
Tr us t in the Lo rd wi th all your heart. Seek Hi s w ill in all you do and He w ill show you which path to ta ke .
PRO VERBS 3:5-6

Dear
Tr us t in the Lo rd wi th all your heart. Seek Hi s w ill in all you do and He w ill show you which path to ta ke .
PRO VERBS 3:5-6
Dear
Thank you for your generosity and commitment to our school! Our community grows, thrives, and succeeds only as a result of the dedication of our parents, faculty, staff, and donors. Much has been given to our school. We are greatly blessed with material, financial, and spiritual resources. Of course, our greatest resource is our student body of nearly 800 boys and girls who arrive each day eager to love and learn. We have been entrusted with much! “
“From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”
Luke 12:48
In the above passage from Luke’s gospel, we learn that, because we are so very blessed, much will be demanded of us. Each day, we work together to use our amazing resources to produce outstanding results for our students. From our administration, to our faculty, to our parents and students, we strive to hear the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” The passage from Matthew’s gospel teaches us that, if we are faithful to our mission, our Lord will be even more generous to us.
The characteristic that distinguishes the mission of a Catholic school from that of a private or a public institution is our focus on the spiritual formation of our students. It literally drives every other aspect of who we are and what we do. It is the standard by which we believe we will be measured as we nervously consider whether we will ultimately hear the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” By making spiritual formation our priority, we give our students a clearer and easier path to meeting their academic, social, and emotional development goals. The best way to describe what spiritual formation looks like in a Catholic elementary school is that, at all levels, we are helping our students to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ. As this relationship deepens from preschool to eighth grade, students gain the confidence knowing that they are loved, valued, and supported by Jesus each and every day. That confidence drives their success.
Of course, we cannot accomplish this critical task on our own. It is a joint effort between those of us who engage with our students Monday to Friday from 7:30 to 3:00 and their families, friends, neighbors, and teammates, who are with our students at all other times. Together we continually reinforce the fact that Jesus loves us no matter what and, because He loves us so much, He is always present in our lives. Our students learn that we not only live as Catholics while we are at school or at church, but every moment of every day, no matter where we happen to be. At a recent all-school Mass our students were reminded to ask themselves “What would Jesus do?” each time they were faced with an important decision about what to say or how to behave. As they consider that question, they will be better able to make choices that will help them to hear from their parents, teachers, and coaches, “Well done!”
When we arrived here in July as your new school Principal and Parish Administrator we were humbled by the enormous challenge of operating such a large school with such an impressive reputation. As our students arrived in August, we were impressed by the warm welcome we received from our students and their families. We are immensely grateful for the opportunity to serve as leaders of such a fine community. We recognize that much has been given to us and that much shall be demanded of us. We thank you for the enormous trust that you place in us to educate, form, and protect our students. At the end of each year, with the guidance and support of the Holy Spirit, we pray that we may hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
Thank you for your generosity and support! May God richly bless you!
Fr. Mike Rizzo Parish Administrator
St.
Edward the Confessor Parish
Suzanne Edwards Principal
St. Edward the Confessor School
“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much.” Matthew 25:21
2024-2025 BOARD OF ADMINISTRATORS
Fr. Mike Rizzo
Parish Administrator
Mrs. Suzanne Edwards
Principal
Mrs. Ashleigh Vachon Assistant Principal, Upper School
Mrs. Angie Willburn Assistant Principal, Lower School
Ms. Nicole Bader Early Childhood Education Director
Ms. Cindy Celotto Director of Admissions
Mrs. Annie Phan-Luong Director of Advancement
Mrs. Jean Paulson Registrar
Mrs. Susan Robles Front Office Coordinator
Mrs. Audrey Rodriguez Wellness Center Coordinator
Ms. Nicole Weinberger Director of Marketing
Mr. Jason Wesley IT Manager
2024-2025 CONSULTATIVE SCHOOL BOARD
Andrew Gray
Jennifer Kearney
Lisa Mercurio
Laura Donovan
Christie Garko
Chris McCormick
Annie Micco
Amy Miller
Miranda Taft
Bridget Zand
2024-2025 PARENT GUILD ORGANIZATION (PGO)
Nicole Bader
Administrative Leadership Team Liaison
Christy Garko & Amy Miller Co-Presidents
Ashleigh Ora & Melissa Hagstrom Co-Vice Presidents
Kate Kim
Secretary
Whitney Tioleco Volunteer Coordinator
Allison Musetich Treasurer
Laura Donovan & Bridget Zand Hospitality Co-Coordinators
Ashleigh Ora & Melissa Hagstrom PGO Perks Co-Chairs
Danielle Pagano Room Parent Coordinator
Ali Edgcomb & Kelly Quinones
Ambassador Co-Coordinators
Ashleigh Ora & Melissa Hagstrom MME Co-Chairs
Lynsey McCarthy
Spirit Wear Coordinator
Megan Flores & Danielle Babbington
Welcome Day Co-Coordinators
Aurora Cote, Rosalee Hormuth, Brooke Huey & Jennifer Lenzen Lost and Found/Uniform Exchange Co-Coordinators
Jessica Avery, Silvia Fukunaga, Wendy Pierce & Megan Stone Family Movie Night Co-Coordinators
Angie Stafford Parent-Child Events Chair
Rebecca Shore & Andrea Demma Box Tops Chair
Anne Hedges First Grade Donut Chair
788
47 % OF ST. EDWARD GR ADU AT ES (CLASS OF 2023) WHO ENTER INTO THE HONORS PROGRAM IN 9TH GR ADE
54%
OF ST. EDWARD ALU MNI THAT HAVE A 4.0 OR HIGHER IN HIGH SCHOOL
TOTAL ENROLLMENT 4.0 GP A *
1 2:1 AVERAGE
STUDENT-TO-TEACHER RATIO: KINDERGARTEN - 4th GRADE
3.9
304
NUMBER OF ST UDENTS WHO PA RT ICIPAT ED IN AF T ER SCHOOL SPORTS (SPRING 2024 SEASON)
ST. EDWARD STUDENTS AT OR ABOVE BENCHMARK IN READING 76%*
ST. EDWARD STUDENTS AT OR ABOVE BENCHMARK IN MATH 80%* OF INS TRUCTIONAL STAFF HAVE BEEN HERE AT LE AS T 5 YEAR S 63% OF INS TRUCTIONAL STAFF HAVE BEEN HERE AT LE AS T 10 YEARS 42% OF THE CLA SS OF 2024 AT TENDS A CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL 87 % OC DIOCESE AC ADEMIC DECATHLON CHAMPIONS 14x S TAT E
We are beyond blessed to welcome Fr. Mike Rizzo to our parish and school community as our new Parish Administrator! Fr. Mike brings with him a wealth of life experience, a deep faith, and a true passion for serving others.
