A Grateful Heart
Saint Clare School Family News | 5 February 2023
A Grateful Heart by Jazmine Misola, Class of 2024
BEGIN EACH DAY WITH A GRATEFUL HEART
I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you,
praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you,
because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now.
And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more
in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value,
so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ
for the glory and praise of God.
~From Saint Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, Ch. 1:1-5, 9-11
Dear Saint Clare School Families,
Many, many thanks for your support of our community through the gift baskets that were delivered to our local heroes, through your support of our faculty and staff who dedicated many hours in the care of your children, through your presence at Sunday and school Masses, events like our Open House and Breakfast@Clare’s, and your continued prayers and gifts to continue our Mission. Thank you for your sacrifice and for choosing Saint Clare School!
CONGRATULATIONS, SECOND GRADERS
Many of our second graders received the Sacrament of Reconciliation this Saturday for the first time! We congratulate their parents, families, and their teachers for accompanying them in their journey to grow in their faith. They will continue their formation in preparation for their First Holy Communion in May. We stand with you, we pray for you, holy children of God!
PARENTS AS PRIMARY EDUCATORS OF THEIR CHILDREN
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2252 states, parents “have the first responsibility for the education of their children in the faith, prayer, and all the virtues. They have the duty to provide as far as possible for the physical and spiritual needs of their children”.
Furthermore, paragraph 460 states, “Parents, in virtue of their participation in the fatherhood of God, have the first responsibility for the education of their children and they are the first heralds of the faith for them. They have the duty to love and respect their children as persons and as children of God and to provide, as far as is possible for their physical and spiritual needs. They should select for them a suitable school and help them with prudent counsel in the choice of their profession and their state of life. In particular they have the mission of educating their children in the Christian faith.”
Loyola Press has many resources to help families grow in faith together.
https://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/family/family-faith-and-fun/
On Nurturing Your Child’s Faith
On Cultivating Empathy
On Making Prayer a Priority
We are grateful to be able to partner with you in the faith formation of your children.
COMMITTEES OF THE SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL
One of the suggestions that came out of a recent Strategic Planning Committee is a desire to know the various committees parents and caregivers may be asked to serve. As all of you are shareholders in the success of our school, we expect your input and participation.
If you have particular expertise in the following areas and you would like to be considered, please reach out to Pedro Espinosa, our SAC president:
Buildings and Grounds: Special projects involving the beautification of our physical plant. Advisory role in development of a facilities plan. Those with expertise in construction, with specific skills in project management and the trades are invited to reach out.
Mission and Ministry: Advocacy, service, and ministry led by parents and caregivers to invite families to attend Masses regularly, serve the marginalized in our community, to become actively involved in parish ministries, and to grow in faith together with their children.
Academic Excellence: Together with the school administration, develop programs that enrich the academic program that focus on innovation and creativity.
Campus Health and Safety: Review Emergency Operations Plan, provide expertise and guidance to maintain and uphold campus health and safety protocols. Parents and caregivers with expertise may be invited to support special projects or as the need arises (for example, in response to the pandemic).
Recruitment, Retention, and Marketing: Work with the RRM team to support the efforts to recruit and retain families and to share the good news that is Saint Clare School to the greater community of donors, benefactors, alumni, and prospective families. Those who are passionate and committed to the marketing and development of Saint Clare School are encouraged to reach out.
Operational Vitality/Finance Committee: The Committee works very closely with the Principal in all matters related to school finances.
HVAC UPDATE
Thank you to Katie Lee, who has been helping coordinate the HVAC timeline information with TDN Electric and Thermal Mechanical. Anticipated for the Middle School building is the installation of cement pads on the Washington Street and Lafayette sides of the middle school building for equipment. Preparations for the electrical upgrades on the Elementary building. This will be a long process which will begin with drawings and collaboration with Silicon Valley Power. The hope remains that both projects will be completed by the start of the 2023-2024 school year, with the Middle School project being completed this school year.
A FEW REMINDERS
PERSONAL PROPERTY AT SCHOOL Students are discouraged from bringing toys, personal electronic, and sports equipment to school. Saint Clare School is not responsible for the loss or damage of these items. Personal/rented items and library books brought to school are the responsibility of the student.
UNIFORM Hats/beanies are not part of the school uniform and if allowed for “theme” days, may only be worn outdoors. Nail polish and artificial nails must be removed before coming to school. Non-uniform pants, sweatpants, and outerwear are not part of the school uniform. Gently used uniforms are available at no cost. Call Ms. McKinnon in the school office to arrange a time to “shop” at our uniform closet.
YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS, PLEASE
There are a number of upcoming dates where you will need to make other arrangements for care for your students. Please know that these dates are NOT NEW. They were communicated via the calendar grid since Spring of 2022, and have appeared in every newsletter since.
DATES TO NOTE
Feb. 20-24 NO SCHOOL/NOCKZ
March 10 - NO SCHOOL/NO CKZ Faculty In-Service Date: Collaboration on Social Studies Standards Review, Preparing for WCEA Visit
March 15 - FULL DAY, DISMISSAL AT 3P due to WCEA Visit
This is a Wednesday, which is usually a minimum day.
We are switching the minimum day to Friday so that the Visiting Committee has time to visit classrooms to gather evidence for their Report of Findings to affirm our school program.
March 17 - MINIMUM DAY, DISMISSAL AT 12:30P due to WCEA Visit
This is a Friday, when we usually dismiss at 3P.
We are dismissing at 12:30P so that the Visiting Committee can present the highlights of the Report of Finding with the Faculty, Staff, and Administration by 2P. After which, our hard working crew will gather to celebrate as a community focused on continuous improvement for the benefit of our students.
Thank you for your continued support.
