SMA Newsletter • March 17, 2022
Dear Spartan Families,

We have an exciting few days ahead of us! Tomorrow, we will participate in the annual SMA Walkathon at Santee Lakes. We are so grateful to all our drivers for carpooling and completing all the requirements to do so. Our goal of raising $20,000 to add a playground shade structure and save up for turf inside our track is getting very close!

On Saturday, some of our 2nd graders will receive the Sacrament of First Reconciliation. Then on Sunday, SMA is sponsoring the 9 am Mass. This is a great opportunity for everyone to mingle once a month since many of our families are parishioners at other parishes or attend other Mass times. Students who wear their uniform to this Mass should check in with their teacher at the end of Mass to obtain a "free dress pass" for Monday 3/21. Sunday evening is the 5:05 pm Sockers Game, an event coordinated by our Sports Council representative Kris Giordano. All are welcome! A portion of ticket proceeds will be donated to our Sports program. Click here to attend.

Registration for Preschool and grades K-8 is still open. Pre-K, kindergarten, 5th, and 8th grades are close to capacity. *Once classes are full - applicants will be placed on a waiting list for their desired grade(s). Feel free to e-mail or call the office to schedule a tour!

In alignment to our mission, teachers maintain Religion and Workshop Way® Certifications and CA state credential requirements. We are keeping our teacher to student ratio low (approximately 10:1) and employ full-time aides in grades K-3, and middle school. Our SMA Advisory Board is composed of experts in their fields (finance, academics, physical plant, catholic identity, and marketing). Our SMA Parent Group reorganized earlier in the school year and is now operating smoothly, offering parent education opportunities and raising funds for our school. We look forward to the new school year with a solid plan in place.

Elections for SMA Parent Group officers will occur early next month. If you are interested in running for President, Vice-President, Secretary, or Treasurer, please click on this interest form. Requirements to run include attendance at 1 of our 4 Parent Group School-wide meetings (9/14, 10/20, 11/17, 1/20) and have an enrolled student or be an active parishioner. Election results will be announced on April 6th at our last SMA Parent Group school-wide meeting.

Our mission is:
St. Martin of Tours Academy fosters confidence, curiosity, and independence through a climate of cooperation and trust by preserving dignity throughout the learning process, accentuating all children’s God-given gifts in a Catholic environment.

Stay tuned for our brand-new SMA website, currently under construction!

In Mission,
Jennifer Miller
Principal
Enrollment contracts are due. $350.00 registration fee if registration is received between March 16- April 1 and $400 if received after April 1

Thank you to the 101 families that returned their contracts by 3/15/22
Tuition Assistance is available for those who qualify. Go to FACTS Grant and Aid for more information. Application deadline is March 31, 2022.

SAVE the DATE!


Father-Daughter Dance
Friday, April 29th
Walkathon
Day of Event March 18, 2022

DRIVERS: Parent drivers are to meet at Barry Hall
@ 10AM for instruction & voucher pick-up. Please bring your well- marked child's booster seat if they are car-pooling. Leave them out front of the kindergarten and first grade classrooms. Sharing is not allowed.

Teachers bring class to dismissal area in front of school. Drivers meet teacher there, receive student car assignments and permission slips.  (departure times are K & 1 @ 10:20 • 2 & 3 @ 10:25 • 4 & 5 @10:30 • 6, 7 & 8 @ 10:35) 

         10:20 -10:35   • Classes leave school for Santee Lakes
         11:00      • Arrive at the lake
         11:15      • Anthem and stretches
         11:30      • Classes are called to begin walking 
         12:30      • Lunch is served 
         12:45      • Lunch and play time
          1:15      • Kindergarten departs for school      
          1:45      • Clean-up 
               • Begin departures for school (grades 1 through 8 -lower grades first)
               • Students return to classrooms for roll call 
               • Popsicles distributed by classroom
 2:15-2:30   • Dismissal from classrooms

DRESS:    Uniform shorts, Walkathon t-shirt and comfortable shoes with socks. Students who do not have a Walkathon shirt are to wear their regular uniform shirts.
LUNCH:     Lunches will be pre-ordered and prepaid. A sack lunch must be brought if a boxed lunch was not ordered. (All lunches will be eaten at the park.)
WALK:      • Each class must stay together for the entire walk.
• Must stay on the path at all times (important)
• Be considerate of other people who may be walking or enjoying the lakes
• Lunches will be passed out as each class returns from the walk.
REMEMBER:   √ walk only (no running) -important!  √ Students bring their water bottles from school √ hat or visors for sun protection (may be worn during the walk and picnic only) √ sunscreen (no electronic devices - no cell phones - no littering)

We invite parents to enjoy the afternoon at the lake after lunch. 
Bring blankets and chairs if you wish for lunch.  Picnic tables are also available.