Born and raised in New York City, Fr. Mike is the oldest of two boys in his family. He received a Catholic education from grade school through high school which helped shape his strong foundation in faith. He earned his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and later completed his law degree at the University of Michigan Law School.
Fr. Mike’s professional journey began as a commercial lawyer in New York City before he transitioned to senior management roles at U.S. Bank, which eventually brought him to Oregon. In 2010, he shifted focus again to become the General Counsel and COO of ALEKS Corporation, an educational software company based in Irvine, CA.
In April 1985, Fr. Mike had the great blessing of marrying the love of his life, his beloved Rosemary. They welcomed their son, John, in 1993. John and his wife, Alexie, reside in San Clemente and have been parishioners at St. Edward for the past few years.
In 2012, Fr. Mike’s life took a significant turn after the passing of his dear wife, Rosemary. During this time of deep reflection and unsure of his future, Fr. Mike felt a powerful call to the priesthood. Answering this call, he entered Mt. Angel Seminary in 2014, and was ordained by Bishop Vann in 2020. He served at Saints Simon & Jude parish in Huntington Beach and later as the Temporary Administrator at Corpus Christi in Aliso Viejo.
In just the short time since he joined us this past July, we are already so grateful for Fr. Mike’s guidance, wisdom, and spiritual leadership that he brings to our school and parish community. His journey, marked by faith, resilience, and love inspires all of us as we work together to nurture and support the growth of our children in the Catholic faith.
Fr. Mike loves being part of a parish that shares its campus with a school. As a father himself, he knows that faith and the Catholic teachings of kindness, compassion, and goodness start at home. He loves visiting the students in their classroom and at lunchseeing their smiling faces is seeing God’s innocent love at work. One of his weekly highlights is presiding over the Friday all-school Mass and seeing families, students, and staff all join together to worship our Lord. Please join us in welcoming Fr. Mike to the Monarchy!
Also this summer, we welcomed Mrs. Suzanne Edwards as our new Principal following Mr. Waszak’s departure. She is an Orange County native who is the youngest of three girls in her family. She is a proud recipient of a long tenure of a Catholic education. She attended St. Catherine’s in Laguna Beach for grade school and graduated from Santa Margarita Catholic High School (SMCHS) in Rancho Santa Margarita. After high school, Suzanne went on to study at Saint Mary’s College of California in Moraga, where she resumed her athletic career playing volleyball while studying for her Bachelor of Arts and Masters.
Her dedication to Catholic education has been evident throughout her life, from attending Catholic schools to working in them as an adult. In 2007, Suzanne became the school principal for St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Elementary School in Walnut Creek. During her nine year tenure, she served the Roman Catholic Bishop Welfare Corporation in two major roles: Preschool Director for the Department of Catholic Schools and Principal Representative for Technology.
In 2016, she and her family made the move to Shanghai-Pudong, China where she was the Head of Learning Support for middle school and high school after serving in various positions at Dulwich College International. The school was a family affair as her two boys attended school there and her husband, Carl, served as the Executive Director of Dulwich International Football Academy.
After seven years in China and a global pandemic, Suzanne and her family came back home to California where she was appointed the Principal of Lower School at St. Serra Catholic School in Rancho Santa Margarita. She served in that role for one year and is thrilled to now be at St. Edwarda parish she has long-admired since she was a child.
Mrs. Edwards is married to Carl, and they have two sons, Ehlis and Rese. Ehlis is a graduate of St. Edward and is currently in his first year at SMCHS where he continues the legacy of his mom and aunts. Rese is an eighth grader here and a future Eagle.
Suzanne believes in the power of teamwork between parents, educators, and the clergy to create a nurturing community for the growth and formation of the whole child. She is excited to get to know the Monarch community as the year continues and she settles into her new home.
When you ask current families, alumni, students, and parents, one word distinguishes our school:
We offer two programs throughout the year for our Monarch families to deepen their faith and enjoy fellowship: Truth on Tap and Bonfire Prayers
Over the summer, the St. Edward Moms in Prayer group brought together dozens of families for the Bonfire Prayers initiative, offering a unique opportunity for families to come together in prayer, build community, and enjoy some classic beach fun.
Three times over the summer, families gathered around a crackling fire pit as the sun dipped below the horizon, joining in prayer and fellowship at Doheny State Beach. By praying the rosary together, families united in faith, and lifted up their intentions to God. After the prayers, families enjoyed the simple joy of making s’mores by the fire, ending the summer evening with this classic beach treat.
The summer Bonfire Prayers event is yet another example of the warmth and closeness of the Monarch community, allowing an easy and casual way outside of the church walls for families to grow closer together in friendship and faith.
Each fall, The Truth on Tap series offers our school parents and St. Edward parish community an opportunity to learn about the Catholic faith while enjoying an evening out. Held on Tuesday evenings at Stillwater Spirits in downtown Dana Point, this theology series features a guest speaker who shares different aspects of the faith in the setting of a local pub. Speakers range from local clergy, faithful laity, diocesan leadership, and the Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael’s Abbey. The series spans over nine evenings from September to November and draws
crowds from 35-70 people. Parents enjoy Taco Tuesday, an insightful discussion, and friendship with fellow parishioners and school families. Parents attending the event have an opportunity to bring their children to St. Edward school before the event starts for free childcare. Dinner, games, and fun fill their evening as they also grow in fellowship. This ministry is offered for free, with an option to donate. Through these donations, Truth on Tap provides childcare resources, speaker donations, and thank you’s to the restaurant as they generously offer their venue free of charge.
Thank you to Stillwater Spirits for being our gracious host and to all of our families that participate!
St. Edward marked a significant milestone in its athletics program by hosting its first-ever cross-country invitational on November 3, 2023. Held at the Las Ramblas Trailhead in San Clemente, the event brought together competitive fifth through eighth grade runners from seven local schools, making it a memorable conclusion to the season.
