Welcome to the seventy-seventh edition of the

Panther Press,

a biweekly electronic newsletter sent to families and friends of 

San Joaquin Memorial High School.

Friendly Reminder: When opening this newsletter in your email please make sure you click on the "View entire message" link at the end of the email message!

Book your 2023 Paris Trip Today (5/31/2023) at Current Price!

For more detailed information about this trip please visit  www.worldstrides.com/enroll and put in the trip ID: Frye-0619

Visit the Senior Highlights page on our website! CONGRATULATIONS Class of 2023!

Senior Send-off Assembly Full Video

SJMHS The Show 2023 Video

Are you planning on doing rewarding service projects over the summer... Please share pictures and a short write-up to highlight your work on Panther Press and Social Media! Email Mr. Gutierrez at ggutierrez@sjmhs.org

Mary's Grotto Renovation is Complete!

The newly renovated Mary's Grotto has been completed in its existing location on campus.

As we previously shared on another Panther Press Sofia Fanucchi '23 inspired her family to undertake this project to transform our Grotto, in order to make it a place for people on campus to pray and pay devotion to the Blessed Mother. Sofia is a third generation graduate of Memorial. Over the past months Sofia met with Mr. Burke, SJM President and Landscape Architect and SJM Alumni, Gabby Golik to create a place where everyone can come to pray to our Blessed Mother. The beautification project began the moment we received five 87 year old olive trees from The Fanucchi Family ranch. 

In the renovated Mary's Grotto guests are able to light a candle, and place an offering of roses. Teachers will be able to use this area for prayer services or class a lot more. With Mary's Grotto current location visitors who enter our campus through the north side will instantly know that we are a Catholic school. 

The renovated Grotto incorporates several areas for worship, spaces for someone to obtain and light a candle, a rose cutting garden in order to cut roses to place in the Grotto, an area for sitting and kneeling.

Students, staff, faculty and guests will be able to sit around Mary's Grotto to pray and have a silent moment of devotion with Mary. Guests will feel Her presence and be able to be quiet and reflect upon their thoughts with Our Lady. We anticipate this area being utilized a lot more than before.

Some Members of our Faculty Attended the Solution Tree - Assessment Center Institute in Las Vegas, NV

Some of our Memorial teachers attended the Solution Tree - Assessment Center Institute in Las Vegas last week. The conference took place at Planet Hollywood Hotel/Casino. 

Since 1998, Solution Tree has worked to transform education worldwide by empowering educators to raise student achievement. With more than 48,962 educators attending professional learning events and more than 5,500 professional development days in schools each year, Solution Tree helps teachers and administrators confront essential challenges. Solution Tree has a catalog of more than 500 titles, hundreds of videos and online courses and is the creator of Global PD, an online tool that facilitates the work of professional learning communities for more than 20,000 educators.

We look forward to seeing how our teachers will apply what they learned next year inside the classroom.

S Club Welcomed New Board for the 2023-2024 School Year!

San Joaquin Memorial's very own service club, “S Club”, is a club where individuals come together to volunteer and serve their community. This past week we had to say goodbye to our beloved senior members who were able to pass their torch of knowledge and experience to new incoming board members. We are excited to share this photo that represents our commitment to service and leadership. Our values of integrity, dedication, and compassion guide our service encourage all those around us to make differences in the lives around them. In the following year, we hope to guide and promote this club to new incoming students of Memorial and allow them to find and continue with the positivity this club has to offer. 

NHHS Holds Senior Ceremony

Front Row: L to R: Lily Armas, Mande Puente, Lea Verni, Audrey Rickelman, Eryn Protacio,

Madison Douty, Gemma Mowatt, Natalie Gonzalez, Ella Triplett, Lexie Kendall; Back row, L to R:

Gio Provenzano, Adrian Petrascu, Sam Mendes, Jacob Zarate, Nicole Lanfranco, Ava Jahromi,

Abby Burkhart, Jacob DeSousa, Alex Bryan, Nick Safadi. (Not Pictured, Gabby Heuring, Charlotte

Burks)

The National History Honors Society held its Senior Ceremony on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Twenty-four seniors were honored for their active participation in NHHS. According to the national organization, the National History Club, each chapter may award a red graduation cord if the student has been an active member for at least two years, have enrolled in at least two AP/Honors courses in the humanities, attended at least one field trip per year, maintained a 3.25 unweighted GPA, and achieved a 70% rating in points earned for the course of each member’s tenure in the club. Incoming club president, Araxi (Roxie) Richburg, emceed the event that was highlighted by keynote speaker, Mr. Edward Borges, former principal of SJM. Mr. Borges primarily taught AP European History and AP US History before transitioning into administration in San Francisco and continued to teach these subjects at SJM; he is also the founding moderator of NHHS. The National History Club also designates one student from each of its chapters to receive a Student of the Year award as suggested by the chapter moderator, Mr. Joseph Oliveras. In the past, Elliott Nerenberg, Margaret Smith, Catherine Gleason, and Mia Fisher earned this award; this year the award went to outgoing President Charlotte Burks. Sam Mendes was also honored as the most active club member.

