CTK RAY Newsletter | Issue 6 | June 2024

Featured Articles:

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Longtime Teacher Mrs. Sihler Cherishes Generations of Students

”She is just the most amazing and caring person...to have her as a teacher in such a pivotal

year

was

a

blessing. She taught

me

that a loving spirit and kind heart can impact so many lives.”

— JEFF NEVARES, ‘89

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CTK Parents Initiated in Faith

Among the 20 people who received their rites of Christian initiation, four are CTK school parents...

ARTICLE

After-School Care is Club for Kids

Today, 183 of the school’s 322 students are enrolled in Club...

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Principal’s Message

Dear CTK Community,

By the grace of God, we have completed another successful school year. The year seemed to fly by, but when I stop to reflect on our many accomplishments, I can see clearly that we have all worked so hard and achieved so much since our first day of school more than 290 days ago!

The CTK school experience is multi-faceted and the education is made excellent by our commitment to faith, academics, and service. These values are evident in our students’ experience, and highlighted in this issue of the CTK Ray

We are so pleased to honor longtime third-grade teacher Mrs. Sihler and her 44 dedicated years of service, and to pay tribute to our Diocesan Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Kemmerer. We also showcase the loving care of our Club CTK program, which provides after-school enrichment for more than 180 students.

In addition, we witness our Catholic faith embraced by families through the secondgraders’ sacrament of First Holy Communion as well as those of our newly initiated adults/ parents in the RCIA program.

Service to the “dear neighbor” is part of the charism upon which our school was founded, and we see this in the volunteerism of our

Continued: Principal’s Message

students, especially our 8th graders. As you’ll read in 2024 graduate Ava Galleno’s reflection, our students learn to embrace something bigger than themselves.

Our school values of faith, academics, and service shine bright in our students and alumni, as demonstrated in our profile of Becky Fenton ‘97, who has gone on to do “Giant” things.

Of course, we are so blessed by the unwavering support of our parent community, which contributes hundreds of volunteer hours every year, hosting fundraisers and fun-raisers large and small – creating special memories and generating significant contributions for our school. Thanks to the generous donations made during this year’s fund-a-need at Auction, we will be able to furnish

Mrs. Kemmerer Honored for Excellence, Innovation

Fifth grade teacher Mrs. Amy Kemmerer was honored earlier this school year with the newly created St. Francis de Sales Award, which recognizes excellence and innovation in education.

The award by the Diocese of Oakland recognizes teachers who demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to the education of students in the nearly four dozen diocesean schools.

Nine teachers in the Diocese, including Mrs. Kemmerer, were honored at a dinner on the Feast Day of St. Francis

all of our classrooms with brand new furniture, as well as picnic benches and umbrellas for middle school.

On behalf of our faculty and staff, I would like to extend a sincere thank you to our entire community – our family! We appreciate you and we look forward to seeing you next year!

Wishing you a blessed summer break,

Joseph M. Silveira, Ed.D. Principal

de Sales, the patron saint of teachers, and celebrated by colleagues and family.

Mrs. Kemmerer, who has been teaching for 18 years, taught first in Catholic schools, left for several years to raise her family, taught at public schools for 7 years, then realized that she really valued guiding her students both academically and spiritually.

“Their shared faith creates a strong, supportive school community, and it is immensely rewarding to be part of such a community,” she said. This realization led her back to Catholic education at CTK in 2017.

“The recognition showed me what a blessing it is to have Dr. Silveira’s support, encouragement, and advocacy,” she said, noting that receiving the award, “was fun for me to share with my kids and family so they could see the work I do in the community, outside the home.”

Congratulations, Mrs. Kemmerer! n

Longtime Teacher Mrs. Sihler Cherishes Generations of Students

In her 44-year career at Christ the King Catholic School, Mrs. Camille Sihler has taught more than 1,000 thirdgraders. And if her students from the ‘80s and ‘90s were like children to her, their own kids who followed in their CTK footsteps became Mrs. Sihler’s “grandstudents.”

Originally from Monroe, LA, Mrs. Sihler moved to New Orleans, where she taught for eight years before moving to California in the 1970s. She and her husband settled in Walnut Creek and she began looking for a job teaching third grade in the East Bay. When a position opened at CTK, “all the stars were aligned and I had no doubts,” she recalled.