The course featured a challenging two-mile hilly loop, testing the endurance and determination of the 78 runners who participated in the event. The steep inclines of the trail provided a tough but rewarding course as runners pushed through the terrain, showcasing both their athleticism and sportsmanship.
The meet was organized into two races: one for the boys and another for the girls. Each race highlighted the competitive spirit of the participants as they raced against one another on the rugged trail, cheered on by their coaches, teammates, and families.
Co-coaches Jason Evers and Andrea Demma played a pivotal role in
preparing the students for the event. Their leadership, practice, and training regimen throughout the season ensured that the students were well-prepared for this challenging final race. Their guidance fostered a supportive and encouraging environment for the athletes, helping them not only improve their athletic skills, but also develop important life lessons about teamwork, perseverance, and resilience.
Overall, St. Edward performed well in the race. In the male division, Monarchs won first, second and third place among fifth and sixth grade boys.
In seventh grade, Monarchs earned first and third. On the female side, eighth grader Quinn Evers ’23 ranked third among 36 runners. In the fifth grade, Monarchs earned second and third place, and five out of the top–10 female runners in the eighth grade age bracket were Monarchs!
This inaugural meet was not just the final race of the season, but a testament to the strong and active athletic community at St. Edward the Confessor Parish School. The school looks forward to hosting this annual event for years to come!
When referring to St. Edward, many current families or alumni refer to the school as their “second home.” This is even more true for those legacy families that choose to return to the Monarchy classroom decades later as a teacher. Having grown up with the school’s values and traditions, these alumni teachers are deeply committed to shaping the next generation of St. Edward students. Their return to the place where it all started provides a powerful example of how the school, its culture, and faith-based experience leaves a lasting impact across generations.
My Educational Story
I graduated from St. Edward in 1993. I attended Santa Margarita Catholic High School where I played soccer and loved being a student. Next stop was Northern Arizona University for undergrad, where I majored in elementary education. I then attended Pepperdine for two master degrees: one in education and one in administration.
What was your favorite memory when you were a student at St. Edward?
My favorite memories at St. Edward were being on student council as the school commissioner and playing volleyball and basketball. Also, I loved lectoring at school Masses, attending junior high dances, and having my mom volunteer at school all of the time as a room mom, lunch helper, classroom helper and so much more.
What grade do you teach or have you taught?
I taught kindergarten for six months as a long-term sub, then taught first and
second grade for a combined six years until moving into administration for the last 17 years.
Do you have children who currently attend St. Edward now?
Yes, Aubriana Bader in grade 4.
What you have enjoyed as a staff/faculty member here at the school now?
Seeing the school grow and change throughout the years, but remaining true to the spirit of St. Edward which is community and faith.
How has the school changed since you were a student?
We went from one class of each grade to three classes. The gym used to be our playground and the back of the school building didn’t exist. The founding pastor, Father Knight, used to bring his dog Deacon to the school every day to play soccer with us at lunch and recess. We had In-N-Out lunch once a week and the In-N-Out workers would throw
burger patties like frisbees in the air and Deacon would catch them. Also, the two maintenance staffers would give us rides on their motorcycles around the blacktop during lunch and let us come into their woodshop to see them build the school furniture, such as the podiums and teacher desks.
What is your favorite memory/ experience so far as a staff/faculty member?
Seeing my own daughter join the school community as a student and watching her grow in the same loving environment that I was raised in.
My Educational Story
I graduated from St. Edward in 1988, and then attended Santa Margarita Catholic High School and UC Irvine.
What was your favorite memory when you were a student at St. Edward?
I have so many great memories from St. Ed. One of my favorites was with my third grade teacher, Sister Debbie. She was also our music leader in Mass and played the guitar. She had amazing energy that always permeated to the students. While we were singing in Mass, she would yell “raise the roof!” and the students would sing at the top of their voices, it was magical. Just as I love the children singing in Mass today, it was always my favorite moment in Mass then as it is now.
What grade do you currently teach at the school? Third grade - and I love this age!
Do you have children who currently attend St. Edward?
I do. I have Claribel Parker in sixth grade. My classroom now was actually her third grade classroom with Mrs. Steiss.
What have you enjoyed as a staff/faculty member here at the school now?
Everyone is so welcoming and friendly! I feel very fortunate to be a part of the St. Ed family.
How has the school changed since you were a student?
The school has changed in quite a few ways. It is so much larger than it used to be - we only had 23 students in our graduating class! We also had open-air corridors and our playground and lunch area was where our current gym is.
What is your favorite memory/experience so far as a staff/faculty member?
My favorite memory will definitely be my birthday celebrated at school. The joy and love I received from my students absolutely made it one of my best birthdays to date!
My Educational Story I first arrived at St. Edward as a preschooler in 2005 (Mrs. Holbrook & Mrs. Leach were my teachers), and stayed through fourth grade before I moved to the Bay Area in 2012. I moved back for high school where I attended JSerra and graduated in 2020. I attended Grand Canyon University from 2020-2023, majoring in Elementary Education and Psychology. I finally came BACK to St. Edward in 2023 to student teach with Mrs. Capek (my kindergarten teacher!).
What was your favorite memory when you were a student at St. Edward?
My favorite memory as a student at St. Edward was when Santa called our classroom in first grade.
What grade do you currently teach at the school? I teach TYKE at St. Edward now.
What have you enjoyed as a staff/faculty member here at the school now?
I love my fellow teachers here at St. Edward. I have made great friendships and mentorships as a teacher so far.
How has the school changed since you were a student?
The school is bigger! TYKE was just starting as I was a student, and there used to only be two classes per grade level! Other changes are that the third grade classrooms used to be the lunch room and my classroom was the preschool nap room.
What is your favorite memory/experience so far as a staff/faculty member?
My favorite experience as a teacher at St. Edward so far has been working with my amazing team teacher Mrs. Risbrough!
In March 2024, St. Edward Parish School partnered with Creative Kids Playhouse to produce the timeless tale of Cinderella. More than 60 students in first through eighth grade shined on stage! The performance took place in the newly opened St. Edward Parish Center, marking a special milestone for the school as it hosted its first theatrical production in this facility.
The production of Cinderella was a community-wide celebration, bringing together families, friends, and the entire St. Edward Parish School community. The production highlighted the dedication and passion of the young performers, who worked diligently for weeks to perfect their roles. From the enchanting costumes, to the set design, every detail of the production demonstrated the creativity and commitment of both the students and volunteer team. The Friday morning performance gave students a chance to present their work to their classmates, while the two weekend shows were met with enthusiastic applause from a full house of supportive families and friends.
