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November 5, 2019 | The Valley Catholic
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
Benefactors Recognized at President’s Club Celebration
Saint Francis High School held a
celebration to honor its supporters who
are committed to the school’s mission
of forming Holy Cross women and men
for years to come.
The President’s Club Celebration
in October featured music by student
musicians and choir members and
included a Mass and blessing for all
the honorees who were inducted into
the school’s lifetime giving societies. In
addition, senior Elise Walker provided
a student’s perspective, excitedly ex-
plaining to the guests how the classes
and activities she is involved in are
preparing her and her classmates to
go out in the world as conscientious
leaders eager to give back to society in
new ways.
“The school will modernize, but the
mission we know and love will stay the
same — teaching students to develop
their faith, pursue a love of learning,
and being a force for good,” she said.
Claranne and Tim Long were recognized
with the Holy Cross Heritage Award. Tony Mirenda, with his wife Jennifer, re-
ceived the St. André of Montreal Service
Award.
Several individuals from the com-
munity were recognized at the celebra-
tion. Claranne and Tim Long, parents
of three graduates, received the Holy
Cross Heritage Award, which honors
distinguished benefactors who are in-
volved leaders in the community. The
Longs have contributed to financial aid
and an endowment fund for faculty
support and supported several school construction projects.
“Saint Francis was our partner in
educating the hearts and minds of our
three children, and we contribute to
make Saint Francis the best it can be,”
they said.
Another individual who received
special recognition was Tony Mirenda
’78, who was honored with the St. An-
dré of Montreal Service Award. Tony,
whose two children graduated from
Saint Francis, serves on the school’s
Endowment Committee and is a regu-
lar speaker during the Alumni Speaker
Series, but he is most known for design-
ing and building the sets for the annual
spring musical. Tony says the desire to
give back was a value that was instilled
in him from his days as a Lancer.
“I hope to inspire others to give trea-
sure and talent,” he said. “Sometimes
it goes beyond writing checks. Giving
back is what we should be doing.”
President Jason Curtis closed the
evening by reaffirming how valu-
able the benefactors’ support is to the
school’s mission.
“Every student that comes on cam-
pus will be known and loved, and we
will care for them with zeal. That’s
what we’re about, and you make that
happen,” he said. “You are paving the
road and allowing us to walk with our
students.”
Open House
Saint Mary School, Girloy, fourth and fifth graders watch and interact with the scientists.
Saint Mary’s Fourth and Fifth Grade Students
Chat with Undersea Scientists
On October 15, Saint Mary School,
Gilroy, fourth and fifth grade students
had the unique opportunity to connect
live with the Exploration Vessel Nau-
tilus, which was exploring the deep-
water region of Davidson Seamount
(an extinct underwater volcano) in the
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctu-
ary. The expedition team was revisiting
the area where last year they made an
exciting and unique discovery of over
1,000 brooding octopuses.
Lead scientist Chad King, the fa-
ther of one of the Saint Mary fourth
graders, and his colleague, spent time
educating the students and answering
many questions.
Fourth grader Delilah Cortez wrote
the following after the experience:
“Today in Science we learned about
the Nautilus. What I learned was that
a remotely operated vehcile (ROV) can
do some crazy things,” she said. “I also
learned that some octopuses, before
they lay their eggs, put a concrete, paste
thing and put it on the place they lay
their eggs. Then, they put the egg on
top of the paste and then they go inside
out and cover their eggs with all their
tentacles around the egg. Something
that was surprising was that they found
one thousand [octopuses] in one hour.”