Christmas dinner is Tuesday

The faculty and staff Christmas dinner will be held Tuesday, Dec. 20. Hors d’oeuvres and cocktails begin at 6 p.m. in the dining room. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. RSVPs are due today, Friday, Dec. 9, to Campus Box 30.

Directors of institutes in Nairobi to visit

Brother Paulos Mesmer, director of Christ the Teacher Institute for Education of SMU (CTIE) and associate dean of Education, will make his annual visit Dec. 11-21. CTIE serves about 225 students annually in a Three-Year Diploma in Teacher Education and a B.Ed. in Education.

Father Michael Kirwen, director of the Maryknoll Institute of African Studies of SMU (MIAS), will be here Dec. 14-21. MIAS serves about 75 students annually in two master’s programs in African Studies.

Both directors will be meeting with university administrators, faculty, staff and students on the Winona and Twin Cities campuses during their stay. If you’d like to meet with the directors, please stop in Room 128, Saint Mary’s Hall or you can make an appointment with them through Tracy Lehnertz at tlehnert@smumn.edu.

Brother Paulos and Father Kirwen will also be attending the Winona campus Christmas dinner and the SGPP Christmas luncheon if you’d like to greet them at these events.

Saint Mary’s ‘Lessons and Carols’ service is Dec. 10

The joyous and uplifting Christmas service of “Lessons and Carols” will be presented by the Department of Music at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10.

The beautiful service, held in the majestic Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels, features the Saint Mary’s Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, directed by Dr. Patrick O’Shea, and the Chamber Orchestra.

“Lessons and Carols” reflects on the Christmas story through several short readings, hymns and Christmas carols sung by the choirs and audience. Music includes familiar carols and selections by composers from the Renaissance to the present.

The Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels is located at Wabasha and Vila streets in Winona.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors and are available by calling the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Concert Band to present ‘Sounds of the Season’

Along with a serving of your favorite Christmas music, stop by the lobby reception for some homemade cookies.

Celebrate the music of the Christmas season with the Saint Mary’s University Concert Band 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, at Page Theatre.

The concert will feature four student guest conductors: Tyler Ringiesen, Ashley Buhr, Jessica Giers and Jessica Bouska. Dr. Janet Heukeshoven will direct the rest of the hour-long performance, which includes Alfred Reed’s “Russian Christmas Music” and familiar seasonal favorites.

The band will be performing the “Coventry Carol,” a lovely setting of “Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring,” “Greensleeves Fantasia,” and the beautiful Huron Canadian Indian carol, “Twas in the Moon of Wintertime.” On the lighter side, audience members of all ages will enjoy “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and the big band jazz inspired “A Most Wonderful Christmas.”

The concert will be followed by a Christmas lobby party, which will feature a selection of holiday treats. Smaller ensembles — the brass choir, flute quartet, saxophone ensemble, jazz combo, bassoon trio and more — will perform.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors and are available by calling the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

SMU jazz, percussion groups join talents in concert tonight

The 18-piece Saint Mary’s University Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo I and World Drum Ensemble will combine for an evening of hot jazz to melt away the chill of the season at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, in Page Theatre.

Both jazz groups are directed by Dr. John Paulson, and the World Drum Ensemble is directed by Denny McGuire.

Vocalist Jessica Ingvalson will be featured on jazzy arrangements of the Christmas classics “Christmas Time is Here” from Charlie Brown and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” arranged by Dave Wolpe.

The World Drum Ensemble will join Jazz Combo I on the great samba “Brazil,” arranged for the nine-piece group by Michael Philip Moussman. They’ll also perform a boss nova version of “White Christmas,” arranged by Mark Taylor. The Jazz Ensemble will pull out all the stops with a wild arrangement of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” by Gordon Goodwin as well as other great jazz standards like “Ladybird.” Audiences will also enjoy a premiere performance of Dr. Paulson’s “Four PM Blues.”

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors and are available by calling the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Kirk returns from touring in Hong Kong, China

Dr. Ned Kirk, pianist and chair of the Music Department, just returned from 10 days in Hong Kong and China. In Hong Kong he gave a recital at the University of Science and Technology. In Huizhou, China, he gave a master class for 80 music students, and a public recital. In addition, as part of the anniversary celebrations of the founding of Huizhou University, he performed Beethoven’s “Moonlight” Sonata for more than 3,000 people.

Dr. Kirk has also been appointed as guest professor for the next three years and will be making biannual trips to Huizhou University to teach and perform.

SMU Gifts for Winona volunteer spots still open; gifts due Wednesday

Go to www.smumn.edu/giftsforwinona to volunteer for Saint Mary’s University Gifts for Winona. This annual program, in its 10th year, helps approximately 1,500 individuals have happier holidays.

The community-wide gift-giving program is a great way to get in the holiday spirit by helping those less fortunate. Volunteers are needed to help with picking up gifts from the various trees, located throughout town, and bringing them to the distribution site. Volunteers are also needed to help with shopping and wrapping. Check your calendars. Every person’s contribution helps to make this program a success. Saint Mary’s is proud to be able to provide this service!

