Bears Repeating Winter 2013

Calling All Alumni! We Want To Hear From You!

Do you have an idea for our newsletter?  Have something you would like to comment about?  Have an update you would like to share or a reunion you would like to organize?  This is the place to do it!  Send in an email to sralumninewsletter@yahoo.com  We are waiting to hear from you!

St. Robert School and Parish Welcomes New Pastor

On January 13, 2013, Father John L. Greene was installed as the new Pastor for St. Robert Parish.  Father Greene arrived at our parish with great enthusiasm and a wealth of experience. Fr. Greene was ordained 36 years ago on May 15, 1976. He grew up in Vallejo, California where he attended public schools. He graduated from St. Patrick’s College in 1972 and received his Masters Degree from St. Patrick’s Seminary in 1976. He has served as an Assistant Pastor at Star of the Sea, San Francisco, St. Mary’s in Los Gatos, St. Paul’s, Epiphany, St. Michael’s and St. Stephens, all in San Francisco.   For the last thirteen years he served as the Pastor of St. Monica’s in San Francisco and was also the administrator of Our Lady of Fatima Russian Byzantine Catholic Parish.

Fr. Greene has also been the Catholic Chaplain of the San Francisco Fire Dept. for 30 years, succeeding Msgr. Bruce Dreier who first invited Fr. Greene to assist him as a Fire Department chaplain. He will continue this ministry while serving as our Pastor.  He hopes over the next year to know more about the parish and to have the opportunity to meet many of you.

Please welcome him to St. Robert School and keep him in your prayers.  Father Greene is a wonderful addition to the St. Robert’s family and we are blessed to have him!

ALUMNI NEWS

2012/2013 Distinguished Alumni

 On January 27, 2012, St. Robert School honored Christina Gaines with the Distinguished Alumni Award.  Both a graduate and a mother of children attending St. Robert School, Christina puts in numerous hours to help benefit the school and the parish.  Congratulations Christina!  With her is the Honorary Distinguished Alumni for 2013, Mrs. Sharon Firpo.  Mrs. Firpo retired from St. Robert School this year after twenty two  years working as teacher, advisor, assistant principal and all around guru.  Congratulations on your retirement Sharon.  You will be greatly missed around the halls!

REUNION NEWS

A group is currently being formed to organize a reunion of classes from the 1980s.  If you are interested in helping, please let us know by emailing us at: sralumninewsletter@yahoo.com  It would be a blast to get everyone together!

BLASTS FROM THE PAST

Hey alumni.  Speaking of the 80s, here are some pictures sent in by Tom Lang, class of ’83 of many of us in our school days.  See if you can find yourself in any of these photos.  Some of these may have already been published in black and white in the last issue, but we all look better in color right?  Have more old photos you’d like to share?  Send them in to sralumninewsletter@yahoo.com

TRIVIA TIME

So, how many of you actually knew who the statue over the doors of the school is?  If you said, St. Bruno, you were correct.  As many of you know, St. Robert School was originally called St. Bruno School, and the name was changed in 1958.  If you were correct, give yourself a pat on the back!

 

So, next question….. who is this statue of at the end of the hallway?   I’m sure you’ve all walked past it, but have you every looked at it?  Who is it?  Send in your guesses to sralumninewsletter@yahoo.com  Looking forward to hearing from you!

SCHOOL HAPPENINGS

As usual, the students of St. Robert School have been busy.  Here are just a few of the many activities that they and their families have been taking part in.

School Wide Spanish Program Begins

St. Robert School has begun a school wide Spanish program.  Lourdes Suncin, who works with IES Language Foundation, is the new Spanish teacher who teaches classes to all 9 grade levels.  Spanish is such an important language to learn, especially here in California, and it is wonderful that a school wide program has been initiated.

Time for Tea

In April, the parish and school shared in an afternoon of fun and friendship at the first annual “Time for Tea”.  Everyone had a wonderful time, and hopefully this tradition will continue far into the future.

  

Parish Festival ”Lei’d Back” HugeSuccess

Once again, the annual parish festival was a huge success.  Parishoners dressed up in their island best, ate, drank and “hula”ed the night away.  The students once again were the hit of the festival with their Polynesian themed performances.  Congratulations to all involved, but especially to co-chairs Kathleen Butler and BriJit Lopez!

