Welcome to the fifty-sixth edition of the
Panther Press,
a biweekly electronic newsletter sent to families and friends of 
San Joaquin Memorial High School.
In this Issue
IMPORTANT: SJM Summer Work for the 2022-2023 School Year HERE

Past Events & Announcements:
  • Pep & Cheer Camp
  • AP Capstone
  • SJM Guild Welcome Coffee
  • Guild Welcome Lunch
  • 45th Annual Auction
  • SJM Dress Code
  • Bell Schedule
  • Student-Parent Handbook
SJM Class of 2022:
The Last 5 #SJMSpeaks Student Profiles
  • Hallie Pham
  • Frederic Faul
  • Sarah Marmolejo
  • Spencer Douangphouxay
  • Hee Won Jang
Upcoming Events:
  • Girl's Golf Meeting (8/1)
  • SJM 2022-2023 Athletics Calendar Updated
  • SJM 2022-2023 Events Calendar Updated
  • Holy Bowling (9/9)
  • Looking for Host Families
More Announcements:
  • New Baseball Head Coach
  • Leave your Questions at Fresno Catholic Schools System website
  • Only 1 Seat Left for Incoming Freshmen Class
  • Follow us on Social Media!
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 message!
Summer Work for the 2022-2023 School Year is still LIVE on the SJM Website!
Attention all San Joaquin Memorial High School Students:

This is a friendly reminder that all the summer work for the 2022-2023 school year has been updated on the website. In addition, the summer reading list for grades 9-12 has been updated. Mrs. Sani's annotations were added with an example for her English 9P class. During these last few weeks of summer vacation please make sure to visit the link to complete the work before the deadline. Turn in all completed summer work to your instructor.

Thank you!
Past Events & Announcements
Pep & Cheer Camp Scored Superior in Evaluations at USA Cheer Camp!
To view more photos from this event click on the photo above
The SJM Pep & Cheer traveled to Cal Lutheran for USA Cheer Camp this weekend and had the opportunity to learn several sidelines, halftimes and crowd leading cheers to perform at Upcoming Friday Night Lights.

Cheerleaders performed and competed with other high schools and scored Superior in their evaluations! We are proud to be a Panther!
More AP Capstone Successes!
In early July, students received their AP scores and Memorial’s AP Capstone students continued their phenomenal success. All but one student scored a 3 or better for a 95% pass rate (19 of 20) and all students (19) in AP Research earned a 3 or better. Since its inception, AP Seminar (four years) has had a 95% pass rate, nearly 14% above the national average, while AP Research (three
years) has had 89% pass rate, over 16% above the national average.

There were seven seniors who earned an AP Capstone Diploma from the College Board. An AP Capstone Diploma requires a student to earn scores of 3 or better in both Seminar and Research and 4 other AP courses. These seven seniors were recipients: Jazmine Cortez, Mia Fisher, Megan McCraw, Natalie Medrano (earned in junior year), Wunmi Omololu, Jack Sampson, and Izabella Vasquez. Also there were 17 seniors (four in the junior year) and two juniors who earned AP Capstone Certificates. An AP Capstone Certificate is earned by earning scores of 3 or better in both Seminar and Research. (The two juniors, Nicole Lanfranco and Mande Puente, are eligible to earn an AP Capstone Diploma this year.)

Here are some comments from three graduates about their respective AP Capstone experiences.

Gentry Conner (Wake Forest): “The AP Capstone has provided me with two beneficial classes that have truly prepared me for college and my future. AP Seminar and AP Research have been two classes throughout my high school experience that have truly made an impact on me.”

Izabella Vasquez (Notre Dame): “The AP Capstone classes that I took at Memorial are what have most benefited me in preparing for college. These classes are most like what we will experience in college in terms of doing research, giving presentations, and writing well-written academic papers.”

Danielle Diener (UC Berkeley): “Overall, this Capstone program has been my favorite AP courses for my time at Memorial. I think that the skills that I have learned will be easy to transfer to college. I know for a fact that I will have to write research papers just like the one I did in this course when I’m at college so now I am not scared to complete research papers.”

The future of Memorial’s AP Capstone program has a very promising and exciting future as 50+ students are enrolled in the program for the 22-23 school year.
SJM Guild Welcome Coffee
Guild Welcome Lunch!
We need your Support for the 45th Annual Auction!
Calling all SJM Parents! The most important and fun-filled fundraiser event for San Joaquin Memorial High School is on Saturday, November 5, 2022!

Every year the Memorial community comes together in support of our students and we'd love to see you there too!

We are looking for Silent Auction Chairs, Live Auction chairs and we are still also looking for table chairs for the His & Her table. The 45th Annual Auction will take place at SJM campus!