For many students, Cinderella marked their first time participating in a large-scale production. This experience allowed them to build confidence, collaborate with others, and develop new skills in acting, singing, and stage presence. The arts are a vital part of St. Edward’s holistic approach to education, and the Cinderella production was a testament to the school’s commitment to nurturing the unique God-given talents of every student.
The production was the first of many future plays. Students performed in the fall production of Wizard of Oz in November, followed by the upcoming spring performance of The Beast and His Beauty on March 29, 2025!
A special thank you to our parent volunteers who helped turn this magical dream into a reality, especially Sylvia Palda and Colby Gray for leading the effort.
Each year, St. Edward’s Parent Guild Organization (PGO) organizes two community events dedicated just to mothers and fathers, giving them special one-on-one time with their children.
In February, the PGO hosted Father-Son Fun Day. Boys and their dads convened at the Pirates Dinner Adventure in Buena Park for an evening of stunning swordplay, aerial artistry and awe-inspiring acrobatics. While enjoying the interactive dinner show, guests enjoyed a sumptuous three-course pirate’s feast. It was an unforgettable experience as new friendships were formed and precious memories made.
Then in April, mothers and their daughters enjoyed their turn at a Mother & Daughter Hoedown at St. Edward’s Pastoral Center. Rhinestones met denim as ladies got dressed up in their favorite hats, boots and cowgirl dresses for an evening of line dancing, crafts, and good’ ole country fun. Yee haw!
Mrs. Kathy Abang worked at St. Edward preschool for more than 23 years. She touched so many lives throughout her tenure, helping little minds learn, grow, and expand their love for God. She will be missed dearly! We wish her and her husband well, as they journey off to Hawaii to enjoy their retirement together in the spirit of aloha with family and friends.
After six impactful years at St. Edward Parish School, Mrs. Maggie Steiss bid farewell as she, her husband, and newborn baby Mia relocated to St. Louis, Missouri. Her husband accepted a new teaching and research position at a local university, prompting the move.
Mrs. Steiss joined St. Edward as a third grade teacher. Her favorite memories with her students include helping them master multiplication and division, deepening their spirituality with the annual
St. Edward also said goodbye to eighth grade homeroom and math teacher Mrs. Lorie Parry at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. Mrs. Parry joined the middle school team in 2020, bringing years of high school math experience with her. She was a loving homeroom teacher who built strong bonds with her students. Mrs. Lorie Parry and her family relocated to Missouri over the summer and we wish them the very best on their new adventure.
pilgrimage to the San Juan Capistrano Mission, and re-imagining pioneer life. Reflecting on her time at St. Edward, Mrs. Steiss expressed deep gratitude for the community’s warmth and support. “These years have been more than just a job—they’ve been a vocation, a family, and a home,” she shared.
We wish you the best of luck and thank you for all that you have done for our school!
Debbie Zehler worked at St. Edward for 35 years. She started her long Catholic school career under the founding principal and pastor. She lovingly served as a Physical Education teacher for grades K-8 and a coach for many of the school teams. Many alumni will fondly remember her for the songs she taught kindergartners to recite as a class at graduation.
She also helped in the preschool, where the children loved to dance and sing with her. She was full of energy and the Holy Spirit. She is a faith-filled woman who enjoys the outdoors and living in San Clemente. Her primary passion and true calling was working with children and it showed in all she did here at St. Edward school. She will be forever missed!
Mr. Waszak joined the St. Edward community as principal for the 2019-2020 school year. Joining a new school as a principal always comes with a set of challenges - new community, new teachers, new faces and new procedures. Just as Mr. Waszak was feeling a bit settled into his first year at St. Edward and close to mastering the overwhelming car line and traffic flow, COVID 2020 struck the nation. Him and the administrative team worked tirelessly that first night, drafting an email to the school community, telling them that they were just going to extend Spring Break for a few extra days as a precautionary measure. Little did he and his staff know what they were in for!
Thanks to Mr. Waszak’s direction, St. Edward quickly executed a remote learning plan so that students could resume learning. When the Diocese allowed the campus to reopen in Fall 2020, Tom was the fearless leader in a world of unknowns, purchasing all the necessary equipment, from desk shields and masks, to webcams and even the beloved Zoom accounts. “The show must go on,” he said, and so it did. St. Edward was able to keep our school open and running through one of the wildest events in education. He provided emotional support to teachers when remote education
became tough - and encouraged innovation amongst faculty and parent volunteers to keep the beloved Monarch community and traditions alive.
Mr. Waszak was not afraid of hard work. He was usually the first one on campus, and one of the last to leave every day. With M&M’s in hand, he loved a challenge and will find a solution, no matter what it takes. He is loving and kind with the students and is supportive of his staff.
During his years here at St. Edward, if he wasn’t in his office, he was either in the classrooms with the students, in the gym hoopin’ it up during his favorite season, March Madness, or out on the field watching Monarchs dominate in after-school sports.
We are forever grateful to Mr. Waszak who worked tirelessly to make St. Edward Parish School the thriving school it continues to be. His footprint has forever been imprinted on the school. We wish Mr. Waszak the best of luck as he continues his educational journey as the boys dean at JSerra Catholic High School.
Supplements Tuition
The Monarch Annual Fund is St. Edward Parish School’s most important fundraising priority. The annual fund generates necessary funds for many critical areas, including tuition assistance, professional development, student experiences, and campus improvements. We are grateful to the many individuals, families, and corporations for their annual contributions during the fiscal year of July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024. We recognize the generous donors listed below and thank them for making Catholic education a philanthropic priority.
Every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list of donors. In the event you should notice an error or omission, please accept our apologies and notify our Advancement Office at advancement@stedschool.org
Fr. Knight Circle - Established to honor St. Edward Parish School’s founding year, the 1981 Fr. Knight Circle recognizes donors who have made a leadership gift of $1,981 or more to the Monarch Annual Fund. Donors are recognized in the annual report of donors, invited to leadership events, and thanked for their commitment of supporting St. Edward Parish School’s annual needs.
