The RamPage

February 17, 2023

February 20th

School Closed

February 21st

Fat Tuesday Food Truck Extravaganza

February 22nd

Ash Wednesday

All School Mass

February 25

Garces Gala

February 27

Mass

March 7

Mass

Gala RSVP Deadline is Today

The Garces Gala is in eight days and it is going to be a fabulous night on our campus! Please RSVP today as we have limited seating left. We want to accommodate as many people as possible - so let us know if you would like to attend. If you have any questions, please contact Tonya Abbott at tabbott@garces.org.

Click here to RSVP

Mark Your Calendars!

We know that many families have vacations and family events to plan so we wanted to get you some important dates for next school year.

• First Day of School - August 9th
• Labor Day - September 4th
• Veteran's Day - November 10th
• Thanksgiving - November 20th - 24th
• Christmas Break - December 18th - January 2nd
• MLK Day - January 15th
• President's Day - February 19th
• Easter Break - March 25th - 29th
• Baccalaureate Mass - May 13th
• Graduation May 14th
• Last Day of School - May 24th

This week we celebrated our FFA Program! There were daily activities that involved and educated our entire student body about the program and the importance of agriculture in our lives and in our community. We will have the details, photos, and a highlight video about the week in next week's newsletter.

Financial Aid - Applications Due by February 28th

It’s that time of year again to apply for tuition assistance for the upcoming school year. Registration will begin on February 1st for incoming and returning families who qualify. We understand that financial aid is crucial for so many of our families and is an annual application process. Applications for financial aid and tuition assistance will close on February 28, be sure to update your 2023-2024 application. 

FACTS Grant & Aid Account: https://online.factsmgt.com/aid 

The tuition assistance process also requires the Request for Tuition Assistance Form to be submitted to Eric Coleman and can be found here: https://garces.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Request-for-Tuition-Assistance-23.pdf

There are also options for scholarships through the Bakersfield Catholic Education Foundation you can learn more about and apply for here: https://garces.org/admissions/affordability/

In the past few years, we have continued to grow our enrollment by providing meaningful Christ center education, small class sizes, individual support, high-level academics and top-achieving athletics. We are able to do all of this while watching our students grow spiritually as well as growing in all aspects of their young adult lives. We encourage you to reach out to your friends and family to apply for Christ-centered education, top-notch academics and championship-level athletics for the upcoming school year.  

Hear Garces senior Isaiah Perry '23, talk about how his education at Garces has prepared him for college. Isaiah is a member of the Garces football and boys basketball teams. He is a first-generation Garces Ram and Garces has exceeded his expectations. Registration is now open for the Class of 2027. Please go online at garces.org and begin the application process.

Click on the video below.

Sports Update

Provided by Trevor Horn, Sports Information Director

It was a tough week for Garces Memorial winter sports in the Central Section playoffs this week, but it was an exciting season for the Rams as we gear up for the spring season.

Baseball

First-year head coach Clif Williamson notched his first career win in the season opener last Saturday at home against Arvin. Trailing 2-0 going into the bottom of the sixth, the Rams scored five unanswered runs in a 5-2 victory. The Rams trailed to Orange County on Tuesday in a loss to Irvine-University and will begin Terrio Classic play at home on Monday against Ridgeview at 4 p.m. and Arvin again at 7 p.m. at home. Tomorrow, the JV team will host Arvin at 10 a.m.

Boys Basketball

The Rams earned the No. 7 seed in the Central Section Division III playoffs after winning the D-IV title last season. At home on Wednesday in the first round against No. 11 Lompoc, the Rams cut a double-digit deficit to five points in the final two minutes but were unable to complete the comeback in a 70-64 loss.

Girls Basketball

In the first playoff appearance since 2019, the 4th-seeded Rams made the most of it in a 62-52 win over No. 11 Independence in the opening round on Tuesday at home with Reese Pasternik leading the way with 21 points and Nevaeh Beserra adding 19 in the victory. The Rams hosted No. 12 Tulare Union in the quarterfinals. Trailing by seven in the fourth quarter, the Rams came back to cut the lead to one but lost to The Tribe 64-63 in a successful first season for head coach Randy Robinson.

Boys Golf

The Rams opened up the season on Thursday in a dual meet at Rio Bravo Country Club against Lemoore. Garces won 5-1, led by Aidan Sorci (72), Carson Sorci (76) and Ryan Surgener (78).

