From the Admissions Office
This year St. Thomas More Academy has seen a significant increase in the number of early applications for the Class of 2015. This is no doubt due to our school’s excellent reputation for strong Catholic identity, an outstanding classical, college preparatory formation, and personal attention. Although that is not a change from previous years, what has changed is that the word is finally starting to get out about the quality of an STMA education.
In fact, so many applications have come in that we now have a waiting list for admission to next year’s freshman class. For this reason we have decided not to host our February Open House as originally scheduled, lest we give the false impression that we still have available seats in the rising freshmen class. We are still giving tours (please contact Deacon Brad Watkins at Admissions@stmacademy.org to schedule) and we strongly encourage interested families to submit applications. We expect that some families who have already submitted applications might not end up at STMA in the fall for any number of reasons (moving, change of financial situation, etc.).
We intend to get out acceptance letters as soon as possible and will be asking for commitment letters from admitted applicants by early March. Once we receive commitment letters, we will begin mailing acceptance letters to families on the waiting list as spaces become available.
STMA will be hosting an Open House for 7th graders (rising 8th graders) in April. Further details about this Open House will be posted soon.
STMA Welcomes Mr. Daniel Kumar to the Faculty
We are very pleased to introduce our newest faculty member, Mr. Daniel Kumar, to the St. Thomas More community. Mr. Kumar comes to us with an extensive academic background. Among his accomplishments, he completed his masters studies in computer science at the University of Oxford. Most recently, he has been engaged in research in his primary area of interest, quantum computation, and co-authored an article in the scientific journal Nature.
Mr. Kumar is actively involved in the Diocese of Raleigh, serving as a ninth-grade catechist at the UNC-Chapel Hill Newman Center and an original member of the Schola Vox Clara at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Raleigh. Mr. Kumar assumes responsibilities at the Academy as instructor in mathematics and technology.
As we continue boldly to form what our founder has called the “gold standard of Catholic education,” we welcome Mr. Kumar heartily and look forward to the fruits that will come forth in the lives of our students from his nurture in faith and scholarship.
Photo: Mr. Kumar speaks with Professor Stephen W. Hawking
Mr. Bob Luddy's Schools - A Tribute
Founder and benefactor of St. Thomas More Academy, Mr. Bob Luddy has been an advocate for educational excellence for many years. Mr. Luddy has heavily invested his time, talent and treasure into making the schools successful. His only compensation is the gratitude received from parents, teachers and students who have been able to experience the wonderful and transformative “Luddy Education”. Below is a tribute to both Mr. Luddy and his schools:
Class of 2011 excels on SAT
With 100% of our students’ scored, the Class of 2011 has earned an average 1255 (CR+M) on the SAT. With the average student performing at the 85th percentile nationally, this means that STMA is scoring in the top 3% of the nation’s high schools.
As we celebrate the success of our students, it is important to remember that STMA achieves these results while educating the average teenager. In the 9th grade the class of 2011′s average PSAT score was 45.2%, in 10th grade it improved to 66.5% and by the 11th grade these students averaged at 72.3%. This represents amazing academic growth over the four year high school education.
A special thanks to the faculty and benefactors of STMA for keeping for keeping the school true to its model and mission. The STMA education continues to focus on both academic education and character formation. +AMDG
Students Volunteer During Thanksgiving Break
St. Thomas More students generously volunteered alongside Bishop Burbidge during their Thanksgiving Break. Here is the story from the Diocese of Raleigh:
Catholic Parish Outreach Feeds Hundreds for Thanksgiving
Catholic Parish Outreach (CPO) Food Pantry, a program of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh, anticipates providing a week’s worth of groceries to close to 2,500 people in the 3 days leading up to Thanksgiving. With support from the Catholic parishes, United Way, generous donors and a network of over 1,400 volunteers, Catholic Parish Outreach yearly provides emergency food assistance to over 40,000 people living in Wake County.
On Wednesday, November 24, the Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge volunteered two hours of service at CPO. Terry Foley, Director of CPO, said, “We are thrilled to have the Bishop with us today. Yesterday we set a record, giving a week’s worth of groceries to 211 families.” In the month of October, Ms. Foley said, CPO fed 8018 people.
The thirty-eight volunteers on Wednesday included adults and youth from several parishes. Austin Faur is high school student from St. Joseph’s parish, volunteering for his second time. “It’s a great thing to do,” he said. “You actually have contact with the people you’re serving, so it’s a personal experience.”
Bishop Burbidge and the volunteers began the day of service with a prayer. On this day the Bishop served as a “runner,” loading the groceries assembled by other volunteers into the clients’ vehicles. “It’s inspiring to see so many volunteers helping those in need,” the Bishop said. “I hope those who read about this wonderful work will consider volunteering here. Especially at this time of year, you can see on the faces of so many people what a difference Catholic Parish Outreach makes in their lives.”
