Dear Parents, Guardians and Students,

Our on-campus Fund a Dream event was a huge success! We are so grateful to our supportive community for coming to the event. We are also so proud of our students for the incredible showing of support for this event. Our student event speakers seniors Ryan Mahe and Jett Lalic gave such heartfelt speeches and our jazz ensemble played incredible music for attendees. Our student government and student volunteers helped to serve, greet and facilitate an incredible evening for our guests. I was thrilled to receive countless compliments about how friendly, mature, polite and welcoming our students were. This Padre pride makes me proud on so many levels!

I also want to take the time to remind parents and students that March 23 is Testing and Service Day. On this day, Serra will administer the PSAT to all sophomores on campus. Juniors who signed up previously will also take the SAT on campus on the same day.

Parents and students received an email this morning from Mr. Strange with more information. Students are dismissed after testing is complete. There are no classes that day. Freshmen and seniors are encouraged to complete service hours that day and will not report to campus.

Thank you and have a great week!

Sincerely,
Principal
NEWS AND EVENTS
Thank you to all of our guests who attended our 18th Annual Fund a Dream Scholarship Benefit. We are thrilled to announce that our supportive community came together and raised more than $1 million -- the highest amount we have ever raised for tuition assistance!

We are so grateful that our community sees the need to continue to raise money for students who dream of becoming a Serra Padre. Together as a community, we have shown that we place enormous value on the growth and experience that our young Padres benefit from at Serra.

We are so grateful to our faculty, staff and parent and student volunteers for making this event possible.
Our sincerest gratitude to every person who had a hand in this year's effort!
Virus Geeks Testing
Remains on Campus
Tuesday and Fridays

Please remember that Virus Geeks on on site Tuesdays and Fridays for COVID testing.
Four Serra Seniors Recognized as National Merit Scholarship Finalists
Serra is proud to announce that it has four National Merit Scholarship Finalists this year. Congratulations to seniors Conor O’Quigley, Billy Ou, Varun Popli and Sam White! What an enormous accomplishment!
The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. Approximately 1.5 million high school students enter the program each year. Of the 1.5 million entrants, some 50,000 with the highest PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index scores qualify for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program
In early September, about 16,000 students, or approximately one-third of the 50,000 high scorers, are notified that they have qualified as Semifinalists, which are the highest scoring entrants in each state. In February, roughly 15,000 semifinalists are notified that they have advanced to 'finalist' standing.
"When I first got word of it, I was very happy to receive recognition of the high score but in the end it is an honor to know that I scored high on the test. I also think it is very cool to be representing Serra in this manner," White said.
All winners of Merit Scholarship awards are chosen from the finalist group based on their abilities, skills, and accomplishments—including academic record, information about the school's curriculum and grading system, PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index score, written recommendations, student activities and leadership, and the finalist's essay.
Best of luck to these four outstanding Padres!
Tuition Agreements For Next School Year Due By March 25, 2022
The 2022-2023 tuition agreements were recently sent out last week to each family to sign and choose a specific payment plan. To ensure your son's spot in the new year, the deadline to electronically sign the agreement is March 25, 2022. For any questions or concerns, please contact Arthur (Artie) Rios at or (650) 645-6404.
Serra Earns National Athletic Trainers’ Association Safe Sports School Award
Congratulations to Serra’s Sports Medicine Department for being awarded the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Safe Sports School Award for the Junipero Serra High School Athletics Department. The award champions safety and recognizes secondary schools that have met the recommended standards to improve safety in sports. It also reinforces the importance of providing the best level of care, injury prevention and treatment. According to Head Athletic Trainer Duke Meek, the program recognizes high schools that prioritize keeping young athletes safe. Serra is one of few schools in the area to receive such an honor, he said. 
Serra has been named a Safe Sports School First Team for a three-year period, valid until March 2025. Read more about this coveted award on the homepage of our website.
Serra Global Speaker on March 30 Series Welcomes Lex Gillette

Lex Gillette is a globally recognized paralympic track and field athlete for Team USA. During his career, he has won five paralympic medals, four world champion crowns and holds the world record in the long jump for totally blind athletes.

At the age of 8, Lex was told by doctors he would never see again. Little did he know, that traumatic moment would help him focus on his life and goals more clearly than any set of eyes. He is currently training for the next Paralympic Games where he aims to bring back gold for the United States.

