St. David of Wales Catholic School

GOOD NEWS BEARS

Week of January 27, Vol 2, Issue 23

St. David School Mission Statement

It is the mission of St. David of Wales Catholic School to consistently provide a safe environment for academic and spiritual growth. Rooted in Catholic beliefs and values our school prioritizes academic achievement and builds moral and social responsibility. We cultivate global citizens in a culturally diverse community, while promoting Catholic values and respect for all of God’s creations.

Dear St. David Families,

With the beginning of Catholic Schools Week, we reflect on the unique privilege and responsibility of being a part of a Catholic school community. This week, observed across the nation, is a time to celebrate the gift of Catholic education and the vital role it plays in shaping young minds and hearts rooted in faith, knowledge and service.

This year's theme, "Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.", invites us to reflect on our mission as a school and how we contribute to the greater good of our society. In light of many changes and conversations happening in our nation's government and communities, Catholic social teachings remind us of our call to actively engage in creating a just and compassionate society.

Our shared faith encourages us to anchor ourselves in principles that transcend politics: the dignity of every human person, a commitment to the common good, and the importance of solidarity and subsidiarity. At St. David of Wales, these values guide our students to think criticlaly, act justly, and live generously--qualities that are essential in navigating a rapidly changing world.

During Catholic Schools Week, we will celebrate our faith through Mass, acts of service, and moments of reflection that highlight how our students and families embody these Gospel values. We will also honor the dedicate of our teachers, staff, and parents, who together foster an environment where children grow spiritually, academically, and morally.

Let us remember that the work we do here is more than preparing students for academic success; it is about forming future leaders committed to serving others and upholding the teachings of Christ. In a time of change and uncertainty, Catholic schools remain a source of hope and a testament to the power of faith and community. May we continue to grow strongeter together, united in our faith and commitment to excellence.

Yours in faith,

Mr. Swanson & Ms. Medrano

UPCOMING EVENTS

Jan 27

Celebrate VOCATIONS

Career Day presentations

10 am - Rose Mello Hall

Jan 28

Celebrate COMMUNITY

Bring one of the most needed items for GRIP

Jan 29

Celebrate TEACHERS

Dress as one of our awesome St. David teachers!

Jan 30

Celebrate STUDENTS Free Dress, No Homework, Movie Afternoon

Jan 31

Celebrate SPECIAL PERSONS

Students may invite one Special Person to spend the day with them at school

12N dismissal

Feb 1

Open House

Come see what the school has been up to and bring a friend!

3 - 5 pm

CSW Mass

We celebrate Catholic schools with Mass

5 pm

Feb 4-6

WCEA Visit

We will have visitors on campus as part of the accreditation process to affirm the work we're doing at St. David!

Feb 6

WCEA Report

The accreditation team will present their findings to the staff.

12N dismissal- PreK - 8th

NO WILLOWS

Feb 8

Crab Feed

Purchase your tickets today!

Congratulations to our students who exemplified the Schoolwide Learning Expectation of being Active! - January 24

🛠️ Remain active in their community

👷‍♀️ Demonstrate hard work and integrity

⚽️ Participate in physical education and passions for sports

Thank you for your faith, service, and knowledge to our school:

Nayeli L. - 6th Grade

Isabelle D. - 5th Grade

Benjamin D. - 4th Grade

Benjamin S. - 3rd Grade

Nico L. - 2nd Grade

Vicente C. - 1st Grade

Sammy N. - Kindergarten

Congratulations to our students who exemplified the Schoolwide Learning Expectation of being Active! - January 10

🛠️ Remain active in their community

👷‍♀️ Demonstrate hard work and integrity

⚽️ Participate in physical education and passions for sports

Thank you for your faith, service, and knowledge to our school:

Eduardo G. - 8th Grade

Miranda H. - 6th Grade

Lauryn T. - 5th Grade

Madison M. - 3rd Grade

Xavier N. - 2nd Grade

NOTES FROM THE OFFICE

Payments

If sending payments with your student, please place the check or cash in a marked envelope with the student's name and what it is for. They may give it to their teacher in the morning, and the office will collect the payments that way.

Help for our Los Angeles Area Brothers and Sisters

A message of support from the Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Oakland:

We have all seen the pictures. The relentless fires in Los Angeles are beyond devastating.

Corpus Christi Church and school were destroyed in Pacific Palisades, thousands of families have lost everything, and hundreds of thousands remain displaced and/or without power while the fires rage on.

Join us in praying for those suffering and the firefighters and first responders working tirelessly to serve their communities.

How you can help

Archdiocese of Los Angeles

Catholic Charities USA

A Note from PTG:

Dear St. David of Wales Families,

Thank you to all the parents who have stepped up to volunteer their time and resources to making this year's Catholic Schools Week a fantastic and memorable one for our students.

Blessings,

Your PTG Team

ptg@stdavidschool.org

Click here for Volunteer Opportunities!