All these years later, with countless grandstudents, Mrs. Sihler says that CTK alumni choosing to send their own children to the school is a “true testimony” to the school’s positive reputation. “They still see it as a thriving school.”

She says it’s cute to see the kids take pride in being a grandstudent. “They say ‘you taught my dad!’” And their

“I’ve always felt Mrs. Sihler is a small lady with a powerful voice. She really knows how to keep kids engaged and makes learning fun so that’s why my son enjoys her class!”

— MARY CLINE ‘01 (CHRISTOPHER ‘29)

parents are very dedicated to making sure their kids are doing the right thing, she says. “It’s almost as though they don’t want to disappoint me.”

One of the most amusing aspects of teaching generations of kids is how lenient the then-parents (now grandparents) have become. “It’s a hoot,” Mrs. Sihler says with a chuckle. “They are much softer on their grandchildren than they were on their own children, not as strict about rules or schoolwork.”

Mrs. Sihler says she’s never wanted to teach another grade. Third-graders are fun, she says.

“They have that sense of wonder; they’re teachable in that they know they don’t know everything. They want to learn and they have a lot of ‘why’ in them.”

Over the years, her students have taught her to be flexible and spontaneous. “As a teacher, you want good control and class management,” she said. “But there are times when you need to let it go and be spontaneous; the kids are so resilient that way. I don’t want to lose sight of playing; that keeps me going. They teach me to keep evolving.”

CONTINUE PAGE 6

CTK RAY NEWSLETTER

Christ the King Catholic School

195-B Brandon Road

Pleasant Hill, California 94523 (925) 685-1109 www.ctkschool.org

Pastor | Fr. Paulson Mundanmani

Principal | Joseph M. Silveira, Ed.D.

CTK RAY EDITORIAL TEAM

Editor & Marketing

Chair | Jennifer Ortega

Branding & Design | Arlene Santos

WRITERS, CONTRIBUTORS & SPECIAL MENTION

Writers

Charlise Hyatt

Jennifer Ortega

Ava Galleno ‘24

Photography

Jenna Choban

Marc Fiorito

CTK Staff

On the cover:

Longtime teacher Mrs. Sihler (front right) sits in her 3rd grade classroom with 12 former students and their children -- her “grandstudents.” Below, a kindergartner eagerly awaits BINGO at Club CTK.

Back cover:

California Highway Patrol Captain and CTK parent Christian Oliver (second from right) and two fellow CHP officers provided a special police escort for six officer-look-alikes -- a cool experience won by the highest bidder at the CTK auction.

Donations Support Education Excellence

Christ the King Catholic School prioritizes fundraising to keep tuition affordable and improve facilities for current and future generations. While 90% of the budget relies on tuition, the remaining 10% is covered by various fundraising initiatives such as Auction, Festival, the Monsignor Wade Golf Tournament, the Walk-a-Jog-a-Thon (WAJAT), and our book fair.

Under the guidance of Principal Joe Silveira, recent fundraising efforts have supported upgrades like new flooring, new window blinds, classroom technology, PE equipment, and garden facilities. Past projects include an outdoor amphitheater, a protective fence, and infrastructure updates like solar panels and new roofing, as well as water-filling stations and air conditioning for the middle school.

For the 2023-24 school year, the auction fundraising efforts are focusing on purchases of new classroom furniture and outdoor tables with umbrellas.

These initiatives have enhanced the school’s long-term viability, contributing to a full six-year accreditation from the Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC) and from the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA), with enrollment projected to reach 324 for the 20242025 school year.

Looking ahead, school leaders aim to expand middle school facilities and undertake other important projects, relying on support from the community and faith in God’s blessings.

Want to support CTK’s fundraising efforts? Contact us at dmarquez@ctkschool.org.

“After teaching religious education at Christ the King for two years, I knew it was my time to complete my Catholic journey.“

— KRISTY KEILEN

CTK Parents Initiated into Catholic Faith

This spring, our Christ the King-St. Stephen parish community welcomed 20 people to full initiation in our Catholic faith: 10 Catechumens (newly baptized into the faith), one convert (previously baptized but not in the Catholic Church), and nine who completed full sacramental initiation by receiving First Eucharist and/or Confirmation.

