Dear Parents: I want to keep you informed about important news related to the development of our Athletic Annex at Fondren Road and Bellaire Boulevard. With unanimous support from the Academy's Board of Directors, St. Agnes filed a lawsuit against the City of Houston on Wednesday seeking court review of the city's interpretation of a city ordinance that grants a 300-foot alcohol-prohibited area and 1,000-foot alcohol-free zone adjacent to school campuses. The city has taken the position that our annex is not a "school" within the meaning of the ordinance, and is thus not entitled to the benefits of the ordinance. With the safety and security of our young women in mind, the proposed development by Club Bellaire, Inc./El Corral of a 40,000-square-foot, 3,500-person-capacity night club in the old Finger Furniture Store at Sharpstown Mall and their application for a liquor permit led us to intervene earlier this year in a protest pending before the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission and to request that the City designate the 1,000-foot alcohol-free zone around the annex property. Sharpstown Mall (and, thus, the proposed nightclub) is within the 300-foot alcohol-prohibited area of our property, if it is deemed to be a school under the ordinance.

Once our facility opens early next year, we will have more than 100 students participating in school-related athletic activities at the site. Our attorneys believe this qualifies the St. Agnes campus annex for alcohol-prohibited and alcohol-free zones under the law, and we want to do whatever we can to ensure our campus remains safe for our students at all times. This action was necessary at this time because the liquor permit would most likely have been issued later this week and we now believe that the TABC will wait for the court's decision regarding the 300-foot alcohol-prohibited area before making a final decision on the liquor permit. We are taking our concerns to this next step to maintain the enduring quality of our learning environment for our community. We are grateful to our parents for trusting us with their daughters as we vision for the Academy's future in a way that fits with our tradition of Dominican excellence. Please contact me if you have questions. Thank you for your prayers and ongoing support of St. Agnes!

-Sr. Jane Meyer, O.P., Head of School

The Counseling Office has important information for our parents this week - Our ninth graders are visiting the counseling office; mark the calendar for the 10th Grade Coffee with the Counselors; and the presentation from Senior Parent Information Night is now available online. Click here for this week's news.

Mark your calendar for our first meeting: Monday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. in the Cafeteria with guest Rick Wertz, speaking on "How to be a Faithful Father." This is a great opportunity to kick off the year and meet SAA dads. Other family members or friends are always welcome if the student's father is not available to attend. We hope to see you there!

-Richard Becker, Dads' Club president
rich1beckr@aol.com

Thank you to all the ninth-grade and senior parents who helped during Welcome Week. Over 75 volunteers checked in baskets, baked cookies, decorated the courtyard/cafeteria, as well as served lunch and breakfast to the big and little sisters this week. Thank you!
- Alice Rohrman and Kathy Benn - Co-Chairs, Big/Little Sis Week

A big thank you goes out to Laura Musemeche for coordinating a great Mothers' Club lunch on Wednesday. We had a great turn out! Our next meeting will be Oct. 5 at noon. Please join us if you can.

Please remember to start collecting those travel-sized toiletries. Debbie Sohmer will be coordinating the effort to donate these items to Martha's Kitchen. Feel free to bring them to our next meeting.

Joni Fichter and Carol Rynd are heading up Sorority Information Night, which will be held Nov. 14 in the evening. If you were in a sorority and would be willing to support our SAA girls by writing recommendations, please contact Joni.

-Nancy Loncarich, Mothers' Club President
nancyloncarich@yahoo.com

Our Tiger volleyball team is working hard and has four returning varsity players, Seniors Becca Staudt and Tammy La, Junior Claire Lafferty, and Sophomore Sakile Simmons. The Tigers are loaded with young talent and hope to be very competitive in district play. Join us for their games today at home against Fort Bend Christian Academy for all three teams. The freshman game starts at 4:30 p.m. mark your calendars now for Friday, Sept. 16 for the annual "Dogs in the Den!" Come support the Tigers and enjoy 25-cent hot dogs! This will be our first district home game as the Tigers take on Beaumont's Msgr. Kelly Catholic High School.

Varsity field hockey will participate in the SPC Festival at Hockaday School this weekend and our JV team will play at Memorial High next Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

Our next Booster Club meeting is Wednesday, Sept. 14 in the Choral Room. Light dinner at 6:15 p.m. with our meeting starting at 6:30 p.m. Please consider joining this fun group of parents dedicated to supporting our teams. Go Tigers!

Therese Whaley, Booster Club President
theresewhaley@sbcglobal.net
home 713-789-2259
cell 713-254-9000

Store Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
During store hours, contact Marina Cernoch at 713-219-5486
After store hours, contact Leland McKinney at 713-219-5461
Visit us online!

SAA Spirit Store new items: Stainless Steel Water Bottle, SAA Golf Umbrella, and SAA Executive Folding Umbrella

Upcoming events: Come see us in the store on Friday, Sept. 16 for the SAA volleyball game against Beaumont Kelly. Also, visit us Tuesday, Sept. 20 for the SAA volleyball game against St. Pius X.