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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
Gratitude is the echo of grace, and as we prepare for our Thanksgiving celebrations next week, I am filled with gratitude for the many graces we witness daily through your children. They embody our Benedictine values of community and hospitality, sharing their gifts and talents while finding great joy in supporting others. Service is deeply ingrained in our Priory culture, and we are blessed to have such role models in this area.
This spirit is exemplified through the collection of frozen turkeys and hams to support our friends at the St. Anthony of Padua dining hall, demonstrating our hospitality and care for the broader community. Additionally, our 6th graders prepared boxes of Thanksgiving meal goodies for the agency There With Care earlier this month. Our students took action and made a difference.
Gratitude also requires us to pause, reflect, and recognize generosity in action and the good around us. I am deeply thankful to our students for sharing their goodness. As we celebrate this week, thank you for your support and generosity in nurturing the extraordinary young people we are blessed to have at Priory.
Patrick
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IMPORTANT DATES
Tuesday, November 19
+ Donating for Dignity Collection Day, 7:30 AM
Thursday, November 21
+ Board of Trustee Meeting, 5 PM
Friday, November 22
+ US & MS Parent Hike & Coffee, 9:10 AM
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CLASS LEVEL ANNOUNCEMENTS
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FAMILY VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES AT ECUMENICAL HUNGER PROGRAM - NOVEMBER 27 & DECEMBER 20
It’s time to give back and give thanks together with other Priory families! The Priory Family Association is hosting two community service opportunities for the holiday season in partnership with the Ecumenical Hunger Program (EHP). You can spend time with other Priory families while helping pack food boxes, sorting food items, and re-stocking food bags. There is no age limit as long as kids can work productively. We encourage Upper School Priory families to sign up to volunteer on Wednesday, November 27, AND Middle School Priory families on Friday, December 20. Both will occur from 1:30-4:30 pm at EHP (2411 Pulgas Ave., East Palo Alto). Sign up HERE, as space is limited! Contact Cristina Huezo (cristina.t.huezo@gmail.com) or Sonal Turakhia (sonal.turakhia@gmail.com) with questions.
🥾 US & MS PARENT HIKE THIS FRIDAY!
The weekly All Priory Parents’ Hike will be from 9:10 to 10:10 a.m. this Friday! We start at the corner of Alpine Rd and Willowbrook Dr. All levels are welcome. After Friday’s hike, we’ll grab coffee at Village Hub Coffee in Woodside.
To join our mailing list or for any questions, text Michelle at (650) 722-0712 or Margaret at (408) 888-2518.
🏫 ADMISSIONS OPEN HOUSE
Join us for our Second Admissions Open House on December 7, 2024! We need volunteers to welcome prospective families to middle and upper school events. Hospitality is our focus this year, and your warm presence will enhance our hospitality to prospective families!
If interested, please sign up HERE at the bottom of the Open House tab. We need help for both the morning and afternoon sessions.
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YOUR FINAL CHANCE TO SEE "THE THREE MUSKETEERS!"
The Three Musketeers has only one more performance TODAY at 2:00 PM.
Don't miss this show full of adventure, swashbuckling swordplay, comedy, drama, and action!
Join D’Artagnan, his sister Sabine, and The Three Musketeers as they race to save France and its Queen from the evil Cardinal Richelieu! 6th-12th grade Actors and Techies are rocking the House!
FIGHT LOCAL FOOD INSECURITY THIS TUESDAY WITH CANNED GOODS, HAM OR FROZEN TURKEYS!
We will partner with Sacred Heart Atherton and Menlo School to collect as many frozen turkeys, hams, and canned goods as we can this Tuesday, November 19th, for our friends at St. Anthony Padua Dining Room in Menlo Park.
Three important points to note:
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Please come a bit early to drop off THIS Tuesday, November 19th, since the donations may slow down traffic flow a bit (your patience is appreciated)!
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We will collect donations in front of Founder’s Hall AFTER you drop your student in the middle of campus on your way to Portola Road.
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Have your items in the trunk of your vehicle. Stay in your vehicle and pop your trunk/tailgate so our volunteers can quickly get the donations and keep you moving.
NOTE: Any student driving themselves to school should walk their items to the St. Anthony’s truck parked in front of Founder’s Hall.
Also, parents and students, if you want to help us load hams and turkeys into St. Anthony’s truck during drop-off on Tuesday, November 19th, from 7:45 to 8:55 a.m., please sign up HERE.
Let’s see if we can beat our record number of over 200 turkeys and hams from previous years!
In gratitude,
Mr. Lierk
NEW ART EXHIBIT COMES TO PRIORY
We are thrilled to announce the upcoming exhibition at Priory’s Art Gallery featuring the talented Karen Urbanek! 🎨✨
Title of the Show: "Explorations in Glass" Exhibition Dates: November 19, 2024 - January 27, 2025 Reception Date: December 6, 2024, from 5:30 PM to 8 PM
Join us for an immersive experience showcasing Karen's stunning kiln-formed glass vessels and glass powder sketches. Through her work, she explores the intricate interplay of color, texture, and transparency, drawing inspiration from the beauty of nature.