*** Indicates inaugural Monarch Annual Fund donor and all subsequent years for a total of nine years.
** Indicates five years of consecutive giving to the Monarch Annual Fund.
St. Edward Circle
$5,000 to $25,000
Mr. & Mrs. Paul and Jackie Brady***
Mr. & Mrs. Anastacio and Allison Cabral**
Mr. & Mrs. Hernan and Andrea Capdevila***
Mr. & Mrs. Mike and Tiffany Cervenak
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph and Karen Finnigan**
Mr. & Mrs. Gregory and Colleen Mateo
Mr. & Mrs. Michael and Maria Montello***
Dr. & Mrs. Michael and Stasia O’Neill
Mr. & Mrs. Karna and Jon Sadayasu***
Fr. Knight Circle
$1,981 to $4,999
Mr. & Mrs. Brent and Jessica**
Mr. & Mrs. Keith and Angela Bruno
Mr. & Mrs. Drew and Rebecca Crofton
Mr. & Mrs. Seymour and Michelle Everett**
Mr. & Mrs. Collin and Mandy Hodgson
Mr. & Mrs. Nick and Laura Schwab Matchett
Mr. & Mrs. Scott and Julie Rickert**
In loving memory of Verne & Elizabeth Schumaker
Edwin and Patricia Stanton
Mr. & Mrs. Paul and Chere Tetzloff ** Anonymous***
Circle of Knowledge
$1,000 to $1,499
Mr. & Mrs. Michael and Janel Bennett
Mr. & Mrs. Eric and Kristina Ettlin
Mr. & Mrs. Fidel and Melissa Fernandez**
Mr. Lawrence Finn
Mr. & Mrs. Greg and Jana Giraldin***
Mr. & Mrs. Shawn and Lindsay Hansen**
Mr. & Mrs. Philip and Colleen Hux
Mr. & Mrs. Philip and Lindsey Koontz
Mr. & Mrs. Grady and Jenna McConnell
Mr. & Mrs. Chris and Ashley McCormick**
Mr. & Mrs. Wyn and Aithuy Nguyen
Drs. Nathan and Diana Munoz Perrizo***
Mr. & Mrs. Sean and Margaret Piazza**
Mr. & Mrs. Robert and Holly Socci
Mr. & Mrs. Anthony and Bridget Zand
Circle of Service
$500 to $999
Mr. & Mrs. Jaime and Justin Abreu
Mr. & Mrs. Art Ambrosio and Arlene Bravo Ambrosio
Mr. Tareq Amin
Mr. & Mrs. John and Angela Bench**
Mr. & Mrs. Anton and Sara Bolliger
Mr. & Mrs. John and Heidi Buffington***
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph and Andrea Demma***
Mr. & Mrs. Derek and Elisa Early**
Mr. & Mrs. Nielsen and Kathryn Fields
Mr. & Mrs. Michael and Nicole Finn**
Mr. & Mrs. Hendrik and Shana Gerryts**
Mr. & Mrs. Ronald and Gina Greene
Mr. & Mrs. Paul and Melanie Himmelright
Ms. Linda Long
Mr. & Mrs. Luis and Carolina Lozano
Mr. & Mrs. Dan and Annie Luong**
Mr. & Mrs. Dan and Lisa McKenzie
Mr. & Mrs. Scott and Jenni Morse
Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas and Gina Mosich
Mr. & Mrs. Anthony and Brittany Pratt
Mr. & Mrs. Dean and Lyssa Rollolazo
Mr. & Mrs. Chris and Stacy Rottach***
Mr. & Mrs. Jeanna and Jared Schramm
Trevor and Tori Tait
Mr. & Mrs. Sean and Mary Woods
Every gift to the Monarch Annual Fund makes an impact at St. Edward.
Circle of Hope
$250 to $499
Mr. & Mrs. Edward and Brenda Abad
Mr. & Mrs. Brad and Elisabeth Antoine
Mr. & Mrs. Everando and Susan Arredondo
Mr. & Mrs. Jerry and Elizabeth Behnke
Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey and Kristen Bemis**
Mr. & Mrs. Scott and Harmony Briscoe
Mr. & Mrs. Mark and Melanie Bucci**
Mr. & Mrs. Chris and Monica Caulfield**
Mr. & Mrs. Crispin and Katherine Collins
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher and Stephanie Conte
Mr. & Mrs. Aurora Cote
Mr. & Mrs. Grant and Alison Edgcomb
Mr. & Mrs. Paul and Grace Ferraro
Mr. & Mrs. Ross and Mychela Fippinger **
Mr. & Mrs. Steve and Lindley Fraley**
Mr. & Mrs. Val and Silvia Fukunaga
Mr. & Mrs. Padraig and Caroline Gavin**
Drs. Sarah Mathias & Bobby Ghandehari**
Mr. & Mrs. Nick and Meredith Hansen
Ms. Carol Hoffman
Mr. & Mrs. Justin and Mayumi Kuttler **
Mr. & Mrs. Charles and Taylor LeBon**
Mr. & Mrs. Alec and Cristen Lebsack
Mr. Segundo Mateo
Mr. & Mrs. Geoffrey and Katie Miles**
Mr. & Mrs. Belle and Jordan Murphy
Mr. & Mrs. Wesley and Caitlin Patten
PIMCO Foundation
Mr. & Mrs. Rachel and Robert Platter
Mr. & Mrs. Brandon and Shannon Rohe***
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Rosen and Stephanie Dalle Molle Rosen
Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey and Meghan Scott
Mr. & Mrs. Andy and Fallon Winslow
Mr. & Mrs. Chris and Nicole Wohl
Circle of Love
$100 to $249
Dr. Ngegha and Jason Abongwa-Strem
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher and Caroline Arrighi
Mr. & Mrs. Paul and Danielle Babbington**
Ms. Nicole Bader **
Dr. & Mrs. Tom and Sarah Bakman
Mr. & Mrs. Eric and Cassandra Bauccio**
Mr. & Mrs. Angelo and Sandra Bertola***
Mr. & Mrs. Luke and Sarah Betzler
Mr. & Mrs. Jacqueline and Michael Bodner
Mr. & Mrs. Shaun and Adrienne Bradley
Drs. Matthew and Emily Brady
Mr. & Mrs. Courtney and Henry Bryan
Mr. & Mrs. Patrick and Shannon Buist-Grosso
Mr. & Mrs. Robert and Lydia Carlson**
Ms. Cindy Celotto***
Mr. & Mrs. Patrick and Katie Chollet-Guibert
Mr. & Mrs. Chad and Dorothea Church
Mrs. Rebecca Corey
Mr. & Mrs. John and Maeve Cowley
