Early College Acceptances

Congratulations to our seniors who have already received college acceptances.  We are so proud of them and cannot wait to see which colleges the Class of 2018 chooses. So far, it's a great list!  We will hold the College Commitment Signing Day for the Class of 2018 on May 4, 2018.  It is always a great day to watch our seniors commit to the next step.  
Congratulations Kim Briggs! 

Congratulations to Garces Ram Kim Briggs on being selected to be a member of the Kern County Honor Band!  She auditioned with the KCSOS on December 11th. Kim will perform with the Honor Band at "It's a Grand Night for Music".  The concert will be held  Tuesday, January 30, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. at the Rabobank Convention Center.  Between now and then, she'll have hours of rehearsals to prepare.  Good luck Kim!  We are very proud of you.   
Adopt-A-Family for Christmas

Mrs. Rossi, Mr. Zeimet, Mr. Dignan, Ms. Witwer/Mr. Cobb, Ms. Church, and Ms. Clarke's Homerooms
Thank you to all of our parents, students and teachers for their generosity in providing Christmas presents for 22 families in our community in need of a little Christmas spirit, hope and joy.  School board member, Mrs. Dianne Riley, worked with the Mercy Center to provide a family in need of our compassion to each of our home rooms, complete with their ages and sizes,.  The students donated toys, clothing, or cash/gift cards toward their family.  Teachers organized the process and made sure all the gifts were wrapped and delivered in time for Christmas.  
St. Vincent de Paul Blessing Bags 

Shout out to Ms. Witwer & Mr. Cobb's and Coach Cody's Classes for volunteering in December!
Thank you to our parents, teachers, and especially to our students, who helped us to send over 600 sack lunches to St. Vincent de Paul during the first semester.  Once a month, the Parent Club had volunteers who donated items to make sack lunches for the needy who are served through the generosity of the St. Vincent de Paul Center. The sack lunches consisted of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, made by the students, along with chips, fresh fruit, cheese sticks, granola bars, a drink, and a sweet treat - either cookies or candy. Thank you to our parent volunteers for the donations, supervision, and for delivering the sack lunches to St. Vincent's. Thank you to our teachers who took time out of their curriculum teaching time to teach the students the importance of giving back.  Thank you to our students who made and assembled the lunches and took a moment to pray for those who were distributing and receiving them. We will continue with our monthly blessing bag program for St. Vincent de Paul next semester.  If you are interested in volunteering, or donating food items, please email Michelle Pisano or Lou Ann Durrett
Pajamas and Blankets for the Jamison Center

The Karing 4 Kids Club dropped off almost 100 pairs of pajamas along with blankets for the children ages 6-17 at the Jamison Center.  The club members wanted each child at the Jamison Center to have a new pair of pajamas to wear to bed on Christmas Eve. The fundraising drive was led by Garces Rams Maggie Waguespack and Francesca Shattuck.  They helped to bring a little joy to the lives of children most in need of our compassion at Christmas. We are very proud of them. 
Volunteers at KUZZ Cares for Kids

Garces Memorial students volunteered at the KUZZ Cares for Kids at Christmas event on Tuesday December 19th at the Crystal Palace. They helped carry gifts and load cars of those families receiving a little extra blessing this Christmas.

Thank you to Mrs. Asleigh Rossi, Director of Public Relations, who organized our student participation.  Thank you to our student volunteers - Brenen Sevier, Jack Etchison, Molly Ming, Emily Layton, Maggie Waguespack, Emily Demler, Aly Dees, Summer Padilla, and Emma Antongiovanni.
Holiday Hoops Tournament

Come up and watch some great basketball over Christmas break! 

We are hosting our annual Garces Holiday Hoops Challenge, Boys Basketball Tournament, December 27th - 30th.  We have six games per day.  First game starts at 11:30 a.m. and last game starts at 7:00 p.m.  Our Garces Varsity and JV teams are participating in this year's tournament.  

Also, we are always looking for volunteers to help. Anyone interested in helping, please contact Coach Dignan via email at bdignan@garces.org.  


Holiday Hoops Challenge Brackets
70th Anniversary - #20
Message from Vince Fanucchi
Garces Historian & Archivist

The Garces Grotto


The campuses' Our Lady of Grace Grotto was dedicated in a special ceremony on Sunday, November 19, 1950.  It was donated by the Guido Martini Family and Vincent Marracini, who built it.  A year later, a travelling papal envoy formally dedicated it in the name of Pope Pius XII, helped by an Italian interpreter, my father David Fanucchi. (I was a year-and-a-half at the time so I don't remember much about it.)
 
Over the decades since, it has been the iconic center-piece for innumerable campus religious and social activities, fulfilling its donors dreams.  It still stands today as a testament to their Catholic faith and Garces' mission in the local community.