A little about Karen: A dedicated glass artist for the past decade, she crafts each piece from her home studio in Portola Valley, CA. Her artistic journey is a harmonious blend of creativity and the challenges of working with glass as she strives to create organic forms that capture the essence of her inspirations.
Don't miss the chance to meet Karen and witness her exquisite creations!
🌐 Explore more at Urbanekglass.com 📷 Follow her on Instagram @urbanekglass
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MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL
Dear Upper School Families,
What an incredible week it has been! If you haven’t had a chance to see the All-School Play, The Three Musketeers, don’t miss your opportunity today at 2:00 PM. One of the most inspiring aspects of this production is seeing students from 6th to 12th grade come together to create such a remarkable performance.
This time of year is particularly busy for our students! Between sports, performing arts, college applications (for our seniors), co-curriculars outside of Priory, projects, essays, and assessments, they have a lot on their plates. Let’s stay mindful of how they’re balancing their responsibilities—and where they might need extra support. If you notice your child struggling beyond what feels like a productive challenge, please reach out to:
- Mr. Smith for 9th and 10th grades
- Mr. Satanapong for 11th and 12th grades
Reminders
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Thanksgiving Break (Nov. 25–29): Encourage your child to plan their academic work in advance. If you have concerns about their progress, check in with them and encourage them to attend Office Hours for additional support from their teachers.
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Save the Dates: Single Grade-Level Cafecitos: Join us for coffee and conversation! (Social time: 9:00–9:15 AM)
- 12th grade: December 3, 2024 (9:00–10:15 AM)
- 11th grade: December 4, 2024 (9:00–10:15 AM)
- 10th grade: December 5, 2024 (9:00–10:15 AM)
- 9th grade: December 6, 2024 (9:00–10:15 AM)
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Donating for Dignity: Thank you for your generosity! Please drop off your turkeys by Tuesday to support this meaningful initiative.
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Attendance Reminder:If your child is absent, please notify us by emailing attendance@prioryca.org. For absences due to illness lasting more than three consecutive days, a medical note is required. For other extended absences, please contact Mr. Smith as early as possible.
As always, thank you for your continued support. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance.
Warm Regards,
Ms. Ana Cortez-Hernández
Head of Upper School
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MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL
MS Families,
What a wild week with rain and sunshine! Our first Twilight (see pic above) was a success, with about 80 students participating. A special thank you to all the kids who arrived in their pajamas! I spotted a bunny rabbit and lots of fun robes and pillows.
I hope you were able to join us for The Three Musketeers! What a show! Proud of our students. Special thank you to all the parents who helped with the event and for the logistics of play rehearsals, etc. Big congratulations to our Performing Arts Department!
Classroom Visits! It has been such a pleasure to visit many classes recently. From watching kids cook in the garden to learning guitar to presenting a formal "pitch" for a new Priory value in 8th Theology, our students are busy learning in really meaningful ways. The hands-on experiences are especially memorable. Sometimes, on my "observation days," I follow a group of students through their classes. It is really interesting to shadow a group of kids as you get to truly experience their reality as students. Seeing all the dynamic lessons and changes throughout the day is impressive. Our middle school students do a really nice job flowing from class to class with different teachers and classmates. I was also struck by how hard our students work at school, collaborating, critically thinking/analyzing, presenting, taking quizzes, learning algebra, etc. After sports practice or robotics or play practice, your middle schooler should be fairly exhausted by the end of the day!
This is a heads-up that we have the full week of Thanksgiving off 11/25-11/29: No School! We have so much to be grateful for as we enter this holiday season.
CAUGHT BEING GOOD: Congratulations, Panther Cubs! Please swing by Ms. Ambler's door if you didn't get your prize on Friday!
Congratulations, Panther Cubs! Please swing by Ms. Ambler's door for your prize!
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CROSS COUNTRY HIGHLIGHTS
What a huge day for Priory XC! Jr. Piper Kalinowski kicked off the day with a big PR to earn 14th place & a spot at the prestigious CIF State Finals in Fresno! Piper is the first girl to make state since 2021 for Priory XC!
The boy's varsity team impressed with a huge 7th-place finish out of 16 teams! What’s even more amazing is that all members of the team ran their PR time or better, including Jr. Pál Imre, who ran 16:41 to earn 16th place and a spot at the CIF State Finals!
Check out these amazing stats:
Pál - 16th - 16:41 *PR, #6 Priory All Time
Rowan - 24th - 16:56 *PR, #11 Priory All Time
Erol - 49th - 18:06 *PR, #30 Priory All Time
Jasper - 60th - 18:24 *PR, #37 Priory All Time Jacob - 70th - 18:48 *PR, #44 Priory All Time
James - 71st - 18:49 *PR, #45 Priory All Time Andrew - 75th - 19:12 (1sec off PR)
CELEBRATING OUR PRIORY PANTHERS ALL-LEAGUE ATHLETES!
