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January 21, 2020 | The Valley Catholic
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
Bellarmine Supports
Family Giving Tree Holiday Wish Drive
By Brian Adams
Bellarmine students and staff members with a sampling of gifts collected during the school’s
successful Family Giving Tree Holiday Wish Drive. (photo courtesy Shawn Descourouez).
The holiday season was a bit brighter
for many families in our area thanks to
the efforts of members of the Bellarmine
College Prep community.
Working with the nonprofit agency
Family Giving Tree, which expected to
realize 80,000 gift wishes during the hol-
iday season for low income youth, teens,
and senior citizens, Bellarmine helped
fulfill 310 gift wishes, generated more
than $1,983 funds online (the equivalent
of an additional 52 gift wishes granted),
and donated more than $3,800 in retail
gift cards and monetary contributions.
Bellarmine’s Family Giving Tree
Holiday Wish Drive, which occurred
December 2 through 10 and followed
the school’s successful Winter Warmth
Drive in November, was coordinated
through the Bellarmine Christian Ser-
vice Program (CSP) team, led by Steve
Pinkston and Anne Maloney and CSP
staff members Shawn Descourouez
and alumni volunteer Thomas Dines;
with significant support received from
members of the Agape Club; Varsity and
JV soccer team players and coaches; and
several additional Bellarmine faculty,
staff, and parent volunteers.
Beyond the Textbook at Saint Lucy School
It’s not every day that you get
to ride a giant tortoise! Saint Lucy
School first graders recently expe-
rienced the annual tortoise farm
visit which is just down the street
from campus in Campbell. Students
enjoyed seeing the tortoise’ habitats
firsthand, feeding them and even tak-
ing them for a ride!
Saint Lucy School teachers arrange
both on and off campus activities that
will enhance their curriculum and en-
gage their students. Trips to the pump-
kin patch in the younger grades are
indeed a fun-filled beloved tradition,
but in the classroom they translate to
math and language as well as social
studies activities. Off campus field
trips to Hidden Villa, the Monterey
Bay Aquarium, Campbell’s Ansley
House, Casa de Fruta, local plays, the
Quicksilver Mine, a “Day at Apple”
at the Apple store, several California
missions, Cathedral Basilica of Saint
Joseph, and FBI Headquarters in San
Francisco are just a few trips that the
K-5 teachers experience with their stu-
dents to enhance not only science and
social studies but also language arts.
Junior High students can be found
exploring the California Academy
of Sciences, learning about science at
Science Camp, visiting Alcatraz, or
touring the state capital.
On campus, students in our state-
of-the-art science lab are often found
testing hypothesis, partnering in lab
experiments, looking through micro-
scopes, or discussing science topics.
Physical science activities and experi-
ments help show students the fun side
of learning science. They are able to
not only hear about science, but also
experience it with their five senses.
Principal Sue Grover added, “Children
learn best by doing. Field trips engage
student learning and make program
content come to life.”
Saint Lucy School first graders experience
annual tortoise farm visit.
Sisters of the Holy Names honored at the school Mass.
School Mass, WE ARE CALLED TO SAY YES,
and Vow Renewal
What a beautiful Mass presented by
the fifth grade honoring our Mother
Mary on the Feast of the Immaculate
Conception at Saint Mary School in
Los Gatos.
The Sisters of the Holy Names, the
order that founded Saint Mary School
almost 65 years ago, were honored at
the Mass, and renewed the vows they
took years ago.
Following Mass, they were honored
at a reception, served bites and refresh-
ments and enjoyed a performance by
the Kindergartners.