Volume 8, Issue 4 July, 2012 A Newsletter for Alumni & Friends of St. John Eudes School Visit us at www.sjeschool.net Inside This Issue: A Special Thanks 2 A Class of Peacemakers: The SJE Class of 2012 to Our Special Going Forward – but Invited to Come Back Supporters The Pulse: News 3 About SJE Alumni & Friends In a Lighter Vein 3 Teaching the 4 Values of Respect and Responsibility Fun at the 4 Summer Carnival Highlights: • Class of 2012 Carries Hope of Peace; Strong in Faith • Special Supporters The Class of 2012 poses for the traditional graduation picture in Nugent Plaza with Mrs. Gunter, Ms. Stula, Mrs. Danowitz Help Maintain Edu- and Fr. Lecomte. With their vision of hope as“Peacemakers”, the class is strengthened by faith in their mission. cational Excellence, Their faces sparkled with anticipation. If not usual that fi rst graders go through what Aid to Families fatigued, they didn’t show it, regardless of the you did, when you lost precious Angela.” She • SJE School Wel- busy week fi lled with graduation activities, and continued, “The love and support . becom- comes New Parish even longer years of preparation, leading up to ing a tight family . demonstrated what it is to Business Manager this evening. The 8th Grade Peacemakers of St. be followers of Christ.” A graduation photo of • Alumna Heads to John Eudes School processed forward for their their departed classmate, Angela Abbene (who Peru with Peace last moments together, ready was lost in a car accident), Corps; Hopes to Be- to listen to encouraging words, framed and signed by each The love and support . come Brain Surgeon wistful blessings, and to cel- becoming a tight family student, was presented to the • Sr. Encarnación ebrate the culmination of their . demonstrated what Abbene Family. Retires After 30 elementary accomplishments. it is to be followers of Charitee Boyd, class vale- Years at SJE; We’ll “Go forward, and - come Christ. dictorian, thanked the teach- Miss You Sr. E! back!” pastor Fr. Gérard ers and staff and invoked her Lecomte told the Class of 2012. Calling the classmates, “. never forget the wonderful • Brothers Make twenty-seven graduates, “a vision of hope,” times, blessed with joy, so that we may bless Student Leadership he suggested they meet the challenge, “to live, [the world] . we can do all things with faith.” a Family Affair discovering new things, teachers, friends, fol- Aubree Aguinaga, one of the two recipients • Respect and lowing what you learned at SJE. You are strong of the Luke Gaines Memorial Scholarship, Responsibility Key enough to work toward new realities,” said Fr. had used the SJE acronym: “See Jesus Every- to Moral Education Gérard, reminding the students, “. you CAN where”, in her winning essay, and presenter • Students, Alumni, come back. I am all ready to be invited to Mrs. Molly Gaines remarked the idea speaks Friends Make share a pizza; to gather and share.” to the faithful essence of the class. Jesse Baza Summer Carnival Principal Mrs. Barbara Danowitz noted the noted heartfelt memories of his time at SJE Successful, Fun students had much practice in sharing, “It’s (Continued on page 2) Class of 2012 (Continued from page 1) A Special Thanks to Our Special Supporters in presenting a memorial scholarship in For over almost fi fty years, St. John Eudes School has been building character and honor of brother, Diego Baza, to Spencer self-esteem in students through respect for individual differences and our common Niehaus. beliefs. We have also strongly supported family and community values through the After the presentation of additional teaching of Christian standards and morality. This approach, along with an excep- honors, the exuberant graduates received tional academic program, assures that we are providing a quality Catholic educa- diplomas, moved tassels from left to right, tion to our children. We are very appreciative of those alumni and friends who and strutted forward into the ever hopeful have donated to our school to help us achieve these goals. Their support is vital to future, held together fondly, openly armed allowing us to continue our Christ centered mission. with faith, and purely appreciating the In recognition of the support we receive from our donors, we would like to time spent together, with their class motto acknowledge those alumni and friends who have contributed to the SJE School of remembrance resonating: “You will be Annual Fund Campaign and the Adopt-A-Student Program during the 2011-2012 with me like a handprint on my heart.” school year. These special donors have made the continued excellence of our Congratulations graduates! Surely the school program possible and have provided the means for us to provide a Catholic handprint of the SJE Class of 2012 will education to children of families that would be otherwise unable to afford it. We remain with all who had the privilege of are blessed to have these donors as members of our extended school community. knowing you. Godspeed! 