Welcome to the seventy-second edition of the

Panther Press,

a biweekly electronic newsletter sent to families and friends of 

San Joaquin Memorial High School.

In this Issue

Past Events & Announcements:

  • Boys' Basketball are CHAMPIONS!
  • Spring Kairos 2023
  • Register for the 2023-2024 School Year
  • 2023-2024 Tuition Profile
  • Skirts Announcement
  • French Students On Campus
  • Celebrate Abilities Day
  • Memorial FFA Chapter Attends State Conference
  • Memorial Students at Kid's Day
  • Freshman Registration Night
  • S Club Project
  • 2024 Yearbook
  • Student Spotlights

Upcoming Events:

  • March Mass (3/23)
  • NCAA Letter of Intent Signing (3/27)
  • Service Deadlines Announcements 
  • Prom (4/1)
  • Prayer at The Fountain (4/4)
  • Around the World in 5 Days (4/17 - 4/21)
  • Grease (04/28 - 4/30)
  • March All School Mass (03/23) 
  • SAVE THE DATE: Graduation (5/20)

More Announcements:

  • Schedule your Shadow Visit!
  • Adoration Days (every Thursday)
  • 2022-2023 Yearbook Announcements
  • Join SJM Parent Guild
  • Purchase your Athletic Boosters Club Membership Card
  • Panther Den Operating Hours 
  • Important Links
  • Follow us on Social Media!
  • Subscribe to our Youtube Channel

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 email message!

Past Events & Announcements

Congratulations to our Boys' Basketball on their 2023 CIF State Division II Championship!

Our SJM Boy's Basketball won the 2023 CIF State Division II Championship on Saturday, March 11, 2023. They played at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, CA. On Thursday, March 16, 2023 we held a celebration to honor our Boys' Basketball team on their accomplishment. The City of Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer was present at the ceremony and presented the team with a proclamation. He proclaimed March 16, 2023 to be SJM's Boys' Basketball Day in the City of Fresno.

Spring Kairos 2023

Kairos, Greek for "a supreme moment with God", is a very unique and meaningful experience for both students and adult staff who attend. This three-night, four-day, student-led retreat is comprised of students, members of the Campus Ministry team, and other faculty and staff members

 

The Spring Kairos Retreat was a great success; 35 students had the opportunity to enhance their faith while learning effective ways to navigate day-to-day issues. Students engaged in activities structured around the message of love; love of God, love of self and love of others, which provided an understanding of the Catholic Faith outside the classroom setting.

 

Some of these activities included icebreakers, fun interactive games, discussions, testimonies, and liturgy activities. The concluding challenge of Kairos is to continue to live out one’s faith through the lessons realized while at the retreat, applying them to daily life at home, school and in their church.

Emails were sent on February 24 to Register or Re-Register to Memorial for the 2023-2024 School Year!

2023-2024 Tuition Profile

Please review the above Fresno Catholic Schools System Tuition Profile for 2023-2024 school year. You can also view it here.


Reminder for families with students in grades 9, 10 or 11 for the 2022-2023:


Tuition assistance grants (financial aid awards) are for one school year only. If you wish to be considered for assistance in the 2024-2025 school year, you must re-apply each year. Here is the link to apply: https://online.factsmgt.com/aid


IMPORTANT Reminder: Short Skirts!

Attention all female students: Complaints have been given to the Administration in regards to the short skirts, from daily wearing on campus, mass days, and major events that are held on and off campus. 


We are asking that all female students who choose to wear the uniform skirt, take immediate action in correcting the length of their skirt either by wearing it correctly in length, or getting new ones that are of the correct length and fit. 


This course of action is being closely monitored by the Administration, and if our young ladies can not correct these infractions, the wearing of skirts will not be allowed in the near future.  If you are wearing it correctly and like having this as an option, then your Administration is asking for your help in holding your peers accountable and encouraging them to wear their uniforms correctly.

Memorial Welcomed 17 French Students and 2 Teachers from Béziers!

The SJM French Pen Pal Exchange was held March 4-11, making history! 


