Dear Serra Parents and Guardians,
Welcome back to the last six weeks of school. We are happy to see our campus bustling with students and our clubs and sports in full swing. As we approach the remainder of the semester, we are planning to welcome all students on campus using a phased approach, in line with recent changes to the San Mateo County Office of Education’s Pandemic Framework.
Following guidance from the CDC, the County of San Mateo changed the required distance between student desks in a classroom from six feet to three feet. This change makes it possible to accommodate all students in our classes. We are excited to begin implementing this change next week. All other mitigating measures must be strictly adhered to, which includes a distance of six feet between teacher and student desks, six feet when eating and drinking, as well as maintaining the mask requirement for all students and teachers. The plan is as follows:
- Monday, April 26 - We will have the Blue Cohort freshmen and sophomores on campus and will welcome back all junior and senior students to campus to attend school on a daily basis for the remainder of the semester.
- Monday, May 3 - In addition to the upper division students, we will welcome back all sophomores and freshmen to campus to attend school on a daily basis for the remainder of the semester.
- Students who have chosen to continue in distance learning will remain online through the end of the year.
- The student class schedule will remain the same, with a five-day school day beginning at 8:15 a.m. and ending at 12:30 p.m.
In light of this news, students who are interested in making a switch from hybrid to distance learning or vice-versa must alert Dean of Students Ray Baldonado no later than noon on Friday, April 23. All decisions will be final come Monday, April 26.
This year has been anything but normal. We are grateful for the patience and support of our community as we have made the changes necessary to create the best educational and spiritual experience for our students given the specific health and safety confines. We are so happy to welcome our Padres back as a group before the end of the academic year to celebrate the unique brotherhood that makes us Serra High School.
We are happy to answer any questions you may have. Please send questions to [email protected].
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Charlie McGrath
Principal
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Barry Thornton, Ed.D.
President
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Senior Adrian Mendoza Signs with Southern Oregon University |
Congratulations to Aidan Mendoza, who signed today to play track and field for Southern Oregon University.
Mendoza, a senior who turned 18 years old on Tuesday, is an incredible student athlete and academic. With less than a year in training, Mendoza has impressed Serra coaches and collegiate scouts with his incredible talent.
“Track is an individual sport and you have to be intrinsically motivated; you have to want it and if you do it's gonna take you places,” said Jim Marheineke, head track and field coach. “This commitment shows that desire and that he is completely bought into this sport,” he said.
Mendoza has only been on the track and field team since his sophomore year and his junior year season was gravely impacted by the COVID-19 shut down that halted all sports.
“I think if you asked Aidan a few years ago, he would have said that he planned to play premier soccer somewhere but he stumbled on track and he found his passion,” said Marheineke. “He began as a sophomore, so his training age is less than a year-- but he found his passion and he has a huge, bright future ahead.”
According to Serra Principal Charlie McGrath, Mendoza is an outstanding example of a great Padre.
“Aidan is an exemplary student -- exemplary academically and athletically, putting forth his best efforts in his school work and his athletics,” McGrath said.
Congratulations to Aidan and best of luck at Southern Oregon University! Go Padres!
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Prom Zoom Meeting Tonight for Attending Seniors
Tonight at 7 p.m. there is a mandatory Zoom meeting for all seniors who plan to attend the prom. Here is the Zoom Link.
Anyone not able to attend should check the Padre Week Ahead for more information. If your son is attending prom, parents must complete the online prom agreement. Parents will also have the option to buy the ticket to prom through the agreement.
Senior Prom will be held on Saturday, May 15 at the Courtyard of the San Mateo Events Center. Seniors will spend an “Evening in the French Quarter.”
Although not traditional, it will be an evening for the seniors and the guest of their choice to celebrate the class of 2021.
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Students Needed To Fill Summer at Serra Job Opportunities
Are you looking for a paying job this summer?
The Serra Sports and Recreation Camp is looking for camp counselors from Notre Dame, Mercy and Serra.
This five-week position is being offered as both paying positions and also service hour positions.
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COVID Testing to Continue Throughout School Year |
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Testing appointments for on campus covid testing available through the end of the school year!
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Summer at Serra!
