PMA Student Council members posing with cakes representing his/her graduation year! 
Presentation of Mary Academy  ePathways 

March 2016
PMA Friends and Family,

In this edition of  ePathways you will see what PMA students and staff have been up to this past month.  March Madness allowed the students to display their school spirit all week long. Jane Danahy Foss, Director of Admissions, was named the William A. MacNeil Award winner from ACAAP of New England.  The sophomores went on their class retreat.   We have a multitude of sports news as one season ended and another began. We are also getting ready for  Just So, the Spring Musical and the 10th Annual Legacy Evening, both in early April.  You will read about these events and much more below.   Enjoy!

PMA Today
Staff Recognitons
Jane Danahy Foss, '97 awarded the William A. MacNeil Award
Mrs. Jane Danahy Foss, '97, Director of Admissions, was named the 2016 William A. MacNeil Award winner by ACCAP of New England (Association of Catholic Admissions and Advancement Professions).  

The William A, MacNeil Award is  " presented to a current member of ACAAP whose contribution to a member organization(s) and/or to the profession encompassed by the membership reflect honor on ACAAP, its mission and its purpose. The recipient will have served in the advancement or admissions profession for a reasonable length of time and be honored for a pattern of service and performance rather than for unusual success in a single event. The award honors William MacNeill, the first President of the New England Association of Catholic Development Officers (NEACDO) for his 30+-year commitment to Catholic school advancement and for the inspirational example of lead- ership and knowledge he has embodied to all in the profession."

She received her award on Thursday, March 10 at the ACAAP Spring Conference.

   
Laura Hajjar, CSP Award Winner
Mrs. Laura Hajjar, '83, started in September as the Director of Development. She is currently in her last semester of graduate school at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, and will graduate in May with a Masters of Arts degree in Community Social Psychology.  She did her year long practicum in the Advancement department at UMass Lowell along with extensive Advancement research and grant writing.

On Friday, February 26, Laura was awarded the Outstanding Psychology Graduate Student Award, from the Department of Psychology at UMass Lowell.  

According to UMass Lowell, the Outstanding Psychology Graduate Student Award winner is an individual who "...Exhibits the following qualities:  leadership, exceptional research/performance/writing abilities, technical and or teaching skills, academic excellence, membership in honor societies, and commitment to achievement."

Laura will be given this award at a ceremony preceding graduation. 
Student Fun
Sophomore Retreat
The sophomore class attended a retreat at Saint Basil's on Wednesday, March 4 led by Campus Minister, Francis Stanton. The theme of the day was Grace and what Grace does for us.  Mr. Stanton had the students embrace the spontaneity of Grace and undergo activities, he called, "organized chaos"  where they worked together as a team and no one was left out. This way, they could fully understand the concept and and see what a world full of Grace looks like.  

By the smiles on their faces throughout the day, it was easy to see the sophomore class thoroughly enjoyed their retreat.

    
    

 
March Madness
March 14 kicked off March Madness, otherwise known as Spirit Week at PMA.  Students and staff dressed in daily theme to display their school spirit. The themes for the week were:
Monday: Pi Day.
Tuesday: Twin Day.
Wednesday: Dress Like Your Favorite TV or Cartoon Character.
Thursday : Green Day for St. Patrick's Day.
Friday: PMA School Spirit Day.

Students dressed up like a "nerd" for spirit week and in honor of Pi Day, played the popular game,  Pie Face.  
   
 
Favorite Character  Day

Career Day
Friday, March 18 PMA held a school-wide career day.  Parents, alumni, and community speakers came to talk to our students about a variety of different careers, from education,  human resources, engineering, psychology, finance, IT/computers, the legal field, and accounting just to name a few.  

We are thankful to all those who volunteered their time to make this event a success.  Over 40 speakers attended to help enrich the lives of our students.
    
    
    
Drama Productions
Songs for the High School Student
Friday, March 11, the PMA Music Guild presented Songs for the High School Student: a Cabaret.  The show was filled with songs that spoke to the teenager inside all of us.  .
It was a spectacular show, the Music Guild led by Mrs. Janessa Murphy, '97, did an amazing job.
     
Just So
Mark your calendars because many months of practice, dress rehearsals, and stage drama are a bout to come to life in the Dupre Center.  Friday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2, the Theater Guild will perform the musical,  
Just So.  

      The students are working hard to bring the set to life.


     



Sports
What a Treat
Last month the girls varsity basketball team was treated to a Boston Celtics Game by TD Bank.  Mrs. Ivette Korecki, PMA Board Member, and TD Bank employee, gave the tickets to the school. Mrs. Redman accompanied the girls for an evening of fun and basketball as they watched the Celtics beat the Orlando Magic, 113 - 94.


