The Weekly Witness
St. Mary Magdalen School | 18 April 2014 | San Antonio, TX
From Self-Discipline to Curiosity
Students received awards this past Wednesday after Mass for witnessing Self-Discipline. One important aspect of self-discipline is the ability to suppress our short-term desires and/or impulses for something bigger and better down the road. This is actually an important life skill.
In a famous experiment, a scientist placed preschoolers alone in a room with a marshmallow. They were told that, if they could wait to eat it for 15 minutes, they could then have two. Some were able to exercise self-discipline, and some weren’t able. “Follow-up studies on these preschoolers found that those who were able to wait the 15 minutes were significantly less likely to have problems with behavior, drug addiction or obesity by the time they were in high school, compared with kids who gobbled the snack in less than a minute. The gratification-delayers also scored an average of 210 points higher on the SAT.” For more on this, see below.
Now, we officially move on to the engine of educational success: Curiosity.
Save The May Date: Buckles & Bling
Tickets for the May 3rd Bash are now available at the Main Office. A table is $300, an individual ticket is $30 and tickets for a couple are $50.
Those who buy tickets earn:
· 5 service hours
· their child a free dress day on May 5th!
Additionally, there’ll be a chance to play a fun game called heads or tails, which, if you win, will cover the $500 total for fundraising next year.
Each class is putting together a live auction basket. Inquire with your child’s homeroom teacher for more information on what this is and how you can contribute.
We will be sending out a Lend A Hand Flyer this coming week. Any help is appreciated!
About Us
Email: william.daily@gsnsa.org
Website: www.stmmsa.org
Location: 1700 Clower St.
Phone: 210.735.1381
Pope Francis on 60 Minutes
The popular, acclaimed news program did its feature story on Francis. Watch it by clicking on the links below.
Watkins Family
As you may have seen on the news, one of our families, the Watkins (Ariana, Pre-K; Ajah, 2nd) suffered a house fire this week. Many of their belongings were destroyed. Donations have streamed in (over $150). Thank you so much for your generosity. If you missed your chance to contribute, please send your donation with your child or see Ms. Virginia in the main office.
The Growth Mindset: Part of Our Maverick Culture
Grit and the growth mindset are ingrained in our school culture. Why? Well, because how our kids view learning and intelligence has a profound effect on both. Check out these excellent pieces on grit and the growth mindset below.
Hope For The Future: APPLY NOW!!!
Here are some important dates for Hope for the Future; please note that the longer you wait to apply, the smaller the pool of money they have to distribute, and the larger the pool of applicants to whom they must distribute money:
April 15th - First round of funding
May 1st - Second round of funding
In other words, HFF notified those who will receive funds on April 15.
Most of our families receive Hope for the Future assistance, netting between $500 and $2,000 per student. I really can’t think of any reason not to apply. It’s $30 and takes maybe 30 minutes to complete the application. To apply, go to the link below and click on the gray icon toward the bottom of the page that reads “2014-15 Application.” The sooner this application is done, the better. Should you need any assistance in the application process, please do not hesitate to contact me. I can personally sit down with you to complete the application.
Registration: The Time Is Also NOW!
Our 2014-15 registration is in full swing. Please note that some grades are filling up quickly. Reserve your seat!
On another note, we have added incentives for those who register by Friday, May 16th; they will receive the following:
· Free Dress Day for Their Children on May 16th
· 5 Service Hours
· Free Raspas If You Visit Us On May 10th To Register Between 11 a.m. & 3
Raspas and Registration!
Saturday, May 10, 2014, 11:00 AM
SMMS
Important Calendar Change
The last day for K3, K4 and K5 will be Friday, May 30th. Graduation for K5 will be on May 30th at 8:30.
Last Day for K3, K4 and K5
Friday, May 30, 2014, 09:00 PM
SMMS
Kinder Graduation
Friday, May 30, 2014, 08:15 AM
SMM Church
Starbase!
The week is here! We applied and won entry into the Starbase STEM program. Our 5th graders will attend for 4 days: April 22, 23, 24, and 28.
