The RamPage

May 12, 2023

Weekly Newsletter for Garces Families, Students, Alumni, & Friends.
Important Dates

May 15th

Baccalaureate Mass

7:30 PM Garces Quad


May 16th

Graduation Practice 10:00 AM

Graduation Ceremony 7:30 PM

Sam Tobias Field


May 17th

FOG DELAY

May 18th

FFA Spring Farmer's Market


May 24th

FOG DELAY


May 25th & May 26th

Spring Musical

"Beauty & the Beast"

Final Exams

May 30th

Periods 5 & 7


May 31st

Periods 2 & 4


June 1st

Periods 1 & 3


June 2nd

Period 6

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Garces Memorial 75th Anniversary

75th Wing-Ding Photo Booth


Click on the button to check out the Photo Booth pictures taken at the Wing-Ding.

Wing-Ding Photo Booth

Garces Security Upgrades Project

Message from President Kent Hickey

Something that struck me when I first visited the Garces campus a year ago was the beauty of its mission style, including how the buildings were spread out to create a park like setting. However, what also struck me was the safety/security issues associated with a campus of this type. I first became a school head in 1999 – same year as Columbine. Rather than being an aberration, that tragedy has been re-lived at schools repeatedly over the past couple decades, and there is no sign of it letting up.


Our campus has many needs, and one of them is a significant safety/security upgrade. The first phase in this upgrade will take place this summer. It will include a transition from the current locking mechanisms on doors (that date in some buildings to 1947!) to a fob system that will allow for lockdown from a single source. We will also begin upgrading our security monitoring system. The cost for phase 1 is $201,000. Garces was awarded $147,000 from a successful federal grant application for part of the cost and the Bakersfield Catholic Education Foundation recently approved funding for the remainder. (Thank you Foundation Trustees!)


Our second phase will include completion of the new security monitoring system and upgrades to our fencing, with an estimated cost of $250,000. We will once again submit grant applications and hope for a positive response. If not, we will fold this need into our Annual Fund Appeal for 23-24. I am sure we would all agree that investing in the safety and security of our community is a priority.


Kent P. Hickey

Transitional President

Good Luck Wishes

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” - 2 Corinthians 13.14

As some members of the Garces family are preparing to move on to new adventures after this school year, please pause with us to thank them for their contributions to our community:  

Shannon Campbell, both a member of the Garces family (proud alum) and a member of a family with a long Garces history (including her mother, Joan Richardson), has provided exceptional service to the community over the past few years. Included among Shannon’s many accomplishments are navigating the byzantine world of procuring pandemic-related funding, expertise in Student Information Systems, tech support for students, and, this year, increasing systems efficiency as Director of Operations (including a very successful launch of the new cafeteria service). Shannon has contributed to Garces with a ready smile and welcoming demeanor for all the many, many people she has assisted. Thank you, Shannon!

Two teachers joined us for this year as they awaited transitions to next steps in their journey. Josh Gonzalez taught chemistry this semester and will be attending the Medical College of Wisconsin in the fall to pursue a dual MD/MBA degree. Krista Jensen taught Math this year and will be relocating with her husband and dog for Luanda, Angola this summer (while also learning Portuguese). Both Josh and Krista received rave reviews from their students – thank you!

As shared in last week’s newsletter, Joan Richardson, is retiring at year-end. Sherry Burns will be leaving the front desk to take on a new role next year. Thank you, Sherry! Here are Sherry’s thoughts on this transition:


“I became a member of the Garces family in 1998 as the Gala Assistant, then moved into my role as Attendance Clerk. At that time my two boys Todd and Shaun were attending Garces. My attendance role was combined with Receptionist, so I am currently Attendance/Receptionist. I am excited for my new role as Registrar/Assistant to the Principal. I have big shoes to fill as Joan Richardson retires, but I will do everything I can to make her proud. I am looking forward to working with Noel Leon as her assistant and feel so blessed that God gave me this opportunity.”

Student News

Class of 2023 Senior Awards


Please click on the button below for the list of Senior Awards.

Class of 2023 Senior Awards

Senior Sunset


Last Friday night, the seniors gathered for a final sunset together and signed yearbooks on the steps by the tennis courts. Check out the highlight video of their senior year at Garces.

Senior Slide Show


Our Senior Farewell Mass is a long-standing tradition at Garces followed by the Senior Slide Show. The Yearbook class and Ms. Reed created this year's slide show. Thank you for capturing four years of memories for the Class of 2023! Please check out the slide show below.