NHHS Elects 23-24 Officers

23-24 NHHS Executive Committee: Seated, L to R: Analiese Gutierrez, Secretary; Roxie Richburg, President; Michael Trahan, Vice-President; Standing, L to R: Alan Erickson, Senior Representative; Arden Spencer, Treasurer; Veer Patel; Historian; Elizabeth Douty, Junior Representative

The membership of the national award-winning National History Honors Society elected their new officers in late April. During the past year, the SJM chapter of the National History Club had 114 dues paying members and over 90 active members. The new executive team will meet during the summer month’s to plan next year’s activities.

SJM's Annual Baccalaureate Mass

On Tuesday, May 16, 2023 San Joaquin Memorial High School celebrated the Annual Baccalaureate Mass at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. The mass was celebrated by Bishop Joseph V. Brennan. It was a very special evening for all of the graduates. Thank you to everyone who made it a wonderful night for the seniors and their families. 

To view more photos please click on the following link.

2023 Spring Fling Drawing to Support the Fund for San Joaquin Memorial!

Scan the QR code above to Support the Fund for San Joaquin Memorial! 

The San Joaquin Memorial community has come together like we do every year to support The Fund for San Joaquin Memorial!

This exciting annual giving campaign will take place from now until June 2, 2023! The $5,000 cash prize drawing will take place on June 2, 2023 at 1 pm.

The Fund for San Joaquin Memorial is the school’s annual giving campaign. It is the vehicle by which alumni, parents, parents of alumni, grandparents and friends provide financial support to help keep Memorial strong.

All gifts to the Fund for San Joaquin Memorial have an enormous impact on Memorial’s ability to enhance its standards of excellence in teaching, scholarships, student development and facilities. Your annual gifts fuel the success of this school and touch every aspect of our students’ experience.

Specifically, your gift to The Fund for San Joaquin Memorial will:

Provide tuition assistance and scholarships to deserving students – making an education at San Joaquin Memorial possible for more young men and women.

Contribute to the cutting-edge technology, lab equipment and other state-of-the-art learning tools used in the classroom.

Instill in students a deep awareness of God’s presence in their lives through a dynamic Campus Ministry program.

Give students an extraordinary and enriching experience that they will treasure for a lifetime.

With a gift of any size you are helping Memorial stay faithful to its mission and continue building tomorrow’s leaders.

In order to support from this newsletter you can do so by one of 2 ways:

1) Scan the QR code below and it will take you directly to the page to support Memorial

3) Visit the link to donate

2023-24 Transportation Fee Schedule

Fresno Chamber of Commerce Junior Board Graduation!

The Fresno Chamber of Commerce core objectives include: promoting a strong local economy, providing opportunities to network and build relationships, deliver programs to help businesses grow, represent and advocate on behalf of business and enhance commerce through community stewardship.

These goals are accomplished through our Chamber committees, including the Junior Board, which provides members and stakeholders with the opportunity to participate and provide input on key issues.

The members of the Junior Board learned how to become leaders in sustaining the business environment and had the opportunity to see how changes affect our schools, neighborhoods and community.

They also learned how to conduct meetings, outreach, public speaking, group decision-making, develop project ideas, project management and implementation.

Brandon Ramirez '23 is Recognized as a B'nai B'rith Nominee!

On Monday May 22, 2023 Brandon Ramirez was recognized at the 72nd Annual Student Athlete Award Program as a Recipient of the B'nai B'rith Award. He shared with us the following: "Being nominated for this prestigious award made me feel accomplished. I was honored to be selected for this award and represent San Joaquin Memorial High School. I would like to thank my mom, dad and family. Also want to thank Mr. Goston, Mr. Ferdinandi, all the teachers and coaches who have helped me along the way."

Congratulations Brandon and best of luck in all your future endeavors!

WELCOME to all of our New Coaches to Memorial!

Spring Final Exams Schedule

Donate SJM Clothes!

Attention Parents of 2023 Graduates,

If you do not have younger students at SJM and have no further need for your SJM uniforms, especially Mass attire, please consider contributing clothing that is in good or better condition back to the school. We have several families with financial need who would benefit.

SJM will provide you, upon request, a receipt for tax purposes. You may drop off donations in the Campos building, at the front desk, or contact Lisa Jones at ljones@sjmhs.org to make arrangements for drop off/pick up. Thank you for considering this request.

On behalf of SJM's staff, it has been a pleasure to work with you the last four years. Have a great final month and best wishes as you prepare for college. God Bless you and your family.

Yearbook Plus

We have a new feature at the end of the yearbook called Yearbook Plus. It allows anyone with a yearbook to access photos digitally from events that couldn't be included due to deadlines. You only need to scan the QR code, then the trigger image of what you want to see. 

Join SJM's Parent Guild! 

Why join the SJM Parent Guild?

One of the many reasons parents in the Central Valley choose to send their children to San Joaquin Memorial High School is the community of fantastic families and their quality of character.

Like-minded parents and staff that share in the moral development, catholic faith and ethical standards of children - THIS is what sets SJM apart from other schools in the area.

The best way to participate in and contribute to that community is to join the SJM Parent Guild because you'll:

•Get to know parents, staff, and students!

•Be “in the know” for all campus activities!

•Parent Guild brings the fun and it’s the best way to get your mandatory parent hours!

To learn more go here. 

 Click here to  Donate to SJM!