Catholic Parish Outreach, the largest food pantry in eastern North Carolina, provides clients with a balanced diet of meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, breads and desserts, as well as potatoes, rice, pasta, beans and canned fruits and vegetables. Over half of the food distributed comes from CPO’s partners: the Interfaith Food Shuttle and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern N.C. Clients can also receive clothing for children up to the age of 4 years. To receive food or clothing, clients must receive a referral from a church or social service agency before coming for food.
Catholic Parish Outreach is open Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., but will be closed Thanksgiving weekend. Donations of food, clothing or financial assistance can be sent to: Catholic Parish Outreach; 2013 N. Raleigh Blvd.; Raleigh, NC 27604. To volunteer, please call (919)847-1466.
To learn more go to CPO’s website at: http://www.cporaleigh.org
Credit: Story from the Diocese of Raleigh - http://www.dioceseofraleigh.org/news/view.aspx?id=965
Be sure to check out the video on the Diocesan Website where our STMA students were interviewed!
Junior Class History & Literature Field Trip to Virginia
Physical suffering and death were not abstract concepts for 19th century Americans. The first century of the young republic was haunted by fear of disease outbreaks, political tensions and then war between the North and South, and the sorrow of a whole community of human beings deemed “property” by their white masters. However, within this bleak landscape, seeds of hope and renewal were germinating as a specifically American literature emerged, labor-saving technology increased, people became increasingly involved in politics, and equal rights were redefined.STMA Students Attend Prestigious Lecture Series
On Tuesday, October 12, sixteen students from St. Thomas More Academy had the privilege of attending a lunch seminar with Dr. Joseph Davis, hosted at the University of Virginia’s Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture (IASC), and a distinguished lecture in the UVA Rotunda by Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks.
Dr. Davis’ lunch seminar was entitled “The Performing Self – On Being Successful.” In advance of the trip, students were given a paper to read in preparation for the seminar, written by Dr. Davis. Over a wonderful lunch, provided by the IASC, students and faculty engaged in a thought provoking discussion with Dr. Davis about contemporary culture and our understanding of “success.”
Following this seminar students walked across UVA’s beautiful campus to the historic Rotunda (1826) designed by Thomas Jefferson as the heart of his “Academic Village.”
The conclusion of the visit was the highlight of the day. Students attended a prestigious lecture given by the Chief Rabbi of Great Britain, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. Rabbi Sacks spoke on the theme: “Difference and Democracy in the Post-Secular Word: Losing Civil Space.” His talk focused on the significant differences between “covenant” and “contract” in political and civil institutions.
At a dinner later that evening, Rabbi Sacks was given an opportunity to speak extemporaneously on any subject of his choosing, whatever topic or issue he wanted to address. Several of the faculty from STMA in attendance at the dinner were most humbled when he began to speak about how impressed he was with the high school students from our school. He recognized that forming leaders, requires great leadership, and in our students he expressed great hope for the effect they will have in positively shaping the future of our culture. +AMDG
H&SA Support Documents
This page is where you will find useful documents provided by the Home & School Association.
When you get a chance, thank the H&SA for their generous support of the students and school!
H&SA Welcomes New and Returning Families
The faculty and staff of STMA extend a well deserved thank you to the Home and School Association who recently coordinated welcoming activities for new and returning families to STMA. Many parents generously donated time and talent to make the event a huge success!
Ross Yeager, president of the H&SA, said that “it was nice to meet many of you during carpool the first day of school.” On the first day they handed out the “STMA Parent Resource Guide” and donuts. This guide provides key facts, information, and dates for the coming year. Putting the guide together was a large project undertaken by the H&SA volunteers. We hope that current parents, and parents for years to come, will find it useful.
The first H&SA meeting is set for September 16th – immediately following ”Back to School Night”.
The H&SA leadership promises to keep the meeting short in consideration of your time.
Hope to see you there!
STMA Launches Online Giving!
The St. Thomas More Academy Office of Development is pleased to announce the launch of a secure online giving platform!
The online giving platform provides another way for friends of the school to help support of the mission of the school. There are two funds that STMA has established, the STMA Annual Fund and the Scholarship Fund. These funds are essential components to building a firm financial foundation that will allow for STMA to continue to grow and expand.
Donors may continue to mail checks for the Annual Fund and Scholarship Fund to the school, but the school expects that the online giving option will provide a more popular and convenient way for supporters to make charitable contributions.
The Office of Development began making plans for charitable giving in early Summer, 2010. This department will help to lead the way, with the support of the school community, as STMA continues to develop into Raleigh’s premiere college preparatory high school.
If you are interested in making a donation to our Annual Fund or Scholarship Fund, please visit the Development page on the website. A recurring monthly giving option will be added to STMA’s online giving options Fall 2010.