By Kristen Rodriguez

RIVERSIDE—On May 20, Mrs. Christy Gandara, fourth grade teacher at St. Catherine of Alexandria School in Riverside, received the Dandy Award for Spring 2019. The Dandy Award, given twice a year by the National Catholic Board on Full Inclusion, recognizes individuals within Catholic schools who promote inclusion. 

SAN BERNARDINO—The graduating eighth graders had a rare opportunity to peek into the past at Our Lady of the Assumption School. 

TEMECULA—Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac Catholic High School has brought new meaning to the mission of “extend your hand” through its newly chartered Future Farmers of America (FFA) program.
 As the high school curriculum was being formed, an active group of parents approached the school’s administration to introduce a program that engages students in entrepreneurship, project-based learning, agricultural classroom experiences that combine STEM and hands-on experiences, leadership and public speaking opportunities in a one-stop national organization, FFA.

 How often do father and son reach a milestone in higher education together?

 Sam Torres, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese, and his namesake can tell you.

SACRAMENTO—A small group of Resurrection Academy students took four-day whirlwind tour of Sacramento and San Francisco April 8-11. Here is a travel log of the whirlwind trip provided by teacher Yvette Harris, who accompanied the students.

By Edgardo Juarez

 On the Feast of the Annunciation, Pope Francis signed his most recent Apostolic Exhortation, Christus Vivit, a document addressed to young people and to the entire people of God. 
 He begins the exhortation by stating, “Christ is Alive! He is our hope, and in a wonderful way he brings youth to our world, everything he touches becomes young, new, full of life.” (CV, 1).