Mr. & Mrs. Sean and Christa Crafts***
Mrs. Helen DeLain
Mr. & Mrs. Jeff and Dawn Delk
Mr. & Mrs. Andrew and Chrystalin Esposito
Mr. & Mrs. Nicolaas and Gianna Faas
Mr. & Mrs. Eric and Jenna Farr
Ms. Nicole Foster
Mr. & Mrs. Jeff and Jenny Gahagan**
Mr. & Mrs. Brett and Jami Gallinger
Mr. & Mrs. Brian and Jill Glover
Mr. & Mrs. Amy and Jaime Gonzalez***
Mr. & Mrs. Andrew and Colby Gray***
Dr. and Mrs. Evan and Taylor Guerrero
Mr. & Mrs. Marco and Chelsea Guerrero**
Mr. & Mrs. Christi and William Han
Mr. & Mrs. Trey and Jamie Harding
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher and Katrina Harrington
Mr. & Mrs. Brad and Jamie Hartstein
Mr. & Mrs. Matthew and Aimee Heisler
Mr. & Mrs. Christian and Natalie Hernandez**
Mr. & Mrs. Chris and Kelley Houston**
Mr. & Mrs. Kevin and Kristin Hunt
Mr. & Mrs. Daniel and Emily Imler
Mr. & Mrs. Joesph and Nicole Inzitari
Mr. & Mrs. Steven and Cassie Isaacs
Mr. & Mrs. Dan and Kimberly Jagels
Mr. & Mrs. Aaron and Courtney Jennings
Mr. & Mrs. Lars and Bridget Jonsson
Mr. & Mrs. Michael and Kimberley Kenney
Mr. & Mrs. Dimitri and Megan Kirimis
Dr. and Mrs. Jason and Casi Kwon**
Mr. & Mrs. Victor and Nicole Lanfranco***
Dr. & Dr. Brandie and Gregory LaSala
Mr. & Mrs. Dan and Heather Lehman
Mr. & Mrs. Carlos and Wendy Leon**
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher and Kelly LeVeque
Mr. & Mrs. Alfredo and Sally Lezama**
Mr. & Mrs. Michael and Shawna Lynch
Mr. & Mrs. Lance and Eleah Maish
Mr. & Mrs. Mitch and Marisa Marken**
Mr. & Mrs. John and Tobi Matuz**
Mr. Chris Maudlin
Mr. & Mrs. Damian and Lauren McCusker
Mr. & Mrs. Joe and Kyda McDonagh**
Mr. & Mrs. Jeff and Reanna McNerney
Mr. & Mrs. Robert and Rhonda McWilliam**
Mr. & Mrs. Kelly and Anne Micco
Mr. & Mrs. William and Amy Miller
Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan and Lindsay Millers
Mr. & Mrs. Jeff and Julie Moran
Mrs. Izabella Nagy
Mr. & Mrs. Timothy and Laura Nelligan
Mr. & Mrs. Lyman and Tieu-Y Ng
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas and Heidi Nicoll
Mr. & Mrs. Mike and Jaclyn Nisenson
Mr. & Mrs. Rhett and Ashley Olson
Mr. & Mrs. Chase and Ashleigh Ora
Mr. & Mrs. Matthew and Danielle Pagano**
Mr. & Mrs. Daniel and Maria Peate
Mr. & Mrs. Brett and Dicey Perrine
Miss Angela Phan
Mr. & Mrs. Michael and Whitney Pratt
Mr. & Mrs. William and Kelly Quinones
Mr. & Mrs. David and Lauren Readler
Mr. & Mrs. Eric and Emma Reisinger
Mr. & Mrs. Dave and Hilary Reuter
Mr. & Mrs. Rebecca and Steven Reyes**
Mr. & Mrs. Luke and Ashleigh Rollins
Mr. & Mrs. Alex and Sheila Sanchez/ In Memory and Honor of Grandfather Homayoun Bayati***
Mr. & Mrs. Chris and Trisha Sanchez
Mr. & Mrs. Pasha and Kim Sateri
Mr. & Mrs. Brendan and Lauren Shaffer
Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey and Rebecca Shore**
Mr. & Mrs. David and Allison Stark
The Stein Family
Mr. & Mrs. Bill and Ana Tally
Mr. & Mrs. Thanes and Waileng
Lei Tantiprasut**
Mr. & Mrs. Seth and Nicole Teigen
Mr. & Mrs. Steve and Sara Tinnelly
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph and Bailey Van Tassel
Mr. & Mrs. Patricia Vanderpool**
Mr. & Mrs. Michael and Alane Varela**
Mr. & Mrs. Brian & Nichole VerBurg
Mr. & Mrs. Rick and Sarah Viczorek**
Mr. Thomas Waszak**
Mr. & Mrs. Louis and Michelle Weiss
Mrs. Maureen Wesierski
Ms. Tiziana Zanetti
Monarch Circle Up to $99
Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin and Katie Abbene
Mrs. Kristen Adkins
Mr. & Mrs. Ryan and Megan Allen
Mr. & Mrs. Steve and Alejandra Baker
Mr. & Mrs. Justin and Diana Basanese
Mr. & Mrs. Patrick and Stephanie Bauer
Mr. & Mrs. John and Kayla Bebek
Mr. & Mrs. Bryan and Silvia Berlin**
Mr. & Mrs. Brian and BreAnn Berry
Mr. & Mrs. Matt and Stephanie Bloom
Mr. & Mrs. Jason and Cristina Bonfiglio
Mr. & Mrs. Philip & Lauren Bordages***
Mr. & Mrs. Matthew and Brittany Brickweg Brabeck
Mr. & Mrs. Dan and Nicole Bray
Ms. Gloria Bridges
Mr. & Mrs. Rob and Liz Briseno
Ms. Jen Brodt-Brachfe
Mr. & Mrs. Donald and Noley Bunnin
Mr. & Mrs. Chris and Adriana Burke
Mr. & Mrs. David and Jessica Capek
Mr. & Mrs. Austin and Deborah Casanova-Lotito-Butters
Mr. & Mrs. David and Atraya Chambers**
Mr. & Mrs. James and Kristine Chapel
Ms. Stephanie Cicconi
Ms. Jennifer Cooper
Mr. & Mrs. Danica and Brandon Curran
Mr. & Mrs. Brian Cyronek and Rebecca Miller Cyronek
Ms. Sarah Daijogo
Mr. & Mrs. Jason and Dawn Dark
Mr. & Mrs. Lance and Marta Day
Mr. & Mrs. Frank and Annette DeCicco
Mr. & Mrs. Marcus and Sarah DeFelice
Mr. & Mrs. Edward and Tiffany Del Canto**
Mr. & Mrs. Brian and Nicole Delehanty
Mr. & Mrs. Jason and Jenna Evers
Ms. Deena Fam
Mr. & Mrs. Arthur and Megan Flores**
Ms. Kristin Gabriel
Mr. & Mrs. Brian and Danielle Green
Dr. and Mr. Clare and Christopher Haas
