The Shield Spring 2021

Nonprofit Org.

Saint Mary’s Hall

Volume XVI, Issue I – Spring 2021

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A Legacy of Perseverance

Saint Mary’s Hall has a large reserve of historical photos. In each issue of The Shield, we will include an unidentified photo and ask for your help in identifying the individuals in the photo and what they’re doing. If you know any of these people or have any information about the occasion, please write us at editor@smhall.org or at 9401 Starcrest Drive, San Antonio, TX 78217. Thank you for helping us archive part of SMH history!

Volume XVI, Issue I – Spring 2021

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saintmaryshall

@smhallsa

@smhallsa/@smh_barons

A Publication of Saint Mary’s Hall

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | p.26 Justice Sonya Sotomayor “Virtually” Speaks at SMH | p.44 Remembering Peggy Pitman Mays ’53 | p.50

A Message from the Editor, The year 2020 was fraught with events that seemed hard to understand or overcome. As we looked for a theme for this issue of The Shield, the same words kept echoing in my mind: uncertainty, change, challenges, strength, grit, and perseverance.

We began to think about how our ancestors dealt with the seismic shifts in their world. As a history lover, I knew examples of resilience in the face of uncertainty existed. But, how did that relate to us and our school? I began to listen to the stories (and research) stories of how for more than 140 years, the students, faculty, and parents of Saint Mary’s Hall had overcome many challenges to morph into a school whose legacy is about perseverance and change for the better.

In one of the only written historical accounts we have of our school, Saint Mary’s Hall: First Century by Kemper Diehl, we found several examples we thought would be interesting to highlight:

• May 1900 - A cyclone hit downtown San Antonio, near the SMH

Prepare

Wolfe Hall Campus. Though the students were terrified, everyone was safe and Saint Mary’s Hall sustained minor damage … losing chimneys and electricity!

Play!

• October 1903 - San Antonio was in the middle of a

To

yellow fever outbreak. A teacher was found to be suffering from the fever. The teacher and students were quarantined, and no one else in the school contracted yellow fever.

• May 1918 – Due to debts and a dropping enrollment caused by World War I, the Diocesan School Board agreed to close Saint Mary’s Hall for the remainder of the war; however, with some help from a local businessman, SMH reopened in September 1918.

REGISTER ONLINE AT

• 1918 - Reports indicate, due to influenza epidemics, Saint

smhall.org/summer

Mary’s Hall closed twice during that school year.

Saint Mary’s Hall seniors study outdoors circa 1946 during the era of the Polio epidemic.

• May 1946 – A polio epidemic hit San Antonio causing city officials to request that area schools close. One student recounts that they were told to “pack up anything we had at the school and to go home – no more school for that year.”

Thus, this issue is titled, A Legacy of Perseverance. In this edition, we salute the Class of 2020, we highlight our new leadership, and we champion our hard-working teachers. Our featured section on p.28 includes Head of School Len Miller’s perspective on navigating the challenges of 2020. It also delves into personal accounts from our school community on how they have persevered and found the grit to innovate and succeed in these challenging times. As always, we look to the continued accomplishments of our students in Around the Hall, and highlight our exceptional alumni.

We hope you enjoy this issue and find inspiration in these accounts of courage and resilience. We were moved by the resulting stories, and believe that we will indeed persevere together.

Sincerely, Elizabeth (Liz) A. Thompson Director of Marketing and Communications

ACADEMICS

May 24 — July 30

FINE ARTS

10 WEEKS OF

ATHLETICS

SUMMER FUN! FOR AGES 3 -18

ENRICHMENT

Table of Contents

Special Notes – p. 2

A Legacy of Perseverance – p. 28

Around the Hall – p. 44

Alumni – p. 50

About The Shield The Shield is a publication of Saint Mary’s Hall in San Antonio, Texas, and is published twice annually for parents, alumni, and friends of the school. We would like to thank parents, students, faculty, and staff for contributing information used throughout the magazine. If you have any questions or comments about The Shield, or if you would like to submit an idea or information for a future issue, please contact us at editor@smhall.org.

On the cover: Saint Mary’s Hall has stood steadfast for more than 140 years, weathering many historical challenges.

The school still thrives today while navigating these uncertain times due to the pandemic.The pictures on the cover of The Shield are a snapshot of the many exciting and engaging social, academic, athletic, and fine arts opportunities and happenings occurring on our campus daily.

Editor Elizabeth (Liz) A. Thompson Assistant Editor Brance D. Arnold Graphic Design Robot Creative Photography Kemp Davis JP Gibson Robin Jerstad

Saint Mary’s Hall is a private, coeducational, college preparatory school and admits students of any race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or national/ethnic origin.

Sarah Visagie

Head of Middle School

We welcomed some new members to the Saint Mary’s Hall family this summer and two of them serve in key, administrative roles at our school. Head of Middle School Sarah Visagie and Assistant Head of School for Advancement Jim Bob Womack officially joined our ranks on July 1, 2020. Now that they have served in their respective roles for several months, we caught up with them to learn about their experiences at SMH and how their vision and efforts have made our great school even greater.

Q: A:

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voted on council leaders, held Bennet and Bailey sorting, and athletics had skill and drills for fall sports. Dance has continued, and students are showing great spirit!

Please share a bit about how your experience as head of Middle School has been.

I work with the most amazing, energetic, fun, and hardworking team of colleagues, both administrators and faculty. This has definitely been a learning curve, as one might expect when entering a new school, but even more so with a pandemic. I could not imagine working with a better community.

How has the transition and adjustment been for the Middle School considering the challenging times we are in due to COVID-19?

I am really proud of our division for adjusting during the pandemic. It has not stopped us from doing the important things. In addition to the stellar ways faculty have made their respective curriculum fun and engaging, we went ahead and

2 | Saint Mary’s Hall

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How do you help nurture and maintain positivity and a sense of community with your students, faculty, and staff during these uncertain times?

I think one of my greatest strengths is my positive attitude, outlook, and energy. I smile a lot, and think it catches on to others. I always have an ear if a teacher or student has an idea; I want to help them see it through. There are a lot of great ideas in the Middle School! We started this year with having announcements on Mondays and Chapel on Wednesdays, which bring our division together twice a week. That was a great way to build community from day one - everyone is important!

Special Notes

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How has it been to have students back on campus and in the classrooms as part of our Hybrid learning?

I LOVE having students back on campus. There is laughter all around. I love the noise (most of it) and seeing happy students walking by my window.

However, I know that coming on campus is not possible for all our students, so I am just as glad to see my virtual learners on Zoom.

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What is your favorite part about serving as the head of Middle School?

My favorite part is that I can support such a great community of educators and learners in what is the toughest time for many students - adolescence.

What is most rewarding for me is being able to lead, collaborate with, and support such an amazing division.

What have you found to be your biggest hurdle or challenge since serving in your role?

I think one of the biggest hurdles has been finding time. There are always the “beginning of school” items, but that along with having to navigate schooling during a pandemic from schedule to protocols has been hard. I would love to spend more time walking around, going into classes, and visiting with students.

Since we last interviewed, you shared some hopes and goals. Can you talk a little about how some of those have been met or are coming to fruition?

I think it was to create a place where faculty and students felt listened to and supported to think outside the box and try new ideas. I think we are achieving this! You haven’t’ seen anything from Middle School yet; we have just started!

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Can you speak to how your daughter’s experience has been as a student at SMH so far? What do you believe is her favorite part about being an SMH student?

It wasn’t until September 28 that she was able to be with her whole class in school. She is a people person and missed out on “being” with her friends.

However, one day when she arrived a little late and I took her into class, the excitement from her classmates when she walked in was amazing! She has begun to find her niche. I think, actually I know, her favorite part of school is the playground! Yep the words of a true Form 1 student!

Is there anything you would like to share with our readers?

I would like to add that I appreciate our parents.

I have found them to be supportive. They have been patient as we carefully opened school again to an environment that is thriving despite the pandemic. Constantly, parents who have been virtual are asking for their children to return to on-campus learning because of the safety measures we put in place.

QUICK FACTS • Current Role: Head of Middle School • Previous Role: Middle School Director at The Pine School

• Education: Bachelor of Arts from Bates College in Maine and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Columbia University’s Klingenstein Center for Independent School Leadership

• Family: Husband Chris and their two children: Tanya ’32 and Hunter (2 years old)

The Shield | 3

Jim Bob Womack Assistant Head of School for Advancement

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Please share a bit about how your experience as assistant head of school for advancement has been.

Overall, it’s been a phenomenal transition, and one that I’ve been so excited to make. At the same time, it’s provided me new challenges and opportunities for growth in a new community.

How has the transition and adjustment been for the Office of Community Engagement (OCE) team and its important role in advancing the school, especially considering COVID-19?

What I love about the work we do with community engagement is that independent schools are built around relationships. Obviously, it’s the amazing things that happen in the classroom, but it’s really the relationships that are taking place between faculty, students, advisors, staff, parents, and alumni. Everyone on our team is really charged with building and fostering those relationships.We get to be a part of that and help create opportunities for people to engage within the community; that is more important now than ever.

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How do you help nurture and maintain positivity and a sense of community with your colleagues and even students?

I’m a pretty optimistic and positive person by nature, but I certainly think one of our missions as educators is to always maintain hope. I’m excited to be here, to meet new people, and help lead the school in the best way I can. I’m taking every opportunity to get to know students, be there for them, and actively engaged on campus.

How has it been for you to see students and colleagues back on campus as part of our Hybrid learning?

There’s something special about being on campus.

Being together in person is what best cultivates relationships and that’s what we’re built around.

What is your favorite part about serving as the assistant head of school for advancement?

I think it is just having the opportunity to be part of a special community, to see a school with fresh eyes, and to have a love and passion for SMH in just

Special Notes

Q: A:

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a short amount of time. Education matters to me.

Getting to be part of a place that’s special and what I see as a noble profession is very rewarding to me.

What have you found to be your biggest hurdle or challenge since serving in your role?

After 141 years of history, it’s almost impossible to know in a short amount of time everything that makes SMH special and everything people love about it. I want to know all of those great things, but it takes time; that’s just the nature of it.

A:

Is there anything you would like to share with our readers?

It is important to help a senior from the Class of 2021 see that they’re connected to someone who graduated in, say 1989, and that they’re going to be connected to someone who graduates in 2070. If we can help them realize the connection they share and really build what it means to be part of that long purple line, we have an opportunity to foster something special together.

What are some of your hopes and goals for SMH and the OCE Department?

QUICK FACTS

The opportunity that most people identified as I was coming in was the idea of building our community connection, and that’s through our parents and our alumni, which is something I am very excited to be a part of. I think we’ve got tremendous opportunity where we can do so much with our alumni, to engage them, keep them connected to the school, and really find ways for them to impact SMH well beyond their time as students. I’m hoping we can continue to foster that experience.

• Current Role: Assistant Head of

Q: Can you speak to how your children’s

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School for Advancement

• Previous Role: Director of

Development at St. Mark’s School of Texas (also his alma mater)

• Education: Bachelor of Arts in

Advertising from Pepperdine University

• Family: Wife Sarah and four children: Braydon (age 20), Bo ’28, Layne ’31, and Sloane ’33.

experience has been as students at SMH so far? What do you believe is their favorite part about being a student here?

It’s really fun to see our teachers through my kids’ eyes. I’ve been able to witness what I would call pure joy from all three children. It’s hard to be new, but what I’ve seen is teachers who are there, who are present, have love for them, and care for them.

They’re building them up and they’re challenging them. From their classmates, they’ve seen a real openness to get to know them and welcome them into the community.

The Shield | 5

SAINT MARY’S HALL

WELCOMES NEW TRUSTEES Saint Mary’s Hall is honored to have a Board of Trustees whose steadfast belief of our school has been instrumental in keeping our mission. We are grateful for the active participation of the members of the Board of Trustees. They are volunteers, who work tirelessly to support the SMH community.

With their guidance, our school is positioned as a vibrant and relevant educational leader dedicated to upholding values that are the foundation and core of who we are.

In May of 2020, four trustees completed their service as board members. On behalf of Saint Mary’s Hall and the Board of Trustees, we thank them for their many year of service; our school is a better place because of their dedication and commitment to supporting the mission of our school.

• Omar Alvarez – Served from 2017 to 2020 • Kathleen LeFlore – Served from 2007 to 2020 • Aimee Locke ’89 – Served from 2014 to 2020 • Allison Zeller – Served from 2014 to 2020

Thank You We also said goodbye to Dr. Ronald (Ron) K. Calgaard, who served on the Saint Mary’s Hall Board of Trustees from 1989-2007. He was also a trustee emeritus from 2007 until his passing in 2020. During his years of service and beyond, he was a remarkable and generous friend of our school.

6 | Saint Mary’s Hall

Special Notes

Get to Know Our New Board of Trustees Members We also welcomed three new members to the Board of Trustees. We invite you to read about this impressive group, who continue to help guide our school.

