Sentinels in Motion (April 25, 2024)
As we watch the grass turn to green and the mud turn to dry dirt, we are reminded that we may now extricate ourselves from our caves of phone and computer screens to go outside and see what spring has to offer! Why not go watch your Sentinels compete? The next few weeks are full of students running, jumping, hitting, catching, swinging, shooting, and generally having fun in the outdoors - and they would love to have your support! Click here to see which of our teams are busy on an afternoon that works for you.
Chris Lemke - Activities Director & Principal Jr/Sr High Campus
Spring Musical - The Sound of Music Jr.
When I first started teaching, I worked at a Catholic school that had a long tradition of putting on a spring musical. I loved getting to help put on these shows each year and found that it was such an incredible experience for the students and the community. Directing and facilitating a musical at Stella Maris has been a dream of mine and has been in the works for a few years. Through conversations with other teachers and staff, we have built an amazing team of directors that are the reason this show has come together the way it has! We have Mrs. Lynn Peterson, 5th grade teacher, who has choreographed the show as well as coached actors on scenes; Mr. Greg Peterson who has built and designed a beautiful set; Ms. Theresa Landgren, Holy Rosary secretary, who has created the ideas for the costumes and organized a team of sewers for costumes; and Mr. Quinn Muhich, 6th grade teacher, and Ms. Jenna Meyer, kindergarten teacher, who have assisted with directing, coaching, music and so much more.
The Sound of Music is based on a true story set in the late 1930's about a young woman who is discerning a life as a nun. The Mother Abbess wants her to see the world before she takes her vows and sends her to be a governess for a wealthy family with seven children who have lost their mother. Through music and song, she teaches the children to sing and eventually falls in love with the children and later their father, the captain. This is a story of love and joy and also a story that involves the rise of Nazi Germany and how so many had to trust in God's will through this painful period in history. I chose this musical because at Stella Maris we have a wealth of talent in singing and acting, and the strong Catholic identity of the musical fits our mission as a school community. One of the highlights of the musical is hearing our students open the show with the Salve Regina, which is a Latin chant they learn in their Latin class in 5th grade. Being able to connect our faith and mission as an academy to the musical influenced the choice of musical.
We have 39 students involved in the cast and 10 students in the crew for this show. What I have seen over the past two months of practicing and preparing for the musical is how the students have bonded and forged friendships. We have had so much fun working on this project, and it is such a beautiful experience to watch kids grow as a team and be able to be part of something greater than what they can do on their own. The way they have supported each other and lifted each other up through this process is why a musical is such an important part of Stella Maris. I am looking forward to the greater community getting to witness all of their hard work come to fruition and watch the students share this amazing story.
Little Flowers
The SMA Little Flowers Club is ending the year with a bang! We have two meetings in April and started off the month learning about one of the female doctors of the Church, St. Catherine of Sienna. The girls were amazed that Catherine was one of 25 children! They also learned a very important lesson that just because a saint cut her own hair, it’s NOT okay for them to cut their own hair. St. Catherine said, “Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.” The Little Flowers created candle holders to help set the world on fire.
To complete Wreath 1, the Little Flowers learned about St. Joan of Arc and the virtue of obedience. Everyone is looking forward to celebrating a wonderful year at the Mother-Daughter Tea Party.
Seventh grader Samuel Jennings is the middle of four brothers. He has been a Stella Maris Academy student from the start, a choir student, and soccer player, but just this year, his friends talked him into joining the One Act play. While he was reluctant, Jennings found out he really enjoyed it and subsequently tried out for the spring musical, The Sound of Music, landing the role of Captain VonTrapp.
When asked how the musical compares to One Act, Jennings says, “I like that there’s different parts and a set.” There were a lot more lines to memorize in this full production as well, which was his greatest challenge. It is also his greatest source of pride because of the challenge. While he is nervous for the performances, he is also looking forward to performing in front of people. To many, singing solos would be what makes them the most anxious, but not Jennings. He has sung at Masses and feels confident.
