Mrs. Michelle Klus
Senior School Principal
mklus@smamb.ca

Mrs. Carol-Ann Swayzie
Junior School Principal
caswayzie@smamb.ca

Mr. Lorne Hess
Dean of Educational Studies
lhess@smamb.ca

As we reach the end of our Easter season and celebrate Pentecost, we are reminded of the gifts given by the Holy Spirit; gifts that are meant to be shared for the benefit of others and to build community. How blessed we are to be a part of the SMA community and see the gifts of our students and our staff and then to witness those gifts shared with others.

It is hard to believe we are approaching the end of another school year. Our students are fully immersed in their courses, with final exams and projects on the horizon. As we watch our graduates shift their focus to their upcoming post-secondary paths, we are ready to greet the newest members of the SMA community at our Welcome to SMA event. Indeed, a full circle of our students’ journeys in action!

As we plan for the next school year, we are pleased to announce that we are introducing a Bring Your Own Device policy, beginning with our grade 7 and 8 students. Each year, we will be expanding the program through the senior grades, allowing us to enhance the learning and teaching environment in more innovative ways while incorporating digital technology with intention and guidance.

We appreciate your ongoing support and involvement in your daughter’s education and your commitment to the SMA community. How fortunate we all are to walk with one another.

In our technologically advanced world, integrating technology into the classroom is vital for students to develop digital literacy skills and adapt to the ever-changing digital landscape. Recognizing this importance, SMA is implementing a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy starting September 2023 for grades 7 and 8, with future integration across all grade levels. This policy empowers students to use their own laptops or tablets which will enhance their learning experience and promote interactive and collaborative learning. By embracing BYOD, we aim to foster a more dynamic and engaging educational environment, equipping students with the necessary skills to thrive in the digital age.

Kendra Lê, English Language Arts and Social Studies teacher, emphasizes the significance of BYOD, stating, “Having students bring in their own devices will allow them to interact with, and navigate, different Learning Management Systems such as Microsoft Teams and OneDrive daily. This will build the student’s comfort level with technology by learning to store and access documents in the cloud. In addition, it will promote greater participation in the classroom with the ability for anonymous polling and the sharing of documents. The learning will also become student-driven with more opportunities to collaborate. Students can create and design projects using web-based sites such as Minecraft, Twine, and ThingLink and other sites like Edpuzzle, Actively Learn, and Nearpod. This will greatly enhance the classroom experience and scaffold learning for students.”

Nicole McGlenen, Science and Social Studies teacher concurs, “Integrating technology within the classroom will enhance the student’s ability to work creatively and collaboratively in engaging and immersive learning environments. Technology in our classrooms allows for hands on cross curricular learning activities while teaching students safe technology use.”

Two grade 7 students, Chloe Render and Vivenne Siwak, who will be immersed in BYOD in their grade 8 year, express their positive views on this advancement. Chloe states, “I really prefer online work than paper copy because it helps me stay more focused and organized. Also, I think it will really help save the number of trees we are wasting.” Vivenne adds, “I like doing online work more than paper work because its very efficient, you can take the work anywhere and you can do it anywhere, it’s easier to keep track of everything, and it makes it easier to review and study.”

No software needs to be purchased as access to the full suite of Microsoft Office 365 apps will be provided by the school using the students' school Microsoft Office 365 account.

In September, teachers will communicate guidelines and policies to grade 7 and 8 students regarding the use of devices in the classroom to ensure they are being used for educational purposes. SMA will provide training to students to ensure that devices are used effectively to enhance the learning experience. SMA’s Information Technology department will be available to provide advice or assistance on any technology issue related to BYOD onboarding, such as Wi-Fi connectivity and Office 365 accounts. However, the IT department will not be responsible for troubleshooting or repairing hardware issues.

SMA is thrilled to embrace BYOD. Integrating technology into the classroom opens endless possibilities for engaging and collaborative learning experiences. With students using their own devices, we are empowering them to enhance their digital skills and thrive in the digital age. We are eager to embark on this digitally infused educational journey with our students.