Our classy, generous host families welcomed 17 French students and 2 teachers from Béziers, France into their homes and lives. Events included a train station welcome, mass at Holy Spirit and welcome lunch at La Kebrada Restaurant, various host family and pen pal activities such as the boys basketball game and River Park visits (Target was a hit!), and homemade meals. The French students also enjoyed their own trips to San Francisco and Monterey. Sharing Celebrate Abilities Day with them was a huge highlight, as we lived out our shared Lasallian values and served the community together. 


A farewell fun night at Dave and Busters capped the experience. Merci beaucoup to all involved! If anyone would like to purchase a t-shirt that commemorates the occasion, please email Carlie Frye at cfrye@sjmhs.org. Also, stay tuned for more info on an SJM trip to France Easter 2024, when we will reconnect with our French amies!  

Celebrate Abilities Day (CAD) Returns to Memorial!

With excitement, the 2023 Celebrate Abilities Day was held on March 9th. This was the first time since 2019 the event was held on campus. The school-wide service day encompasses a variety of carnival games and activities adapted to meet the needs of our guests with special needs. This year's goal was to have 150 guests from various Special Education programs, Transitional Adult programs and organizations working with clients with special needs from around the valley; however we exceeded our goal.


"To me, Celebrate Abilities Day is a beautiful day in which San Joaquin Memorial remembers that serving others doesn't have to be serious and intense. All acts performed with kindness and love are acts of service." -Jacob Zarate '23



"Two things I learned from my buddy was patience and kindness because even though it was harder to communicate with him we were both able to have a good time and make good memories." -Analise Gutierrez '24


"I taught my guests that they can express themselves in all forms of art, especially in sand art where they were able to use many different colors of sand to pour into a shaped bottle however they wanted." -Janelle Alvarez '25


"The smiles and the enjoyment that they experienced was the best part of the experience." -Yasmine Araim '26


Additionally, we would like to recognize 19 students who received the Good Samaritan Award for their dedication and spirit of humility, these students devoted their time to ensure that this was an equitable and meaningful experience for all of our guests. Please see the list below:


1. Civiello, Gino

2. Nicholson, Josephine Mary

3. Alvarez, Francisco Giovanni

4. Rubio, Emiliano Raul

5. Smith, Romano

6. Fanucchi, Sofia

7. McConaghy, Braden Michael

8. LanFranco, Nicole Madeline

9. Fitzpatrick, Caudia

10. Lee, "Edward" Hyeongjun

11. Woolf, George Ross

12. De Sousa, Jacob Dylan

13. Gutierrez, Yailanis

14. Verni, Lea

15. Herzog, Hayden

16. Mahoney, James

17. Villalvazo, Sarah

18. Golik, Daniella

19. Traham, Michael

Memorial FFA Chapter Participates in California State Conference

This past week we took 10 FFA members to the California FFA State Conference in Ontario, CA. Students had the opportunity to listen to guest speakers from the agriculture industry, go on a tour of the Aquarium of the Pacific, attend a concert, and grow their knowledge of FFA and Ag. with over 6,000 other FFA members from across the state of California. Way to go SJM FFA Chapter!

Memorial Students Participate in Kid's Day!

On March 7th Sofia Hein '24 participated in Kid’s Day along with other fellow panthers. They started at 6:30 AM and finished at 9 AM and had a great time. With Hein's personal fundraising and along with the Kid's Day alone they hit over $10,000 and they couldn’t have done it without the over pouring support from everyone in Fresno, CA. She is looking forward to making this a school opportunity next year and she cannot wait to see what it holds! 

Freshman Registration Night was a Success!

To view more photos click on the photo above

We had a successful Freshman Registration Night on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 on campus. We welcomed the newly accepted Class of 2027 and their parents / guardians. It was so great to see the excitement and happiness of our future Panthers as they prepare to embark on their journey of the next four years at Memorial. Class of 2027 is going to be a fun class! WELCOME!