Annual Dinner Dance and Auction “Sails” It’s Way to a Wonderful Evening

On March 9, 2013, the Women’s Guild set sail for the biggest fundraiser of the year, the annual dinner dance and auction!  All who attended enjoyed a wonderful night of delicious dinner, good company, and both a silent and live auction.  Then, after raising money for a great cause - the kids and the school -  everyone danced the night away and had such a wonderful time!!  It was an amazing evening filled with fantastic entertainment, good food and great company.  Congratulations to the Women’s Guild on another huge success!

St. Robert School Becomes “No Bully Zone”

Following the code of Christian conduct, St. Robert School has taken on full force an anti-bullying campaign. Last Spring, San Mateo County created a no bully program called Respect 24/7.  Saint Roberts sent 6 Junior High Students to the initial meeting and has begun to utilize this team to continue promoting a no bully atmosphere at the school.   Two hallway bulletin boards have been designated to promote no bully themes, short vignettes called “Heroes Help and Bullies Hurt” are played over the intercom twice a week, each presenting a new situation for discussion.  The Respect 24/7 team will meet on a regular basis to plan activities school wide.   What a wonderful project to help encourage “heroes”.  Good job Respect 24/7 team!

ST. ROBERT’S STUDENTS ENJOY GIVING BACK

Second Grade Collects Dozens of Coats for “One Warm Coat” Drive

For many years now, Mrs. Joanne Nolan’s second grade students at St. Robert School have collected coats for the annual “One Warm Coat Drive”.  Over the lifetime of this project, Mrs. Nolan’s students have collected hundreds of coats for needy people in the bay area.  What an amazing task for second graders to undertake.  Great job!  You make us  very proud.

Sixth Grade Visits local Food Bank and helps box up Dozens of Boxes of Kiwi

Ms. Elizabeth Pino’s sixth grade class recently visited the San Francisco Food Bank and helped box up dozens of boxes of kiwi for distribution.  What a rewarding field trip and what a wonderful way to give back.  Way to go sixth grade!  Great job!

Seventh Grade Leads the Way on School Wide Service Projects!

Ms. Kury’s seventh grade class has coordinated two can food drives since the beginning of school, has collected toiletries for the San Bruno Worker House, collected monies for hurricane Sandy victims, and is coordinating the CRS Rice Bowl Lenten project.  Thank you 7th Grade!  The work you do is invaluable!

SCHOOL SNAPSHOTS

 

Looking for a way to help create more “school snapshots”?  Here is an easy way…. Escrip

Escrip is a fantastic fundraising tool for our school.  And it is so easy.   Simply register any one or all of your existing credit or debit cards, or your Safeway Club Card at Escrip.com and go about your daily shopping.  This is a secure site and you are not asked for pin numbers, special codes, or expiration dates off of your credit or debit cards. A percentage of your purchases are then given back to the designated school of choice.

Register today – it is this simple:

• Go to: Escrip.com
• Click on: “Sign Up”
• Designate your school: ID. # 137045398 (St.Robert School)
• Use the Pull down bars to start entering in your card numbers.
• Call your family, friends, and co-workers for their credit, debit, or Safeway Club Card number. Now add them to your account.
• Check the site to see how much you are contributing, manage your cards, and renew every year for continued support.
• It is that easy to help our school, so again, please register today!

**You can also help the school by buying paper scrip.  It is sold every third Sunday of the month at all masses.**

Thank you in advance for your support!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Fun Run

A new fundraiser, called the “Fun Run” will take place on April 17th.  Students will earn money for the school by doing laps around the school yard.   What a great way to get some exercise and raise  some money at the same time! The lower lot will be decorated and set up to promote the fun spirit of the event.  Each lap will earn the student a rubber bracelet to show off when the Fun Run ends. Of course the students will also be trying to earn the grand prizes!    Please help support this great cause if you get a chance.

WOMEN’S GUILD NEWS

 Next Meeting

The Women’s Guild will be honoring two women on March 18th – The woman of the year and the woman of the past. We would love for all to join us.