“This large number of new members is testimony to both the welcoming nature of our Christ the King-St. Stephen community and the strength of their call to faith,” said Father Paulson Mundanmani. “We can gain inspiration in our own faith journey by learning from theirs.”

During the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) program, adults learn about the teachings and traditions of the Catholic faith over a 9-12-month period. Upon completion, participants receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist at Easter.

Among the 20 people who received their rites of Christian initiation, four are CTK school parents: Amber Balestrieri, Kristy Keilen, Erikka Marchiano, and Janay Mora.

As Fr. Pauson shared, “The motivations for embarking on the church’s RCIA process are almost as varied as the number of candidates. One dominant theme in the inspiration for the journey is family.”

Here are their reflections:

“This has been such a wonderful journey,” Amber said. “I was inspired to grow in the Catholic faith alongside my husband. I wanted to be with my daughter as she pursued her First Communion in second grade at CTK.”

“I have been waiting to be confirmed for over 30 years,” Kristy said. “After teaching religious education at Christ the King for two years, I knew it was my time to complete my Catholic journey. I was inspired to be confirmed by my own teachings of God to my RE kids! I also truly hope more people take this journey to become closer to God.”

Continued: Sihler

When asked to identify her current grandstudents, Mrs. Sihler named 16 current families, two incoming families, and six faculty/staff members! Families were asked to share their reflections on Mrs. Sihler; their fond memories and affectionate words could fill a book.

Here are a few:

“I fondly remember Mrs. Sihler as a hardworking teacher who cherished her faith and Catholic education. She cared deeply about her students, their wellbeing, and the school. She set a good example for all her students; she knew when to be tough and when to be warm. She taught us good values.” — DAVID MARCHIANO ‘95 (LEO ‘30, SCARLETT ‘32)

“Many people will say that she is a tough teacher, yet also one of their favorite teachers. I see 3rd Grade as a turning point in childhood…to actual classes and learning, and she is the perfect teacher for that. Mrs. Sihler is just a very genuinely nice person who loves her students, but also transitions the kids to actual school and having to sit through lessons and classes.”— SHAY HANSEN ‘95 (AVA ‘24, JONATHAN ‘27)

“My favorite memory of her was when she took an injured bird to The Lindsay Wildlife Museum. When arriving to school one morning I found an injured bird on campus and Mrs. Sihler was kind enough to put it in a box and take it to the Lindsay. At the end of that year, she gave me an award for being compassionate toward animals and I’ve never forgotten that.”— ERIN PICCOLO PENDERGAST ‘97 (LUCA ‘25)

“I cherish memories of her embracing the creative dances Noelle (Mrs. Haynes) and I made up and loved to show her. She encouraged our dances and still fondly recalls them today. Now, we eagerly await for our 2nd graders, who are also best friends, to graduate to 3rd grade. We feel incredibly fortunate that they, too, will experience the guidance of the most legendary 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Sihler. We are all truly blessed to have had her touch our lives across multiple generations.”

— JENELLE DOCKERY ‘91 (MAVERICK ‘27 , KAI ‘30)

“Mrs. Sihler gave me the confidence to try new things and be expressive and not be afraid to participate in class discussions. My daughter Haley loved how sweet and kind Mrs. Sihler was. She always mentioned that she might be on the shorter side, but she was mighty! Always full of cheer.”— ALLEN BREZAC ‘87 (HALEY ‘19 AND DREW ‘25)

“Mrs. Sihler carries a light with her that is filled with positivity and encouragement. Being that I was a very shy 9-year-old, Mrs. Sihler was always there to encourage me to break out of my shell. That encouragement helped me throughout my years at CTK and beyond.”

— ANGELA EGTER VAN WISSEKERKE ‘02 (PAISLEY ‘29, LYLA ‘32)

“Mrs. Sihler was always happy to greet her students, with lots of smiles. Her accent and her usual way of greeting was ‘Hey, darling’ always made me feel warm and cozy. Mrs. Sihler was always kind and helpful. She is a very organized teacher and lovely lady, and one of the best assets to CTK School!”— KELLY PAPP ‘92 (AVERIE ‘25, OLIVER ‘27, BAYLEE ‘30)

Continued: RCIA

“My husband is Catholic and we are raising our children in the faith,” said Erikka. “I wanted a better understanding of the Catholic faith, the community, and the Mass. I think the most amazing part of the whole experience was how proud my children were of me. They beamed with pride during the Easter Vigil Mass. When we got in the car on our way to our first mass following Easter Vigil, my kindergartner said, ‘Guess what, mom?

