Saint Monica Celebrates America
![Mariners in the 4th of July parade]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1720809079/stmonicachsorg/ucagie2gporvaq428cg2/IMG_00541.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1720809079/stmonicachsorg/ucagie2gporvaq428cg2/IMG_00541.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1720809079/stmonicachsorg/ucagie2gporvaq428cg2/IMG_00541.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1720809079/stmonicachsorg/ucagie2gporvaq428cg2/IMG_00541.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1720809079/stmonicachsorg/ucagie2gporvaq428cg2/IMG_00541.jpg","width":1280}])
Saint Monica Celebrates America
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! Decked out in red, white and blue and a special SMPREP t-shirt commemorating our CIF Champion Mariners, our community included Mariner Football players and cheerleaders showing off our trophy along Loyola Blvd. in Westchester, and Monsignor Torgerson greeting the crowd along Main Street in Santa Monica. At both parades, we had beautiful classic cars lead our groups - shout out to the Magid family for driving their 1979 Corvette and thank you to Mr. Soto and Ms. Korte for driving the 1969 Ford Torino in the parades. We spotted a lot of current and future Mariners cheering us on in the crowd!
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![From the Classroom to the Vatican: Faith, Innovation and Global Impact]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1776721000/stmonicachsorg/qbzeikv2qwqnzvy21dvv/newspost51.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1776721000/stmonicachsorg/qbzeikv2qwqnzvy21dvv/newspost51.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1776721000/stmonicachsorg/qbzeikv2qwqnzvy21dvv/newspost51.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1776721000/stmonicachsorg/qbzeikv2qwqnzvy21dvv/newspost51.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1776721000/stmonicachsorg/qbzeikv2qwqnzvy21dvv/newspost51.jpg","width":1280}])
Two Saint Monica Preparatory students brought their learning to life on a global stage, in an extraordinary engineering immersion at Castel Gandolfo, Italy, the historic papal summer residence. Senior Felix Figueroa and junior Olivia Rogers joined STEM Academy Dean Roland Labana and Dean of Spirituality & Faith Formation Suzette Sornborger for a weeklong experience blending technology with a deeper sense of purpose.
Their work — and the spirit behind it — drew wider attention, earning feature coverage from both Fox 11 News and Santa Monica Daily Press. Felix and Olivia collaborated on real-world projects within the Borgo Laudato Si’, inspired by Pope Francis’ call to care for creation. By integrating faith, service and STEM, Felix and Olivia saw how their talents can make a meaningful difference. Learn more in the group's travel journal.
![Faith in Action: Forming Hearts for Service and Purpose]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1776722299/stmonicachsorg/keingpf4xu4pd9tixocf/newspost52.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1776722299/stmonicachsorg/keingpf4xu4pd9tixocf/newspost52.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1776722299/stmonicachsorg/keingpf4xu4pd9tixocf/newspost52.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1776722299/stmonicachsorg/keingpf4xu4pd9tixocf/newspost52.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1776722299/stmonicachsorg/keingpf4xu4pd9tixocf/newspost52.jpg","width":1280}])
Saint Monica Preparatory proudly celebrates senior Samania Jannati, our 2026 Archdiocesan Christian Service Award recipient — an honor recognizing one graduating senior from each high school in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for exceptional commitment to faith, service and leadership. Presented at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, the award highlights the transformative impact of a life rooted in service.
For Samania, that impact is deeply personal: “Service allows me to live out humility and compassion in real ways. It has challenged me to listen more deeply, build meaningful relationships and see my role in the community differently — where faith is not just taught, but truly lived.” This spirit of faith in action is lived across our community. Congratulations to all students who have received the Sacraments of Initiation this Easter season.
![SMPREP Innovation Makes Headlines: New Learning Spaces in the Spotlight]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1775686398/stmonicachsorg/kdkz4japrwajfvuzptdt/newspost48.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1775686398/stmonicachsorg/kdkz4japrwajfvuzptdt/newspost48.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1775686398/stmonicachsorg/kdkz4japrwajfvuzptdt/newspost48.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1775686398/stmonicachsorg/kdkz4japrwajfvuzptdt/newspost48.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1775686398/stmonicachsorg/kdkz4japrwajfvuzptdt/newspost48.jpg","width":1280}])
Saint Monica Preparatory’s commitment to hands-on, forward-thinking education is making news. Our newly renovated Mariner Ocean Research Institute (MORI), MakerSpace and STEM laboratories were recently featured in Pica & Sullivan’s Education Architect newsletter in a spotlight story titled “A Blessing in Disguise.” The article highlights how the devastating water-main break that disrupted the start of the 2023-24 school year ultimately became the catalyst for a transformational reimagining of our learning environments.
Today, Mariners are engaging deeply with these new spaces. What began as an unexpected setback has become a lasting investment in the academic experience of every student who walks through our doors. View the full feature story here.