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Welcome Back Rams!
It was a great first week back at Garces. On Monday, the students had a mini-rally in the quad to end the day. Along with the usual rally fun and games, the students were introduced to our new teachers and our school song for 2017-2018, "Lean on Me". On Tuesday, we celebrated with Msgr. Perry the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary with Mass at OLPH church. With a couple of exceptions, we will celebrate our weekly Mass at OLPH every Wednesday this school year. We are very blessed to have the opportunity for our entire school to pray together in a reverent and beautiful parish. We are very grateful to the pastor of OLPH, Father Bert Mello, and to our Rector, Msgr. Perry Kavookjian, for creating this opportunity for our students and faculty. On Wednesday during lunch, the Parent Club sponsored a fun ice-breaker for the school to help students meet other students and to hype up the Aloha Dance. Students received a flower with a number and they had to find the student with the corresponding number. The first 20 matches all received gift cards to Starbucks. Several of the students were overheard saying in an excited voice "it's the matching game!" and it was so much fun to see them running around trying to find their match. Tonight is a football scrimmage for the Herd to come out and get ready for the upcoming Mission Bowl.
The students have picked the word "rowdy" as their word for this school year so expect to see a lot of school spirit.
The week concludes tomorrow night with the Aloha Dance. One thing we all know, is that the year will fly by. One week down and only 34 weeks left until the Class of 2018 graduates. Let's make the most of it and create lots of lasting memories.
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Join Us Tonight
Our Back to School Social is tonight.
All of our parents, faculty, staff, coaches, and members of the Garces family are invited to come and help us kick off the school year.
The football teams scrimmage Independence tonight so if you are up here to watch the scrimmage, walk over to the Parent Social after. Or you can come up early for the social and check out the teams before heading over to the pool.
We hope to see you tonight for drinks, tacos, and some dancing by the pool.
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Blessing of New Gym Floor
After Mass on Tuesday, Monsignor Perry blessed the new floor of the gym. The volleyball girls had been displaced and had to begin practices off campus at St. Francis. Tuesday was the first day they were able to practice in the Snow Dome. Msgr. Perry also blessed the girls and asked for our Lord to watch over them during the season. A big shout out to St. Francis for allowing us to use their gym last week. Thank you for your kindness.
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Garces Rams - KCJGA Crozier Classic
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Julianna Escobedo, Grace Cornejo, & Claire Cornejo |
Congratulations to three of our Lady Rams! Julianna Escobedo, Grace Cornejo, and Claire Cornejo all played in the Kern County Junior Golf Association's Crozier Classic.
Throughout the summer, junior golfers ages eight through 17 participate in tournaments in the Kern County Junior Golf Association. The culmination is the
annual Crozier Classic which pits the best players in each age group for boys and girls. The players qualify based on their performances in the eight KCJGA summer tournaments.
Julianna Escobedo took first place in her age group.
Grace Cornejo took 2nd place in her age group.
Claire Cornejo took 3rd place in her age group.
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Congratulations to Annie Arriola and Dani Salinas
Congratulations to Garces Rams Annie Arriola and Dani Salinas on being named to the 2017 All-Valley All Star Team for Softball. Their hard work, dedication, and commitment was impressive last year. Congratulations Rams!
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Congratulations Rams!
Isaiah Martin, LeBrevon Austin, Jack Tobias & Joe Campbell
Congratulations to the Garces Rams who were selected by Pag Meter of 940 ESPN radio as part of his pre-season players to watch. Selected to the All Valley All Star Football Preseason Football Watch List were Isaiah Martin and Jack Tobias. Selected to the 2017 Football Sleeper List were LeBrevon Austin and Joe Campbell. Nice job Rams. Good luck this season.