If you’ve taken a tag from our tree in Saint Mary’s Hall, please remember to bring your wrapped gifts to the Business Office windows by Wednesday, Dec. 14!

Class presents ‘Paco Project’ at Mango’s

On Oct. 31, Jana Craft’s MK360 Consumer Behavior class traveled down the hill to present their “Paco Project” to the owners of Mango’s Mexican American Grill.

Based on the book by Paco Underhill titled “Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping,” students are assigned to one of six local businesses. Working together with the owners/managers of the businesses, student groups determine project goals and areas to be studied to improve some aspect of the business.

Over the course of six visits, the group observes and records information on the shopping behavior of customers. Examples of specific information from these areas include traffic patterns, eye placement, what they touch and pick up, how long they linger in a certain area, etc. This data is recorded, analyzed and presented to the merchants. Participating merchants included Mugby Junction, Habitat ReStore, Grace Place, Fitzgerald Library and Mango’s. This is the fourth year for the project.

Cardinal Corner update

Students from the MG315 Entrepreneurship class recently received a donation of “vintage” soccer uniforms. Fifty percent of profits from the sale of all soccer uniforms will be given back to the SMU soccer team. Fifty percent of profits will be donated to the Fall 2011 charity of choice, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Many items in the store are priced at $5 and under. More mittens are being ordered from Winona Knits and Mitts and a second order of Brother Stephen shirts will be placed after break.

Hours are Monday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Cardinal Corner is a non-profit retail store located in the lower level of the Toner Student Center. Managed by the students of MG315 Entrepreneurship and supported by the Business Department, the mission of the store is to create an opportunity for entrepreneurship students to gain hands-on experience in operating a small business. Each semester, the class donates profits from the Cardinal Corner to a charity of their choice. In addition, the store sells products for various SMU clubs, teams, departments, and organizations and returns 100 percent of the sales to benefit the SMU community.

For more information, contact Jana Craft at Ext. 1491 or jcraft@smumn.edu. Become a fan and receive the latest updates at www.facebook.com/cardinalcorner.

Students to show art in ‘Ideas that Spark’

Students will display energetic and electrifying work in “Ideas that Spark,” the all-campus student art exhibit through Dec. 14 in the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries.

The show features 2011 SMU December art graduates Danielle Cossetta, Sarah Kraft, Brianna Nelson and Charlie Williams.

The Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries are open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and are free and open to the public.

Student Activities, Residence Life collect money, food

The Student Activities Committee and Residence Life collected $213.54 and 345 pounds of food for Volunteer Services through the 10 Days of Giving.

McCullough, Reed to present reading tonight

Ken McCullough, PASS and Academic Advising, and John Reed, Modern Languages, will present excerpts from the Spanish translation of McCullough’s book, “Sicomoro Oropéndolo,” recently published in Medellín, Colombia. McCullough will read the work in English, Reed in Spanish. The event will take place at The Book Shelf and Blue Heron Coffee House, 162 W. 2nd St., Friday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. Wine, hors d’oeuvres, and piano music will be included. McCullough will sign copies of the book. The event is free and open to the public.

Next Chat and Chow to address use of iPads, Nooks

In the next Chat and Chow session, “You’ve Got the Magic Touch,” you'll see how faculty at Saint Mary’s are teaching minds and touching screens. Eric Heukeshoven, Music Department, and Dave Jackson, Education, will demonstrate how they use iPads and Nooks to create magic in the classroom. Want the glow of new technology under the Christmas tree? Come and get a first-hand look from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, in the McEnery Center.

Chat and Chows are brought to you by the Fitz, IT and Instructional Technology. Lunch is provided. An RSVP is appreciated but not necessary. For more information, contact Jason Spartz, jspartz@smumn.edu.

Christmas Light Service, Pre-Finals Breakfast is Dec. 15

The Christmas Light Service — a retelling of the Christmas narrative through readings, carols and tableaus — will be held 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, in Saint Thomas More Chapel.

Following the service, the Office of Academic Affairs and Chartwells Food Service will sponsor the traditional Pre-finals Christmas Breakfast for students from 10 to 11:45 p.m. in the dining room. The breakfast is served by faculty and staff and is typically attended by 700 students. Christmas carols will be sung and Santa will make an appearance.

Last ‘Campus Notes’ of the year is Dec. 16

Look ahead on your calendars. The last ‘Campus Notes’ of the year will be next Friday, Dec. 16. The deadline for this issue is Wednesday, Dec. 14. The first edition of 2012 will be Friday, Jan. 6. The deadline for that issue is Wednesday, Jan. 4.

Jazz notes

Swing Inc. will perform from 6 to 9 p.m. today, Friday, Dec. 9, at Signatures Restaurant, 22285 County Road 17.