When it comes to our distinguished SSJ alumni, the answer to this question is, “Yes, there IS a doctor in the house…actually, there are quite a few!”

Sts. Simon & Jude School is known for many things! Our trophy cases on campus are BURSTING at the seams with all of the amaz-ing accomplishments our students have achieved. There are count-less reminders of just how talented our sports teams are based on the many basketball, volleyball, football, softball and cheerleading trophies glistening behind that glass. In addition, there are volumes of plaques proving how our amazingly gifted Academic Decath-lon Team has performed in recent competitions against schools throughout the Diocese of Orange. We are so proud of our hard working students at SSJ who have earned these many awards on display at our school.

However, we are even more proud of our student commitment to Christian service in our community and around the world. While there may not be a gilded reminder in a trophy case for this, there are many needy people who have been touched and graced by the kindness, donations, prayers, fundraisers, prayer walks, cards, let-ters, and personal visits our students share with those in need. These things cannot be measured, but only felt in the heart. We are so pleased and proud of how seriously and fully our students live and spread their faith in Jesus Christ! They are all such a blessing to us.

It has come to our attention, however, that while in Orange County our beloved Dolphins are renowned for being a pinnacle of sports achievers, there is also a high level of accomplishment among our esteemed alumni in the academic realm that is carrying over long after they graduate. What we would like to share with you in this edition of our Spirit newsletter is our overwhelming alumni accom-plishment in the area of science and medicine.

Sts. Simon & Jude Catholic School Huntington Beach, California

Volume XVIII• Spring 2017SPIRIT

Founded on the Franciscan faith...

Preserved with parent pride...

Sustained by staff and student spirit...

teachers and our friends are all part of God’s building blocks in creating us in His image, and forming us into our best selves. If we keep trying, keep learning, keep following Him as we grow – there is no limit to what we can become! SSJ is proud to be a launch pad for these alumni you’re about to meet!

“Worship the LORD your God, and His blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you.” ~ Exodus 23:25

Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter, and please consider submitting your “story” to SSJ! You certainly don’t have to be a doctor to be interesting to us. We LOVE receiving notes, newspaper clips, wedding photos, and baby photos, anything you wish to share is always appreciated! We thoroughly enjoy hearing from ALL of our alumni, and hope that those of you reading this issue of Spirit will send your story to us for our future editions and the area dedicated to alumni on the SSJ School website. Please send your information to our Alumni Relations Coordinator, Kathleen Domenici, at kdomenici@ssj.org. As part of our Golden Jubilee, we will be implementing a new program to honor a “Distinguished Graduate” annually. We also have some plans to honor our younger alumni who are still in high school or college. In the next issue of our Spirit newsletter we will be announcing details as to how to nominate one of our alumni for consideration of these honors. Many new and exciting things are happening at SSJ!

We are seeking “Class Leaders” who can assist us with planning some of these fabulous events as part of our 50th anniversary. Would YOU like to help us? Contact our Alumni Relations Coordi-nator, Kathleen Domenici, at kdomenici@ssj.org for assistance in gathering your graduating class group for a reunion, or to join our committee for the Golden Jubilee Reception.

In the meantime, we always invite you to join us for the annual SSJ Fall Festival and revisit those fun-filled carefree days with rides, food, music and entertainment. We are so pleased to report that we have an increasing number of our alumni on campus now as “school parents” who entrust their own “little Dolphins” to us at SSJ School.

We look forward to seeing you on campus. Don’t forget to peruse our Alumni pages on the SSJ School website at http://www.ssj.org/school/home/alumni/. Here you can also read issues of our Spirit newsletter, find out about our “Alumni in the News” and enjoy some fond memories of life here at SSJ. You will be able to regis-ter for our Alumni Association and receive alumni communications like the Spirit newsletter, reunion information, and invitations to events here on campus like our last Alumni Reception for our 40th anniversary, which drew over 400 alumni guests!

Whether you’re a “Dolphin” or a “Rebel” makes no difference to us. We want to hear from YOU! Please contact us with your latest news for feature in our upcoming editions of the Spirit newsletter.

IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?

While we know that their chosen medi-cal schools are the ultimate, final step in their journey to a career in medicine, the stories you are about to read also indi-cate a different outlook as to the “why” so many of our graduates have made the commitment and survived years of study and sacrifice to become doctors. Never underestimate the humble begin-nings of those paper cut-out anatomy lessons in kindergarten. Always remem-ber that every assignment, every experi-ence, every interface with our peers, our

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Yesterday evening, I arrived home from work after a long day of seeing patients, and saw a letter addressed to the parents of Caroline Schecter, my daughter. It was her ac-ceptance letter into the Fall 2017 SSJ kindergarten class. It was a moment that brought tears to my eyes and a smile to my face, knowing what a wonderful journey she was about to embark on.

