by Alice StMonica | Dec 20, 2024 | Blog
Christmas time is here! And so, it is time for our annual Christmas Pageant. This performance is a celebration of Christmas music and the birth of Jesus Christ. All students participate in the production. We head into Christmas break this Friday. We wish all of our...
by Alice StMonica | Dec 18, 2024 | Blog
Students begin learning about shadows in primary grades. In the intermediate grades, they learn more about the sun and the earth’s rotation. 5th grade students study how the sun “rises” in the east, “sets” in the west and how that affects shadows. As the earth rotates...
by Alice StMonica | Dec 13, 2024 | Blog
It was a wet, chilly morning – a perfect day for Hot Chocolate! In honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose feast day is December 12th, the Saint Monica Student Council held a Hot Chocolate Sale at morning recess to benefit The Gubbio Project. Toppings for the Hot...
by Alice StMonica | Dec 11, 2024 | Blog
The 6th grade class took a field trip to Fort Funston to learn about some of the geological features of Northern California. Students were guided by a current parent who is the USGS National Innovation Center Director. At Fort Funston, students searched for fossils...
by Alice StMonica | Dec 11, 2024 | Blog
The 7th grade took a field trip to the Exploratorium. The Exploratorium provides a unique hands-on experience for students in the areas of science, technology, engineering, art and math. The 7th graders spent the day exploring the museum’s many interactive exhibits,...
by Alice StMonica | Dec 9, 2024 | Blog
In 3rd grade, students make the transition from the primary to intermediate grades where they experience a more robust curriculum. Throughout the year, students demonstrate their mastery of content material by creating projects.As part of their current Science unit on...
by Alice StMonica | Nov 27, 2024 | Blog
We welcomed special visitors to Saint Monica for our annual Thanksgiving Grandparents and Special Friends Day. Our morning began with a prayer service where we celebrated the gift grandparents and friends are to our students. After the service, our guests were treated...
by Alice StMonica | Nov 27, 2024 | Blog
It has been our tradition at Saint Monica School to hold a food drive at Thanksgiving. This year, the non-perishables collected will go to Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa, to help feed the hungry. Students and parents stepped up collecting canned...
by Alice StMonica | Nov 27, 2024 | Blog
The 5th through 8th grades were treated to a performance of “Emma” at Archbishop Riordan High School. The trip offered more than an enjoyable experience. The visit gave students, especially 7th and 8th graders, an opportunity to get to know more about their choices in...
by Alice StMonica | Nov 27, 2024 | Blog
This month, grades K-3 took a fabulous field trip to Tilden Nature Area. It was a chance for urban children to experience rural. Students learned about the environment while hiking on the many trails through the park. In addition, they learned a bit about animals and...
by Alice StMonica | Nov 27, 2024 | Blog
Saint Monica students experience a comprehensive academic program of core curriculum (e.g., ELA, Math) and co-curriculars (e.g., Spanish, Art) to give them a rigorous, well-rounded education. We also offer a wide variety of extra-curricular (of after school)...
by Alice StMonica | Nov 19, 2024 | Blog
Field trips are an integral part of our primary grade experience where students get to learn and explore beyond the classroom. This month, the 1st grade class visited the San Francisco Botanical Garden. Students wandered through the “8,000 different kinds of plants...
by Alice StMonica | Nov 19, 2024 | Blog
In our primary and intermediate grades, homeroom teachers use the Mystery Science curriculum for core science instruction. Students love the comprehensive program that combines core lessons with hands on activities. In 1st grade, students are currently studying...
by Alice StMonica | Nov 5, 2024 | Blog
Each month, K through 3rd grades participate in a grade-wide station rotation. A theme is chosen and each classroom set up as one station. The students rotate between the 4 classrooms to take part in each station’s activity. Students have an opportunity to move about...
by Alice StMonica | Nov 1, 2024 | Blog
Today, our Student Body celebrated All Saints’ Day, the day when we honor all Saints in the Church, by attending the parish Mass. The primary grade students presented the readings, prayers and petitions. They also chose a saint to represent and dressed as that saint....
by Alice StMonica | Oct 31, 2024 | Blog
On October 31st, it is all about Halloween! Students started their day with a Halloween Pageant Parade. The Student Council sponsored the parade with each grade-group showing off their costumes to the student body, parents and guests. After lunch, students enjoyed the...
by Alice StMonica | Oct 29, 2024 | Blog
Art classes for the 2024-2025 school year have started! All students experience art once a week in our dedicated Art room under the direction of art teacher Rosie Firoozabadi. In keeping with the season, students decorated pumpkins as their first art project for the...
