Message from Garces Principal
Ms. Myka Peck

Dear Parents,
 
Thank you for a great school year!  So many things to look back on...
 
Spiritually, we grew.  We added the intentions cross and brought back adoration and confession to our campus.  We began two new traditions - the nighttime Candlelit Christmas Mass and the Confirmation Mass.  Students served as Eucharistic Ministers at our weekly Masses.  We had a spiritual retreat for every class this year. Our faculty had a spiritual activity every month and weekly prayer every Monday.
 
Academically, we grew.  Our teachers spent time in collaborative learning sessions and monthly technology trainings.  We began the process of every teacher becoming Apple Certified.  Our teachers began incorporating the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic and Secondary Schools into their curriculum. Our Theology curriculum now adheres to The United States Conference of Catholic Bishop's curriculum. We added three new classes: Principles of Engineering, Introduction to Agriculture, and Creative Writing. 
 
Socially, we grew. We gathered canned food to replenish the food pantry at St. Vincent de Paul.  We collected toys for needy children at Christmas.  We collected coats and sweatshirts for the Jamison Children's Center.  We made sack lunches for the needy at St. Vincent De Paul.  Clubs committed to and completed several community service projects. And our students amassed thousands of community service hours.
 
Athletically, we grew. Our Football team won the very first Mission Bowl Championship and retained the Ogilvie Trophy.  The school won the Holy Bowl and the Football team retained the Thez-Carroll Cup. Girls Tennis went undefeated in the SWYL and won the Lewis Cup.  Our Girls Golf were the SWYL and CIF CS South Area Champions. Boys Water Polo were the EYL Co-League Champs. Wrestler Isiah Martin was the High Desert League Champion and a State Qualifier. Boys Golfer Maverick Pavletich was the CIF CS South Area Champion. The Boys Swim 4x100 Relay team of Chance Miller, Eric Klang, Lee Begin and Cael Osborn set a new school record. We had several valley champions - Volleyball won the CIF CS D2 valley title, Anastasia Drulias and Alexsia Drulias won the Girls Tennis Doubles at valley, and most recently, Cameron Roberson won the valley title in the Boys 200m. 
 
Facilities, we grew.  Thank you to everyone who helped us to upgrade Sam Tobias Field, create a new practice field, set up a permanent fence for Varsity Baseball, and renovate the library and turn it into the Mehnga Sanghera Collaborative Learning Center.
 
I can't end the year without specifically mentioning the Class of 2017.  We have students who have been accepted and will be attending some of the finest colleges and universities our country has to offer - UCLA, Penn, Brown, USC, Notre Dame just to name a few.  We had 13 students who received athletic scholarships and dozens who received academic scholarships. My wish for them is they continue to grow in their spiritual journey with God while they excel in their chosen field of study.
 
As I look back over the past year, this quote from the Bible comes to mind for we have so much to be grateful for:  "This   is   the day the  Lord  has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it." - Psalm 118:24
 
Thank you for a wonderful year. 
 
May there always be a Garces.   

Myka Peck
Valley Champion - Cameron Roberson

Congratulations to Garces Ram Cameron Roberson!  Cam is the CIF Central Section Valley Champion in the 200m.  Good luck at the state meet Cam! 
SWYL All-League - Spring Sports

Congratulations to the Garces Rams who were named SWYL All-League!  We are so proud of them and their accomplishment. And what makes it even more special is that we have two sisters, two brothers, and two cousins named All-League. 

Softball
1st team catcher- Danielle Salinas
1st team outfield- Annie Arriola
2nd team infield- Renee Rasmussen
2nd team infield- Jamie Penner
2nd team outfield- Alexandra Penner
2nd team utility- Jensen Williams

Track and Field
MVP- Cameron Roberson
1st team- Scott Boylan
1st team-Kyra Sales

Baseball
1st team infield - Joseph Tobias
2nd team pitcher - Robert Morales, Jr.
2nd team outfield - Jacen Roberson
2nd team outfield - Jack Tobias
Tyack Award Finalists

Congratulations to Scott Boylan and Anastasia Drulias who were finalists for the Jim Tyack Awards.  Anastasia was on her senior trip and unable to attend so her father, Mr. Tom Drulias, stood in for her.  Pictured are Mr. Drulias and Scott Boylan. 
Garces Track Team State Qualifiers

Congratulations to Scott Boylan and Cameron Roberson who qualified to compete in the 100m dash at the CIF State Track Championships. Scott finished 2nd with a time of 10.84 seconds and Cam's time was 10.86.
Central Section Soccer All-Stars
Kohl Humphrey, Leilani Strahan, & Shaina Looker

Congratulations to the Garces Rams who were named to play in the  Central Section All Star Game. The game will be held June 23rd at Lindsay High School.
Athlete of the Week - Cam Roberson

Congratulations to Garces Ram Cameron Roberson.  He was named KERO TV's Athlete of the Week!  Cam had a great valley meet and qualified to compete in two events at the state meet.

