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The year is coming to an end and 2017 is quickly approaching. Time goes so quickly and it is important to enjoy life every day. Below we have captured some remarkable students and events, that deserve to be highlighted. We are celebrating Advent for the month of December preparing for Christmas and continuing with our Works of Mercy. The PMA Panther PAWS collected pocketbooks for a cause, students participated in the Lions Club Speech contest, as well as for the High School Quiz Bowl. The PMA Music Guild performed exquisitely at the Christmas Concert and we had a wonderful Christmas Pageant-tree. We thank you for reading this issue of ePathways. Have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.
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Although the weather has been more unpredictable than ever, PMA has been consistent in finding new ways to implement and live out the Works of Mercy. The focus for the month of December has been on Visiting the Sick and Visiting the Imprisoned. We were fortunate to be a little innovative in carrying out these more complicated works of mercy. For visiting the imprisoned we focused on those who suffer from the imprisonment of addiction and offered up prayer intentions. As for visiting the sick, the PMA school community took part in celebrating the 100th birthday of Sr. Marguerite, one of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary who lives at the convent. Together, the community was able to send her 100 birthday cards for her special and momentous day.
Additionally, in keeping with the charitable nature of the season, PMA once again took part in its annual giving tree. This year, the the students, families, and friends of PMA were able to provide Christmas gifts for ten families in need within the greater-Methuen community and ensure that they have a joyous and merry holiday.
We as a school are so thrilled to see so many participate in these great opportunities of service, giving, and brotherly love.
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 "Project Pocketbook" is a service project for the community started by two PMA Alumni, Yadira Cruz Valdez, '02 and classmate, Sylvia Martinez, '02. They collect gently used pocketbooks and fill them with everyday essentials and toiletries. These filled pocketbooks are given to local agencies who
distribute them to women in need.
PMA was excited about "Project Pocketbook" and did what we could to help. We donated 50 filled pocketbooks and donated another 30 to this cause.
  The idea for PMA's participation in this great service came from Alumni Relations Director, Paula Mansor-Laliberte, '82, who thought it would fit in well with the school's Works of Mercy initiative. As a result, this project was able to unite all aspects of the PMA community and link past students with present ones. It is our hope that we can continue to provide experiences such as this. We encourage all PMA alumni to keep their alma mater in mind whenever they get involved in charity and service.
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In appropriate Advent fashion, PMA has been readily preparing for the coming of Jesus at Christmas in a number of ways, both old and new. PMA continued its tradition of lighting the candles of its Advent wreath each week in front of the whole school community, along with morning prayer, announcements, and a hymn from the Music Ministry group. However, this year we added an additional piece to the weekly Advent service: the Jesse Tree.
The Jesse Tree provides a brief summary of the story of Salvation History from the creation of the world to the Nativity. The prophets of Israel all spoke of the coming of Christ, of how a savior will be born, a king in the line of David, son of Jesse from which the tree gets its name.
Each week, Campus Ministry students read scripture passages from a select number of events from
Salvation History and added the respective ornament to the tree.
The incorporation of this Advent tradition highlights the anticipation that comes with the liturgical season.
Along with the more regular Advent service, PMA also makes time to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation to all interested students. This year confessions were made available the after Gaudete, or Rejoice, marking the half-way point of Advent. We were fortunate to have two priests from the Merrimack Valley region come on to campus and spend some time with students to help spiritually prepare them for Christmas.
Then, as part of the final send-off before Christmas, the PMA school community gathered again morning before break for a rendition of "The Night Before Christmas" rewritten to tell the story of the Nativity. A select number of students read from the poem with Christmas carol music videos played intermittently
. After all of this, it would be fair to say that the PMA school community is ready for Christmas and all that comes with it.
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PMA adopted local families this holiday season and put their Christmas wishes on our Giving Tree.
Helping families in need is a heartwarming mission and we are glad that we could spread Christmas cheer.
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PMA High School Quiz Bowl Participants |
On Sunday, November 13 Olivia Alvino, McKensie Ferrari, Camille Holleran, John Morris , and ySabella Santell-Wright in WGBH High School Quiz Show Super Sunday.
Students were quizzed on their knowledge ranging from math, history, current events, local sports, politics, literature, science, and the arts.
We are very proud of our team for doing well.
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| Lions Club Youth Speech Contest |
 On December 3 four PMA students participated in the Lions Club Speech Contest.
They delivered excellent orations about the assigned topic of "political correctness."
Sophia Belia, '19 and Yvone Xi, '19 will go on to represent the Methuen and Lawrence Lions Clubs at the next round of speeches.
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For the second year in a row, Presentation of Mary participated in the LIFT Advent Service at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston. LIFT is a night of praise and worship with a full Christian rock band, confessions, and adoration and on Friday, December 2nd 14 students were excited to take part in the experience.
Some of these students had gone last year and did an amazing job at encouraging their peers to come to the point where twice as many students decided to go this year. These new students were blown away by the evangelic power of the evening. "
Going to this concert gave me the ability to truly be myself in the presence of God, and I couldn't be happier," said sophomore Britney Savage.
 The number of teens in attendance and the absolute joy that emanated from the band and the altar was like nothing they had ever seen before and helped them to see a new way of expressing their faith. They are already looking forward to the next opportunity to go to LIFT.
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The PMA Annual Christmas Concert was held on Sunday, December 11 in the Dupre Center.
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Mrs. McGuinness' Physical Science classes each made a life-size periodic table of elements Each class is below with their table.
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Yankee Candle Fundraising Drive
The 2016 Yankee Candle Drive is over. Don't worry if you didn't get your catalog order in. Yankee Candle has committed to help PMA all year long.
Anytime you shop online they will make a donation to our school. Visit
www.yankeecandlefundraising.com and enter group #99896054 in the "start shopping" box.
Thank you for your support!
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GoodShop
Christmas shopping is well underway! Don't forget to use GoodShop with any of your online shopping. They have partnered with
over 5,000 stores to offer you daily online promotions and coupons. Plus, they give a percentage of your total back to your favorite non-profit. That could be us!
Before you shop, quickly set up a user name and password and don't forget to assign Presentation of Mary Academy, Methuen, MA as your non-profit of choice! Everybody wins! Happy shopping.
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Amazon Smile
You can support PMA every time you shop online at Amazon.com! Especially now with all of your Christmas shopping.
Through the Amazon Smile program, Amazon will donate 0.5 % of your purchase to PMA. It's that simple. Just make sure you select Presentation of Mary Academy - Methuen, MA as your charity of choice. Or click in the link below to to be taken directly to smile.amazon.com in support of PMA. Doesn't that make you want to smile?
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Or download a printable 2016-2017 school calendar here
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Classes Resume after Christmas Break
Tuesday, January 3
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Martin Luther King Day
No School
Monday, January 16
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Open Mic Night
Thursday, January 19
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Walk for Life in
January 28 - 26
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Catholic Schools Week
January 28 - February 4
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Travel Opportunity for PMA Families.
The 2016 Europe trip was a blast. Don't miss out on the next one! It is an opportunity of a lifetime!
Current students and their families have the opportunity to travel abroad on a dream European vacation.
PMA is leading an 8 day trip to Lisbon, Seville and Madrid
in June 2017
Spots still available!
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The Annual Fund is Underway.
The 2016-17 Annual Fund is underway. Money raised through this fund help support student programs, athletics, and allow us to offer tuition assistance to deserving families.
To make your donations deductible this calendar year, make your donates before December 31.
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