Fall sports season has wrapped up, and we're thrilled to honor our amazing student-athletes who have earned All-League recognition across various sports! Your talent, determination, and sportsmanship have shone brightly this season, and the Priory community couldn't be prouder! 🌟
🏃♀️ Cross Country: - Piper Kalinowski ’26, 2nd Team - Rowan Prindiville ’26, 2nd Team - Pál Imre ’26, Honorable Mention
🏈 Football: - Sebby Sechi ’25, 1st Team - Sam Jiang ’25, 1st Team - Michael Hildebrandt ’26, 1st Team - James Weaver ’25, 1st Team - Joseph Arroyo Villa ’25, 2nd Team - Matthew Ruff ’25, 2nd Team - Will Drogin ’25, PCAL All-Sportsmanship Team
🎾 Tennis: - Molly Webster ’25, 1st Team - Kareena Agarwal ’27, 2nd Team - Claire Lu ’25, 2nd Team - Cara Lee ’25, Honorable Mention
🏐 Volleyball: - Siena Ebeid ’26, 2nd Team - Crystal Galván Drew ’25, Honorable Mention
🤽♂️ Water Polo: - Matthew Sun ’26, MVP - Leo Upson ’26, MVG - Kenta Alten ’25, 1st Team - Tanner Burks ’26, 1st Team - Allen Wu ’26, 2nd Team - Max Liu ’26, HM 💫
Thank you for making us proud both on and off the field. Keep up the incredible work, Panthers!
GIRLS VA & VB SOCCER HIGHLIGHTS
On Tuesday, November 12, Priory hosted Sacred Heart's VB team. It was a great game, showcasing excellent play by both teams, especially Priory. Priory had the majority of time in possession of the ball and outshot SHP by at least ten attempts, with 10+ credited to Riley, who was relentless! Sophia Long protected us in our goal and made great saves when the Gators were able to get past our defense. Zola also made a dynamic save as she did a flying run across the front of the cage and deflected a shot mid-stride. Sacred Heart was called offside many times, reducing their opportunities to attack, despite being man-up against us for the whole game. We are proud of the hustle and no-quit heart displayed by our team for the entirety of the game. It was a very evenly played match, which was remarkable considering we had one less player! We were a great blended team of VA and VB players and are building upon our rapport together! 0-0 at half turned onto 0-0 when time ran out. A zero-all tie was a great improvement just a week following our first loss of the season vs SHP (1-5)! Go, grit! VB's record so far is 0-1-2.
On Wednesday, November 13, Sacred Heart was back at Priory, this time with their VA team. Due to the many athletes in our school play, our roster was similar to the day before. We did welcome a few additions, which made us evenly matched in numbers throughout the game! Sophia faced a steady flow of shots and made some beautiful saves against determined strikers! At about halfway in the first half, the Gators scored one goal and led by 1-0 in the half. Priory upped their level of play in the second half and played with more intensity and intention as Sofia and Shay worked together on the clears and put the long balls into play to Valentina or Riley. Shay showed her strength on the throw-ins and 50+ yard-long kicks to her ready teammates. Maya, Carolina, With 17 minutes left in the game, SHP scored, and once again in the very next minute of play, when they snuck one past Sophia. The final score of 0-3 does not represent how hard our team played or how well! VA's record is 1-1 so far. Shout out to these players who played in back-to-back contests this week: Zola, Zoe A, Violet, Sophia, Hannah, Riley, Valentina, and Ingrid, and thank you to Raya, who helped plan our lineup for both games! GO Priory!
Next week, MS soccer will host Castilleja (Monday) and King's Academy (Wednesday)—come on out to cheer us on!
MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS SCHEDULE
MONDAY
Girls Soccer VB vs Castilleja 4:00
WEDNESDAY
Girls Soccer VA vs Kings Academy 4:00
Boys Basketball VB-Blue at Harker (Union Campus) (2:30 dismissal)
Boys Basketball VA vs Sacred Heart 4:00
Boys Basketball VB-White vs Woodland 5:00
THURSDAY
Boys Basketball VB-White vs Episcopal Day 4:00
FRIDAY
Boys Basketball VA at Harker (Union Campus) 5:00
UPPER SCHOOL SPORTS SCHEDULE
MONDAY
Boys JV Basketball vs. Homestead HS 5:00 (scrimmage)
Boys Varsity Basketball vs. Homestead HS 6:30 (scrimmage)
TUESDAY
Girls Basketball vs. Los Altos HS 6:30 (scrimmage)
THURSDAY
Girls Basketball CCS Sportsmanship Game vs. Burlingame 5:30
Boys Basketball CCS Sportsmanship Game vs. Carlmont 7:00
SATURDAY
Boys Varsity Basketball @ Half Moon Bay HS 1:00
Girls Basketball @ Clovis High School 3:30
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