New Title I Teacher

Ms. Ryan comes to us with over 30 years of teaching experience, mainly in special education. She loves to support struggling students, both academically and emotionally. She worked in public schools at all grade levels from Los Angeles to Sonoma County. She spent her last 11 years as an Academic Support teacher at Salesian. Ms. Ryan is very happy to be here at St David to help students and assist teachers.

Ms. Ryan officially begins her role as our Title I Teacher on February 4th.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

We warmly invite all families to join us for the special Catholic Schools Week Mass at St. David of Wales Catholic School! Students who attend Mass in uniform may receive a free dress pass.

On Monday, January 27th, we celebrate VOCATIONS. We will hear from a few community members about their chosen vocations.

Tuesday, January 28th -Celebrate our COMMUNITY- bring donations for Greater Richmond Interfaith Program. Please bring any of the following items:

Disinfectant wipes
Disinfectant sprays or product
Hand sanitizer
Sandwich fixings (Bread mayonnaise, mustard, cheese, meat, sandwich bags and lunch
bags)
Napkins
Chips
Fruit

Wednesday, January 29th - Celebrate our TEACHERS - students may show their appreciation for the teacher by coming to school dressed as one of the St. David staff members

Thursday, January 30th- Celebrate our STUDENTS - free dress, no homework, AND a movie in the afternoon!

Friday, January 31st - Celebrate our SPECIAL PERSONS - we invite our students to bring a special person with them to school

Saturday, February 1st - Celebrate our FAMILIES - we will hold an Open House from 3-5pm and close it out with a Mass at 5pm.

Hot Lunch at St. David - Som-thing Special Catering

Dear Family, Staff, and Students of St. David,

My name is Som S. Zaragoza, chef and owner of Som-thing Special Catering. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and my team: Dana Knight and Stephon Saengsourith. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve meals at St. David.

Currently, all our meals are prepared fresh daily in the commercial kitchen at Salesian College Preparatory, where we also serve the students and staff. Additionally, I have partnered with Meal Manage, an online meal ordering portal, for easy menu browsing and pre-ordering.

This is my third year catering at Salesian and my fourth month at St. David, and I am excited to continue growing and serving both our students and the wider community.

If you have any questions, concerns, or need assistance with setting up a Meal Manage account, please don't hesitate to reach out to me at hotlunch@stdavidschool.org or text or call me at 510-672-6108.

Thank you once again, and I wish everyone a blessed and prosperous 2025!

Warm regards,

Som S. Zaragoza

Chef & Owner, Som-thing Special Catering

2025 Lunch Pricing:

Meals (drinks not included) ……………………. $ 7.00

Drink options:

8 oz water………………………………………………. $ 1.25

Juice box ………………………………………………… $ 1.50

Milk-Whole ……………………………………………. $ 1.75

Milk- Chocolate ……………………………………… $ 1.75

Daily Offerings:

Fresh baked chocolate chip cookie ………… $ 0.85

Fresh fruit cup ……………………………………….. $ 4.00

Yogurt…………………………………………………….. $ 2.50

Mini Sandwich Box ………………………………… $ 5.00

(2 turkey & cheddar sandwich on hawaiian roll with goldfish crackers)

Mini Fruit & Cheese Box ………………………… $ 5.00

(seasonal fruit, cheese & crackers)

Mini Hummus Box ………………………………….. $ 5.00

(hummus, carrots & pita)

Email Hot Lunch Program

CYO SPRING SPORTS - SIGN UP

Get Ready for Spring Sports! 🌟🏀🏃‍♀️

Spring is just around the corner, and it’s time to gear up for another exciting sports season!

Whether your child is ready to shoot hoops in Girls Basketball or race to the finish in Track, we’ve got something for everyone.

Don’t wait—submit your interest today using the link below. We’re accepting responses until February 1st. Let’s make this season unforgettable—Go Bears! 🐻💪

Submit Interest Here!

Diocesan E-Sport Invitational

The Diocese of Oakland is looking to start an E-Sport league. Please register if your student is interested in competing. This is for 6th-8th grades.

Sign-Up Form

Girls’ Basketball Skills Development Clinic at Salesian

Salesian College Preparatory is hosting its Red & Black Girls’ Basketball Skills Development Clinic for grades 4–8 on Saturday, February 1, 2025.

Check-In: 8:45 AM
Clinic: 9:00–11:00 AM
Location: Salesian College Prep Gym, 2851 Salesian Ave., Richmond

For more information, contact Coach Stephen Pezzola at spezzola@spezzola.com. Don’t miss this opportunity to build your skills and have fun!

3-MINUTE RETREAT- We are the Church

Take a moment this week to reflect on how we, as members of the Church, are called to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world. This 3-minute retreat invites us to consider the beauty of our shared mission and the ways we can serve one another in faith and love. Through prayer and reflection, let us remember that together, we embody the living Church, united in Christ's teachings.

3-Minute Retreat

ST. DAVID CATHOLIC SCHOOL

871 Sonoma Street

Richmond, CA 94805

www.stdavidschool.org

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