SMA NEWSLETTER
April 14, 2021
Virtue of the Month for Students: Stewardship
Social Skills: Following Directions and Working With Others
Virtue of the Month for Adults: Temperance
Dear Parents,
I hope you all had a restful Easter break. Our return marks the beginning of the “home stretch” toward the end of this momentous school year. I know I am repeating myself, but I am so proud of this SMA community for our strength, courage and cooperative spirit throughout the past several months.
With the success of the county’s vaccination program for educators and the progress our county has made in the battle against the spread of Covid-19, we are thankfully beginning to see some of our “normality” returning. We will begin to gradually and conservatively transition away from the plexiglass partitions on our student desks. We have accomplished this with our middle school classes. Additionally, we have placed individual student desks in our ELA, 6th, and 7th homerooms. These desks will allow for continued social distancing within the classrooms. We will continue to mandate temperature checks, hand sanitizing, facial coverings and social distancing for all students through the end of this school year. I will watch all public health requirements throughout the summer for mandates in the fall. Please rest assured that we remain vigilant in our safety protocols for our students and teachers. I am confident that we will finish this school year positive and strong because, with God…anything is possible.
Many thanks for your continued patience and support! Stay Strong Stella…we are almost there!
Blessings,
Francie Moss
Thursday, April 15th- Dollar Denim Day
Friday, April 16th-Student of the Month Assembly
- 8:05 TK-2 (Jr. Yard courtyard)
- 8:45 3-5 (Sr. Yard courtyard)
- 9:30 6-8 (Sr. Yard courtyard)
Friday, April 16th- 11:20 Mass (TK-2nd Grade)
Online Book Fair Starts The Week of April 19th!
More information to come...
The link:
https://i55bookfairs.com/school/stella-maris-academy/
Free shipping code:
FREESHIP2STELLAMARIS
Click on the picture for brochure.
Stella Maris Masks on Sale!!!
School Speak Account
Advertising Opportunity! Click on the picture below for the link.
Another Fun Day at SMA!
Upcoming Birthdays:
Joey A. (Kindergarten) April 15th
Joshua O. (7th Grade) April 15th
Tim H. (6th Grade) April 16th
Isabella L. (6th Grade) April 17th
Diego L. (7th Grade) April 17th
Leo P. (6th Grade) April 18th
Mrs. Whitten (1st Grade Teacher) April 19th
Eason J. (8th Grade) April 20th
Sebastian M. (6th Grade) April 23rd
Isa B. (Kindergarten) April 24th
Francesca B. (3rd Grade) April 24th
Haleh M. (7th Grade) April 28th
Prayer Requests
Felipe Cervantes, family friend of Mrs. Pina
Stacie Buechel, family friend of the Anderson Family
Jack Wilenchik, brother in law of Mrs. Pina
Mark Hollis, husband of Mrs. Hollis
Please send prayer requests to sclariza@stellamarisacademy.org
Looking Ahead...
Thursday, April 15th
Dollar Denim Day
Friday, April 16th
Student of the Month Assembly
School Mass
12:30 Dismissal
Wednesday, April 21st
Professional Admin. Day
Thursday, April 22nd
Spirit Day
Friday, April 23rd
School Mass
12:30 Dismissal
Friday, April 30th
School Mass
12:30 Dismissal
Mission Statement
The mission of Stella Maris Academy is to empower a community of diverse learners to achieve their God-given potential by providing a Christ-centered, academically excellent, and safe environment.
Statement of Philosophy
The parents, administration, faculty, and staff of Stella Maris Academy believe that Christ is the center of our lives and that we are called to proclaim the Good News, to create community, and to be of service to all of God’s people.
We acknowledge that parents are the primary educators of their children.
We foster a supportive environment that balances high expectations with the respect for individual differences.
We commit ourselves to challenge students to become life-long learners while developing a healthy attitude of personal value and self-worth.
We prepare students for higher education, responsible citizenship, and moral integrity in an ever changing world.
SCHOOL-WIDE LEARNING EXPECTATIONS
- Pray Everyday
- Live like Jesus and the Holy Family
- Understand, share, and participate in the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church
Life Long Learners Who:
- Communicate effectively
- Works independently and collaboratively
- Demonstrate critical, creative, and original thinking skills
- Integrate fine arts
- Persevere through challenging experiences
Community and Global Ambassadors Who:
- Utilize social skills
- Resolve conflicts peacefully
- Care for all of God’s creations
- Treat everyone with respect
- Demonstrate a spirit of service
NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATORY POLICY
Diocesan and parochial schools of the Diocese of San Diego, mindful of their mission to be witnesses to the love of Christ for all, admit students of any race, color and national and/or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the schools. Diocesan and parochial schools do not discriminate on the basis of race, color and national and/or ethnic origin, age, sex or disability in the administration of educational policies, scholarships and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Likewise, Diocesan and parochial schools do not discriminate against any applicant for employment on the basis of sex, age, disability, race, color and national and/or ethnic origin.
