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

Dear SMA Community,

Happy new year, happy Epiphany, and welcome back to school as we begin 2025!

In the life of the Church, we are still in the Christmas season, though stores and many homes have pretty much sold out of, taken down or put away their Christmas merchandise and decorations. This past Sunday, we celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany, which recalls the visit of the three wise men/kings/magi to the infant Jesus in Bethlehem.This Sunday, we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. After this Sunday, January 8th, we enter the liturgical Season of Ordinary Time (during which the liturgical color is green).

Speaking of Epiphany, the school continues this week to honor the visit of the three wise men to the infant Jesus. Msgr. Mark and I will be visiting each classroom to bless and dedicate the space for the new year–part of a long-standing Catholic tradition in which homes are blessed by writing the letters C, M and B and the numbers of the new year on either side of the three letters above the main door: “20+C+M+B+25”. The letters represent the three wise men: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar; the “+” represents the cross of Jesus.

Additionally, the theme of our school Mass this Friday is the Epiphany, during which the TK students will be the living Nativity scene and the K and 1st grade students will participate as readers (our 8th graders will provide the music). Please join us!

For the next 6-8 weeks, we have 12 Korean exchange students joining our school. They are spread out in almost every grade. SMA partners with Columbus Junior, a foreign exchange student program for students from South Korea. These students and their parents come to our country for a short period of academic and cultural opportunity–typically when their schools are on a break. This is a great opportunity for our students to interact and make friends with children from a different country. For a list of the Korean students who are with us, please see this newsletter.

We also begin a new season of sports: soccer and basketball. Each week, we will highlight the achievements of our student athletes. THANK YOU to the parent volunteers (and our own Mr. Christiansen) who are coaching the teams. Please see this newsletter for further information, including a link to the website for the weekly game schedule.

Looking forward to next week, please note that we will administer the second cycle of our Star Math and Reading assessments on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, immediately following our schoolwide morning prayer and announcements. We have made it a priority to designate a quiet testing period that supports all students and ensures they are focused and do their best. In this regard, please ensure your student is at school on time (and well rested) on Tuesday, January 14th, and Thursday, January 16th.

Finally, remember that there is a four-day holiday weekend beginning Friday, January 17th, to commemorate the Martin Luther King, Jr., federal holiday on Monday, January 20th (Friday is a professional development day for SMA teachers). (There will be Cub Care after school on Thursday, January 16th.)

Thank you sincerely for your continued support and partnership.

With blessings and hope,

Mr. James Brandt

Principal

Mensaje del Director

Dear SMA Community,

Happy Advent! In this third week of the Advent season, the theme is joy. “Joy is a very real and deep happiness that is rooted in faith and trust. In this third week of Advent, we pause and reflect on the first half of the season, as well as look ahead to the last weeks. The joy that we have and will experience during this season magnifies as we continue to prepare for the coming of Christ, who is full of joy” (University of San Diego Advent Reflections).

Tonight we gather as a school community to celebrate the sights and sounds of Christmas at our annual Christmas Pageant. I look forward to hearing our students sing songs that give witness to this very special time of the year. I hope all y’all are able to be with us!

A reminder that tomorrow (Thursday, December 19th) is a minimum day (12:30 pm dismissal), and there will be NO CUB CARE after school. The school office will close at 1:00 pm so that all faculty and staff may attend a special Christmas luncheon (hosted by Fr. Pat) and begin their Christmas break. School is closed on Friday, December 20th, and will resume on Monday, January 6, 2025.

As we approach the joyful celebration of Christmas and prepare to break for vacation, I want to take a moment to reflect on the blessings of this season and express my heartfelt gratitude to each of you for being part of the Stella Maris Academy community.

Christmas is a time to rejoice in the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, whose light shines brightly in our world, bringing hope, peace, and love. Throughout this Advent season, our students have beautifully embraced the spirit of giving and reflection, preparing their hearts to welcome the Christ Child. From prayerful moments during Mass and service projects to joyful celebrations and classroom activities, the love of Christ is evident in all we do.

As we pause for Christmas break, I encourage you to cherish the time with your loved ones. May your homes be filled with the warmth of family, the joy of togetherness, and the peace that only Christ can bring.

On behalf of the faculty and staff, I wish you a blessed Christmas and a New Year filled with health, happiness, and God’s abundant grace. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday, January 6th, to continue growing together in faith, knowledge, and love.

May the light of the Star of Bethlehem guide you, and may the peace of the Holy Family dwell in your hearts always.

Merry Christmas and God bless you!

With blessings and gratitude,

Mr. James Brandt

Principal

Mensaje del Director

Dear SMA Community,

Happy Advent! In this second week of the Advent season, the theme is peace. During Mass, we hear the celebrant (priest) echo the words of Jesus, “Peace be with you.” “Simple, but transformative words during a time of stress and anxiety. We are invited during the week to welcome peace in our lives. It is when we accept a spirit of peace that we are transformed and able to embrace Jesus, the Prince of Peace” (University of San Diego Advent Reflections).