I started kindergar-ten at SSJ in fall 1984; Mrs. Sebel-ius was my kinder-garten teacher. In our science unit, we made life size cut outs of the human body that had plas-tic bags that you inflated with straws for the lungs. I thought it was the coolest thing. This

anatomy lesson was my first memory of wanting to be a doctor. Mrs. S asked me why I wanted to be a doctor, and I said it was to help people…or at least that is what my mother tells me.

Another one of my favor-ite memories was celebrat-ing class Mass on the beach at the beginning of our 8th grade year. We had tragi-cally lost one of our class-mates, Thomas Haynes, that summer. Being able to come together, share our faith, and pray together was truly a gift during such a difficult time. Our class of 1993 remains

Emily Edwards Schecter, M.D. (SSJ ‘93) Pediatrician and “SSJ Legacy Parent!”

close; our graduation song “In My Life” by The Beatles will always remind me of all my SSJ friends and memories.

After SSJ, I attended Ma-ter Dei, then UC Berke-ley where I majored in biology and minored in public policy. I then pursued an MD/MPH at St. George’s University. I completed my pediat-rics residency at CHOC (Children’s Hospital of Orange County). While I was in residency, I had the op-portunity to volunteer for Global Healing at the Roatan Volunteer Pediatric Clinic in Honduras. I am now a pe-diatrician in private practice with MemorialCare Medical Group in Irvine.

The eight years of post college training and long hours have paid off; I love my job as a pediatrician. My typical day includes taking care of newborns, monitoring chil-dren’s growth and development, vaccinating them and treating illnesses. The best part of working with children is helping them to become their best selves; teaching them how to eat healthy, be active, prevent injuries, and make good decisions throughout their lives.

I am thankful to my parents and teachers for providing me a strong foundation of Christian faith, service, and aca-demic excellence at SSJ and am excited to continue to be part of the community as an SSJ parent.

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I have so many great memories from my time at SSJ, and I know that the les-sons I learned there shaped my decision to go to medical school. I always loved science, and my teachers at SSJ encouraged me to pursue that interest and chal-lenge myself. What really made me decide that medical school was right for me was recognizing the importance of caring for someone and being an advocate for people during vulnerable times in their lives – values that were introduced to me during my time at SSJ through classes and service projects, and modeled by my teachers and friends. I remember crying when I was done with first grade because I

was sure I’d never have a nicer teacher than Mrs. DalPoggetto, and I still strive to treat people with as much care and patience as she showed me when I was a first grader.

After graduating from high school, I decided to move to Nebraska for my undergraduate degree (a move that was probably inspired by crawling down the runway in a cow costume for the Phylum Fashion show in seventh grade). I graduated from Creighton University in 2016 with my B.S. in Biology, and I was accepted into their School of Medicine. I have almost completed my first year. I’m not sure yet what I want to specialize in, al-though I’m sure I’ll have a better idea after clinical rotations during my third year. SSJ taught me valuable lessons

about what it means to care for someone. I was lucky to have teachers and friends that always did more than they had to and obviously cared about us as individuals. They modeled the type of physician I hope to be for my future patients.

Emily Peterson (SSJ ‘08) Creighton University Medical Student, Omaha Nebraska

As I look back on my time at SSJ, I can think of many instances that sparked and fostered my love of science. Some of my favorite memories are from class field trips to Catalina and to the mountains, where we learned practi-cal and real-life applications of the

Alexa Manrriquez (SSJ ‘06) Keck School of Medicine, USC

science we had mastered in the classroom. What I be-lieve to be even more important, however, is that SSJ showed me what it means to be part of a community.

SSJ fostered a community in which each of us felt compelled to care about the well-being of others—bringing to life this wonderful idea that we are all better when we help each other. It seemed as though our classes never missed an opportunity to help someone in our greater

SPIRITcommunity. I remember wrapping Christmas presents for local families, volunteering at the Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen, and writing cards to our senior church buddies. Each of these experiences allowed me to develop a better understanding of my neighbors and engrained in me an idea that people matter and that every person holds their own unique value. I took these pieces of SSJ with me to UCLA, where I studied Psychobiology and Disability Studies, and sought out opportunities to

work with my community, just as I learned at SSJ. I discovered that medicine was an ideal path for me—providing me an opportunity to engage in mean-ingful, challenging work.