SAT Prep Classes at Garces


Garces is offering two SAT prep classes before school as to not interfere with after-school activities.  The Math Prep class begins January 22nd and the English Prep class begins February 12th. You can clink on the link to the flyer to print out a copy for submission to the Business Office. Forms are also available in the Counseling Office and at the Front Desk.

Senior Ads - Deadline is December 31st

Time is running out to get your ad in the yearbook for your senior.  When the books come out, the seniors quickly go to the back to see all the ads and photos submitted for themselves and their classmates.

Please don't miss out.  If you have been thinking about it, now is the time to work on it.  Garces is closed over the Christmas holiday and there will be no one to assist you if you need help.

Please click on the link below and get started on your ad today.

Senior Panoramic Picture - January 10

The Seniors will take their senior panoramic photo on Wednesday, January 10th during lunch. 

Attached is the order form.  They can turn them in to Ms. Hylton at the front desk or give them to Christian Hall on the January 10th.  The photos will be 10" x 24" and double laminated.  The cost is $20.00.

WINTER SPORTS UPDATES
Boys Basketball

Tonight the Rams play at BCHS at 5:30 PM. Come out and cheer them on as they play the Eagles!  

Over Christmas break, the Rams will host the Holiday Hoops Classic at Garces from Tuesday, December 27th to Saturday, December 30th. Following the tournament, the Rams have a couple of non-league games scheduled.
  • Tuesday, January 2nd, the Rams will play North High at Garces at 6:30 PM.
  • Thursday, January 4th, the Tams will play Tehachapi at Garces at 6:30 PM. 
Come up to the Snow Dome to watch some great games over the break.  Good luck Rams! 
Girls Basketball

Over the Christmas break, the Lady Rams play in the Arvin Varsity Girls Basketball Tournament December 27th - 29th. Good luck Rams!
Wrestling

Over the Christmas break, the wrestling team will compete at the Las Vegas Varsity Classic on December 27th-28th.  Good luck Rams!
Boys Soccer

The Rams finished 3rd at the Garces Holiday Soccer Festival last weekend.  They beat Bishop Union 5-1, lost to Farmersville 2-0 in OT, and beat Smidt Tech 6-5.

Over the Christmas break, the boys play Cesar Chavez at Garces on Friday, January 5th at 2:30 PM.
Girls Soccer

The Lady Rams finished 4th in the Garces Holiday Soccer Festival this weekend.  The Lady Rams beat 
Central Valley Christian 2-0, lost to Hanford 0-3, and lost to Edison 0-4. 

The Lady Rams do not have a game over the Christmas break. They play again on January 10th when they play Stockdale at Garces.
Incoming Freshmen - Class of 2022
Selfie Contest -  Win $500! 

Take a selfie the next time you are at a Garces event or on campus and you could be a winner! One winner will have his or her Application Fee ($75) and Registration Fee ($425) waived. That's a total of $500.00!  

Photos must be taken on the Garces campus or during aGarces event. Contenders must follow the Garces Instagram account (GMHSRAMS) and post their picture on Instagram before Wednesday, January 31st to be entered. Only photos sent @GMHSRAMS using #Garces #FutureRam will be entered into the competition.

Call for Volunteers

Garces Gala Planning Committee
We will meet again after the Christmas break to continue planning our 2018 Garces Gala.  If you are interested in helping on one of the many sub-committees we welcome your participation.  The 2018 Gala will be held on Saturday, February 24th.  This is a great group of volunteers ready to make this year's Gala a success.  If you are interested you can contact one of the event co-chairs, Monica Sacco, Staci Allison or Cindy Meek or you can contact Tonya Abbott for more information.  Watch for posts on our Instagram as we look back on nearly 40 years of Gala, give you a sneak peak at some of the items we will have on the auction block, and of course the fun our volunteers are having planning the 2018 event!

Follow us at GMHSGala


Msgr. Leddy Golf Classic Planning Committee
2018 Tournament Chair - John Hatten

We are looking for anyone interested in helping us plan the best tournament Bakersfield has to offer!  We are fortunate to have Mercedes Benz of Bakersfield provide a Mercedes Benz Dealership Championship sanctioned tournament this year.  Top players will qualify to move on to the 2018  regional and possibly national championship tournament!

Please contact Tonya Abbott for more information about either of these upcoming events.