Starbase is a national STEM education program. Starbase Kelly is physically located at Lackland AFB, and is sponsored by the 433 Airlift Wing which flies the huge C-5 aircraft.
The curriculum covers a variety of STEM subjects, and is very much hands-on and inquiry based. They visit the aircraft on Lackland, both the C-5 and the F-16, and use them as examples in their curriculum. They cover atmospheric science, Newton’s laws of motion, Bernoulli’s Principle and the forces of flight, air pressure, nanotechnology, engineering design, a simple chemistry lesson and experiment, coordinate geometry, and latitude and longitude.
Students each build and launch a model rocket, fly an airplane on a flight simulator program, and use a very sophisticated (but simplified) computer aided design program to design objects in three dimensions. While they are proud of the amount of learning that takes place, their biggest successes are because the program is lots of fun for the students.
Check out the link below for more info.
Talent Show!
Auditions are complete, and the show will be from 6-7:30 on May 21st. Admission is FREE! Please contact Ms. Vizcaino at yasmin.vizcaino@gsnsa.org if you have any questions.
Talent Show!
Wednesday, May 21, 2014, 06:00 PM
Jubilee Hall
Parent Teacher Conferences
Thanks to all of you who attended Parent Teacher Conferences! Parents who attended earned 1 service hour, their children earned a free dress day and the class with the highest percentage attendance won a pizza party! These classes were:
Pre-K – Ms. Fernandez
Pre-K – Ms. Acosta
Pre-K – Mrs. Garza
K5- Ms. Callahan
1st – Sister Esther
WOW- Great job Mav parents! That’s a lot of pizza rightfully and wonderfully earned!
The free dress for all students whose parents attended these conferences will be this Monday, April 21.
Free Dress
Monday, Apr 21, 2014, 09:00 PM
SMMS
Parish Bulletin
Check out the April 13th bulletin at this link: http://www.thecatholicdirectory.com/bulletins/20639/Apr-13-2014.pdf
Lenten Schedule
We gathered three times this week as a school to celebrate Holy Week. We had our Monday Mass, Wednesday Mass and on Thursday, we gathered for the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
May Crowning
This will be on May 8th. More details to follow!
College Preparedness, Trinity University-Style
On Monday, the 8th Grade students embarked on their second tour of Trinity University. While the first one focused on residential, social and extra-curricular college life, this tour focused on the academic, financial, and admissions aspects of college.
Accelerated Reader Challenge
We have now surpassed 4,750 points! 5,000 is right around the corner! Many thanks to you for instilling a love and habit of reading in your children.
May 4th First Communion
Our Mavericks are busily preparing for their First Communion on Sunday, May 4th! Mass will be at 2:30. Many thanks to Sister Mary John and Father Will for spearheading this event.
1st Communion Mass
Sunday, May 4, 2014, 02:30 PM
SMM Church
Canonization of John XXIII and Pope John Paul II
Please click on this link for information on the Archdiocese’s April 27th celebration of these great men’s canonization: http://www.archsa.org/BreakingNews.aspx
Also, please see this flyer: http://www.archsa.org/UserContent/file/Full%20page%20photo.pdf
The Monday Mass on April 28th will be specifically dedicated to these new Saints.
Mass for JP2 and J23
Monday, Apr 28, 2014, 02:30 PM
SMM Church
Inclement Weather Make-Up Day
As we had a snow/ice day earlier this year, the last day of school will be June 5th, not June 4th.
Last Day of School
Thursday, Jun 5, 2014, 09:00 PM
SMMS
Calendar Reminders
Unlike in years past, there will be school on this Easter Monday, April 21.
On Friday, April, 25th there is NO school.
No School
Friday, Apr 25, 2014, 09:00 PM
SMMS
Athletics
Banquet!
Our big celebration of our year in athletics is coming up. It will be on May 16. Save the Date!
Baseball and Softball
Our Gents played St. Monica’s to a tie this week, while the Ladies had tough losses against St. Monica and St. Paul’s.
Go Mavs!
CAL
Tee-Ball games have started! Our Mini Mavs are off to a great start!