Black Student Union (BSU)


BSU celebrated the end of the year with a lunch to honor their seniors. BSU honored 6 seniors, Cotton Bennett, Jalani Smith, JJ Ward, Latifa Ibrahim, Anuar Powell-Gonzalez, Jazmine Martinez, and David Smith. These seniors were pivotal to the contributions and involvement to the establishment of BSU on campus. They assisted with the first ever Haunted House event and celebration of Black History Month. From the President of BSU, Jayla Ward, “I would like to thank all the seniors leaving this year as they go on to new paths. Thank you for being a part of the first Black Student Union organization at Garces and we appreciate all that you have done. I wish you the best in these upcoming challenges that will task your newfound freedom. We will always be here for you and miss you.” BSU looks forward to bringing more exciting and cultural events to Garces in the upcoming school year. The club moderator is Mrs. Edwards at sedwards@garces.org

Latina Leaders of Garces


The Latina Leaders of Garces is looking to finish off the year with a final event. On Friday, May 19 during lunch, the Latina Leaders of Garces will hold the 1st Annual Quinceañera Fashion Show. A Quinceañera is a celebration of a young lady’s 15th birthday, marking her passage from girlhood to womanhood. It is both a religious and cultural event to emphasize the importance of family and society in a young lady’s life. There are many girls on campus who have had this celebration and would like to share their dresses. The Latina Leaders will educate the student body the meaning of a Quince and will present a fashion show at lunch. Latin Leaders in charge of the event at Maddy Baeza, Mariah Mora, and Cynthia Ramirez. The club moderator is Mrs. Edwards at sedwards@garces.org.  

Meals with Love


Thursday was the final meal prep of this school year for the families who stay at the Ronald McDonald House. Thank you Rams for your compassion for others! Club members who participated are Brandon Tran, Erin Castillo, Joonho Lee, and Genesis Vasquez. Club moderators are Mrs. Haines and Mr. Holmes. 

Mental Health Month

Week 2 - Anxiety


This past week the focus was on anxiety and educating students on how anxiety affects their mental health. Mr. Golla used mental wellness puzzles in the freshmen theology classes this week to teach the students about self-talk and anxiety. In addition to the theology talks, Mrs. Thompson arranged to have special guest speaker Ms. Alyssa Church, FDN-P. Ms. Church came and spoke to students during lunch about how nutrition affects the brain. She helped the students understand the connection between diet and mental health.

FFA Spring Farmer's Market


On Thursday, May 18th, the Garces FFA program will host a Spring Farmer's Market. The students will have a variety of items for purchase. The market will be in the Garces quad from 3:00 - 6:00 PM. Please bring cash to pay for your purchases. If you have any questions, please contact FFA advisor Mrs. Ashleigh Rossi.

Uniform Sales


Uniform sales are now through June 6th in the student store, all hours that students are here in class (i.e. 8:00 to 3:05 on Green Day’s). Place orders or pick up items while supplies last.


Norman’s will be in the MLH on June 6th (one day only) from 2:30 to 7:00 for all skirts, shorts and pants.


The student store will be open June 5th and 6th from 2:30 to 7:00 for all other items needed for uniforms or spirit dress items.

June 6th will be the last day to pick up or order items before school starts in the fall. All ordered items will be available for pickup the first week of school in August.



Please bring all used uniforms, spirit wear and books to the student store. We will be organizing all of these items before the June 5th sale day in the Student Store.

Graduation Photos


Matt Reynolds of Reynolds Photography will be at Baccalaureate Mass and Graduation. To order photos of your graduate, please go to his website or email him at photombr@gmail.com.


Reynolds Photography

Garces Summer School

Ten Unit Courses June 1st - July 7th

Middle School Courses June 1st - June 30th


The Garces Summer School website is up! Please click on the link for the courses we are offering this summer. Please register soon as our classes fill up and we don;t want you to miss out!


Garces Summer School Website

Class of 2024 - Senior Portraits for 2023-2024 Yearbook


All Juniors (Class of 2024) need to make an appointment with Matt Reynolds to take their senior portrait for next year's yearbook picture. Reynolds Photography will be taking photos from July 10th - July 28th. If you have any questions, please email Mr. Matt Reynolds at photombr@gmail.com.