JV Girls' Basketball:Year End Celebration
The jv girls' basketball team came together and celebrated their season with a year end party on Monday, February 29 in the Dupre Center.
Each team member was recognized by their coach, Patrick Costello and was presented with a certificate of participation.

Below are some images of their year-end celebration.

 
Gwendolyn Powell, '18 Placed 3rd in Indoor Rowing Competition
On Sunday, February 28, PMA sophomore, Gwendolyn Powell  competed in the CRASH-B's a 2000 meter indoor rowing competition.  It is notably  a very difficult competition that has competitors from all over the world.  Gwendolyn placed 3rd in her heat out of 16 other girls.   She ended up placing 189th out of 260 high school competitors.  
Way to go Gwen !

        
Events
The Legacy Gala and Auction
The time has finally come!   The 2016 PMA Bidding for Good online auction went live on Wednesday, March 23 and will close on Thursday, April 7.  There are over 140 items to chose from, and more getting added every day....you need to check out the page more than once.  See something you like?  Bid early and bid often and don't forget to spread the word. The more people who know about the auction will the more money we raise for our deserving students.    

Share the following link with everyone you know! 

www.biddingforgood.com/PMAmethuen   Happy Bidding!  
Like the Auction and Gala Facebook page for auction and gala news and updates.        
The 10th Annual Spring Gala Legacy Evening will be held on Friday, April 8 at the Atkinson Resort & Country Club. This is an annual event where PMA families, faculty, and friends gather to celebrate PMA, recognize alumni and community difference-makers, and to raise funds for student programs and financial assistance. 

Below is a list of Legacy Award winners and staff celebrating anniversaries. 
  
Quick Pics
Alumni Basketball Game
The 3rd Annual Basketball Game was held on Sunday, February 28.  The alumni took home a victory over the varsity Girls Basketball team.
The most important part of the event was funds were raised for the Cathy Habeeb Sheehan, '87 Memorial Scholarship Fund.


     






     



     

Spirit Day Pep Rally
The Student Council organized Pep Rally to top the week long March Madness Spirit Week was nothing short of amazing.  There was a cake eating contest, lip-syncing performances, followed by a basketball game played by PMA international students vs. domestic students with the international students taking home the win.  Below are some fun-filled pictures. 
 


     



     



     


Thank you for taking the time to keep up to date with our PMA news and happenings.  
We hope you enjoyed this edition of ePathways.   Please watch for our next edition of ePathways.
 
Rose Maria DiFiore Redman '85
Head of School
In This Issue
Email Us
Admissions Office
Advancement Office
Alumni Relations Office
How You Can Help
Yankee Candle Fundraising Drive
PMA grossed $11,000 with the Yankee Candle fundraiser.  Thank you for your support.  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!
GoodShop
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.
 
Visit  www.goodshop.com  to see some amazing deals!

Upcoming Events
PMA Calendar
Click here to view the latest events on the  PMA CALENDAR.

Online Auction Begins
Wednesday, March 23
Just So : The Spring Musical
Friday, April 1 and Saturday April 2
7:00 pm
Dupre Center
Legacy Evening
Friday, April 8
6:30 pm
Atkinson Resort and Country Club
April Vacation
Monday, April 18 - Friday, April 22
Classes Resume
Monday, April 25
Freshman and Sophomore Semi
Friday, April 29

Travel Opportunity for PMA Families. 

airplane-landing-sm.jpg
Don't miss the trip of a lifetime!
Current students and their families have the opportunity to travel abroad on dream European vacation.
PMA is leading an 8 day trip to Lisbon, Seville and Madrid
in June 2017
Spots still available!
Auction Donations
 
colorful_gifts_set.jpg
Even though the auction has begun there is still time to donate an item.  The online auction runs until April 7 and the live event with a silent and live auction is Friday, April 8.   If you have anything you would like to donate, to help make the auction a success, we would greatly appreciate it.  Items such as gift certificates, sports memorabilia, jewelry, time share, in-kind services, electronics, and day trips are examples of popular auction items.
 
If you don't have anything to donate but still want to support PMA and this event, Gala sponsorship opportunities are also available.  

To donate an item or for event sponsorship information,  please contact Sarah Previte Hamilton, '82 at  shamilton@pmamethuen.org 


T he 2015-2016 Annual Fund

falling_change_giving.jpg The Annual Fund Drive is under  way. Thank you to those who have already donated.  We are almost half way towards our goal of $50,000. 

If you would like to support PMA you
can do so with the secure link below.  Your gift can help fund PMA student programs in the year to come. We appreciate your support and generosity. We couldn't do what we we do without your help. 
 
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Presentation of Mary Academy | |  http://www.pmamethuen.org