From the Offices of the President and Principal | |
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Dear St. Mary's Academy Families,
Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year. We are so excited to see you back on campus in just a few short weeks. Enclosed are many beginning-of-the-year logistics to help prepare you and your daughter for another joy-filled academic year.
We’ve been busy on 5th Avenue overseeing the construction of the new Mary Shindler Boyle '67 Center for Women's Leadership, Entrepreneurship & Innovation. This transformational space and accompanying program will inspire our young women and pave the way for their future roles as leaders, critical thinkers, collaborative visionaries, and incubators of ideas, all grounded in our deep Catholic SNJM values and traditions. For the past 165 years, St. Mary’s Academy has graduated over 11,000 women who have changed the trajectory of their families, our cities, our country, and our world. We can’t wait to see what is in store for our current students as they welcome a new school year.
With blessings and gratitude,
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FRESHMEN AND TRANSFER STUDENTS INFO
TECH CAMP
Tech Camps for freshmen and transfer students will take place on August 27th. During Tech Camp, incoming students will receive their iPads, usernames, passwords, and trainings on academic software and applications, including PowerSchool, Schoology, and more.
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FRESHMAN AND TRANSFER STUDENT CLASS SCHEDULES
You should have received an email with your student’s class schedule. Please contact our Registrar, Liz Olsen, if you have questions regarding your student’s classes. For questions regarding student PowerSchool login information, please contact Tech Help.
Academic progress documents, including student schedules, progress reports, and report cards, are sent digitally to families throughout the school year using a platform that connects directly to PowerSchool. Because this is separate from our other regular school email communications, it is extremely important that you ensure you are able to receive these emails. Be sure to add SMA emails to your safe sender lists.
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POLICY REMINDERS AND UPDATES | |
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PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK
Policies and procedures for the 2024-2025 school year.
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SAFE ENVIRONMENT HANDBOOK
This document is your resource for student safety for the 2024-2025 school year.
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All parents/guardians and students are required to review these handbooks and sign the Policy and Agreement form within your FACTS Tuition Account. | |
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ALL STUDENT TECH HELP
There is a lot of electronic communication within the SMA community. Whether it is student progress, upcoming events or forms that need to be completed, it is important that there is nothing to deter that communication. With that said, please identify email from St. Mary’s as being safe so you don’t miss anything. If you already know how to add safe senders, our email domain is @smapdx.org. If you are not sure how, we have provided some basic instructions on some of the more popular email services below. If you have a service different from those below, we recommend contacting your email service provider for further assistance.
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CELL PHONE USAGE
St. Mary’s Academy is a cell-phone-free classroom school. This means students may use cell phones during unstructured times including before and after school, during breaks, lunch period, and senior privilege. Cell phones, including Smartwatches, may not be used during class time, TA, flex block, TA study, liturgies, assemblies, or other school activities. When students enter the classroom, they must silence their cell phones and place them in the designated cell phone “parking lot” located on the back counter or in the cell phone caddy. If a student has an urgent need to reach her parents or another party, they should go to the Main Office for assistance. Due to privacy concerns, the camera function on camera phones and iPads should be used on school property only with permission of the photo subject. For more information, please review the Student and Parent Handbook.
DRESS CODE
St. Mary’s Academy strives to create an environment that prioritizes critical thinking, inclusivity, and body positivity. While the dress code allows for a wide latitude for student choice in clothing, there are certain requirements and considerations. Please ensure all clothing is appropriate and respectful in subject, imagery, and wording.
- If midriff or back is visible, outerwear (tops, sweaters, and coats) must be worn, zipped, buttoned, and fully closed.
- Bottoms (shorts, skirts, dresses) need an inseam of at least three inches. Bottoms (shorts, skirts, dresses) that do not fully cover undergarments and private parts must be accompanied by opaque tights or leggings.
- There are school days where a formal appearance is expected of students out of respect for the special purpose of the day. These days will be announced in advance and include all school Mass days (at least once per month).
