Welcome to the seventy-fourth 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!

Parent Info. Night on Thursday, April 20, 2023

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 12 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

Colleges that Have Offered Admission to a Member of the Class of 2023

Click on the image above or this link to find out what colleges have offered admission to a member of the Class of 2023.

Athletics Physical Night for Incoming or Returning SJM Athletes

Advanced Placement Exams

AP Exams will take place during the first two weeks of May: May 1-5 and May 8-12. Below is the schedule for the exams including the days and times. The dates and times are fixed by the College Board two years in advance and CANNOT be changed. New this year is the introduction of digital exams, that is, exams will be taken entirely on a digital device: school issued iPad, personal tablet, or personal laptop (Chromebooks excluded.) If a student is using an iPad or other tablet, it must have an external keyboard. If a student does not have an external keyboard, the school will provide one. Digital exams will be conducted in the following subjects: US History, European History, Seminar, and English Literature.

Next year the digital exams will expand to other subjects.

Students must report to the exam location 15 minutes early.



The table below outlines the AP Exam schedule. Note: Locations of each exam will be posted later this month.

Looking for Yearbook Staff for the 2023-2024 School Year!

Yearbook class wants your talent and help to build an amazing 2024 yearbook.

Looking for photographers, graphic designers, and writers for next school year! #spiritof2024

Please contact Mrs. Geisler at [email protected] for more information!

In late February Paco Balderrama, Police Chief of the Fresno Police Department Led an Engaging and Deep Conversation with SJM Students that are part of the Fresno Chamber Junior Board!

Student Spotlights

Congratulations Brody!

Sophomore Brody Mason over the Spring Break won the 76th Annual Len Ross Golf Tournament for his age group of 14-15 year old's. After the third day of competition, Brody was down 3 strokes. He ended up 6 strokes ahead of the second place player in his final round at Fort Washington Country Club and won the tournament by 3 total strokes. Congratulations Brody!

Avery Thompson '24 and her friend Emily are Nominated as Candidates in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Student Visionary of the Year Campaign!

Avery Thompson ‘24 is fighting to save lives as part of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Student Visionaries of the Year campaign. Avery and her friend Emily watched their close friend Mia become diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia at the age of 9, and later lose her battle to cancer. They formed Team Mia in her honor, with a vision of helping create a world where other children would never experience what Mia did.

Avery says, “Being involved in LLS has not only taught me to be a good role model and a team leader, but to put others before myself in order to raise money with the hope to save lives.”

Learn more about Team Mia and Avery’s fight at teammia2023.org

Congratulations Daniella Golik '23

During Volunteer Appreciation Week, the Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE) did a spotlight on the recipient of this year’s VA Youth Volunteer of the Year, Daniella Golik '23!

During the Pandemic many VA volunteer programs were paused, including the youth volunteer program. Daniella stayed in touch and often spearheaded creative efforts to assist with projects she (and peers she recruited to help) could complete from her home such as: Valentines for Vets, tying suicide prevention information to lollipops for distribution in the community, crafting posters to welcome Vietnam Veterans home, tying chaplaincy program information to “army men” toy soldiers – and MUCH more!

Daniella is the granddaughter of a beloved Naval Aviator, U.S. Navy Retired. As such, she possesses a level of service and patriotism that is rare for many her age.

Passionate about helping others, Daniella recently completed an internship with Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy’s office. She is also a mentor for Camp Taylor, a non-profit organization which helps families of children with congenital heart defects. Daniella had open heart surgery as a baby and is using her own family’s experiences to support other parents of children with heart disease.

Daniella Golik was also recently honored as the 2023 California “Outstanding Youth Volunteer of the Year” by the Daughters of the American Revolution for her volunteer service at VA Fresno. Daniella was accepted into the Peters Honors Program at Fresno City College and will be starting in the fall. She is interested in majoring in the healthcare field.

Text source: VA Central California Health Care System

Jacob Zarate '23 was recently recognized at the Daughters of the American Revolution DAR Good Citizen Award!

Senior, Jacob Zarate, Class of 2023, was recently recognized at the Daughters of the American Revolution DAR Good Citizen Award Luncheon. The Good Citizen Award is given to one senior from every participating high school across the country. The Fresno-Yosemite DAR Chapter held an official meeting and banquet to congratulate every Good Citizen award winner from the Fresno-Yosemite area. DAR Regent, Becky Malmo, presented Jacob with his award and a cash prize. Jacob was selected by SJM faculty and staff as SJM’s Good Citizen of the Year for demonstrating the qualities of Dependability, Service, Leadership and Patriotism. Jacob is pictured with the DAR Good Citizen certificate.

SUPPORT GREASE Production

Buy tickets for Friday, April 28, 2023

Buy tickets for April 29 or April 30.

Join Campus Ministry 2023-2024

All Juniors interested in joining the Campus Ministry Team for the 2023-2024 school year. The applications to apply for the team are now available and are due by TODAY. Pick up an application from Mrs. Cortez's office in the South Administration Building.

Shadow Visits!

Adoration at Memorial!

Do you have a prayer intention to share? We invite you to complete the form below to submit a prayer intention which will be placed in the Intentions Box in our Chapel.

Purchase Your 2022-2023 Yearbook 

Don’t miss all of the great times at San Joaquin Memorial High School that are in the 2023 yearbook! Order at: jostensyearbooks.com

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. 

Purchase your SJM Athletic Boosters Club Membership Card 

You can get your SJM Athletic Boosters Club Membership Card TODAY!

The mission of the San Joaquin Memorial High School Boosters Club is to provide fundraising support to the school’s athletic programs.

Funding for facility improvement projects and general athletics operations are the club’s main focus.

Become a member of the Boosters Club today! By joining the Boosters Club, you are helping to improve the quality of facilities and equipment for our student-athletes.

Club dues are $100 for two memberships or $50 for a single membership for the school year. Cards provide admittance to all home Panther athletic events (excluding playoffs) for the 2022-23 school year.(pass will be mailed to the address you provide – pass must be presented at home games at all times for free admittance).

Click here to purchase you membership card. 

 Click here to  Donate to SJM!