To view the story KERO TV aired on Cam, please click on the link:



Spring Sports Awards

Congratulations to the Garces Rams who were recognized at the 2017 Spring Sports Awards!

Softball
MVP:  Annie Arriola
Coaches Award:  Jamie Penner
Most Improved:  Jensen Williams
 
Boys Tennis
Varsity
Most Improved: Evan Smith
Coaches Award: Luke Evans
Most valuable Player: Quintin Arretche

JV
MVP- Matthew Morales
Most Improved: Faraaz Hasta
Coaches Choice: Beneth Timpog
 
Boys Golf
MVP: Maverick Pavletich 
Coaches choice: Joe Berchtold 
Most Improved: Jack Etchison 
 
Swimming and Diving
Diving
MVP- Sophie Bouldoukian

Varsity Boys Swimming
MVP: Cael Osborn
Coach's Award: Kenneth Russo
Most Improved: Eric Klang

Varsity Girls Swimming
MVP: Blaire Williams
Coach's Award: Eleni Zaninovich
Most Improved: Jana Dulcich
 
JV Girls Swimming
Co Most valuable swimmer: Allyse Naworski and Emily Demler
Most Inspirational: Riley Pisano
Co Coaches Award: Teresa Demler and Belen Cazares
 
Baseball
Varsity  
Most Outstanding Offense: Joe Tobias
Most Outstanding Pitcher: Robert Morales
Most Outstanding Defense: Jacen Roberson
Coaches Award: Jack Tobias
Rookie of the Year: Isiah Fajardo
JV 
Offensive player of the year: Kaden Uribe 
Defensive player of the year: Zachary Demos 
Most Improved: Jackson Brooks 
Frosh/Soph
MVP: Asher Allison
Coaches Award: Hayden Pisano & Tom Zaninovich
 
Track and Field
Boys Varsity
MVP Track Athlete: Cameron Roberson
MVP Field Athlete: Mark Pandol
Coaches Award: Scott Boylan
Most Inspirational: Mongkol Chhem

Girls Varsity
MVP Multi Event: Kyra Sales
MVP Field Athlete: Jessica Taylor
Coaches Award: Gabriela Arias
Most Inspirational: Catherine Bayne
Isaiah Martin Profile in 
The California Wrestler

Garces Ram, Isaiah Martin, was profiled in The California Wrestler.  Click the link below to read the article. It is a testament to Isaiah's hard work and dedication for him to be highlighted.  Nice job Isaiah!  

Hall of Honor Inductee
Arnold Cattani '64

Alumni Board Chairman Jeremy Tobias, Arnold Cattani, & Garces Principal Myka Peck 
Below is the bio of Arnold Cattani from the Hall of Honor Awards banquet program.  Arnold was introduced to the audience by A.J. Antongiovanni '97. A.J. shared with everyone the personal and professional side of Arnold and why Arnold is special to so many people. 

Arnold Cattani Hall of Honor Bio

Arnold Cattani graduated number one in his class in 1964.  While at Garces he was the Yearbook editor and the Chairman of the Bakersfield High Schools' Government Council.  After graduation, he went on to graduate from University of California, Davis in 1968 and later earned his MBA from Harvard University in 1971.  From 1968 to 1974, Arnold served in the United States Army Reserves. 

Arnold and his lovely wife Sylvia, a former Garces Board Member, raised three children who all went on to become Garces graduates - Emmy Cattani ' 93, Katie Cattani '96, and Laura Cattani '99.   Each daughter graduated in four years from Harvard, Santa Clara and U.C. Berkeley respectively.

Arnold has had a prolific professional life.  He is the owner of Cattani Family Farms and is Chairman of the Board of Mission Bank.  He is a partner in Badger Almond, Thomas-Cattani, Inc., Coldwater Farms, Famoso Nut Company and Personal Ag Management, Inc.  Arnold served on the Board of The US Export-Import Bank from 1992-1996, San Joaquin Bank from 1980-1987, and Caprock from 1994-2000.  He has partnered in several real estate developments in the residential, commercial and office sectors.  The farm produces almonds, table grapes, wine grapes, citrus and cattle across nine counties in California.

