The year is coming to an end and 2018 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 celebrated Advent in preparation for Christmas and continued to serve the local community. Interact collected canned goods for Lazaus House, families brought in items for the PMA Giving Tree, and students got in the Christmas Spirit at the annual PMA Pageant-tree. We thank you for reading this issue of ePathways. Have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.
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A group of five young men from PMA attended the St. Andrew's Dinner at St. Dorothy Parish in Wilmington, MA
on Tuesday,
November 28. The St. Andrew Dinner is a gathering for young men of high school age to join Cardinal Seán O'Malley for an informal dinner. The evening consists of Evening Prayer, dinner, conversation with seminarians, and vocation witness stories. These stories included examples of road blocks to hearing God's call and discovering what will really make us happy. Sophomores Jonathan Colon Rivera and Camilo Cordoba, along with freshmen Michael Barr, Mark Lopez, and Tommy Regan spent time talking with the seminarians over dinner and even took selfies with the Cardinal. PMA can proudly say we were the most numerous group in attendance.
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PMA arrived just in time at Lazarus House to help organize all of the donations
that were
brought to them for Thanksgiving. A group of 14 students eagerly set to work to prepare meals for those in need, as well as box up canned goods to be sent to the food pantry. The staff at Lazarus House was so appreciative of their enthusiasm and dedication.
The group of students consisted of juniors Sophia Bellia, Meredith Gebski, Naomi Gonzales, Aidan Lena, Audrey Latino, Brady Quinn, Alex Thurmond, Kailey Woods, and freshmen Connie Chong, Shaundra Hester, Hailey Johansen, Heather Johansen, Ciara McCarthy.
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PMA has been spiritually preparing for the coming of Jesus this Advent season in a number of ways. Every
Monday
morning of Advent the school community of PMA has gathered in the cafeteria for morning prayer and the tradition of lighting the Advent wreath candles. We also continued the new tradition of adding ornaments to our Jesse Tree.
The Jesse Tree provides a brief summary of the story of 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
and added the respective ornament to the tree.
PMA also provided staff and students an opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Finally, as part of the send-off before Christmas, the PMA school community gathered the morning before break for a rendition of "The Night Before Christmas" rewritten to tell the story of the Nativity.
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PMA adopted four 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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Throughout the months of October and November, PMA held a coat drive to collect coats and jackets for those in need. The PMA community donated dozens of new and gently used coats into boxes located in the Dupre and the Cafeteria. The drive was initiated by freshman Chloe Foucault who came up with the idea and designed the drop boxes for the donated items. On Tuesday, December 5, Chloe and fellow freshmen Ciara McCarthy, Connie Chong, and Michael Barr helped to load the van and bring the donations to Lazarus House in Lawrence. PMA looks forward to even more student led initiatives to come in the future!
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On Friday
evening, December 1, fourteen PMA students went to Immaculate Conception Parish in Malden to take part in LIFT. The night was filled with praise and worship music, adoration, and confession, along with guest speakers such as Dave VanVickle and Cardinal Sean O'Malley. The theme of the evening was Advent and the message was to emphasize how patience, hope, and joy are key to fully understanding and appreciating what this liturgical season has to offer.
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Nutcracker performance by Willa Norman, '18 |
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Agnes and Willa Norman
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On the weekend of December 16, PMA Senior Willa Norman danced in the Christmas classic, The Nutcracker, along with her younger sister Agnes who played the part of Clara.
The show was presented by Northeast Dance Center and held at the Methuen Performing Arts Center.
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On November 30 the senior boys basketball players were treated to a Celtics Game by TD Bank at the TD Garden. They had an amazing time at the game as they watched the Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 97-108 in the midst of their 16 game winning streak.
In the above photo are the group of PMA basketball players along with two TD Bank representatives.
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You and your family are cordially invited to join us for our Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to celebrate the grand reopening of our new entrance and renovations to to the Edward Searles Gatehouse, the heart of PMA!
Tickets are not required, but we request that you RSVP for planning purposes by January 5, 2018.
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What better way to kick off the new year than with music? Join us for our Winter Concert on Sunday, January 7 at 1: 00 pm in the Dupre Center. Such a great event for the entire family to ring in the 2018.
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Yankee Candle Fundraising Drive
The 2017 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
Thank you for your support!
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GoodShop
It's almost time to start Christmas shopping...if you haven't already. Hands down, online shopping is the easiest way to go. Through GoodShop, you can donate back to PMA, from the comfort of your own home, office, or wherever you online shop. Goodshop has 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. Click in the link below 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 2
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Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the New Entrance
Sunday, January 7
12:00 pm
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Winter Concert
Sunday, January 7
1:00 pm - Dupre Center
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Martin Luther King Day
No School
Monday, January 15
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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 29 - February 2
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Travel Opportunity for PMA Families.
Current students and their families have the opportunity to travel abroad to Ireland during April vacation 2019. Spots still available. If interested please contact Mrs. McGuinness at
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The Annual Fund is Underway.
The 2017-18 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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