Joyfully Embracing Our Mission
St. Clare School Family Newsletter | 27 September 2018
For whoever is not against us is for us
"Are you jealous for my sake?
Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets!
Would that the LORD might bestow his spirit on them all!" ~Numbers 11
Dear St. Clare School Families,
We don't always all get along. We don't always agree on things, but if we keep our shared purpose in everything we do and say, we should be able to right the ship and steer it in the right direction. If we splinter off into different directions, we risk developing different factions and in the end, not achieving the shared purpose we set our course to reach in the first place.
It has been 30 days since we started school together. How are we doing? Are we communicating effectively, with kindness and compassion, working to end division and seeking to understand first? Are we being present, framing challenges as opportunities and focusing on issues and not individuals? Are we working to benefit the community, particularly the welfare of our young charges? It is a daunting task to be sure, but well worth it!
I certainly appreciate your efforts towards our shared purpose. Let's continue to foster our partnership; for whoever is not against us is for us!
WARNING: This may be a long one, so I will not be offended if you skip to other content!
MEA CULPA
On Sunday, I composed my weekly message to the teachers and staff at St. Clare outlining the week ahead. I mistakenly selected "St. Clare School" (all of you) instead of just the Faculty and Staff. I caught this error after I saw that it posted to over 300 recipients! I quickly deleted the post and reposted it to the right recipients (within a minute and a half). However, many of you who are quick on the draw saw the post or some of you who hadn't refreshed your screens may have had it still available to view. Either way, I wanted to apologize if the message confused you. Of course, it was meant for the Faculty and Staff who are privy to the context of the post. Thank you to those of you who were confused and who came to me directly to clarify some of the messages. I appreciate that you trust me to address your questions to avoid any speculations that might arise because of them.
Those of you who never saw the post may be wondering what these were about. None of them are off limits to you and none are confidential. They are merely conversations that a principal and her staff engage in, in the course of doing what they have been tasked to do. Most of the information you see below are the results of those conversations. Thank you for working with me to presume that all intentions come from a good place. I appreciate it.
DREXEL UPDATES: Technology, Data, Curriculum and Instruction
On Tuesday, visitors from Loyola Marymount University and the Diocese of Oakland visited our school to view outstanding examples of station-rotation models from our classrooms. They are very fortunate to have the Drexel School System from which to draw experience to form a similar model of schools in their respective dioceses. We are very proud of the hard work of our teachers and of our students who engage in learning and growth each day!
Our teachers are able to provide impactful learning experiences like station-rotations by using the data we collect from STAR, informal and formal formative assessments (observations, exit tickets, quizzes) and by constantly checking for understanding. We will conclude our second set of STAR assessments this week. We spent a recent faculty meeting analyzing the data from our first STAR assessments from about a month ago to determine if our informal observations aligned with what our data. We will continue to look at STAR data to inform our groupings, adjust our instructional strategies and set our benchmarks for the year. It is a moral imperative for us to ensure our students are growing and are achieving at a pace that tends towards college and career readiness.
But as you all know, showing growth in this way is not our only moral imperative. We are also working very hard to foster meaningful and positive relationships with our students. Their social emotional well being is at the top of our list. Any information that you are able to share with your classroom teachers to help us support your child is greatly appreciated. We are developing our resource program to support ALL students. We are all diverse learners. We need to honor this and understand, as our mission states, that we are created in the image and likeness of God and are therefore entitled to empathy, compassion and understanding. If we frame conversations in this way, who can be against us?
It is also important for our teachers to model being lifelong learners. Our Drexel collaborations, the onsite level articulation meetings we engage in each week, as well as the professional development courses including higher education courses many of us are taking help us hone our craft. Let your students know that many of their teachers have homework, too!
In May, the IT Department in the Diocese of San Jose experienced a sudden transition from a contracted service to in-house management. Because of the extent of the responsibility of the contracted service, it has taken up to this week to set up the in-house infrastructure. This infrastructure began with a skeleton crew just as we were ending the school year. The issues that we experienced and we continue to experience with PowerSchool, ParentSquare, iPad set up and other device challenges stem from this transition. The team is just about built and we are hoping that in the next couple of weeks, we will have the support we need to be fully operational (read: get issues resolved much more quickly). My sincerest thank you to Miss Teresea and Miss Cherell for working through these issues on the administrative side and to Mrs. Filion and Ms. McCormick for working through it on the classroom side. I am so grateful to all the teachers for their patience and good humor as I and others attempted to be IT for a moment these past few weeks. Brings back memories from my implementation days. I'm just glad not to be working with floppy disks and 15 lb. Toshiba laptops! Here's hoping we are on to better days ahead!
