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Arts News ����������������������������������������������������������������������� Academic Excellence ����������������������������������������������������17 Calendar��������������������������������������������������������������������������20
Fall play featured 12 Angry Women
The reviews are in for Saint Mary's fall theater production of 12 Angry Women, which ran for three nights in October 2021 in Eliza Battle Pittman Auditorium, and it was a hit� This gripping drama told the story of 12 female jurors deliberating the verdict in a murder case to decide the fate of a 19-year-old boy on trial for murdering his father� Tempers got short, arguments grew heated, and the jurors became 12 angry people in this riveting drama� The play is adapted by Sherman L� Sergei, and is based on the Emmy Award winning television movie by Reginald Rose� The show featured intense drama and tension along with snippets of humor� Brava, to the cast and crew!
Orchesis fall concert features alumnae choreography
Congratulations, to the members of Orchesis Dance Theatre, on an outstanding fall 2021 concert, their first full concert in Pittman Auditorium in two years since the pandemic began� Orchesis put on two fantastic shows Dec� 10-11, 2021, for enthusiastic audiences in Pittman� The concert featured new choreography by dance instructors Michelle Pearson and Natalie Morton as well as a jazz piece created by Sophie Wilfong '15, alumna and professional dancer in New York� Brava!
Saint Mary’s Chorale presented a blockbuster ninth annual Music Theatre Revue in Pittman Auditorium during Family Day, Thursday, Oct� 7, 2021� In collaboration with members of Orchesis Dance Theatre� The Chorale, Chamber Choir, musicians and dancers performed songs from legendary musicals including Hair, Sleepless in Seattle, Hairspray, The Secret Garden, Once on This Island, Mean Girls, Prom, The Greatest Showman, and 13 The Musical.
Latin Instructor Presents Innovative Classroom Activities At Fall Conference
Saint Mary’s Instructor of Latin Kat Byrd presented a session on oral vocabulary activities for Latin classes at the Foreign Language Association of North Carolina (FLANC) fall conference, Saturday, Oct� 9� Ms� Byrd’s session was titled Quid tu vides in pictura? Oral Vocabulary Activities for Latin Classes�
“We, as Latin teachers, ultimately want our students to be most proficient at the Reading Communicative Mode,” says Ms� Byrd� “In this session, teachers experience simulations of oral Latin vocabulary activities and discover how to incorporate these activities into their curricula� These activities are designed to strengthen a student's ability to recall previously learned vocabulary and to internalize new vocabulary more quickly� The end goal: our students can READ Latin!”
This is Ms� Byrd’s third year teaching at Saint Mary’s� In addition to Latin, she teaches 10th and 11th grade Seminar� She is passionate about using a variety of pedagogical methods to support vocabulary acquisition, retention, and the Reading Communicative Mode which is most heavily emphasized for classical languages�
Join us!
February 25
Granddaughters Club Luncheon
March 4
Grandparents and Grandfriends Day For grandparents and grandfriends of current students
March 29
Alumnae Leadership Council Meeting (virtual)
March 31
Saint Mary’s Forever Campaign Spring Vision Event
April 25
Welcome to the Alumnae Association Event for the Class of 2022
April 27-28
Board of Trustees Spring Meeting
April 29
Alumnae Leadership Council Meeting
April 29-30
Reunion Weekend For classes ending in two and seven
May 12
Saint Mary’s 180th birthday
May 22
Commencement for the 180th session
June 14
Alumnae Leadership Council Meeting (virtual)
The Mazie Strickland Froelich ’51C Distinguished Alumnae Society Call for Nominations by April 2, 2022
Under the umbrella of the Mazie Strickland Froelich’51C Distinguished Alumnae Society, two outstanding alumnae awards are given annually� The Outstanding Alumna Award is given for outstanding service to the school through leadership, student recruitment, and alumnae support� The Distinguished Alumna Award recognizes an alumna's outstanding achievements in volunteer service and/or her professional distinctions�
Eligible nominees for 2022 must be in a class ending in two or seven� To nominate a classmate, please complete the form found at sms�edu/ nominate by April 2, 2022, for this year’s awards� The awards will be presented during Reunion Weekend, April 29-30, 2022�
Please contact Jeannine Eason Brown ’94HS ’96C at jbrown@sms.edu with any questions.
