Joyfully Embracing Our Mission
St. Clare School Family News | 28 February 2021
Love Your Enemies
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies,
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers and sisters only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
~ Matthew 5:43-48
Dear St. Clare School Families,
IN OBSERVANCE OF LENT
How is Lent being observed in your home? Have there been conversations about what one might do in order to fill the Rice Bowl? Has time been protected to talk about a change of heart that will last beyond Lent? Instead of giving up chocolates, why not encourage students to be kinder, gentler and have the courage to consider someone else’s needs before their own.
Recently, while helping students wash their hands, a student shared that friends were not being nice, using words that were hurtful and that this made him very sad. I offered some words of comfort and encouraged him to continue to be kind even if it’s hard. My next “customer” at the hand-washing sink was one of his friends, who, as if he was cued, talked about the incident, from his perspective. (All of a sudden, the hand-washing sink became a confessional of sorts!)
This student spoke about how he and others were frustrated because things weren’t going as they had agreed upon, and apparently, unkind words were uttered. The student acknowledged that he wasn’t being kind and that he wished the other child would have just done what was agreed upon. Again, I offered some encouraging words and congratulated him for the courage to speak about it and acknowledge his part in the incident.
As we were walking back to class, you could see about four of those who were “involved” worn for the wear and sad about what had transpired. Casually, I commented that it was a good thing that we have more time in the day to be kinder to one another and to fix our relationships with our friends. They looked at each other knowingly, and I knew that all will be well.
THE THIRD TRIMESTER BEGINS
We welcome back the remainder of the students who wish to be in person on Monday, March 1. We also welcome Mrs. Lewis back on campus to join the middle school team for the last trimester of the year. We are grateful to have been able to partner with one another for the safe return of our student body.
Teachers are busy finalizing the report of student progress that we will be sharing with you to reflect the growth in trimester two and some feedback on how to continue this growth through trimester three. Recognizing that we have been presented with challenges, we look to the different ways our students grew in their relationships with one another, in their ability to persevere and in their capacity to shift and pivot.
At home, carve out some time for students to self-reflect and give you an assessment of how well they did in these areas. Honing these soft skills--social emotional (social awareness, responsible decision making, self-awareness, self-management and relationship skills) and executive functioning skills (self-regulation, working memory, flexible thinking)--will prepare them to be even more resilient and to manage challenges more objectively, avoiding undue anxieties that get in the way of a healthy lifestyle. Some questions you might ask include “How did you handle a challenge?” “What was your response when someone said something that was untoward about you or about someone else?” “Did you experience a time when you had to check yourself--when you had to pause before responding to a question?”
In addition to learning core skills (reading for fluency for the lower grades, reading to understand and analyze for the upper grades; scaffolded math skills to prepare for the next level; learning writing structures for the lower grades and finding the writer’s voice for the upper grades) and content (subject areas), it is important to remind students of the privilege of being able to get a good education, a fundamental right that is not always accessible to many in our community, our nation and our world.
CELEBRATING JIM ROSS
As Msgr. Fran mentioned in his update, Jim Ross’ celebration of life was held at St. Clare. Sr. Ann Marie reports that many of our families whose children served as altar servers, trained by Jim, were present to pay their respects. It is heartwarming to know how much Jim has impacted the lives of many of our students and their families. We continue to pray for the repose of his soul and for comfort for his son. St. Clare School will be contributing towards the “bell tower” project that was started to honor Jim’s ministry and thank him for mentoring our altar servers.
IN ANTICIPATION OF MOVING INTO THE RED TIER
Santa Clara County could be moved into the Red Tier as soon as this coming Wednesday. Even so, our school will continue to adhere to the guidelines set forth for the safe reopening of schools. We thank you for your cooperation and your support in reinforcing the protocols with your students. We want to be able to hold out hope to be able to gather in person as more and more of the population gets vaccinated and we experience continued reduction of positive cases in our communities.
As always, minimize exposure by being mindful of the amount of time spent with people outside of your household and the area and the ventilation of the place wherein you gather. Let’s not let up on our commitment to keep each other safe.
LENTEN DRIVE: .one.love.march.2021 Campaign
Please pay close attention to communication from Katy Kerns regarding the joint effort from the SAC Mission and Catholic Identity Committee and PTG to engage our caring St. Clare School community in this year’s One Love Campaign for Human Development focusing on empowering and uplifting the underserved women in our community. Partnering with Casa de Clara and Heritage Home (through City Teams Ministries), our parents are leading the charge in our Lenten mission.