Mr. & Mrs. Andrew and Melissa Hagstrom**
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas and Melissa Haldorsen
Ms. Alexandra Hering
Mr. & Mrs. Kyle and Danielle Hesley
Mr. & Mrs. Matt and Crystal Holbrook
Mr. & Mrs. Steve and Rosalee Hormuth**
Mr. & Mrs. Pete and Alexandra Horos
Mr. & Mrs. Ryan and Karen Howell
Mr. & Mrs. Alex and Katherine Jaffe
Mr. & Mrs. Sven and Susannah Johnston
Mr. & Mrs. Daniel and Jennifer Kearney**
Mr. & Mrs. Aaron and Kathryn Kim**
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas and Shannon Koenig
Mr. & Mrs. Gianluca and Alyssa Latini
Mr. & Mrs. Ryan and Susan LeMond
Mr. & Mrs. Aaron and Porsche Lev***
Mr. & Mrs. Jacob and Li Anne Londe
Mr. & Mrs. Anthony and Emily Luppi
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher MacLeod
Mr. & Mrs. Leticia and Anthony Manganello
Mr. & Mrs. Greg and Laura Manley
Ms. Norma Mardian
Ms. Allyn Mattox
Mrs. Janaee Maun
Dr. and Mrs. Robert and Marina McCarron**
Mr. & Mrs. James and Rachel McDade
Mr. & Mrs. John Tanner and Sandra Meston**
Mr. & Mrs. Craig and Megan Morrow
Mr. & Mrs. David and Shelly Murphy***
Mr. & Mrs. Jared and Haley Murray
Ms. Cristin O’Connor ***
Mr. & Mrs. Jimmy and Erin Palacios
Mr. & Mrs. James and Sylvia Palda
Otto Paredes and Stephanie Carrillo Paredes
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph and Nicole Paris-Ybarra
Mr. & Mrs. Ian and Nicole Parker
Mr. & Mrs. Robert and Kelly Pearson
Mr. & Mrs. David and Rachel Peddie
Mr. & Mrs. Brian and Jennifer Pentz
Mr. & Mrs. Daven and Wendy Pierce**
Mr. & Mrs. Jeff and Katherine Pinkerton
“
Mr. & Mrs. Keith and Katherine Pokrywa Nguyen***
Mr. & Mrs. Nicolas and Nicole Porter
Mr. & Mrs. Rebecca and Nathan Raabe
Mr. & Mrs. Michael and Taryn Rice
Mr. & Mrs. Craig and Kelly Ricks
Mr. & Mrs. William and Claire Riley
Ms. Gail Ringwald
Mr. & Mrs. Eddie and Shelly Rollins
Mr. & Mrs. Greg and Kim Rosalino
Ms. Anna May Rudolph
Ms. Anne San Juan
Mr. & Mrs. Carl and Suzanne Sarkees Edwards
Mr. & Mrs. Chris and Christina Schuetz
Mr. & Mrs. Scott and Margaret Shepherd**
Mr. & Mrs. Ryan and Allison Smith**
Mr. & Mrs. Kyle and Sara Song
Mr. & Mrs. Gregory and Sianny Steuber and Piedra Alcocer
Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey and Megan Stone
Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan and Miranda Taft**
Ms. Amy Tankersley
Mrs. Lauren Teetor Gibson
Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas and Candace
Terrafranca III
Mr. & Mrs. Alfonso and Whitney Tioleco**
Mr. & Mrs. Paul and Paige Townsend**
Mr. & Mrs. Nick and Ashleigh Vachon**
Mr. & Mrs. Grant and Catherine Wadman
Mr. & Mrs. Nicole and Jason***
Mr. & Mrs. Kyle and Erin Warner ***
Ms. Beth Wilkinson
Ms. Breanna Wilkinson
Mr. & Mrs. Robert and Elizabeth Williams
Mr. Anthony Willshire
Mrs. Simone Winters
Mr. & Mrs. Gilbert and Annie Won
Ms. Mallorie Wright
“Our family chooses to donate to the annual Monarch Fund because we believe deeply in the mission and values of St. Edward. The education our daughter receives is not just about academics - it’s about fostering character, curiosity, and a strong sense of community. We see firsthand how the school helps her grow into a confident, compassionate individual, and we want to ensure that every student has the same opportunity.
By contributing to the Monarch Fund, we feel we are giving back to a place that has given our family so much. It supports the dedicated teachers, enriches the programs, and helps maintain the vibrant environment that makes this school special. We give because we believe in the future of this community and want to help it thrive for years to come.
- Laura Schwab & Nick Matchett
Our 2023 Monarch Giving Day was a huge success and a collaboration of fundraising and community! In total, the 1981 minutes of giving - in honor of our founding yearraised $98,945, resulting in it being the most successful Monarch Giving Day on record!
and serve an authentic spaghetti dinner complete with garlic bread and salad. A special thank you to St. Edward parent and Knights of Columbus member Giff Himmelright who served as the honorary chef for the evening. The Class of 2024 eighth graders lent a helping hand by selling beverages that evening, raising money for their class gift.
In addition to surpassing fundraising goals, the event also brought together our Monarch community for a night of Bingo and Bolognese. That evening, families played 57 rounds of bingo at the Pastoral Center, competing for a variety of prizes. The Knights of Columbus helped prepare TOTAL AMOUNT RAISED!
Thank you to all of our St. Edward families who contributed to Monarch Giving Day and the Monarch Fund - your participation makes a difference!
$ 98,945 WE DID IT!