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Garces Alum Johnny Soper '15
We always knew that great things were in store for Garces alumnus Johnny Soper '15. Over the summer Johnny served as an intern at the White House in the Office of Legislative Affairs. The White House has very strict rules about what can be posted and released to the public, so Johnny could only share that he was at the White House as an intern, but not much else until recently. To read more about Johnny's experience in Washington, DC, check out the link to his blog post.
Congratulations Johnny. We can't wait to see what you do next.
Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks
This photograph is provided by THE WHITE HOUSE as a courtesy and may be printed by the subject(s) in the photograph for personal use only. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not otherwise be reproduced, disseminated or broadcast, without the written permission of the White House Photo Office. This photograph may not be used in any commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.
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Monthly Parent Meetings with
Mr. Tim Gordon, Director of Faith Formation
Greetings. As a new Director of Faith Formation at GMHS, together with Principal Myka Peck and Rector Msgr. Perry, I would like to invite parents to meet up evenings once per month for a talk on a fundamental aspect of the faith. Judging by last year's events, it should be both fun and insightful.
The first talk in August will be about Our Lady and what happened one hundred years ago in Fatima, Portugal.
We will meet at 7:15 PM in the Chapel on the following dates:
- August 31
- September 14
- October 26
- November 16
- January 18
- February 14
- March 22
- April 26
-Yours faithfully in Christ,
Timothy Gordon
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Cazares Family Featured in Family Circle Magazine
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Princess Fiona, Mr. Regino Cazares, Mrs. Belén Carrasco, Citlalmina, Yolyamanitzin, & Belén. |
Family Circle Magazine featured one of our Garces Families! Mr. Cazares and Mrs. Carrasco are both teachers and share their life's journey in the article including the loss of the five-year-old daughter,
Ylaria, and their charity, Project Cheer. Their daughter Belen is a junior this year at Garces. It is a wonderful, heart-warming article about a very special family.
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70th Anniversary - Week 3
Message from Vince Fanucchi
Garces Historian & Archivist
THE RAM-MOBILE ROCKED IN THE 60S
Athletic Director Bob Carroll bought a used bus in the early 1960s from the Bakersfield Bears semi-pro baseball team where he worked as a trainer and bus driver during the summer months.
Over the next decade he drove the "Ram-mobile" to games all over the valley, including in 1968 when it broke down on the way to the valley football finals in Sanger. Luckily, the rooters' bus that followed stopped and transferred the team while the fans waited for the bus to be repaired.
The team arrived minutes before the scheduled kickoff and had to start the game without a warm-up. The fans arrived later but didn't miss much as the stadium was enveloped in fog so thick they couldn't see the sidelines from the stands. They eventually had to take the officials' word that Garces lost 13-0.
But the Ram-mobile's most famous trip was in August 1966, a few weeks before this photo was taken my senior year. Alas, nary a Ram was on board. Instead Coach Carroll chauffeured the Rolling Stones from the airport to the downtown Civic Auditorium where they played on the same stage our seniors still graduate on today.
When we asked him later what the Stones were like he surprised us when he said that their singer Mick was a very polite young man, although his hair was too long. He said they talked about music and sports since he once played saxophone with the Garces jazz band and Jagger's dad was a P.E. teacher back home in England.
The Ram-mobile may be long gone, but 50 years later the Rams and Stones still rock on.
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The Gavel Club
The Gavel Club is having their first meeting Friday, August 18th from 3:30-4:30 PM in Room 11. Mr. Blaine Geissel is the club moderator. Mr. Malou Guerrero-Lee is the parent mentor for the club. The Gavel Club is the high school version of Toastmasters, which is an international public speaking and leadership skills development organization. If your student missed the first meeting, they will have an opportunity during Club Day to sign up. Club Day is September 19th during lunch. Or your student can speak with Mr. Geissel for more information.
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Pre-Game Ticket Sales
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Coaches' Room
Last week we showed you some photos of the changes to the boys coaches' room in the gym.
I hear from one of the dads involved that the room is now 99% done. It looks pretty fabulous.
