Volume VII, Summerr 2008 Sts. Simon & Jude Catholic School Huntington Beach, California

Founded on the Franciscan faith...

Preserved with parent pride...

Sustained by staff and student spirit...

“A picture is worth a thousand words…”

Fr. Michael Harvey, O.F.M. Fr. Christian Mondor, O.F.M.

Fr. Dan Lackie, O.F.M. Sr. Maureen Sheehan, B.V.M.

Fr. Tran Nguyen, O.F.M.

Fr. Dan and Fr.Michael celebratetheir 50th birth-days with a spe-cial song.

Michael McCormick, Corey Nerhus, PatrickMcCormick, Dylan Lybarger and AndrewLytle prove how much fun waiting in line forthe rides can be at the Fall Festival.

Sarah and Jacob Rojek make sure theirbeloved pet, Triton, receives an extra hug afterthe the “Blessing of the Animals” in October.

The O’Brien family can attest that “Trunk-or-Treat” is for all ages! Jennifer O’Brien and herchildren (l to r): Darren, Delaney and Darcy,pose briefly before filling their candy bags!

We count our blessings for the wonderfulfour decades Sts. Simon & Jude School hasserved our parish community.

In this edition of the “Spirit” newsletter, wehave compiled a photo album to showcase avignette of many of the activities enjoyedduring our 40th Anniversary year.

Please accept our gratitude for all theinvolvement and resources you’ve shared withour students and families. Whether it was

something as simple as contributing a singlebag of candy for “Trunk-or-Treat,” a fabu-lous donation to our “Silent Auction,” or anafternoon spent volunteering in the class-room, we appreciate the gift that is YOU!

So sit back, relax, and stroll down memorylane with us as we share with you

“A Year in the Life of Sts.Simon & Jude School!”

These ghostly goblins from the fifth gradeenjoy a few spooky Halloween snacks dur-ing “Trunk-or-Treat.”

Kindergartners Michael McCormick,Corey Nerhus, Patrick McCormick, DylanLybarger and Andrew Lytle groove withthe 60s theme on the 40th day of schoolcelebration, “A Blast From the Past!”

In a special tribute to “The Beatles,” thirdgrade students Chase Foreman, DylanAlacantara, Keegan Coleman and MateoRivera rock ‘n roll to the tune of “Twistand Shout.”

Fourth grade students taught the assemblyabout television programs that were popu-lar in 1967. Can you recognize the castfrom “I Dream of Jeannie?”

Mrs. Patty Chasteler and the seventh grade class pose with an “out-a-sight” 1967Mustang. The Hargreaves family shared their “vintage ride” with the school for the day’sspecial celebration.

The second grade class lines up in ColmanHall for their presentation of the classictale, “Stone Soup,” followed by the deli-cious meal depicted in the story. Cast members of the Christmas Pageant,

“Believe,” surround little Isabella YbarraWebb, who portrayed the role of the baby Jesus.

Mariah Murga, Hannah Heydorff, Sonja Schlobohm and Danielle Rini pause brieflyduring the sixth grade field trip to Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park in November.

Ciara Corbett Browne takes time to enjoya variety of very green snacks during theSt. Patrick’s Day party in kindergarten.

Volunteer parents were the key to making our school retreat, “Journey With Jesus,” ahuge success. Top row: Mr. Halverson, Mrs. Hughes, Mrs. Nalty, Mrs. O’Hara, Mr.Saeman, Mrs. Shively, Mrs. Velardi. Front row: Mr. Higa, Mrs. Karcher-Hayden.

Miss Domenici’s 3A students celebrate “Read Across America Day,” a national programheld annually on Dr. Seuss’ birthday. The students show off their special ears modeledafter the story, “Horton Hears a Who.”

Miss Domenici’s 3A students celebrate“Read Across America Day,” a nationalprogram held annually on Dr. Seuss’ birth-day. The students show off their specialears modeled after the story, “HortonHears a Who.”

Mrs. Mullins, retreat coordinator, and Fr.Dan Lackie enjoy the spirit of the day

Eighth graders use teamwork to build ahuman pyramid at the retreat. From top tobottom pictured are: Paige Catton,Savhannah McClafferty, Sydney Strabala,Victoria Coutinho,Natalie Clarke and Tiana Kiriaki.

Second grader, Alexandra Henry, enjoys anoutdoor activity during the retreat.

Always a heart-warming event, the fourthgrade “Mother’s Day Tea” is eagerly antici-pated by both the moms and the students.Mrs. Traci Heydorff and her son, Luke,enjoy time together at the tea.

Sarah Beringer and her mother, Mrs.Marianne Beringer, take pleasure in thedelightful surroundings at the fourth grade“Mother’s Day Tea.”

Natalie VanTilborg and Emily Mullinsproudly model their authentic earlyAmerican costumes during the secondgrade “Old Fashioned Day” event.

Room 3A shows support for our troops! Pictured above (the tall one!) in the center isSpecialist Ryan Magnino of the United States Army. Last September, the students andRyan became pen pals. They were treated to a “surprise guest appearance” in their class-room when Ryan was home on leave.

Meredith Saeman and Davis Hombrecherwear their Sunday best to assist with theMay Crowning celebration.

A group of second grade students carry flowers in honor of our Blessed Mother at theMay Crowning..

The first grade boys’ relay team, Cole Kleha, Kyle Briggs, GarretHemphill, and Michael Riley, practice their “handoff ” before thebig race at the annual PAL Track Meet.

Sarah Riley runs the 100 meter race tobring home a 2nd place victory at the PALTrack Meet.

Maureen McLandrich, Nica Taglieri, Alyssa Ross, and ErinHanson warm up for the big race.

