November 12, 2018
SMA VS Katherine Drexel Prep
St. Mary’s Academy will play Katherine Drexel Prep at 12:30PM on Wednesday, December 5th at the Smoothie King Arena. Tickets are on sale at SMA for $17.00. If you purchase a ticket for the game you can stay for the Pelicans game that night.
Teaching the Game of Life
St. Mary’s Academy elementary students now have the opportunity to learn the game of tennis plus a whole lot more thanks to A’s & Ace’s, a non-profit founded in New Orleans in 2008. Students in grades 1-4 are given free tennis classes, life skills and academic assistance twice a week during their physical education class period.
According to organizers, tennis is more than “just a game” and is the least important component of A’s & Aces’ tripartite mission. While character developing life-skills and academic support are critical to having successful, productive lives, the sport of tennis also provides the ability to build social, academic and career networks through playing a fun, life-long, global, non-contact, co-ed, team and individual sport.
Founded in 2008 by David Schumacher, a tennis pro, tennis teacher and former women’s tennis coach at Tulane University; and Anna Monhartova, a nationally ranked college player at Tulane, A’s & Ace’s also conducts after school programs, weekend and summer literacy and tennis programs across the city.
November 8, 2018
West African Hair Exhibit
Black hair has been an integral aspect African-American history from African tribal styles to dreadlocks and the afro. An upcoming exhibit at St. Mary’s Academy will investigate the significant role that black hair has had upon culture and the world.
A partnership between the school and Southern University at New Orleans Center for African & African American Studies, the Reclaiming Our Heritage: Traditional West African Coiffure exhibit will be held in the library at St. Mary’s Academy November 7 –December 2018. Curated by SUNO assistant professor Connie Abdul-Salaam, the exhibit will educate students, faculty, and others of the historical aspects of traditional West African coiffure from before the slave trade to the unique modern styles we see today worn on women, men, and children.
Read MoreSMA Band and Chorus Head to Pensacola
St. Mary’s Academy Marching Unit recently headlined the Back on the Blocks Festival on Saturday, November 10 in Pensacola, FL. Now in its 5th year of celebrating the “CULTURAL FLAVOR” of Historic Belmont-DeVilliers- “Home of the Blues”, “Home of the Black Business District”, and “Home of the Chitlin” Circuit”, the BACK ON THE BLOCKS FESTIVAL series endeavors to encourage tourists to “VACATION CULTURALLY” while visiting the Pensacola region. This event is one of the cultural preservation activities which supports the history, heritage, and culture of the Creole musicians who created the African-American art and entertainment district in Belmont-DeVilliers- historically known for the emergence of the “Chitlin’ Circuit”. The festival, according to organizers, provides an intimate atmosphere which blends a modern and traditional flavor for artists and visitors alike to experience creative expression, musically, and artistically, both indoors and out, while revitalizing and preserving the heritage of the Belmont by offering cultural arts and entertainment for tourists and residents to enjoy while visiting the area.
The event on Saturday included a Battle of the Bands Challenge as high school, college, and variety bands “strut their stuff”. The SMA Chorus also performed on Sunday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pensacola. Check out scenes from the event
Read MoreAlumnae Spotlight
Arriane Craig Jolla
Arianne Craig Jolla is a 1997 graduate of St. Mary’s Academy. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Special Education from Dillard University and a Master’s degree in Special Education from the University of New Orleans. She currently serves as the Executive Director and Lead Instructor of Hype Academy.
Arianne, a Louisiana-Certified school teacher since 2001, exited the public school system in order to devote full-time energy to the further development of HYPE Academy’s programs and to promote the success of its students. In August of 2017, Arianne released her debut book, Teach Your OWN Kid! Schools Can’t Do It Alone. She is also the host of the Teach Your OWN Kid! Podcast. She is married to Mr. Joshua Jolla who is also joining us today