Joyfully Embracing Our Mission
St. Clare School Family News | 31 May 2021
Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Brothers and sisters:
Let love be sincere;
hate what is evil,
hold on to what is good;
love one another with mutual affection;
anticipate one another in showing honor.
Do not grow slack in zeal,
be fervent in spirit,
serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope,
endure in affliction,
persevere in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the holy ones,
exercise hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you,
bless and do not curse them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice,
weep with those who weep.
Have the same regard for one another;
do not be haughty but associate with the lowly;
do not be wise in your own estimation.
~Romans 9
Dear St. Clare School Families,
Today, Memorial Day, also happens to be the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We have heard the story many times: of John the Baptist stirring in Elizabeth’s womb when Mary, also with child, came to visit her cousin. Honor was already offered then within these women’s wombs. It reminded me of John the Baptist who gives honor to Jesus without naming him as the one who comes after him, whose sandal straps he is unworthy to untie.
More importantly today’s gospel reading, we hear “The Magnificat” proclaimed by Mary in all humility, after Elizabeth calls her “most blessed among women”. Mary doesn’t say, “I know, right?” Instead she extolls God’s goodness and mercy.
May today be a day we remember those who have done great things for us to be where we are today. In all humility and gentleness, may we work for peace so that anyone who puts on a uniform for our freedom come home safely.
GRADUATION WEEK
It is the last week that the Class of 2021 will be on campus! Last Thursday and Friday, they presented their Capstone Projects, using everything they learned to be persons of faith, responsible scholars and compassionate members of the Body of Christ. The nonprofit organizations they devised were varied, answering the Call to Family, Community and Participation, Care for God’s Creation, honor the Life and Dignity of the Human Person, the Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers, stand in Solidarity, recognize our Rights and Responsibilities to our communities, and provide the Option for the Poor and Vulnerable. We thank the parent and community mentors who guided them along the way, sharing their wisdom and expertise and encouraging them to pursue their desire to be productive members of society.
On Friday evening, the class gathered with Miss Kim and Mr. Goetz, led by Ryan Bao, St. Clare’s Director of Youth Ministry and parish youth leaders for their end of the year retreat. In 2020, just before we went on COVID lockdown, the class was able to spend a day together in retreat. This is the first time that the whole class was able to gather since we closed down the school on March 13, 2021. It was a joy to behold as Ryan and team led them in team-building and icebreaker activities. The students heard testimonies from youth leaders, signed their yearbooks, shared experiences, read letters from their loved ones and broke bread together at Eucharist, presided by Msgr. Fran. Our hope is that through this experience, they were able to reflect on the care and love that this community has for them. Please continue to pray for them as they navigate the next week and the next year as the new kids on the block at the high schools they will be attending.
Of the 37 students in the class, 50 applications were submitted by 26 students to Catholic high schools.
Of these, 45 acceptance offers were returned, with students placing in advance courses, as well as offered entry as top scholars.
25 students will attend local Catholic high schools.
12 students have chosen to attend local public high schools.
On Wednesday, the students will present themselves at Morning Assembly to let you know which high schools they have selected. We are very proud of all of them!
Graduation Mass and Ceremony will take place under the church tent on Friday, June 4. We congratulate them and their families and wish them well on their journeys ahead!
STAR WINDOW 4
Last Friday was the last opportunity for Star assessment for our students. Your teachers will include the Parent Report as part of the Summer Bridge Plan that will be sent to you after June 14. You will notice that the Parent Report looks different than the reports you’ve previously received during Parent-Teacher Conferences. The Parent Report aligns with our desire to use Star and other data to inform instruction moving forward.
The intention is that students are to take these assessments independently (without help or coaching from adults) to show the skills they know. Due to the unique testing environments this school year, (our first window was taken at home, while subsequent windows assessed students remotely or in-person, depending on which environment the student attended), the data we have gathered must take these shifts in mind.
While the results of these standardized assessments have the potential to highlight areas of strength and growth towards mastery of standards and key focus skills, we have to take into consideration that the teachers have other authentic and meaningful ways to assess student learning. As always, It is important to keep in mind that standardized assessments are just one small data point in a child's learning and academic trajectory. Continue to work with your child’s teacher to learn the best ways to move his or her learning forward.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Apart from graduation activities, our PE, Art, Music and Spanish classes will conclude this week. Kindly pay close attention to communication from your teachers about end of the year assessments and celebrations.
For TK-7, we do still have this week and next week for academic programs, so encourage your students to focus and do their very best to finish the year strong. Many of your teachers may be scheduling some summative assessments to help inform grading and the plan for summer.
PLANNING FOR SUMMER
As you know, there are many opportunities for academic enrichment this summer including Camp Captivate and programs at local Catholic high schools. On June 1 at 6 P.M. there will be a Virtual Information Session. Register to attend http://bit.ly/DSJHSsummerprograms
For students in Grades TK-6, Summer@CKZ offers academics in the morning and an all-day camp. Learn more and register online:
PLANNING AHEAD FOR THE END OF THE YEAR
Wednesday, June 9 | Distance Learners Return School-Issued iPads and Textbooks
From 10:30-11 A.M., distance learners return school-issued iPads and Textbooks/Resources (non-consumables).
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.
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. You will be invoiced for any school issued iPads and textbooks not returned to school.
Thursday, June 10 | LAST DAY OF SCHOOL 11:30 dismissal
End of the year Prayer Service, 9 A.M. via Zoom
PTG leadership is planning a drive-by pick up of BBQ lunches at 11 A.M. before dismissal on June 10. (Students will be dismissed for pick up at 11:30 A.M. on Thursday, June 10 for the last day of school.) Stay tuned for details from Margarita Guizar and Katy Kerns.
In-person learners will bring home supplies and bins at pick up.
Car parade, 11:45-Noon
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.
PLANNING FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2021-22
For your planning purposes, the calendar grid for SY 2021-22 appears below. The dates will be added to the St. Clare School Public Google Calendar in the summer.
As always, I appreciate your kindness and your support as you continue to presume positive intentions, seek first to understand and know that all that we do is anchored in our mission to provide the foundation to prepare your children to be what God intended them to be.
With gratitude and humble appreciation for the gifts you are to me,
Mrs. Cecile Mantecon, Principal
A Big Thank To Our Jog-A-Thon Sponsors
AN IMPORTANT REMINDER: Office and Attendance Email Addresses
ATTENDANCE: stclare-attendance@dsj.org
GENERAL OFFICE QUESTIONS: stclare-office@dsj.org
You may also email any attendance issues or office-related questions to teresea.mckinnon@dsj.org. If you have any admissions, enrollment, finance or COVID designee issues, please email cherell.rizzo@dsj.org.
Remember to email any COVID-related concerns/issues to Ms. Cherell and Mrs. Mantecon (cecile.mantecon@dsj.org). Thank you for your help!
Important Dates to Remember
- 5/31 Memorial Day | No School
- 6/4 8th Grade Graduation
- 6/9 Bridging Ceremony, Farewell to Departing Teachers at Morning Assembly | 8:25 A.M.
- 6/10 Last Day of School, 11:30 dismissal | Free Dress
- 6/12 Thanksgiving Mass/Farewell to Sr. Ann Marie, 9:30 A.M.; car parade at 10:45 A.M.
- 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