2011-12 Adopt-A-Student Program Eagle’s Club - up to $249 Additional scholarship and award recipients Adoptive Donors - $500 and More Victor & Ellen Abbene were: Cristina Medina - Sr. Rosemary Scholar- Carl & Imelda Boyd Beverly Banks ship, Freddy Cantarine - Sr. Laura Scholarship Claudio & Jingmel Capra , Maeve Martinez - PTSO/Room Parents, Fu- Kevin & Gabrielle Breard Chad & Becky Rach Pierangela Castaneda ture Leader of Chaminade, President’s Award John Chady for Excellence, Spencer Niehaus - PTSO/Room Angelle Roussel William & Gail Cody Parents, Notre Dame HS Leadership, Mad- Elisabeth Star Richard Zeisel Steven Csiszar eline Multer - PTSO/Room Parents, Charitee in Memory of June Zeisel Il D’Auria Boyd - Knights of Columbus, Future Leader of Dolores DiCecco Chaminade, President’s Award for Excellence, 2011-12 Annual Fund Campaign Arle DuBois-Javellana Aubrey Aquinaga - Knights of Columbus, (Campus Safety Improvement Campaign) Carmen Frasca Justin Koochof - Knights of Columbus, Angela PlatinumHeart Circle - $5,000 and More Gail Glasser Neglio - Knights of Columbus, Alexis Vitar - Chad & Becky Rach John Hoh Future Leader of Chaminade, Serina Gar- Sam Homseih cia - St. Genevieve HS Spirit Award, Amaris GoldenHeart Circle - $2,500 to $4,999 Leila Iler Vasquez - Luke Gaines Memorial Scholarship, The William H. Hannon Foundation Virginia Keeling St. Genevieve HS Spirit Award, Jeremiah Lyn Ronald & Susan Lukas Susas - Principal’s Recognition Award. SilverHeart Circle - $1,000 to $2,499 Donald & Suzanne Martin SJE honors at graduation and/or high school Michael Halloran William & Nancy McSweeney honors at entrance were awarded to: Chari- Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Hynes Maria Menjivar tee Boyd, Maeve Martinez and Alexis Vitar Gabriel & Phyllis Kalenian Debra M Merrit (Chaminade), Nicholas Motola (Crespi), Union Bank of California Mr. & Mrs. Nick Milazzo Spencer Niehaus and Jeremiah Lyn Susas Matching Gift Courtesy of Carl & Imelda Boyd Mike & Jennifer Prince (salutatorian). C. Dennis & A. Winslow Loomis Brian Reilly The members of the graduating class are: Weber Family L. Relatos Aubree Aguinaga*, Charitee Boyd*, Frederick Michael Rueda Calasanz Council - $500 to $999 Cantarine*, Serina Garcia, Michael Her- Elva Sahugun rington*, Justin Koochof*, Nolan Pascal Loza, Gary & Jan Boudreau Michael & Juanita Saso Paolo Manlucu*, Maeve Martinez*, Cristina Carl & Imelda Boyd Jose Schnaider Medina*, Anthony Mena, Kathryn Mendoza*, Rick & Christine Crandall Mr. & Mrs. Seniyon Nicholas Motola*, Madeline Multer*, Angela Elisabeth Star Mr. & Mrs. Mel Spratley Neglio, Spencer Niehaus*, Matthew Rueda, Julie Corcoran Stranges Peyton Shaffer, Jonah Simon, Jeremiah Lyn Montal Council - $250 to $499 Virgilio & Consorcia Suizo Susas, Timothy Tagle, Amy Thompson*, Alec Robert & Florence Guest Brent & Maralinda Thorell Ure, Amaris Vasquez, Alexis Vitar*, Katherine Teresa Petach Edward & Ann Marie Tinsley Wagner, Andrew Zazueta, Angela Abbene+. Susan Zambetti-Ruda (*9 year, K-8, member of the class) Page 2 The HeartBeat The Pulse: News About SJE Alumni & Friends Erin O’Neill (’94) attended Portola is currently working at a Middle School and was enrolled in the summer job in Malibu, Highly Gifted Magnet Program. She but she will be join- then attended the Highly Gifted Magnet ing the Peace Corps in Program at Hollywood High School. She September. Her Peace participated in the People to People Orga- Corps duties will involve nization where she was a student ambas- teaching health sciences sador for the United States and travelled in Peru for two years. to various countries. After high school, Her goal is to eventually she attended the University of California, become a neurosurgeon. Berkeley, where she majored in Business. We welcome Jordi After graduating from UC Berkeley, she Combs as the new worked for Washington Mutual Bank, Business Manager of St. Countrywide, and Bank of America – John Eudes Parish. Mr. where she is now a Vice President of Combs stepped in on a Investor Relations. During her working temporary basis to help Sr. Encarnación welcomes visitors to her classroom during Open House. Many career, she also earned her MBA from the Fr. Gérard when SJE alumni will remember the California mission model they built while in her 4th Anderson School of Management at the Pastoral Administrator Grade class. As Sr. “E” retires from teaching at SJE, she plans on spending some University of California, Los Angeles. Deacon Bob Seidler ac- time in Spain during the summer before beginning her post SJE School ministry. She enjoys traveling and hiking, and is a cepted the position of assistant to Auxiliary Sr. Encarnación Alvarez, Sch. P., member of the Sierra Club. Bishop Gerald Wilkerson is retiring from teaching after 52 years as Giaconda Zoller ’04 attended last January. Upon the an educator, with 30 years of service to Chaminade College Prepara- advice of the Parish Fi- the students and families at St. John Eudes tory and was active in the Life nance Council, Fr. Gérard School. She has dedicated her life to the Teen Program.