ABOUT ST. MEL SCHOOLDearest St. Mel Parish School Family, We hope that you have found rest, experienced a bit of peace, read a good book or two, saw an exciting movie, traveled to visit family or just to see the world, laughed a lot, and really just enjoyed your summer. It is with great enthusiasm, optimism, hope, and pride that we welcome you to the 2007-2008 academic year. We are grateful for the warm welcome you have given us and we plan to return the favor many times over. It has been said that good, honest, and righteous character is a function of the home. If the proper seed is sown there and properly nourished for a few years, it will not be easy for that plant to be uprooted. It is apparent that the proper seeds have been sown. You have developed deep in your children’s hearts, minds, and souls the desire to succeed, the will to persevere, and the need to help others. In the words of Abbé Louis Bautain, the founder of the Sisters of St. Louis, you have given the young children under your direction your care and affection. You have touched their hearts by the care you have shown them. As teachers and administrators, we never discount the incredible influence you as parents have on your child’s education. Our philosophy states that we recognize that you as parents have the primary responsibility to educate your children. In partnership with you and the larger St. Mel community, the faculty and staff endeavor to develop all students’ spiritual, academic, social, emotional, physical, and creative potential. Your support reinforces our efforts in the classroom. By working in cooperation with you, we aim to help our students understand that they are in the process of becoming who they are to be. We strive to instill in the students the awareness of fundamental meanings and realities beyond the content of the subjects they study. It is our belief that strong parental involvement and positive support is the key to the success of your children’s education. Together, we are all committed to striving for excellence in all curricular and co-curricular areas. We are grateful for you and for your efforts. Beginning in kindergarten, the students of St. Mel Parish School are introduced to the teachings of Jesus Christ and the purpose of His mission: to invite all to enter the kingdom…and reach salvation. The purpose of a Catholic education is to bring Christ to all and all to Christ. St. Mel Parish School is an excellent Catholic school and is widely known for its highly spiritual, academic, athletic, and artistic excellence. Besides all these wonderful attributes, St. Mel has been known throughout the surrounding areas as a strong, supportive, and positive community. It is an environment in which we are committed to helping our neighbors in times of conflict, tragedy, and disaster, and celebrating with each other in times of triumph and joy. As role models to the students of St. Mel, we must continue to embrace our sense of community and come together to celebrate our heritage and success! We are so very impressed with all that you have accomplished, and it is very heartwarming to hear of the progress St. Mel has made over the years. We have a great heritage here and our school is about to celebrate 50 wonderfully faith-filled, successful years. As written in the August 12th parish bulletin, St. Mel owes much of its success to the Monsignors who served and inspired the thousands of students who attended the school. Many of you were students here at St. Mel and witnessed Monsignor Michael O’Connor (1955 - 1984) kick a ball 100 feet in the air and interact with his students. Some even heard Monsignor John Naughton (1984 -1990) deliver a powerful and inspiring sermon and sit down with you privately to reminisce about a funny story, and all of you have experienced the gentleness and sincerity of Monsignor Padraic Loftus (1990 - 2007). We have so much to be grateful for and so much to carry with us as we move into the future. The other day Sr. Miguel O’Reilly, who used to teach first grade, came to visit the school. It was an absolute blessing and it brought back so many wonderful memories of the strong and courageous women who encouraged so many of us to be the best students and teachers we could possibly be. Sr. Monica Quigley, who served as principal from 1994 to 2000, sends us her love and best wishes. She is doing remarkably well and is residing at the convent at Louisville High School. Sr. Therese Byrne, who taught thousands of students during her thirty years of service, is visiting family in Ireland and has wished us all a successful and peaceful year. Sr. Patricia McGahan, who served as principal from 1975 to1982, is returning to Corpus Christi Elementary School to give guidance to the administration, faculty, and staff, and has sent us blessings of peace and grace. Sr. Frances Leonard, St. Mel principal from 1982 to 1994, is also residing at Louisville High School and continues to offer her wisdom and support for our school. Sr. Bridget Flannery, who served as principal from 2000 to 2001, resides in Ireland. Sr. Claude Lynch, a former first grade