COMING SOON! Parent-Student-Teacher Conference Sign Up Goes Live Oct. 1
Our Parent and/or Student-Teacher Conferences are coming up the week of October 15. On Monday, you will see a post from me with a Google Sheets link to schedule for conferences. You will need to select available time slots to meet with your student's teacher(s). Middle school students must see their homeroom teacher and may choose to see at least one other middle school teacher. The sign up will be open from Oct. 1-10, so sign up early in order to get your preferred time slot.
COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE: Girls' Festival
The festival organizers just recently created an unlimited ticket link for St. Clare School in exchange for offering our parking lot for the October 6 event. Here is the link: Girls' Festival Flyer and Complimentary Ticket Link.
FAITH FAMILY BUDDY CLASSES
Starting this Friday, buddy classes will get together to Open the Word for the following Sunday and connect with each other (the "older" grades mentoring the younger ones in the formation of faith). We welcome you to come and join in with the buddy classes. Check with your classroom teacher regarding the location of their "faith meeting."
JOG-A-THON UPDATES
Permission slips for Jog-A-Thon went home this week. Please make sure to turn them in to your classroom teacher in order to participate. We hope you can make it to cheer us on or to join us!
As Mr. Anderson reminded the school this week, we are seeking 100% participation and we need your support in order to continue our outstanding academic and enrichment programs and provide a safe learning environment for our students. We are looking to update iPads in the Middle School and add to the iPads we have in the classroom. Your donation will also ensure that our classrooms have a way to communicate that is conducive to a safe and orderly learning environment. We are in dire need of a new public address system essential for emergency protocols. We hope you'll take the time today to share the 99Pledges link to your family, friends and supporters of St. Clare School. Thank you for your generosity, especially to those planning and promoting this important fundraiser.
*****THURSDAY IS STILL A 12:30 DISMISSAL DAY*****
We have arranged for enrichment programs to be in session. CKZ is available on this day! Yes, we have two 12:30 days in a row!
Stay tuned for information on additional student engagement opportunities at St. Clare: Math Club for Grades 6-8 and PlayWorks (Organized Play at Lunch)!
Jamba Juice Fundraiser by 7th Grade has earned over $500 for the Learning and Loving Education Center in Morgan Hill. Way to go, St. Clare! Please come and volunteer at lunch on Fridays to help with the pick up and distribution. Please contact Mr. Loera at mloera@dsj.org.
Please check the school calendar for upcoming events and read about details regarding the Blessing of the Animals and Second Sunday Family Masses from Sister Ann Marie!
May we all be prophets of a future not our own!
With gratitude,
Mrs. Cecile Mantecón, Principal
The 28th Annual St. Clare School Jog-A-Thon
Wednesday, Oct 3, 2018, 09:15 AM
Santa Clara University, El Camino, Santa Clara, CA, USA
THE JOG-A-THON IS NEXT WEDS. OCT. 3!!
With less than one week until the Jog-A-Thon, we’ve raised $30,399 toward our goal of $50,000 and are 61% of the way there!
As of Monday, Sept. 24, the current class standings are:
- 1st Place: 8th Grade $4,900 / 56% Participation
- 2nd Place: 6th Grade $3,388 / 59% Participation
- 3rd Place: TK $3,188 / 63% Participation
Highest fund raisers by class groupings are:
TK-2nd Grade
- Gabriella, TK - $705
- Olivia T., 2nd Grade - $650
- Maya W., TK - $620
3rd-5th Grade
- Brenda, 5th Grade - $1,000
- Marco R-H, 4th Grade - $500
- Reyes, 5th Grade - $420
6th-8th Grade
- Jaylene, 8th Grade - $1,125
- Elijah, 6th Grade - $1,065
- Anson, 7th Grade - $705
We encourage 100% class participation. This is our school’s biggest fundraiser of the year, so let’s take pride in our school and each do our part.
In fact, not only do the 6th-8th graders need to raise $7,500 to receive Great America Gold Passes, but everyone has to contribute. If one student does not participate, the entire class will not receive passes.