Drivers that are car-pooling (must have 3 Academy students)
will receive parking fee vouchers at the 10am drivers meeting in Barry Hall.
All other drivers must pay $3.00 at the lake entrance.
Directions:
Santee Lakes • 9310 Fanita Parkway • Santee, CA 92071-9003 • 619-596-3141
East On El Cajon Blvd.  •  8 East to 125 North to 52 West • Exit Mast Blvd.
•   Right on Fanita Parkway    •     Right Into Lake Entrance
Thank you to our T-Shirt Sponsors!
All girls that applied to the Academy of Our Lady of Peace were accepted.
We congratulate Sienna Comana, Catherine Covington, Amelia Goodall, Carly Knuth, Scarlett McMahon, Tabitha Vanderbosch and Caitlin Yakos!
Reminders
Pre-Conference forms are due Monday. Click for Lifeskills Observed and Lifeskills as Applied in the Classroom

MINIMUM DAYS:
Wed. 3/23 • Thurs. 3/24 • Fri. 3/25 (noon dismissal)
Extended Care is open until 6PM.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
1/23 - Wednesday 3-6pm • 1/24 - Thursday 1-4pm •
1/25 Friday 1-4pm.

OPTIONAL SPRING PICTURES
(order form enclosed in parent envelope)
Picture Day ID: EVTK29MHD
ST. MARTIN ACADEMY
GROUP NIGHT AT THE SOCKERS!
MARCH 20TH • 5:05PM

Join us at Pechanga Arena to watch the San Diego Sockers!
Discounted Ticket Prices:$15
CLICK HERE to order your tickets!
(flyer enclosed in parent envelope)
COVID-19 Protocal
As a reminder, masks are still strongly encouraged indoors (and still optional outdoors) and will continue to be available in the school office. Please screen your child for symptoms prior to leaving for school each morning. Do not send your child to school (vaccinated or unvaccinated) if they have any of the symptoms listed: fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, the new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and/or diarrhea. Click HERE for the COVID-19 Decision Tree for K-12 Schools. Click HERE for COVID Vaccine Sites. Click HERE to test on-site at SMA.
CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS
After winning the Parochial League Championship, the Boys Varsity Basketball team took second place in the Saint Augustine Alumni 66th Annual Parochial Basketball Tournament! We are so proud of the way the played exhibiting excellent sportsmanship and camaraderie. We would like to thank Coach Kris Giordano (Class of 1991) for his leadership and for sharing his time, talent and enthusiasm with both the JV and Varsity teams.
Inspired by Ian K., sixth and seventh grade social justice advocates sold their handmade bracelets on Wednesday 3/16. In total, the SMA community raised $850 for the charity, Save the Children. All proceeds will go to Ukrainian children in need. Thank you, Spartans! SMA SLE 1c: An active Catholic Christian who has global awareness
and a concern for social justice.
We thank the Driscoll family, Irish Dancer, Victoria Driscoll and the Malone Academy of Irish Dance for entertaining our student body and parents with traditional and lively Irish dancing to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!

Please keep in your prayers for healing: Ray Wilson, Libby Picardi, Felipa and Jose Verdin, Joe and Mary Schoen and the people of Ukraine.
First Reconciliation Sat. 3/19 at 9:30am

School sponsored Sunday Mass
3/20 @ 9am (dress uniform)

Eucharistic Miracles - Wed. 3/23 (at school) and through Sun., 3/27
Yasukochi Family Farms delivers to SMA on Mondays or at your home if you live in La Mesa. Order by noon on Sundays. Call the office if you have any questions. The standard size box is $25.
St. Martin of Tours Academy