MSM Family Connection Newsletter

This week, the MSM Thunder FLAG team was honored with the Youth Inspiration Award at the YWCA of Niagara Frontier's 2025 Niagara Awards: A Tribute to Women. This recognition celebrates the team's exceptional contributions to the community as young women who have made significant strides in the world of sports.

Formed with the goal of challenging stereotypes and creating inclusive opportunities, the Thunder FLAG team's determination and passion for flag football not only highlights their love of the game but is also helping to pave the way for future generations of female athletes to pursue their dreams.

Their achievements resonate far beyond the field, encouraging other young women in the community to explore their athletic aspirations and embrace their full potential.

Congratulations to the MSM Thunder FLAG team for this well-deserved honor! Your spirit and perseverance are a source of pride for our community and an example of what can be achieved through hard work and passion.

We hope you'll join us as Mount St. Mary Academy Theater presents this year's fall musical production of The Little Mermaid!

Take a journey 🎶Under the Sea 🎶 with our talented cast and crew who have been working tirelessly to bring this enchanting story to life.

Performance times are as follows:

Thursday, November 14, at 4:30 pm: This will be a special performance for students in grades K-8. (Ticket cost for Thursday's performance is a donation of your choice.)

Friday, November 15, at 7:00 pm

Saturday, November 16, at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm

Tickets: $15.00 General admission & $10.00 for students and seniors.

To purchase tickets in advance, please use the following link:

Click to purchase tickets

Bring your family and friends for an unforgettable musical experience!

Dear Families of MSM:

Our annual Chrysalis Auction is Mount St. Mary Academy’s signature fundraising event. This year, the auction will be held on March 15th, 2025, at the Wurlitzer Events Center. Every dollar raised is immediately reinvested into improving and expanding the programs available to MSM students, making it something we can all get behind!

We are excited to be offering a school wide parent/student “Gift Card Gift Gathering.” We ask that students bring in a $25 or more gift card to a locally owned business, restaurant, or entertainment venue. We will also take gift cards to Amazon (even e-gift cards.) We appreciate and depend on your help and support for this event!

When: Wednesday, November 13th

Where: Drop off outside the school cafeteria to Mrs. Palumbo or Mrs. Richards before 1st period.

Please put the gift card in an envelope or with a sticky note on it with your name and grade! This is how we will keep track of who brings in the gift cards

To incentivize the students, we have offered prizes for each grade level! Each student who brings in a gift card will be entered into their specific grade's raffle for the prizes listed below.

1. Each student who brings in a gift card will receive one (1) dress down pass and be entered into the drawings below based on their grade:

• Freshmen: Paula's Donuts for the winning student
• Sophomores: Starbucks coffee for the winning student
• Juniors: Crumbl Cookie for the winning student
• Seniors: Tropical Smoothie drink for the winning student

Need more gift ideas, interested in tickets to the event, or want to help by becoming a Chrysalis sponsor? Visit our website or contact Mrs. Marissa Brandel Palumbo’19, Coordinator of Annual Giving and Events mpalumbo@msmacademy.org

Sincerely,

Mrs. Marissa Brandel Palumbo ‘19

Coordinator of Annual Giving and Events

From the Desk of Ms. Jordan Osborne:

On Wednesday November 6, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm, Mount St. Mary Academy is pleased to host Katie Kocsis, Director of Financial Aid at Niagara University, for a presentation on the financial aid process and the newly simplified Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. Other topics include the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and the different types of financial aid available.

While we specifically encourage the parents/guardians of our juniors and seniors to attend, all parents are invited.

Schedule

6:00-6:30 pm - Mrs. Julia Grant-Rooney and Ms. Jordan Osborne will be available to meet with families and answer questions regarding the college application process.

6:30-8:00 pm - Katie Kocsis, Director of Financial Aid at Niagara University, will present on the financial aid process and FAFSA.

Questions? Contract Ms. Osborne at josborne@msmacademy.org

Mount St. Mary Academy is excited to host the Western New York Consortium of Higher Education!

On Monday, October 28, all juniors and seniors will participate in this event, which will take place in the MSM gym. We encourage students to take full advantage of this chance to explore various higher education options, ask questions, and gather information for their future academic endeavors.

See the flyer below for a list of participating colleges and universities.

Questions? Contact Ms. Osborne at josborne@msmacademy.org

Any current MSM family (registered for 24-25) is eligible for a one-time tuition credit of $500 if they refer a new family with a student who is currently in 8th grade or a student who is planning to transfer to MSM.

Important details: New family must register, not just inquire. Contact Mrs. Suchan-Reitz in the Office of Admissions for more information: esuchan-reitz@msmacademy.org

From the Desk of Ms. Rebecca Cefaratti:

The Education Collaborative of WNY (EdCo) is offering an opportunity for MSM students to embark on an amazing and meaningful trip to various Civil Rights Sites and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in Atlanta, GA, Selma, AL, and Montgomery, AL. I have posted the itinerary below; the trip is scheduled for March 10-14. This trip will be a life-changing journey to some of the most sacred and hallowed spaces in the United States, and it is open to all MSM students in grades 10-12.

