Dear Maryvale Parents,

When someone wrote "life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the number of moments that take our breath away,” the author must have been thinking about the often poignant moments during this time of year.

This past Saturday, my son's Senior Day at Randolph Macon College was one that took my own breath away. As the stadium announcements began, I had that moment, just that very brief bittersweet moment, when I could not fathom where the years had gone. He had been honored in the past and my husband and I had walked beside him before on other fields. But this day was different.

In the beginning, years ago, watching from the stands were two sets of grandparents and a little sister. In the middle, there had been two grandfathers and a little sister. And on Saturday, there was a girlfriend, proudly holding my camera and snapping away, but my father was not well enough for the trip. The little sister was in Italy. And the rest watched from heaven above; yet their fingerprints were all over him.

In that moment, I remembered how they had taken trips to Gettysburg to share the "first, second and third days" with a little boy whose passion for the Civil War outshone any interest in bikes and balls. In that moment, I thought of the hundreds of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that they had made. I remembered toy soldiers, trips to Kenilworth and rides home from preschool. They never forgot a birthday, a half-birthday, a good grade, a Communion, a Confirmation, a scraped knee, a concussion, a college acceptance, a disappointment, a broken heart. He took their breath away, as well as mine.

I can guarantee that in the coming weeks, there will be untold moments at Maryvale that will take your breath away. I hope that you will be able to share them with grandparents, siblings, and/or extended family. I know that your daughters are both excited, and apprehensive, as they celebrate their own Senior Days, Burkie Awards, recitals, awards ceremonies, and Graduations. They, too, like you, will have bittersweet moments.

I have no doubt that you will have your own moment when you wonder how you … and they … got here so fast. So, check the memory card on your camera. Order the cake. Remember the tissue. Catch your breath. And say a silent “thank you” to those who helped you and your daughter get this far. I look forward to sharing the moments with you.

Additionally, we extend condolences to the families of Sara McAleer ’15 and Hannah McAleer ’16 on the death of their paternal grandfather, Elizabeth McCormick ’15 on the death of her paternal grandmother, and Courtney Thomas ’14 on the death of her great grandmother.

Sincerely,
Tracey H. Ford
President

May Messages

As May approaches we know that the school year is quickly coming to an end. I hope and trust you will encourage your daughters to stay focused during the last few weeks of the school year. Teachers are asked to post a final Progress Report for the fourth quarter no later than Wednesday, May 17. Please review these with your daughter and contact any teachers if necessary.

There are many activities that take place between now and the end of the school year:

Archbishop’s Holiday
I am sure many of you heard that we had a wonderful celebration and dedication of our new athletic fields. We were very blessed to have Archbishop Lori preside over our celebration. The Archbishop very generously granted our school a special holiday to be used at the discretion of the administration. As I shared in an email last week, I am happy to announce that we will take this holiday on Monday, May 20. The Art and Talent Shows originally scheduled for that evening have been moved to Tuesday, May 21. We hope that all of our faculty, staff and students enjoy this holiday.

Seniors
Announcements for Graduation will be distributed to seniors during Advisory during the week of May 6. Each senior receives 15 announcements. If you need a few more, please contact Trish Miller at millert@maryvale.com.

Gym Meet
An exciting event every year, Gym Meet will take place on Friday, May 24 at Oregon Ridge. We will ask that students be dropped off at Oregon Ridge at 8:30 a.m. and picked up no later than 3:00 p.m. It is important that students be picked up by 3:00 p.m. because we must be off the grounds by this time.

Sports Boosters will be selling lunch beginning at 10:45 a.m. Students should bring money for lunch, and leave their iPads home for the day. Marches will begin at noon. Please bring a blanket or chair and join us for an afternoon of fun. For the safety of students and guests, we ask that you do not bring any pets with you.

Traffic in the morning around Shawan Road can be challenging, such as cars turning left from Shawan Road onto Beaver Dam Road to access Oregon Ridge. An alternate route is to travel Padonia or Warren Road north on Beaver Dam Road. You would then turn left directly into Oregon Ridge. This will help with the intersection at Shawan and Beaver Dam Roads. The address of Oregon Ridge is 13555 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville for those using GPS. We are working to make the day safe and ensure that everyone has a good time. The purpose of the day is to have fun and build community spirit. Please stress with your daughters that it is important to be "good sports" whether they win or lose the Gym Meet Banner.

