• Oct 14 - No School (Indigenous People's Day)
• Oct 15 - Freshman Retreat
• Oct 15 - PSAT/NMSQT Testing Day - Grades 10 & 11
• Oct 15 - No School for Grade 12
• Oct 22 - Picture Retake Day
• Oct 23 - Senior Retreat
• Oct 25 - Junior Retreat
• Oct 28 - WNY College Consortium: 10:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
• Nov 4 - End of 1st Quarter
• Nov 5 - No School for Students
• Nov 6 - Financial Aid Night
• Nov 8 - MSM Fall Fest
• Nov 11 - No School (Veteran's Day)

Progress reports are released midway through every quarter as a way for teachers to update you. If your student is failing a course, or if a teacher has a concern about your student in class, you will receive a progress report from MSM. First quarter progress reports will be available this on 10/9.

Progress Reports are located in Blackbaud. Under the Progress tab of your child's account, look for the Performance box on the left-hand side. In the box, click on the Progress Report link. A report will be generated with a narrative from teachers. Remember, progress reports are typically for students who are failing a course or for whom the teacher has a concern.

Per the MSM Handbook, a student who receives a grade average below a 65

in two or more classes at either progress report or quarter close will be ineligible to participate
in extracurricular activities and athletics until the next grade checkpoint (about every five
weeks). A student may regain their eligibility after two weeks if they chose to participate in eligibility reinstatement. It is the student’s sole responsibility to complete all requirements of eligibility reinstatement. Failure to complete any of the requirements will result in a student remaining ineligible until the next checkpoint.

If you receive a progress report, we encourage you to talk to your student about it. We have many support services available at school - including after school help with teachers every day from 2:30-3:00 p.m. We also have academic centers open on a daily basis for additional teacher support.

For students that are struggling with organization, encourage and model a daily routine as best as you can. Students should check Google Classroom daily for assignments and study materials. For additional support, please reach out to your student’s school counselor, or support your student in reaching out to us themselves.

If you have any further questions, we invite you to contact us in the School Counseling office.

On Wednesday November 6th, 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 simplified FAFSA. Come learn about the new financial aid timeline and the simplified FAFSA. Other topics include the New York State TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) and the different types of financial aid.

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

Please RSVP using the link provided: https://forms.gle/Bki5E6PassUekrLK9

The FAFSA will be opening in December 2024. For the latest updates, please attend our Nov. 6th Financial Aid Night event!

If your child is applying to one of the schools that requires the CSS Profile, that application is live as of Oct 1. If you are unsure whether or not a school is a CSS Profile one, please check the link to the College Board page below for the most current listing of schools that require it for the 2025-2026 school year. Information regarding deadlines can be found on the financial aid web pages of the individual colleges/universities.

Most CSS Profile schools will also require a completed FAFSA. With the change in the opening of the FAFSA, please pay close attention to all deadlines.

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

All juniors and seniors will attend this event in our gym on Monday, 10/28. Please see the flyer for participating colleges and universities.

On Oct. 24th Canisius University will be hosting an Instant Review Day for our seniors!

An admissions representative will be available for instant application reviews in the Career Center. You must register with Ms. Osborne AND submit your application to Canisius University by Monday, Oct. 21st if you wish to participate.

See Ms. Osborne in Rm. 205 with any questions and/or to sign-up!

Beginning Monday, October 21st, and ending Sunday, November 3rd, students can apply to up to five SUNY campuses with no application fee! This includes all campuses, no matter which application vehicle the student uses. Details are available here: www.suny.edu/apply

Please remember that students can submit their application during this time, but supplemental materials such as transcripts and letters of recommendation can be submitted after Free Application Week.

Oct 8 - Rochester Institute of Technology: 7th Period

Oct 18 - SUNY Buffalo State University: 9th Period
Oct 24 - Canisius University Instant Review Day: 10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (SENIORS ONLY)
Oct 30 - SUNY Binghamton University: 9th Period
Nov 1 - Saint John Fisher University: 7th Period
Nov 4 - Le Moyne College: 8th Period

Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26) is hosting Service Academy Night, an informational event providing high school students and parents with guidance on the nomination and application process for United States Service Academies.