2020-2021 Board of Trustees Mr. Curtis T. Vaughan III * Chair

Dr. Houston Frost ’99 is a senior vice president at Usio, Inc. (Payment Data Systems).

In 2014, Payment Data Systems acquired Akimbo Financial, Inc., where Houston had served as founder, president, and chief executive officer. Previously, Houston worked in New York as an associate at JPMorgan in the Fixed-Income Strategy team during the 2008 credit crisis. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Ph.D. in Chemical and Biological Engineering from Northwestern University, where his research focused on computational modeling of nonporous materials. Houston has served on the Saint Mary’s Hall Investment Committee since 2018. He was honored with the SMH Alumni Momentum Award in 2016.

Emily Jones has been a volunteer and supporter of several SMH activities including the New Family Mentor Program and the Parent Ambassador Program. In addition to her service to SMH, Emily is currently chairman of the board of Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children and she serves on the Executive Committee of the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Foundation Board.

She was the deputy director and chief operating officer of the San Antonio Museum of Art and recently served as a trustee of the Texas Biomedical Forum. Emily received a Bachelor of Arts cum laude from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Business Administration from The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business. Emily and her husband Brad are the parents of three daughters: Eleanor ’25, Meryl ’27, and Wynne ’29.

Mr. Ricardo R. Reyna * Vice Chair Mr. Edward H. Austin Jr. Trustee Emeritus Dr. Muralidhar Beeram Mr. Kenneth Bethune ’01 Alumni Advisory Council President Mrs. Elise R. Boyan Mrs. Carla Alvarez Brozovich ’01 * Assistant Secretary Mr. Anatolio B. Cruz III * Treasurer Mrs. Katherine E. David ’96 Dr. Houston K. Frost ’99 Mr. Ronald J. Herrmann Trustee Emeritus Mrs. Karen J. Hixon Trustee Emerita Mrs. Emily M. Jones Mr. David N. Kelleher * Assistant Secretary Mr. James T. Kniestedt Mrs. Connie McCombs McNab Trustee Emerita Dr. Soad L. Michelsen

Dr. Soad Michelsen is a Board Certified Child, Adolescent, and Adult psychiatrist; medical director of Outpatient Services at San Antonio Behavioral Healthcare Hospital; assistant professor of Psychiatry at the University of the Incarnate Word; and adjunct assistant professor of the Department of Psychiatry UT Health San Antonio. She has great commitment to providing psychiatric care as well as community education pertaining to children’s mental health. Dr. Michelsen has participated in many SMH programs and educational activities associated with the school’s wellness program. She received her Doctor of Medicine and a Master of Health Administration from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, and a degree in General Psychiatry as well as a degree in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry from The University of Texas at San Antonio. Dr. Michelsen and her husband, Dr. Joe Hernandez III, are proud parents of SMH student Sofia ’29 and twin sons, David and Daniel.

Mrs. Whitney Solcher Miller ’97 * Assistant Secretary Mr. Christopher J. Pettit Mrs. Emilie H. Petty ’01 Dr. Benjamin E. Tubb Mr. Jeffrey M. Vance ’87 Mrs. Karen Lee Zachry * Secretary

* Officers of the Board of Trustees

The Shield | 7

CLASS OF 2020 Says Farewell to SMH

139th Saint Mary’s Hall Commencement & Diploma Conveyance May 22, 2020 (Virtual) and June 6, 2020 On May 22, a total of 88 seniors from the Class of 2020 officially graduated from Saint Mary’s Hall during a virtual Commencement Ceremony. They then received their diplomas during a Diploma Conveyance Ceremony on June 6.

Commencement & Diploma Conveyance Speakers Jonathan Eades Former Head of School Curtis Vaughan (Commencement only) Board of Trustees Chair Brent Spicer Head of Upper School Sophie Silva Senior Class President

Longevity Award Affectionately known as “Lifers,” this award is presented each year to students who have attended Saint Mary’s Hall for 12 or more years.

16 YEARS

14 YEARS

Paris Johnson

Ethan Acevedo Lucia Canseco Sarah Dickerson Emma Gunnin Sam Hernandez Corina Zarate

15 YEARS Hunter Allen Sloane Basse Grace Boyan Alex Curry Nikki Curry Stella Markey Alexandra Owings Nico Papay Isabel Sala Sophie Silva Raj Talukdar Cooper Terry Max Terry

13 YEARS John Bourland Kelsie Westmoreland

12 YEARS Jay Paliwal Anisha Patibandla Rylan Schendel

We have officially made it to our graduation and I now know that the Class of 2020 can make it through anything. We represent a generation of students who will inevitably turn hardship into success. Everyone here will make their own impact on the world around them, as we are the change-makers who will embrace the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Sophie Silva (pictured left) (excerpt from her Commencement speech)

Special Notes

School Awards The Upper School faculty awarded the Bishop’s Christian Citizenship Cup to Molly Byrd (pictured right) for demonstrating a Christian attitude and influence in all aspects of life.

The Jamie Armstrong Bennett Award was presented to former Head of Middle School and Dean of Academics Sam Hamilton for her significant contribution to the life of the school and exemplifying the qualities valued by the school’s founders.

Medal Recipients ENGLISH Mafer Benavides

SCIENCE John Bourland

FINE ARTS Media Arts - Lucia Canseco Performing Arts - Shilpa Gunuganti Visual Arts - Nikki Curry

WORLD LANGUAGES Stella Markey

HISTORY AND SOCIAL SCIENCES Shilpa Gunuganti MATH John Bourland

Class of 2020 by the Numbers

$

in Merit-Based College Scholarships

5

National Merit Finalists

2

National Merit Scholars

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD Mia Sabom

88 Graduates

10.5

MILLION

MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD Dane Huggins (pictured left)

52

Colleges & Universities Attended

69% Admitted to Top-Choice University or College

13,000 Community Service Hours

10 National Hispanic Scholars The Shield | 9

CLASS OF 2020

SAINT MARY’S HALL

University of Utah Sydney Ulmer

University of Denver Hunter Allen

University of Colorado at Boulder Alex Curry Juliana Czar Dane Huggins Nico Papay

Colorado School of Mines Caleb Miller

Texas A&M University Corpus Christi Dawson Smith

St. Mary’s University Ethan Acevedo Lucia Saks

Southern Methodist University Emily Garrett Cardo Gutierrez

Palo Alto College Catalina Barrera

Baylor University Natalie Straight

University of California, San Diego Paris Johnson

University of California, Los Angeles Claudia Danysh Sophie Silva

University of California, Irvine Alexandra Owings

University of California, Berkeley Troy Cervantes

Scripps College Stella Markey

Pomona College Sam Hernandez

Chapman University Wilson Jones

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Melena Nikmaram

The Shield | 12

Trinity University Darian Stewart

Texas Christian University Sloane Basse Lucia Canseco Max Terry

Texas A&M University Weston Bohne Thomas Garrett Emma Gunnin Jake Marshall Zach Powell

University of The Incarnate Word Molly Byrd Aryan Kapoor

The University of Texas at Austin Sarah Dickerson Joy Ding Caroline Hale Ana Lacau Yash Pamar Shane Rybacki Mia Sabom Drew Stewart Nicholas Trujillo Sophie Velez JD Walls Corina Zarate

University of Tulsa Nate Alfonsin

Tulane University Mafer Benavides Sofia Gutierrez Emma Matthews Jay Paliwal

New York University Kate Ayers Rylan Schendel

Cornell University Elizabeth Fowler

Barnard College Grace Boyan

University of Missouri, Honors College Jillian Spicer

University of Miami Cooper Terry

Indiana University, Bloomington Javier Hernandez University of Notre Dame Aidan Campbell

University of Chicago Sam Eckert

Northwestern University Victoria Kim Isaac Miller

Washington & Lee University Lily Miggins Kelsie Westmoreland

George Mason University Tristan Cantu

University of St. Andrews (Scotland) Tori Newman-Menendez

Gap Year (Costa Rica) Polly Powers

Carleton University (Canada) Isabella Sanchez

Savannah College of Art & Design Nikki Curry

Georgia Military College Felicia Early

Clemson University Ellie Anderson

Duke University Claudia Espy Raj Talukdar

Maryland Institute College of Art Sofia Prestigiacomo

Johns Hopkins University Angelo Huff

Georgetown University Anisha Patibandla

Wesleyan University Trey Plante

Connecticut College Isabel Sala

Harvard University John Bourland Shilpa Gunuganti

Emerson College Natalia Zambrano

Dartmouth College Elizabeth Adams Marguerite Morgan

American University Caroline Largoza Samantha Smith

St. John’s University Zoe Ramon

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Avery Eugster Ben Eugster

SAINT MARY’S HALL

Celebrates and Upholds Honored Tradition

FOUNDERS’ DAY

Saint Mary’s Hall has many rich traditions holding special meaning and significance to the school community.

The school celebrated one of those honored traditions on November 19. Despite the current challenges, SMH was still able to successfully and safely hold Founders’ Day on campus virtually.

A number of trustees, faculty, staff, and seniors attended, with 6-ft. distance between seats and masks worn for safety. The rest of the student body and faculty watched the streamed event from their classrooms and homes.

This unique event recognizes a person or family whose faith, vision, and determination have made

12 | Saint Mary’s Hall

a lasting impact on the school. Though we did not have an honoree this year, we carried this tradition forward with an official installation of Head of School Len Miller and the presentation of our Master Teacher Awards. Special commemorative bells were made for the community to ring in acknowledgement of Mr. Miller and the Master Teacher Award recipients as they were honored.

“Given the challenges this year. Given this moment.

I believe we are stronger. We are bound together in common purpose. We are guided by values we hold dear. Thank you for this opportunity to serve you in the best way that I can,” said Mr. Miller. “I want every member of this community to feel that deep sense of belonging that elicits pride in this institution that our founders undoubtedly felt over the storied history of this great school.”

Special Notes

In addition to the installation, Mr. Miller presented the Master Teacher Awards to four deserving faculty members. The 2020-2021 Master Teachers are Social Studies and Science Teacher Mary Scherrer (Lower School), Prentice Huntington Miller & Reid Huntington Miller Endowed Chair of World Languages and Cultures Laura Renard (Middle School), Ruth McLean Bowman Bowers Master Chair in History Bret Bigelow (Upper School), and 2D Drawing and Design Teacher Logan Blanco (At-Large, Upper School). Read about this year’s Master Teachers starting on p.14.

We stand steadfast in upholding our most dear traditions. Even in these uncertain times, SMH strives to celebrate those moments together as a unified community.

Presentation of Gifts Mr. Miller received the following tokens of appreciation, representing the community’s excitement for him to join the SMH family and to honor his new role as head of school:

On behalf of the alumni and parent community, Carla Brozovich ’01 presented a compass, representing the important role Mr. Miller plays in guiding the school into the future. Additionally, Board Chair Curtis Vaughan presented a lapel pin with the Saint Mary’s Hall crest, celebrating Mr. Miller’s new role as head of school.

On behalf of the faculty, Upper School Social Studies Teacher Adrian Viccellio presented the collected papers of Architect Frederick Law Olmsted, serving as a reminder of Mr. Miller’s ongoing journey as a lifelong learner, scholar, practitioner, and teacher-leader.

On behalf of the students, senior Max Rosenbloom ’21 presented a duffle bag filled with SMH spirit wear for both Mr. Miller and his wife, Penny, welcoming them as Barons and acknowledging Mr. and Mrs. Miller will be cheering students on in the classroom, at performances, and from the sidelines.

Special Notes

The true foundation of every great school is its teachers. No school ever exceeds the quality of its faculty. At Saint Mary’s Hall, we recognize the important role that our teachers play in our community, and we annually honor four deserving teachers (one from each division and an at-large recipient) for their outstanding contributions to our school.

Master Teacher

MARY SCHERRER LOWER SCHOOL

Lower School Teacher Mary Scherrer has not always been a teacher in her current subject, and last year she had the courage to step into a new role.

She has done a phenomenal job of evaluating and restructuring the curriculum.

Mrs. Scherrer’s lessons are creative, fun, and engaging.

She has even been known to hand out M & M’s to her students.

She cares deeply about her students, and is described as “dedicated” and makes social studies and science exciting. One student said, “When I knew I would have her, I was dancing in my seat. She taught me to have fun every step of the way. I am so thankful to have her.” Another student wrote, “One thing that I remember about her the most is when I broke my arm. She made sure that I was doing my very best when I worked at home. She even came to my house and brought cards from our entire class. I have never seen someone who has such dedication and joy while working with her students.”

Head of Lower School Khristi Bates shared, “Mrs. Scherrer embodies the Saint Mary’s Hall core values. She has the integrity to do what is right and believes in doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. Because of her integrity, she has earned the respect of colleagues, students, and parents.

She believes in the ability of each of her students to grow, mature, and thrive.”

Mrs. Scherrer is a shining example of what it means to be a Saint Mary’s Hall Master Teacher. Her dedication, innovation, and knowledge has influenced so many students.