Now, I am finishing my second year at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, and I have found my niche in pediatrics. After I graduate in two years, I plan to enter a Pediatrics residency and later, pursue a subspecialty that will allow me to work in a children’s hospital with a patient population I love so much. I am so grateful to the SSJ community for getting my sister and me off to a great start and laying the foundation for us to believe in ourselves, and our dreams.

Erica Manrriquez, M.D. (SSJ ‘03) Specializing in Obstetrics/Gynecology

Aside from some wonderful friendships that I still have today, I credit SSJ with getting me fascinated in science. I remember “nerding” out about ecosystems in the Back Bay with Mrs. Turner in fourth grade, and then destroying my parents kitchen to make a jello model of a cell some-time in the years that followed. Not much has changed from that standpoint. I fell more in love with human anat-omy and physiology in college (UC San Diego). Coupled with an assortment of public service classes, a career in medicine made the most sense as something that would allow me to study science but also provide a basic service to the community.

I moved up the coast and went to medical school at UC

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San Francisco where I fell in love again – this time with surgery and the operating room – and ended up choosing to go into Ob/Gyn. Although most people think of birth-ing babies when they hear “Ob/Gyn,” I actually spend much of my time performing surgeries and am planning to apply to Gyn-Oncology fellowships – a sub-specialty of Ob/Gyn that involves reproductive cancer surgery and care.

I love my job and feel incredibly lucky to have gotten the start that I did at SSJ spiritually, socially and intellectually. Thanks to all the teachers, administrators and parents who make this special community always feel like home!

Kenny Miller (SSJ ‘04) Creighton University Medical Student

I walked into Mrs. Chalk’s TYKE class in 1994 with new shoes and a fresh haircut, knowing that that was the first day of my journey to becoming a physician 24 years later. Actually, I just wanted to play with blocks, but I can say that SSJ gave me the academic foundation I currently stand on, and always pushed me to excel in the class-room. I am now in my third year of medical school at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. I will be graduating in 2018, 70 years after my late grandfather graduated from the same wonderful Jesuit institution, after which he went on to practice Der-matology for 60+ years and inspired his grandson to go into medicine. However, skin rashes and acne are not my calling, and I am happy to say I will be going into the field of Anesthesiology, possibly followed by a fellowship in either Critical Care or Car-diac Anesthesia. While I will be applying to residency programs all over the country,

SPIRITseveral California programs are at the top of my list. After all, the Missouri River is no substitute for the Pacific Ocean.

This year marks my 21st year of Catholic school. Catholic com-munities have always given me a sense of togetherness, as well as a willingness to help others. I felt that same sense of service at SSJ for 10 years, and then at Servite High School, Boston College, and now Creighton. As a medical student at Creighton, I often volunteer at the student-run clinic at the homeless shelter a couple blocks from campus, fulfilling my Catholic obligation to serve the poor that was initially ingrained in me by Fr. Christian, Fr. Alex, and Fr. Tang. I’m sure that during the weekly Masses we at-tended I was playing paper football in the pews with Tyler Freleaux instead of paying attention, but I guess some of the lessons stuck. From

the Franciscans, to the Servite Friars, to the Jesuits, I have been given a sense of duty to give back to those less fortunate than me, and have chosen to do so in the field of medicine. Be-ing raised in such a loving, strong Catholic community like Sts. Simon & Jude helped form me into the man I am today. I graduated a Dolphin, but will always be a Rebel at heart. GO REBELS!

Hello all! My name is Jacquelyn Machado and I am proud to be an alumna of the 2006 graduating class. I started SSJ in Pre-K, per-forming “J is for Jaguar” in the alphabet play. I attended through eighth grade, when I helped start the “Field Day” tradition with Ms. Karen Foster, and was inspired and encouraged by many incred-ible teachers in between. After my years and many fond memories at SSJ, I continued my studies at Rosary High School (now Rosary Academy), and then completed my undergraduate education at the University of San Diego (USD), obtaining my B.A. in Behavioral Neuroscience and minor in Business Administration. After graduat-ing in 2014, I packed up my things and headed out west to “Corn-husker Nation” (a.k.a. Omaha, Nebraska) to complete my physical therapy doctoral education at Creighton University. It was one of the most terrifying, yet best decisions I have ever made, especially since it was where I met my fiancé.