SAVE THE DATES AND JOIN US FOR OUR SPECIAL EVENTS!
These dates and events represent just some of the highlights of the 2021-2022 year at Saint Mary’s� For a complete calendar of events, visit sms�edu/alumnae/events� Regional alumnae events will be added to the alumnae webpage as they are scheduled�
It’s All in the Name
Originally established in 1879, the mission of the Saint Mary’s Alumnae Council was to “preserve a cordial affection for our alma mater,” and to “give tangible expressions to those sentiments�” The women who created this bold mission provided a framework that has endured for generations of Saint Mary’s alumnae�
Inspired by the founders’ dedication to Saint Mary’s and their profound wisdom, current council members worked diligently throughout the spring and summer to evaluate how best to fulfill this lofty mission� One of the more significant changes has been adopting a name that more accurately reflects the abilities and ambitions of its council members� The Alumnae Council has been renamed the Alumnae Leadership Council (ALC) with a new focus� The council seeks to support, empower, and market the Saint Mary’s community and to broaden the school’s base of support� With guidance from Jeannine Eason Brown ’94HS ’96C, director of alumnae engagement, and Julie Ricciardi, associate head of school for institutional advancement, and with assistance of a focus group dedicated to analyzing research on best practices in alumnae engagement, members discuss and implement changes to make the council stronger�
Alumnae Leadership Council members are also committed to fostering a greater sense of community within our alumnae base and continuing the tradition of excellence through active engagement and support� The council recognizes that Saint Mary’s alumnae are extraordinary women with incredible skills and talents� Members are dedicated to being more visible in their leadership roles� Each member will serve on one of the following newly created committees: Communications; Leadership and Governance; Philanthropic; and Saint Mary’s Experience� Committees have clear goals and objectives to ensure that their work and specific charges are achieved successfully� The members of the ALC volunteer their time to serve for a two-year term and attend six to seven meetings throughout the school year� The council consist of members who were at Saint Mary’s for high school, college, or both�
The council wants alumnae to feel that ALL of their contributions – whether talent, time, or treasure – have a meaningful, productive, and lasting impact on our beloved school� The Alumnae Leadership Council encourages alumnae to find ways to get involved and reconnect with their alma mater� We ask that all alumnae continue to support the Annual Fund, share milestones with the Alumnae Office, attend oncampus and virtual events, speak during a student event, attend your reunion, or schedule a virtual call with your class members� The opportunities are boundless! If you are interested in serving on the Alumnae Leadership Council, please contact Jeannine Eason Brown ’94HS ’96C, Director of Alumnae Engagement, jbrown@sms�edu�
Ann Beland Brooks ’73C, Alumnae Leadership Council Chair
Stephanie Bishop Williams ’90HS, Alumnae Leadership Council Vice-Chair
Jeannine Eason Brown ’94HS ’96C, Director of Alumnae Engagement
Pictured left to right: Stephanie Bishop Williams '90HS, Jeannine Eason Brown '94HS '96C, Ann Beland Brooks '73C
SUPPORTING SAINT MARY'S
Saint Mary’s Annual Fund: Fall Days of Giving set new records
For many reasons, fall 2021 was a season to remember at Saint Mary’s School, and for Saint Mary’s Annual Fund it was a November for the history books� Between All Saints Day on November 1 and Giving Tuesday on November 30, the school received 675 commitments of gifts totaling $328,895 raised for Saint Mary’s Annual Fund� This total surpassed our Fiscal Year 2020 Fall Day of Giving numbers by more than $75,000�
This milestone would not have been possible without the incredible generosity of two anonymous alumnae donors who challenged a community of Saints with matching funds and inspired hundreds to answer the call to action� Through this shared connection we will continue to elevate our school to develop Saint Mary’s graduates who are challenged to be bold, to be inspired, to be prepared, and to become extraordinary� Thank you, for your generous support!
Eileen Nedoma Director of Annual Fund and Major Gifts enedoma@sms.edu 919-424-4118
