The Mount St. Mary Academy Tennis Belles aced their regular season play, remaining undefeated in all games leading up to post-season play.  

Advancing to Conference play:

In singles, Ty N. ’19 and Tasha M. ’22

In doubles, Hagan S. ’21 and Libby F. ’21, and Greer N. ’19 and Audrey C. ’19

Ty ’19 advanced to the first round of the State Tournament.

Congratulations, Tennis Belles and Coach Glancy, on a great season!

Mount St. Mary Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, develops young women with a moral and intellectual foundation rooted in Catholic tradition. Mercy-minded and college-prepared, our students meet the future with wisdom, compassion, and integrity.

Mount St. Mary Academy is pleased to welcome Mrs. Jamie Groat.  She joins our staff as the Director of Communications and Marketing.

Jamie double majored in Journalism and Art at the University of Arkansas – Fayetteville.  After graduating in 2005, she joined the staff at Hendrix College as a Communications Assistant.    While there, she also served as the Enrollment Communications Manager and Assistant Director of Career Services.

Jamie is excited to get back to her Communications “roots” here at Mount St. Mary.   She recognizes that it will be a challenge to “learn a new community” but she is excited to continue telling the story about Mount St. Mary.  “Like Hendrix College, Mount St. Mary has a rich culture of service in the community and a strong tradition of values-based education.  I look forward to sharing with our community how our students and alumnae embody the Mission and Live Mercy.”

Mount St. Mary Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, develops young women with a moral and intellectual foundation rooted in Catholic tradition. Mercy-minded and college-prepared, our students meet the future with wisdom, compassion and integrity.

Why We Should Vote by Cameron H. ’19

Imagine one day waking up to the news reporting that female citizens of the United States were no longer allowed to vote. Imagine the reporter on the screen saying that only men were allowed to vote; that the only opinions the government wanted to hear was that of men. While this seems far stretched and outrageous, it used to be a reality. Voting is a right that is often taken for granted, but is also a right that was relentlessly fought for.

Women’s right to vote took seventy-two years to achieve. From the day of the Seneca Falls Convention until the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, suffragettes all around the country aided in the mission to have women’s voices heard and seen as equal to men’s. It was not a war won easily, however. Women were imprisoned and tortured because of what they were doing, yet more and more women were becoming willing to lay down their lives for this cause. They won this right for us, sacrificed their lives for this right for us. They won this right not only for themselves but all women who were born in the United States after them.

Today, women’s opinions are valued in our society. Women are not only around for childbearing. Women are recognized as strong, smart, leaders whose votes make a difference. Not only is there an easy form that you can fill out, but now when you get your driver’s license, there are convenient options to register to vote. After registering and when the time comes to cast a vote, people see the overwhelming options as intimidating. For this reason, there are websites that are made with the specific purpose of giving unbiased summaries of politicians or programs. Registering and the act of voting is being made as easy as it can be.

The government and state are not the only ones that are pressing citizens to vote. The Catholic church has identified three primary responsibilities of all citizens. These are to pay taxes, to defend their country, and to vote. The Church asks us to vote so that we can use our teachings and values to promote and defend the dignity of the human person, support the family and subsidiarity in local, state, and national institutions, work toward the common good where human rights are protected, and act in solidarity with concern for all as our brothers and sisters. Voting is actively protecting people’s rights and defending your values.

There are many reasons that could potentially fuel someone’s motivation to vote. It could be that they see it as honoring the suffragettes. It could be that they see it as a civic duty as a United States citizen. It could be that they are passionate about politics. It could be that they see their opinion as valuable and needed. It could even be a mixture of any of these. Whatever the your reasoning may be, like those who fought before you, you must be the change you wish to see in the world. Don’t be the one who silences your own voice.

Cameron distributed Voter Registration forms to all senior homerooms and encouraged her Mount sisters to get involved in the process.  Like Catherine McAuley, Cameron is passionate about making a difference in her community and the world.  Great job, Cameron!

Mount St. Mary Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, develops young women with a moral and intellectual foundation rooted in Catholic tradition. Mercy-minded and college-prepared, our students meet the future with wisdom, compassion and integrity.

Fifteen Mount St. Mary dads and ten other Mount supporters joined together Saturday, October 6th, to assist with the removal of two dead trees on campus.

