ST. ISIDORE SCHOOL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER June 19, 2020 Volume 5

Welcome.... Dear St. Isidore School Alumni, Parents and Friends: It feels like so much has changed since we sent our last alumni newsletter back in January. When life came to a screeching halt in mid-March, we were compelled to adjust to a new way of life, learning to balance the health and safety concerns brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic while juggling our personal and professional lives. When school closures across the globe were announced, it prompted us to quickly develop an effective distance learning program. By utilizing online teaching sites and techniques, webcams, and chat rooms, teachers were able to continue with the job of educating their students remotely. I like to think that these challenges provided us with unforeseen opportunities for creativity and growth. I continue to be in awe of how the St. Isidore faculty and staff quickly adapted to our circumstances and how they were able to inspire students from afar. We may not know yet what next year looks like, but we do know that we are prepared to handle whatever comes our way.  The close of yet another year serves as a great opportunity to celebrate our students, especially those who are graduating, and their accomplishments. Welcome, Class of 2020, to the SIS alumni family! The year’s end also serves as a reminder that people move on. It is always difficult to say good-bye to students and families we have grown to know and love, but we rest assured that we will see them again.  I also want to notify you that I will not be returning as principal in the next school year. We are relocating back to my home state of Louisiana, where I will be serving as principal at my alma mater, St. Catherine of Siena, near New Orleans, LA. I have loved my time at St. Isidore School as a parent, teacher, vice-principal, and principal. I have had the pleasure of meeting thousands of families over the course of my 18 years as a staff member, and being a part of your journey has been a gift. I will be forever grateful for the support and friendship you have bestowed upon me, and I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished together. One of these accomplishments is the SIS Alumni Program. St. Isidore School will always be near and dear to my heart as well as in my prayers. Mrs. Carol Bender will be the new principal for the 2020–21 school year. Mrs. Bender, who currently holds a position in our Resource Department, previously served St. Isidore School in the capacity of Vice Principal and 8th-grade teacher. She brings a wealth of experience to the position, including five years as acting principal of Our Lady of Angels School in Burlingame, California. She will do a great job for SIS and has a wonderful partner in the Vice Principal, Dennis Keane.  Please know that you will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. I wish you a safe and healthy summer! Yay St. Isidore! God bless, Maria Ward, Principal St. Isidore School

Where are they now. . Tell us what you've been up to! We're eager to hear and share your stories of life, love, happiness, service, and adventure. Email alumni@stisidore.org to share!

Class of 2003 Michael Bobich Michael Bobich is a 2003 graduate of St. Isidore School. Following four years at De La Salle High School, Michael made the journey across the country to attend Villanova University, just outside Philadelphia. While he majored in Marketing and Finance, Michael kept his passion for sports journalism alive, covering Villanova basketball on football on student radio. Upon graduation, Michael worked at Johnson & Johnson, leading the marketing of well-known brands like Motrin, Sudafed and Lactaid. It was during this time that Michael decided to pursue his MBA – but more importantly, married Molly. Their first married adventure was heading back to the Bay Area for Michael to start classes at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. After Stanford, Michael has worked at Deloitte Consulting, helping Chief Marketing Officers develop growth strategies, and is now the Director of Marketing Strategy at SimpliSafe. Michael lives with Molly, their son Henry (21 months), and their dog Charlie just outside of Boston. He enjoys traveling – especially to visit his sisters, Ellen '05 (Atlanta) and Laura '09 (Chicago), and parents (Alamo) – watching almost any sporting event, grilling in the backyard, and going on walks with his family. Favorite SIS Memory: Mrs. Wroblewski’s History Class; Mrs. Gannon Briggs – “Be your best today for Jesus”

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Class of 2016 Kyle Harrison SIS Alumnus gets his chance at the MLB SIS Class of 2016 alumnus Kyle Harrison is going pro! The San Francisco Giants selected the left-handed pitcher with the 85th overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft on Thursday, June 11. Kyle and his family are ecstatic for the opportunity, saying it's a dream come true. We couldn't be happier for the Harrison Family and look forward to seeing Kyle hit the mound in the black and orange! Go get 'em, Kyle—your SIS family will be cheering you on! Here’s what MLB had to say about the young prospect: Harrison has the chance to be a very solid left-handed starter with a three-pitch mix and a feel to use all three offerings well. He’s been up to 93 mph with his fastball, usually sitting closer to 90-91 mph, throwing his heater with good life. It’s tough to square up coming from a difficult angle thanks to a three-quarter slot. His slider is his out pitch, an upper-70s breaking ball that’s especially tough on left-handed hitters. He also has good feel for his changeup and commands all of his pitches well.

Thank you for your years of service.. This year, we fondly say farewell to several longstanding faculty and staff. We are grateful for the years of service they have given to this community. Please join us in wishing these fabulous women the best on their future endeavors.