QUICK FACTS • Current Role: Form 3 Social Studies/ Science Teacher

• At SMH Since: 2007 • Education: Bachelor of Science - Texas A&M University and Master of Education - The University of Texas at San Antonio

I LOVE SAINT MARY’S HALL BECAUSE as an educator I have the freedom to teach to my strengths and the flexibility to meet the needs of my students. The campus is beautiful, the facilities are top-notch, the parents are involved and supportive, and the students are eager to learn. Teachers are encouraged to be lifelong learners and to explore new methods and strategies to help our children to be ready for what lies ahead in our ever changing world.

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Special Notes

Special Notes

Master Teacher

LAURA RENARD MIDDLE SCHOOL

Whether it is teaching students a song, visiting South America using Virtual Reality technology, or making cultural food, Spanish Teacher Laura Renard’s lessons are interactive, thoughtful, and fun.

Mrs. Renard has been described as someone who deeply cares about students. She often shows her support by attending events they are participating in such as athletic competitions, plays, or concerts.

Mrs. Renard is a natural leader and a positive influence to those around her.

Among the many wonderful comments from her students, the words “caring” and “compassionate” seem to rise to the top. One of Mrs. Renard’s former students wrote, “She has helped me improve my Spanish-speaking abilities by going at a learning pace that is fast, but not too fast. After all, learning a language can take a while. She also has very fun learning techniques that help the information to stick.”

Mrs. Renard is also always willing to help whether it is with a new idea, an activity, or just lending an ear. Another shared, “She is an outstanding leader, and is passionate about Spanish. She always has the student’s best interest in mind!”

Mrs. Renard took on the role of chair of the World Languages & Cultures Department in 2018, and her impact has already been felt. Her leadership, in addition to her love of teaching and her connection with students, make her the embodiment of a Saint Mary’s Hall Master Teacher.

QUICK FACTS • Current Role: Reid Huntington Miller Endowed Chair in World Languages & Cultures and Middle School Spanish Teacher • At SMH Since: 2015 • Education: Bachelor of Arts - Franklin & Marshall College and Master of Arts Middlebury College

I LOVE SAINT MARY’S HALL BECAUSE it is a supportive community where learning is valued both in and out of the classroom. It is a joy to help my students continue to develop a passion for the Spanish language and culture, as their enthusiasm for the subject makes my job that much more fun. Additionally, my colleagues are some of the best teachers I’ve encountered, and I love working with them!

The Shield | 19

Master Teacher

BRET BIGELOW UPPER SCHOOL

Upper School Social Studies Teacher Bret Bigelow is a respected teacher and leader. His classes often go beyond the typical lecture and include information that allow students to make connections to lesser-known facts, giving students the ability to see a more global perspective.

Mr. Bigelow has also worked hard to introduce learning opportunities such as National History Day, the use of Virtual Reality to study history, or inviting special speakers to campus.

His impact is evident to students and parents alike.

One parent shared, “This teacher has had an enormous impact on my son’s love of history this year. He has been such an encouragement to him personally to go above and beyond his personal best in all his class work, projects, and tests. His enthusiasm for history is contagious and he has made a tremendous positive impact on my son’s growth as a student and leader.”

One student said, “This was my first year at Saint Mary’s Hall, and this teacher accepted me into the SMH family since my first day on campus. I have always enjoyed this subject, and am grateful for my time in this classroom and all of the lessons I was taught this year.”

Not only does Mr. Bigelow teach social studies, he is the chair of the Social Studies Department. He has the ability to encourage students to have a global perspective, and this is just one of the reasons why he was chosen as a Saint Mary’s Hall Master Teacher.

QUICK FACTS • Current Role: Ruth McLean Bowman

Bowers Master Chair in History and Social Studies Teacher

• At SMH Since: 2008 • Education: Bachelor of Arts - Trinity University and Master of Arts - The University of Texas at San Antonio

I LOVE SAINT MARY’S HALL BECAUSE the small class sizes allow me to work with students individually while incorporating more projects and small group activities.

20 | Saint Mary’s Hall

Special Notes

Special Notes

Master Teacher

LOGAN BLANCO

AT-LARGE: UPPER SCHOOL Art Teacher Logan Blanco is in a constant state of learning, and is passionate about sharing new ideas and experiences with students and colleagues.

He has been described as “innovative, caring, and inspirational.”

Many of his students appreciate that he gives them the ability to explore their dreams and vision. One of his students summarized this best when she wrote, “He has been the most impactful teacher during my time at SMH. He truly cares for his students and is always excited to teach. His desire to share his profound knowledge of art speaks to his students and inspires me to push my investigations and understanding of the contemporary art world.”

One colleague poignantly stated, “It may seem unusual for a Form 3 teacher to nominate an Upper School art teacher but I do so from a place of both inspiration and awe. This teacher finds ways to connect every division, every student, and every content to his classroom and brings the beauty of art to our campus in innovative ways. I am a better teacher because of him.”

Mr. Blanco’s ability to inspire, mentor, and connect to his students and colleagues is amazing. He is truly the epitome of a Saint Mary’s Hall Master Teacher.

QUICK FACTS • Current Role: 2D Drawing and Design • At SMH Since: 2014 • Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts - The University of Texas at San Antonio and Master of Fine Arts - Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

I LOVE SAINT MARY’S HALL BECAUSE the professionalism, first and foremost, is exceptional. The reason I love teaching here is because of the autonomy to explore ideas within my discipline, and Saint Mary’s Hall supports me fully in this. I am also impressed with the professional development opportunities for teachers.

The Shield | 23

SAINT MARY’S HALL

LEGACY SOCIETY HONORS TENURED FACULTY AND STAFF

Each year, Saint Mary’s Hall inducts our retiring faculty and staff members who have been with our community for 25 years or more into the Legacy Society. Unfortunately, in our last issue of The Shield, some of our beloved faculty and staff were mistakenly left off the list. Because we love and appreciate all of our faculty and staff, we wanted to reprint the full and correct list. Take a look at our Legacy Society members …

MORE THAN 38 YEARS OF SERVICE! 46 Donna Inscore 1974 - 2020 Lower School Teacher

44 Eleanor Sarratt 1934 - 1978 Teacher, Lower School & Montessori Head

38

38 Mary Jo Crowe 1970 - 2008 English Teacher

38

Katherine Fischer

Amy Hetrick

1929 - 1967 Business Office Staff

1981 - 2019 Lower School Teacher

Special Notes

LaRue Conlon | 1944 - 1971 Music Teacher & Head of Music Department Lorraine Horner | 1947 - 1972 Lower School Teacher Isabelle Redfield | 1945 - 1972 French Teacher & French Department Head Anne R. Flood | 1946 - 1974 Business Manager Ruth Helms | 1954 - 1984 Chemistry Teacher Deje Swain | 1970 - 1997 Drama, Voice & Music Teacher Judy Wilson | 1972 - 2001 Spanish Teacher, Asst. Head of Lower School & Lower School Dean of Students Jean Littleton | 1979 - 2004 Psychology Teacher & Department Head of Guidance and Counseling Bunny Matthews | 1979 - 2005 Piano Teacher Suzanne Weaver | 1980 - 2005 Director of Montessori/Kindergarten Ann Carabin | 1979-2006 Director of Piano Deborah Dodds | 1979-2006 Math Teacher April Groos | 1970-2006 English Teacher

Anita Lynn | 1971 - 2006 Montessori Teacher Jerry Rosen | 1978 - 2006 Director of Development Mary Lou Mendoza | 1978 - 1983 and 1988 - 2008 | Receptionist Wally Cavazos | 1980 - 2009 Spanish Teacher Marcia Holliman | 1981 - 2011 Dance Teacher Jan Howard | 1981 - 2012 Montessori Assistant Peggy Johnson | 1984 - 2012 Director of College Counseling Laird Loomis | 1980 - 2013 English Teacher Courtney Westerman | 1979 - 2014 English Teacher Darlene Elder | 1982 - 2001 and 2004 - 2015 | Social Studies Teacher Dr. Jose Ortega | 1983-2015 Spanish Teacher Ralph Howell | 1986-2017 Upper School Photography Teacher Sharon Moa | 1983-2018 Lower School Teacher Phyllis Swinney | 1983-2018 Lower School Teacher Carol Brown | 1989 - 2019 Science Teacher

Nadaline Inselmann | 1979-2006 Primary School Administrative Assistant

Kay Dahle | 1983 - 2019 Lower School Teacher

Loretta Leslie | 1974 - 2006 Assistant Business Manager

Susan Legan | 1991 - 2019 Director of Extended Care

The Shield | 25

THE REALITIES OF

By Elise Boyan

T

his fall, Saint Mary’s Hall formed the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force to improve upon the SMH experience by cultivating a community where everyone feels respected and a deep sense of belonging. We asked Elise Boyan, a DEI Task Force member, SMH Board of Trustee member, and parent to talk with Paige Cheatham ’14, an alumna and DEI Task Force member about her experiences at SMH; what prompted her to join the DEI Task Force; and what she sees for the future.

Paige and I first met in 2005 soon after our two families relocated to San Antonio. We, Boyans, came to San Antonio from New York City for a new job. Hurricane Katrina forced the Cheathams to evacuate from New Orleans. Paige and my daughter Hailey, both new in Form 4, graduated from Saint Mary’s Hall in 2014. Fifteen years later, Paige and I find ourselves serving together on SMH’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force.

Paige’s parents, Cassandra and Ernest, settled on Saint Mary’s Hall after noticing a number of similarities between SMH and Paige’s school in New Orleans, Louise S. McGehee. SMH and McGehee were both small private schools, with strong academic programs and despite being predominantly white, both institutions boasted welcoming communities.

However, Paige’s experience at SMH did not come without challenges. At SMH, Paige recollects being the first dark-skinned black person that many of her peers and teachers had ever encountered in such an intimate setting. Despite the SMH Admission Office being led by a black woman, Paige recollects various awkward and even hurtful situations in class and social settings on account of her race — everything from the typical unnecessary comments about her hair to being refused entrance to a country club as an invited guest to a classmate’s birthday party.

As Paige got older, her experiences with racism at SMH continued to mar her educational experience.

However, with the support of her parents, she developed coping mechanisms and navigation skills in response to overt racist acts and SMH’s structural racial challenges. Paige also found certain teachers

Paige Cheatham is currently a management consultant at Accenture. She graduated from Saint Mary’s Hall in 2014

and continued on to Wellesley College, where she majored in

Economics. She played basketball and volleyball while at Saint Mary’s Hall and was involved in student government.

Special Notes

to be strong “allies,” creating “safe spaces” in their classrooms for Paige to truly be herself.

Leaving Saint Mary’s Hall, Paige took with her the academic preparation that supported her success in college. She intended to leave behind, however, the hurt and isolation she felt as a student of color. The Black@SMH Instagram feed, created in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, brought those feelings back.

Stirred to action, Paige wrote to SMH leadership, and then later met with Head of School Len Miller and Director of Wellness Dr. Sandra Lopez-Morales. Paige shared her experience as one of so few black people at Saint Mary’s Hall, and implored SMH to do a better job of making Black, Indigenous, and People of Color students, parents, faculty, and staff feel included in the SMH community. At the same time, Paige was consulting with the SMH Alumni for Anti-Racism & Accountability who submitted an open letter to the school. Grateful to Paige for stepping forward, and hoping to make use of her perspective, intentions, personal experience, and professional skills, Mr. Miller and Dr. LopezMorales invited Paige to join SMH’s DEI Task Force.

Paige knows that Saint Mary’s Hall can be a place where all students, including ones from diverse backgrounds, can feel at home and she wants to be part of bringing that to fruition. The best version of Saint Mary’s Hall will provide its students with a wider variety of thoughts to help them build their identity, which will, in turn, prepare them to be the worldly and global leaders of the future. That’s what Paige thinks, and I could not agree more.

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force Dr. Sandra Lopez-Morales P ’32, ’35 Chair Asika Anne ’17 Aimee Arrambide ’96 Joshua Baker P ’33 Elise Boyan P ’13, ’14, ’20 Tommy Calvert ’98 Luz Elena Chapa P ’23, ’25 Paige Cheatham ’14 Courtney Deadman ’13 Dr. Yashika Dooley Brian Fleming Jim Greenwood P ’13, ’16 Rodney Hunter ’21 Dr. Manica Isiguzo P ’28, ’30 Dr. Claudia Kypuros P ’27, ’28 Maggie Leavitt ’21 Itza Martinez ’21 Deborah McInerney Dr. Soad Michelsen P ’29 Joseph Muller Jaime Ramirez Kellen Stanley Brittany Wallace Clint Worth P ’30, ’32, ’34 Olivia Zachry ’21

Elise Boyan is a Saint Mary’s Hall trustee and the mother of three alumni – John ’13, Hailey ’14, and Grace ’20. Elise has served as president of the SMH Parents’ Association and co-chair of The SMH Fund, and is especially proud of her part in establishing the Baron football program.

The Shield | 27

28 | Saint Mary’s Hall

Featured Stories

A Legacy

Perseverance 2020 has been a challenging year for all of us. How do we move forward?