Christa Hanson, former director of the Learning and Loving Center will address the student body on the ministry that she led as an associate of the Sisters of the Presentation: to educate immigrant women and their preschool-aged children in South County. Please join us at the March 3rd Wellness Wednesday Assembly (8 A.M.). In addition, Sr. Ann Marie Dress will visit each classroom to speak about why it is everyone’s responsibility to advocate and pray for vulnerable women, women who are struggling and how this act is an act of solidarity: to stand in their shoes and to walk with them on their journey, just as Mary has done as the first and most faithful disciple of Christ.
In addition, Margarita Guizar, PTG President will be communicating the plans for a Food Insecurity home activity that challenges every St. Clare School family to learn more about what our Silicon Valley neighbors might be experiencing. When public schools closed down in the spring due to the pandemic, many families lost a critical lifeline that provided food to their children during the school day. This meant families had to come up with the funds to provide two meals a day, five days a week to their children who were home. Fortunately, Catholic Charities and the food pantry programs were able to pivot with drive through distributions until the school districts were able to get back up and running with their own drive through programs.
These challenges will continue to exist for families even after the pandemic, as the cost of living soars in the Bay Area. How can we help? Educating ourselves about these challenges and making this “our problem” is part of the solution. As Msgr. Fran asks for 100% participation in the ADA, I’d like to see 100% participation in this activity from our community: families and teachers, too! “If not now, then when? If not us, then who?”
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT
It looks like March Madness already!
Scholastic Book Fair virtually begins March 1 and ends March 12.
Jog-A-Thon T-Shirt Theme Design Contest begins. Our Virtual JAT is coming soon: SAVE the DATE!
PTG Meeting--all are invited! There are many opportunities for you to share your talents. Your meeting attendance fulfills your service hours commitment.
.one.love.march.2021 begins March 1.
March is Women’s History Month - learn about a woman in your life.
Join me for “A Cup with the Principal” on Thursday, March 4 at 6 P.M.
Volunteer for Yard Duty -- check out the post from Ms. Teresa
Easter Meal Kits from Modern Fine Catering (Gereld and Eloisa Angeles). Order by March 21. Flyer attached to the post.
An important reminder: our office@ and attendance@ email aliases are broken. Please 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.
As always, you can always email me: cecile.mantecon@dsj.org.
This past week, I chaired an accreditation visiting committee for Visitation Catholic School in the small rural town of Forest Grove, Oregon. The community reminded me of our St. Clare, with dedicated parents, a supportive and energetic pastor and hard working teachers who care about their students.
The school’s enrollment is 198 and the parish has 300 families. This “little engine that could” was able to raise $5M dollars in 3 years to build a new school building and they bring in $400,000 (yes, 5 zeroes) each year at their annual Sausage & Kraut Dinner ($180,000 goes to the school’s operating budget). Even during the pandemic, they grossed $300,000! Incredible! This reminded me of the Margaret Mead quote that hangs in my office:
Please continue to spread the good news that is St. Clare School and invite them to join our small group of thoughtful, committed citizens so that together, we can form students to change the world!
Here are some resources to form your faith during Lent:
- Lenten Reflections from Bishop Barron
- The Power of Pause by Terry Hershey
I hope your second week of Lent provides you with an opportunity for reconciliation.
When we choose love, when we acknowledge our own weakness, we are moving towards transformation. May our journey this Lent be one of love, even towards our worst enemies.
May we always have eyes to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!
Mrs. Cecile Mantecon, Principal
Scholastic Virtual Book Fair Starts Monday
A Colorful Thank You From Bright Starz
Middle School Welcomes A New Distance Learning Student
Bright Smiles
Important Dates Reminder
- 3/1-14 Scholastic Virtual Book Fair
- 3/1 .one.love.march begins
- 3/2 PTG Meeting | 6:30 P.M.
- 3/4 Cup With The Principal | 6:00 P.M.
- 3/5 Weekly School Mass 9:30 A.M.
- 3/12 Weekly School Mass | 9:30 A.M.
- 3/14 Daylight Savings Ends
- 3/15 Teacher In Service | No School
- 3/17 St. Patricks Day
- 3/18 Cup With The Principal | 6:00 P.M.
- 3/19 Weekly School Mass | 9:30 A.M.| Feast of St. Joseph
Hidden Talent Art
Hidden Talent Art program is now online and offers a variety of times throughout the week. We are offering St. Clare students one free art class. Email us directly at
mailto:info@HiddenTalentArtStudio.com if you are interested in a free class.
Google Public Calendar
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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