Boys Soccer

Coming off one of the greatest four-year runs in the playoffs for any program in Garces Memorial history where the boys soccer team won four consecutive Central Section titles and two CIF State SoCal Regional state championships, the Rams played their first road game in section playoffs in five years as the 13-seed in D-II at No. 4 Arroyo Grande on Tuesday in the opening round. In a scoreless stalemate for most of the match, the Rams lost to the Eagles 1-0.

Girls Soccer

In the D-I playoffs for the first time in eight seasons, the 9th-seeded Rams battled for 100 minutes at No. 8 Clovis East. With less than three minutes left in regulation, sophomore Caitlin Asaro scored the equalizer to force overtime, but the Rams gave up a goal in extra time in the second overtime and lost in the opening round 3-2 to the Timberwolves in the first year for head coach Kristy Walker.

Swim and Dive

After three seasons competing in D-I in the section, the Rams have been moved to D-II for the postseason this spring, and if Tuesday’s season opening meet at Salvucci Aquatic Center against Highland was any indication, it could be an exciting season for the Rams.

Senior Abby Schechter and freshman Charlie Potter led the way with two D-II automatic qualifying cuts each on Thursday. In the girls 200 individual medley, Schechter qualified in 2 minutes, 30.81 seconds and the breaststroke (1:16.66). Potter made cuts in the 100 breast (1:06.72) and 50 free (23.72). Other that made D-I qualifying cuts are senior Giana Garcia (500 free, 5:55.32), senior Aydan Carballo (200 IM, 2:21.33), junior Johnny Mendiburu (200 IM, 2:20.66) and freshman Jett Kalmikovs (1:01.46).  

                                      

Boys Tennis

The Rams opened the season with a 6-3 win on the road at Paso Robles on Tuesday. On Thursday, the Rams began tournament play in the TRAC vs SYL Challenge in a 5-4 loss to Clovis. Action continues today up north with a 9 a.m. match at Clovis North and 2 p.m. at Buchanan.

Wrestling

The wrestling program is the lone team still in winter sports competition. Three boys will represent Garces Memorial at the Central Section Masters Championships at Buchanan in Clovis which began at 9 a.m. today. Senior Jalani Smith, who won the 172-pound D-IV title last Saturday in Madera, is the 7th seed this weekend. Also competing are juniors Brendon Ko (132 pounds) and Hayden Tadeo (160). On the girls side, freshman Kalia Delfin (101) and senior Kaydence Boyd (128) both took home second-place finishes at the Area Championships last Saturday at Golden Valley. Both are seeking section gold starting today at Morro Bay as Delfin is the 4-seed and Boyd is the 2-seed with the state championships a week away at Mechanics Bank Arena downtown. 

Garces president, Mr. Kent Hickey is the author of "40 Days with God". While the book can be read at any time, it is especially appropriate to read over the 40 days of Lent. The book is currently 25% off and all proceeds will go to the Garces Godmother Fund. Over the years, the Garces Godmother Fund has been a blessing to many of our families when they needed a little extra help with their expenses at Garces.

The book can be purchased online. Please click on the link

Click to Order 40 Days with God or call Paraclete Press at 1-800-451-5006.

Mr. Hickey has kindly offered to lead a discussion group about his book. Please email Lou Ann Durrett if you are interested in finding out more at ldurrett@garces.org.

We have a limited number of seats left for Gala. Please make your reservation today! Click here to make your reservations online, or email tabbott@garces.org.

In Our Prayers

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May they rest in peace. Amen.

Dennis Roux '62

Brother of Richard Roux '67

Kern Catholic is hosting its 5th annual Prayer Breakfast with special keynote speaker, Mark Hart. Mark is known as the "Bible Geek" and serves as Executive Vice President for Life Teen International. A graduate from the University of Notre Dame, Mark is a best-selling and award-winning author (or co-author) of over a dozen books. His wildly popular DVD Bible Study Series,”T3″ is revolutionizing Catholic youth/young adult Scripture Study.

He has traveled the globe speaking to millions of souls, maintains a daily social media ministry (through Facebook and Twitter) and is a regular guest on several Catholic radio programs. Mark’s weekly audio podcast (entitled Sunday, Sunday, Sunday), HD video spots (Beyond Words) and other original resources are utilized in youth groups, homes and classrooms in well over two dozen countries.

Mark’s humor and his passion for Scripture are helping hundreds of thousands of Catholics, young and old, begin to read and study the Bible in engaging and relevant ways.