What should we do? How has this uncertainty affected us?

In this featured section, we explore the ways our mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, and social health has been affected. Through personal accounts, our students, faculty, administration, and alumni share their experiences and perspectives on these issues.

The Shield | 29

Rituals, Teaching, Community Activity, Familiar Faculty

By Len Miller

W

hen I accepted the job as the head of school at Saint Mary’s Hall this past winter, coronavirus had not yet emerged as the global threat it is today.

I had visions of spending my first year as an archeologist, studying every corner of our beautiful school and slowly building relationships with each and every community member. My goals: to understand SMH and its institutional voice from past to present. And, to always act with intention and integrity in all we do.

While these certainly remain my top priorities, coronavirus forced my team and me into immediate action. Would SMH be able to open safely in the fall?

If so, what should this look like and how could we be ready in eight weeks?

30 | Saint Mary’s Hall

These questions forced us to also zero in on WHY we as educators do what we do. How must we change to bring forth our mission to students in new and different ways? How can we provide college readiness and fulfillment in life to all students in an upended world? How can we specifically harness technologies, build community, and encourage capacities for learning and connection, all while keeping our community safe?

While many of these questions were given a new urgency by the pandemic, they are actually essential to all great schools. Great teachers ask themselves these types of questions every day. Not just what do I teach, but how and why do I teach the way I do? And, what is the impact I am having on my students and their learning? If we ask the right questions as educators, so too will our students.

Featured Stories

In order to succeed in the face of the pandemic, SMH shouldn’t be in “survival mode.” Rather, as Simon Sinek suggests, we need to be agile and open to reinvention.

History teaches us that many great institutions have grown better in the face of struggle. SMH, in fact, has navigated tough times before during three campus relocations, a cyclone in 1900, the 1903 yellow fever, the 1946 polio outbreaks that shut down the school, two world wars, the Great Depression, Vietnam, 9/11, and recent social movements.

After meeting our leadership team, faculty, students, and parents, I quickly realized the extraordinary privilege I had been given to lead SMH during this time. It was at base an opportunity for me to build trust and a culture of belonging and care.

SMH has unique qualities that we wouldn’t ever want to change. We have an extraordinarily dedicated and skilled group of teachers, many of whom gave up their summers to learn new skills. They increased their teaching hours, professional development, entered the world of Zoom, mask wearing, and social distancing. Our students are unparalleled in their courage, curiosity, and engagement, and our parents have offered amazing support in community-building, doing supply pick up, drop off, and creating activities and support for our seniors in particular.

gifted senior chairs, our Middle School students crafted spirit week, and our Lower School held a Charlie Brown day to help celebrate our actors and stage designers in their production of You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.

It has been said that historical crises also call forth what is most noble in the human spirit. This has been certainly true at SMH. Not one of these initiatives could have been possible without the magic of our community and the tireless efforts of our faculty, staff, and parent volunteers.

In a time of chaos and uncertainty, we are tasked with working together to provide an education that will inspire our students to serve others. It is through education — one that is expansive, diverse, and relevant — that we can prepare our students for lives of fulfillment.

This coming together and resilience must have been just what Mrs. Dolly Morrow Attget ’42, president of the Alumnae Association, meant when she said on the groundbreaking celebration of our current campus that SMH is “not a building, but a spirit.”

The foundation of the school, as I learned in my reading of our School’s history, Saint Mary’s Hall: The First Century, has been the marriage of a frontier mindset with a community spirit.

For more than six months, SMH has been successfully offering both virtual and in-person classes.

While our school does look different, our community remains committed to maintaining rituals and traditions to both hold and sustain us. While some of our most cherished rituals may have bent, they have not broken, and rituals have also been created anew.

We celebrated Blue Tie, Convocation, Founders’ Day, and our Master Teacher Awards.We’ve continued Morning Moments, Chapel, athletics, and fine arts.

New moments have also been created to capture our current situation: Lower Schoolers received teddy bears, Upper Schoolers new ping-pong tables. We have weekly supply pick up for virtual learners, and lunch with the head of school for virtual Middle School learners and senior leaders. Senior moms

Len Miller joined Saint Mary’s Hall as the head of school on July 1, 2020. He has served independent schools with distinction for more than 25 years. He joins SMH from The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania where he served as associate headmaster since 2014. He also spent 14 years at The Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Len and his wife Penny have two children, Tyne (a freshman at Bucknell University) and Bo ’28.

The Shield | 31

Academics

in the Time of Pandemic

By Brance D. Arnold

T

he learning experiences offered on campus are key to a Saint Mary’s Hall education.

Learning thrives best in the context of community.

This is especially true at SMH, where students and faculty share a mutual trust, building and enhancing character and growth. Due to the challenges presented by COVID-19, it has been a Herculean effort to maintain the excellence of our academic programs and the overall student experience for which Saint Mary’s Hall is known. Here are some distinct ways SMH has adjusted its academic programming during these uncertain and difficult times to provide a quality education to students.

From a Distance Last spring, SMH had to shift entirely to virtual or distance learning. Faculty had to pivot and acclimate

to giving instruction entirely online. SMH provided virtual learning through livestreaming, asynchronous, and various other pedagogies. These methods were adjusted to accommodate Form level and subject.

A new schedule was created for each of the three divisions to help optimize distance learning.

A faculty Advisory group was created for each division to analyze previous results and generate new practices and policies. Teachers signed up for Global Online Academy’s training, “Designing for Online Learning,” and many sought related professional development opportunities independently. The Technology Department hosted workshops to enhance teacher literacy on best-in-class platforms for virtual learning.

Faculty used various distance learning delivery platforms to conduct their lessons and instruction.

Examples of new technology were: Zoom, a video

Featured Stories

communications platform; SeeSaw, a student-driven digital portfolio; and Google Docs, a free web-based word processor; as well as Google Drive, One Note, One Drive Folders, Dropbox, and email. These answers allowed for students to successfully complete and submit assignments and projects.

“ SMH continues to put learning and the students’ wellbeing f irst. The efforts toward maintaining the SMH community, friendships, and student-faculty bonds have been remarkable,” said SMH parent Dr. Allen Holder.

which has been tremendously beneficial – ‘Keep it simple,’” said Upper School Math Teacher Jose Molina.

Saint Mary’s Hall faculty and students have been resilient in transitioning to both Virtual and Hybrid learning phases. The commitment to achieving a successful learning experience and student engagement has been profound despite being unchartered waters. Their efforts have provided for a dynamic and adjustable learning model for SMH as a community of educators and scholars.

A Shift to Hybrid In September, SMH began introducing students back to campus with Cohort Pilot Testing for Lower School, which allowed for on-campus classes plus an option for families to have their students continue learning from home. Gradually, students in other divisions were welcomed back to campus. The school developed schedules that allowed for physical distancing, reduced density in classrooms, and extra transition time between periods. Teachers continued to use the same learning delivery platforms as in the virtual learning phase.

The move to Hybrid presented a new challenge for faculty and students as classes were simultaneously conducted in-person and via Zoom for virtual learners who opted to participate from home. Faculty provided synchronous instruction for those who could not be on campus but could still engage the academic schedule remotely in real-time; and asynchronous instruction for students who needed to engage learning remotely but were not able to access the live classes synchronously.

“I streamlined my teaching to optimize delivery and efficiently to convey the material in as enjoyable a manner as possible. During lectures, I work to consistently engage all my students – both those in person and online – to maximize participation and comprehension. I have also developed a new motto

Brance D. Arnold is the assistant director of marketing and communications. He is in his fourth year at Saint Mary’s Hall. He holds nearly 10 years of marketing experience. He has a Bachelor of Arts in English Communications from St. Mary’s University and a Master of Arts in Communications from the University of the Incarnate Word.

The Shield | 33

Yes, I Sometimes

Suffer from Anxiety

By Elizabeth (Liz) A. Thompson

D

uring the past year, the subject of mental health has risen to the forefront more than ever before. I spoke with Saint Mary’s Hall Director of Wellness Dr. Sandra Lopez-Morales and SMH parent and board certified psychiatrist Dr. Soad Michelsen to find out how the pandemic has affected us as well as how we improve our mental wellness.

One of the biggest mental health challenges during the pandemic has been anxiety. Things like the trauma of losing family and friends, isolation, and uncertainty have caused much of this anxiety.

That got me thinking … what is anxiety? To me, anxiety was represented by the stereotypical image of someone bent over with their head between their knees blowing into a paper bag. This person was also sweating, crying, and paralyzed from taking any action.

What I learned was that anxiety is not a disorder in and of itself, and it is not a weakness. It is a way of thinking and can be expressed in many ways. It is prompted by a fear of the unknown and the “what-if ” questions that arise. Anxiety can be physical or emotional (withdrawal or attack) responses. It can be positive in helping drive us to meet our goals and objectives, or it can be negative in the sense that it is debilitating.

The truth is most of us have felt anxiety at one point or another in our lives, whether it has been physical, emotional, positive, or negative; that caused me to reflect on personal incidents (since the pandemic started) that ran the gamut from sad to mad and everything in between. I chalked it up to stress or being tired. In other words, I was in denial. It turns out most of my anxiety was emotionally based, and

34 | Saint Mary’s Hall

stemmed from a need to perform, handle situations, find solutions, and be perfect. Dr. Michelsen says, “High functioning people tend to be able to handle many more ‘what ifs.’ They are always trying to find a solution. But when they lose their sense of control and their ability to find a solution, their anxiety becomes debilitating.”

Take Care of Yourself and Juggle Less Ok, now what? Once we can recognize anxiety, how can we cope with it? How do we help our families, friends, colleagues, and students cope? As Dr. LopezMorales shared, we need to take care of ourselves.

If we don’t, we aren’t going to be able to take care of those around us. We should acknowledge our feelings and emotions first. Are we grieving the ability to see our family and friends? Are we sad that we’ve had to stop doing something? Once we do that, we are better prepared to help others, especially children.

During the course of our conversation, Dr. Michelsen equated anxiety to juggling. She said, “It is tough to juggle three balls. I have to pay attention, but I can still manage it. Then I get thrown three more balls.”

She notes that is when anxiety sets in …

Featured Stories

trying to figure out how to juggle more and do more. She shared that she herself had gone through this process. “I realized that figuring out how to juggle more balls wasn’t the answer. The answer was about reprioritizing and picking what was important, and then letting go of a couple of balls.

I had to restructure things.” While she admits this can take a lot of practice, it is worth it. That was my “a-ha” moment. I had been trying to juggle too many things, and kept allowing more to be added.

It became a juggling act that no one (not even I) could sustain. Only by accepting that I could not do everything and prioritizing the most important things did I start to control my anxiety.

Navigating the Pandemic How do we as staff, faculty, parents, or students slay our anxieties and navigate the uncertain future?

Both Dr. Lopez-Morales and Dr. Micheleson spoke about some of the positive changes that have come about due to COVID-19, and how to harness those as we move forward. Some of the key ideas mentioned were:

•

we have to do it tomorrow. For instance, the way we celebrate graduations and birthdays has changed. As Dr. Michelsen says, “Traditions were created, we weren’t born with them. The pandemic has presented us with a great opportunity to break with the mold and create new traditions. Instead of thinking about what we do not have, we can mold events into something different, and leave a legacy on a very important time in history.”

The inspiration for this article started with a seed of an idea to create awareness for mental health.

Instead, I was the one who learned. One of the best ways to cope during these uncertain times is to be self-aware and redefine for yourself what it means to be perfect or right. Give yourself grace, be flexible, and strengthen your relationships.

Above all, never lose hope. Though things may be different, we all have the ability to thrive and persevere.

“ Only by accepting that I could not do everything and prioritizing the most important things did I start to control my anxiety.”

- Elizabeth (Liz) A. Thompson

Redefine Your Thoughts

Instead of asking, “Am I doing this perfectly?” or “Is this the right thing to do as a parent?” We should think in terms of “Am I doing any harm?”

Acknowledge that you are doing the best you can, and that’s ok, as long as you aren’t causing harm.

In our current environment, it is about identifying the problem and persevering.

•

Be Positive and Open to Change

What was great today is not necessarily the way

Improve Communication

There has been more dialogue where families and friends are asking questions and sharing different perspectives. We should continue with Zoom meetings, happy hours, and celebrations. We should connect virtually with people we haven’t talked to in a long time. Or, we should take the time to connect by phone with friends and family, since we can’t see them in person.

•

•

Establish Good Relationships

Many organizations, including Saint Mary’s Hall have focused on creating and maintaining a sense of community. Follow this example and find creative ways to connect with the community and each other. Try to apply authenticity, empathy, and compassion into your relationships.

Elizabeth (Liz) A. Thompson is the director of marketing and communications. She is in her 11th year at Saint Mary’s Hall. She is passionate about marketing, with more than 20 years of experience. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from St. Mary’s University and a Master of Business Administration (with a concentration in marketing) from The University of Texas at San Antonio.