Mrs. Carol Bevilacqua Mrs. Bevilacqua, known to most as Mrs. B, is retiring. Mrs. B, who is known for her sweet spirit, has done a great job as the director of Kids Konnection. We are grateful for her fifteen years of service to our school and appreciate her forty-one years as an active community member. Her daughters, Gina Spiteri and Carla McMinn, are SIS Alumni.

Mrs. Teresa Bowes Mrs. Bowes, who has worked at SIS for nine years, has done a fabulous job teaching science to our TK–5th grade students. She has accepted a position at the Jesuit School of Theology as the senior administrative assistant to the dean. As she is a school family, we look forward to still seeing her smiling face on campus. Her daughters Maggie, Lily, and Audrey are SIS Alumni.

Mrs. Courtney Cameron Ms. Cameron, who has been a wonderful asset to our junior high science program this past year, will be going back to school to further her education. We applaud her dedication to learning.

Mrs. Julie Dougherty Mrs. Dougherty, who has been an instrumental part of the second grade teaching staff for the past thirteen years, is moving to Texas to be closer to family. She has done a wonderful job, helping countless second graders receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and First Communion. Mrs. Dougherty has also been an active member of our parish for twenty-three years as well as part of our alumni parent community—her three children, Micaela, Steven, and Tanner are SIS Alumni.

Mrs. Deirdre Goetze Mrs. Goetze, who has been a fabulous addition to our SIS teaching staff for the past fourteen years, is leaving to spend more quality time with family. Her dedication to our school has been astounding, and we will miss her kindness and quick wit. She also is part of our alumni parent community, as her two children, Owen and Ciara, are SIS Alumni. She hopes to visit and substitute teach!

Alumni Achievements... We continue to celebrate Alumni achievements long after they leave our school. Congratulations to all our alumni who recently graduated high school and college! Listed below are the 2020 Graduates from Carondelet High School and De La Salle High School along with the colleges they will be attending in the fall.

DLS Class of 2020 Graduates... Andrew Bagasbas - San Jose State Duncan Beyer - De Paul University Connor Biles - Las Positas College Chase Britton - Whittier College Tristan Bonderer - UC Boulder Joseph Castillo - Arizona State Ian Connell - UC Boulder Jacob Corpus - University Oregon Wyatt Dafoe - UC Santa Barbara Tanner Dougherty - Baylor University Derek Halas - Lynn University Matthew Kennedy - Cal Poly Charles Kunz - UC Santa Barbara Joseph McGowan - San Jose State Devin Motas - Arizona State Benjamin Parker - University of Washington Dominic Rago - University of San Diego Sebastian Ramirez - University of Utah Christopher Rizkalli - Notre Dame Gregory Salmon - Loyola Marymount University Joseph Savarese - Cal Poly Ryan Schock - University Oregon Ryan Tancreto - University of San Diego Matthew Vranesh - UC Berkeley Nicholaus Waizenegger - Cal Poly

Carondelet Class of 2020 Graduates... Annie Bonderer - Chapman University Brynn Dafoe - New York University Liv Devine - Undecided Liz Ericson - Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Julia Freeman - University Boulder Colorado Sophia Freitas - Loyola Marymount University Mary Bridget Gallagher - Santa Clara University Catherine Giorgi - San Diego University Katie Harney - Tulane University Mia Herrerias - San Diego State Grace McDonald - Gonzaga University Caitlin McIntyre - University of Virginia Ellie Ospeck - Notre Dame Caroline Quinn - Texas Christian University Julia Ross - University of Tennessee Gabi Scheibley - Austin Community College Bella Zumbo - University of Arizona

Welcome New Alumni... As the class of 2020, you have made your mark on our school. Take with you our best wishes, our affection, and hopefully something of the lessons we have tried to impart. Remember St. Isidore School will always be a safe harbor for you. Bon voyage, Graduates!

Honoring tradition... When school was stopped abruptly back in March, our hearts sank for our 8th-grade students; the thought of not celebrating in our usual fashion felt devastating and unfair. The faculty, staff, parents, and students began collaborating on how best to move forward, making this milestone as memorable and unique as possible. With the support of the community, that is exactly what we did - because coming together to create something special is how we roll!  The tradition of saying goodbye to the 8th-grade students at their last carpool has become a fun and meaningful tradition. In an effort to give the Class of 2020 a proper send-off, staff gathered six feet apart in the courtyard to wave goodbye to the families and students that have become so near and dear to our hearts. It was a fabulous moment filled with laughter, smiles, and happy tears.

Help us continue to grow... Be sure to follow St. Isidore School on social media to get glimpses into campus life and to connect with other SIS family and friends. Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and our SIS blog !

Make a gift online...

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE ALUMNI FUND

Thank you for supporting the SIS Alumni fund! Your donation, large or small, directly impacts the growth and success of St. Isidore School. The campaign assists with our continuing efforts of keeping tuition cost low and accessible to our school families, despite the reality associated with the growing costs of a Catholic education at St. Isidore School!

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