Sentinels in Motion (December 21, 2023)
As I look out my window - staring at the green fields of mid-December, I am reminded of our opportunity to act upon life’s unexpected curve balls and other unanticipated surprises. The truth is, we were never really in control in the first place. That, to me, is something that is very comforting. But just because we are not in control doesn’t mean that we are not expected to act in a certain way.
When a basketball player sprains an ankle, how do they react? If life is random – boy, a sprained ankle is bad luck! And Why do I continue to get bad luck? would be a normal response. But if life isn’t random and God is giving us an opportunity to grow closer to him through this experience, then my “bad luck” response just got in the way of whatever it is that God intended me to get out of the experience.
If I join the cross country ski team and buy equipment and practice hard every day - just to experience a season where snowflakes could be sold for $1 a piece - have I lost a season? Or have I gained an opportunity to act on the trust that I have in Him? Crazy, unexpected seasons are often the ones that bring us close together, sharing in rare experiences and allowing for our creativity to flow. This mindset (and heartset) change can help us grow in our love and our trust for Him. And after all, isn’t that more important and more fulfilling than having things work out just as expected?
Chris Lemke - Stella Maris Academy Jr/Sr High School Principal and Activities Director
Cross Country Coach, Sarah Murray
Cross Country Ski Club
The inaugural year for the cross country ski team has begun! SMA is blessed with a devoted and experienced coach. When asked why she was interested in coaching this sport, Mrs. Sarah Murray replied, “I grew up skiing with my family; my first pair of skis came from my principal at St. Michael's school. We would take class trips to the Lester ski trails and learn to ski. From there I joined the East ski team, which led to racing at St. Mary's University, then coaching for several years in Alaska. Winters can be long; skiing is a way to enjoy the outdoors in a healthy and fun way. With the incredible trail system now at our doorstep, it's important to build a ski community to enjoy these trails. It may take a while to build a team to compete with the local high schools, but we have all the pieces coming together.”
Murray finds joy in watching kids learn to enjoy doing something hard. She says, “Skiing is not easy, racing is not easy. Kids grow such resiliency when challenged and supported.”
This year’s greatest challenge is obvious: NO SNOW! So, how does a ski team practice without snow? According to Murray, “Lots of running! Lots of pole hiking! Combining running with poles helps us create muscle memory for when we do finally get snow. We spend time building strength and balance through various dry land drills.”
“The cross country ski community is known for incredible support,” says Murray. “We want to start building that now to ensure the ski program has a strong base. I'm going to focus on getting the kids to love skiing as much as I do. As a club team, we won't be focusing on the times, organizing meets, traveling, etc. This year is for the love of the sport, bringing together kids and parents to get out and be a part of what's new and amazing at Stella Maris.”
The new 5k ski trail at Stella Maris is beautiful. If we have snow, you’ll be able to check it out at our Winter Party, January 28th, to kick off Catholic Schools Week. Want to check it out beforehand? A Sentinel skier would be a great guide!
Little Flowers
At the December meeting, the “angels” made Christmas cards and ornaments that will be sent to nursing home residents. We learned about St. Catherine Laboure and the virtue of humility, a fitting virtue as we reflect on Jesus’ humble beginnings!
SMA & Spirit Mountain Snow Club
Learn to ski or snowboard and spend three nights on the slopes! This after-school ski and snowboard club is open to 4th - 12th graders of all skill levels. The cost is $85*/student and includes ticket, lesson, full rental, and bussing to/from school for each session. The bus will leave the St. John's campus immediately after school, stop at the St. James campus, and drop students at Spirit Mountain. The bus will return to campus about 8:30 PM. Dates are January 16, 23, & 30. Full details can be found HERE.
*Price based on 30 students
Cheer/Pep Squad participating in the Christmas City of the North Parade.
Basketball Schedule
Boys
Grade 3/4
Jan. 6 @McGregor 10:30 am & 11:30 am
Jan. 13 @Proctor 10:30 am & 11:30 am
Jan. 20 @Hermantown 8:30 am & 9:30 am
Jan. 27 @Barnum 9:30 am & 11:30 am
Grade 5
Jan. 6 McGregor 8:30 am
Proctor 9:30 am
Jan. 13 @Cromwell 10:30 am & 11:30 am
Jan. 27 @Two Harbors 10:30 am & 11:30 am
Grade 6
Jan. 13 @South Ridge 10:30 am & 11:30 am
Jan. 20 @Hermantown 8:30 am & 9:30 am
Junior High
Jan. 18 Cloquet 4:30 pm (7th grade followed by 8th grade)
Jan. 19 Two Harbors 4:30 pm
Jan. 29 @Two Harbors 4:30 pm
Girls
Grade 4
Jan. 13 Carlton 8:30 am
South Ridge 9:30am
Jan. 20 @Proctor 10:30 am & 11:30 am
Jan. 27 Cloquet 8:30 am & 9:30 am
Junior High
Dec. 21 @Silver Bay 4:30 pm
Jan. 8 Ordean 4:30 pm
Jan. 15 Silver Bay 4:30 pm
Jan. 19 @Two Harbors 4:30 pm
Jan. 22 Ordean 4:30 pm
Jan. 24 @Duluth Edison 4:45 pm
Jan. 29 Two Harbors 4:30 pm
This month we are featuring two students who have received the Saint Sebastian Excellence Award. This award is given monthly to a high school student who demonstrates exceptional dedication, perseverance, and skill in extracurricular competitions. This award honors students who embody the spirit of Saint Sebastian and his unwavering faith and determination in the face of challenges.
David Kenney
November St. Sebastian Award winner
David Kenney is a 9th grade student who was on the cross country [running] team, is now in yearbook, and has plans to participate in track this spring. His humility is evident in both the responses to questions for this article as well as the reasons he received the St. Sebastian award. David found his coaches were correct in saying that a big part of succeeding in cross country is the mental fortitude. He concurred that his greatest challenge was showing up to practice and meets and doing his best every time. When asked what his greatest accomplishment in cross country was, he said, “I got to be on the first Stella Maris Cross Country team!” Being a part of the community that forms among runners is what brought David back to the sport after several years. It is that community and his encouraging attitude that led to receiving the St. Sebastian award. His nomination read, “David stopped after finishing his Cross Country race to give high fives to those who finished behind him. The coach thought that David would stop when SMA students finished, but he stayed to congratulate EVERY finisher of the race.”
Krista Altonen
December St. Sebastian Award winner.
Krista Altonen is an active 9th grade student. During the school day, she participates in choir and literary magazine, and after school, you can find her in soccer or cheerleading. Krista sees her greatest accomplishment as, “Getting a solo in choir, getting a spirit stick in cheer (an award given to those with the highest team spirit, best performance, or evident hard work), and having a bond with my cheer team.” While negativity from others can be a challenge, Krista pushes herself to be the best leader that she can be. She is motivated by “the feeling of being accomplished and happiness.” This comes as no surprise as cheer coach, Sharon Byer, describes Krista as a go-getter. “Even though this is her first year in cheer, she asks all the right questions,” says Byer. Krista helps younger students in cheer and has shown leadership through problem-solving and a positive attitude. She was nominated for this award because of “her leadership skills during practices and games,” concludes Byer.