The Shield | 35

Positive Perseverance

A Conspiracy for the Good

By Mike Mayberry

R

eflecting on my personal experiences and life journey, I realized it is difficult to articulate clearly my approach to handling life’s challenges.

in others and the circumstances confronting us, I believe the real key is that my attitude is a choice, an intentional choice. It is one that I make every day based on my circumstances in life and work.

I’ve tried to distill my key learnings from my personal experiences into a simple formula to develop and practice what I will call Positive Perseverance: Perspective + Focus + Gratitude = Positive Perseverance. These key life practices have developed from various stages of my life and career when I experienced major events that often served as wakeup calls, presenting life lessons.

There really isn’t a set answer. Perhaps it is more of a process, or practice, I have adapted throughout my life based on my experiences. I’m reminded of a lesson presented to me early in life: Failure is never final, and success is not forever. The key is to learn and grow as human beings as we move through both our challenges and our opportunities.

Key Life Lessons

To develop a positive perseverance mindset, like most habits, it is a cumulative process, developed over time with daily deposits. While I’m sure my outgoing personality has a predisposition to look for the good

As a young educator at age 27, I was happily married with a young son while serving as a high school head basketball coach for a successful, state-ranked team.

Then, in the blink of an eye, I lost both of my parents

36 | Saint Mary’s Hall

Featured Stories

to terminal health issues within 18 days. A friend gave me the book, Tough Times Don’t Last, Tough People Do, which became a blueprint for dealing with life’s adversity, and offered to serve as a sounding board to help me gain perspective during this difficult time. A key life lesson emerged: “It’s up to me to get through this difficult experience, but I don’t have to go it alone.” This was a catalyst for me to realize that the perspective and wisdom I receive from others is a critical practice to develop Positive Perseverance.

Fast forward 18 years, my career and family life continued to develop and grow. I transitioned from athletic coaching to executive coaching and leadership training with several top corporate clients throughout the U.S. and internationally. One fall day, as I was working at Motorola’s corporate headquarters in Chicago, two planes crashed into the twin towers in New York City. Subsequently, my leadership-training meetings in Chicago were cancelled for that week, and I knew that many others would soon follow. Being self-employed, my family’s financial wellbeing would be in jeopardy, as well as my career that was flourishing at the time. Two sentences remained stuck in my head: life really can change in the blink of an eye; and when one door in life closes, shift your focus to other doors that may be opening. Fortunately, for my family and me, one of those doors would lead to Saint Mary’s Hall.

I am still happily married for almost 45 years with a grown son and daughter who have both carved out their own successful lives and careers. I am also the proud grandparent of three wonderful grandchildren.

My career transitioned from executive leadership coach to assistant head of Middle School and dean of students at Saint Mary’s Hall. I strive to be a mentor for faculty and focus on coaching our students to discover and bring out their best selves; I sincerely love my work, my SMH colleagues, and the SMH community.

In January of 2019, I received a life insurance renewal letter that was declined because I had not passed a physical exam required for renewal. The physical showed I had an excessively high PSA count, indicating the possibility of prostate cancer. I soon discovered that I had advanced prostate cancer. I remembered a quote that I have used often in my past leadership coaching that suddenly had new meaning for my own life. “If you don’t always get what you want in life, just think about the things you didn’t get that you didn’t want.” I certainly didn’t want

cancer, but the second half of that quote reminded me of the things in life that I’m thankful to have avoided.

Many, many others have been less fortunate than I. My focus again shifted to gratitude. As I write this piece, my doctor has declared my cancer medically in remission, and I am free from all treatments for the immediate time being.

Focusing on the Positive is a Conspiracy for the Good COVID-19 has certainly presented many changes and challenges in our lives. One might even say “in the blink of an eye.” But, to develop positive perseverance let’s remember a wise quote: “It’s not as important what happens to us as how we respond to what happens to us.”

My charge to you would be this: •

Create a sounding board to enhance your PERSPECTIVE toward life challenges.

•

FOCUS on the positive that you want to expand, not the negative.

•

Exhibit GRATITUDE for both what you have and what you don’t have in life that is a blessing.

I hope these words give you food for thought and provide a practical guide to develop positive perseverance. I believe implementing these practices is a conspiracy to bring out the good in your life and the lives of others.

Mike Mayberry serves as assistant head of Middle School and dean of students. This is his 15th year at Saint Mary’s Hall.

He previously was head boys basketball coach and assistant athletic director. Mike’s wife, Bitsy, has been teaching in the SMH Lower School for 23 years, and they are the parents of two SMH alumni, Matt ’99 and Morgan ’05, and grandparents of Gunner ’32. Morgan serves as admission and enrollment management coordinator at SMH.

The Shield | 37

A Commitment to Health

as a Student-Athlete

By Peyton Soltis ’25

B

eing an active person while balancing my academics and athletics has been challenging over the past nine months. I have been playing sports since I was around three years old.

I have played for many club teams, as well as for Saint Mary’s Hall. Learning how to maintain a schedule that involves exercising and academics has been a challenge I have always had to overcome.

Learning to adjust to life during a global pandemic has made keeping this schedule even more difficult.

Keeping a consistent sleep schedule has been very important to staying in shape, both mentally and physically. Maintaining a healthy sleep schedule replenishes my body and ensures that I grow more.

Eating regularly is also a key part to maintaining proper health. Eating healthily and routinely gives my body the key nutrients that it needs as a growing young man. It also helps me stay in shape so my body can perform to its best abilities.

To maintain my physical health during this pandemic, I adopted numerous different forms of exercise. One way I exercised was by going outside and playing basketball for a couple of hours when I had time off from school. I practiced my ball handling, shooting, and even defense when my brother would join. I also went for runs around my neighborhood, though I didn’t always like it. This helped to keep my endurance up so when I play in an actual game, I won’t get burned out or tired towards the end of it. After the run, I also did sprints uphill for 30 minutes twice a day, giving myself a 30-minute break in between. I did this to help increase my overall speed and acceleration, so when I’m in a game I can be faster than the opposing players.

38 | Saint Mary’s Hall

Playing lacrosse is a big part of my life. Towards the end of last school year, my summer club lacrosse team had already started. It was a big commitment to drive up to Austin four times a week, as well as to play in four tournaments across the country. Our practices were very competitive and high-paced. Our coach ran drills quickly in order to keep us conditioned and better able to beat our opponents in tournaments.

Playing in tournaments is fun, but also tough on my body. I traveled to states such as Maryland and California to play in tournaments. While there, I played in at least three fifty-minute games each, usually across Saturday and Sunday. Playing for a championship in a tournament is always thrilling, but winning them is way better.

During these challenging times, it is important for me to maintain my physical health as an SMH student-athlete. That way, I am able to be successful in the classroom and on the field.

Peyton Soltis is currently in Form 8 and has attended Saint Mary’s Hall since 2010. He has played on the Middle School football, basketball, and lacrosse teams.

Peyton’s older brother Austin ’22 is currently a student at Saint Mary’s Hall. The Soltis Family has been a part of the Saint Mary’s Hall community since 2007.

Featured Stories

Finding Balance

During a Pandemic

By Maggie Leavitt ’21

A

ttending school during a pandemic is difficult. I have expressed this before to others, who nod and talk about how remembering to put a mask on before going out is irksome.

They are right, but I try to make it easier on myself. I keep hand sanitizer in my purse. I leave my mask next to my wallet. However, when I say attending school during a pandemic is difficult, I am not talking about the protocols; I am talking about maintaining my health.

Between my physical and mental health, my physical health is easier to preserve because it relies mostly on what I eat. I do not mean to say I am on a diet, but I make sure I get enough food and nutrients to sustain me throughout the day. I try to eat three meals a day and ensure those meals have proteins, carbohydrates, and vegetables or fruit. In terms of exercise, I try to go outside at least once a day, whether to walk my dog or breathe in fresh air. Due to winter fitness, I have been getting more exercise than usual, but as long as my body is functioning properly and I feel normal, I consider myself physically healthy.

My mental health is an entirely different matter.

All students face two types of stress: the stress of attending classes and struggling to do all of the homework while applying to colleges, and the stress of being asked to make something skillful, creative, and original, all during a pandemic. Most days I can do it. I go to school, do my chores, finish my homework, and complete a screenplay for cinema, or

a project for English, but I always end up sacrificing something. On the days I can do everything, I sacrifice time to relax, to spend with my family, to write leisurely and not for an assignment. Other days, when I cannot do everything, I sacrifice efficiency. I sacrifice a college application for an extra hour of sleep and a shotlist for time to talk with my mom. There are days I am more productive and days I am less productive, and I am learning to find balance and say both are okay.

It is okay if I take a 30-minute nap during lunch. It is okay if I ask for an extension so I can finish another assignment. Learning balance is important, the human mind is not meant to do a hundred tasks per day, and if the mind is exhausted, the body will be too.

We are in the middle of a pandemic, and we have all been affected in minute and colossal ways. The changes we face will stress us out, and at times, we might not function at the level of proficiency we are used to. That is okay. We must learn to be patient and gentle with ourselves and to accept our victories, whether they be slight or immense. We are trying, and that is enough.

Maggie Leavitt is currently a Form 12 student and has been attending Saint Mary’s Hall since 2006. She is a member of the DEI Task Force and has varied interests including digital cinema, creative writing, and theater.

The Leavitt Family has been a part of the Saint Mary’s Hall community since 2006, with Maggie’s two older sisters, Catherine ’15 and Jacqueline ’19, and her brother, Andy ’23.

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My Spirituality Brought Me A New Awakening

By Elsa Tonone de Sala

A

s a teacher that has been in the profession for the past decade, I was used to abrupt wakeup calls in the form of my alarm clock and the light of my phone screen, receiving the first few notifications of a new workday.

While every day was unique in one sense or another, I had fallen into a comfortable routine that was predictable at its core. Little did I know that my life would shift so dramatically within the span of a couple months. The COVID-19 pandemic and its accompanying events (which are often further magnified by the gravity of the virus) have undoubtedly affected every individual on the planet.

While the general attitude towards the pandemic is negative, I have tried to find the blessings. Certainly, it was a rather rude wakeup call, nothing like the beeping alarm I would normally wake up to, but it was oddly the change that I needed.

Like most, I have gone through my own hardships in life that have warranted my spirituality to be tested. Each time I was confronted with my life being uncertain or perilous, I would overcome it with the search for meaning and purpose. Although it is difficult to find significance in tragedy, I believe every human experience can be interpreted as a lesson for the future, and the pandemic is certainly no exception. In the face of the pandemic, I know that overthinking the varied possibilities of things that could go wrong will ultimately be my personal downfall. The pandemic is bigger than me. It is bigger than all of us; therefore, letting myself fall into the spiral of problems that are out of my reach would certainly be detrimental to my mind, body, and spirit.

Spirituality provides a certain level of comfort and is imperative in knowing that there is something to learn and benefit from amidst the turmoil.

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Everything was uncharted territory, yet as I got to spend more time with my husband, my girls, and myself, I came to learn how to make the best out of the worst situations. Unity, understanding, compassion, and respect amongst my loved ones and myself is what ultimately healed and strengthened my spirit. In order to combat the current external obstacles, I must have inner peace with myself.

I maintain an internal balance through prayer, meditating about my personal relationships and my relationship between myself and a higher power; in my case, this higher power is God. I ground myself in my present reality by engaging all of my senses: lighting a candle (smell), listening to the sound of waves (hearing), going on a nature walk to interact (sight), or cooking satisfying meals (taste and touch).

I have also tried something new … finding support groups online, sharing my experiences and imparting words of strength, compassion, and affirmation to others. I have tried to consciously accept the negative and appreciate the things I have previously taken for granted, such as the enriching scent of my morning coffee and the honey-colored sunshine pool through my window blinds.

This past year, my sense of purpose and my personal definition of spirituality have been forever changed.

I am more thankful and in touch with my feelings, experiences, and relationships. Most importantly, I still carry hope and humility with me. My everadapting spirituality will serve as a pillar of support and guidance through the trials and tribulations of the human experience.

Elsa Tonone de Sala is an Upper School Spanish teacher and the mother of Andrea ’16, Isabel ’20, and Daniela ’23. She has been teaching at Saint Mary’s Hall since 2010. Elsa is also the Upper School Spanish Club sponsor and the Upper School Community Service coordinator.

Featured Stories

I Would Never

Carla Lynn Photography

Lie to You

By Jennings Stuart ’21

I, Jennings Stuart, would never lie to you.

Rereading the email entitled “COVID-19 Update” back in March, I was unable to contain my excitement over our extended Spring Break, not stopping to think about what this would mean for the rest of my junior year.

That extended Spring Break was not as glamorous as I had anticipated; sometimes it feels as though it still hasn’t ended. Spring Break blended into quarantine, which blended into remote learning, ultimately blending into summer. The monotony of staying locked up in my house made the clock tick slower.

I, Jennings Stuart, would never lie to you.