The event will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at the Hohn Auditorium on the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Campus at 665 Elm Street in Buffalo. Free parking is available in the Roswell Park parking ramp.

Representatives from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Merchant Marine Academy, Coast Guard Academy, as well as the Army and Navy R.O.T.C programs will discuss the application process and be available to answer questions.

Students applying to the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy are required to receive a nomination from a member of Congress. The individual academies make final acceptance decisions. Students enrolled in a U.S. service academy graduate achieving a military officer rank and commit to at least five years of military service.

The deadline for students living in New York’s 26th Congressional District to apply for a nomination from Congressman Kennedy is November 1, 2024. For more information or to apply for a nomination visit: https://kennedy.house.gov/services/service-academy-nomination.htm.

Attention high school seniors: when you visit Canisius University and apply by December 1, 2024, you will be eligible for an annual $1,000 grant toward your education. That's a total of $4,000 over 4 years!

Seniors have the opportunity to earn $2,000 (over four years of study) through the Visit Incentive Program at St. Bonaventure University. If you visit campus AND submit an application by December 15th, SBU will include an additional $500 in your financial aid award package, and that’s guaranteed for up to 4-years.

Oct 11 - St. Bonaventure University (School of Education Discovery Day)

Oct 12 - Hilbert College (Fall Open House)

Oct 12 - Penn State Behrend (Behrend Penn State Day)

Oct 12 - St. John Fisher University (Oct Open House)

Oct 12 - SUNY Geneseo (Open House)

Oct 14 - Canisius University (Fall Discovery Day)

Oct 14 - Houghton University (Highlander Open House)

Oct 14 - Rochester Institute of Technology (Open House)

Oct 18 - Roberts Wesleyan University (Fall Discovery Day)

Oct 18 - St. Bonaventure University (School of Health Professions Discovery Day)

Oct 19 - Daemen University (Fall Open House)

Oct 19 - D’Youville University (Fall Open House)

Oct 19 - Gannon University (Experience Gannon)

Oct 19 - Niagara University (Fall Open House)

Oct 19 - SUNY Brockport (Oct Open House)

Oct 19 - University of Rochester (Research Rochester)

Oct 22 - Trocaire College (Fall Open House)

Oct 22 - Niagara University (College of Nursing Open House)

Oct 23 - Niagara University (College of Education Open House)

Oct 26 - Mercyhurst University (Fall Open House)

Oct 26 - Rochester Institute of Technology (Open House)

Oct 26 - St. Bonaventure University (Fall Open House)

Oct 26 - SUNY Buffalo State (Fall Open House)

Oct 26 - SUNY Fredonia (Open House)

Oct 26 - SUNY GCC (Academic Open House)

Oct 28 - Niagara University (Treat and Greet Open House)

Nov 1 - St. Bonaventure University (School of Communication Discovery Day)

Nov 2 - Villa Maria College (Fall 2024 Open House)

Nov 7 - Niagara University (Criminology & Criminal Justice Open House)

Nov 7 - Niagara University (Holzschuh College of Business Open House)

Nov 7 - SUNY Niagara (Open House - Sanborn Campus)

Nov 8 - University of Rochester (Research Rochester)

Nov 9 - Hilbert College (Fall Open House)

Nov 9 - Houghton University (Highlander Open House)

Nov 9 - Rochester Institute of Technology (Open House)

Nov 9 - SUNY Brockport (Nov Open House)

Nov 9 - SUNY Niagara (Open House - NF Culinary Institute)

Nov 11 - Niagara University (Monday Open House)

Nov 11 - Roberts Wesleyan University (Discovery Day)

Nov 11 - St. Bonaventure University (Holiday Visit Day)

Nov 11 - SUNY Fredonia (Open House)

Nov 11 - SUNY Geneseo (Open House)

Nov 12 - SUNY ECC (Open House - City Campus)

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!

Website: msmacademy.org
Location: 3756 Delaware Ave, Kenmore NY 14217
Phone: (716) 877-1358
Facebook: facebook.com/msmacademy
Twitter: @msmacademy

Instagram: @mountcounseling

Sept. 2024