Mrs. Joanne Steeves ’90 and Ms. Taylor Martin ’14 —  tmartin@smamb.ca

SMA’s Mission and Charism team is excited to finally be able to host our Junior Extended Service Experience (JESE). This program was originally scheduled to take place in June of 2020, and was cancelled due to the pandemic. The inaugural JESE experience will take place from June 20 to 23, 2023. JESE is an extended local justice immersion and education experience. The experience is based out of SMA with adult leaders and senior high students accompanying small groups to various service sites. We have 27 grades 7 and 8 students participating. Students participate at service sites during the day and have most meals and sleep at SMA. Service sites include St. Amant, Artbeat Studio, Convalescent Home, Rossbrook House and Riverview Health Centre. We are so excited to serve our local community with these junior students.

May was Asian Heritage Month, and it was a month of vibrant celebration. A dedicated group of Asian students came together to form a committee with the aim of educating and honoring their diverse heritage throughout the entire month. Their efforts were met with enthusiasm and participation from the community.

The committee organized a series of engaging activities that aimed to shed light on various aspects of Asian culture and promote understanding. Activities included a Kahoot focused on representation, interactive activities to teach about colourism in the beauty industry, screening of short films, a talent show where Asian students showcased their excellence in the arts, a spicy noodle challenge where teachers competed to test their spice tolerance, and a buffet with a variety of Asian meals.

Recognizing the importance of providing an open and inclusive space for Asian students, the committee hosted Talking Space events. These intimate gatherings centered around specific topics that directly resonated with the experiences of Asian students. The conversations provided a unique opportunity for students to share their personal journeys, connect with others, and foster a sense of belonging within the SMA community.

An essential objective of Asian Heritage Month was to foster cross-cultural understanding and dispel misconceptions. The committee educated non-Asian students about the distinctions between healthy and toxic representation and appreciation versus appropriation of Asian cultures.

Reflecting on the month-long celebration, the committee expressed their satisfaction and pride in the impact they made. The activities and educational initiatives proved to be nothing short of empowering, enabling students to embrace their heritage, connect with others, and foster a stronger sense of cultural unity within the school community.

On April 25, 2023, three of our students and STEM Club members participated in the Bison Regional Science Fair. Grade 8 student Anna Das won gold in the 8th grade Biology category for her project on the impact of mold on food. Grade 10 student Jiyoo Noh won silver for her project on collecting space junk and first place for a Technology project. Finally, grade 10 student Eleni Ginakes won silver for her project on the impacts of concrete on soil. 

Early in May we had an amazing collaboration between Mr. Villa's grade 11 Physics class and Mrs. Ouimet’s grade 2 Science class from St. Ignatius School. The grade 2 students are studying motion and created vehicles out of recycled materials, while Mr. Villa's class has been studying a variety of topics about motion. The students experimented by sending the vehicles down ramps covered with different materials to see the effects of friction on motion. The older and younger students alike had a blast learning.

A contingent of our students who study the French language participated in the Concours d'art oratoire, held at the Université de Saint-Boniface on May 6, 2023. The Concours d'art oratoire is Canada's largest annual French public-speaking competition. This event provides a valuable experience which builds useful life skills at many levels and it complements Manitoba curricula.

First Prize
Sophia Perrotti: French Communication and Culture, Grades 7/8

Jiyoo Noh: Late Immersion, Grades 9/10

Gabrielle Denis: French Communication & Culture (Extended/Enriched/Advanced), Grades 11/12

Abigail Chau: Late Immersion, Grades 11/12

Second Prize
Annik Allard: Français, Grades 7/8

Chinanuokum Onyiuke: French Communication and Culture, Grades 9/10

Third Prize
Hillary Agbodan: Français, Grades 9/10

Divisional winners were Emma De Luna and Emma Druwé Szklarczuk, and Gabrielle Denis also won the Franco-Manitobain Society prize.

Teachers guiding and inspiring these students are Mme Chantelle Deslauriers, Mlle Bernadette Balagtas, and Mme Marie Desaulniers.