Arnold has been a very generous supporter of Garces Memorial.  He was greatly influenced by three of his teachers while he was at Garces - Brother Gilbert, Brother Gerald and Brother Daniel.  Arnold has given back in many ways, but two that are special are the Arnold Cattani Sr. Scholarship which he established to help children of farm workers from the Arvin/Lamont area to send their children to Garces.  He also established the Corinne Cattani Outstanding Teaching Award which is a monetary award presented annually to a teacher at Garces who is voted by their peers as the top teacher at Garces.   
Class of 2017 Awards - Correction

Below is a correction to the list of award and scholarship winners from the Class of 2017. Congratulations again to all of our outstanding graduates! 

Italian Heritage Dante Association Scholarship
Antoine Fanucchi and Mike Renzi 

Italian Catholic Federation Scholarship 
Antoine Fanucchi 
Junior Class Representative - Correction

Congratulations to Nick Tobias!  He will be a junior class representative next year.  Last week we incorrectly listed Nick Cinquemani.  Our apologies to both Nicks and their families. 
Man of the Year Mark Brown - Correction

Last week, we stated that our 2017 Man of the Year, Mr. Mark Brown, had two children who are Garces alumni.  Mark, and his lovely wife Marirose, sent all FOUR of their children through Garces:
  • Matt Brown '02
  • Marybeth Brown '04
  • Jason Brown '07
  • Marc Brown '09
Ms. Clarke's Class of 2018 
Poetry Superstars

Below is the last set of poems written by the Class of 2018 during their sophomore year.  


Ode to my IPad
By: Omeed Etesham
IPad how wonderfully smart you are.
You have the brain of Einstein.
Oh, IPad, your size is beyond perfect.
With you sense of humor as Siri.
When I charge you, you are ready for a new adventure.
Oh, how you smell like my clean hands.
I adore you because you give me light to the world,
When I use you I feel like nothing can stop us.
 
Ode to my Eyes
By: Yuki Zheng
Eyes, oh my eyes,
It is so precious,
You help me to do anything I want to do things.
Eyes, oh my eyes,
You give me more knowledge,
It is like a window.
You take me to appreciate different scenery.
You help me see the good and evil,
It is how much I adore you.
Your eyelashes like a small brush,
To draw a variety of interesting paintings.
You are like a camcorder,
Help me keep track of the many memories.
You are so precious to me
You are my star.
 
Ode to my Mom
By: Ryan Du
Who gave me life? Who raised me?
Who accompany me through difficult?
It's my Mom.
Mom,
Every moment you are by my side,
Whether I am sad, depressed, or hopeless.
As long as you stay with me,
The clouds will always leave,
The sun will always come out.
You just like my god,
Bring me food and hope,
Give me a home and happiness,
For the world, you are my mom.
But for me, you are the world.
10 Little Poetry Lines
By: Manuel Leal
Soccer is like a flight,
The net is my destination.
Once I reach it I hear the crowd roaring.
I feel my teammates giving me high fives,
I taste success,
 I see the disappointment of the goalie.
And I smell the fear in the team that I might score another.
The soccer ball feels like a rock when I strike it, it sounds like a cloud,
When it hits the net.
Sergio Augers lights up Etihad Aguero Stadium
With a bicycle kick.
Although the other team sometimes is encouraged harder after I score,
The orange cleat of fire dribbles through the whole defense,
shot from 90 yards out for the game winner.
Even when the clouds are crying,
Even when the ground is bruised, even as I'm flying through the pitch,
I am unstoppable.
 
Ten Little Lines
By: Jacen Roberson  
Her eyes are as pure as the clean cut grass.
They stare at me as I fly away.
I get higher and higher matching the height of a plane.
As I look down she waves like we are two steps away.
So I blink, thinking it was just a clear dream.
Then I open and we're sitting down on a grey fluffy cloud.
We slipped right through the grey cloud like a rain drop falls in her eyes.
Savannah cries as we fall from North Carolina skies.
The clean cut grass I saw in her eyes had just got watered.
The foggy eyes had soon become clear as we lose all worry.
Then she winks and teleports us back to ground.
As our shoes scream with laughter and our socks breathe with ease.
We sit together on the clean cut grass and stare to the sky, while the bright sun hangs and waves goodbye.
 