For more information, please contact our Auction Chairs, Katie (Spencer) Farris `90 or Mary Beth (McCann) Plemons `93. You can also reach out to Shirley Boujikian at (559) 475-5831 or by email at sboujikian@sjmhs.org
SJM 2022-2023 Student-Parent Handbook Dress & Grooming Codes
As we prepare for a new school year we will be sharing helpful information that can be found in the 2022-2023 Student-Parent handbook regarding dress and grooming codes.

Student dress, grooming, and personal cleanliness impact the image of San Joaquin Memorial High School. It is a part of school tradition to wear uniforms to avoid class distinction and over-interest in fads. Besides representing school families, the clean, up-to-code uniform draws students’ attention to community responsibility. A neat, clean, and tasteful appearance with well-groomed hair creates an atmosphere of confidence, respect, and learning. Moreover, it is an opportunity to uphold, reflect, and respect the dignity of the human person. In adhering to the San Joaquin Memorial High School uniform and dress code, students practice the virtues of humility, modesty, obedience, and respect.

It is the joint responsibility of parents and students to see that the uniform and dress code of the school is carried out daily; it is the responsibility of the teacher and staff to monitor and report non-compliance. Every student is expected to be in proper uniform every school day unless otherwise authorized. The uniform should be neat, clean, and in good repair. Violations of any uniform, dress code, and appearance requirements are subject to school disciplinary sanctions.

The school uniform/dress code promotes school identity and unity, fosters equality among our students, and facilitates a serious learning environment. The school is named in honor and memory of those San Joaquin Valley natives serving in the U.S. military that offered their lives in World War II. Students are required to comply with a uniform/dress code out of respect for the school’s history and tradition. All students are required to wear the complete Memorial uniform. Dennis, Dickies or like brands are acceptable. The administration reserves the right to determine, interpret and regulate what is appropriate appearance for San Joaquin Memorial students. All dress must be school appropriate, clean, in good repair and must fit properly. The San Joaquin Memorial Dress Code policy states specifically what students may wear on campus, if it is not expressly stated that it can be worn, then it CANNOT be worn.

To learn more about SJM's Dress and Grooming Codes please visit the 2022-2023 Student-Parent Handbook here.
The New 2022-2023 Bell Schedule has been Updated on the SJM Website
The New 2022-2023 Student-Parent Handbook has been Updated on the SJM Website
All 17 #SJMSpeaks Student Profiles from the Class of 2022
We are happy to present to you the 17 #SJMSpeaks Student Profiles of 2022 (above) and the remaining five profiles below! These interviews were a lot of fun to produce because it allowed our students to be real, authentic and speak up on what a Memorial education has meant for every single one of them.

If we could sum up these interviews they all mentioned how Memorial is a family, all truly love their teachers, leave SJM fully prepared for what the future holds and are grateful for their families' support.

Thank you to all 17 recent SJM Alumni for allowing us to get to know you more and we hope you've enjoyed watching these interviews as much as we have.

You can view all 17 interviews on this link.
#SJMSpeaks: Student Profile on Hallie Pham Class of 2022!
#SJMSpeaks: Student Profile on Frederic Faul Class of 2022!
#SJMSpeaks: Student Profile on Sarah Marmolejo Class of 2022!
#SJMSpeaks: Student Profile on Spencer Douangphouxay Class of 2022!
#SJMSpeaks: Student Profile on Hee Won Jang Class of 2022!
Upcoming Events
SJM Women's Golf Meeting
Attention Panthers! For those interested in trying out for the Women’s Golf Program this year or returning players, please attend the following meeting:

Women’s Golf Meeting
Monday, August 1st
5:30 pm in Room 62 (on campus)

Contact Coach Giannoni at 559-999-7471 if you have any questions.
The SJM Athletics Calendar for the 2022-2023 school year is continuously updated on the website.
The SJM Events Calendar for the 2022-2023 school year is continuously updated on the website. Please remember that attendance to the events below is mandatory. More detailed information to follow...
We are looking for SJM Host Families!
Are you interested in being a host family for the students coming to study at Memorial from Spain?

Then we recommend you contact Michael Burke, President of San Joaquin Memorial High School at mburke@sjmhs.org to learn more about this rewarding opportunity.
More Announcements
Shawn Meusborn is Named the New Baseball Head Coach!
Mr. Meusborn served as the Varsity pitching coach at athletic powerhouse Sierra Canyon in Los Angeles for the past two seasons (2021-2022). While at Sierra Canyon his team was the 2021 Co-Champion and 2022 League
Champion of the Gold Coast league. Prior to coaching at Sierra Canyon Shawn also was a Co Gold Coast League Champion in 2019 at Windward HS in Santa Monica. The past two years with Mr. Meusborn as the pitching coach at Sierra Canyon, the Blazers had an overall record of 48-8.