Ms. Laura Davey ’05 — ldavey@smamb.ca

This has been a busy spring at SMA! Our Grade 7 students finished up scenes from Anne of Green Gables and are working on individual speeches and microphone use. Also, we were blessed to have an alumna guest presenter, Rhea Rodych-Rasidescu ’16 presenting to our Grade 7 students about puppetry. Our Grade 9 students are hard at work prepping scenes from The Diary of Anne Frank for their presentation to Grades 7 to 9 students and families of performers on June 1st. Our Grade 10s successfully performed their murder mystery spoof UnMurdered! by Edith Weiss on April 20, to the delight and roar of the audience and have been working on their last unit, Musical Theatre. And finally, our Grade 11/12 students thrilled audiences with their final production, The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields (presented with special permission from Dramatists Play Service). This is a story of a group of amateur theatre makers putting on a murder mystery when everything going awry in their performance. Our students have been working so hard all year learning about all aspects of theatre – from set & costume design, directing, and prop creation, to business, marketing and social media management. Thank you for your support of our program this year!

Rhea Rodych-Rasidescu ’16, alumna guest presenter

Grade 10 students performing “UnMurdered!” by Edith Weiss

Grade 11 & 12 students performing "The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong" by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields

Ms. Laura Davey ’05 — ldavey@smamb.ca

On May 1, 2023, Con Fuoco held their Spring Concert, the first since 2019. Their performance of heartfelt and energetic pieces such as “I am in Need of Music” by David L. Brunner, “Gently” by Brian Tate, and “Java Jive” by Milton Drake was truly outstanding. Close to 50 audience members thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful music under the direction of Ms. Anastasia Geras, Choir Director. A silver collection provided support to the Rossbrook House Music Program.

Mr. Cole Snyder — csnyder@smamb.ca

Marie Graham '25  

Miley Carino '26

Bella Pelagio '23

Mr. Rob McCaffrey and Ms. Taylor Martin ’14  — rmccaffrey@smamb.ca, tmartin@smamb.ca

As we wrap up the 2022/2023 school year, the SMA Senior and Junior Debate Clubs are proud to have finished an impressive year of debating. 

In April, we hosted our first debate tournament, The St. Mary's Academy Junior Invitational Impromptu Debate Tournament. This tournament was the first since the pandemic and thanks to our coaches and volunteers, it went extremely well. Our junior and senior teams performed excellently at their provincial debate tournaments and both a junior and senior team qualified to represent SMA at their respective national tournaments in May. At the Senior Douglas Campbell Public Speaking Tournament, both SMA speakers placed in the top two spots in their categories.

The SMA debate courses are also coming to a close, and the Intermediate and Advanced students have had a great year of learning and advancing in many new styles of debating and public speaking.

Thanks to our coaches, captains, and executive teams, this year could not have been better for the debate club, and we are looking forward to the next year of debating in 2023/2024.

Ms. Allie Logan ’06 — alogan@smamb.ca

It was an incredible first year for the Tartan Technology and Innovation Centre. This new space is sparking imagination and collaboration. Two such stories are highlighted below.

Grade 10 student Jiyoo Noh came to the Tech Centre to inquire about using the 3D printers to build models for her science fair project. She was focused on finding alternative ways of removing space junk from earth’s orbit, so she came up with a solution that utilizes a docking station connected to multiple satellites using electromagnetics. Jiyoo created a proof-of-concept using the 3D printers located in the Tech Centre to print a model of her solution. One challenge she ran into was figuring out the dimensions of her prototype, but with some assistance from Mr. Villamar, Jiyoo was able to calculate and adjust the size of the prototype to effectively demonstrate her solution. Jiyoo’s hard work and innovative thinking paid off when she took home a silver medal at the Bison Regional Science Fair in April!

Ms. Friess turned the Tech Centre into a virtual playground for her Grade 10 Social Studies class. Students used the Meta Quest 2 virtual reality (VR) headsets and explored one of four apps that would give each student a unique experience in different environments. The students learned the basics of VR using physics-based tasks and games, simulated swimming in the open ocean alongside marine wildlife, wandered through different countries they dream of visiting some day, and also tried their hand at being a wildlife photographer for National Geographic.

On behalf of Mr. Villamar, Mr. Ocampo and myself, I extend a heartfelt thank you to the students, staff and parents for making our first year a success! Your patience, input and smiles have helped us navigate this first year together. We look forward to welcoming people in the Tech Centre this September!