A huge THANK YOU to all those who cut, split, and stacked wood that day.

Your support is invaluable to the school community and greatly appreciated.

Mount St. Mary Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, develops young women with a moral and intellectual foundation rooted in Catholic tradition. Mercy-minded and college-prepared, our students meet the future with wisdom, compassion, and integrity.

The Forensics Team kicked off their 2018-19 season in Bentonville where more than 500 students competed in individual and group events. The MSM Forensics Team won 2nd Place small school overall Sweepstakes!  Our students also did well in their individual areas:

• Lily E. & Anna F. won 3rd place in Duet Improvisation
• Victoria V. was a Finalist in Informative Speaking
• Holly M. and Lily E. were Finalists in Storytelling
• America A. and Sophie M. were Semi-Finalists in Poetry
• Amalie S. was a Semi-Finalist in Prose
• Karina S. was a Semi-Finalist in Humorous Interpretation and Impromptu Speaking

The Forensics Class Reader’s Theatre won 2nd place.

Anna, Lily, America, Sophie, and Amalie earned bids to the State Championship in April.

We are very proud of the Forensics Team and their accomplishments.  Congratulations!

Mount St. Mary Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, develops young women with a moral and intellectual foundation rooted in Catholic tradition. Mercy-minded and college-prepared, our students meet the future with wisdom, compassion, and integrity.

The Mount St. Mary Academy Golf Belles, coached by volunteer coach Brian Loeb, had a great season.

  Pictured from left to right: Emily E. ’19, Lily W. ’20, Isabel C. ’22, Lauren L. ’20, and Virginia Claire J. ’21 faced stiff competition at the State Tournament in Rogers.  At the end of play, Isabel C. ’22 was named All Conference.  Lauren L. ’20 was named All Conference and All State and qualifies for the High School Overall.

Congratulations Golf Belles and Best of Luck, Lauren!

Mount St. Mary Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, develops young women with a moral and intellectual foundation rooted in Catholic tradition. Mercy-minded and college-prepared, our students meet the future with wisdom, compassion, and integrity.

The Mount St. Mary Academy Vision Statement says:

 
Equipped with knowledge, our graduates leave with confidence, courage, motivation and drive.  Like Catherine McAuley, they are fierce pioneers, passionate about making a difference in their communities and the world.  

We are pleased to welcome home one of our graduates: Ms. Melissa Stiles ’89.  Melissa joins the Mount St. Mary Foundation staff as the Director of Donor Giving.  Like Catherine McAuley, she has been a fierce pioneer in her field (Development) and has been passionate about making a difference in the Little Rock community. 

She brings with her experiences as Senior Major Gifts Officer (CARTI Foundation), Senior Development Officer (Arkansas Children’s Hospital Foundation) and Development Director (Arkansas Community Foundation and Arkansas Symphony Orchestra).  She has also been active in the community, volunteering her time to areas that she is passionate about.

According to Melissa, “This is a wonderful opportunity to serve my alma mater just like it served me.”  Her goal is to grow and enhance the Foundation so “we can meet the needs of our school and her students.”  She plans to focus her efforts on fundraising opportunities that fulfill that mission. 

Mount St. Mary Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, develops young women with a moral and intellectual foundation rooted in Catholic tradition. Mercy-minded and college-prepared, our students meet the future with wisdom, compassion, and integrity.

The International Language department at Mount St. Mary Academy experienced two major changes this summer: the addition of a new staff member and travelling downstairs to the first floor of the Flake wing!

(From left) Mrs. Ruth Pineda (Spanish instructor), Mrs. Marly Gammill ’05 (French instructor), and Mrs. Maureen Stover ’78 (Latin instructor) welcomed Mrs. Mercedes Rodriguez (Spanish instructor) to the International Language department.

Mrs. Rodriguez splits her time between Mount St. Mary Academy and UA Little Rock, where she is also a Spanish instructor.  Bienvenido, Senora Rodriguez!

As for travel, Gammill ’05 and Stover ’78 are actively involved in sponsoring our language trip (summer 2019) AND will be announcing the destination for the 2020 Europe trip Wednesday, October 10th.

Measuring student success is an integral part of the Mount St. Mary Academy mission.  We are pleased to welcome two new math teachers to our staff this school year.  They join a department that is determined to enrich and enhance the math experience of each young woman at Mount St. Mary.

