Joyfully Embracing Our Mission
St. Clare School Family News | 6 June 2021
Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ
I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord; whoever eats this bread will live forever. ~John 6
Dear St. Clare School Families,
After binge-watching three episodes of “Criminal Minds,” I find myself sitting in my living room, ten minutes after having turned 58, thinking I have to get this newsletter out. I gave myself the gift of not doing it during my birthday, so here I am, proud to have held on to that gift.
It took all my might because I have been wanting to share with you how proud I am of the Class of 2021 and the students who spoke on behalf of the graduates on Friday night. I’d like to share some highlights of the addresses delivered by Amabelle, Zach and Mia Mizutani. Amabelle and Zach were tasked to recall the years they spent as St. Clare students. Typically, this is a laundry list of funny and poignant moments. Their trip down memory lane was so full of insight.
Amabelle ended the recollection with this sage advice:
“And this journey, everything that has led up to this very moment, sitting in chair, cap on head, tassel in hand, that’s what made you ready for this moment. Just as Zach and I are the writers of this makeshift script, you’re the writer of your own story. But you cannot start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one. Maybe one day, five, ten, fifteen years down the line, it will be one of you in the crowd asking your friend from your St. Clare School days, ‘So, tell me everything that’s been happening with you through the years.’”
Mia Mizutani closed her address with a quote attributed to St. Clare followed by an important reminder for her fellow graduates:
“‘We become what we love and who we love shapes what we become. If we love things, we become a thing. If we love nothing, we become nothing. Imitation is not a literal mimicking of Christ, rather it means becoming the image of the beloved, an image disclosed through transformation. This means we are to become vessels of God's compassionate love for others.’
If there is one thing that I want you all to take away from the past five minutes of me speaking here, it is that you are loved. Your family in the back came here today to celebrate you and your accomplishments. As much as we do not want to admit it, all 37 of us have so much love for each other. This class is not exactly the most outwardly affectionate type, but even through the many shared laughs, our love is always there. Even though this moment may be our last all together, I hope that we carry on this love that shines through our hearts.”
To the Class of 2021 and their families ~ you make me very proud to know you. I hope that as Mr. Goetz said in his speech to you, you will always remember that, “Wherever you go, wherever God calls you, this community goes too.”
As we commemorate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, we remember that Christ, too, is with us wherever we go.
END OF THE YEAR SCHEDULE | Bears repeating...
Wednesday, June 9 | 12:30 dismissal
Morning Assembly - Bridging Ceremony | Farewell to Departing Teachers | 8:25 A.M.
In-Person students bring any school issued iPads, textbooks and resources.
Families will be invoiced for iPads, textbooks/resources not returned to school
In-person learners will bring home supplies and bins at pick up.
Wednesday, June 9 | 10:30-11 Distance Learners Return School-Issued iPads and Textbooks
Return school-issued iPads and Textbooks/Resources.
Families will be invoiced for iPads, textbooks/resources not returned to school
School staff will be waiting at the Lexington Gate (elementary-side) for all DL families (TK-7) to drive up and drop off items until 11 A.M.
Please mark each item (iPad, textbook) with your child’s name and grade (use blue painters tape or post-it note).
Bins, school supplies (pens, notebooks, papers, crayons, markers, consumable resources) are to remain at home. DO NOT RETURN THESE. Keep them for the summer and for next school year.
Thursday, June 10 | LAST DAY OF SCHOOL 11:30 dismissal
End of the year Prayer Service, 10;45 A.M. via Zoom
BBQ Lunch Pick Up sponsored by PTG, 11-11:30 -- see ParentSquare post
In-person learners will bring home supplies and bins at pick up.
Car parade, 12-12:15
Saturday, June 12 | Mass of Thanksgiving in Honor of Sr. Ann Marie Dress
All are invited to attend. Mass will be celebrated in the Outdoor Church at 9:30 A.M.
Mass will be followed by a 15-minute car parade to wish Sr. Ann Marie well and thank her for her many years of service at St. Clare School.
Parade will start at approximately 10:45A.M. (Sr. Ann Marie will stand under the archway of the school--or anywhere where there is shade!)
From Lexington Street, head towards Santa Clara Street on Washington Street. Make a right on Santa Clara St., then a right on Main Street, a right on Lexington Street, and again a right on Washington Street.
Make a couple of rounds and then head to your next destination.
Sr. Ann Marie returns to her home in Dubuque, Iowa to be among family and her religious community in mid-July.
Contribute to our collective gift to send Sr. Ann Marie on a well-deserved holiday to Ireland.
END OF YEAR REPORTING & SUMMER BRIDGE
This week is the last week of our academic program for the 2020-21 school year, and what a year it has been! Our teachers will finish out this week with summative assessments and measurement of progress towards mastery of focus skills and standards. After Thursday, they will be preparing report cards for publication the week of June 14, as well as individual Summer Bridge plans for your students.
Anticipate report cards, Summer bridge plans and the Star Parent Report being sent via ParentSquare message or via email before June 17. We encourage all students to read at least 30 minutes a day (20-minutes for our 4- and 5-year olds). Your Star Parent Report will identify your child’s reading level. READ this article on text complexity and reading level to help select accessible texts, as well as texts that will develop and challenge them.
Research shows a strong correlation between this habit and academic achievement, especially if the reading is done with an adult present in the same room. The simple act of reading to your child, having your child read to you, or being in the same room as your child reads independently will set your child up for success.
MyOn Reader, Learning A-Z and RAZKids should be accessible via Clever throughout the summer. Your teachers are excellent sources of information with regards to your child’s reading growth.
Find books by reading level HERE. Find your local library hours: Santa Clara Public Library | San Jose Public Library
THIS LAST WEEK TOGETHER
It has truly been an amazing growth experience to have journeyed with you this past year. I am in awe at your generosity and your commitment to this community. You have exemplified Silver Box virtues and our theme of Solidarity in immeasurable ways.
As Msgr. Fran reminded the graduating class, we truly have made the sweetest lemonade out of a lemon of a year! Thank you, thank you, thank you! My heart is full.
In your humble service,
Mrs. Cecile Mantecon, Principal
2021-22 Calendar Summary
Important Dates to Remember
- 6/9 Bridging Ceremony, Farewell to Departing Teachers at Morning Assembly | 8:25 A.M.
- 6/9 Return iPads, textbooks, other school-issued property. Keep Supply Bin and contents.
- 6/10 BBQ Picnic Pick Up, 11-11:30 | See ParentSquare post from PTG
- 6/10 Last Day of School, 11:30 dismissal | Free Dress, Parade 12-12:15 | No CKZ
- 6/12 Thanksgiving Mass/Farewell to Sr. Ann Marie, 9:30 A.M.; car parade at 10:45 A.M.
- By 6/17 Report Cards, Summer Bridge, Star Parent Report
- 8/18 First Day of 2021-22 School Year
Google Public Calendar
PUBLIC URL TO ACCESS FROM A WEB BROWSER
PUBLIC ADDRESS IN iCAL TO ACCESS FROM OTHER APPS
Our Beloved St. Clare
Photo by Ed Carlo Garcia www.edcarlogarcia.com
St. Clare School
Email: office@stclareschool.org
Website: https://www.stclare.school
Location: 725 Washington Street, Santa Clara, CA, USA
Phone: 408 246-6797
Facebook: facebook.com/stclareschoolsantaclara