In a world where you can be anything, be RESPECTFUL

Welcome to a new month—and a new opportunity for growth! It’s hard to believe it’s already March. This month, we’re focusing on the word “respectful.” We’re not highlighting it because our students are often disrespectful, but because respect holds a powerful value that shapes every part of our lives when we practice it.



We are truly blessed to be part of such an amazing school, and much of that greatness is because of the incredible people reading this right now. Thank you for being a part of our community, where faith and gospel values are cherished. Our goal is to build on that greatness and create a school where love, understanding, and kindness are the foundation of everything we do. A school where we speak to (and about) one another with kindness, where we celebrate our differences, and where good manners are the norm. A school where we hold each other accountable, and disrespect—whether toward a student or adult—is simply not tolerated.

Each morning, I have the privilege of sharing a message with our students. While each message varies, whether reflecting on the gospel, learning about the saint of the day, or celebrating a special occasion, the heart of every message is the same: Be kind, be loving, work hard, and treat others with respect. That’s the essence of every “pep talk” I share. Some students may need a little reminder each day, and that’s okay—it’s all part of the learning journey.

With nearly 500 students in our school, we can’t be present for every conversation or interaction, but we trust that, as partners in this education process, our families will continue to nurture these values at home. We ask you to celebrate and reinforce respectful behavior, remind your children about the importance of manners, and never tolerate disrespectful words or actions. Together, at school and at home, we can build a place where goodness, kindness, and respect are not just ideals but a part of our everyday lives.

Let’s continue to work together to create a school that shines with love, understanding, and respect—for everyone.

Dear St. Hedwig Family:

When people heard that I was an attorney, they ask how I came to be a priest. Here is my vocation story. I grew up in a Catholic family, but the topic of priesthood never came up. My father wanted me to be successful in the world and I was encouraged to pursue higher education and find a secure career. When I went off to college, I stopped going to Mass because Faith was not a priority for me. I wanted to experience life apart from God. I went to New York to finish my undergraduate and then to Pepperdine Law School in Malibu. I had a good job as an Deputy District Attorney in Orange County. I was also dating, hoping to find the right person, to get married and have a family.

I was dating a good Catholic woman who wanted me to go to Mass with her on Sundays and so I did. And then we stopped dating, but I continued to go to Mass by myself. It was during this time that I started to examine my life. I felt that I did not want to be a D.A. for the rest of my life but I did not know what I wanted to do. I started dating another Catholic woman who introduced me to daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and the Rosary. I really started to grow in my faith. It was during this time that I turned to the Lord in prayer and asked him to help me find what it is that I am supposed to do. Shortly thereafter, three different people asked me if I ever thought about the priesthood. The woman I was dating asked me if I ever thought about becoming a permanent deacon. I was 35 at the time and no one had ever asked me these questions. I started to look into these vocations and felt drawn to the priesthood. It was exciting and scary at the same

time.

I didn’t know if I could give up having a family to be priest. I prayed to the Lord to help me do so if he really wanted me to be a priest. Then one morning I woke up with a song in my head. I was singing, “I would give everything I own, give up my life, my heart, my home. I would give everything I own just to have you once again.” The lyrics are from “Everything I Own,” from Bread. The writer, David Gates, wrote this song about his father, who passed away. I sensed that for me, the lyrics applied to the Father and if I didn’t give up what I wanted to be a priest, I would one day regret it.

Everything started to come together. I went on a Cursillo weekend retreat and felt the presence of our Blessed Mother calling me to imitate her in doing God’s will. I found a spiritual director who encouraged me to pray and discern the priesthood. Even the woman I was dating, encouraged me to seek and follow God’s will.

But there was one more hurdle. I met another Catholic woman with whom I felt a

connection. I told her that I was discerning the priesthood but we both had feelings for each other. I asked the Lord in prayer what this meant. The answer I sensed was that God wanted me to make a choice. I can choose to pursue a relationship with this person or follow him. With God’s grace I was able to make the right choice and have had no regrets.

With much love and care,

Fr. Quan Tran

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2025-2026 re-enrollment fee of $700 will be deducted on March 3rd.

Safety Reminder

Parents, once again, we feel the need to send a reminder about drop-off and pick-up safety. We have a large school, and many of our students walk or ride bicycles home. It is IMPORTANT to remember the following:

• Use the car line for drop-off and pick-up. While not the most convenient, it is the SAFEST way for our students. Let's keep our students safe—it takes all of us.
• Do not turn left from Los Al onto Orangewood and cut the line. It is not fair to those waiting and causes a safety issue.
• Los Alamitos PD will cite people blocking crosswalks or intersections. We have been warned that they are watching.
• Never pass anyone who is in line by driving around them in the opposing lane. Even if you have preferred parking, never pass up the line by driving around others.
• Do NOT use the church parking lot for picking up or dropping off unless you have an assigned parking spot or a medical exemption. The church lot is for the church, and it is unsafe with children walking around. Please use the car line.