In this talk, Lex will aim to help you see more than what is in front of your eyes. After all, it is not the sight that determines our success, it’s seeing a vision and doing everything in our power to bring it into fruition. Lex sums those words up nicely in his mantra, No Need for Sight When You Have a Vision®. Hearing his message, you will be inspired. You will be motivated. You will learn about who you are, and how to become the person you desire to be. Lex believes that you can truly, teach people to see.
One Trusted Adult: Building Mentoring and Caring Relationships 

Research shows that just one trusted adult can have a profound effect on a child’s life, influencing a young person toward positive growth and prevention of risky behaviors. Educator and author Brooklyn Raney will share insights on how child-centered educational cultures reinforce trust and accountability.  Register here! This Common Ground speaker event will take place on Tuesday, March 29 from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.
Outstanding Student and Leadership Award Applications Due March 30
If your son is an outstanding student involved in various activities, he should apply before March 30 for the Outstanding Student Award. In order to be eligible for this award, your student must have a cumulative 3.5 GPA (unweighted) or 3.7 GPA (weighted), have participated in two or more extracurricular activities (in at least 2 different areas) and have a good disciplinary record. 
If your son is involved in any form of leadership at Serra, he should apply for the Leadership Award before March 30. This is an award where leadership points accumulate over his four years. We encourage all students to complete the form even if they do not have enough points to receive the award this year. In order to be eligible for this award, your student must have a good disciplinary record. 

Links to apply for these awards are available in the Padre Week Ahead -- All applications must be submitted by the student before 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 to be considered. No late admissions will be considered.
Freshman Madres Bowling Event this Sunday - Evite Below

The Serra Freshman Madre Committee cordially invites freshman moms to join them on Sunday, March 20 for a fun night of bowling, tasty bites and beer! Here is the link to the Evite
We look forward to seeing you there!
Kairos Opportunity for Seniors

Is your son looking for an opportunity to connect with other Padres? Is your son looking for moments of connection, reflection, and belonging? If he is a senior, then have him sign up for Kairos (March 22-25), and if he is a sophomore the Sophomore Retreat (March 29-30). Email Mr. Steven Olujic for more information.


Freshmen, Sophomore and Juniors - Christian Service Hours Due April 1

Parents and students: This is a friendly reminder that the freshmen, sophomore, and junior Christian Service hours deadline is April 1. Contact Mrs. Ward for more information.

Student Internships Available for Kevin Mullin '88 for Congress Campaign
Serra High School Class of 1988 Alumni Kevin Mullin is running for Congress and has some internship opportunities available for interested Serra Padres. If you are interested in finding out more about this amazing opportunity, go to the Mullin for Congress internship page.

Mullin was first elected to the state Assembly in 2012 and has served as Assembly Speaker pro Tem since 2014. He has made election reform and strengthening our democracy top legislative priorities.
Mullin is running for Congress in California’s new 15th District, which covers parts of San Mateo and San Francisco counties. The district includes the cities in Mullin’s Assembly District 22 along with Daly City and a portion of San Francisco. In late November, Mullin declared candidacy for the primary scheduled on June 7, 2022.

For more information on Kevin Mullin for Congress, visit KevinMullinforCongress.com.
Reserve Your Spot on the Close Up Trip
Experience history as it happens! During our six-day Election Week program beginning on November 6-11, students will meet new friends from across the country and experience the suspense of a presidential election in Washington, DC! As the upcoming election promises to shape politics and policy for the next several years, students will take part in activities, seminars, and visits to Washington’s most historic sites to help them understand what roles they, as citizens, can play in our democracy. Close Up’s
Election Week program provides students with the opportunity to meet face-to-face with their
Congressional delegation on Capitol Hill and with Washington insiders who play a key role in the
American political system.
Padres Sporting Line Up
Gently Used Exercise and Rehab Equipment Sought by Serra Sports Medicine Department
The Serra Sports Medicine Department is seeking donations for gently used exercise and rehabilitation equipment.

If you are looking to donate an elliptical, stationary bike, treadmills 
walking boots, crutches, knee braces or slings, please contact Head Athletic Trainer Duke Meek.
Shop Padre Family Businesses!
At Serra, we support all of our Padre families and we love to showcase Padre family-owned businesses.

If you would like to add your Padre-family business to our list, email us here.

Thank you for your community support and remember to shop small, shop local and shop Padre!
Download our free Serra App TODAY!
Select your mobile app store below and download directly to your device. Or, search for the app on your phone. Once you download the app, you can log in with your last name and email address.
If you have any questions or difficulties logging in, please contact Michelle Wilkinson.
Wishing you all a fantastic week!

Aimee Lewis Strain
Director of Marketing and Communications