Last week, we listed all the volunteers and we accidentally
left Robert Moseley off the list. Thank you Robert for helping with this project. And thanks again to everyone else who contributed. We love our Ram Family.
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Hail Mary Club Kick-Off Dinner
Thursday, August 24th
Special Guest Speaker: Coach Pat Hill
The Hail Mary Club will host its annual Kick-Off Dinner on Thursday, August 24th.
This year's keynote speaker is former Fresno State Head Football Coach, Pat Hill. Before becoming the head coach of Fresno State's football program, Pat coached for both the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens. He was the head coach at Fresno State from 1997-2011.
Hail Mary Club Kick-Off Dinner
Thursday, August 24th
6:30 PM - Cocktails
7:30 PM - Dinner
Luigi's Warehouse
725 E. 19th St.
Tickets: $250.00
Tickets are available at the front office from
Ms. Sherry Hylton or from a Hail Mary Club Board Member.
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Be sure to join us for our annual Holy Smoke Garces BBQ on
Thursday, September 28th! You can purchase your tickets online by clicking on the image above, or stop by the Garces Memorial office. If you are interested in helping on the planning committee, or donating a few hours for the event, please contact Director of Community Affairs,
Tonya Abbott, or one of our BBQ Chairs,
Suzanne Rogers or
Jenny Waguespack.
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Admin Corner
Message from
Myka Peck
Principal
Garces Family,
I cannot believe the school year is already underway. I must say it has crossed my mind 1,000 times "where did summer go?". I then reflect on how blessed I am to have a great team who worked over the summer to give your students the best experience possible for the upcoming school year. I know many of our families spent numerous hours at Garces Memorial as well this summer. For that, I want to thank you for your dedication to Garces Memorial High School and more importantly your commitment to Catholic education.
I want to begin by thanking each and every one of you for sending your child to the all school retreat. When you try something new, you never know the response you will receive. I know for some of your students it was life changing and for others it was better than they had hoped. Overall, it allowed us to share with the student body the importance of our Catholic faith and set the tone for a faith filled year. It was a beautiful thing to see the students reverent and worshipping, but more than anything enhancing their own relationships with God. I would personally like to thank the generous donors that contributed to the Fund-a-Need at our Gala, making this dream a reality.
In keeping with our Catholic Identity, Father Bert at OLPH has graciously offered the OLPH church for our weekly Mass. If you see Father Bert, please thank him on behalf of your student and the Garces community.
I can already tell this is going to be a great year! The senior class is full of enthusiasm and as I tell all the classes, "you only get four years of high school and then it turns to memories." It is the senior class that dictates what those memories will be for the school year. In my heart, I believe the senior class has an abundance of school pride and are willing to share that with all the other classes leaving a legacy for years to come.
I am looking forward to this school year and all the new adventures. This year my primary role has shifted from the principal to president. I feel we have an incredible team at Garces Memorial and I need to let each of them continue to flourish in their roles. I am excited to be out in the community more, focusing on our relationship with our Catholic feeder schools. Our belief, working in partnership with our parish schools, is to make Catholic education a priority and available starting from kinder through high school.
With your help as Garces Memorial ambassadors, we have the perfect opportunity to share with our community the good news of Garces Memorial! This year we celebrate our 70th anniversary and throughout the year you, along with our Garces Memorial alumni are invited to join in on the celebration. We are a family that is founded on faith, rooted in tradition and growing in excellence since 1947. I am happy you are a part of the Garces Memorial legacy.
Sincerely,
Myka Peck
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Upcoming Activities
Please remember to download the Garces calendars and check them as needed. Any changes will be posted there.
Friday, August 18
JV Volleyball
West High School Tournament
Football Scrimmage vs. Independence HS
NEW TIME DUE TO HEAT
6:00 PM - JV & Frosh on lower field. Bring chairs.