Ode to Ketchup
By: Andrew Orozco
Ketchup. The color of bright and beautiful red.
Red as a fire truck on a hot summers day.
You can come in small packages from food places.
Or large jugs from weird places.
You smell like a sweet Italian tomato ready to be picked.
You are liquidly and soft.
Sort of like play- doh, you are for eating and for playing.
You sound like a song, splat- splat- pat!!
Ketchup, you are a pool for my fries to float around in.
You are the sauce that is perfect for all the occasions.
Every food wants to be with you.
Ketchup, you make all foods new once more.
Ketchup, you are sweet sustenance.
You are the love of many people and the enemy to none.
You are the only condiment for me.
You have showed me that in life you need someone or something that makes you better than you already are.
Oh, ketchup, what a gift to the human race!
 
Ode to my Father
By: Cherry Wang  
Father, oh father, I really respect you.
You teach me everything that I want to learn.
Father, oh father, you support my hobby.
When I draw the picture, you give me an idea.
You are kind, your hand is pointing me forward.
How great you are and you are so much more.
I really enjoy when we work together and solve questions.
You are like a tree, rain or shine, always protecting me.
So now you know how much I love you,
For you are my hero, I will respect you forever.
Message from 
Garces Rector, 
Rev. Msgr. Perry Kavookjian

Dear Garces Family,

As another academic year at Garces comes to an end, I can only look back and be grateful for the many opportunities I have had to be present to the students and faculty.  In particular, I am thankful for the good faith of so many students which has been evident to me by the respectful and prayerful nature of our Wednesday Masses (even though we're in a gym), the numbers of students who have taken advantage of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the good works through which our students have reached out to the needy of our community.  We continue to make progress in solidifying our Catholic identity and to instill in our young people an awareness of the faith which brings us together.

Offering an effective Catholic education to young people is not an easy task.  Too many folks take it for granted-believing that a Catholic education can do everything for their children. What we find is that a Catholic school can make a difference in forming the hearts, minds and consciences of our children only when families work together with the administrators and faculty in the process of sharing faith. Having said this, I am grateful for the many families who make the sacrifice and effort to work with us in this sacred task. Living their faith at home greatly increases our school's success in teaching the faith. It shows in the young people who take their faith seriously and have a healthy relationship with God.  My prayer is that they keep the flame of faith alive in their hearts as they move forward in life.

I also want to express my thanks to the administrators, faculty and staff of Garces for their hard work this past year.  At the end of my fourth year as Rector, I can honestly say that it gets better with each successive year!   We are always moving forward and you can expect better things in the years ahead!

May God bless each of you during the summer months.  May we all be renewed and refreshed in our desire to continue our work in the next academic year. In particular, may God watch over and guide our graduates.

A blessed summer to all!

Msgr Perry Kavookjian

Upcoming Events

All times and locations for athletic competitions are on the Garces Athletic Calendar

Tuesday, May 30
Uniform Tops Sales 
Garces Student Store
8 AM - 12 PM, 1 PM - 4 PM

Wednesday, May 31
Summer School Bookstore Open
Uniform Tops Sales 
Garces Student Store 
8 AM - 12 PM, 1 PM - 4 PM

Friday, June 2
Track - State Prelims/Finals
Buchanan HS

Saturday, June 3
Track - State Finals
Buchanan HS

Monday, June 5
First Day of Summer School
Uniform Tops Sales
Garces Student Store 
12 noon - 7 PM
I ncoming Freshmen Orientation in MLH from 5:30 - 7:00 PM

Tuesday, June 6
Norman's Uniforms at MLH from 1 PM - 5:30 PM
Uniform Tops Sales  at
Garces Student Store 
12 noon - 7 PM
Incoming Freshmen Orientation in MLH from 5:30 - 7:00 PM
 
Please Consider Donating Your Garces Uniforms

If you have uniforms that no longer fit, or you no longer need, please consider donating them back to Garces. You can drop them off at the front desk next week.
Summer School Information
Apply Today for 2017-2018.
Thank You Hall of Honor Sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors for the 10th annual Hall of Honor. Their support helped to make it a wonderful evening for our inductees, their families, and their guests. 

Inductee Sponsor
Famoso Nut Company

Award Sponsors
Mission Bank
B & B Surplus
ASU & Associates

Program Sponsors
Wool Grower's Restaurant
Mazzei-Franconi Co.
Mr. Al Sandrini '57
Dr. David Hair '94
Bakersfield Eye Institute 
It's never too late to give

News to Share?

Please email us at  news@garces.org