EXPLORE
ENRICH EMBARK The St. Mary’s Academy Experience
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Our Mission St. Mary’s Academy fosters excellence in each child through academic achievement, spiritual development and service. The Loretto School Values of faith, community, justice and respect provide the foundation for students to be Powerful Agents of Change.
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Welcome to St. Mary’s Academy and our distinctive community of learning. Because teaching young Coloradans has been our mission and privilege for more than 150 years, we understand how important choosing the right school is for your family. This view book is a glimpse into our community.
St. Mary’s Academy students know that when you give, you receive the most. [ High School Math Teacher Iswari Natarajan ]
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WHAT SETS OUR SCHOOL APART? • We were founded by the Sisters of Loretto in 1864 and are guided by the Loretto School Values of faith, community, justice and respect.
• Our student population is 33 percent diverse (race and ethnicity), one of the highest among independent schools in Colorado.
• Today, we are metro Denver’s premier, private school serving 650-plus students from Junior Kindergarten - High School.
• We embrace advanced technology with interactive boards in every classroom, iPads for dynamic learning units, lessons in keyboarding, iMovie and other applications.
• Total enrolment: 650 plus. • Our Lower School (Junior Kindergarten Grade 5) and Middle School (Grades 6 - 8) are co-educational. • Our High School (grades 9 - 12) is all-girls. • Our 24-acre campus is located in Englewood and our students come from 70 zip codes throughout metro Denver.
• Community is the foundation of our curriculum expressed through service work and social justice awareness. • College acceptance rate is 100%. • Our alumnae include national decision-makers, global activists, environmental scientists, musicians, artists, and educators.
• Approximately 50 percent of our students are Catholic and 50 percent reflect a wide range of faiths.
IF YOU ARE A STUDENT HERE, WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT? High standards, rich experiences, real-world opportunities to develop your character and a place to become the best you can be. We encourage you to walk our campus, talk with our students and faculty and see yourself as part of the St. Mary’s Academy community. To arrange a tour and student visit, please call our admission office at 303-762-8300. You can also learn more online at smanet.org.
It’s the amazing community, the smaller class sizes, the opportunities in music, arts and technology. It’s the values the school stands by, that I observe daily. It’s the traditions that are embedded in each grade. And it is how special it is when my kids share this remarkable experience. [ Lower School Parent ] 3 SMA_ViewBook_Preso7.indd 3
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FAITH
COMMUNITY
JUSTICE
RESPECT 4 SMA_ViewBook_Preso7.indd 4
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EXPLORE.
THE LOWER SCHOOL STUDENT EXPERIENCE | Junior Kindergarten – Grade 5
WHERE CAN YOU GO TO EXPLORE THIS EXCITING WORLD? At SMA we are here to help our students learn, understand, play, develop and grow. We know that students learn best when they are actively engaged, so we structure every day to include exploration and reflection, individual work and collaborative projects. Along with core academics, each day holds physical education and performing or fine arts, religion and values, Spanish and more. Two outdoor recess periods allow plenty of time for friends and fun. And with a low student/teacher ratio, every student is assured personalized attention.
OUR STUDENTS EXPLORE THE WORLD THROUGH: • Destination Imagination. An international program where students engage in the creative process from imagination to innovation. Our students regularly reach global levels of competition. • Ameritowne. An award-winning educational program for 4th and 5th grade students to understand free enterprise, business and finance. • Friday Assemblies. A school community tradition that provides our students’ first public speaking opportunities in front of their peers, teachers and parents. • Classroom and Private Music Instruction. Beginning in Junior Kindergarten we assure that every student has a strong foundation to enjoy a lifetime of music.
• Dynamic Technology. Providing instruction from robotics to information technology, with advanced modalities in every classroom. • Science. Students work collaboratively through interactive lab projects utilizing the inquiry method to aggregate discoveries. • Community Service. Providing age-appropriate opportunities to share with and relate to others is part of the Loretto tradition. • Celebration of Faith. Our students and teachers come together on a regular basis to reflect and celebrate faith.
Many boys will say that science is their favorite class with all of the interactive lessons, but the girls at SMA excel also. Sometimes boys are the leaders, sometimes girls are the leaders. Science gives students the chance to try many new ideas with different approaches to find a solution. [ Lower School Teacher ] 5 SMA_ViewBook_Preso7.indd 5
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SMA is like a home away from home. I can be myself and am accepted for who I am. The students are welcoming, kind and helpful and many have become good friends. I’m proud to be a part of the SMA community and I’m happy to be continuing here for middle school. [ 5th Grade Student Nicolas ]
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ENRICH.
THE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT EXPERIENCE | Grades 6 - 8
WHERE CAN YOU GO TO ENRICH ALL IT MEANS TO BE YOU? We are here to help you learn, examine, create, share and thrive. In our middle school we focus on supporting a dynamic developmental stage. Our students learn social skills, begin to establish their individual identity and prepare for high school. Through community service and classroom interaction we provide an opportunity for our students to thrive, learn and collaborate with peers while teachers focus on the unique social needs of middle schoolers. A student’s schedule is dynamic, fast-paced, with opportunities for movement, interaction, presentation and reflection. Through community service our students support others, learning about the world and gaining knowledge about themselves. When students interact and work with others, they are helping everyone, they are helping the community.
