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.

“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

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.

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.

Kaleidoscope

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.

SMH Teacher’s Grant Award Allows for Collaborative Lab

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. 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 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.

Congratulations to all of our college-bound Baron athletes!

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 • 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