Saint Mary's News

Elected by her class as the 2019 Senior Commencement Speaker, Josie DeRonja '19 delivered the following address at Saint Mary's Commencement Exercises on May 19, 2019.

Good morning everyone. I want to start by saying thank you to my class for giving me the opportunity to be your commencement speaker. The way that each of you have supported me through the past few years means the world to me, and I hope this speech will demonstrate my gratitude for you and my love for our class. I also want to say thank you to the faculty, staff, underclasswomen, girls who previously graduated, and families that have supported us through our time at Saint Mary's. We would not have made it to today without your guidance and love.

Let me begin with a short story about my skills as a weather forecaster. Anyone who has spent any time with me right before an impending weather event like a snow storm or hurricane knows that I am always on top of the latest weather report and predictions. I am no meteorologist, but my one claim to fame could be that I predicted the hurricane that canceled fall formal three months in advance.

Paige Stevenson, valedictorian for the Class of 2019, delivered the following remarks during the Saint Mary's School Commencement Exercises on May 19, 2019:

Good morning, everyone. I cannot express how humbled I am to have the opportunity to address all of you, and I would not be here if it were not for all of Saint Mary's faculty, staff, administration, my family, my friends, and everyone assembled here today. It's you , the teachers and groundskeepers and behind-the-scenes magicians, who are the heart and soul of Saint Mary's. I think Aldert the Raven on Smedes behind me will forgive me for saying that the pretty campus is nice and all, but it's really the people who define the gifts of Saint Mary's. Finally, Class of 2019, please take a moment to glance at the young women seated to your left and to your right. Each of you were essential in our collective success that propelled us here, whether it was because you offered help in a class or left some much-needed snacks on the ATP desk one day. To all of you, thank you, 177 times over.

The sights and sounds of Pomp and Circumstance filled the Grove Sunday morning, May 19, 2019, as 61 seniors graduated from Saint Mary's School. Head of School Brendan O'Shea presided over the commencement exercises. It was a glorious Saint Mary's commencement day in the Grove, as the graduates turned their tassels and Saint Mary's rings.

Early in April 2019, three Saint Mary's students traveled to Princeton, New Jersey to participate in #LEADLIKEAGIRL an annual conference "for risk-takers and changemakers." Corina Argiry '20, Isabel McGowan '20, and Claire Smith '20. joined other students and educators from around the country to share their girl-wisdom, learn from one another, and hear from inspirational women leaders.

The Saint Mary's students gave a presentation titled "Developing Your Pitching Toolkit" designed to teach other girls how to effectively pitch. They defined pitching as "a selling technique that effectively displays and markets your business/ideas.

Here's what Corina, Isabel, and Claire had to say about the experience.

Saint Mary's spring sports teams, athletes, and coaches were celebrated at the 2019 Spring Sports Awards Celebration, Wednesday, May 15, in Eliza Battle Pittman Auditorium. The varsity and junior varsity soccer and lacrosse teams, and the varsity track and field and softball teams were honored on stage for their dedication and successes this season.

Congratulations, to Saint Mary's varsity track and field team on a strong outing at the 2019 TISAC conference championships held May 10-11 at Cary Academy. The Saints finished fifth at the conference meet, and four individual conference championships were won, including: Emily Leung, pole vault, 8 feet, six inches; Emily Leung, triple jump, season best of 32-07.75; Jala McCormick, 100m hurdles, lifetime best of 16.06 seconds; and Jala McCormick, 300m hurdles, lifetime best of 47.49. Honorable mentions include: Tommi Wilder, long jump, 7th place and personal best of 12 feet, 10 inches; Shirley Xue, triple jump, lifetime personal best of 24 feet, 4 inches; Grace Dai, triple jump, lifetime personal best of 26 feet; and Lily Song, 200m dash, lifetime personal best of 31.09 seconds. Congratulations, Saints! Thanks, to coaches Kayla Wyscarver and Jennifer Hummel for these great photos!

It's college decision season, and members of Saint Mary's Class of 2019 have chosen an eclectic array of outstanding colleges and universities around the nation and beyond. From coast to coast, from north to south, from down Hillsborough Street in Raleigh to North of the border in Canada, from art and design schools to elite musical theater programs, from college sports commitments to gap year experiences, Saint Mary's seniors are well prepared for the transition to college and a world of opportunities beyond our gates.

With the 2019 spring regular season in the books, varsity lacrosse, softball, and track and field move into post-season play this week. Varsity lacrosse and softball made the NCISAA state playoffs with first and quarterfinal round action taking place this week. Track and Field competes in the TISAC conference meet Friday, May 10, with the state championships to follow next week.

Saint Mary's spring sports teams have been on a roll this week with some thrilling and decisive wins and personal bests in all our sports as the regular season winds down.