teacher, is ecstatic about the wonderful possibilities that St. Mel has to look forward to in the future. Sr. Maria Goretti Crowley, who taught 6th grade here at St. Mel, is serving Louisville as the Sophomore Guidance Counselor and still remains a constant supporter of St. Mel Parish and School. Finally, Sr. Mary Monica Campbell, who shared her gifts and talents as a one of the best second grade teachers St. Mel has ever seen, resides in Malibu where she serves the community of Our Lady of Malibu School. Beginning in 1958, the Sisters of St. Louis served St. Mel Parish School for nearly half a century with grace, dignity, strength, great faith and devotion, and most significantly unconditional love. The Sisters of St. Louis have provided our community with a wonderful charism. It is our goal to carry this charism as well as many traditions of our heritage with us as we lead St. Mel to an exciting and positive future. We hope that all of you will join us in a common vision to “bring Christ to all and all to Christ.” We have a great legacy here at St. Mel Parish School. Many alumni are now proud parents and grandparents of students enrolled in the school. We have alumni who have returned to teach at St. Mel because of the many blessings they received as students. Most importantly, life-long friendships have been made between classmates that attended this fine institution over the last 50 years. This summer we have made some wonderful additions to an already fabulous faculty and staff, many of whom have served our community over the last 30 years: Jennifer Bors – 7th grade homeroom, Math, and Science Patricia Ramos – 3rd grade Religion and Reading Specialist Ashley Reagan – 3rd grade Carly Sandell – 5th grade Meghan Sheehan – 6th grade We have also been blessed to have Fr. Larry Neumeier, a graduate of Alemany High School and a Southern California native, join Fr. Benedict Anthony at our parish. When you return to campus you will find many improvements. Because of contributions and donations from parish and school families, St. Mel has been able to make exciting strides forward in the areas of science and technology. There are two new science labs located in the 6th and 7th grade classrooms. The 6th grade students will now have lockers to store their books and supplies. The Computer Lab has been wonderfully transformed with 38 new computers and furniture. All classrooms now have a SMARTboard and SMARTboard technology and software, and teachers in kindergarten through fifth grade have received iMac laptops and have been busy mastering the software and programs. Finally, there have been repairs to the flooring of the Art Room, Room Q, and the foyer outside the auditorium. We offer our heartfelt thanks to Rosemary McLarty, Bernie Crowley, Fr. Benedict Anthony, Chris & Cindy Venuti, Leslie Welther, Tom O’Malia, Norman Roberts, Dick DeBlois, Ray Bennett, Phyllis Schneider, Sr. Patricia Arnold, Arlene Connors, Joy Holland, Nancy Bolger, Francesco Alleruzzo, Pat Andre, Gina Stumpf, Cathy Genders, Camryn Connelly, Betty Peikert, Berna McConnellogue, Barbara Krueger, Jose Hernandez, Raul Hernandez, Hector Ulloa, Joyce Cluess, Cindy Ludwig, Debbie Watrobski, Barbara Novotney, Judy Ingraffia, Debbie Andrade, Paul Faris, Monica Grombacher, Jeanne Gorman, Dara Keefer, Kim Hargraves, Claire Raft, Lisa Magnone, Kristin Clink, Robin Hawley, Tiffany Patierno, Matt & Katherine Luderer, Nick & Amy Kearin, Erik and Molly Jancis, Marty & Felicia Bresin, Tom & Lynn Lefevre, Lori Blackwell, Jean Grabow, Michelle Norman, Katie Kiesiel, Kerry Edwards, Susan Butterfield, and Carol Sosa for all their assistance in helping this transition for us to be smooth, positive, and peaceful. Thanks to all of you who have offered support and encouragement. We have enjoyed meeting you and reconnecting with your families. This summer has brought us situations and circumstances that have required us to be strong and courageous. We must carry this strength and courage with us into the new school year so that we continue to inspire the children. Life holds many blessings and one of our greatest blessings has been Kaelin Toczauer. Let us continue to look to Kaelin to inspire us with God’s patience, joy, and spirit. Please continue to pray for Hope McLarty, daughter-in-law of Rosemary McLarty, our fathers, Bob Sullivan and Salvatore Giordano, and for healing within our school community. Ralph Waldo Emerson inspired many by stating, “What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters to what lies within us.” We all have something beautiful and awe-inspiring within us. Now is the time to inspire each other with these gifts. We ask you to be courageous and join us on a journey that is going to renew the strength that is within the St. Mel Parish and School community. Our community has much to be grateful for and we should continue to celebrate the traditions of excellence and distinction that make us one of the best elementary schools in Southern California. We look forward to meeting you. Much Love and Blessings, Ms. Mary Beth Giordano Fr. George Sullivan Principal, St. Mel Parish School |