As “senior leadership,” I was kept busy over the summer, logging on and off Zoom calls with administration, collecting senior ideas, participating in an online anatomy class, and acting as the bridge between my peers and the Saint Mary’s Hall community. Although this work I did was in preparation for my senior year, my involvement over the summer mixed with ignorance led me to believe that COVID-19 would never touch our senior year. It wasn’t until I discussed the alternatives for a Blue Tie Parade with administrators that our new reality began to seep into the deepest cracks of my foundation that was no longer protected against an inevitable pandemic.

I, Jennings Stuart, would never lie to you.

Blue Tie Parade was one for the history books.

While driving around the Upper School Circle lacked screaming kids, I was happy to be receiving my blue tie. While the first few days of senior year were online, I was overwhelmed with the amount of preparation going on behind the scenes. Everyone, from administrators to students, utilized their talents for the same purpose: to uphold the triumph of Baron Pride in the face of a new obstacle.

I, Jennings Stuart, would never lie to you.

I was angry. I still am angry. Angry at someone or something for allowing me to pour my heart and soul into this school from day one to watch my senior year crumble before my eyes. I immediately reverted to what I do best, attempting to pick up the pieces of rubble all on my own and patch together our senior year, repeating phrases like “I waited thirteen years” or “why our Form?” We are taught to take delight in the simple things at Saint Mary’s Hall, but the simple things we were looking forward to were suddenly a figment of our imaginations.

I, Jennings Stuart, would never lie to you.

Although the simple things we were looking forward to taking delight in were gone, that motto which we believed to be mocking us opened our eyes to all the simple things our community has given us despite the debris of our senior year. Our community gave us faith and support when we had none and still do this day. Teachers reach out and check on us daily, parents provide opportunities to bond, and our administration has opened its ears to our concerns.

And I, Jennings Stuart, would never lie to you.

Despite the rubble of our senior year, the wreckage for which we mourn, hope still blooms in the Saint Mary’s Hall community. We are rebuilding our new senior year and watching as flowers begin to break through the cracks in the world around us.

Jennings Stuart is currently in Form 12 and is a “Lifer” having attended Saint Mary’s Hall since Kindergarten in 2008. Along with being the student body president, Jennings is involved in Student Council, Project Teach, UNICEF, She’s The First, and Shield Society (serving as president). Some of her interests include photography, creative writing, graphic design, psychology, history, and learning in general. She is the first in her family to attend SMH.

The Shield | 41

SMH Reimagines Treasured Events

T

he 2020-2021 school year has been unprecedented. The COVID-19 pandemic has made our traditional events extremely difficult, and sometimes impossible, to organize and host.

Nevertheless, the Saint Mary’s Hall community came together to find innovative and creative ways to keep these events alive. One of the hallmarks of Saint Mary’s Hall is our sense of community. From Baron Bazaar to Founders’ Day, this semester has been full of timeless and reimagined experiences that students will remember fondly.

Baron Bazaar Brigade

August 10-12, 2020

As the first event of the school year, Baron Bazaar served as the first real test of the school’s safety precautions. Our annual “back-to-school” event was held in a curbside format, with parents ordering their books and the “Baron Bazaar Brigade” loading them into cars in a safe, sociallydistanced manner. Faculty and staff were on hand to greet students with cheers of excitement and signs of encouragement.

Sorting Day

September 9, 2020

Upper School Sorting Day looked different this year. New Upper School students and faculty participated in a drive-through sorting ceremony. When sorted onto the Capers or Elliott teams, they received t-shirts and paint on their faces to signify which team they were selected to join.

42 | Saint Mary’s Hall

Featured Stories

All-School Convocation August 19, 2020

All-School Convocation was entirely virtual this year, with a very small number of socially-distanced speakers delivering their remarks from the Coates-Seeligson Theater/Chapel via live stream. No audience was in attendance, but families tuned in from the comfort of their homes.

Blue Tie

August 21, 2020

Blue Tie is an SMH tradition dating back to 1940, and is a milestone of every Baron’s senior year.

This year proved to be no different. SMH held a drive-through event, where seniors rode through with their families and were allowed to briefly step out of their vehicles to receive their blue tie from Head of School Len Miller.

Fiesta

October 16, 2020

Like the City of San Antonio’s Fiesta celebration, Saint Mary’s Hall was also forced to cancel its traditional Fiesta celebration. In spite of this, the community came together to provide a Fiesta Sorpresa to all students, including treats, a t-shirt, and other festive goodies.

Founders’ Day, Len Miller’s Installation, & Master Teacher Awards

November 19, 2020

Saint Mary’s Hall held its first “hybrid” event on campus since the start of school this fall. With speakers and a small number of spectators observing on Lewis Field and the rest of students and faculty viewing via live stream in their classrooms, the ceremony was different than in the past, but the spirit of the event lived on. The day was also exciting, as it featured the formal installation of Head of School Len Miller and the announcement of the annual Master Teacher Awards. Learn more about Founders’ Day, starting on p.12, and our Master Teacher Award recipients, starting on p.14.

The Shield | 43

Around the Hall

SMH Students Experience Virtual Book Talk with U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sotomayor Saint Mary’s Hall students participated in a virtual book talk with U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The Upper School social studies students learned about the criminal justice system and read the book, Just Mercy. They also talked about the legal system with SMH parent and Fourth Court of Appeals Justice Luz Elena Chapa.

The event was a special online version of National Judicial College’s Reading & Robes program, which features judges in their robes teaching children about the courts, civic responsibilities, and the power of reading. SMH was the only school in Texas represented in this one-of-a-kind event.

Justice Sotomayor encouraged the students to consider judicial careers and she talked about the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

44 | Saint Mary’s Hall

“I was incredibly honored to have shared this memorable experience with Justice Sotomayor, my daughter, and each of the students. These students are filled with so much hope and promise. I know they will continue to build upon their desire to do some good in this world by being social justice warriors regardless of what profession they eventually choose.”

- Justice Chapa

Around the Hall

Seniors Volunteer at the San Antonio Food Bank In September, a total of 21 seniors served their community by volunteering at the San Antonio Food Bank. They packed 864 boxes with 25,000 pounds of food. The seniors were excited to work hard and see each other for the first time as a senior class since the pandemic began. Founded in 1980, the San Antonio Food Bank serves one of the largest service areas in Southwest Texas by providing food and grocery products to more than 500 partner agencies in 16 counties.

Upper School students must complete a minimum of 60 hours of community service, with at least 15 hours earned each year and three hours of giving back to the school through campus service. Students spend time volunteering throughout the San Antonio community at organizations such as CAMP (Children’s Association for Maximum Potential), Kids 4 Kids, SNIPSA, and Respite Care, among others.

Charlie Brown Comes Alive at SMH In October, the Upper School virtually performed the musical You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, providing our campus community with some much needed entertainment.

Inspired by ArtPace’s Chalk It Up, the National Art Honor Society students hosted three days of chalk-art creations. Student artists in Lower, Middle, and Upper School created artwork featuring Peanuts characters on the sidewalks around campus. Lower School students and teachers dressed up as their favorite Peanuts characters for a very special Out-of-Uniform Day.

Kaleidoscope The Middle and Upper School Dance Production, Kaleidoscope, looked a bit different this year. Instead of a live performance, dancers had their dances recorded at home and on campus in the Coates-Seeligson Theater/Chapel.

The production was made available to the community in a streaming event and featured choreography by Saint Mary’s Hall Dance faculty members Head of Dance Yosvani Cortellan, Dance Teacher Yana Lopez, and Dance Program Administrator & Music Registration Coordinator/Jazz Dance Teacher Stephany Rayburn. Kaleidoscope included the yearly tradition of Upper School dancers being selected and featured in the very special “Jenny’s Piece.” In addition, last year’s Form 5 dancers from the canceled spring Lower School Dance Production were recognized.

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Around the Hall

Beloved SMH Faculty Member Honored with Outstanding Educator Award Former Saint Mary’s Hall Upper School Social Studies Teacher Paul Gage was selected for the University of Chicago’s Outstanding Educator Award. Students accepted into the University of Chicago Class of 2024 were asked to nominate an educator who has positively impacted their lives and whose guidance helped them along the path toward intellectual growth.

Mr. Gage joined the Saint Mary’s Hall faculty in 2003 and retired after 17 years. He received SMH’s Master Teacher Award in 2009 and 2015. Mr. Gage impacted generations of SMH families over the years and has attended many basketball games, acted as an extra in a number of school productions, and actively keeps in touch with many alumni. Today he serves as a substitute teacher.

The University of Chicago’s distinguished award honors educators who are exceptional in their field and are role models for their students. Award winners receive a commemorative award, certificate, and letter that includes details from the student who nominated them.

“Receiving the Outstanding Educator Award from the University of Chicago was a wonderful retirement gift, and such a positive way to end a 50-plus-year career in education.

I have been especially impressed with how the university has personalized the experience,” said Mr. Gage. “They shared Sam Eckert’s ’20 very touching and thoughtful nominating statement. It is an award I value and treasure.”

Saint Mary’s Hall Announces National Merit Semifinalists ®

During the fall semester, officials of the National Merit® Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the names of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists in the 66th annual National Merit® Scholarship Program. Three Saint Mary’s Hall seniors were among those chosen as National Merit® Semifinalists: Leah Gomez, Max Hart, and Rett Peña (pictured clockwise).

These academically talented SMH seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for National Merit® Scholarships worth more than $30 million being offered in the spring.

Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition and to be considered for a Merit Scholarship award. More than 90% of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and more than half of the Finalists will win a National Merit® Scholarship, earning them the title of Merit Scholar.

Six seniors were also named as Commended Students in the 2021 National Merit® Scholarship Program. These talented students include Vivek Beeram, Michelle Bourland, Alexandra Dalrymple, Charles Danysh, Sara Hernandez, and Luke Phillips.

The Shield | 47

SMH Teacher’s Grant Award Allows for Collaborative Lab With the funds from the 2019 Educator Award grant she received from the Texas Biomedical Forum, Upper School Science Teacher Dr. Jamie Holbrook and her students were able to conduct a hybrid collaborative lab between in-person and at-home students. The imaging technology purchased with the grant allowed students in person to share their microscope view with students at home through the Zoom screen as they collaborated on the development of zebrafish from the embryo stage to newly hatched fry. In person students performed the lab and worked with imaging equipment while virtual students made observations, captured images, and collected data.

Dr. Holbrook also received a 2020 grant award for honeybee research, which she used to purchase more equipment for the two on-campus beehives, which are still thriving and ready for winter. Honeybee larvae research will resume this spring.

SMH Students Participate in Tejas Storytelling Association Conference In October, five SMH students had the honor of participating in the Tejas Storytelling Association Conference. Former SMH Lower School Spanish Teacher Mary Ann Blue mentored the students through this enriching experience. These young storytellers included Middle School students Divya Beeram ’27, Sohan Bhakta ’26, Max Elmendorf ’27, Lily Kelly ’25, and Saaya Mehta ’27 (pictured clockwise). The students performed their storytelling virtually as part of the conference’s Children’s Concert. Mrs. Blue was also a featured teller at the conference.

Tejas Storytelling Association is a membershipbased non-profit organization supporting storytellers and story listeners of all ages as well as storytelling guilds and organizations while bringing storytelling to the community, area, state, and region. This is accomplished through their opportunities for storytelling performances, educational workshops, storytelling events, their annual Texas Storytelling Festival, and their bi-annual Tejas Storytelling Conference.

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Around the Hall

SMH Football Welcomes First Female Kicker Friday night lights returned to Saint Mary’s Hall this fall! The goals were set high for the six-man varsity football team and SMH soccer star Hunter Hoelscher ’22 made her mark as the kicker this season. The Barons clinched a State Quarter-Final playoff berth and Hunter, who only missed one extra point attempt the entire season, helped the team achieve this amazing feat.

In six-man football, conversions or points after a touchdown are two points, so having a kicker such as Hunter is valuable to the team’s scoring ability.

Though she only kicked a football for the first time in September, her first practice with the team

was a success and she was subsequently asked to join the roster.

In addition to playing on the women’s varsity soccer team, Hunter is a member of the Classics Elite soccer club and hopes to play collegiately after graduating from SMH. Though she hasn’t committed to serving as the team’s kicker next year, she may consider it if they are in need and depending on her academic and soccer schedules.

SMH reinstated its football program this year, opting to participate as a six-man program for the next two seasons.

SMH Athletes Commit to College Sports Saint Mary’s Hall is always proud of our student-athletes who commit to play sports at the collegiate level. As of January 31, 2021, eight Barons have committed to collegiate-level play. They are: • Quentin Adolphe: track at Swarthmore University • Matthew Garcia: golf at University of Puget Sound • Max Hart: baseball at Williams College • Lindsay Martin: lacrosse at Occidental College Congratulations to all of our college-bound Baron athletes!

• Whitney McCormick: soccer at Williams & Lee • Ricky Reyna: baseball at Vassar College • Luke Thompson: baseball at The University of the South (Sewanee) • Nick Wilson: baseball at University of Dallas

Alumni News

Remembering a Beloved Alumna, Teacher, and Benefactor

Lasting Legacy

W

ith the passing of Peggy Pitman Mays ’53 on November 11, Saint Mary’s Hall has lost an exceptional friend, and champion.