Currently, I am in my third and final year at Creighton University, and will be graduating with my Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT), with honors, this May 2017. While at Creighton, I have been fortunate enough to find my passion of working and rehabilitating individuals of the neurologic popula-tion (i.e. individuals who may have suffered a stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury or even those that may have been born with a neurologic difference).

Jacquelyn Machado (SSJ ‘06) Physical Therapist

SPIRITPrior to graduating, I will be embarking on another worldly adventure to the Dominican Repub-lic for four weeks. I will be partak-ing in Creighton’s Institute for Latin American Concern (ILAC) program, which provides medical assistance to the people liv-

ing in rural areas of the Dominican Republic who are unable to travel to the larger cities to receive medical care. Specifically, I will be providing physical therapy services to individuals with an underlying neurologi-cal difference, in addition to administering de-parasite medications to local children and giving educational presentations to promote a healthier way of living. I feel that giving back, whether across seas or in your community, is truly what keeps the world going. It allows us to make a difference using our own unique talents in a way that creates positive change. My pas-sion for service 100% stems back to my days at SSJ, where empathy and love for all of God’s creations was rooted in every classroom.

After graduation, I plan to further my PT education by participating in a Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency program, where I will gain an elevated lev-el of clinical expertise and an enhanced understanding of complex neurologic topics. Finally, this Septem-ber, I will be getting married in Pine, Colorado to a sweetheart from North Dakota, Beau. We couldn’t be more excited!

Needless to say, life has been quite a whirlwind. In thinking back to my years at SSJ, I feel I was always encour-aged to be unique, to break out of my com-fort zone and to open my heart to whatever path God clears for us

(even if we believe a different path may be more benefi-cial). I am still so appreciative for the fundamental val-ues and morals I received early on in life through SSJ—they have stuck with me throughout all these years, and truly pushed me to be the best version of myself.

I was in fifth grade at Sts. Simon & Jude when my mom’s battle with Leukemia began. I remember ev-ery day feeling so comfortable with the support of my teachers and peers, always knowing I could trust them to put a smile on my face. Some of the best memories include the 2011 track meet when all students ran with a big “KC” on their sleeve in honor of my mom, along with the whole volleyball team playing a game in bright orange socks to support leukemia awareness. I am eter-nally thankful to the Sts. Simon & Jude community for

Lauren Castelblanco (SSJ ‘13) and her Non-Profit Organization,

“A Piece of Home”

always allowing my family to have faith and strength during my mom’s journey.

My mom’s hospital room was always filled with pic-tures, flowers, balloons, stuffed animals and visitors, relieving the common sensation of homesickness. Meanwhile, I noticed that other patients seemed to lack this sense of home, which dulled their spirits. I wished there was something I could have done to help, but I felt as if I had to know these patients better to bring them a little bit of “home.” Nearly five years after our battle with cancer, my beautiful family, healthy mom, and the grace of God have supported me and allowed me to create a dream of mine called A Piece of Home.

A Piece of Home began as a small idea, and has be-come an official non-profit organization, which supplies boxes that are put together and filled with individual-ized items that are loved and needed by the receiving patient. These boxes are completely customized to

whomever will be receiving them simply because home can be in many different places for everyone. The feel-ing of love and comfort is very commonly lacked when patients feel trapped in a hospital room for what seems like an endless amount of time. My mission is to sur-round all patients with love and support while bringing them A Piece of Home to comfort them on their jour-ney. I envision bringing personalized happiness to as many patients as possible while giving them hope and optimism through their battles. I am certain that with the efforts and support of our community, home is not far out of reach for all who seek it. This upcoming fall, I have the opportunity to attend Point Loma Nazarene University where I plan to continue my faith and aca-demic journey. During this time, I pray that I will be able to grow A Piece Of Home to its fullest potential, in order to change as many lives as possible. If you are interested in learning more or donating, feel free to visit

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www.pieceofhome.org

SPIRITSavannah Gutierrez (SSJ ‘14) MVP Hockey Goalie – Anaheim Ducks League

My name is Savannah Gutierrez, and I graduated from SSJ in 2014. I began SSJ in kindergarten, and continued all the way through 8th grade. My sister, Cheyenne, is currently in seventh grade there, and my mom, Nicole, works at Stay Care. I am a junior at Edi-son High School, and a goalie and the only girl for our varsity ice hockey team. I also play for an all-girls club ice hockey team, the Lady Ducks. In January, the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League held three all-star games - JV, Varsity, and Senior. I was one of the players in the varsity all-star game and I ended up winning MVP of the game. I have played hockey since I was four years old, starting off as a player and moving to goalie at around 10 years old. I’ve won many top goalie awards in various tournaments throughout

the years, as well as competed in the girls’ national championships four times with the Lady Ducks. Last year, I was also chosen to play in the JV all-star game representing Edison. Mrs. Cooper, a seventh grade teacher at SSJ, defi-nitely had a very positive influence on me, not only in school as my English teacher and decathlon coach, but also because she was very understanding and amazed about me playing hockey, as her son also played. I do plan to go on to play NCAA women’s college hockey, and am currently working on finding the right college fit for me.