OUR STUDENTS ARE ENRICHED THROUGH: • Environment. A welcoming, safe environment where all students are respected.
• Technology. 1:1 iPad program, information technology, building and programming robots.
• Access to Teachers. Student/teacher ratio is kept small for individual instruction.
• Sports. Including volleyball, cross country, basketball, baseball, dance team, golf, soccer, lacrosse, tennis, and field hockey.
• Independence. Students are encouraged to think independently, assume responsibility for their actions, organize themselves and develop self-advocacy skills. • Learning Styles. Teachers respect and understanding for diverse learning styles is key to each student’s success. • Dynamic Science: Lesson plans are projectbased, engaging student collaboration and computer applications for presentations and richness of curriculum.
• “Agents of Change” Community Service. Students are enriched in helping others at retirement homes, assisting at preschools and serving in sandwich lines twice a month. 8th grade students travel to the Cochiti Pueblo in New Mexico, where they work alongside residents on a community project. • Community Celebrations of Faith: Monthly prayer services, an all-academy mass and religion classes bring together students to explore a rich spiritual life.
My daughter has new confidence and a total love for learning. I was welcomed with open arms by the community and amazing teachers! This is the most success-driven academic environment my daughter has ever experienced. She feels that there is no challenge that she cannot overcome. [ Middle School Parent ] 7 SMA_ViewBook_Preso7.indd 7
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Community to me in the middle school is like having a safe haven. We live, laugh, love, learn and sometimes even cry together. We are always there for each other. Community is about belonging. Everyone at St. Mary’s Academy is valued and supported with all their strengths and flaws. We are all connected. We are all working together to make the world a better place for generations to come. [ 7th Grade Student – Kelsey ]
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EMBARK.
THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT EXPERIENCE | Grades 9 – 12
WHAT WILL YOU NEED TO EMBARK ON THE JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME? We are here to help you learn, discover, gather, decide and succeed. Girls come into high school with varying abilities, talents and interests. And, what happens over the next four years is the evolution of an individual. Each girl finds her passion, whether it’s academics, theatre, art, athletics or service. We expose each student to experiences that help them discover their voice. Service is tantamount to this process. Students explore, at a variety of levels, what they want out of life. And they graduate confident and determined young women.
OUR STUDENTS EMBARK THROUGH: • Environment. All-girls environment fosters confidence, a positive peer community, well-rounded development with an emphasis on service.
• Sports. Choice of 10 sports, including cross-country, field hockey, softball, volleyball, basketball, swim and dive, golf, lacrosse, soccer and tennis.
• Access to Teachers. Student/teacher ratio is kept small for individual instruction.
• Science. Dynamic science, from biology and chemistry to physics and environmental studies.
• Classrooms. Seminar-type learning environments.
• “Agents of Change”. More than 100 community service hours upon graduation, including once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to travel to destinations throughout the world.
• Curriculum. Customization of curriculum to each individual student. • College Prep. Rigorous college preparatory program offering AP courses across the high school curriculum. • Unique coursework. Genetics, Robotics, Mandarin Chinese and upper level math.
Block Schedule. Coursework is completed in a semester allowing greater flexibility for students to design their schedule with their own passions and interests.
Leadership. At SMA you will encounter many different ways to lead. Whether it is a solo project for class, or group work during Field Day, you will discover who you truly are and where you want to go.
• College Acceptance. In small groups seniors meet daily with their college counselors. 100% of our high school students are accepted into colleges and universities of choice. • Community Celebrations of Faith: Prayer services and masses and class electives allow students to explore their own faith and spiritual life. Advisory. Students gather in advisory daily to build grade-level camaraderie, discuss upcoming advisory events, and begin the college search process through Naviance.
Clubs. There are a wide variety of clubs at SMA during school hours and after hours. From Pre-med club to Model United Nations—it’s a great way to dig into ideas that stir curiosity.
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Students arrive at the high school with all skill levels, but their attitude about learning is all the same. They all want to learn. They have an attitude and appetite for learning. [ High School Parent ]
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EXPLORE. ENRICH. EMBARK. The first step in the application process is to schedule a visit. Come walk our campus, visit a classroom and see the site of our new Community Center. We’ll visit about your student’s interests and your expectations of a St. Mary’s Academy education. Application Process: For a checklist of our application process, please visit our website at smanet.org To arrange a tour and student visit, please call our admission office at 303-762-8300. You can also learn more online at smanet.org. Accredited by: Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS) acisschools.org A member of: 3A Metropolitan League Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS) Colorado High School Activities Association National Association of Independent Schools National Coalition of Girls’ Schools
4545 South University Boulevard Englewood, Colorado 80113 303.762.8300 smanet.org
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