Exams/Tests
Teachers will be finishing course content and preparing students for exams. The exam/test schedule will be posted on Edline. Teachers will be giving review guides or outlines to students later in the month. Exams count as 20% of the semester grade. Students often do not perform as well on final exams because they do not spend as much time preparing and studying for these important tests as they do in January. This is often due to thoughts of summer vacation and other activities. Limiting schedules and helping students set priorities can help them stay focused and do well on their exams.

Used Books
The course selection process has concluded and the next step will be selling and buying used books for next year. Students will receive a copy of their course selections from their advisors during the last week of school. Scheduling for the next school year will continue through the summer. Sometimes conflicts occur and books may need to be exchanged. I strongly encourage you to participate in the Mothers’ Club used book collection and sale. The Mothers’ Club will exchange books if conflicts occur. Important dates to remember:

• May 17: Used Book list posted on Edline.
• June 5 from 10:00-11:00 a.m.: Senior books will be collected prior to Graduation practice.
• June 5: Middle School books will be collected after exams/tests.
• June 6: Upper School books will be collected after exams.
• June 10: Used Book Sale in the Dining Room.

A list of new books will be posted on Edline later this summer.

Finally…
As summer quickly approaches, there are many events sponsored by the school and others that present the opportunity for students to engage in activities that might involve alcohol and drugs. This is especially true for our older students who are going to proms not only here but at other schools. Once again, I would like to remind you that as a school community we have a policy concerning alcohol and drugs. It is our hope to see all of our students remain safe and we support them in making healthy choices. We cannot do this without the support of parents. Our goal is to work in partnership with you. If you have concerns or need support in dealing with this issue, please do not hesitate to contact us. In working together, we can help to prepare your daughters for the wonderful lives ahead of them.

Peace,
Donna Bridickas
Principal

Dear Middle School Families,

Happy May! We are ready to crown Mary this Friday, May 3, 2013. May Procession is the perfect beginning to the month dedicated to the Blessed Mother.

Of course, this month is filled with focus on our academics as we conclude our fourth quarter set off by joy and celebration. The girls do a wonderful job of managing their time, and we are here to help them.

We celebrate our eighth grade class as they finish three very successful years in the Middle School. Eighth grade parents, by now you have received a separate mailing with important information about their exam schedules and celebrations. Please email me right away if you have not received this.

Congratulations to our Gym Meet leaders who keep the Red and Gray teams busy with planning and practice during lunch and certain designated resource periods.

• Red Team: Captains Brooke Franklin and Karis Harrison; seventh grade leader: Mary Grace Marts; sixth grade leader: Kayla Koch
• Gray Team: Captains Elaina Cain and Maria Aiello; seventh grade leader; Danielle Maggio; sixth grade leader; Mary Christa McWright

Be sure to mark your calendar for May 24 to attend Gym Meet at Oregon Ridge if your schedule allows. Students should arrive at Oregon Ridge at 8:30 a.m. Middle School marches begin at 12:00 p.m. and you may pick up your daughter at 3:00 p.m. Participants should bring sunscreen and a water bottle.

For our new families: Gym Meet is a series of exercises and songs fully planned and executed by the girls – who amaze us with their spirit and organizational skills. This is one very clear example of the unique leadership opportunities at Maryvale.

Recently, each sixth and seventh grade student was involved in piloting an important challenge- based project, under the direction of Mrs. Sarah Butcher, chair of the Art Department. Our students did an excellent job, and especially seemed to enjoy tying their projects to social justice. Their project fair was attended by the whole school and deemed a rousing success! See more about challenge-based learning below:http://www.apple.com/education/challenge-based-learning/

We couldn’t be prouder of the middle school girls involved in the spring musical, “Legally Blonde!” Congratulations to the cast, crew, and ushers!