Mrs. Teresa Chudy (from left, second), Mrs. Oceanna McMahon ’00 (fourth), and Mr. Justin Brady (right) welcome Mrs. Bobbi Barret (left) and Ms. Amber Pruss ’07 (from left, third).

Barrett will focus on Geometry and Honors Geometry while Pruss will focus on Honors Algebra II and Algebra III.  Pruss also serves as the Freshman Volleyball Assistant Coach.

Also new to the department: two Promethean Boards.  These interactive boards are being utilized in Algebra, Honors Algebra, Pre-Calculus, Honors Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus AB, and AP Calculus BC.

McMahon and Brady were presenters at last week’s Catholic Schools of Arkansas Professional Day.  Their presentation, geared toward junior high teachers, was titled “Math + Collaboration = Future Success.”  We look forward to partnering with the schools in our community to build future success for our students!

Mount St. Mary Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, develops young women with a moral and intellectual foundation rooted in Catholic tradition.  Mercy-minded and college-prepared, our students meet the future with wisdom, compassion, and integrity.

Www.sistersofmercy.org is the website for all things about the Sisters of Mercy and their mission. It is there we find “The Sisters of Mercy were founded out of a deep concern for persons who are poor. Today, that commitment is focused in five “critical concerns” that we address through attention to personal and institutional choices, advocacy with legislators and other government leaders, and corporate engagement.”

One of the critical concerns is Women and this year we are focusing on that particular concern. Part of our Mercy Day celebration was gathering items particularly used to “Help a Sister.” We brought in such items as toothpaste and toothbrushes, but also uniquely feminine items like nail polish/remover and tampons. All these items were delivered to Dorcas House.

“The Dorcas House reaches out to women and children of Central Arkansas with the compassion of Christ. Housing, classes, counseling, daily chapel time and our other services provided begin to help change lives. Those who are trapped in domestic violence or struggling with chemical dependency and other addictions find hope and support to break the shackles of their issues and begin to rebuild their lives through a relationship with Jesus Christ.” (http://urmissionlr.org/dorcas-house)

How perfect that we could partner with them in this event.

“Our love ought to be so firm, so cordial and so solid that we should never refuse to do or to suffer anything for the good of our Sisters.”

Catherine McAuley, Letter to Familiar Instructions, p. 106

Mount St. Mary Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, develops young women with a moral and intellectual foundation rooted in Catholic tradition. Mercy-minded and college-prepared, our students meet the future with wisdom, compassion, and integrity.

By Brenna Stefanov and Emily Angyal

Mercy Day is a significant day for Mercy schools everywhere. September 24 is the anniversary of the opening of Catherine McAuley’s House of Mercy on Baggot Street in Dublin, Ireland.

Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy and ultimately our school, devoted her life to the poor, sick and uneducated. In honor of her, we continue her legacy of caring and compassion in the name of Mercy through volunteering in our communities.

Freshmen volunteered in our school community by beautifying the grounds around the school and cleaning the gym. Sophomores started their yearly walk to Allsopp Park to volunteer in our immediate neighborhood community, but ended up making cards for senior citizens and patients at Arkansas Children’s Hospital due to rainy weather. Juniors and Seniors ventured further afield and helped in the greater community. They could be found cleaning walls at St. Edward’s, stuffing brochures at Camp Aldersgate, repairing and cleaning headstones at Calvary Cemetery, and so very much more. Over 500 students, faculty, and staff made a huge contribution to Little Rock.

Imagine that happening all around the world wherever there is a Sisters of Mercy presence. Catherine McAuley would be proud. The day culminated with the school community coming, rightly so, to the table of our Lord with the celebration of the Mass.

“Our charity is to be cordial. Now cordial signifies something that renews, invigorates and warms. Such should be the effect of our love for each other.”
Catherine McAuley
Letter to Cork Manuscript

Mount St. Mary Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, develops young women with a moral and intellectual foundation rooted in Catholic tradition. Mercy-minded and college-prepared, our students meet the future with wisdom, compassion, and integrity.

Mount St. Mary Academy faculty attended the Catholic Schools of Arkansas 82nd Professional Day Friday, September 28th.  We started our morning with Mass celebrated at Christ the King with Bishop Anthony Taylor, Monsignor Malone, Fr. Keith Higginbotham, other priests, and Catholic school faculty from around the state of Arkansas.  After Mass, the teachers listened to keynote speaker Sr. Patricia McCormack.

