Dear Stella Maris Academy Families,

Welcome back to a new school year at Stella Maris Academy! We are filled with excitement and hope for all that lies ahead. Our theme for teachers this year is the joyfulness of teamwork, a reminder that together we can do great things for our students. This spirit of teamwork extends to you, our parents, as we continue in partnership to nurture both the minds and the hearts of our children. United in faith and community, we are truly blessed to share this journey together.

We invite you to join us for our first school Mass at 11:20 on Friday, August 22nd Immediately following Mass we will all process over to the junior yard where Fr. Pat will bless our beautiful new statue of Mary, a reminder of Our Lady’s loving presence in our daily lives.

Please note a few important updates as we begin the year:

• Sweater vests will not be required throughout the months of August and September. We will possibly extend this is if the weather remains warm.
• This first week will be minimum days, with full days beginning the week of August 25th.

Back to School Nights:

• TK-5 on Wednesday, August 27th
• Grades 6-8 on Thursday, August 28th

Both evenings will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall.

We look forward to a wonderful year ahead! Stella Maris Academy is such a special place where faith, learning, and community come together. Thank you for entrusting your children to us-we are so grateful for your partnership, and honored to be part of their academic journey.

Blessings,

Mrs. Moss & Mrs. Zack, SMA Co-Principals

Mensaje de las Directors

Dear Stella Maris Academy Families,

We’re excited to share a collaborative opportunity between Stella Maris Academy and St. Augustine High School designed to support the growth and development of our middle school athletes.

On Saturday, June 28th from 9:00 AM–12:00 PM, St. Augustine will host a Wrestling & Tackling Camp for 6th–8th grade boys. This camp introduces athletes to contact in a safe and controlled environment, focusing on proper wrestling and tackling techniques. It will be led by the St. Augustine coaching staff along with Stephen Neal, a Super Bowl Champion and World Champion Wrestler.

This event is a fantastic opportunity for our flag football players and other interested students to build confidence with contact, enhance athletic skills, and prepare for the next level of competition. St. Augustine’s Head Football Coach, Coach Caragher, strongly supports the camp and believes it lays a solid foundation for students transitioning into high school contact sports.

The camp also marks the launch of the Saints Wrestling Club, a new youth program that provides training, mentorship, and a connection to the broader St. Augustine athletics community.

How You Can Participate:

• Register here for the camp
• Let us know if your child is interested or if you have questions—we’re happy to help coordinate

We’re grateful for this opportunity to partner with St. Augustine High School and support our students as they grow in skill, discipline, and sportsmanship. We encourage families to take advantage of this unique offering!

Dear SMA Families,

We are on the cusp of our long-awaited Easter break! As we journey through Holy Week, we will gather as a school community to celebrate Holy Thursday with a prayer service tomorrow morning at 11:30 AM in the church. Parents are warmly invited to join us as we prepare our hearts and minds for the sacred days ahead—Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter—the Triduum.

Please take note of the following events and reminders for the remainder of this Holy Week:

Holy Thursday Prayer Service
📅 Thursday, April 3 at 11:30 AM | 📍Church
Please note this is a prayer service, not a Mass. Students should wear a clean school uniform (Mass uniform is not required).

Early Dismissal on Holy Thursday
⏰ Dismissal at 12:30 PM
Please remember there will be no Cub Care on Thursday. Make arrangements for your child to be picked up promptly at dismissal time.

Easter Break
📅 Begins Friday, April 18 and continues through Sunday, April 27.

Classes resume on Monday, April 28.

Grandparents Day – Friday, May 2
We’re looking forward to welcoming grandparents and special guests to campus for this beloved tradition! The celebration begins at 9:45 AM in the Star Center.

All families should have received a separate announcement with a link to a Google Form to submit the names and mailing addresses of those attending. If you haven’t done so already, please complete the form at your earliest convenience so we can prepare properly.

Also, don’t forget two exciting community events taking place right after Easter and during our Easter break:

• Catholic Schools Night at the Padres – Friday, April 25
• Junior Olympics at La Jolla High School – Sunday, April 27

You’ll find more details about both of these events in this week’s newsletter.

May God bless you and your families as we continue this sacred season of reflection, renewal, and joyful anticipation of Easter.

With blessings and hope,
Mr. Jamie Brandt
Principal

Mensaje del Director Brandt

Dear SMA Families,

Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of St. Joseph, a beloved and powerful saint. As the husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus, St. Joseph was a compassionate and faithful protector of the Holy Family. Though the Bible records no words spoken by him, his actions spoke volumes—demonstrating obedience, humility, and unwavering trust in God’s plan. He is the patron saint of the Universal Church, as well as of fathers, workers, travelers, and a happy death. May his example of quiet strength and faithfulness inspire us all!

A few important updates for this week:

• School-Wide Assembly this Friday at 8:05 AM!
  This will be a BIG one as we recognize students for their academic and sports excellence and honor our Students of the Month for February’s virtue of Cooperation. We hope to see you there!
  
• Uniform Update
  We are finalizing details with our new uniform provider, The Uniform Store, and will be sharing ordering information soon. The only significant uniform change for next year is for 6th graders, who will now wear khaki pants with a blue polo to align with our middle school uniform (8th graders will still wear the green polo). All other uniform pieces will remain the same for the 2025-2026 school year.
  