During last year’s 2022 season the Blazers went undefeated in the Gold Coast league. Also, during the 2022 season, the Blazers were on a 22 undefeated win streak and at one point were ranked #2 in the country by Max Preps.

Shawn helped develop 5 Division one pitchers in two years at Sierra Canyon and had a pitcher selected from this years 2022 MLB Draft. Over the years he has coached various players that have attended schools in the SEC, ACC, BIG 10, Pac12, and Big West.

Prior to coaching at Sierra Canyon Mr. Meusborn coached and played at baseball powerhouse Chatsworth High School in Los Angeles. Mr. Meusborn's father Tom Meusborn was the longtime Head Coach at Chatsworth and currently holds 29 California state records for baseball. While playing at Chatsworth, Mr. Meusborn was a part of two CIF City Section Championship teams in 2008 and 2009 that got to play at Dodger Stadium for the finals.

Mr. Meusborn later went on to play college baseball at LA Mission Junior College and Cal State Los Angeles where he graduated with a degree in Sociology.

In addition to being a varsity pitching coach, Mr. Meusborn was an assistant first grade teacher and is the Vice President of Total Baseball Vipers travel baseball organization.

We recently interviewed Mr. Meusborn and he shared the following with us:

1. What are you most looking forward to as the Baseball head coach?

a. There is a rich tradition of sports in the Central Valley and especially at SJM, what I look forward to the most is carrying on that rich tradition throughout the valley and SJM. I’m going to steal a quote from the SEC and say it seems like “it just means more” out here in the Central Valley and SJM.
i. I have always looked for new challenges for myself on and off the field. Taking
on new challenges and having new goals has always been important to me. I
have found that this has led me to have tremendous growth. I’m excited for this
challenge and can’t wait to get started.

2. What’s your top advice for our boys baseball team this year?
a. Enjoy the relationships made with your teammates/coaches on the field and enjoy those same relationships with your teachers/classmates. High school is a great time in a young teenager’s life. Some of these relationships may last a lifetime.

3. What do you look forward to accomplish with our baseball team this year?
a. I look forward to creating a culture of hard working and respectful young men both in the classroom and on the field.

4. Why is it so important for students to play a high school sport?
a. I believe playing high school sports can help people create good morals and habits for themselves but also in a team setting. Being a part of a team can help student-athletes understand each other even if they may come from different backgrounds and demographics.

Mr. Meusborn we wish you the best in this new and exciting chapter as the new Memorial Baseball Head Coach! Go Panthers!
Leave a Question on FresnoCatholic.org Schools System
Please continue to visit Fresno Catholic to learn more about the Fresno Catholic School system. On Thursday May 12, 2022 Bishop Joseph V. Brennan announced the creation of a school system comprising St. Helen's, St. Anthony's and San Joaquin Memorial. He also announced the formation of a Junior High on the San Joaquin Memorial campus.

This site is a place to get all of your questions answered. Once you submit a question on the "Leave a Question" tab it will be answered in a timely manner. New questions and answers are continually being uploaded to the same site.

Take a look and leave any questions you might have about this new venture for the Diocese of Fresno.  
Friendly Reminder for Friends and Family of San Joaquin Memorial High School
San Joaquin Memorial High School has experienced a high demand for freshmen enrollment for the incoming class. If you are interested in your child attending Memorial for the first time in the 2022-2023 school year please submit your completed application as soon as possible. At this time there is only 1 seat available for next school year for the incoming freshman class.

Memorial wants to make sure that our partner schools are given first priority for registering their soon to be freshmen students. If students from our partner schools want to be at Memorial for the 2022-2023 school year as a freshman we want to remind you to complete your enrollment application as soon as possible if you have not done so already. 

This is your last opportunity to submit your enrollment to San Joaquin Memorial High School as a freshman for the 2022-2023 school year. We are confident that this seat will be filled and once this seat is filled we will open a waiting list. 

For more information on the application process please contact SJM's Admissions Director Bianca Blanchette at (559) 268-9251 ext. 139 or bblanchette@sjmhs.org 

We look forward to welcoming your child as one of our SJM Class of 2026 in August! 
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Alumni Contact Update

Panther Alums, even though your time here at Memorial has passed, this is still your home! Please stay connected with us so that you can be part of our exciting engagement opportunities such as our sporting event tailgates, alumni mixers and so much more! To stay connected please fill out this form.
San Joaquin Memorial High School | sjmhs.org