EDUCATING THE 21ST CENTURY
St. Mel School was founded in 1959 by the Sisters of Mercy who had a vision where children are educated in heart and mind, formed to be men and women of faith, learning, virtue, and service to others. It is that vision that lives on today! Our students appreciate our proud history as well as the sense of community that supports them. Our commitment to the development of the whole child includes differentiated instruction. They develop their talents - academic, artistic and athletic. The achievements, attitudes, spirituality and well-being of our students are important to us as are their families.
The core curriculum is academically challenging and is designed to help students prepare for high school pursuits. St. Mel School offers many extra activities, including athletics, academic competitions, art exploration program, choir, drama, baton, STREAM week, Student Council, and other special events. Our Student Learning Expectations (SLE’s), encourage children to become life-long learners, develop care for self and others.
A Catholic faith identity is at the heart of St. Mel School. This is what sets us apart from other schools and draws us together as a community. Our students are afforded the luxury of having the religion curriculum woven into their daily school experience, opportunities to celebrate the sacraments, and participate in community service projects. I invite you to attend the second Sunday of the month school Mass at 10:00 a.m. There you will see St. Mel Catholic School students getting a head start on leadership as they serve as lectors, greeters, altar servers and sing in the children’s choir.
I have been blessed to be Principal of St. Mel School since 1990. My belief that faith and a strong parent-teacher-student partnership will empower the students of St. Mel School to become tomorrow’s leaders who are compassionate, confident, and articulate. After you have finished browsing our website, please call me at 916-967-2814, or email jnagel@stmelschool.org , to arrange a tour to experience for yourself the tradition of St. Mel Catholic School, “Integrating Faith with Academic Excellence”.
Note From the Principal
“It is very important to realize that the Catholic identity of our schools is not exclusively related to religious instruction and the integration of academic studies into a unified whole. The Catholic school has a single Christian vision, an integrated concept of what makes a fully authentic and mature human being. The educational process is not confined to the curriculum, nor to the academic, technical, artistic and sporting achievements of the school. The Catholic school should be seen as offering the possibility not only of exploring the mystery which God is, but also of demonstrating the Gospel in action. It must be consistent throughout and in every aspect reflect the Christian faith, which is its soul, its inspiration and its justification. “ Cardinal Basil Hume -The Future for Catholic Schools
It is with a full heart and open mind that we set forth on our 2018-2019 school year journey. Our teachers are eager to plan and facilitate engaging and rigorous learning experiences for our students. Positivity, partnership, and participation are key components and a consistent theme among our community, and for that I am very grateful! I look forward to seeing our St. Mel School families at the Meet & Greet BBQ right after the 10:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday, August 12, 2018. Please make plans to join us! The first day of school is Monday, August 13. The students will attend the 8:30 a.m. Mass led by Student Council under the leadership of Mrs. Fran Dellaserra and Mrs. Darcy Grieve. However, TK and Kindergarten students will remain in their respective classrooms focusing on sharing friendship and adjusting to the school environment. They will join us at the 8:30 a.m. Mass on Wednesday, August 15, as we celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Please join us at these special school Masses!
Our Back to School Night is Wednesday, August 22, at 5:30 p.m. in the Parish Center. This is a very important meeting where parents can learn about general school events and procedures, including specific information pertaining to individual class content and curriculum. I hope to see all parents on this evening!
Our 2018-2019 highlights include welcoming Miss Marie Weider, our new first grade teacher, to St. Mel School! She has previous teaching experience in public and Catholic elementary schools. Also, a new lunch vendor, Goodfellas4kids, has been selected to provide nutritious lunch options starting Tuesday, August 14. Check SchoolSpeak next week for pre-order and pay on-line instructions. Lunches are delivered to St. Mel School.
For the last three months, Kaye De Luca has been working on completing the Department of Social Services application for a preschool license, including facility upgrades - a process quite time-consuming and detail-oriented! We will keep you posted when we anticipate receiving the license. Our goal to open is mid-September.
The 2017 Fund-a-Project provided the necessary funds to give the school’s grassy playground a much needed facelift, including a walking/running track, new irrigation and landscaping. I am deeply grateful to the families, parishioners and staff who contributed to this worthwhile project!
With the start of school right around the corner, I welcome our new and returning students and their families. Please know that we, the faculty and staff of St. Mel School, care very much for our “Fighting Irish” families. We are dedicated to working in partnership with you, the parents, to fulfill our mission of educating the whole child and ministering to our community in the image of Christ’s love. Thank you for your dedication to Catholic education, and to St. Mel School!
Sincerely In Christ,
Janet Nagel