Serra is open for summer! Families can register now for Serra Swim School, Serra Children's Sports and Recreation Camp, Serra Summer School, Padre Rowing Camp and Peninsula Wrestling Clinics. Each program has been carefully reimagined to ensure a high quality, in-person experience while offering a safe and supportive environment with COVID-smart protocols approved by the San Mateo County Health Department.
Under the guidance of a dedicated and fully certified staff, Serra Swim School is offering small group and private lessons in two-week sessions at Serra's beautiful, sunbathed aquatics facility.
The Children's Sports and Recreation Camp, a Serra staple of summer fun for more than 50 years, is offering all-day sessions for youngsters entering grades one through seven.
This year's academic summer school includes the Freshman Bridge Program, which is designed especially for incoming Serra freshmen who can benefit from a review/preview in English, math, and science. Geometry for Advancement and Honors Geometry for Advancement also are offered along with high school courses in English, math, science, and Spanish devised for remediation.
Padre Rowing Camp has three one-week camps scheduled in July. The camps provide an introduction to competitive high school sweep rowing for prospective student-athletes with little or no experience in the sport. Padre Rowing Camp is located at the Bair Island Aquatic Center in Redwood City.
Peninsula Wrestling Clinics use a game-centered approach to introduce the sport of wrestling to boys and girls ages 5 to 12. One-week sessions are scheduled during the month of June.
To learn more about what's happening this summer at Serra, and to register, please visit serrahs.com/summer21.
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Event in Awareness and Support
of Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities
Attend a panel discussion on the Asian-American experience and anti-Asian racism and violence. This event features ABC-7 News Anchor Kristen Sze, Jose Antonio Vargas, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and Moderator Ralph Wales, head of school, St. Matthew's Episcopal Day School.
The recent increase in incidents of violence directed toward Asian American/Pacific Islander communities has elevated awareness of the bigotry and hurt that has been a persistent part of these communities’ American experience. Hear from a diverse panel of key voices who will discuss how they are leading the charge to change these patterns of discrimination through education and civic action.
Join this important conversation on April 27, 6 p.m.-7:15.p.m. and help bring the Asian American/Pacific Islander experience – historic and current – to a point of focus in our schools and homes.
This event is a collaboration between St. Matthew’s Episcopal Day School and Common Ground Speaker Series with a view and commitment to taking action to help confront racial injustice. This event is free for all attendees but registration closes two hours before the event.
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Zoph Library Blog Tackles National Humor Month
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Senior Retreat Opportunities on April 30 or May 7
Seniors, looking for an opportunity to reconnect with your peers? Registration for the 2021 Senior Retreat is now open!
The retreat will be offered on two dates at the Vallombrosa Retreat Center from 9 a.m.-2.p.m. on April 30 and from 2 p.m.-8 p.m. on May 7. Give yourself the time and space you deserve to reflect on your time as a Padre with gratitude, process your journey at Serra, and look forward to what lies ahead after graduation. Take a few hours for yourself to pray and become closer to God and your Serra community. Come as you are! Questions? Contact Mr. Bruno Register here today!
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Senior Graduation Requirements
Due No Later Than THIS FRIDAY!
Attention, senior parents: Your sons received a number of assignments through Google Classroom before break. Please make sure that your sons are completing these as they were due on Monday. Students can still turn items in until this Friday, April 23.
We understand that some students are still deciding which college they will attend, so the college sweatshirt photo can be turned as soon as the decision is made.
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During the month of December, we showcased Padre family-owned businesses. We had an overwhelming response to this effort and have decided to continue to showcase these businesses.
We hope this year, you'll shop local and patronize these Padre businesses!
Thank you for your community support and remember to shop small, shop local, shop Padre!
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Common Ground Tackles Learning Differences and Distance Learning
Join Common Ground for a panel discussion with CHC Experts Chris Harris, MEd and Kendra Fraka, MSW, moderated by author Deborah Reber.
Supporting Learning Differences While Distance Learning will take place on April 29 at 7 p.m.
Children’s Health Council experts share best practices for parents who are supporting students with learning challenges at home, with a significant emphasis on mental health, promoting executive function skills, social emotional learning and academics.
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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.
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Wishing you all a wonderful week!
Director of Marketing and Communications
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Junipero Serra High School | 451 West 20th Avenue | San Mateo, CA 94403 | serrahs.com
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