Sr. Pat, an Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister from Pennsylvania, travels around the country delivering presentations, workshops, retreats, and in-services.  Her message included the call to “Embrace our Vocation” and “Accentuate the Positive.”  Ms. Naeyaert “loved Sr. Pat’s energy and enthusiasm.  She was very engaging.”  “She was funny and that made all the difference,” said Mrs. Chudy.  Mr. Carden added, “She had a message for everybody!”

After lunch, several Mount teachers served as facilitators and presenters.  Mrs. McMahon and Mr. Brady presented a session for junior high math teachers titled “Math + Collaboration = Future Success.”  Mrs. Johnson, Ms. McLemore, and Dr. Hendrickson presented a session for 7th through 12th grade teachers called “What Literacy Looks Like in the Secondary Classroom.”  Mrs. Burch facilitated the Special Education/Resource/Title I session.

Mount St. Mary Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, develops young women with a moral and intellectual foundation rooted in Catholic tradition.  Mercy-minded and college-prepared, our students meet the future with wisdom, compassion, and integrity.

The National Merit Scholarship Program honors students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. Approximately 16,000 Semifinalists are recognized annually.

Mount St. Mary Academy is proud to recognize two students who have achieved the National Merit Semifinalist distinction in the 64th annual National Merit Scholarship Program: Anna Kate Manchester ’19 and Bekka Ureta ’19.

The goal of the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame is to honor, in perpetuity, women whose contributions have influenced the direction of Arkansas. As a part of the 2018 program, five Girls of Distinction were selected form area high schools. Two of the recipients were Mount St. Mary students: Annie Quo ’19 and America Alejandri ’20.

Annie is a senior at Mount St. Mary and is actively involved in many organizations, including National Honor Society and JROTC.  In the future, she hopes to work with Doctors Without Borders to help people access healthcare across the globe.

America is  junior at Mount.  She is in her third year serving on Student Council and is an active member of the National Beta Club and the National Thespian Society.  After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in Forensic Psychology.

Annie and America participated in the August 20, 2018, Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame program.  This year’s inductees included the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas; Dr Carolyn F. Blakely, Lifelong Educator; Karen Flake, MSM President/CEO, Market Researcher and Public Servant; Dr. Sue Griffin, Alzheimer’s Research Pioneer; Dr. Raye Montague, Engineer; Dr. Bessie Grace Boehm Moore, Educator and Civic Leader; Florence Beatrice Smith Price, Composer; Mary Steehburgen, Academy Award-Winning Actress; and Annabelle Imber Tuck, Legal Trailblazer.

Mount St. Mary Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, develops young women with a moral and intellectual foundation rooted in Catholic tradition. Mercy-minded and college-prepared, our students meet the future with wisdom, compassion, and integrity.

One of our additions to campus this year is the recently-finished portico. Our fall 2017 Parent Satisfaction Survey cited Safety as one of our top concerns. In an effort to address that issue, the MSM Academy Board approved the building of the portico. Mount St. Mary Academy partnered with Nabholz to construct the new portico, a double door entry system. We appreciate the partnership and thank Nabholz for their generous contribution!

Mount St. Mary Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, develops young women with a moral and intellectual foundation rooted in Catholic tradition. Mercy-minded and college-prepared, our students meet the future with wisdom, compassion, and integrity.

This year, Mount St. Mary Academy welcomed over 120 freshman girls from over 20 different schools.

At the opening mass on August 27th, the freshman walked with excitement through an honor guard made up of Campus Ministry, Ministers of Communion, and the Student Council. This honor guard symbolized the beginning of their four years at Mount St. Mary and the endless possibilities ahead of them. Over the next four years, these young women will be transformed. They will be challenged academically and encouraged to deepen their faith. Each MSM student receives support from her classmates, teachers and administrators as she grows into the woman God created her to be.

Mrs. Collins, MSM Principal, addressed the students, reminding them that the Mercy card is “not something to take lightly. It is a commitment. It is important. This card holds our value system in place for all the world to see. These values will help you grow as an individual and a member of our community. These values will help you live a grace-filled life. Our strength, as a community, lies in our shared Mercy Values.”

Mount St. Mary Academy is proud to welcome the Class of 2022!

