Hello readers,
St. Mary’s is officially off on winter break, but before we leave for the holiday season, let’s recap what has been happening in the past month. December, the month of cold weather and Christmas decorations, is my favorite month of the year. Not only does it give me an excuse to drink exorbitant amounts of hot chocolate, stay up late watching holiday movies, and wrap myself in blankets, it is also the month of my birth. On December 1st, 1997, I was born. This year, I turned 18, which was much more fun than I was expecting. At SMA, we always decorate each other’s lockers and shower the birthday person with gifts. In each block, the teacher and all the students will sing birthday songs until you feel thoroughly embarrassed. It’s a rite of passage. So the month of December was off to an amazing start.
December is also one of the shorter months in the school schedule, so it zips by. Many of the classes are finishing up units and tying together final projects and tests before the break, which may be a stressful time for many. If you stay on top of your work and manage your time effectively, then this time is less stressful. At SMA, keeping track of your assignments and allocating your time to what needs to be done is key to your success in high school and the future. In English, we finished reading Hamlet and wrote our final essay. In Chemistry, I took my midterm and finished two labs on LeChatelier’s Principle. In Biology, I created a project comparing an animal cell to St. Mary’s with my friend, Nicole Panet-Raymond. In Theology, I presented on Phyllis Trible, a biblical theologian, with my friend, Camille Sullivan. In PE, we went bowling! As you can see, the classes don’t fizzle out before break, but remain on task and interesting.
Spreading the holiday spirit with our Christmas families.
St. Mary’s is a community of giving. Each year, the different TAs are assigned families for which they buy gifts, food, and other items. Then, we deliver the gifts to the various families and are able to meet the people who we are helping. Each year is very different. For example, last year we had a family of 8, while this year it was only a family of 3. Some families have single parents with children, while others only have a single person. Regardless, SMA students work together to bring the holiday spirit to the families through gifts, letters, and love.
Well, that is all for now. I look forward to writing you again in 2016!
Emma Rosenthal