“My favorite memory is making my Mardi Gras floatscented Strawberry Shortcake dolls were the big thing at the time, I thought the classroom smelled amazing. Poor Mrs. Sihler! I remember that Mrs. Sihler made me feel very seen and important.”— LISA OLIVER ‘86 (AARON ‘24, ELLEN ‘26) n

It’s your first mass as a Catholic!’ They were so proud and excited to share the news with everyone close to us.”

“My children are in Catholic school and going through religious education,” Janay said. “I wanted to be on the same journey so when they come home with questions we can talk about it as a family. I did not grow up with any type of religious background. We decided to follow my husband Nate’s religious ways and enroll at CTK, and I believe it has been a great way to introduce our kids to church and the community. I enjoyed the RCIA classes and the variety of people I could hear stories from and really learn from them. I would recommend this program to anyone who wants to feel more connected.”

Interested in joining RCIA? Visit www.ctkph.org/adultfaith-formation to learn more. n

“Club started with the goal of providing a safe place for students to be after school hours until their parents could pick them up, as well as provide parents with convenient child care so they did not have to arrange transportation.“

— MRS. JEANNE BUCCI

After-School Care is Club for Kids

Even in the age of remote work, many parents continue to rely on the after school care provided by Club CTK, and many students rely on the program to provide fun, games, snacks, and homework help.

Founded in 1990 by then-principal Sister Carmel Garcia, Club was run by Sister Carmel with the help of high school and college students. As it grew in popularity, daycare director Mrs. Virginia Bruno was hired, and some adult parishioners and CTK school staff were brought in to help. Over time, CTK school alumni were hired on as high school and college students.

Today, 183 of the school’s 322 students are enrolled in Club. Every day when the bell rings, dozens of kids sprint across the blacktop, eager to drop their backpacks and pick up a snack. The fan favorite? Mr. Doyle’s famous trail mix (recipe: Lucky Charms, M&M’s, Cheerios, pretzels, Cheez-Its, & Goldfish). Taquitos and french toast sticks are a close second.

Club Director Melody Braganza, now in her second year in this role, says Club provides a fun, safe, caring environment that offers free play, guidance, and social skills.

“I love working with the kids. They are like family to me, so I truly enjoy being around them. My favorite part is helping them problem-solve and allowing them to be accountable for themselves and learning to communicate with each other.”

— CLUB DIRECTOR MELODY BRAGANZA

“Club started with the goal of providing a safe place for students to be after school hours until their parents could pick them up, as well as provide parents with convenient child care so they did not have to arrange transportation,” said longtime CTK teacher Mrs. Jeanne Bucci. “Club was a life-saver for me when my youngest two children were here.”

Carrie Davis, mom of Shiloh ‘26, says Club has been a huge help ever since her daughter was in kindergarten.

“My husband and I both have full-time jobs and most days we are not able to pick her up at 3 p.m. school dismissal. Knowing that she has a safe place with a schedule that includes play time, homework time, and snacks for when she gets hungry really helps to put our minds at ease,” Carrie said. “The fact that she is able to get much of her homework done during Club means that our evenings together as a family aren’t as rushed or stressful as they might otherwise be.”

From a kid’s perspective, Club is all about fun and friends. Carrie’s daughter Shiloh enjoys playing with her friends in a relaxed environment. “She also loves the fun activities like snacks, BINGO, and walks to 7-11 for Slurpees,” Carrie said. “Her favorite is hanging out with Mr. Doyle and beating him at Uno!”

Older students gain leadership opportunities by helping the younger students, especially during homework time. “Our younger students look up to the older students and love receiving homework help,” said Mrs. Braganza.

CTK alumni are no stranger to Club. Many of the student staff members are former CTK students, such as Andrew Maestro ‘14, who has worked at Club CTK for the last 7 years.

“What I enjoy most is watching the kids grow up and change over the years,” Andrew said. “It’s so cool whenever I help them during homework time and they have an ‘Eureka’ moment and they get it.”

If you or your child is a CTK alumnus interested in working at Club CTK, please contact Mrs. Braganza at mbranganza@ctkschool.org. n

Where are They Now?