Admissions

Employment Opportunity

Teachers Needed


Garces is looking for a Chemistry teacher for the 2023-2024 school year. The job descriptions are available on our website. All interested candidates should contact Mrs. Denise Limi for more information.


Teaching Jobs

Garces Athletics

GARCES SWEEP D-II SECTION SWIM AND DIVE TITLES

 

It all started with a little controversy and ended in total elation.

 

On Saturday at the KHSD Aquatic Complex, both of the Garces Memorial swim and dive teams won the Central Section Division II championships.

 

And for the first time in program history, two Rams will be represented in the CIF State swimming championships next weekend at Clovis West in Fresno.

 

The boys ended in a tie for first place in the 200 medley relay with Kingsburg in 1 minute, 39.81 seconds in the first finals of the day and then ended the afternoon with a first place finish in the 400 free relay in 3:16.14 that started a celebration that ended with head coach Jessica Pavletich being the first to be thrown into the pool.

 

Freshmen Charlie Potter and Jett Kalmikovs were part of both relay teams and will advance to the state championships. Potter advances in the 200 individual medley after posting the best time of anyone in the D-I or D-II finals in 1:54.61. The D-I finals were at Clovis West simultaneously as the D-II finals. Potter also won the boys 500 free in 4:42.53. Kalmikovs advances to state with a 52.68 time in the boys 100 backstroke.

 

On the girls side, the swimmers got help from two divers that competed on Wednesday as Addison Roberts finished first and Claire Banducci finished third.The title for the girls was even more impressive knowing only six Rams were in competition on Saturday during the finals. But all six were instrumental in the first section title for both programs since 2010.

Freshman Katie McCarthy finished third in the girls 500 free (5:30.47) and a fourth place finish in the girls 200 free (2:05.02) and was part of the 200 medley relay (2:00.02) with Gianna Garcia, Abigail Schechter and Davin Cheshire.

 

The girls solidified the title with a third place finish in the 400 free relay (3:58.65) with McCarthy, Garcia, Cindy King and Stella Holland.


How The Rams Fared

Boys

Aydan Carballo - 500 free (5:15.58), 6th place; 100 breast (1:06.68), 8th

Peter Gonzalez - 200 free (1:52.12), 9th; 100 fly (56.81), 7th

Jett Kalmikovs - 200 free (1:50.15), 2nd; 100 back (53.78), 1st

Ben King - 200 IM (2:11.82), 7th; 500 free (5:19.93) 11th

Johnny Mendiburu - 200 free (1:53.21) 10th; 500 free (5:12.45), 5th

Charlie Potter - 200 IM (1:55.09), 1st; 500 free (4:42.53), 1st

Clay Selvidge - 50 free (23.14), 15th; 100 free (50.22), 5th

200 medley relay - Kalmkovs, Potter, Gonzalez, Selvidge (1:39.81) 1st (tie)

200 free relay - Owen Wesihaar, King, Mendiburu, Carballo (1:34.16), 5th

400 free relay - Selvidge, Gonzalez, Kalmikovs, Potter (3:16.14), 1st

Girls

Davin Cheshire - 100 fly (1:07.35), 11th; 100 breast (1:13.99), 7th

Gianna Garcia - 100 fly (1:06.73), 10th; 100 back (1:04.99), 5th

Stella Holland - 100 free (1:00.12), 12th

Katie McCarthy - 200 free (2:05.02), 4th; 500 free (5:33.10), 5th

Abigail Schechter - 200IM (2:24.37), 6th; 100 breast (1:13.83), 6th

200 medley relay - Garcia, Schechter, Cheshire, McCarthy (2:00.02), 4th

200 free relay - Cindy King, Cheshire, Schechter, Holland (1:52.52), 11th

400 free relay - Garcia, King, Holland, McCarthy (3:55.97), 3rd

This Week in Garces Athletics

Provided by Trevor Horn, Sports Information Director


Spring Sports Recap

 

The regular season officially ends today for Garces Memorial spring sports on Senior Night for baseball and softball as we have section championships for boys golf, swim and dive, boys tennis, and track and field all in the next 72 hours.

 

Baseball

The Rams will wrap up the regular season tonight with Senior Night for our seven seniors at 6 p.m. against Stockdale. The playoffs brackets will be released on Saturday afternoon and Garces is projected to go into the Division III playoffs with a resume that has wins over BCHS (ranked No. 5 in the section), Frontier (No. 10), and Centennial (No. 12) in the past three weeks.

