Welcome Back PMA Friends and Family!
Is it really already September? PMA was bustling with activity all summer long, and things have been even busier since our students have joined us for what promises to be a great year! Read on to learn about some of the great PMA happenings on campus and in our community! We are pleased to present you with the latest edition of Presentation of Mary Academy ePathways!
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Freshman Orientation was held on Thursday, September 3. The class of 2019 gathered together in the Dupre Center for a fun filled day that challenged them to DISCOVER their Panther Pride with numerous team-building activities accompanied by personal reflection exercises, where they set individual, academic and social goals for the year ahead.
The class of 2019 also became very familiar with the PMA campus during a PMA-themed scavenger hunt, where they had to search for PMA people, places and things around the campus. Additionally, the freshmen met and ate lunch with their Senior Buddies and attended shortened classes to meet their new teachers.
It was a full day for the Class of 2019. We cannot wait to see what the rest of the year will bring.
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PMA Students Working Hard On the Music Room Mural
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PMA students felt the need for a little "music" in their lives. And a little color. Collectively, they felt that the room where they were the most creative, the music room, felt a tad bland and unoriginal. The room had been painted a basic off-white color since 2001, when the the Dupre Sports and Arts Center was constructed. It was time for a change. This summer they started to paint the music room and additionally began a mural, on one wall, to capture the spirit of the room.
"Students come to the music room because they feel a strong sense of community and comfort. They consider it their home away from home," states Dave Comtois, PMA music teacher.
Students have spent their study period, free period and time after school in the room. They will gather to play their favorite music, records, sing and play instruments together and just plain socialize with each other.
The students needed something to represent what they felt in an image. They decided on music..which makes perfect sense. After careful thought and planning the mural is four measures of music, in the form of a grade staff, of the song "Home" recorded by Philip Phillips. It's from the chorus, "I'm gonna make this place your home," a song that the PMA music Guild performed at the 2015 Spring Concert.
Dave Comtois, concludes, "He is proud to say that PMA, and the music room in particular, has become a home."
Completed Project
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Each August, PMA holds Volunteer Days, where students volunteer their time to help get PMA back in order before school starts in September. Each year we are blown away with the amount of students who give up their time and return to school during the summer to help us out. This year was no exception. For three days, over thirty students, each day, including lots of new faces of incoming students, braved the heat to help us move chairs, file paperwork, carry boxes, count supplies, and help with lots of other tasks, just because. For reasons like this, this is why we truly say we are a family and our students are the best in the world.
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| Student Council Welcome Back |
What better way to say welcome back than with pizza and cake? Student council treated the student body as well as faculty and staff to lunch with
plenty
of goodies!
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Images of the students enjoying
their lunch about to get cake!
Who doesn't love cake! |
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What better way to foster a community among our three senior homerooms than with
breakfast? After all, it is the most important meal of the day. Each year the senior homerooms take turns hosting an early morning breakfast for their classmates. Mr. Klayman's homeroom initiated this annual tradition on Wednesday, September 16, spoiling their classmates with a carb-centric breakfast of donuts, bagels, muffins, and pastries all to be washed down with coffee and juice. Mrs. Viscosi's homeroom is next. They will try to out-do the offerings at the first breakfast at the Halloween breakfast in October. Rumor has it, Mrs. Viscosi will bring in her famous roasted potatoes to give her homeroom a home-cooked advantage. Mr. Stankus's homeroom will end this three-part breakfast battle in November. In past years, french toast, quiche, bacon, and pancakes have all made an appearance. We will have to wait and see who will win senior breakfast bragging rights after all breakfasts have been hosted. But really...when food and friends are involved, everyone is a winner.
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Eric Tang, '16, has been named a Commended Student in the 2016 National M
 erit Sch olarship Program. A letter of Commendation from PMA and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, will be presented by Rose Maria Redman, PMA Head of School, to Eric.
About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2016 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2016 competition by taking the 2014 SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).
"The young men and women being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success, "commented a spokesperson for NMSC. "These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success."
Congratulations, Eric. We are proud of your achievement! |
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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 in October.
Rose Maria DiFiore Redman '85
Head of School
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Alumni Softball Game
Saturday, September 26
12:00
Neil Playstead
Lawrence Street / Methuen
(directly across the street from PMA)
Attention all PMA Alumni. If you have played softball or not...we want you to play in the first ever, PMA Alumni Softball Game. Our hope is to make this an annual tradition. 10-15 players are needed to make this a success. If interested please email
Diane Gatchell Martin, '86 at
[email protected]
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Indoor Yard Sale
Saturday, September 26
8 am - 1 pm
The PMA Alumni Association will host their annual indoor yard sale at the Dupre Center. Start organizing and reserve a table for $25. Plan to shop and turn someone else's "trash to treasure." Upcycle for PMA! Proceeds will support an Alumni Association scholarship for a graduating senior. For more information, please email:
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Yankee Candle Fundraising Drive
PMA is holding a Yankee Candle Fundraiser until September 30. 40% of every sale goes directly back to the school. All current parents and students were given a catalog to shop from. You can also shop online. visit
www.yankeecandlefundraising.com and enter group #99896054 in the "start shopping" box. Then shop for catalog items and online exclusives to help us reach our goal.
Thank you for you support!
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PMA Calendar
Save the date! Click here to view the latest events on the
PMA CALENDAR.
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Fall Open House
Sunday, October 18
10 am through 1 pm
Save the date and spread the word! On Sunday, October 18, PMA will host our Fall Open House for grades 6, 7 and 8. Campus tours will be conducted by students and staff. Prospective students may register for shadow days, as well as the High School Placement Test. If you would like more information, contact the Admissions Office.
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Alumni News Wanted
PMA Alumni--- what is going on in your life? We want to know! Please send us your news so that we may share it in the December edition of Pathways magazine.
Email Paula Mansour-Laliberte at
[email protected]
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Stay Connected
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