Mount St. Mary Academy, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, develops young women with a moral and intellectual foundation rooted in Catholic tradition. Mercy-minded and college-prepared, our students meet the future with wisdom, compassion, and integrity.

On April 29, the Mount St. Mary Academy Class of 2019 received their class rings at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church. Following their entering procession and the blessing of the rings by MSM Chaplain Monsignor Lawrence Frederick, the 122 juniors with their families celebrated a mass to mark their call to leadership as next year’s seniors. The Class of 2019 adopted the theme of “Guardians of the Path” at their class retreat earlier in the month, and they will wear the rings as a symbol of their class unity and leadership.

After the Mass the juniors joined outside the church for photos and the long-standing tradition of asking friends and loved ones to turn the rings. The turning represents the year of graduation; for the Class of 2019, the rings were turned 19 times. Congratulations to next year’s leaders: The Mount St. Mary Academy Class of 2019!

More photos of Junior Ring Mass: https://flic.kr/s/aHskAYjpmh

On May 2, MSM senior Evelyn Nick shared her intent to continue her academic and athletic pursuits at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio. While she thanked coaches, family and friends for joining her as she signed on to swim with the “Barons,” Evelyn says the offer to join the college team just tipped the scale leading up to her decision to attend a Catholic University.

“Everyone just so loves their faith,” said Evelyn, describing the Catholic environment on campus, “and I really wanted to be surrounded by other peers excited about their faith because it will push me next year to be better in my faith.”

As a Eucharistic Minister at MSM and a member of the MSM Campus Ministry Team as well as the Youth Advisory Council for the Diocese of Little Rock, Evelyn said that she was impressed by the number of daily masses available to the students at Franciscan, the numbers of students in line for Reconciliation and the Catholic ethics incorporated in the academic teaching. Evelyn plans to major in biology and said the focus on ethics in the science classes was important for her and anyone interested in going pre-med. When she discovered an opportunity for her to join the swim team at the Catholic university, she knew she had found a place to call home.

“Swimming is my one thing I really love doing, and I know that if I’m stressed, I love to go swim and get my stress out,” said Evelyn. “It’s relaxing for me, so I’m looking forward to having that outlet, with the stress of college, to be able to relax while at the same time I’m working hard.”

Evelyn has been swimming since she was four years old, competitively since the age of six, and she swims freestyle and butterfly for the Belles swim team. She has been a member of the Mount St. Mary swim team all four years. This year Evelyn and her fellow Belles relay members qualified for state in the Girls 200 Yard Freestyle Relay and the Girls 400 Yard Freestyle Relay.

Evelyn said she has learned a lot about herself in leadership positions at Mount St. Mary. Not only was she one of two seniors to lead the Belles swim team this year, but she also held leadership roles as president of both the MSM Latin Club and Mu Alpha Theta math honor society. In leading the swim team, she stressed how a good attitude plays an important part in helping her team meet their goals, and while she’ll be one of the new team members next year, she says she’s excited to take what she’s learned about herself at Mount and apply it to the Barons team.

Evelyn said, “I feel like I’ll have a lot more respect [for the senior members of the team] and I feel like I’ll be a lot more likely to go off of their example because they know what they’re doing.”

The Mount St. Mary Academy Concert Belles earned yet another “Superior” Rating at the State Choral Festival hosted by the University of Central Arkansas on April 13. Adding another plaque to an already crowded wall of awards, this year’s chorus received two BEST IN CLASS awards: 2018 6A Best Medium Female Chorus and 6A Best Medium Chorus Overall.

The State Festival by the Arkansas Choral Directors Association (ACDA) invites the best choirs from around the state to come together to make beautiful music, have fun and perform for a panel of judges. To be eligible for participation in the state festival, ensembles and choruses must receive a minimum composite rating of “Excellent” at the region Choral Performance Assessment in early March. The Concert Belles performed three songs at the state festival, two of which they had perfected since the CPA and one new piece, said MSM Choral Director Chelsea Frazier.

“Every single year, people are RAVING over what these girls can do, from the warm-up room to the stage,” said Ms. Frazier, commenting on how much positive feedback the chorus received from choir directors, other high school students and student workers from around the state. “It is such a humbling and rewarding experience, and I want [everyone] to be aware of how amazing these girls are!”

