This Year, Stella Maris Academy students’ philanthropy project for Father Joe’s Village is to collect blankets and towels. From October 8^th to October 18th we will be collecting new and gently used blankets and towels. Contributions can be made by families, parishioners, or anyone wishing to help. Please bring donations to the office during October 8th-18^th. Thank you!

Today, September 17^th, is Stella Maris Academy’s Anniversary Seventy-two years ago today we opened our doors to students for the first time in the Village of La Jolla!  72 Years and Going Strong!

Mark your calendars with the following special Stella Maris dates – more details to follow soon!

September 17^th: Stella Maris Academy 72^nd Anniversary!

September 27^th: Family Fun Night, 6-9pm.

October 26^th: Halloween Bash, 5-9pm.

November 1^st: The Dad’s Club Wine Tasting Evening, 5-8pm, Parish Hall.

November 14^th: Geppetto’s and Stella Maris Academy team up for a fun shopping evening, 5-8pm, where 15% of sale proceeds benefit SMA!

December 3^rd: #GivingTuesday.

February 22, 2020: Annual PTO Masquerade Gala.

Stella Maris Academy has teamed up with AdoptAClassroom.org, an education fundraising platform that has raised more than $36 million, providing funding for resources and materials to more than 200,000 classrooms across the nation since 1998. AdoptAClassroom.org connects corporate sponsors and individual donors to teachers and schools locally and nationally. They make it easy for teachers and schools to register, receive funds, and order the classroom supplies they need. If you would like to support Stella Maris Academy with a tax-deductible donation that will be available immediately to our school, please visit AdoptAClassroom.org, via this link https://adoptaclassroom.force.com/donors/s/designation/a1m0y000001vCKFAA2/jennifer-ledfors . You can also contact the Advancement Office at 858-454-2461.

If you would like to help us spread the word, you can share the link to our fundraising page with other people or businesses you know who may be interested in supporting Stella Maris Academy. Thank you!

Stella Maris Academy’s student bandleader, Mr. Andrew Elstob of Paul Effman Music, was here yesterday to introduce children to the many instruments that are available for lessons. The flute, trumpet, alto saxophone, clarinet, trombone, tuba, bells, drums and piano are all available for lessons for grades 3-8 in the Star Center; violins are offered to grades 1-8. If you have any questions about your child’s participation in band, please contact Paul Effman Music directly at info@pemusic.com or 516-921-4543. Sign-up forms are due next Wednesday, September 11^th.

Parents may know that the benefits of music education extend well beyond childhood, lasting a lifetime. Music education is shown to have a multitude of benefits. It helps sharpen attentiveness, abstract reasoning and creativity. Children who are musically trained have stronger every day listening skills. Music engages both sides of the brain and challenges children to simultaneously concentrate on multiple tasks. Music and math are highly intertwined. Music also helps children develop coordination and motor skills as well as self-discipline and self-esteem. Students that participate in music programs consistently score higher in English and mathematics than their peers.

“I know that the most joy in my life has come to me from my violin. If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.”
Albert Einstein

This morning at 7.30am a large group of parents, students, parishioners and members of the press gathered outside of the Stella Maris Academy administrative offices for our ribbon cutting ceremony.

Father Patrick Mulcahy, the Parish Pastor, greeted the crowd and blessed the new reception and offices, prior the ribbon cutting by Mrs. Francie Moss, Principal and Mrs. Patricia Lowell, former Principal and Mr. David West, who provided the construction services during the summer to the front office reception area and the new principal’s office.

After the ribbon cutting, the students went to their classrooms and parents and guests entered the school office to see the new office spaces, as well as the newly donated statues of Jesus with Children, Our Lady of Guadalupe and a beautiful double- heart cross that were all generously donated by parishioners of Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church. Everyone enjoy coffee and refreshments that were hosted by the Parent Teacher Organization in the Star Center.

The PTO also had several sign-up sheets for this year’s school programs and special events. To volunteer this year with the PTO, please contact Tania Ronchi, PTO President, at 858-333-9386 or taniahynesronchi@me.com.

NEWS RELEASE

RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY AT STELLA MARIS ACADEMY

Stella Maris Academy, the Parochial School of Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church, will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony at 7.45am on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 to mark the remodeling of the school’s administration offices and reception area. The event will take place on the lawn in front of the school’s offices at 7654 Herschel Avenue, prior to the start of classes on the first day of school and the start of the new school year.

During the ceremony Father Patrick Mulcahy, the parish pastor will bless the new offices and reception. The Principal, Mrs. Franice Moss and honored guests will take part in the ribbon cutting.

Following the ceremony, guests will be able to view the new offices and reception area, enjoy coffee and treats in the adjacent Star Center, which will be hosted by the Stella Maris Academy’s Parent Teacher Organization. Parents will also be able to turn in school registration forms and purchase used uniforms in the Star Center. Tours of the campus will also be available.

Following the July 1^st appointment of the principal, Mrs. Francie Moss and the pastor, Father Patrick Mulcahy, the school has had several refurbishments including new ramps in the junior school yard to facilitate wheelchair users.

Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church, founded in 1909, is named in honor of the Blessed Virgin. In 1937, the current church was built and designed in the Spanish Colonial revival architecture by Carleton Monroe Winslow (1876-1946), the renowned architect. Mary, Star of the Sea Church welcomes up to 800 worshippers per weekend and has an overall membership of nearly 1,000 families.

Stella Maris Academy is a National Blue Ribbon Award-winning transitional-kindergarten through 8^th grade Catholic school located in the heart of the Village of La Jolla. For over 70 years Stella Maris has provided academic excellence and the finest in Catholic school education by dedicated staff in a nurturing environment. The Western Catholic Education Association and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges accredit Stella Maris Academy.

Contact: Jennifer Ledfors, Director of Advancement, Stella Maris Academy

T: 858-454-2461

E: jledfors@stellamarisacademy.org