Check the PDF of all the Jog-A-Thon prizes. Let’s all work together St. Clare!
If you have not received a 99Pledges link for your child’s personal pledge page, please send an email to jogathon@stclareptg.org.
Check out the prizes on the flyer!
Blessing of the Animals
St. Clare School plans will be celebrating the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi with a blessing of animals at our morning assembly on Thursday, October 4th.
The animals need to be brought to school on a leash, in a cage or a fishbowl etc. No loose animals, please. If your child doesn’t have a pet to bring, they are welcome to bring a stuffed animal for the blessing.
After the assembly, all animals must be taken home. Stuffed animals can be placed into the backpacks for the remainder of the day.
Please plan to join us for this special blessing.
Called to Serve!
Beginning at the October 14th Sunday Mass we invite parents to lector at the 9:00 A.M. second Sunday Family Mass. If you have not been trained to be a lector, Fr. Prosper and Mrs. Paty Rascon from the parish will be happy to train you.
The following dates are open:
- October 14
- November 11
- December 9
- January 13
- February 10
- March 10
- April 14
- May 12
If you are interested in signing up to be a lector, please email me directly at adress@dsj.org with the date you have chosen. After I have received your email, I will confirm with you the date chosen. Thank you for your support. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
~ Sister Ann Marie
Gospel Reflection | 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Disciples of Jesus are called to evangelize and spread the Good News. As a catechist, my goals are to deepen my students’ faith, and to plant the seeds in my students to go forth and share what they’ve learned. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus’ disciples were concerned that someone was performing a deed in His name. Jesus’ response was not one of concern, rather, He explained that anyone who speaks in His name is to be considered as a disciple, as we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.
This Gospel encourages us to welcome others to believe in Jesus. The exclusivity that John speaks of, in that the man was not a real follower, like them, can be similar to the exclusivity we can sometimes see in our school and our communities. Cliques or groups are formed, not knowing the message that is being sent. As this occurs, we can remind one another that Jesus did not prevent anyone from following Him.
Where there is sin, it is our responsibility to be conscious of areas in our lives that cause us to sin, and to find our path towards following the footsteps of Jesus. After hearing Mark’s Gospel, let us remember Christ’s mission for us to spread the word, and to know God’s love and mercy.
Bishop's Circle of Excellence BBQ
We are very proud of our 8th graders: Paulina, Lananh, Maren, Demaris and Jocelyn and alum Regina 6th grader Ashley and their parents who represented St. Clare School very well at the barbeque celebrating the Bishop's Circle of Excellence. The 8th grade girls have been helping since 6th grade and promise to continue even after they graduate.
The BCE funds many local organizations including providing scholarships for many of our students. To date since its inception about 8 years ago, the BCE has donated over $2.4M to fund about $2.3M in grants and aid to local organizations. St. Clare School and Parish has played an integral part in this event year after year for 8 years. Thank you to the following parents who helped with set up and/or take down:
Mr. Nguyen, Mr. Boudeville, Mrs. Lee, Mr. Goslinski, Mr. and Mrs. Tsutsui, and Mr. Mendoza.
This Year's Theme
What are you doing to Live Out Your Faith? Thank you to those who serve as a family, take the initiative to support many causes and drive and especially those who answer the call to serve each and every time. You truly are shining examples of faith in our community!
Fourth Graders Working to Build the Kingdom of God
UPCOMING EVENTS
- 9/27 Free Dress
- Faith Family Group | Buddies Meet to Open The Word | 9 A.M. | Various locations
- 9/24-28 STAR Assessments to prepare for Conferences
- 10/1 Parent-Teacher-Student Conference Sign Ups Begin
- 10/2 Picture Retake Day | bring unwanted photos to school
- 10/3 Jog -A- Thon | Bellomy Field, SCU | 12:30 dismissal | CKZ/CTZ open
- 10/4 Blessing of the Animals, 8 A.M.
- 10/4 STILL a 12:30 dismissal | Enrichment programs in the afternoon
- 10/5 Local Holiday No CKZ/CTZ
SERVING ST. CLARE LINK
St. Clare School
Email: office@stclareschool.org
Website: drexel.dsj.org/stclareschool
Location: 725 Washington Street, Santa Clara, CA, USA
Phone: 408-246-6797