Virtues of the Month for Adults
September-Faith
October-Justice
November/December- Prudence
January-Hope
February-Fortitude
March-Charity
April/May-Temperance
Virtues of the Month for Students
September: Respect
October: Building Peace
November: Empathy
December: Sharing
January: Celebration
February: Cooperation
March: Service
April: Stewardship
May: Gratitude
2020-2021 Family Handbook
Safe Environment for Families and Students
All children who attend K-12 Catholic schools in the diocese or who participate in faith formation at parishes or other Catholic facilities participate annually in a program called “No-Go-Tell.” This program instructs children in grade-appropriate language what to do if “anyone touches my body in a way that makes me feel weird, or uncomfortable or worried or scared.” Its central rule tells them how to say “No,” where to “Go” to be safe and to “Tell” what happened to them to a trusted adult as soon as possible. This information is posted prominently at all schools and parishes.
Please click here for more information and parent packet.
Free Virtual Programs at the La Jolla Library (Grades K-8)
FOR CHILDREN IN GRADES PreK-1:
Dance Pants Party – Mondays, 10:00-10:30am – Join us via Zoom for a virtual dance party! This weekly Monday morning dance series is recommended for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartners. Kids will twist, shout, and make their moves to musical favorites like “The Hokey Pokey,” “Baby Shark,” and more! Click here to register for this program.
Preschool Storytime with Ms. Rebecca – Thursday 4/22, 10:30-11:00am - Join us on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month for a virtual storytime via Zoom, perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. Click here to register for this program.
North American Natives! Earth Day with Pacific Animal Productions – Thursday 4/22, 3:30-4:00pm - Meet animals that inhabit North America and learn how to care for a backyard habitat. The fun and educational program is designed for children ages three to twelve. Click here for more information.
FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-5:
Math and Murals – Friday 4/30, 3:00-4:30pm - Colorful murals can really brighten public spaces and urban landscapes. Learn how to use math and materials science – plus artistic inspiration – to design and execute large-scale murals. Click here for more information and to register for this program.
FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 6-8:
Psyched for Psychology – Wednesday 4/14, 3:00-4:30pm – Get totally psyched about psychology! Through demonstrations and group activities, students will explore various topics in psychology including perception, personality, social experiments, brain anatomy and functionality, development, and memory. Students will design their own superheroes using their knowledge of the brain, play memory games, participate in social psychology studies, and more! Taking on the role of psychologists, the students will begin to uncover the many mysteries underlying human behavior. For students in grades 6-8. Click here to register for this program.
Marine Mammals of California – Friday 4/16, 3:00-4:30pm – This workshop introduces students to the many marine mammals native to San Diego, including seals, sea lions, dolphins, and great whales. Through virtual activities, students will learn about marine mammal adaptations, such as echolocation in whales and locomotion in seals and sea lions. For students in grades 6-8. Click here to register for this program.
Ocean Science and Marine Biodiversity – Saturday 4/17, 11:00am-12:30pm – Explore a variety of ecosystems, including California’s own kelp forests, where sea lions, dolphins and whales roam. Examine how human activities are changing these ecosystems and how marine creatures cope with the changes. We’ll take a look at the Great Pacific Garbage Patch to learn how plastics move around our oceans. We’ll also look at how the work of marine biologists can help protect the diversity of sea life. Hands-on activities include experiments, dissection of ocean animals and creation of hand-crafted marine creatures from recycled plastics and trash. For students in grades 6-8. Click here to register for this program.
Lights, Camera, Acting – Thursday 4/22, 3:30-5:00pm – Welcome to acting boot camp! Explore the different realms of the performing arts world including theatre acting, musical theatre acting, Shakespeare, commercial acting and film/tv acting. You’ll also discover what a professional audition is like! For students in grades 6-8. Click here to register for this program.
Exploring Kelp Forests – Thursday 4/22, 3:30-5:00pm – Dive into the underwater ecosystem of San Diego’s kelp forest as you learn about algae and other incredible organisms. Interactive “creature features” will highlight a variety of marine mammals, including invertebrates, fish, and sharks. For students in grades 6-8. Click here to register for this program.
Cracking the COVID 19 Code – Saturday 4/24, 11:00am-12:30pm – This course is an exploration into the world of viruses. We will be establishing a strong understanding of viruses and dive in to examine SARS-CoV-2 from biological and societal perspectives. Students will examine the virus’s mechanism of action and how it interacts with the human body. Students will learn about the upcoming COVID-19 vaccines and how scientists use viruses in both scientific and medical advancements. For students in grades 6-8. Click here to register for this program.
Medicine and the Heart – Wednesday 4/28, 3:00-4:00pm – Virtually explore the body’s circulatory system with a focus on the heart while introducing human anatomy and physiology and learning about different diseases linked to the heart. This workshop is especially aimed at students considering careers in medicine. For students in grades 6-8. Click here to register for this program.
Explore 3D Modeling with Blender – Friday 4/30, 3:00-4:30pm - Use the open-source program Blender to explore the potential of 3D modeling and printing. Learn how to use Blender for computer-aided design projects such as 3D printing, tool making and architectural modeling. For students in grades 6-8. Click here to register for this program.