S Club Makes St. Patrick's Day Cards for Valley Children's Hospital Patients

Sensational S Club members came together to make St. Patrick’s Day Cards for The Valley Children’s Hospital kids to enjoy and have the spirit of this holiday! Please continue to join us in contributing these festive cards for others in the future.

Looking for Yearbook Staff for the 2023-2024 School Year!

Yearbook class wants your talent and help to build an amazing 2024 yearbook.


Looking for photographers, graphic designers, and writers for next school year! #spiritof2024


Please contact Mrs. Geisler at sgeisler@sjmhs.org for more information!

Student Spotlights

Congratulations Panthers! We are Proud of You!

Jonah Vanegas '23 Helps Organize St. Joseph's Table Food Drive

Senior Jonah Vanegas becomes part of the Knights of Columbus. In his first month of joining the team, he helped organize and run the St. Joseph's Table Food Drive. This donation will directly benefit clients at Catholic Charities of Fresno.

Upcoming Events

March All School Mass

Service Deadlines!

Apr. 1 - Frosh, Sophomore, Junior Deadline (100% complete)


· 9th grade: 15 hours

· 10th & 11th grade: 20 Hours

April Prayer at the Fountain

Grease Production & Grease Amazon Wish List

Hello proud SJM parents! We are still in need of several costume items for our upcoming production of Grease! Last day to purchase from the Amazon wish list will be April 1st. Thank you to those who have already donated costumes and sewing help to the program! Grease performances are April 28 - 30th! Tickets will be sold online, and will be advertised in the next few weeks. Thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing you at the show!

More Announcements

Shadow Visits!

Adoration at Memorial!

Do you have a prayer intention to share? We invite you to complete the form below to submit a prayer intention which will be placed in the Intentions Box in our Chapel.

2022-2023 Yearbook 

Don’t miss all of the great times at San Joaquin Memorial High School that are in the 2023 yearbook! Order at: jostensyearbooks.com

Join SJM's Parent Guild! 

Why join the SJM Parent Guild?


One of the many reasons parents in the Central Valley choose to send their children to San Joaquin Memorial High School is the community of fantastic families and their quality of character.


Like-minded parents and staff that share in the moral development, catholic faith and ethical standards of children - THIS is what sets SJM apart from other schools in the area.


The best way to participate in and contribute to that community is to join the SJM Parent Guild because you'll:


•Get to know parents, staff, and students!

•Be “in the know” for all campus activities!

•Parent Guild brings the fun and it’s the best way to get your mandatory parent hours!


To learn more go here

Purchase your SJM Athletic Boosters Club Membership Card 

You can get your SJM Athletic Boosters Club Membership Card TODAY!


The mission of the San Joaquin Memorial High School Boosters Club is to provide fundraising support to the school’s athletic programs.


Funding for facility improvement projects and general athletics operations are the club’s main focus.


Become a member of the Boosters Club today! By joining the Boosters Club, you are helping to improve the quality of facilities and equipment for our student-athletes.


Club dues are $100 for two memberships or $50 for a single membership for the school year. Cards provide admittance to all home Panther athletic events (excluding playoffs) for the 2022-23 school year.(pass will be mailed to the address you provide – pass must be presented at home games at all times for free admittance).


Click here to purchase you membership card. 

Important Links
Click to view the 2022-2023 Academic School Calendar
Click to view the 2022-2023 Athletics Calendar
Click to view the 2022-2023 Bell Schedule
Click to view the 2022-2023 Student/Parent Handbook
Click to view the 2022-2023 Transportation Schedule

Click to view the 2022-2023 Events Calendar

Want access to the latest pictures of student activities, sports and more? Or the latest updates? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube or check out our website!





Connect With Us

The best way to stay connected to Memorial is to watch your email for our Panther Press newsletter for parents and students. Keep up with the latest important news and learn more about the school! Change your email? Let us know so you can continue getting updates.


Browse all past issues online at https://sjmhs.org/panther-press

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.


 Click here to  Donate to SJM!



San Joaquin Memorial High School | sjmhs.org
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