Mrs. Mays’ long-lasting legacy began when she enrolled as a student at Saint Mary’s Hall in 1944. A born leader, she was president of the freshman class, treasurer of the Student Council, treasurer of the junior class, president of the Student Council, an Elliott cheerleader, and a member of the Spanish, French, and Choral Clubs. The 1953 La Reata described her as “a valiant upholder of the traditions of the School,” who “excels in all undertakings.” After her graduation in 1953, Mrs. Mays continued to make her mark on SMH.

50 | Saint Mary’s Hall

Mrs. Mays joined the Saint Mary’s Hall faculty in 1957 as a Form 2 teacher for two years, which helped define her lifelong commitment to supporting faculty and education. Her tenure as a teacher at Saint Mary’s Hall was an enduring source of pride. Her life experiences and love of the Saint Mary’s Hall community led her to establish the Peggy Pitman Mays Fund for Teacher Excellence in 2008. This forward-looking program enables faculty to travel the globe studying various topics which have an enormous impact on SMH students. Her energy for the program was boundless. Each year, Mrs. Mays eagerly collaborated with faculty and administrators and personally reviewed grant applications for these life-changing professional development opportunities. She was even known to call a hotel or two to find a better deal for the SMH travelers! In total, 90 grants have been awarded to 73 members of the SMH faculty since its establishment.

Thanks to Mrs. Mays, SMH teachers have studied across the world, exploring topics related to their field of interest. In turn, countless students have benefited from these explorations, each enriching the classroom environment and expanding the student experience.

With the Peggy Pitman Mays Fund for Teacher Excellence grant in 2019, Form 3 Teacher Jane Viccellio attended the 55th Annual UK Literary Association conference, worked with Cambridge University Professor Maria Nikolejeva exploring the work of Roald Dahl, and followed the trail of the Brothers Grimm. Mrs. Viccellio shared, “While traveling,

Alumni

I formed invaluable partnerships with a classroom north of London and a published expert in children’s literature, both of whom will correspond with my classroom as we read and write fiction throughout the school year.

Additionally, my journey to Rapunzel’s Tower,

Mrs. Mays’ love of Saint Mary’s Hall often translated to selfless generosity. The student experience was a priority to her, and she was a consistent supporter of The Windham Fund for Excellence providing financial aid to qualified students and supporting the school’s efforts to recruit and retain exceptional faculty members.

Thanks to her generous support of the I AM Saint Mary’s Hall campaign, the Peggy Pitman Mays Dining Hall was renovated and named in her honor. This important space is a constant reminder of her legacy and positively impacts every student, faculty, and staff member daily.

Little Red Riding Hood’s village, and Sleeping Beauty’s castle have inspired a ‘fairy tale trail’ throughout the SMH campus, in which students author original works to accompany the beauty and landmarks of Saint Mary’s Hall.”

A Remarkable Friend In 2007, Mrs. Mays received the Distinguished Alumni Award, presented to an alumnus of the school whose contributions to Saint Mary’s Hall and the greater community have set a standard of excellence worthy of recognition. In 2011, she was recognized with the school’s most prestigious honor, the Founders’ Day Award.

It was a special moment when Randall Mays, her son and Board of Trustees chair, had the honor of introducing his mother and presenting her with the award. When Mrs. Mays accepted the award, she spoke fondly about many of her teachers and reminded everyone that teachers bestow upon us the knowledge we carry for a

lifetime. She reminisced, “My first memory of Saint Mary’s Hall was walking into the 4th grade and meeting classmates who are today lifelong friends. The happiest moment was getting my blue tie, and my proudest was being elected president of the Student Government. Today,

Joined by son Randall Mays (left), Peggy Pitman Mays cuts the ribbon at the dedication of the Peggy Pitman Mays Dining Hall in 2013.

my fondest memories follow me through the halls with my grandchildren.”

Mrs. Mays and her classmates felt Saint Mary’s Hall was a transformational place that bonded them together for life, counting many of them among her lifelong friends. She was an active alumna of the school throughout the last 65 years. She is the proud mother to Kathy ’78, Mark, Linda, and Randall, and was also a proud grandmother to Grace ’14, Lowry ’16, Margot ’17, and Nicole ’22. Her children, grandchildren, and countless family members continue her legacy at Saint Mary’s Hall today.

Peggy Pitman Mays was an avid and active supporter of many causes and organizations in San Antonio and throughout Texas, and we are especially grateful that she maintained a deep and enduring connection to Saint Mary’s Hall.

She was a remarkable friend of SMH, and we are a better school because of her partnership and incredible support. With a grateful heart, we extend our condolences to her family and mourn the loss of such an extraordinary woman.

The Shield | 51

Alumni News Saint Mary’s Hall Names a New Alumni Director Laura Baker, a member of the Saint Mary’s Hall staff for 12 years, will now direct the alumni program in addition to her special events and enrichment responsibilities.

“I have been interacting with alumni and future alumni for years while planning events and hosting summer camps at SMH. I have witnessed the power of engaged alumni, and look forward to working with SMH Alumni Advisory Council President Kenneth Bethune to find new, targeted, and intentional ways to connect our alumni to each other and to our school.”

As Saint Mary’s Hall embarks on a new chapter under new administrative leadership, the focus on the student experience will be more important than ever. Laura will focus on learning more about generations of alumni, and how their unique experiences can be both preserved and woven into the current and future fabric of SMH.

“As a staff member and parent of two SMH students, I am eager to harness your stories to deepen the collective alumni connection and ensure the great legacy of this amazing school continues well into the coming decades.”

- Laura Baker | Alumni Director

The Future of the SMH Alumni Program Saint Mary’s Hall announced its new president of the Alumni Advisory Council is Kenneth Bethune ’01 in July 2019. Kenneth is the founder and managing partner of the Beeville law firm, Bethune Enright PLLC. He also is the founder and owner of Coastal Bend Distilling, Co. Kenneth is an active alumnus who has served on the council since 2013 and is a generous supporter of the school.

“I am very excited for the opportunity to serve as the president of the Alumni Advisory Council. It is my hope to have more alumni engaged than ever before,” said Kenneth. “I am eager to work with Alumni Director Laura Baker to explore a long-term vision for our alumni program. We share a love for SMH and a desire to strengthen alumni connection and engagement.”

- Kenneth Bethune ’01 | President of the Alumni Advisory Council

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Alumni

Alumni Class Notes Do you have great news to share with your fellow SMH alumni?

Maybe you landed your dream job, got married, had a baby, went on an amazing vacation, or have another exciting story to share.

Tell us about it! Visit www.smhall.org/alumniclassnotes and fill out the online form. You can enter your name, class year, latest news, and even upload photos.

1950s Gretchen Glasscock ’58 recently published a landmark book, Texas Wine Pioneers, a gripping Texas-sized drama providing new details of the creation of a multi-billion-dollar Texas wine industry. After graduating from Columbia University, Glasscock returned home to manage her family’s South Texas ranchland and minerals.

She sought to diversify their interest by exploring grape production and wine making in Texas. Glasscock challenged the first definitions of Texas grape-growing regions, planted the first commercial vinifera grape vineyard in Texas, helped form the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association, and passed the historic Farm Winery Act which laid the foundation and enabled the development of a multi-billion-dollar Texas wine industry.

1960s

community of people with differing intellectual abilities, to joyfully share in each other’s gifts.

Margaret (Peggy) Lasater Clark ’61 and her husband William

celebrated 50 years of marriage on November 6, 2020.

1980s Natalie Musgrave Dossett ’82 was the 2020 Outstanding

Volunteer Fundraiser for the Greater Dallas Chapter of Association of Fundraising Professionals Annual National Philanthropy Day Celebration. The event was held virtually in November of 2020.

Natalie was nominated by the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. She serves as a fundraiser and advocate for multiple nonprofits including the Episcopal School of Dallas, Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, and Dallas Museum of Art, among others.

1990s

Nancy Castleberry ’65 began her

encore career as a psychotherapist at Bloom Therapy Austin in Central Austin after teaching for many years. She also participated with the development of Austin Parable, a

Dr. Emily Benson ’91 is the 2020 Distinguished Alumni for Saint Mary’s Hall and will be recognized in May of 2021. Emily is an orthopedic

trauma surgeon who specializes in complex long bone and periarticular fractures. She obtained her undergraduate degree at Brown University and her medical doctorate at Boston University. She is currently serving as director of the Orthopedic Surgery Department at the Ventura County (Texas) Medical Center and associate program director for the Community Memorial Hospital Orthopedic Residency Program.

Courtney S. Marcus ’91 is the comanaging partner of Weil’s Dallas office and a partner in the firm’s Banking & Finance practice. In October 2020, she was selected as a “Texas Trailblazer” by Texas Lawyer.

In a special supplement to Texas Lawyer, she was profiled among a select group of Texas attorneys recognized as “agents of change” in their respective practice areas.

In addition to furthering diversity across the office, she has overseen the growth of a leading Banking & Finance team that is majority female and highly diverse. She is also the Saint Mary’s Hall 2008 Momentum Award Winner.

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Alumni Class Notes Marlayna Moss Bollinger ’95 founded the non-profit, the Skinny Gene Project, whose mission is to educate and empower others to prevent type 2 diabetes. Skinny Gene provides Diabetes Prevention Program services, such as nutrition counseling, fitness education, cooking classes, and more to address all aspect of one’s lifestyle that can contribute to type 2 diabetes.

Tommy Calvert ’98 was featured in a July 23, 2020 San Antonio ExpressNews article titled, “Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Calvert says U.S. should look abroad for lessons in fighting the coronavirus.” Tommy is the Bexar County Commissioner for Precinct 4 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Tufts University in 2002. He is the Saint Mary’s Hall 2014 Momentum Award Winner, and serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force for 2020-2021.

Houston K. Frost ’99 is one of three new members of the Saint Mary’s Hall Board of Trustees. His term began in August of 2020, see p.7 for more information. Houston is also the Saint Mary’s Hall 2019 Momentum Award Winner.

2000s

Kenneth Bethune ’01 is the owner of Coastal Bend Distilling. From April – May of 2020, the company shifted regular production of spirits to produce a hand sanitizer and redirect regular operational energy to fill the need for disinfectant.

54 | Saint Mary’s Hall

The company’s first priority was providing sanitizer to local healthcare workers, law enforcement, civic bodies, and other essential and nonprofit businesses. In addition, Kenneth was featured in September of 2020 on an episode of the podcast Restarting America, discussing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on business and society.

Alice Tomerlin Beretta Katz ’02 and her band Youngblood Hawke, released their new album, Edge of the World in October of 2020. Alice cowrote “Find A Way” with husband Simon Katz, and sings exclusively on the single. The band’s muchanticipated album follows their critically acclaimed debut album Wake Up featuring the Platinum single “We Come Running.” Alice is also the Saint Mary’s Hall 2017 Momentum Award Winner.

Corinna Holt Richter ’03 was featured on the front cover of the July/August 2020 issue of San Antonio Woman magazine. The issue

featured stories about women guiding San Antonio through COVID-19.

As president and chief administrative officer at HOLT CAT, Corinna is building on a family legacy along with her brother Peter J. Holt ’05, CEO and general manager. Together they represent the fifth generation of the Holt family business. She is also the Saint Mary’s Hall 2019 Momentum Award Winner.

Daniel Anastasio ’07 was one of four musicians who founded the local chamber ensemble Agarita, who performed, A Community Celebration with Agarita: Reinventing the Concert Experience at The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts in June of 2020. Following newly implemented COVID-19 safety protocols, this was the first classical music concert with a live audience in a major performing arts venue in the United States. Check out the live stream performance at www.agarita.org.

Cristina Castro ’07 shared her vocal talents with Saint Mary’s Hall Assistant Band Director/Teacher Jaime Ramirez’s show choir and private vocal students. Cristina holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice

Alumni

Performance from Trinity University and a Master of Music in Voice Performance from The Ohio State University. She recently performed as the soprano soloist in the Haydn Lord Nelson Mass and the world premiere of the musical Howie D: Back in the Day. Ellie Leeper Morrison ’07 was the speaker at SMH’s 8th Annual National English Honors Society Speaker Tea in February of 2020.

She also holds the honor of being the inaugural speaker when the Speaker Tea first started. Ellie returned this year to share her passion and knowledge as a creative director and digital media personality.

She manages a robust creative multimedia brand, ELEANORA, that encompasses written and styled editorials, on-camera interviews, product ambassadorships, podcast episodes, video advertising campaigns, and more. In addition to managing her own brand, Ellie coowns Morrison Creative, LLC with her husband, where they provide production, design, and digital media consultation services to clients throughout the United States.

Victoria Resendez ’11 graduated from The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical School with a Doctor of Medicine Degree with honors in May of 2020.

She is now a resident physician in Obstetrics/Gynecology at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis.