6:30 PM - Varsity on Sam Tobias Field
Back to School Social
7:30 PM at Garces Pool
Room 1
Green & White Football Scrimmage
Frosh/
JV/Varsity 6:00 PM
Saturday, August 19
Fall Sports Clinic for 5th-8th graders includes water polo and volleyball.
Water Polo 9 AM - 10 AM
Volleyball 9 AM - Noon
Football Team Pictures
Varsity 9:15 AM
JV 9:30 AM
Frosh 9:45 AM
JV Volleyball
West High School Tournament
Varsity Girls Water Polo Scrimmage vs. Clovis East at 11:00 AM
Varsity Boys and JV Boys Water Polo Scrimmage Righetti/Buchanan at 1:30 PM, 2:45 PM and 4:00 PM
Varsity Girls Tennis Scrimmage 8 AM - 2 PM
at Garces
Aloha Dance
7:30 PM
Admission $10.00
Monday, August 21
St John Bosco Tickets go on sale in Business Office
Varsity Volleyball
Scrimmage at West Ranch at 3 PM
Tuesday, August 22
Girls Golf Pictures
3:30 PM at BCC
Wednesday, August 23
Parent Club Rosary Group
8:00 AM in Chapel
Thursday, August 24
Class Photo Make Up Day
Room 1 during break and lunch
Water Polo vs. Strathmore at Garces
Boys JV WP at 4 PM
Girls Varsity WP at 5 PM
Boys Varsity WP at 6 PM
F/S Football at McFarland at 5 PM
Marys Dinner at 6 PM at Wool Growers
Hail Mary Club Kick Off Event at 6:30 at Luigi's
Friday, August 25
JV Boys Water Polo at Sanger Tournament
Football at BCHS - Mission Bowl
JV at 5 PM
Varsity at 7:30 PM
Saturday, August 26
JV Boys Water Polo
at Sanger Tournament
Cross Country at Hoka One Postal Meet in Ventura
F/S Volleyball at Garces Invitational
Varsity Girls Tennis vs. SWYL Mini-Tournament. Location TBA.
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GARCES BINGO
CANCELLED
Until further notice, Garces will not have Bingo on Sundays.
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CALLING ALL SORORITY SISTERS
If you were in a sorority and are wiling to be a reference for a Garces alumna - please let us know so we can begin a list for our graduating senior girls who are wanting to pledge and join a sorority as part of their college experience. You can email [email protected] with your name, preferred contact information (cell number or email address) college or university, and sorority.
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70TH ANNIVESARY
CAMPUS QUIZ ANSWERS
Below are the answers to Vince Fanucchi's quiz from last week.
Where is the oldest tree on campus?
Looking through early yearbooks, it appears that the oldest tree on campus is in front of the wrestling room in the 20's wing. It was planted around 1950.
Where is the biggest cross on campus?
The biggest cross on campus is built into the roof of the Sanghera Collaborative Learning Center where it was placed when the building was remodeled in 1997. You can Google it.
Who works in the oldest building on campus?
Mark Brown's art room is in the oldest building on campus. It was a barracks at Minter Airfield in Shafter during World War II before it was moved to the campus in 1951 and served as a cafeteria for the next 33 years.
What building has nearly every student in the history of the school been in?
The new Sanghera Collaborative Learning Center is a remodel of the school's earlier library built in 1997, which was a remodel of the school's original administration building from 1947. Since then, nearly every student at Garces has been inside as it has served those various functions.
What iconic site on campus would every Garces student since 1947 recognize?
Every student since the school opened in 1947 would recognize the bell tower on the chapel. The then All-Purpose Building (APB) was under construction when the school opened and was completed in time to host the 8th grade boys' graduation in June 1948.
What high school campuses in town are older than Garces?
Of all the high schools in town only Bakersfield (1893) and East Bakersfield (1937) are older than Garces (1947). However, Padre Garces (1776) did beat their namesake Colonel Baker (1863) here by nearly a century.
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| Apply Today for 2017-2018. |
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