Congratulations to Mrs. Melissa Conaway, who was awarded a scholarship to attend a full session of Outward Bound! Mrs. Conaway’s dedication to science and the great outdoors is a wonderful example for our girls to follow. We can’t wait to see pictures of her great adventure!

During May, the World Languages department will enjoy an eighth grade French/Spanish picnic, preparing and sampling cuisine that the girls have studied this year. Students in the 6th and 7th grades will engage in a friendly match of futbol, and learn some of the vocabulary as they play.

Watch for important email updates as testing week approaches. Do not hesitate to contact me if we can be of any help to you as the school year winds down. As always, thank you for entrusting your daughters to us.

Peace and God’s abundant blessings to all of you!

Amy N. Belz

Middle School Director

Show Your Lion Pride!!

Together we have witnessed, firsthand, the ongoing progress of our 2012-2013 Annual Fund fundraising efforts. The “red” in the lion paw symbolizes the strength of our Maryvale community. We are grateful for the many parents, alumnae, grandparents, parents of alumnae, faculty & staff, and friends who have generously supported our school and, most importantly, helped us fulfill our promise to our students.

If you have not done so already, please show your lion pride by making a gift and assist the school in meeting its goal of raising $400,000. Every gift, of every size, is appreciated.

Our fiscal year ends on June 30, 2013. If you would like to make your gift today, please consider using our secure server HERE to contribute online. Otherwise, you may send your gift to Maryvale’s Development Office at 11300 Falls Road, Brooklandville, MD 21022. If you have any questions, please call Alysa Porter at 410-308-8523 or email portera@maryvale.com.

6th and 7th Grade Project Fair

The 6th and 7th grade had a project fair on April 19 in the Erinn McCarthy Humanities Hall during Resource Period. The fair displayed the the challenge projects the classes have been working on during the 3rd quarter. Here is a link to Apple's Challenge Based Learning site with information about this type of learning experience: http://www.apple.com/education/challenge-based-learning/.

Students will also have an Art Show on Tuesday, May 21!

A Greener Health Suite

The Maryvale Health Form 2013-2014 is now available on the school website. Physical examinations must be done after March 1, 2013 and are required for all students new to Maryvale, current Maryvale students entering Grade 9, as well as any student planning to try out for interscholastic sports. Physical examinations are current for one calendar year from the date of the examination. If your daughter has a physician documented allergy requiring epinephrine, an Allergy Action Plan, completed by the physician and the parent, is also required as part of the yearly health update. The Allergy Action Plan and accompanying information is also available on the website. Any questions regarding this may be directed to Karen Fridinger, R.N. in the Health Suite at 410-308-8533 or via e-mail at fridingerk@maryvale.com.

Please make the necessary appointments now in order to meet the deadline for the return of these materials by July 15, 2013!

Important Dates to Remember

Varsity lacrosse tournament dates: May 2, 6 and 8 at 4:30 p.m. Championship game is on Sunday, May 12 at 2:00 p.m. at McDaniel College.

Varsity softball tournament dates: May 7 and May 9 at 4:00 p.m. Championship game is Monday, May 13 at 6:00 p.m. at Bachman Park.

Outdoor Track & Field tournament and championship is on Wednesday, May 8 at McDonogh and Saturday, May 11 at Spalding.

Badminton tournament is May 1, 2 and 3 at Roland Park Country School at 3:30 p.m.

ImPACT Concussion Testing:
All student-athletes 12 ½ and older must complete the baseline screening prior to the start of their competitive season. If your daughter is planning to try out for a fall sport, she must complete this testing.

Maryvale will offer, through Towson Sports Medicine, ImPACT concussion testing the week of August 19 through August 23 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. in the Computer Lab of the Rodriguez Center. If your daughter has not completed her testing, please email me at moesert@maryvale.com to schedule an appointment.

All required forms that need to be completed may be found here.

Sports Physicals:
Please remember that all athletes are required to have a yearly physical before they may participate in athletics. The entrance physicals for incoming students will suffice, for the first year only. Any student who does not have a physical on file will not be permitted to participate in try-outs. Physical Forms may be accessed from the Maryvale website, the Nurse’s office and/or Ms. Moeser.