UPCOMING EVENTS | OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT:
Join us for our Weekly School Masses on Fridays at 10:45 A.M.
PTG Meetings are on the first Thursday of each month at 6:30P. RSVP to the original post on ParentSquare.
ANNUAL GIVING/ANNUAL FUND. Here are the ways you can support Saint Clare: https://www.stclare.school/supportus
February 8: Annual Lunar New Year festivities. Thank you to Jen Pham and crew!
Join us at 8:30A in the Hall
February 9: WCEA Pre-Visit. The team will be here from 12:30 until 4.
March 15-17, 2023: WCEA Visit. REMEMBER: minimum day switched from Wednesday to Friday!
May 1, 2023: 2nd Annual Golf Tournament | Boulder Ridge Golf Club | SCHOOL IS IN SESSION FOR STUDENTS!
As always, if you feel there is something missing, please reach out to me (cecile.mantecon@dsj.org) or to the office staff (stclare-info@dsj.org).
If you didn’t already know, our Schoolwide Learning Expectations (SLEs), also known as “Grad at Grad”, along with our School Mission guide our school program. Parents and caregivers responded in surveys and at Parent Leadership Symposiums with the following qualities they would like to see in their children by the time they graduate from Saint Clare School:
SCHOOLWIDE LEARNING EXPECTATIONS
A SAINT CLARE SCHOOL GRADUATE practices
Habits of the Mind
Through Inquiry and Curiosity
Through Resilience and Resourcefulness
Through Creativity and Innovation
Habits of the Heart
Through Kindness and Respect
Through Empathy and Compassion
Through Gratitude and Humility
Habits of the Spirit
Through Stewardship and Servant Leadership
Through Accompaniment and Inclusivity
Through the examples and teachings of Jesus Christ
Thoughts become words, words become actions, actions become habits, and habits become the character of our Saint Clare School graduates. Thank you for supporting them in the formation of Habits of the Mind, Heart, and Spirit!
Grateful for your partnership,
Mrs. Cecile Mantecon, Principal
Celebrating Catholic Schools Week
FEATURING: OUR SECOND GRADE HAPPENINGS
In Science, 2nd graders created Paper Mountains and use it to discover an important principle about how rivers work.
To show support for the Catholic Schools Week students made hearts with rosary beads and drew a family tree. This is their way of showing appreciation to the St. Clare School community and their parents for helping achieve their spiritual and academic formation.
Need Uniforms?
We are also accepting gently used uniforms. When donating, please note, we do not accept ripped, torn, heavily stained, or faded clothing; accepting clothing you would give to your loved ones. Please bring CLEAN gently used uniforms to the office.
IMPORTANT DATES TO NOTE
Scroll down for the calendar grid and the links to the public calendar
- February 5: Re-Enrollment DUE in TADS | Tuition Assistance Applications DUE in TADS
- February 8: Lunar New Year Celebration | 8:30A-9:30A in the Hall
- March 3: End of the Trimester
- March 9: Sock Hop TK-6 | 5:00p-7:00P
- March 10: Faculty In-Service | NO SCHOOL, NO CKZ
- March 15-17: WCEA Visit
- March 15: FULL DAY | 3P Dismissal
- March 17: MINIMUM DAY | 12:30P Dismissal
- March 20-March 24: Scholastic Book Fair
- March 22: Ice Cream Social | 3:00P-5:30P
2022-23 School Calendar
A BIG Thank You to this Year's Jog-a-thon Sponsors
Attendance Impacts Learning
Early Literacy Resources from Harvard Global Family Research Project
Below, you will find the Calendar Grid for the school year. It is a snapshot so you can plan for child care and work around the calendar to plan trips, vacations, and appointments.
Please remember that this GRID is a STATIC version of the calendar. For a more accurate and up-to-date version, please see the options below.
Other options to view the calendar include a Google calendar synched to ParentSquare, or subscribing to the St. Clare School Public Calendar below:
Google Public Calendar
You are invited to subscribe to the St. Clare School *PUBLIC* Google Calendar which is also synched to ParentSquare.
PUBLIC URL TO ACCESS FROM A WEB BROWSER
PUBLIC ADDRESS IN iCAL TO ACCESS FROM OTHER APPS
OUR MISSION
We, the Saint Clare School Community,
joyfully embody the Gospel mission entrusted by Christ to His Church.
Made in the image and likeness of God,
our community values our diversity,
embracing all backgrounds and cultures.
With a rigorous curriculum and student-centered instruction,
we, together with parents as primary educators of their children,
form learners with strong academic and spiritual foundations
to become moral and ethical servant leaders.
SCHOOLWIDE LEARNING EXPECTATIONS (SLEs) | Graduation Outcomes
A ST. CLARE SCHOOL GRADUATE practices
Habits of the Mind
Through Inquiry and Curiosity
Through Resilience and Resourcefulness
Through Creativity and Innovation
Habits of the Heart
Through Kindness and Respect
Through Empathy and Compassion
Through Gratitude and Humility
Habits of the Spirit
Through Stewardship and Servant Leadership
Through Accompaniment and Inclusivity
Through the example and teachings of Christ Jesus
School Leadership
Finance Committee Chairperson: Lea Lind
PTG President: Katy Kerns
If you are interested in a leadership role, please reach out to Mrs. Mantecon (cecile.mantecon@dsj.org).
SAC Meetings are held once a month via Zoom and open only to SAC members and invited guests.
PTG Meetings are held once a month via Zoom and open to all
Finance Committee meetings are held quarterly, with occasional special meeting times surrounding finance deadlines, and are open only to Finance Committee members and invited guests.
Parent Resource Library
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: 750 Washington Street, Santa Clara, CA, USA
Phone: 408 246-6797
Facebook: facebook.com/stclareschoolsantaclara