A Grateful Heart
Saint Clare School Family News | 8 January 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,
Happy Feast of the Epiphany! Traditionally celebrated on January 6, the U.S. Church celebrates the Epiphany on Sunday, January 8th. I hope you are able to celebrate this special day with us at Mass. On Monday, we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. As the students correctly identified at Friday’s school Mass, Jesus was baptized as a man in his 30s, in the River Jordan, by his cousin John the Baptist.
SIXTH GRADERS COME HOME SAFELY FROM CAMP CAMPBELL
Out of an abundance of caution, Santa Cruz County evacuated Camp Campbell on Wednesday afternoon due to the threat of heavy rains which may cause downed power lines and trees. Mr. Lin and the staff of Camp Campbell acted swiftly and cooperatively to get our students on a bus back to campus by 4 P.M. Although sad to have to cut their outdoor school experience short, the students and their parents were happy to be reunited. We thank Mr. Lin and the Santa Cruz County emergency team for keeping our students’ safety at the forefront. We hope to find other opportunities for the Class of 2025 to experience this fully at a later time.
CONTINUED WEATHER EVENTS
Rain is in the forecast for most of the coming week. Please note that if it is drizzling at 7:45A, middle school students are dropped off in the middle school. The students did an amazing job this week when we have had to stay in for recess and lunch. Kudos to them and to their teachers for being patient and understanding that we have to stay in due to inclement weather. Continue to speak with them about the patience needed as we experience more rain this week. Whenever it is safe to do so, students will spend recess and lunch outdoors. Our teachers and students are very familiar with our rainy day protocols, and are experts at pivoting. I’m very proud of how well they have adjusted.
FACULTY COLLABORATION DAY: 17 January | NO SCHOOL, NO CKZ
As we have noted on the calendar that was first shared with the school community in April of 2022, has been included in every newsletter since, and can be accessed in ParentSquare, Tuesday, January 17 is one of the four Faculty Collaboration Days designated by the Department of Catholic Schools as a full-day for teachers to learn and grow. Research has shown that the amount of time protected for teachers to learn from each other and to prepare effective instructional opportunities for students have the greatest impact on student learning. Thank you for allowing us the time to grow in order that your students may experience growth. Please plan accordingly as our CKZ team will be joining us in collaborating to review our accreditation Action Plan on this day.
We hope that during this 4-day weekend, you take a moment to pause on January 16 to remember the sacrifices made by those who continue to work against injustices. We especially recognize and honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for his leadership in the Civil Rights Movement, and for showing us the example that this work needs to continue until we truly “see” each other as brothers and sisters. Unfortunately, the work is still relevant and necessary, fifty-five years later.
DIOCESAN SYNOD
Msgr. Fran, alumni parents Cyndi Banaag and John Sullivan, current parent Jerome Alabado, Mr. Goetz, and I will represent Saint Clare at the Diocesan Synod General Assembly to be held at Santa Clara University the evening of Friday, January 27 until Sunday, January 29. Your participation at the listening sessions and your response to the survey have been synthesized and categorized. The delegates from parishes and schools throughout the diocese will gather to discuss the topics you have identified, and will work together to make recommendations to the Bishop and the Synod’s Steering Committee. To learn more about our diocesan synod, visit: https://www.dsj.org/diocesan-synod/
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCED AT PTG MEETING
At Thursday’s PTG Meeting and in a subsequent post, president Katy Kerns outlined upcoming community-building events for the remainder of the school year. If you were here last year, you remember our efforts to try to “make up for lost time” by creating many opportunities for our community to gather once we were allowed to do so. This year, we scheduled events as close to how they were before the pandemic. Those of you who were at Saint Clare before the pandemic, you will be happy to see events we have not been able to have for a couple of years back on the calendar. As Katy mentioned at the meeting and in the post, these events are not possible without your leadership.
We know there are many who will be there to lend a hand. However, we need leaders to step up to plan. Last year, because we didn’t get clearance to be able to gather sooner, Natalia Cuenca was able to very successfully organize an in-person Scholastic Book Fair and Ice Cream Social. Julie Lam and Haddy Tapia-Clark took on the Talent Showcase with great enthusiasm, resulting in a joyful celebration.
At a recent focus group, the Meitler consultants heard that there is a great desire to get to know each other and to build community. With gratitude and thanksgiving that we are once again able to provide opportunities for engagement, we prayerfully ask you to consider leading one of the upcoming events. We will put you in touch with someone who can give you some direction and provide the background from past events.