Alumni Masses
Next Alumni Mass is January 10th
11:05 a.m. at OLPH Church


Check out these opportunities!
Ram Music Camp
The 661 Factory Athletic Training
Golden Boot Soccer Camp



Admin Corner
Message from
Reverend Monsignor Perry Kavookjian
Rector

Dear Garces families and friends:

As we prepare to celebrate the birthday of our Savior, we might look back upon this past year and express our gratitude to God for all of His blessings upon our Garces family and upon our individual families.  No year is without its challenges and disappointments but each year ends on a note of blessing for the gift of our salvation promised in the birth of Christ.  That means, we can gather all of our struggles and failures of the past year and put them into the hands of the God who will bring us to a new beginning in 2018. As this year comes to a close, a new year unfolds with more blessings for our journey.

Looking back on this past year, I am grateful for the dedicated faculty and administrators of Garces who put every effort into sharing knowledge and faith with our students.   I am grateful for the students themselves who shine in so many ways academically, athletically and spiritually-keeping the name of Garces in a positive light.  I am grateful for the families who trust Garces with the formation of their children and who generously share their gifts with us.  Of course, I can only be grateful for the benefactors of our school-some of whom have gone home to the Lord this past year.  Let us remember them in this holy season.

Nothing of what we accomplish is possible without God's blessing.  So as we prepare to celebrate Christmas, let us approach God with thanks and praise for all He has accomplished in and through us. 

May the Spirit of God's love dwell with you and your loved ones this Christmas!

Msgr. Perry Kavookjian
Rector
Upcoming Activities

Thursday, December 21
Boys Basketball at BCHS
F/S at 3 PM
JV at 4:15 PM
Varsity at 5:30 PM

Friday, December 22
School Closed
Christmas Vacation 

Monday, December 25
Merry Christmas 
School Closed
Christmas Vacation 

Tuesday, December 26
School Closed
Christmas Vacation 

Wednesday, December 27
School Closed
Christmas Vacation 
Varsity Boys Basketball at Garces Tournament
Varsity Girls Basketball at Arvin Tournament
Wrestling at Las Vegas Classic

Thursday, December 28
School Closed
Christmas Vacation
Varsity Boys Basketball at Garces Tournament
Varsity Girls Basketball at Arvin Tournament
Wrestling at Las Vegas Classic  
 
Friday, December 29
School Closed
Christmas Vacation 
Varsity Boys Basketball at Garces Tournament
Varsity Girls Basketball at Arvin Tournament

Saturday, December 30
Varsity Boys Basketball at Garces Tournament

Monday, January 1
Happy New Year's
School Closed
Christmas Vacation 

Tuesday, January 2
School Closed
Christmas Vacation 
Boys Basketball vs. North
F/S at 4 PM
JV at 5:15 PM
Varsity at 6:30 PM
661 Golden Boot Girls Soccer Camp 9 AM - 12 Noon
661 Athlete Training 5 PM - 7 PM

Wednesday, January 3
School Closed
Christmas Vacation 
661Golden Boot Girls Soccer Camp 9 AM - 12 Noon

Thursday, January 4
School Closed
Christmas Vacation 
Boys Basketball vs. Tehachapi
F/S at 4 PM
JV at 5:15 PM
Varsity at 6:30 PM
661 Golden Boot Girls Soccer Camp 9 AM - 12 Noon
661 Athlete Training 5 PM - 7 PM
 
Friday, January 5
School Closed
Christmas Vacation 
Wrestling at Dinuba Tournament
Boys Soccer vs. Cesar Chavez
JV at 1 PM
Varsity at 2:30 PM
661 Golden Boot Girls Soccer Camp 9 AM - 12 Noon

Saturday, January 6
Wrestling at Dinuba Tournament

Monday, January 8
GOLD DAY 
Students excused at 1:35 PM

Tuesday, January 9
Varsity Girls Basketball at SJM at 5:15 PM
Varsity Boys Basketball at SJM at 6:30 PM
Wrestling vs. Centennial 
JV at 6 PM
Varsity at 7 PM
661 Athlete Training 5 PM - 7 PM

Wednesday, January 10
Parent Club Rosary at 8 AM in Chapel 
Alumni Mass 10:55 AM at OLPH
Senior Panoramic Picture at lunch
Boys Soccer at Stockdale
JV at 4:30 PM
Varsity at 6 PM
Girls Soccer vs. Stockdale
JV at 4:30 PM
Varsity at 6 PM
Mock Trial - Round #2 at 6 PM at KC Superior Court

Thursday, January 11
661 Athlete Training  5 PM - 7 PM

Friday, January 12
JV Wrestling at KC Invitational at Centennial 
Varsity Wrestling at Temecula
Boys Basketball vs BHS
F/S at 4 PM
JV at 5:15 PM
Varsity at 6:30 PM
Girls Basketball at BHS
JV at 5:15 PM
Varsity at 6:30 PM
Boys Soccer vs BHS
JV 4:30 PM
Varsity 6 PM
Girls Soccer at BHS
JV at 5:15 PM
Varsity at 6:30 PM

Saturday, January 13
Soccer vs. SJM
Varsity Girls at 12 PM
Varsity Boys at 2 PM
JV Wrestling at KC Invitational at Centennial 
Varsity Wrestling at Temecula
Campus Hours During Christmas Break 

The office will be closed from noon on Thursday, December 21st until 7:30 AM on Monday, January 8th. 