The cost of the trip is approximately $1700.00 per student; however, EdCo is planning to engage in fundraising to help defray the cost of the trip. Additionally, there may also be opportunities for fundraising through Mount St. Mary Academy. The price includes the flight, hotels (quad occupancy), bus, most meals, and all entrance fees/activities.

If you are interested in receiving more information about the trip, please fill out this form by Tuesday, October 29. I will answer all questions and forward all additional information from EdCo, including an informational meeting for interested families (via Zoom), to those who fill out the Google Form. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Rebecca Cefaratti, Lead for Belonging, Equity, and Inclusion at rcefaratti@msm.org.

Draft Itinerary

Monday, March 10, 2025

Depart Buffalo 6:00 AM. Arrive Atlanta 10:15 AM

Lunch on Campus

College Visit - Clark University Atlanta

Visit World of Coca-Cola

Dinner at Margaritaville

Check-into Hotel

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Breakfast at Hotel

College Visit - Morehouse College (Men’s School) and Spelman College (Women’s School)

Lunch on Campus or Municipal Market

Visit the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site

Visit the John Lewis Mural

Dinner / Drive to Montgomery

Check-into Hotel

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Breakfast at hotel

Drive to Selma

Walk the Edmund Pettus Bridge

Take a Guided tour of Selma

Lunch

College Visit - Alabama State University

Dinner

Return to Hotel in Montgomery

Thursday, March 13, 2025

Equal Justice Initiative Legacy Sites

Breakfast at Hotel

Legacy Museum

Lunch

Freedom Monument Sculpture Park

National Memorial for Peace & Justice

Dinner

Return to Hotel

Friday, March 14, 2025

Breakfast at Hotel

EJI Presentation - National Memorial for Peace & Justice Theater

Rosa Parks Museum

Lunch

Visit Dexter Avenue Church

Visit Dexter Avenue Parsonage Museum

Drive to Atlanta

Depart Atlanta 7:15 PM. Arrive Buffalo 11:55 PM

From the Desk of Mrs. Jessica Gertz:

Mount St. Mary Academy has been invited to participate in a research study conducted by the University at Buffalo. This study focuses on how teenagers engage with digital and social media.

While participation is voluntary, we strongly encourage our students to get involved!

Parental consent is required for participation. To access the consent form, scan the QR code in the flyer or click on the link below.

https://ubgse.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8voYDiy3xkssvMW

We thank you for your support in this valuable research initiative!

Questions? Contact Jessica Gertz, School Social Worker at 716-877-1358 ext. 208.

From the Desk of Ms. Dana Levy:

Please note that the last day to sign up for the Spanish trip to Puerto Rico is Monday, October 28. This culturally immersive trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico will include visits to El Yunque Caribbean National Forest, a local cooking class, time to soak up the sun at Luquillo Beach, and a bioluminescent bay excursion!

Parents, if you have any questions, please contact Ms. Levy at dlevy@msmacademy.org.

¡Vamos a Puerto Rico!

Lawn signs are still available, if you'd like to advertise for MSM throughout the Fall!

Encourage potential Mounties to shadow and take a tour. Contact the Office of Admissions today, and don't forget, send a photo of your lawn sign to Ms. Hawkins at yhawkins@msmacademy.org to be entered into the Starbucks gift card raffle!

Get ready for an evening of excitement at MSM's 14th Annual Reverse Raffle sponsored by Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel!

This year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a 1 in 400 chance to win the $10,000 Grand Prize, along with a chance to win other cash prizes totaling $1,600!

Unlike traditional raffles, in our reverse raffle, the last ticket drawn wins the grand prize, keeping the suspense high and the fun going all night long!

There are less than 100 tickets remaining, so don't miss out! Purchase your Reverse Raffle tickets HERE and be part of this unforgettable event!

Click the link below to visit the official Mount St. Mary Academy Thunder Website for a calendar of upcoming athletic events. Come out and support our Mounties in action!

Mount St. Mary Academy Thunder Website

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Mount St. Mary Academy, founded by the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur, is a Catholic, private, college preparatory school for young women. Within a nurturing and academically challenging and inclusive environment, the Academy strives to develop the whole person’s gifts and potential. Guided by our Catholic tradition, and rooted in Gospel values, we empower scholars to be leaders dedicated to lifelong learning, moral integrity, social justice, and service to and inclusion of others.

We Believe in You!

Email: information@msmacademy.org
Website: https://www.msmacademy.org
Location: 3756 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY, USA
Phone: 716-877-1358
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/msmacademy
Twitter: @msmacademy