can be sung to the tune of the beginning of the Gilligan's Island theme song. Once I memorized the poem, I recited it for my family many times and asked for their opinions on how I could improve. My sister, Julie Simmons '13, was able to help me tap into the deep emotions present in the poem," shared Mary Simmons.

Untangled Presentation: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood Please join the New York Times bestselling author Dr. Lisa Damour, Ph.D., on Thursday, February 2 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Saint Joseph Academy in the Auditorium for a special parent presentation entitled "Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions in Adulthood."

Dr. Lisa Damour, Ph.D

Dr. Damour's discussion will highlight why confusing and challenging teenage behavior is often predictable and normal, developmental transitions that turn girls into grown-ups and how to form a happier, healthier relationship with your daughter.

Admission is free. Click here to register. Please RSVP by Thursday, January 26.

Questions? Email School Counselor Mrs. Adriane Hicks.

Celebrate the Academy!

Join fellow members of the SJA community to "Celebrate the Academy" on Saturday, February 25 at SJA for the annual gala to benefit academic initiatives and scholarships. This year's theme is "All That Glitters is Purple & Gold."

Event chairs are John & Andrea Ham P'18, Michael and Lisa Adkins Lonsway '84, P'18 and Patrick and Camille Sheehan P'18.

"Celebrate the Academy" begins with cocktails and a silent auction at 6 p.m.

Dinner, followed by a live auction, starts at 7 p.m. For more information or to buy tickets, click here.

How else can you help? Wine is needed for our popular wine pull! We are hoping to have at least 100 bottles of wine valued at $25 or more. For more information on "Celebrate the Academy" or to coordinate donating a bottle of wine, please contact Mrs. Carolyn Novak '06 at 216.251.6788 x224.

Scholarship Opportunity

Incoming Freshmen-Seniors are eligible to apply for the James E. Flynn Memorial Scholarship, supporting Catholic education in the Diocese of Cleveland. Five $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to students entering the Class of 2021 through the Class of 2017.

Students must be members of Unity Catholic Federal Credit Union. If you or your daughter is already a member, please submit this scholarship application by Saturday, April 1, 2017 for an opportunity to win.

Questions? Please contact College Counselor Ms. Maria Mueller.

Jazzercise Classes Hosted in January The Wellness Curriculum helps promote the health and wellness of our students through education, speakers, spiritual reflection and fitness activities, which is a priority for SJA. This January, students have been the opportunity to participate in a new wellness activity, Jazzercise, taught by instructor Mrs. Lisa Sherrard P'20. Classes will be held every Tuesday in January. Click here to read more on this new class taught at SJA. "The Wellness Curriculum has encouraged me to become more involved and try new things. If it were not for the Wellness Curriculum, I would have never experienced the bliss of Jin Shin Jyutsu, peaceful mandala coloring sessions, inspiring nutritionist speakers or the vibrant Jazzercise class I attended," stated Kristin Nauman '18. Click here to read more on this new class taught at SJA.

SchoolShelf Online Resource The Guidance and Counseling Department would like to introduce SJA parents and guardians to an online resource library recently added to the Guidance resource webpage. SchoolShelf contains the entire line of Woodburn Press booklets and Information Guides. SchoolShelf is written by educators with many years of experience in education. The resources found on SchoolShelf are packed with helpful tips and information on subjects important to all students and parents.

Adding the electronic version of these brochures will allow you and your daughter to have access to this information at any time. The following topics are available: Academic Success: Organization, Study Skills, Test Taking, Time Management Parent Involvement: Academic Support, Transitions, Planning for College Student Success: Transitions, Getting Involved, The Social Scene, Bullying College Preparation: Preparing for College, Admissions, Testing, Financial Aid Career Planning: Career Exploration, Education Choices, Preparing for College Log into the school website and you can access the link via the Guidance Resource Board.

Questions? Please contact School Counselor | Department Chair Ms. Maryann Marek.

Parents, Can You Help Us Meet This Challenge Again?

As SJA parents, we know that you realize how vital it is in today's challenging world that your children receive an education in a faith-filled, empowering and nurturing environment. You can help continue the mission of Saint Joseph Academy. A generous benefactor has offered us $25,000 to mount the third annual Parent Participation Challenge. Parents are being challenged to make a minimum gift of $25 to the Annual Fund in gratitude for the opportunities being provided at the Academy for their daughters. If at least 25 percent of our current parents make a commitment, the Academy will receive $25,000 to support our incredible students.

We met this challenge last year, so we know that Saint Joseph Academy parents are an amazing and generous group of people. We see the proof in your daughters each day. Please support the challenge today by clicking here.

Save the Date: Father Daughter Dance, March 4 Celebrate that special bond between fathers and daughters on Saturday, March 4, at the annual Father/Daughter Dance. The dance is open to all grade levels and will be held at Brennan's Party Center, 13000 Triskett Road, 6-11 p.m.

The evening includes dinner, dessert and beverages. Entertainment will be provided by a DJ and there will be a photo booth to preserve the night's memories.

Ticket information will be available soon.

For questions or to volunteer at the event, please contact Annemarie Rajinicek P'18, '20.

Sports Highlights Basketball The Jaguars scored a season-high 73 points and after a close first quarter, rolled to a 73-54 win over visiting Cleveland Central Catholic. The win moves the Jaguars to 10-1 in the season, as SJA extended its winning streak to eight straight games.

The Jaguars had six players score seven or more points in the shootout win. They were led by Colleen Neitzel '18, Molly Neitzel '19 and Molly Dever '18 with 10. These three Jaguars also led the team in rebounds as Colleen Neitzel pulled down 11 boards, Dever had nine and Molly Neitzel finished with seven.

Molly Neitzel '19

The Jaguar varsity basketball team lost their first game since November 30 as the Jaguars fell 46-44 in a close game on the road at Cleveland Heights on Wednesday.

Swimming The swimming and diving team finished 8th on Saturday, January 7 at the Orange Invitational. The Jaguar swimmers had several strong showings in their heats, advancing them to the finals of their events.

Brittany Miller '18 finished in 5th in the diving competition.

To check out photos or to see schedules for the upcoming week, click here.

Brittany Miller '18 at the Orange Invitational

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