Fall Sports Tryouts:
Upper school tryouts for volleyball, soccer, field hockey and cross country will be held the week of August 19 through August 23. Middle School tryouts for volleyball, soccer and field hockey will begin on Tuesday, September 6.

It is important that students attend each day of the tryout session. Please plan your vacations and summer activities accordingly. If a student makes a team, she will begin practices and games after August 22.

Good Luck Class of 2013! I want to wish all the senior class well as they begin a new journey and head off to college. Thank you for your warmth and kindness. Best of luck and keep me posted on your endeavors in your college careers.

Cast Your Vote for the Burkies—Maryvale’s answer to the Oscars or Tonys!

Cast Your Vote for the Burkies—Maryvale’s answer to the Oscars or Tonys!

• Click HERE to vote for the final ballot between now and Wednesday, May 8!

“Murder Can Be Habit Forming”

• Come see this amusing murder-mystery set in a castle-turned-convent
• Friday, May 10 at 7 p.m.
• $5 admission at the door of McCarthy Hall Theater
• Performed by the Maryvale Drama Class

Spring Class Voice, Class Piano and Instrumental Ensembles in Recital

• Featuring Maryvale’s Chorus, Singers, Trinities and the Maryvale Dance Troupe
• Tuesday, May 14 at 7 p.m.
• Maryvale Castle Great Hall

15th Annual Burkies and Spring Concert

• Saturday, May 18 at 7 p.m.
• McCarthy Hall Theater

2nd Annual Maryvale's Got Talent Show!

• Tuesday, May 21 at 7 p.m.
• McCarthy Hall Theater

Library Happenings!

Book Clubs:

• Middle School –The Middle School Book Club had their last meeting on April 18, 2013 during 6th period lunch. The club discussed “Shelter” by Harlan Coben. The club had a lively discussion, and picked a great book to end the school year.
• Upper School – The Upper School Book Club will have their next meeting on Thursday, May 23, 2013 during the Resource Period. The club will be discussing “One Moment” by Kristina McBride.

Maryland Black Eyed Susan Reading Program:

Ice Cream Social!
The Maryvale Library will have an Ice Cream social on Thursday, May 23 during lunch periods. All students who voted for their favorite Maryland Black Eyed Susan nominated book will be invited to attend.

Seventeen students from the Middle School and thirteen students from the Upper School participated in the program. Ten students read 10 books, and three students read 20 books! We congratulate all those who participated in this great reading program!

Mrs. Lipsky
Library Director

Gym Meet: Final Sales Items

Gym Meet is right around the corner on Friday, May 24 at Oregon Ridge! Don't forget to stop by the Lion's Den table for our final sales items! Gym Meet is also the last day for your daughter to make charges on her school store accounts. The school store will remain open after that date, but we will only accept cash, check or credit cards.

Sports Boosters Update

Thanks to everyone who helped make our 2nd Annual Bull & Oyster Roast a tremendous success. Your support was overwhelming! Faculty, parents, and alumnae enjoyed the money wheels, silent auctions and dancing to the sounds of Rick Norman, our DJ. This event wouldn't have been as successful without the expertise of our Bull Roast Chair, Stacy McAleer, who did a fantastic job!

Maryvale's Annual Sports Banquet is on Thursday, May 16 at 6 p.m. in the Dining Room. Awards will be given in McCarthy Hall beginning at 7 p.m. This event is catered by Carrabba's Italian Grill and is $18.00 per person. I hope you can come and honor our Upper School athletes and sports teams. Please send money and RSVP to Terri Moeser at moesert@maryvale.com as soon as possible. Cash or check should be made payable to Maryvale Sports Boosters.

Gym Meet, sponsored by Sports Boosters, is being held at Oregon Ridge on Friday, May 24. Lunch and refreshments, including Rita's Italian Ice, will be available. Bring your chair or blanket and enjoy the marches, which will begin at approximately 12:00 p.m. Hope to see you there!

Julie Volker
President, Maryvale Sports Boosters

The Shakespeare class is taking their second trip to The Folger Shakespeare Theater in Washington, DC to see "Twelfth Night" on May 5!