As a new school year begins, faculty and staff gathered for a time of retreat, reflection, prayer, and community. Before welcoming students back to campus and beginning the busy rhythm of another year, we took time to pause and most importantly, to remember who we are and why we are here. The retreat was held at St. Mary Magdalen Parish Hall in Berkeley and offered an opportunity to step away from the demands of schedules, meetings, classrooms, and preparations and to come together as one community. We were reminded that a Salesian school is more than a place where teaching and learning take place. It is a community rooted in a particular way of being with young people: with joy, compassion, presence, faith, and hope.

At the heart of our gathering was a return to the spirit of St. John Bosco and his example reminds us that education begins with relationships. Young people need adults who know them, listen to them, encourage them, and walk alongside them. They need to know that they are seen, valued, and loved. As faculty and staff, we were invited to reflect on what it means to carry this mission into another school year. Each person has a role to play in creating a school environment where students can flourish, not only academically, but also personally, socially, and spiritually.

There was time to pray, to share, to laugh, and to listen. In gathering together, we strengthened the relationships that make our school community unique. We remembered that our own sense of belonging and connection matters because it shapes the experience we create for our students. As we welcome our students and families into a new year, may we carry the spirit of our retreat with us. May we remember the conversations, the prayer, the laughter, and the renewed commitment we shared.

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We are excited to welcome our new faculty and staff to the Salesian community as we begin a new school year. We are grateful for the gifts, experience, and energy you bring to our school, and we look forward to all that we will accomplish together.

Jeorjana Barahona, ASP Teacher

Adelaida Dueñas, Associate Principal of Academic Excellence and Professional Learning

Griseldo Dule, English Teacher and Science Teacher

Daniel Hill, Science Teacher

Ashley Holland, Science Teacher

Omar Padilla, Academic Counselor

Anne Fix, VPA Teacher

 

We would also like to welcome returning Salesian Faculty and Staff who will serve in additional and new positions:

Liz Darr and Cassie Re, Co-Leaders of our Sports Medicine Program

Kevin Conn and Jonathan Higgenbotham, Co-Coordinators of Information and Technology