News

Next April during the National Football League Draft, our eyes will be on Saint Monica alum and Washington State wide receiver Kyle Williams ‘20. Williams honed his football skills here at Saint Monica, leading to a standout prep career. His success at WSU placed him in the program's record books, ranking second in single-season receiving touchdowns and fourth in receiving yards. As he continues to make waves, his future in the professional ranks looks bright with scouts closely following his every move.

This week, Saint Monica Preparatory celebrated the gift that is Catholic education during the annual, nationwide Catholic Schools Week (CSW) - culminating in an all school Mass. Despite the challenging start to 2025, Msgr. Torgerson encouraged everyone to be grateful to be here together as part of the Mariner community. It was a week full of gratitude and appreciation for the role the parish, community, SMPREP families, the nation, our talented students and of course, our wonderful faculty and staff play in creating the strong foundation provided by Saint Monica Prep.

Many among our Saint Monica Prep community of families, faculty and staff, school board and alumni have lost homes, businesses and so much more in the devastating wildfires. We continue to pray for our Los Angeles community as it recovers and rebuilds. Mariners have answered the call by helping support families displaced by the wildfires. We are grateful to all of the first responders including our own alum Sam Saldibar ‘14, a firefighter with the LA County Fire Department serving on the frontlines of the Eaton Fire.

Congratulations to all of our Mariner student athletes this Fall, especially our seniors competing for Saint Monica Prep for the last time. Mariner Football followed last year’s CIF Southern Section division title with another incredible season. Mariner Girls Tennis and Girls Golf also had strong season finishes. Varsity Cheer is headed to Nationals, while at the Lower School, records were set by Girls Volleyball, Fall CYO Golf Tournament and FIYA Cross Country competitors.

Following October’s Homecoming at Home, when many alumni, current families and community members came together to celebrate our shared Mariner pride, the Saint Monica Classes of 1969, 1974 and 2014 celebrated their 55th, 50th and 10th reunions, respectively. SMPREP welcomed back a group of Visual & Performing Arts alumni for "One Last Curtain Call" before the closing performance of "Almost, Maine," the final play held in the over-90-year-old Cantwell Auditorium as we know it.

Saint Monica Preparatory is once again the Reader Recommended Best High School on the Westside, according to The Argonaut’s annual “Best of the Westside” polling. This year we added to that honor by winning Reader Recommended Best Elementary and/or Middle School as well – showing off our comprehensive TK-12 learning experience. Learn more about 2025-2026 application deadlines.

Our Mariner community will celebrate Homecoming at Home and Monster Mash, our annual Halloween carnival, over the final two weekends in October. In November, join us for the Golf and Pickleball Tournament supporting financial aid. The Fall production "Almost, Maine" premieres November 8. The Holiday Open House & Playdate will be held December 7 for families with children ages 3-8.

Saint Monica Preparatory Junior Allison Griffin completed a 10-week internship at UCLA this summer, part of the highly-competitive Army Educational Outreach Program. She is one of only three high school students accepted into this program in the last two decades!

Saint Monica Preparatory launched an exchange program with Cheonan Jungang High School, located just outside of Seoul, Korea, with a signing ceremony and exchange of gifts. Next month, 10 students will join SMPREP for a weeklong, collaborative Project Based Learning program on climate action. SMPREP students, in turn, will have the opportunity to experience Korean life and culture in January. 

Roland Labana, Saint Monica Preparatory's STEM Academy Dean, was recognized as one of this year's recipients of the David Hines Volunteer of the Year Awards. Our congratulations and gratitude go out to Labana, along with fellow awardees Dan O'Brien and Julie Shavers, SMPREP parents who were also celebrated for making a difference in the Saint Monica community through their dedication and service.

Saint Monica Preparatory is the Best Private High School for the FOURTH year in a row, according to HomeTown News readers in its annual “Best of” August issue. Sending a big thank you to everyone in the community who voted for SMPREP.

Former Saint Monica Preparatory School Board President Ed Stokx has completed his 13 years of service on the board, six as president. We are grateful for his strong leadership, particularly during the transition to our successful new chapter as one unified TK-12 school.

Over 125 Saint Monica Preparatory students, families, faculty and alumni walked together in both the Santa Monica and Westchester 4th of July parades this year. The holiday was a great celebration of what makes Saint Monica so special - our community!

Saint Monica Preparatory welcomed back one of our own esteemed alumni, Blake Van Putten '12 as the speaker at the 86th Annual Commencement. St. Monica, pray for our Class of 2024 during this exciting next chapter in their lives. SMPREP also celebrated three more of its athletes continuing their athletic careers at the college level in a spring signing ceremony. Athletic highlights also include Boys and Girls Track & Field breaking four all-time school records this season, and Mariner Boys Golf shooting a personal best 192.