Welcome to the twenty-fourth edition of 
Panther Press, 
a biweekly electronic newsletter sent to families and friends of 
San Joaquin Memorial High School
A major correction clarifying our hybrid schedule is bolded below in Mr. Burke's message

The moment is here! Starting Monday, October 19, we will begin our return to campus. We are looking forward to welcome our students back to campus and are excited to see all of them! This issue of Panther Press will shed light on protocols for the return to campus as well as celebrate some of our students and staff.
A Message from Head of School Michael Burke

Welcome Back! It has been a long time, (March 16) since students have been on campus and we are excited that beginning next week the return to structure and routine begins. We are grateful that Fresno County COVID-19 numbers have improved enough to allow for the reopening of all K-12 Schools.  

We will be returning in a hybrid format to allow students to return to campus and provide the safest environment possible for both students and staff. Recently we have communicated to you the particulars of how our hybrid schedule will operate. Students will either be on campus on a Tuesday/Friday or Wednesday/Thursday schedule. The days that students are not on campus, they will access their classes via Zoom. Mondays are Zoom days for all students as we will be conducting a deep clean/sanitize on the campus each Monday.  

Currently, fall athletic teams are conducting conditioning and beginning October 19th Winter and Spring teams will begin their conditioning. It has been a great visual to see our Fall sports teams on campus doing their pre-season conditioning. We cannot wait to have students back in classrooms engaged in the teaching/learning process. 

We will be using the hybrid format for the remainder of the fall semester, which concludes with final exams on November 23-25th. Classes will return to campus on Monday, January 11th. During the extended winter break our campus will be open with limited hours but we are always a phone call or email away.  

We are excited to get back to some form of normal and finish the last 5 weeks of fall classes with a bang. Be safe and be well. 
S Club Reaches Out as Part of September Learning Project
S Club recently completed two service projects. In honor of Suicide Prevention Month, the club participated in a mental health trivia game to raise awareness. Then, they made encouragement cards for residents at Valley Healthcare Center nursing home and Valley Children’s Hospital. 
Ellie Luchini Named Good Citizen of the Year

San Joaquin Memorial recently selected Ellie Luchini as the Daughters of the American Revolution's Good Citizen of the year. All Good Citizens will be honored at a DAR Good Citizens reception in February 2021. Ellie will receive a $50 scholarship, plus a DAR Good Citizen pin and certificate of honor. The winner of the Fresno-Yosemite Chapter contest will receive a $300 scholarship and their essay and completed application will be forwarded to compete at the District level. District winners go on to compete at State, Division and National levels. At the National level there is a $5,000 scholarship, renewable for three years.  

"I’m extremely honored to be the named the Good Citizen of the Year," said Luchini. "I was definitely shocked that I got it. I am very thankful for the honor.

Many Dreams, One Mission: Support our 43rd Annual Auction

Help SJM celebrate our 75th anniversary with our 43rd annual auction! The auction will be held completely online on November 7 at 6:30 p.m. Join us for a fun time, including a special performance!

We are currently looking for items for our Silent Auction. Our website is now live at sjmhs.maestroweb.com. We are seeking sponsorships and you can now purchase tickets to enter our drawing. You can bid on our silent auction items starting October 26!

If you are interested in donating an item, please contact one of our Silent Auction Chairs:
Karen Jimison at [email protected], (209)
612-2828 or Shannon Stubblefield at [email protected], (559) 250-6879.

You may also contact the school at [email protected], (559) 475-5831, for more information.
SJM Senior Commended for Academic Excellence

SJM Senior Catherine Gleason has been named a Commended Student in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program. Commended students placed among the top 50,000 scorers of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2021 competition by taking the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®).

''Those being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success," commented a spokesperson for NMSC. ''These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success." 

"I am so honored to be recognized as a commended scholar, but more than anything, I am exceedingly grateful to everyone who has helped me on my educational journey," said Catherine. "I would not be the student I am today without the guidance and encouragement of my teachers and counselors and the love and support of my family."
SJM Athlete Macie James Honored as One of Top 100

ESPN has ranked SJM senior Macie James as one of its top 100. James was profiled by KMPH recently and spoke about the honor.

"Macie is a dream athlete to have; from her hard work to her humble attitude, you want that type of player," said Cory Fischer, SJM Women's Basketball coach.


The SJM 2021-2022 Application for incoming freshmen and fall transfers is now open on the SJM website. The application fee will waived during the priority application period, October 1-31. Help us spread the word by passing this information on to prospective parents and students! For assistance in the application process or to schedule a private, socially distanced tour of the SJM Campus, contact Rainey Lewis at (559) 475-5837 or [email protected].

Alumni Contact Update

Panther Alums, even though your time here at Memorial has passed, this is still your home! Please stay connected with us so that you can be part of our exciting engagement opportunities such as our sporting event tailgates, alumni mixers and so much more! To stay connected please fill out this form.

Join our Parent Guild or Booster’s Club!


Interested in getting involved at SJM and supporting the school? Join our Parent Guild or Booster’s Club! Contact Shirley Boujikian for more information regarding the Parent Guild at [email protected], (559) 475-5831 and [email protected] for more information on the Booster’s Club. 

Click here for the application forms: 
San Joaquin Memorial High School | sjmhs.org