Mrs. Andrews and Mrs. Tiedt line up the entire kindergarten classfor the traditional “Alphabet Parade.”

Our Dolphin Cheer Squad celebrates another victory at theKnott’s Berry Farm competition!

Kate Baker Angelovic, Luke Galardo, andLeah Galardo pose for an alumni portrait

Alex Scurr, SSJ graduate of the class of1999, recently completed a four-monthtour and life guarding assignment in NewZealand as a participant in theCalifornia/New Zealand LifeguardExchange.

After a lengthy selection process, Alex waschosen over many qualified candidates tocross train with the New Zealand life-guards. For the past eight years, Alex has

The “alumni conga line” weaves its waythrough the 400+ guests during the reception.

With the SSJ Student Art Show displayedin the background, the alumni enjoy theirrekindled friendships in Colman Hall.

After reuniting at the SSJ Alumni Reception, members from the class of 1985 enjoy afirst-day-of-summer beach bonfire. Left to right: Rochelle, Shelly, Ray, Alison, Robert,Paul, Mike, Sheila and Kellie.

Our first ever Alumni Reception was a resounding success with over 400 in attendance.Take a moment to log on to: http://www.pictage.com/445946to view the delightful photographs taken by our professional photographer and alumna,Michelle Castellano.

To be placed in our alumni database and receive notification of future events, pleasesend your name, address, and email information to:Kathleen Domenici, Alumni Relations RoseMum8211@aol.com

been a seasonal lifeguard and JuniorLifeguard instructor for Newport Beach. Inaddition to learning the ways of the NewZealand guards, he became certified on theinflatable rescue boats used so frequentlyalong the rocky, reef laden coastline that isso vastly different from southernCalifornia’s coastlines. An essential compo-nent of this exchange program is to enablelifeguards to learn new techniques and takethis knowledge back to their homeland.

“Alumnus Saves Lives Down Under!”While piggybacking the best Kiwi life-guards all along the New Zealand coast,Alex was also able to maneuver some recre-ational surfing in between! Since the sum-mer New Zealand sun sets well after 9:00P.M., there was plenty of opportunity torock climb, bungee jump, train in helicop-ter rescues, and compete in lifeguard con-tests, a huge aspect of New Zealand’s life-guard culture.

Alex Scurr (left), graduate of the class of1999, recently completed a four-monthtour and lifeguarding assignment in NewZealand as a participant in theCalifornia/New Zealand LifeguardExchange.

A BeautifulBeginning for aBeautiful Ballerina! Tyler Donatelli, a 6th grade student at Sts.Simon & Jude School, has been dancingsince the very tender age of 3. Tyler beganher formal dance training at Southland BalletAcademy in Fountain Valley at the age of 5.

So, if you’re out enjoying the fun and sunon the beach in Newport this summer,look around for our “international life-guard” alumnus! Alex summed up his epicencounter by saying, “It was the mostrewarding experience of my life… onethat I will surely never forget. Lifeguardingin New Zealand is very different, and theskills I have learned while abroad havealready proved useful lifeguarding at homethis summer.”

This past January, representatives from theKirov Academy of Ballet in WashingtonD.C. came to Southland Ballet Academy andheld auditions for their Summer IntensiveProgram. They were so impressed with whatthey saw that Tyler was invited to attendtheir Summer Intensive Program, and wasalso awarded a scholarship! Tyler will be leav-ing for Washington D.C. this summer whereshe will live on campus and dance up toeight hours a day, six days a week, for threeweeks. In her spare time, she will participatein field trips all over our nation's capital.

Tyler’s resume speaks volumes, both for herexperience, and for her excellence. Tyler andher duet partner, Mariah Vega (also ofSouthland Academy), entered into the semi-finals for the Youth American Grand Prixlast February. Over 4000 students audi-tioned for the semi-finals that were conduct-ed in nine major U.S. metropolitan areas,Japan, Mexico, Italy and Brazil. Tyler andMariah were two of the 477 ensemble mem-bers, and 360 solo members, selected for theYouth American Grand Prix Finals in NewYork City. The girls traveled to New Yorkthis past April, and competed alongsidedancers from throughout the United Statesand 26 other countries!

Tyler and Mariah also competed in theSpotlight Dance Competition in Long Beachwhere they not only won First Place in theircategory, but also First Place overall!Additionally, they received a special JudgesAward entitled "Most InspirationalDancers." These highly talented youngladies also competed in the StarboundDance Competition in Manhattan Beach.The girls earned High Gold, which is FirstPlace in their category, and First Place over-all. The final competition of the year wasthe Showstoppers Dance Competition at theDisneyland Hotel during Memorial Dayweekend. While many of us were lazilyenjoying that 3-day weekend, Tyler andMariah entered the Junior Duet/Trio divi-sion, where their “Black Pearl” performanceearned them a “platinum” score, as well asFirst Place in their category!

We are very proud of Tyler’s many accom-plishments, and we wish her well in herfuture endeavors. When she becomes aworld-famous ballerina, we will be able tosay, “We never doubted it for a minute!”

Sts. Simon & Jude Catholic School20400 Magnolia StreetHuntington Beach, California 92646

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

The “Spirit” Newsletter is published bi-annually and is always looking for new and exciting information. The Spirit contains articles about events, people and interest to the school that are not discussed in the weekly “Tuesday Communication.” If you have a topic of interest or would like to write an article for this publication, please submit it to the school for consideration. As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a

thousand words,” so photos describing the article must be included with a submittal. All submittals may be sent via email to csmith@ssj.org or brought into the school office.

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Alumni NewsAre you an Alumni of SSJ? Let us know what you are doing. Sendyour news to SSJ Alumni Association c/o Sts. Simon & Jude School,20400 Magnolia Street,, Huntington Beach, CA 92646

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