We did it! Stella Maris Academy’s float for last weekend’s La Jolla Christmas Parade achieved the “Best Overall” award for the FOURTH year in a row! THANK YOU to the extremely dedicated and talented core of parents who made this achievement possible: Jeanne and Ben Liem, Karla Onstott, Francie and Vic Moss, and many other parents! A special THANK YOU to Stephen Pierce for the trailer! (See a couple of photos below and many more in this newsletter.)

For those of you (like many of us who are counting), there are FIVE more days of school before we break for Christmas vacation! Very exciting, yet there is A LOT happening between now and then.

Today in the life of the Church, we honor our Blessed Virgin Mother Mary under her title as Our Lady of Guadalupe. There was a large celebration today in the parish, and tomorrow the school will celebrate both Mary and Joseph with our annual “La Posadas”. Though our festivity will be scaled back somewhat with Sra. Pina on leave, nonetheless we hope you come join in the fun on the junior yard and in the Parish Hall from 1:00 to 3:00 pm on Friday, December 13th.

We have our monthly School Family Mass this Sunday, December 15th, at 9 am. Please plan to join us for the Third Sunday of Advent. (Additionally, the parish is hosting an Advent Penance Service at 4 pm on Sunday.)

On Wednesday, December 18th, SMA students will entertain our school families in our annual Christmas Pageant (6:00 pm in the church). You will enjoy the wonderful sights and sounds of the Advent and Christmas season from the faces and voices of our awesome students!

Finally, a reminder that Thursday, December 19th, is a minimum day (12:30 pm dismissal), and there will be NO CUB CARE after school. The school office will close at 1:00 pm so that all faculty and staff may attend a special Christmas luncheon (hosted by Fr. Pat) and begin their Christmas break. School is closed on Friday, December 20th, and will resume on Monday, January 6, 2025.

Thank you for entrusting Stella Maris Academy with your children’s education.

With blessings and gratitude,

Jamie Brandt

Principal

Mensaje de la Director

Dear SMA Community,

Happy Advent! In the life of the Church, we have transitioned from the Season of Ordinary Time into the Season of Advent. Moreover, in this first week of Advent, we are also in a new Church year, which began on Sunday, December 2nd. I spoke a bit about this in my “Welcome back” email to the school community that same day, so please go back and read it if you missed it.

Concomitant with our focus on Advent, we may find ourselves caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations and all of what that means (e.g., decorating, shopping, party planning/attending, etc.). Hence, I encourage each of us to take intermittent breaks amidst these “distractions” to pause and reflect on the truly special meaning of this season.

This morning, our students in grades 3-8 attended an Advent Penance Service in the church. Fr. Pat spoke briefly about the importance of Advent, and then he, Fr. Mark and Fr. Clement were available to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation (“Confession”) for the students. Those who are not Catholic (or those who have not received their Sacrament of Baptism/First Holy Communion) were invited to receive a blessing in lieu of confession and absolution.

Two of our students, Mac and Harper Belmonte (members of our Junior High Academic Decathlon team), spearheaded and organized a giving campaign in which students were asked to donate their gently used sports equipment. There was a box outside of every classroom during the week before Thanksgiving break, and each one was either full or close to full–in fact, 2nd, 5th and 6th grades collected the most items! Mac and Harper delivered these items to a local organization for children in need.

We do have another giving campaign happening now in 3rd grade: as part of their class service project, the students have organized a canned dog food drive to benefit “Frosted Faces”, a wonderful non-profit organization dedicated to helping senior dogs find their forever homes and receive essential care. See this newsletter for more information.

THE BIG AND MOST IMPORTANT EVENT forthcoming is this Sunday, December 8th: the La Jolla Christmas Parade! A committee of parents (including our previous principal, Mrs. Moss and her husband, Vic) have been working on our Christmas float since before the first day of school! I am very excited about our entry for this parade, as well as the special opportunity to showcase our school. We hope ALL SCHOOL FAMILIES AND STUDENTS will join us for the parade on Sunday. WE STILL NEED PARENT VOLUNTEERS FOR THE DAY OF THE EVENT–contact Karla Onstott! Please see this newsletter for all of the details (and call the school office with any questions).

Finally, in the life of the Church, we honor the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Mother Mary on Monday, December 9th. This is a holy day of obligation for Catholic Christians, so we will have a school Mass that morning at 10:30 am. We welcome and encourage parents to join us for this special Mass. All students shall wear their Mass uniforms to school on Monday, December 9th.

Thank you for entrusting Stella Maris Academy with your children’s education.

With blessings and gratitude,

Jamie Brandt

Principal

Mensaje del Director 12/5/24