On May 26, 2023, SMA was delighted to host Mass and Brunch in celebration of the Class of 2023 and their families. Father Mark Tarrant presided over a beautiful Mass, and afterward, guests enjoyed a lovely brunch at the Viscount Gort hotel. To top it off, the Class of 2023 was inducted into the SMA Alumnae Association, and Gabrielle Denis was named Miss Congeniality.

Celebrations on the horizon for the Class of 2023 include Graduation Dinner and Dance at the Convention Centre on June 16, 2023, and Convocation takes place on June 28, 2023.

left to right: Mrs. Dana Sigurdson, Bethany Kolisniak ’19, Mrs. Carol-Ann Swayzie

In 2019, Bethany Kolisniak ’19 was a grade 12 student who consistently demonstrated remarkable dedication to Human Rights, resulting in her prestigious recognition as a Loran Scholar. Each year, the Loran Scholars Foundation carefully selects the top 0.7% of over 5,000 exceptional young individuals across Canada to receive the Loran Scholarship, a distinction bestowed upon them due to their exemplary character, commitment to community service, and potential for leadership. As Loran Scholars, these accomplished individuals are awarded a four-year scholarship, complete with invaluable mentorship and participation in a summer internship program.

As part of their Loran Scholar experience, each recipient is given the opportunity to acknowledge educators who played an instrumental role in their personal growth, academic development, and overall success. Among the remarkable educators at SMA, Bethany chose to honour Mrs. Carol-Ann Swayzie, Junior School Principal, and Mrs. Dana Sigurdson, Guidance Counsellor. On May 25, 2023, Bethany visited SMA to present the Loran Teachers Building Leaders Awards to these esteemed individuals. During her poignant speech, Bethany emphasized, "Words fail to capture the profound impact that Mrs. Swayzie and Mrs. Sigurdson have had on my life. They have been invaluable mentors, consistently providing unwavering support and encouraging me to embrace meaningful risks, a core principle espoused by the Loran Scholars Foundation."

Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies at UBC Okanagan, Bethany aspires to attend law school in the future, driven by her commitment to effect positive change.

The Loran Teachers Building Leaders Award, initiated in 2015, is presented by the Loran Scholars Foundation, which offers the most substantial and comprehensive four-year undergraduate scholarship in the country. With an estimated value of $100,000, this award is granted to promising young Canadians based on their outstanding character, dedicated service, and potential for leadership. The Loran Teachers Building Leaders Award is co-sponsored by the McCall MacBain Foundation.

Congratulations to the Flames Rugby team for capturing the city championship on May 27! Good luck to the Flames on June 2nd and 3rd as compete in the Provincial Championships.

For families who chose Plan C for 2023-2024 tuition payments, please remember that your first monthly payment will be withdrawn from your account on or after July 1, 2023.

For families who chose Plan A or Plan B, your next payment will be withdrawn on or after September 1, 2023.

Any families wishing to change their 2023-2024 payment plan or method of payment are asked to contact Mrs. Cheryl Gilleshammer in the Accounting Office by June 15, 2023. gilleshammer@smamb.ca or 204-478-6042.

St. Mary’s Academy Foundation is pleased to host the Marian Awards Gala on October 28, 2023 at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Please join us to honour the life and legacy of Constanca (Connie) Magalhaes. Connie’s connection with SMA began in 1985 when her eldest daughter enrolled in grade 7. All five daughters completed their education at SMA, and two of Connie's granddaughters are currently attending the school. Connie returned home to God on November 15, 2021, leaving a legacy of love, family, faith, and service. We are honored to posthumously award Connie the Marian Award, which will be accepted by her daughters at the Marian Awards Gala. Read a full bio at www.smamb.ca/events/marian-awards.

Funds raised from the Gala go to enhance innovative teaching and learning, and support our sustainability as a forward-thinking school for young women. Individual tickets are $200 each and After Party tickets are $50. Find out more details and purchase tickets at www.smamb.ca/events/marian-awards. Also, a variety of sponsorship opportunities are available. See the Sponsorship Package at www.smamb.ca/events/marian-awards. Anyone with questions may reach out to Kaylene Kessler a kkessler@smamb.ca or 204-478-6031.