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March 11, 2014
catholic schools
CATHOLIC EDUCATION INSPIRES
faith .
At St. Simon School Vocation Day (l-r) Father Mindie Nguyen, Brother Lupe Gonzalez,
OP, Sister Trang Truong, DC, Father Robert Barcelos, OCD, Brother Tom Redmond, SM,
Brother Justin Mungal, SJ (speaking), and Sister Rebecca Shinas, OP.
St. Simon students celebrate Vocations Day
By Rafael Pierry
On Jan. 28, St. Simon School (Los
Altos) celebrated Vocations Day as
part of Catholic Schools Week with 10
visiting members of Religious orders
including priests, Sisters, Brothers, and
a seminarian.
Visitors included Father Robert Barcelos, Carmelite; Sister Trang Truong,
Daughter of Charity; Brother Lupe Gonzales, Dominican; Sister Polly Torrino
and Sister Rebecca Shinas, Dominicans;
Brother Justin Mungal, Jesuit; Brother
Tom Redmond, Marianist; and Fathers
Mindie Nguyen, Noel Sanvicente and
John Poncini, priests of the Diocese of
San Jose.
St. Simon Student Council members
greeted visitors, discussed saints and
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career options over a hosted lunch. Then
the visitors spent time in classrooms
describing their background and life
as Religious.
Brother Justin told students about
his time as a high school teacher. Sister
Trang described escaping Vietnam.
Father Robert told them it was more
important to stay true to God than to
listen to other’s opinions.
Brother Lupe explained how he
considered Religious life after it was
suggested by friends. The visitors answered students’ questions in a panel
discussion and assembly attended by
grades 5-8, which ended with a prayer
and blessing.
• Rafael Pierry is a St. Simon Student
Council member.
The Valley Catholic
CATHOLIC EDUCATION INSPIRES
St. John the Baptist
School studies
geometric shapes
Mrs. Heather Hinkley’s first grade
class at St. John the Baptist School,
Milpitas, had been learning about
geometric shapes and their attributes
and were given the opportunity to use
this new knowledge to create their own
geometric castle.
They used geometric shapes and
recycled materials such as cardboard
and bath tissue cylinders and came up
with an array of ideas and creations.
When the castles were completed,
students presented their project in
front of the class to tell how many of
each shapes they used and how they
developed their ideas. They also had
the option of writing a story to go with
their castle.
knowledge .
St. John the Baptist student Aryanna Morte
presents her project. (Photo by Heather
Hinkley)
Saint Francis High junior educates
on human trafficking
Saint Francis High School (Mtn.
View) junior Caleece Nash is taking
action against human trafficking,
which has been described as modernday slavery. She organizes events and
speaks to students about the issue in
order to make the problem more visible.
Caleece began her advocacy work
two years ago when she learned how
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