 

Boys Golf

After capturing the River League title last week, the Rams automatically qualified as a team to the Central Section boys golf championships on Monday at San Joaquin Country Club in Fresno. Aidan Sorci led the way with a county-best average of 73 this season. Followed by Carson Sorci (78), Grant Periera (79), Bennet Michaud (81), Ryan Surgener (90) and Jackson Thorn (91).

 

Softball

The season will come to a close tonight for the Rams as we celebrate Taylor Crider as the lone senior before the final home games against Stockdale at 4 p.m. The Rams battled with the Mustangs (ranked No. 8 in the section) before a four-run bottom of the sixth propelled Stockdale to a 6-1 win over the Rams. Due to the new threshold of 30 percent win percentage to advance to the section playoffs, the Rams fell just short but will have eight of nine starters back next season.

 

Boys Tennis

Nico Fanucchi and Brysen Limpias won all of their doubles matches at the Central Section South Area qualifying tournament at Wasco last week in straight sets to advance to the section singles and doubles championships today and tomorrow at Reedley-Immanuel. The duo are seeded 10th and will begin play at 10:30 a.m. in hopes of bringing home another section championship to campus this school year.

 

Track and Field

Nine Garces track and field athletes are headed to Visalia for the section D-IV championships today at Central Valley Christian. On the boys side it’s: Ryan Chandler,, Ian Harrison, David Smith, Julian Smith, Jules Struzyna, and Nathaniel Wallace along with Sofia Moody on the girls side.

Giving to Garces

Thank you Annual Fund Drive Donors

Thank you to everyone who has supported this year's Annual Fund Drive. If you have contributed in the past, and haven't had a chance to give this year, you can still make a difference in the lives of our students.

Click here to donate to the Annual Fund
Annual Fund Drive Donor List

Alumni News

In Our Prayers

 

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

May they rest in peace. Amen.


Marie Sakowski

Mother of Jim Sakowski '70, Susan (Sakowski) Swertfager '71, Mary Ellen (Sakowski) Thomas '74, Steven Sakowski '76, Thomas Sakowski '76, Vincent Sakowski '79, and Sally (Sakowski) Goodman '82; Grandmother to Melissa Sakowski '98, Zach Sakowski '00, Amy (Sakowski) Wolensky '01, Greg Swertfager '03, Jenna (Sakowski) Moore '07, Nick Sakowski '11, Peter Sakowski '11, Chris Sakowski '13, Patrick Sakowski '13, Paige Sakowski '15, Matthew Sakoski '16, JohnPaul Sakowski '17, Sam Sakowski '19, and Jack Sakowski '25.


Joan (Maguire) Bison '63

Sister of Patrick Maguire '60


Jeff Mulhoffer '92

Husband of Jennifer (Bachman) Mullhofer '03 and brother to Brian Mulhoffer '97

2023 Hall of Honor


Congratulations to the 2023 Hall of Honor Inductees! The inductees will be celebrated on Thursday, November 16th at Luigi's Warehouse. Mark your calendars and plan on joining us to celebrate all they have done for our little school on the hill!



  • Damon Culbertson
  • Steve Lewis '64
  • Rich Romo '70
  • Jeremy Tobias '84
  • The Laura (Murray) Etcheverry '77 & Mike Etcheverry '77 Family

50th Class Reunion

Class of 1973


Calling all alumni from the Class of 1973! Dianne (Grifffiths) Riley is hard at work on organizing your 50th class reunion. It's going to be on Saturday, October 7th at her home. Please contact Dianne for more information.


Dianne (Griffiths) Riley

Email:dianne.riley@me.com

Cell: 661-204-1271

55th Class Reunion

Class of 1968


Calling all alumni from the Class of 1968! Cindy (Duncan) Lynch is hard at work on organizing your 55th class reunion. It's going to be on Saturday, October 21st at Luigi's Restaurant. Please contact Cindy for more information.


Cindy (Duncan) Lynch

Email: cndyelynch@aol.com

40th Class Reunion

Class of 1983


Calling all alumni from the Class of 1983! Kristine and Monica are busy planning your 40th reunion. It's going to be on Saturday, October 28th at Luigi's Restaurant and it's going to be a blast! So spread the word and let Kristine or Monica know if you plan on attending. More details to come!


Kristine (Owens) Morton

Email: drikmorton@yahoo.com

Cell: 661-549-5174


Monica (Valpredo) Sacco

Email: monicalsacco@aol.com

Cell: 661-703-7028