To receive a “Division I – Superior” rating at the State Festival represents “the finest possible performance for the event,” according to the ACDA website. Out of approximately fifteen other choirs within their classification, the Concert Belles received the highest total score, with their superior rating earning the distinction of “being recognized as among the very best.”

This is not the first year the Mount St. Mary Concert Belles chorus has competed against 6A medium choruses from larger schools and come away with Best in Class awards. Because of the school’s size, Mount St. Mary Academy would be considered closer to the Arkansas Activities Association 5A classification, except the all-female status combines enrollment with the all-boys school and increases the classification for choral assessment to 6A — 7A for athletic teams. Still, the Concert Belles have consistently fared well at the state festival; the chorus earned the 6A Best Medium Female Chorus and Best Medium Chorus Overall in 2017 and was awarded Best Medium Female Chorus in 2016.

Did you know the 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act expanded 529 savings plans to allow families to invest funds for K12 tuition in addition to higher education expenses?  As of January 1, 2018, up to $10,000 can be used from a 529 plan for tuition in connection with enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school.​

A new fact sheet jointly issued by the National Catholic Education Association and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops explains the changes for parents of children in Catholic schools and answers many of the questions you may have.

Download the 529 plan fact sheet.

Today marks the beginning of National Catholic Schools Week 2018! This year’s theme is “Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.” We’re proud of to be a part of Catholic education and the many contributions to our church, our communities and our nation.
Read below a dozen reasons to choose Catholic schools. #CSW18

1. We offer an education that combines Catholic faith and teachings with academic excellence.
2. We partner with parents in the faith formation of their children.
3. We set high standards for student achievement and help them succeed.
4. We provide a balanced academic curriculum that integrates faith, culture and life.
5. We use technology effectively to enhance education.
6. We instill in students the value of service to others.
7. We teach children respect of self and others.
8. We emphasize moral development and self-discipline.
9. We prepare students to be productive citizens and future leaders.
10. We have a 99 percent high school graduation rate. 85 percent of our graduates go to college.
11. We cultivate a faculty and staff of people who are dedicated, caring and effective.
12. We provide a safe and welcoming environment for all.

The National Catholic Educational Association

NCEA.org/csw

We are thankful for our wonderful City of Little Rock and the Parks and Recreation Department, who hosted the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon held on Wednesday, November 15, at the Southwest Community Center in Little Rock. Mount St. Mary Academy was awarded the “Maintenance Volunteer of the Year” award for our Mercy Day work, cleaning up Allsopp Park alongside the Parks Department. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of all you do to make our city such a great place to live!

The season of Thanksgiving at Mount St. Mary Academy cannot be mentioned without including the longstanding tradition of the Robin Hood Days can drive.  While graduates remember their own Robin Hood Days stories, we often hear questions like “How long has the can drive been held at MSM?” or “How many cans have been donated over the years?”

After a little digging into the history of this cherished school charity, we found out some Robin Hood Days Fun Facts that we’d like to share!

Robin Hood Days Fun Facts

Courtesy of the Mount St. Mary Academy Archives

Photo Credit: The Mercian, 2013

The Mount St. Mary Academy Alumnae Association gained 120 new members at the Senior Recognition Ceremony held on Monday, May 22. Attended by MSM families, alumnae relatives, and alumnae board members, the ceremony honored the accomplishments of the senior class and inducted the Class of 2017 into the MSM Alumnae Association.

Sixty-eight percent of the senior class earned the academic status of Honor Graduate with a GPA of 3.5 or higher. The top five honor graduates in the class who will speak at the 2017 Mount St. Mary Commencement Ceremony on May 25th are: 5th honor graduate Anne Thibault, 4th honor graduate Chloe Beall, 2nd honor graduates Katie O’Malley and Caroline Coplin-Chudy, and 1st honor graduate Claire Althoff.

Four MSM students received recognition by the National Merit Program during the 2016-2017 school year. Hannah Isaacs and Chloe Beall were selected as National Merit Finalists, Katie O’Malley was selected as a National Merit Commended Student and Rosemarie Ochoa earned the status of National Hispanic Scholar. Each of these young women represent the top five percent of the more than 1.6 million students who entered the National Merit competition by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Qualifying Test as 11th-graders.