Carlos Rosende ’08 and his wife Mary celebrated the birth of their son, Carlos Donahue Rosende, in March of 2020.

Brenden Cicoria ’09 and Ed Kelley ’09 received URBAN-15 GROUP’s The Gift of Vision: San Antonio Youth Cinema 2006-2016 award for their film, Fresh Fruit (2007, Animation).

2010s Katie Cortes ’10 earned her license as a registered architect, and works at RVK Architects in San Antonio, Texas.

Madi Huffstickler ’12 was the guest speaker in Upper School Social Studies Teacher Jane Mannock’s Psychology class in October of 2020. Madi is currently a fourth year doctoral student at George Washington University, completing her clinical rotation in Albany, New York. Current SMH students have been studying perspectives on personality, and Madi discussed assessments and clinical practice. Form 11 and 12 students asked about grad school and the challenges of being a therapist.

Francisco Jose Pergola ’12 and Tomas Ezequiel Pergola ’13 are the 2020 Momentum Award winners for Saint Mary’s Hall. They are the cofounders of the company Cheddies. They will receive their awards in May of 2021.

Francisco is the CEO and holds a master’s degree in architecture and industrial design from Kansas State University. Tomas, holds his bachelor’s degree in corporate communications and business administration from Baylor University. Immediately after graduating in 2017, Tomas and his brother Francisco, committed themselves full time to growing Cheddies … which is now available on Amazon and more than 700 retail stores nationwide, including all H-E-B stores in Texas.

Carolina Roberts Lewis ’13, Alicia Amberson ’16, and Margaret Amberson ’16 recently launched Sorella Clothing Co., a fashionforward elevated shooting sports/ ranch-wear line for women and children. All garments are manufactured in the United States and are ecologically and economically sustainable. Their consciously made and sourced, clean and fashion-forward silhouettes are ready for the wear and tear of the South Texas brush and can be found at www.sorellaclothingco.com.

Griffin Rubin ’13 returned to SMH in February of 2020 to meet with Upper School Teacher Jane Mannock’s AP Government students. Griffin spoke about his two internships for Congressional committees in Washington D.C., and about law school and politics in general.

The Shield | 55

Alumni Class Notes Paige Cheatham ’14 is a management consultant at Accenture in New York.

She graduated from Wellesley College with a bachelor’s degree in economics, and serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force for 2020-2021.

Aubree Lee ’14 has completed her first year in an accelerated Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts.

Aubree made the Dean’s List and was awarded a Business Certificate by the National Veterinary Business Management Association. She was also the fundraising chair of Zoo Exotics Wildlife Club and the Student Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society. She fosters for both People for Animal Welfare on St. Kitts and Saving Animals from Emergency.

Aubree is also a member of the Christian Veterinary Fellowship.

Carson Kessler ’15 was a guest speaker in December of 2020 for the SMH National English Honor Society.

Carson is currently a reporter with THE CITY, a nonprofit newsroom that specializes in local accountability stories in New York City. She graduated from New York University (NYU) with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and English. Carson then attended Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism where she received her Master of Arts in Journalism. Upon graduation, she was awarded the Pulitzer Traveling Fellowship, given to the top four graduates in the program to travel and report abroad. The writing can be found in both magazines and on the web in Fortune, VICE, Marie Claire, Our Town NY, The Brooklyn Ink, and NYCityLens. When it comes to reporting, no subject is off limits for Kessler (she created “the death beat” during her undergraduate education at NYU for which she shadowed a crime scene cleaner and interviewed many morticians). She completed a 60-page undergraduate thesis on William Faulkner and the Grotesque Body, inspired by her “death beat” reporting.

56 | Saint Mary’s Hall

Jane Emma Barnett ’16 was recently featured on Broadway World’s College Showcase performing her monologue from Much Ado and Dance Nation.

Isabella Meador ’16 is participating in an internship for the Korean American Cultural Center of San Antonio, a nonprofit organization located in San Antonio, Texas. The organization offers both Korean language classes at three different levels, cultural classes, including Traditional Korean Dance, Art, Traditional Korean Drums, home fashion, photoshop, and guitar.

Alexia Salingaros ’16 worked with the SMH Advanced Digital Cinema students on an eight-week color grading series, which is also what she teaches now having graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with a degree in Film and Television. Salingaros is now an adjunct professor at the university while working as a full-time freelance colorist in New York City. She also received URBAN-15 GROUP’s The Gift of Vision: San Antonio Youth Cinema 2006-2016 Award for her film Of Gods and Bells (2016, Documentary).

Maddie Guy ’17 delivered the Blue Tie Ceremony speech in August of 2020. Although her speech was given virtually, it was well received by the Class of 2021. To watch, visit our SMH Vimeo page at www.vimeo.com.

Prerna Pamar ’17 continues her passion for writing and movies at The University of Texas at Austin.

In March of 2020, she published an article, AFF 2019: Grief on Screen, on the official course website of Best Pictures, the inaugural “Crucible Course” for the Plan II Honors Program.

Emma Warnecke ’17 was named a Truman Scholar Finalist at Western Kentucky University.

Jonathan ( Jon) Lloyd ’18 set a new personal record of 50.75m to win the gold medal in the Men’s Javelin while competing in the Bahamas House First Chance Meet in Daytona Beach, Florida in February of 2020.

Jon attends the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

Drake Leach ’18 was a semi-finalist in The American Pops Symphony’s Funding the Voices of Tomorrow Contest.

Brian Garrett ’19 (pictured right) tied for 1st place at the Wexford Intercollegiate Tournament at Wexford Country Club in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Brian currently attends Davidson College.

Michael Wood ’19 finished his first year of college while studying Mechanical Engineering along with certificates (a more in-depth minor program that includes projects along with classwork) in Innovation & Entrepreneurship as well as Energy and the Environment. One of the highlights was working on a team project for Skanska to build an

Alumni

attachment to a standard scissor lift to allow workers to access narrow spaces safely and easily. The team was then selected by the school’s Engineering Department to be their “Poster Project” for the year and was written about in multiple articles.

2020s Avery and Ben Eugster ’20 were featured on KSAT-12’s annual SA Live Back to School Special on August 8, 2020. SMH Assistant Athletic Director Lance Lewis worked with the Special Olympics this summer to create some basketball activities and Ben and Avery helped him demonstrate. SA Live Back to School Special features local educators, businesses, and students.

SMH extends its gratitude to Elaine Seidel Redburn Hinds ’43 and the staff of South Texas: The Newsletter for sharing information for use in our Alumni Class Notes.

2021 REUNION We’re Bringing Saint Mary’s Hall to You!

Plans for our first virtual reunion are underway so mark your calendar for FRIDAY, MAY 14. Online reunion programming means that SMH alumni from across the country or world can take part in the reunion!

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE VIRTUAL PROGRAM:

• Honor classes celebrating 10 (2011), 20 (2001), 30 (1991), 40 (1981), 50 (1971), and 60 (1961) years in 2021, • • • •

as well as those who were unable to celebrate their milestone in 2020.

Honor the 2020 Momentum Award and Distinguished Alumni winners.

Remember those from our community we have lost.

Give you a glimpse of life on campus today and how the school is thriving in the midst of the pandemic.

Recognize faculty and staff members with 20 or more years of service.

CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER! If you would like to help plan your Class-specific virtual event, please let us know.

QUESTIONS? Contact Alumni Director Laura Baker at (210) 483-9218 or lbaker@smhall.org

We’re also planning other ways for you to virtually connect with us, so stay tuned for other programming to be held the week of the virtual reunion. Make sure we have your current information so we can include you in all of our virtual events. If you haven’t updated your information recently, we invite you to visit smhall.org/alumni to update or submit your contact information.

In Memoriam Alumni Maggie Moore nee Maggie Belle Wiltshire Class of 1939 April 16, 2020 Dorthea Oppenheimer nee Dorthea (Dody) J. Chittin Class of 1942 September 27, 2020 Joyce P. Jones nee Joyce Marilyn Pegram Class of 1943 April 17, 2020 Patricia Eckert nee Patricia (Patsy) Marie Baker Class of 1948 November 21, 2020 Leila Downs Wynn nee Leila Downs Clark Class of 1949 October 31, 2020 Agnes Kendrick nee Agnes (Aggie) Bell Fordtran Class of 1950 September 19, 2020 Mary Reed Daugette nee Mary Reed Simpson Class of 1951 March 31, 2020 Peggy Mays nee Peggy Pitman Class of 1953 November 11, 2020

Kurt Saxon Seidel Class of 1955 July 4, 2020 Dr. James Thornton Willerson Class of 1957 September 16, 2020 Emily Monnig nee Emily (Bryant) Browning Class of 1961 August 10, 2020 Frances Fotini Chamberlain Class of 1965 July 2, 2020 Lida Lea Class of 1968 May 4, 2020 Alice Pratt Dorn nee Alice (Lisa) Pratt Negley Class of 1969 May 13, 2020

Mary Cates nee Mary Weller Class of 1975 May 23, 2020 Evelyn Claywell Absher Class of 1986 May 21, 2020 Karen Light nee Karen Michelle Turner Class of 1990 March 3, 2020 Marrs McLean Bowman Class of 1996 February 21, 2020 Caitlin Burns Howell Class of 2002 November 20, 2020 Neel Parag Patel Class of 2015 March 9, 2020

Philip N. Hudson, Sr. Class of 1969 August 3, 2020 Jewel Crosswell nee Jewel (Julie) Byron Biedenharn Class of 1970 October 1, 2020 Margaret McMahon nee Margaret Bowman Class of 1970 April 30, 2020

Faculty/Staff/Trustees Janet Nowlin Schoolcraft April 28, 2020 Head of Montessori 1966-1972

*This list contains information received February 13, 2020 – December 31, 2020.

58 | Saint Mary’s Hall

Dr. Ronald K. Calgaard April 10, 2020 SMH Board of Trustees 1989-2020

A Message from the Editor, The year 2020 was fraught with events that seemed hard to understand or overcome. As we looked for a theme for this issue of The Shield, the same words kept echoing in my mind: uncertainty, change, challenges, strength, grit, and perseverance.

We began to think about how our ancestors dealt with the seismic shifts in their world. As a history lover, I knew examples of resilience in the face of uncertainty existed. But, how did that relate to us and our school? I began to listen to the stories (and research) stories of how for more than 140 years, the students, faculty, and parents of Saint Mary’s Hall had overcome many challenges to morph into a school whose legacy is about perseverance and change for the better.

In one of the only written historical accounts we have of our school, Saint Mary’s Hall: First Century by Kemper Diehl, we found several examples we thought would be interesting to highlight:

• May 1900 - A cyclone hit downtown San Antonio, near the SMH

Prepare

Wolfe Hall Campus. Though the students were terrified, everyone was safe and Saint Mary’s Hall sustained minor damage … losing chimneys and electricity!

Play!

• October 1903 - San Antonio was in the middle of a

To

yellow fever outbreak. A teacher was found to be suffering from the fever. The teacher and students were quarantined, and no one else in the school contracted yellow fever.

• May 1918 – Due to debts and a dropping enrollment caused by World War I, the Diocesan School Board agreed to close Saint Mary’s Hall for the remainder of the war; however, with some help from a local businessman, SMH reopened in September 1918.

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• 1918 - Reports indicate, due to influenza epidemics, Saint

smhall.org/summer

Mary’s Hall closed twice during that school year.

Saint Mary’s Hall seniors study outdoors circa 1946 during the era of the Polio epidemic.

• May 1946 – A polio epidemic hit San Antonio causing city officials to request that area schools close. One student recounts that they were told to “pack up anything we had at the school and to go home – no more school for that year.”

Thus, this issue is titled, A Legacy of Perseverance. In this edition, we salute the Class of 2020, we highlight our new leadership, and we champion our hard-working teachers. Our featured section on p.28 includes Head of School Len Miller’s perspective on navigating the challenges of 2020. It also delves into personal accounts from our school community on how they have persevered and found the grit to innovate and succeed in these challenging times. As always, we look to the continued accomplishments of our students in Around the Hall, and highlight our exceptional alumni.

We hope you enjoy this issue and find inspiration in these accounts of courage and resilience. We were moved by the resulting stories, and believe that we will indeed persevere together.

Sincerely, Elizabeth (Liz) A. Thompson Director of Marketing and Communications

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May 24 — July 30

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ATHLETICS

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ENRICHMENT

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Saint Mary’s Hall

Volume XVI, Issue I – Spring 2021

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A Legacy of Perseverance

Saint Mary’s Hall has a large reserve of historical photos. In each issue of The Shield, we will include an unidentified photo and ask for your help in identifying the individuals in the photo and what they’re doing. If you know any of these people or have any information about the occasion, please write us at editor@smhall.org or at 9401 Starcrest Drive, San Antonio, TX 78217. Thank you for helping us archive part of SMH history!

Volume XVI, Issue I – Spring 2021

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | p.26 Justice Sonya Sotomayor “Virtually” Speaks at SMH | p.44 Remembering Peggy Pitman Mays ’53 | p.50