Becky Fenton ’97

Becky Fenton ‘97, who began attending Christ the King in preschool, currently resides in Lafayette with her husband, Mike, and dog, Mitch.

Q: What was your educational path after CTK?

Becky: I attended Deer Valley High School and then San Francisco State University on a Presidential Scholarship, earning my Bachelor of Science in Organizational Communication.

Q: What is your current profession?

Becky: I am the Senior Director of Hospitality at the San Francisco Giants, concentrating on curating memorable guest experiences in our premium areas and for organization-wide initiatives that require “white-glove service.”

Q: What inspired you to pursue this career?

Becky: I first became aware of hospitality as a profession while I was a Girl Scout Brownie during my time at CTK. We took a field trip to the Lafayette Park Hotel and listened as an event coordinator addressed our group and spoke of the programs she managed at the property. I remember being in awe that someone could earn a living by helping other people bring their special experiences to life.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your career?

Becky: No day is ever the same! In my current role, I’m uniquely positioned to work with my colleagues across the organization and get to contribute to many different areas. I also love being part of an organization that has meant so much to me and my family.

Growing up, baseball, and the Giants specifically, were always a part of my life. Some of my fondest memories were going to Candlestick Park with my family and cheering on the orange & black. In fact, the first baseball game I attended was with my first-grade class. My dad came as a chaperone and Will Clark hit a grand slam. (We lost to the Cubs 9-4, but it was still a special day).

Q: What advice would you share with current CTK students?

Becky: Always be a little kinder than necessary. I have never regretted the times when I led with kindness.

Q: What is your fondest memory of CTK

Becky: There truly are so many, especially the festivals! But I still remember how honored I felt to receive the (former CTK teacher) Andrea Laiolo memorial award at my 8th grade graduation. (Editor’s note: This award was given to students for achievement in academic excellence, commitment to faith, and sense of humor.)

Q: How has your CTK experience impacted who you are today?

Becky: Christ the King gave me the best possible foundation for my life. I’m so grateful to my parents for prioritizing a Catholic school education and to the many teachers who work tirelessly to instill the Catholic values along with the top-tier education that CTK offers.

Q: Which classes or teachers do you remember the most?

Becky: Do I have a limit?! I must mention Mrs. Sihler, Mrs. Bucci and Mrs. Alonso, who not only taught me, but most of my six younger siblings as well. I also have to acknowledge that Mrs. Sihler was the sole inspiration for my Christmas pageant character, “Starlett O’Hara.” If I remember correctly, the play that year was set in space, so the name made sense. n

Finding Purpose in Service

BY AVA GALLENO ‘24

Matthew 6:1 states, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

This verse reminds me that volunteering is not about recognition, but about aiding those in need. Completing volunteer work is a requirement for all 8th graders at Christ the King. It is, however, a unique requirement that has helped us better understand the importance of supporting our community, and it has put much of what we learned during our time at CTK into action.

Working at the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano is one of the main ways my class contributed to our community. We worked diligently to complete various tasks like creating an assembly line to bag produce items. We also inspected canned and boxed goods to make sure they were still suitable for consumption.

Working at the food bank allowed us to work together with other volunteers to provide a much needed service for our community. It is easy to take for granted having food easily accessible. I now know that there are many people who depend on and benefit from the generosity of others for basic necessities.

Working with St. Vincent de Paul is another way my classmates and I contributed to our local community.

We prepared envelopes with information about ways for people in need to get free meals and discover job opportunities. This outreach creates a solid support system for our community.

I also participated in the Pleasant Hill Community Service Day. I worked at Gregory Gardens Elementary and Robert Shearer Preschool to clean up the school grounds, paint the blacktop and decorate the garden. Not only did this project teach me that it truly takes a village, but it also impressed upon me the need to take pride in my community by maintaining it.

After completing these 8th grade service projects, I realize that it is not just about completing our required hours, but it is also about serving my community and being involved in God’s creation. Serving others has allowed my classmates and me to live out our faith and grow closer to God.

We have learned the importance of caring for others and finding ways to assist them. We have found purpose through becoming part of something greater than ourselves. We hope to carry this with us as we leave Christ the King and continue to grow in faith and service. n

195-B Brandon Road

Hill, California 94523