A number of academic honors, merit awards and scholarships were awarded to many deserving MSM students in the Class of 2017. Caroline Coplin-Chudy received the 2017 Principal’s Award for living the Mercy values at Mount St. Mary. The Flora Bittner Croft Scholarship was given to three MSM students attending Catholic universities, and the Judith Wrappe Scholarship honored one senior for her artwork depicting this year’s theme of “Sisterhood.”

Melanie Parham Fox ’81 was recognized as the 2017 Mount St. Mary Academy Alumna of the Year for her contributions to the school and the community in the educational arena and for her volunteer work with MSM spirit groups and booster club initiatives as well as leadership in spearheading the merchandise system for Mount St. Mary.

More photos from the Senior Recognition Ceremony:

https://flic.kr/s/aHskVUJMDT

Mount St. Mary Academy will be offering eight fun and exciting summer camps for both girls and boys entering 2nd to 8th grades as well as sports camps for girls entering ninth grade.

Camps include volleyball, basketball, math, pinterest/crafts, drama, media, creative writing and cooking, so keep up your skills this summer or try something new! Most camps are half-day camps and may be combined for a full day of camp fun with an hour lunch break provided.

Pricing and information may be found on the downloadable registration form at http://mtstmary.edu/summer-camps/ 

Questions?

Please email summercamp@mtstmary.edu
and mention the camp name to find out more information!

Mount St. Mary Academy would like to recognize and celebrate the athletic and academic accomplishments of three senior athletes who signed their letters of intent over the past two weeks. Mary R., Lizzie A. and Maggie S., surrounded by family and friends, made the public decision to continue their education at the university level while also pursuing athletic careers.

“The entire Athletic Department and school community is extremely excited for Lizzie, Mary, and Maggie to have the opportunity to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level,” said Athletic Director Marilyn Lenggenhager, recognizing the Mount St. Mary four-year athletes and honoring the decision made by each student and her family. “Their hard work here at Mount St. Mary Academy has paid off and we wish them well!”

Mary R. signed a letter of intent to play basketball with Hendrix College on Tuesday, April 18. Mary played varsity three years for Mount St. Mary Academy and was a member of the AAU basketball team Arkansas Elite. As a dual sport athlete, she also played on the Belles volleyball team. Mary is a scholar athlete and president of the National Beta Club at Mount St. Mary.

Lizzie A. signed a letter of intent to play basketball with Lyon College on Tuesday, April 25. A three-year varsity starter for the Belles, Lizzie was selected to All-Conference her junior and senior years and to the 2017 All-Metro Classic girls basketball game. She is also a scholar athlete and multi-sport athlete.

Maggie S. signed her letter of intent to join the Lyon College volleyball team on Thursday, April 27. Maggie played volleyball four years at Mount St. Mary, playing varsity three years as the middle blocker for the Belles. She was selected to All-Conference her senior year.

Photos from these events can be found on the MSM Flickr page:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mtstmary/albums

Forty-five Mount St. Mary Academy students competed at the annual Arkansas Young Artist Association (AYAA) Convention and Competition on April 12, 2017, where more than 50 schools and 2,000 student members were represented.

In addition to viewing student exhibits and listening to the convention speakers, the Arkansas Young Artist Association annually awards at least ten $500 scholarships to current AYAA members in good standing.

Congratulations to these MSM students:

Erica Vanhaute and Kristin Divino both received scholarships from AYAA and Breanna Freeman received a renewable scholarship from Kansas City Art Institute.

Erica Vanhaute – 1st place Oils Abstract/Non-Objective, 4th place Sketchbook
Giselle Trejo – Honorable Mention Cut Paper/Collage
Jasmine Rico – 3rd place Sculpture Realistic
Emily Delfos – Honorable Mention Scratchboard Expressive
Audrey Caruthers – 3rd Place Pen and Ink, Honorable Mention- Sketchbook
Elizabeth Bell – 1st place Digital Art Computer Generated
Vivian Boe – 1st place Fiber Arts Expressive, 4th place Fiber Arts Realistic
Amelia Ochoa – 4th place First Year Dry Color Media
Isabella Boyd – Honorable Mention- First Year Painting
Olivia Bice – 4th place First Year Painting

The Arkansas Young Artist Association (AYAA) is a state-wide organization of high school students grade 9-12. The mission is to encourage the visual arts in Arkansas students through professional speakers, competitions and exhibition.