For more information, please review the Parent/Student Handbook.
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SCHOOL IDs
School-issued ID cards are required to enter the building. All students, faculty, and staff wear their IDs at all times while on campus. IDs should be visible and can be worn using a lanyard or clip. Students, faculty, and staff will continue to scan into our visitor management system anytime they enter or leave the school building.
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POWERSCHOOL — ACCESS TO GRADES AND SCHEDULES
FRESHMEN & TRANSFER STUDENTS:
Instructions for parents/guardians to create parent/guardian PowerSchool accounts will be emailed by the end of next week. By creating a PowerSchool account, parents and guardians will be able to access student grades, class schedules, and attendance records throughout the year. Please login to the PowerSchool Parent Portal before August 28th.
RETURNING GRADES 10-12:
If you’ve created a PowerSchool account at any point in your student’s time at SMA, your account still exists. If you’ve forgotten your password – you can reset it through the portal.
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SUMMER READING
Please note – there are summer reading assignment for all students. Students enrolled in AP English classes may have summer assignments given directly by their teachers. We hope students continue to hone their reading skills over the summer and enjoy a good book at a more relaxed pace.
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BOOKSTORE AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Check out the bookstore through the bookstore portal where you can view the required books for each of your student’s classes. Teachers will provide course-specific support for iPad app and e-book purchases during the first week of class. Any books or supplies labeled as “bill to FACTS” will be supplied to your student in class and billed to your FACTS account by October. Teachers will also share school supply expectations during the first weeks of school. Books listed in the bookstore portal and school supplies do not need to be purchased before the first day of school.
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SAVE THE DATE!
FALL SPORTS PARENTS NIGHT & SOCIAL
Tuesday, August 27th
6:00-7:30 p.m.
SMA Commons
All fall sports students and parents, please plan on attending!
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APPLY TO SMA'S PARENT AMBASSADOR BOARD
As an Ambassador Board member, you are a vital part of the success at SMA. Your involvement will include brainstorming and executing within your own area of expertise — from networking and communication, to fundraising and events.
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VOLUNTEER FOR INDIVIDUAL EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
Not able to join the Parent Ambassador Board? We still need you! Individual volunteers are what makes every event and project come together seamlessly. View all upcoming volunteer opportunities and sign up for specific events that fit your interest and schedule!
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VOLUNTEER BACKGROUND SCREENING FORM
All volunteers are required to complete a background check. Please fill out this form in order to participate in volunteer opportunities! Once this form is completed you will not need to resubmit another background screening for two years. Once complete, please send this document to Annie Diess, Development Associate.
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UPCOMING EVENT DETAILS
The upcoming school year is full of exciting opportunities to get connected! Learn more about each event:
Questions? Contact Special Events Director, Paige Silverston.
REGISTER NOW FOR PICKLEFEST!
Saturday, October 19th at Homecoming Weekend
2nd Annual Picklefest - Fall Tournament
9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Hosted by the Bluesters, this Pickleball tournament is open to everyone; current students and their parents, alumnae, and community members can register a team and compete for glory!
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SENIOR HALL PAINTING: CALLING ALL SENIORS!
Mark your calendars to help sketch and paint Senior Wall. We will be starting at 9:00 a.m. every weekday from August 21st-27th. Come for an hour or stay for the whole day! More details will be emailed to seniors directly from Senior Studco in the coming days.
Questions? Contact Student Activities Director, Kerry Wright.
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GRANDPARENT CONTACT INFORMATION
Many grandparents want to be involved in the educational experience of their SMA granddaughters. We want to provide enriching opportunities to support that! As we plan specific ways that grandparents can be more aware of and involved in the life of St. Mary’s, we need your help to communicate with them.
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There are many ways to support St. Mary's Academy! | | |
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From simple tasks like grocery shopping and recycling, to thoughtful investments, we appreciate your willingness to help educate young women at our beloved school. | | | | |
