Principal Newsletter Archives
Principal’s Newsletter 5/20/22
Dear St. Francis Families,
Yesterday, our graduates, along with their families and friends, gathered at Memorial Auditorium for our 80th Commencement Ceremony. This beautiful and holy occasion honored the Class of 2022 as the culminating event of an amazing four years of faith, excellence, leadership, and service. The 254 graduates, dressed in white robes, crossed the stage to validate all of their hard work and perseverance. I am proud of all they have accomplished, and know each will leave St. Francis, a model of Pax et Bonum, as she embarks on new adventures. Congratulations to the Class of 2022 and their families!
As we graduate a class, it is also my pleasure to welcome the Class of 2026 to St. Francis, as they begin their four-year journey with us. While this may be my last newsletter for the academic year, please know the entire St. Francis faculty and staff look forward to welcoming your daughters when they return in the fall.
Whatever your summer plans may be, and wherever your travels take you, may God watch over you and bring you safely home.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
St. Clare of Assisi, pray for us!
In the spirit of Pax et Bonum (peace and goodness),
Elias Mendoza
Principal
Principal’s Newsletter 5/13/22
Dear St. Francis Families,
This has been an emotional week for a lot of our students as we continue to process the tragic loss of two community members. But there were some tears of joy as we celebrated our Farewell Mass on Monday, in which we said goodbye to our graduating class of 2022! On Wednesday evening, we welcomed our new senior class at the Junior Commissioning Mass, passing the leadership baton to next year’s Senior Class, the Maries. These beautiful and holy traditions mark important milestones that our girls will remember for years to come. We are honored and blessed to be able to hold these events in person after two years of social isolation and COVID restriction. If we’ve learned anything over the past few years, it’s the importance of community and coming together to celebrate our faith and school traditions.
With final exams beginning today, I ask that you keep our Troubies in your prayers, that they do their best on these assessments, and finish the 2021-2022 school year strong!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
St. Clare of Assisi, pray for us!
In the spirit of Pax et Bonum (peace and goodness),
Elias Mendoza
Principal
Principal’s Newsletter 5/06/22
Dear St. Francis Families,
This week was filled with emotion for a lot of our students. With the remaining three weeks of school, end of year events, things are becoming more real for our graduating Class of 2022 and the rest of our students. We have our Farewell Mass on Monday, May 9th and our Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, May 10th, in which we say goodbye to our graduating seniors and recognize and honor the accomplishments of our students. On Wednesday May 11th, we’ll welcome our new senior class at the Junior Commissioning Mass, passing the leadership baton to the mighty Maries. These beautiful and holy traditions in the life of a St. Francis Troubadour mark important milestones that our girls and their families will remember for many years to come. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful students, parents, and extended school community.
With final exams beginning next week, I ask that you keep our Troubies in your prayers, that they do their best on these assessments and finish the 2021-2022 school year strong!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
St. Clare of Assisi, pray for us!
In the spirit of Pax et Bonum (peace and goodness),
Elias Mendoza
Principal
Principal’s Newsletter 4/29/22
Dear St. Francis Families,
Welcome back, and I hope you all had a blessed Easter!
The week after Easter break can be a bit stressful and intimidating for some of our students, as the realization of the semester and academic year is quickly coming to an end. Please reassure your daughter/s there is still time to meet their goals and finish the year strong. If there are any major stressors, please encourage them to speak with their teachers directly and avoid waiting until the last minute to submit major assignments and/or projects. It is also a perfect time to begin preparing for final exams.
Looking ahead on the calendar, keep in mind there are only 20 calendar days left until graduation, and nine school days left before final exams. Additionally, AP Exams begin on Monday, May 2nd, and I ask that you keep our Troubies in your prayers as they approach the end of the 2021-2022 school year.
We also ask that you keep Athletics Director, Mark McGreevy, in your prayers. He has accepted a position with Sierra College. We thank him for his time and dedication to the athletes and families of St. Francis.
Also, as we prepare for Junior Prom, Senior Ball, and graduation parties, I would encourage having a frank conversation with your daughters about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. It is also important to discuss the negative impact on their health and safety, if they are vaping. Unfortunately, in my experience, many parents are often unaware of the choice/s their daughters are making with regards to these substances. At this time of year, we are asking for your assistance in reminding your daughters about saying “No” to these substances. This is not only for their safety today, but to protect them from repercussions that may affect their future.
Let us pray that with all of us working together as a team in support of our Troubies all our children will be safe during this prom, ball and graduation season.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
St. Clare of Assisi, pray for us!
In the spirit of Pax et Bonum (peace and goodness),
Elias Mendoza
Principal
Principal’s Newsletter 4/15/22
Dear St. Francis Families,
I pray that you and your loved ones have a blessed Easter. May the Lord open all our hearts to receive the gift of faith and live in the joy and hope it brings us. In observance of Good Friday, I leave you with the following prayer:
Heavenly Father, we remember the pain and suffering of the cross, and all that Jesus was willing to endure, so we could be set free. He paid the price, such a great sacrifice, to offer us the gift of eternal life.
Help us never to take for granted this huge gift of love on our behalf. Help us to be reminded of the cost of it all. Forgive us for being too busy, or distracted by other things, for not fully recognizing what you freely gave, what you have done for us.
Thank you, Lord, that by your wounds we are healed. Thank you because of your huge sacrifice we can live free. Thank you that sin and death have been conquered and that your Power is everlasting.
Thank you that we can say with great hope, “It is finished…” For we know what’s still to come. And death has lost its sting. We praise you for making all things new.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
St. Clare of Assisi, pray for us!
In the spirit of Pax et Bonum (peace and goodness),
Elias Mendoza
Principal
Principal’s Newsletter 4/08/22
Dear St. Francis Families,
As the Easter Break officially begins this afternoon, I hope all of our Troubies are able to enjoy the well-deserved break. I know the next two weeks will most likely fly by, and the return to school on Monday, April 25th, will bring some trepidation, as our students realize the end to this academic year is only a few short weeks away.
The coming week embraces the holiest days of the year for all Christians: the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. As Pope John Paul II wrote in 1986: “We do not pretend that life is all beauty. We are aware of darkness and sin, of poverty and pain. But we know Jesus has conquered sin and passed through his own pain to the glory of the Resurrection. And we live in the light of his Paschal Mystery – the mystery of his Death and Resurrection. We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song!”
So together we pray, no matter how far or close we may be to one another:
Draw us forth, God of all creation.
Draw us forward and away from limited certainty into the immense world of your love.
Give us the capacity to, even for a moment, taste the richness of the feast you give us.
Give us the peace to live with uncertainty, with questions, with doubts.
Help us to experience the resurrection anew with open wonder and an increasing ability to see you in the people of Easter.
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
St. Clare of Assisi, pray for us!
In the spirit of Pax et Bonum (peace and goodness),
Elias Mendoza
Principal