Being a female playing hockey has sparked a lot of positivity and curiosity from many people, but not quite everyone has such a positive outlook. I have had many parents I don’t know come up to me after games and tell me how amazing it is that I play with the boys, and even saying I inspired them or their daughters. But I have also had a select few boys that I play with

or against, and sometimes even parents, who have treated me poorly because I am a girl playing hockey. I have been subject to many rude and degrading com-ments, as well as being separated and even alienated sometimes from my male counterparts. Just because someone is a certain gender, race, ethnicity, religion, etc. does not mean that they are any different on the inside; we are all human. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27).

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The idea that we are all equal in the eyes of the Lord is something that I learned at SSJ. This lesson has definitely held great weight with me throughout the years. It is fair and just to treat everyone with the same respect and compassion in this world. Even when I wanted to play hockey at two years old, my family didn’t think that I, a girl, should be playing hockey. They wanted a little ballerina, but I think it is safe to say that I have proven them, as well as many others, wrong. Girls are strong and power-ful and can succeed at whatever they set their minds to. Fairness is about giving everyone an equal opportunity, free of injustice. If everyone had a little more fairness and compas-sion in their hearts, the world would be a much better place.

If you would like to submit YOUR story as an alumnus or a current SSJ family, please email Alumni Relations Coordinator, Kathleen Domenici at kdomenici@ssj.org.Don’t forget to also “like” our SSJ School Facebook page and see our alumni and your former classmates in our “Flashback Friday” postings

Congratulations to Nick Komin and Erin Mullins (SSJ Class of 2006) as they begin their new life together! On their wedding day, Nick and Erin took a walk down “memory lane”

straight into the SSJ sandbox! We wish them a lifetime of love and happiness!

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SSJ is celebrating a milestone birthday, and YOU are invited to attend! Please SAVE THE DATE for the weekend of January 27-28, 2018, and help us blow out our 50 candles!

Whether you’re a “Dolphin” or a “Rebel” at heart, we have some wonderful plans in store for you! Please join us for an amazing weekend traveling down “Memory Lane” at SSJ. We are looking for “Class Leaders” to assist us in locat-ing and contacting our alumni to invite them to this fabulous weekend of fun. We are interested in creating some NEW EVENTS (grandparents day, alumni career day) for this anniversary and Catholic Schools Week 2018, but will need your input and par-ticipation to make it happen.

If you have not already registered your current address with us, we have been sending your Spirit newsletter and all of our communication to the address listed upon your 8th grade graduation. So PLEASE take a moment to email Kathleen Domenici at kdomenici@ssj.org and send her your UPDATED contact information. We need:

SSJ Graduation Year:First Name:Last Name:Maiden (if applicable) Name:Address, City, State, Zip:Email Address:Phone Number:I would like to help! Here’s how:

Invitations will be mailed soon and we don’t want anyone left out! Our last Alumni Reception for our 40th An-niversary in 2008 was attended by over 400 guests. We transformed Colman Hall and filled it with food, drinks, dancing, reminiscing and photos all evening long. Don’t miss the celebration!

Exact times are to be determined, but currently our plans include:Saturday evening, January 27, 201850th Anniversary Alumni Party/Reception(This is an event for all alumni, alumni parents, former teachers and friends of SSJ who are over 21 years of age)Colman HallDJ, Dancing, Photographer, Heavy Appetizers, SSJ Mens Club Bar, T-Shirt sales, Cookbook sales

Sunday morning, January 28, 2018Alumni Invitation to Open House – all ages welcome, starts after 9:30 Mass!

DON’T MISS OUT! SEND US YOUR ADDRESS TODAY!

STS. SIMON & JUDE SCHOOL 50th ANNIVERSARY GOLDEN JUBILEE!

20400 Magnolia StreetHuntington Beach, California 92646

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDHUNT. BEACH, CA

PERMIT NO.106

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