Sports practices will be scheduled through each coach.

Game times are listed on the Athletic calendar or on the website under each winter sport. 

In case of a campus  emergency, please contact Ms. Peck at mpeck@garces.org
Hall of Honor
Nominations Due January 26, 2018

The Garces Memorial Alumni Board is accepting applications for the 2018 Hall of Honor.  The Alumni Board can only consider individuals who are formally nominated.  Anyone can make a nomination.  If you wish to make a nomination, please complete the form as much as possible.  The alumni board will also do some additional research on nominees prior to the confidential discussion and confidential voting process. 

Nominees are not notified.  Only the individuals who have been voted in are notified. 

Often, the Alumni Board will hear that their are individuals who should be inducted.  If you know of such an individual who should be in the Hall of Honor, take a moment to fill out the nomination form.

Nominations are due by January 26th. 

To be eligible for consideration:
1. Nominees must have demonstrated a continued commitment to, and promotion of, Garces Memorial's values and philosophy by exemplifying the mission of the school. 
2. Alumni must have graduated at least ten years prior to being nominated.
3. Current employees of Garces are not eligible.
4. No immediate family members of the sitting Alumni Board may be nominated.
5. Previous Alumni Board Members must be retired from the Alumni Board a minimum of three years. 

2018 Hall of Honor Nomination Form

Below is a list of all the Hall of Honor inductees over the past 10 years: 

Mr. Don Border '50
The Late Anthony Cornejo '51
The Late Honorable Larry Kleier '51
The Late Rev. Msgr. Ralph Belluomini '51
Mrs. Yolanda (Papasergia) Griffiths '51
Mr. Tom Werdel '53
The Late John Etcheverry '53
Mr. Paul Summers '53
The Late Charles Anspach '53
The Honorable Robert Anspach '54
Mr. Gary Ogilvie '55
Dr. Gerald Haslam '55
Mrs. Deanna (Maraccini) McCauley '55
Mrs. Katherine (Padilla) Cornejo '55
The Honorable Art Wallace '56
The Late Justin Meyer '56
Mr. Al Sandrini '57
Mrs. Helen (Reischman) Haller '57
Ms. Marianne Laxague '58
Mr. Joe Hernandez '58
Mrs. Joanne (Molinaro) Border '58
The Honorable Louis Etcheverry '58
 Mr. Frank Maitia, Jr. '60
Mr. Stan Antongiovanni '61
The Honorable Gary Friedman '61
Mr. Mike McCaffrey '64
Mr. Arnold Cattani '64
The Late Tom Soliz '65
Mr. Tom Anchordoquy '65
Mr. Dan Giordano '66
Mrs. Deborah (Cerri) Leary '67
Mr. Darrell Feliz '70
Mr. Greg Robinson '70
Mr. Jim Sakowski '70
Mr. Bill Rector '78
Dr. Ken Ruettgers '80
Mr. Patrick Lencioni '83
Mrs. Marianne (Werdel) Witmeyer '85
Mr. Gino Valpredo '88
The late Dr. Romain Clerou
Mr. Pat Franey
Dr. John Ritter
Dr. Richard Tucker
Mr. Gene Garibaldi
Mr. Joe Ziemann
Mrs. Joan Garibaldi
Mrs. Kay Wall
Rev. Msgr. Ronald Swett
Sister Sharon Casey OP
The Late Bob Carroll
The Late Jimmie Icardo
The Late John Kovacevich
The Late Mary Pogon
The Late Rev. Msgr. Patrick Leddy
The Late Sam Tobias
Mrs. Mayie Maitia
Rev. Msgr. Michael Braun
Josten's Orders for 
Announcements, Cap & Gowns

If your student did not order his or her cap and gown for graduation last week from Josten's, please contact Josten's and place your order.  You can also order graduation announcements.  You can go to their website at www.jostens.com or call the local office at  (661) 324-8529.
Help Support Garces
Help Support Garces by using Amazon Smile when doing your holiday shopping! Click on the image above to learn more about Amazon Smile and start shopping!
Alumni Scholarship 

The Garces Memorial Alumni Board offers a scholarship to incoming freshmen who are the children of Garces alumni or grandchildren of Garces alumni.  Applications are due by April 1st.


If you would like to make a donation to the alumni scholarship fund, you can do so on-line or you can mail in a donation.  You can also give in memory or in honor of someone. 

News to Share?

Please email us at  news@garces.org