Catholic Schools Week Highlights
![Catholic Schools Week Highlights]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1738889219/stmonicachsorg/rzhkyk0t5tpc8sgpibwi/newspost1_1.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1738889219/stmonicachsorg/rzhkyk0t5tpc8sgpibwi/newspost1_1.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1738889219/stmonicachsorg/rzhkyk0t5tpc8sgpibwi/newspost1_1.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1738889219/stmonicachsorg/rzhkyk0t5tpc8sgpibwi/newspost1_1.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1738889219/stmonicachsorg/rzhkyk0t5tpc8sgpibwi/newspost1_1.jpg","width":1280}])
Catholic Schools Week Highlights
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. He shared a memory that he reflects on at the end of every Mass as he looks up at the painting of our patron saint St. Monica. Following the 1994 Northridge earthquake that severely damaged the church, the painting was the one thing still hanging on the wall intact - despite extensive destruction throughout the building. He reminded the community that St. Monica is with us every step of the way.
CSW celebrates Saint Monica’s mission to teach the whole person - body, mind and spirit - with special days to acknowledge the role of the parish, community, SMPREP families, the nation, our talented students and of course, our wonderful faculty and staff. SMPREP students and parents spoke at all weekend Masses reflecting on faith and their strong sense of hope and belonging within the SMPREP community. Watch videos of the speeches here. Throughout the week, activities included special breakfasts for parents as well as faculty and staff, family visits to TK-8 classrooms, a flag raising ceremony, plus the fan favorite In-N-Out fundraising truck for TK-12 students.
Throughout the week, SMPREP also welcomed special guest speakers into many TK-12 classrooms. Msgr. Torgerson and Sr. Julie Fertsch, a Sister of St. Joseph, talked with students about their journeys answering God's call. Sr. Julie bonded with 4th grade students about her past competitive swimming experience and shared, "Walking alongside of people on their journey has been and continues to be such a sacred privilege. I believe that God is always at work and love to listen for all that God is doing in each individual life!" Msgr. also considers listening as important advice for students to follow on their own journeys - listening to themselves, to the people around them and to their God. It was a week full of gratitude and appreciation for the strong foundation provided by Saint Monica Prep.
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![A Big Week for Mariner Athletics: National Headlines and League Titles]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1770409191/stmonicachsorg/guvsqtru1h5tzgem3mfm/newspost36.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1770409191/stmonicachsorg/guvsqtru1h5tzgem3mfm/newspost36.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1770409191/stmonicachsorg/guvsqtru1h5tzgem3mfm/newspost36.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1770409191/stmonicachsorg/guvsqtru1h5tzgem3mfm/newspost36.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1770409191/stmonicachsorg/guvsqtru1h5tzgem3mfm/newspost36.jpg","width":1280}])
Saint Monica Preparatory athletes were in the spotlight this week, earning recognition both locally and nationally. Both the Santa Monica Daily Press and the Los Angeles Times featured Kyle Williams ’20 as he prepares to take the Super Bowl LX stage with the New England Patriots in his rookie season.
On campus, Mariner teams delivered championship performances. Both Girls Varsity Soccer, with an undefeated season, and Boys Varsity Soccer, the reigning CIF Champions, are Camino Real League Champions! 8th Grade Girls Basketball captured its second consecutive league title, capping a standout week for SMPREP Athletics. All three teams will advance to the playoffs. Go, Mariners!
![How SMPREP Students Serve With Purpose]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1769645000/stmonicachsorg/bmoog4olve12wtidlkom/newspost35.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1769645000/stmonicachsorg/bmoog4olve12wtidlkom/newspost35.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1769645000/stmonicachsorg/bmoog4olve12wtidlkom/newspost35.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1769645000/stmonicachsorg/bmoog4olve12wtidlkom/newspost35.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1769645000/stmonicachsorg/bmoog4olve12wtidlkom/newspost35.jpg","width":1280}])
Service to others is at the heart of Saint Monica Preparatory’s mission and our call to live faith in action. Throughout the year, SMPREP students actively serve our local community through meaningful, student-led initiatives that reflect compassion, leadership and responsibility for others.
"It’s powerful to witness how a single day of service can make such a meaningful difference for so many people.” - Allison Griffin '26
This fall, our school partnered with the parish’s annual Thanksgiving Feast, where more than 40 students volunteered their time to help serve over 1,000 meals. Students also hosted a Fall Blood Drive with the American Red Cross that helped save more than 150 lives, organized a Christmas toy drive benefiting the Joy Jewels of Youth Foundation, and assembled toiletry kits for the St. Robert’s Center during this week’s Catholic Schools Week.
![From Campus to College Success: SMPREP Students and Alumni Shine]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1768497232/stmonicachsorg/ugb2mmi7agl2sqgydyhr/newspost34.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1768497232/stmonicachsorg/ugb2mmi7agl2sqgydyhr/newspost34.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1768497232/stmonicachsorg/ugb2mmi7agl2sqgydyhr/newspost34.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1768497232/stmonicachsorg/ugb2mmi7agl2sqgydyhr/newspost34.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1768497232/stmonicachsorg/ugb2mmi7agl2sqgydyhr/newspost34.jpg","width":1280}])
Saint Monica Preparatory students continue to thrive. We welcomed back alumni Cassidy Hart ’25 and Daniel Dyaz ’25, who spoke about their transition from SMPREP to Boston College and the University of Southern California, respectively. President Dr. Luby also connected with four Notre Dame students during a leadership conference at the University of Notre Dame, where they reflected on how their Mariner experiences laid the foundation for leadership roles in college.
As for our Class of 2026, Maile Ordonez was named a 2025 QuestBridge National College Match Scholar and matched with Emory University on a full four-year scholarship covering tuition, housing, meals and even travel back home to California! Both Valentina Chavarry and Tomas Officer earned early admission to the prestigious NYU Tisch School of the Arts, the top-ranked film school in the country.