Girls entering 2nd through 9th grades are invited to attend the Mount St. Mary Belles Basketball Camp. This day camp will provide instruction to develop individual  basic fundamental basketball skills.

WHEN

June 12-14 ,  2017

9:00-11:00am → girls entering 2nd-5th grades for Fall 2017

1:00-3:00pm → girls entering 6th-9th grades for Fall 2017

WHERE

MSM McAuley Center – 3224 Kavanugh Blvd, Little Rock, AR

COST

$65 includes camp t-shirt*  (*If registered by due date of June 5)
$50 for Basketball Skills Academy participants

WHAT TO BRING/WEAR

You will need to wear a t-shirt,  shorts, and tennis shoes.  Refreshments will be sold.

INSURANCE

Each camper must be covered by a family’s insurance policy.

Space is limited! To register for camp, download the registration form and return by June 1 with cash or check made out to MSM.

Hannah B. won 1st place at the McMath Branch Library for her written poem, which she entered into the teen poet laureate contest.  She will be representing the McMath Library Branch at this year’s Arkansas Literary Festival, which is put on by the Central Arkansas Library System.  Her written poem will be competing against the written poetry winners from all of the branch libraries April 27th through 30th.  Congratulations, Hannah,  and good luck!

Congratulations to our founders, the Sisters of Mercy, who were inducted into the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame last night at a reception held at the Statehouse Convention Center. Along with eight women from across the state, the Sisters were recognized for making a significant impact on the lives of others and helping to elevate the status of women in our state, our nation, and, in some cases, around the world.

The number of lives the Sisters have touched over the years is overwhelming! Here’s a quick look at the far-reaching ministry of Mercy in Arkansas.

The Sisters of Mercy have opened, maintained and managed:

• five hospitals
• three schools of nursing
• twenty-two schools
• a women’s spirituality center
• a teen education center
• retirement homes
• a ministry for women in prison

Today in Arkansas, the Sisters of Mercy still run/sponsor two schools, two retirement centers, four hospitals, and numerous medical clinics.

Learn more about the history of the Sisters of Mercy in Arkansas.

Photo:  Arkansas Catholic photo by Aprille Hanson

Congratulations to our Arkansas Girls State delegates, MSM rising seniors Lizzie Allgood, Vivian Boe, Maddy Frazior, Kirsten Hawkins and Kathryn Studer!

They represented MSM well last week at Girls State, a program that provides citizenship training for young women and gives them the opportunity to learn about city, county and state government by experiencing it themselves. Through participation in a mock government, these MSM students elected officials, held a variety of leadership positions and heard from their respective counterparts about their roles and responsibilities here in Arkansas.

Three faculty members and one student at Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock have been named recipients of the 2016 Stephens Award by The City Education Trust. Mount St. Mary Academy instructors Kathy Smith, Maureen Stover and Jenny Moses make up three of the five teachers who have been selected to receive an $8,000 cash award recognizing their outstanding and inspirational teaching. Senior Darcey Collins, a Finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program, is among the eight student recipients who have been selected to receive a $5,000 scholarship for their proven records of academic excellence. Congratulations for such an incredible achievement!

The HoneyBelles, a team of six science and art students from Mount St. Mary Academy, advanced in March to win a $15,000 first place award in the Lexus Eco Challenge, a national contest that encourages middle and high school students to develop and implement environmental programs that positively impact their communities.

After carefully studying the local environment, the HoneyBelles developed an Action Plan. They created a pollinators habitat on the school campus to protect the dwindling bee population so vital to modern agriculture. They also started a composting system to help sustain the garden and began spreading awareness about the importance of bees to the greater community.

Sixteen teams in each challenge, including Mount St. Mary Academy, won $10,000 in grants and scholarships at the end of November. All the winning teams were invited to participate in the Final Challenge for a chance to win one of two $30,000 grand prizes and eight first place prizes of $15,000. In all, $500,000 in scholarships and grants was awarded, with a total of $25,000 awarded to Mount St. Mary Academy.  

The HoneyBelles plan to use the prize money to help fundraise for two organizations – The Bee Cause, a grant program aimed to educate young people about the importance of bees, and Bee Abroad, an organization that seeks to reduce poverty in developing countries throughout the world through beekeeping.