• Key Dates for the 2025-2026 School Year
  The full one-page annual school calendar will be released in April, but I am pleased to share the following key dates:
  
  • First Day of School – Wed, 8/20/25
  • Last Day of School – Fri, 6/5/26 (8th grade graduation: Thu, 5/28/26)
  • Thanksgiving Break – Mon, 11/24 – Fri, 11/28/25 (Fri, 11/21/25 will be a minimum day; NO CUB CARE); school resumes on Mon, 12/1/25
  • Christmas Break – Mon, 12/22/25 – Mon, 1/5/26 (Fri, 12/19/25 will be a minimum day; NO CUB CARE); school resumes on Tue, 1/6/26
  • Winter Break – Fri, 2/13/26 – Mon, 2/16/26
  • Easter (Spring) Break – Fri, 4/3/26 – Fri, 4/10/26 (School resumes Mon, 4/13/26)

Wishing you all a blessed week ahead!

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in your child’s education.

With blessings and hope,

Mr. Jamie Brandt

Principal

Mensaje del Director

Dear SMA Families,

I hope you all are having a wonderful week! We are entering a busy and exciting time at SMA, and I want to highlight a few important events and reminders.

First, we are cheering on our Junior High Decathlon team as they compete this Saturday at St. Augustine High School. Our students have been working hard in preparation for this rigorous academic competition since the beginning of the school year, and we are so proud of their commitment and dedication. Be sure to check out last year’s school winners—SMA was the Regional Winning Team from San Diego! Click CSAJHD to see the full list of winners.

For our 5th-grade parents (or any interested or prospective families), I encourage you to attend our Middle School Information Night on Thursday, March 13th, at 6 PM (via Zoom). This is a great opportunity to learn more about the amazing programs, enrichment opportunities, and student experiences that make our middle school special.

Additionally, we are preparing our hearts for the liturgical season of Lent, which begins next week with Ash Wednesday (March 5th). All students and staff will attend Mass at 10:30 AM, and students should come to school in their Mass dress uniform (this includes a sweater and tie). Parents are warmly invited to join us for this special liturgy.

Also, a reminder that re-registration for the 2025-2026 school year is underway! The deadline to confirm your child’s enrollment is Wednesday, March 19th. If your family is in need of financial aid or tuition assistance, please submit your application by Friday, March 14th.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support of our school. Wishing you all a wonderful weekend, and I look forward to another great week ahead!

With blessings and hope,

Mr. Jamie Brandt

Principal

Mensaje del Director

Dear SMA Community,

I am overwhelmed with gratitude as I reflect on the incredible success of our annual gala, An Enchanted Evening! This event was truly a night to remember—filled with fun, fellowship, and the generous spirit of our school community. From the elegant venue to the delicious food and lively dancing, the evening was a beautiful celebration of all that makes Stella Maris Academy such a special place.

I am thrilled to share that, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, families and friends, we exceeded our fundraising goal, raising nearly $101,000! Additionally, we achieved 51% of our Teacher Wish List fund, which will directly support our dedicated educators in enhancing classroom experiences for our students.

This success would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of so many. A heartfelt thank you to our extraordinary Gala Co-Chairs, Karla Onstott and Mayling Garrison, for their leadership, dedication, and countless hours spent ensuring every detail was perfect. I also want to extend my deep appreciation to our PTO Co-Presidents, Melanie Rivera and Juliana Anthony, for their invaluable assistance, as well as the many parents who generously gave their time and talents to bring this event to life.

Your unwavering support and partnership continue to strengthen our school community, and I am truly grateful. Thank you for believing in our mission and for your commitment to making Stella Maris Academy a place where our students thrive.

We are on the cusp of a Winter Break with the Presidents Holiday weekend immediately before us. Please enjoy this time with family and friends and remain healthy and safe!

A reminder that there is NO SCHOOL on Friday, February 14th (Happy Valentine’s Day!). Additionally, please note that there WILL BE Cub Care afterschool on Thursday, February 13th, and school will resume on Wednesday, February 19th.

My sincerest gratitude for your continued support and partnership.

With blessings and hope,

Mr. Jamie Brandt

Principal

Mensaje del Director 2/12/25

Greetings SMA Community!

My message this week is dedicated to Catholic Schools Week (CSW), which begins this Sunday, January 26th, and runs through next Friday, January 31st. As a Catholic school community, we kick-off our celebration with a school Family Mass: 9:00 am on Sunday, January 26th, followed by an Open House at SMA (10 am – 12 noon).

I encourage all families to attend our Mass with our students in their school uniform (students will receive a special treat during CSW in lieu of free dress on Monday because Monday has been designated as a $5 Donation Free Dress Day–details in this newsletter). Many students will be participating directly in our Mass. Please come as we join our parish community to celebrate Catholic education in America.

“The theme for this week-long celebration is ‘Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community.’ Catholic schools have an irreplaceable role in the Church’s evangelizing mission. Building on the central goal of Catholic schools to form saints, Catholic schools teach and embrace the whole person, body, mind and spirit. The fact that all members of a Catholic school community share the Christian vision of faith that Christ is the foundation of Catholic education is what unites the school as a faith-filled community.

“While faith is the binding element in Catholic schools, the Church reiterates that parents are the first teachers of their children. Holding this tenet, Catholic school communities expand beyond the walls of school buildings to envelop the family as an integral part of the school community. Together teachers, administrators, staff, students and parents fuel the light of faith by integrating culture with faith and faith with living.

“The CSW logo [see above this message] symbolizes the united community of Catholic schools – not a building or an institution, but people of faith serving God and others. No Catholic school can fulfill its educational role alone. As a community, Catholic schools are nourished and stimulated by the centrality of the word of Christ expressed through knowledge, service, scripture and sacramental tradition.

“‘Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community’ is a theme on which to build a spirit of the gospel to benefit the human family” [Source: NCEA/CSW].

We have daily activities and events planned for our students beginning on Monday. Please see this newsletter for details.

Thank you sincerely for your continued support and partnership.

Jamie Brandt

Principal

Mensaje de la Director