by Alice StMonica | Oct 23, 2024 | Blog
Reading is a fundamental part of learning. This week, we celebrate reading with our annual Scholastic Book Fair. It is a great opportunity for students to pick out books that interest them while supporting their school! As part of our reading celebration, at morning...
by Alice StMonica | Oct 21, 2024 | Blog
The weather held out for grades K -3 on their annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch. Students spent the morning roaming through ghosts picking out pumpkins, wandering the corn field maze and visiting the live turkeys. Students and chaperones alike also enjoyed a hayride –...
by Alice StMonica | Oct 17, 2024 | Blog
At Saint Monica School, community is at the center of our program. Older students have buddy time with younger students to foster the spirit of community within our school. Our 5th grade class took a field trip to our partner preschool, Saint Thomas the Apostle...
by Alice StMonica | Oct 10, 2024 | Blog
Location, location, location! Students were treated to a preview of the Blue Angels weekend airshow as they flew by, at times directly over the school. It is an annual treat for our students. In addition to the spectacle, students got a little extra recess time to...
by Alice StMonica | Oct 3, 2024 | Blog
The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and ecology, is on October 4th. Today, at our morning assembly, we remembered St. Francis, our city’s namesake. Fr. Ben reminded the assembly of the special place animals have in our lives. He said the...
by Alice StMonica | Sep 25, 2024 | Blog
In kindergarten, students experience their community through several field trips. Our kindergarten class went on their annual visit to our local fire house, San Francisco Fire Station 14. During their visit, students learned about fire prevention and fire safety. They...
by Alice StMonica | Sep 25, 2024 | Blog
The Saint Monica Student Council held a Bake Sale to benefit Saint Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. They sold sweet treats, cuties, and juice. In all, they raised $814. As leaders of our student body, they modeled for younger students the importance of charitable...
by Alice StMonica | Sep 25, 2024 | Blog
Preparation for high school is a primary focus in 8th grade. As part of this preparation, our junior high classes are visited by various high schools. Today they were visited by Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory. A school administrator as well as Saint Monica School...
by Alice StMonica | Sep 23, 2024 | Blog
Saint Monica School’s grades K-3 celebrated their 2nd Annual Dot Day! International Dot Day, inspired by the book “The Dot,” by Peter H. Reynolds, is a “a global celebration of creativity, courage and collaboration” where students build their confidence to “make their...
by Alice StMonica | Sep 19, 2024 | Blog
The weather couldn’t dampen the fun of our 2024 Annual Fun Run Fundraiser! Music, dance, games added to the fun. The entire student body, as well as our principal, Mr. Sweeters, and Pastor Fr. Ben Rosado, came out to run. Parent volunteers were on hand to count...
by Alice StMonica | Aug 22, 2024 | Blog
Today, students were welcomed into their classrooms for the 2024-2025 school year! Students were greeted by their new homeroom teachers. Our school community then assembled in the school yard for the year’s first Morning Student Assembly led by our new 8th grade...
by Alice StMonica | Aug 21, 2024 | Blog
Saint Monica School’s storm water Runoff Garden Project is near completion! Three gardens are being added to our school yards to beautify our campus and will be irrigated with storm runoff water. In addition to the gardens, over the summer, we reconfigured our...
by Alice StMonica | Jun 6, 2024 | Blog
Congratulations to our kindergarten class who were promoted to 1st grade! They celebrated their completion of kindergarten with their families at our promotion ceremony. Kindergarten teacher Ms. Van Hattem (or Ms. V) noted students had completed their learning and...
by Alice StMonica | Jun 3, 2024 | Blog
Graduation is just around the corner. The Class of 2024 is concluding their journey at Saint Monica School. High School decisions have been made. Students are prepared for the next step in their education. There are a host of events to mark the completion of this...
by Alice StMonica | Jun 3, 2024 | Blog
Saint Monica School celebrated our earth during Earth Week with a series of activities. The Student Council sponsored a Creative Contest focusing on the themes: ecology, environmentalism, stewardship. Open to all grades, students were asked to create an art...
by Alice StMonica | Jun 3, 2024 | Blog
A highlight of the school year for students is the participation in academic and character-building retreats. Retreats take place in a safe, supportive learning environment and allow students to engage in hands on learning experiences outside the classroom as well as...
by Alice StMonica | Jun 3, 2024 | Blog
Our spring musical performance, Oklahoma!, was a hit! Students from all grades participated in the show, including actors and stage crew. There were two performances – a student matinee and evening event. Our performances are always free! Instead, donations are...
by Alice StMonica | Jun 3, 2024 | Blog
As has been our tradition, in celebration of mothers in the month of May, our 1st grade class prepared a special Mass to honor Jesus’ mother, Mary. They acted as liturgical ministers, including doing readings, responsorial psalms, and petitions. First graders also...