Please reach out to PTG leadership or to Ms. McKinnon, our Office Manager and Mrs. Rizzo, our Recruitment, Retention, and Marketing Manager. Thank you for considering this request.
(To find the events on the Saint Clare School calendar, simply search for ‘EVENT’ (no ‘S’) and the list of upcoming events will appear. Here is the LINK to access the public calendar.)
ACADEMIC NEWS
Your classroom teachers are updating you weekly regarding the academic learning happening in each classroom. Soon, you will be seeing academic updates from our Vice Principal, Mrs. Kogura. Mrs. Kogura works with Baik Hoh, chair of the SAC Committee on Academic Excellence, and our teacher leaders to ensure our programs and practices are innovative, engaging, and responsive to the needs of all learners. Topics of the updates will include data-informed instructional practices, teacher professional development, programs and methodologies that enhance STREAM (science, technology, religion, engineering, art, and mathematics) education like the use of design-thinking principles, and the case for academic rigor. We are looking forward to presenting to you the many ways we prepare our Saint Clare students to become innovative critical-thinkers and moral and ethical servant leaders.
PARENT LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM
On Saturday, January 21, from 9-11A, we will gather representatives from leadership groups to review our WCEA Self-Study in preparation for our accreditation visit in March. Invitations will be sent out this week.
Your input and engagement in the self-study process as shareholders are critical to the continued success of our beloved Saint Clare. In February and March, you will get an opportunity to learn more about our Self-Study and the Action Plan Goals identified as a result.
THE NEXT “A CUP WITH THE PRINCIPAL” | 19 January 2023 6-7P via Zoom
It is encouraging to see 48+ individuals who consistently RSVP for the PTG meetings. This week, you will receive an invitation to RSVP to our next “A Cup…” The focus will be on giving you the information you need to learn about the Tuition Agreement and Tuition Rate for the 2023-2024 school year. As we have done for the past few years, the Tuition Agreement will be sent home for you to sign and return to signify your desire to re-enroll at Saint Clare School. I hope to see all of you there.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ
As it takes hours for me to prepare the information for you, I am grateful to you for taking the time to read the information contained here. I hope this is helpful to you and that if you do not find what you seek, you will reach out to me or to the school office. I am grateful to the 100 or so who do this with consistency. If you know someone who does not read the newsletter, kindly encourage them to do so as it contains many of the information they call or email to ask about. Again, it is this commitment to partner that brings about community. Thank you!
Again, I am grateful for the investment you are making in the lives of the children that we serve. We can’t do this without your 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
January 19: “A Cup with the Principal” from 6-7P | RSVP int the post to come!
January 21: Leadership Symposium, 9-11A | RSVP for those receiving an invitation
Catholic Schools Week Mass, Pancake Breakfast and Open House on Sunday, January 29.
February 8: Annual Lunar New Year festivities. Please respond to the request to lead this event. See the ORIGINAL POST
February 9: WCEA Pre-Visit
March 15-17, 202: WCEA Visit
May 1, 2023: 2nd Annual Golf Tournament | Boulder Ridge Golf Club
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).
May Christ’s light be your guide to see God in all things on this journey of discovery!
With a grateful heart,
Mrs. Cecile Mantecon, Principal
Our Little TK Scientists "Saving" Arctic Animals
IMPORTANT DATES TO NOTE
Scroll down for the calendar grid and the links to the public calendar
- January 8: Epiphany of the Lord
- January 9: Baptism of the Lord
- January 16: NO SCHOOL, NO CKZ: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- January 17: NO SCHOOL, NO CKZ: Teacher In-Service Day
- January 19: A Cup with the Principal, 6P
- January 21: Leadership Symposium, invitations to come
- January 23: Graduation Photos, info to come (Class of 2023)
- January 25: Tuition Agreements DUE to the office
- January 27-29: Diocesan Synod at Santa Clara University
- January 29: Catholic Schools Week Mass at 10:30A; Open House at 9A; Pancake Breakfast after all Masses
- January 29-February 3: Catholic Schools Week
- February 5: Re-Enrollment DUE in TADS
- February 8: Lunar New Year Celebration | 8:00A-9:00A
- March 9: Sock Hop TK-6 | 5:00p-7:00P
- March 20-March 24: Scholastic Book Fair
- March 22: Ice Cream Social | 3:00P-5:30P
A BIG Thank You to this Year's Jog-a-thon Sponsors
Attendance Impacts Learning
Early Literacy Resources from Harvard Global Family Research Project
2022-23 School Calendar
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