We have reviewed the drop-off and pick-up procedures numerous times and consulted with traffic engineers, police, and fire officials. While the car line may seem cumbersome, it has been determined to be the SAFEST way to ensure all of our students are protected. It will take all of us, together, to keep everyone safe.

Hot Lunch this week will be from Ameci’s, with proceeds supporting our Athletics program. Since we are in Lent, only cheese pizza will be available.

This is not a class-sponsored event, so we need volunteers to help. If you can assist, please sign up—your support is greatly appreciated!

Thank you! 🍕

📢 Attention Grades 1-4! 📚

Read Across America Week is this week! 🎉



📅 Schedule of Events:

📖 Monday – Bring your favorite book and a beach towel or small blanket for some cozy reading!

📖 Bookmark Contest! Blank bookmarks will be sent home on Monday and are due by Wednesday. Winners from each class will have their bookmark copied for distribution!

🎨 Tuesday - Thursday – Enjoy fun in-class activities celebrating reading!

👗 Friday – Dress up as your favorite book character and, if possible, bring the book with you! We will be doing buddy reading with friends.

Let’s make it a fun and exciting week of reading! 📚✨

🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ Running Club is Starting! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

📅 Begins March 11th

📌 Open to Grades 3-8

🗓 Schedule:

➡ Tuesdays: 3:00 - 4:00 PM

➡ Some Fridays: 1:45 - 2:45 PM

📄 Permission slips are available in the front office and must be turned in to participate.

❓ Questions? Ask Mrs. Laines.

Congratulations to our Academic Decathlon teams for their outstanding participation this weekend at Catholic Academic Junior High Decathlon!

A special congratulations to Miriam Paul (7th grade) for winning 2nd place in Individual Literature!

Two teams represented St. Hedwig, showcasing their hard work and dedication. We are incredibly proud of our decathletes and their amazing efforts.

Keep up the great work!



Thank you, Auction Sponsors!



Our sincerest appreciation goes out to our auction sponsors for their generosity and support of St. Hedwig School!

Socialite

Balderas/Lands Family

MWJ Wealth Strategies

Legacy

Gillis Family

Mayfield Environmental  Services

Fisher Family

Elite

Halbert Hargrove

Serra Manufacturing

St. Joseph High School

Yuppie

Mater Dei High School

Newberg Family

Slater Builders

Trotter Family

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Click to learn more or to purchase a sponsorship package.  

Fun Flamingo Fridays are Here!

{We’ve introduced a new way for St. Hedwig students to get in on the auction fun. On Fridays, classes will be visited by Mr. McGuiness, Mr. Belisle, or Mrs. Vasquez, who will be making special deliveries of pink flamingo beach balls to all children of families who have purchased a Pink Ticket. 

Be sure to purchase a Pink Ticket between now and March 26th to ensure your kiddos are in on the fun AND increase your chances of winning the first pick of our amazing Live Auction items before they go up for bid!

Silent Auction Donations



If you or a local business have items you would like to donate for our Silent Auction, please complete the Donor Form that came home in your auction packet and return the form and items to the front office by this Wednesday, March 12th. Extra forms are also available with Mrs. Finn. Thank you for your support!

Monday 3/10: Ark Testing Grades 2-8

Tuesday 3/11: March Birthdays

Ark Testing Grades 2-8

Wednesday 3/12: School Mass 10:30 a.m.

Ark Testing Grades 2-8



Thursday 3/13: Ark Testing Grades 2-8

Friday 3/14: Ark Testing Grades 2-8



Honor your child's special day by gifting a $25 donation to the library! Your child will get to pick out a shiny new book to cozy up on the shelves during their special month. How fun is that?

Click the image to learn more.

SCHOOL CODE: GO-CELTICS-2024-2025-25

Note: When submitting photos for the yearbook, kindly make sure to tag each image using the dropdown options available for different grade levels and events. Thank you!

Click the link to view photos from our fun events and activities throughout the school year!

Never make lunch again. Or at least take a break. Choice Lunch can be ordered Monday-Thursday but you do need to place your order in advance.

Take full control of ordering lunch and choose an entrée, snacks, drinks, and fruits/veggies to customize your child's order.  An individually packaged lunch, labeled for your child, will arrive at school with everything you ordered. 

Thank you for choosing to volunteer. 

As part of our ministry to ensure the safety of our students, all volunteers are required to be fingerprinted and to complete the Safe Environment training every three years. Volunteers are also required to read our Policy Against Sexual Misconduct Book. Please print, sign and return pages 1 and 11 to Diane Sabol. Once you have completed all requirements, you will be sent an email from Mrs. Sabol to let you know that you are clear to volunteer and may sign up for Track it Forward to begin logging your volunteer hours. 

Here are the links for more information and Track it Forward.

Parents please make sure to continue inputting your hours into Track It Forward. Hours are due by May 1st. 

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