AVERAGE GIFT SIZE
Our school is what it is today because so many of you generously support our school each year. Families participated in the grand finale challenge
70 1 st Grade Winner
64 % Percentage of Monarch families who participated Class with the highest participation overall The Gonzalez family won the grand finale prize!
$ 220 YOUR I MPAC T FOR 1981 MINUTES O F GIV ING.
354 TOTAL G IFTS
Thank you for supporting us!
Monarch Main Event (MME) is the most anticipated event of the year. Not only is it St. Edward Parish School’s largest fundraiser, but this beloved night brings together families for an evening of fellowship, dining, cocktails, a live and silent auction, dancing, and friendship! Since 2014, MME has raised more than $1.8 million for St. Edward Parish School.
Families gathered at the brand-new Pastoral Center on Saturday, April 14, 2024 for an Endless Summer as the ocean-view bluff was transformed into a festive summer beach backdrop, flanked by a vintage VW bus, surfboards, a lifeguard station, and beach balls. The event raised an impressive $185,000, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the renovation of the Makerspace classroom.
Thank you to everyone who supported the Monarch Main Event! A heartfelt thanks to our talented co-chairs Mrs. Karen Finnigan and Mrs. Whitney Tioleco who chaired the event for the third year in a row. Your creativity, vision, and leadership made the event a truly memorable night for all guests! A special thank you as well to our dedicated volunteer committee, sponsors, and underwriters. We are forever grateful for your generosity of time, talent, and treasure!
ALISO BEACH CREEK SPONSOR
Specialty Vendor Underwriter: The Barnea Family
Entertainment Underwriter: The Ronald Green Family
Event Decor Underwriter:
Dr. Diana Munos Perrizo of M Aesthetics
The Ronald Green Family
Auctioneer Underwriter:
Dr. Sarah Mathias of Jungle of Smiles
Event Program Underwriter: The Zand Family
Event Printing & Signage: The Sadayasu Family
Late Night Snack Underwriter:
The Bench Family
The Michel-Beran Family
Bid Paddle Underwriter: The Rosen Family
Signature Cocktail Underwriter: The Barnea Family
Event Photographer Underwriter: The Fish Family
Monarch Main Event (MME) is St. Edward Parish School’s most well-known and beloved fundraiser. Each year, MME fundraises for a specific program or project for the school. Over the years, some of the programs that have benefited from the annual gala include campus-wide technology upgrades, a facilities maintenance cart, an on-field athletic scoreboard, campus security upgrades, the purchase of a ceramics kiln, and playground shade awnings. Since 2014, MME has raised more than $1.7 million for St. Edward Parish School. The net proceeds of the event average $160,000 per year.
Event Chairs: Karen Finnigan and Whitney Tioleco
Silent Auction Database Coordinator: Danielle Babbington
Gift Gathering Class Participation Coordinator: Tish Manganello
Silent Auction Photographer: Regina Gancar
Post Event Auction Coordinator: Kevin Hutchinson
Food & Décor Chairs: John Beran & Mayumi Kuttler
Entertainment Chair: Kevin Hutchinson
General Committee: Elizabeth Behnke, Kacy Bruno, Rebecca Corey, Tracy Gardea, Melissa Hagstrom, Kaelyn Leger, Tish Manganello, Katie McAslan, Ashleigh Ora, Tori Tait, Nicole Teigen,
Paige Townsend, Elizabeth Williams
Graphic Designer: 5 Acre Design
Special Events Coordinator: Whitney Tioleco
Director of Advancement: Annie Phan-Luong
THANK YOU TO THE BUSINESSES, SILENT AUCTION DONORS, AND BUY-IN PARTY HOSTS WHO GENEROUSLY DONATED A COMPLETE BASKET AND/OR ITEMS VALUED AT $250 OR MORE.
Arrighi Family
Avery Family
Babbington Family
Barnea Family
Behnke Family
Briscoe Family
Capek Family
Church Family
Club Literacy
Coffee Importers
Crafts Family
Culinary Kids
Dana Point Dermatology
Delk Family
DoubleTree Hotel Irvine
Elite Soccer
Evolution Swim Academy
Trevor & Martha Fessenden
First & Oak
Five Vines Wine Bar
Fizz & Bubbles | Tioleco Family
Gardea Family
Geometry House
Glow Lab Skincare
Gonzalez Family
Gorjana
Grub Hub
Handel’s Ice Cream
Heritage BBQ
Houston Family
Inn at the Mission
In-N-Out Burger
Isaacs Family
Jennings Family Trust
Joy Family
JSerra Catholic High School
KG Beach Camp
Kidcreate Studio
Killer Dana
Koontz Pools
L * Space
Londe Family
Luong Family
Mary Barr Interior Design
$2,500
Anonymous
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Gray
Marco and Chelsea Guerrero
The Scott Family
The Tait Family
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Tetzloff
$1,000
The Antoine Family
The Art Flores Family
The Bench Family
The Crofton Family
The Edgcomb Family
The Fernandez Family
The Finn Family
The LeVeque Family
The MacLeod Family
The O’Neill Family
The Raabe Family
The Rickert Family
The Rosen Family
The Shawn Hansen Family
The Sutton Family
The Zanetti Family
$500
The Berry Family
The Fields Family
The Giraldin Family
The Evan Guerrero Family
The Nick Hansen Family
The Hennessey Family
The Hodgson Family
The Luong Family
The McConnell Family
The Miles Family
The Morse Family
The Rollins Family
The Rosalino Family
M Aesthetics – Dr. Munoz
M3 Office | McCarthy Family
Marbella Country Club
Mary Barr Interior Design
McAslan Family
Miles Family
Monarch Beach Golf Links
Montage Laguna Beach
Morse Family
Nocito Family
OC Design & Organization
Olenik Sales & Services
Orangetheory Fitness
Pali Adventures
Pelican | Antoine Family
Piazza Family Wines
Picnic Grazing Co
Pinot’s Palette
PJ Salvage
Pratt Family
Project Social
Saddleback Lanes
The Strem Family
The Stucke Family
$250
The Babbington Family
The Bemis Family
The Bordages Family
The Delk Family
The Fippinger Family
The Gonzalez Family
The Hartstein Family
The Hernandez Family
The Himmelright Family
The Lozano Family
The Perrizo Family
Elfa Shelving System
The Abad Family
The Bader Family
The Brabeck Family
Salty Crew | Rollins Family
Santa Margarita Catholic High School
Signorile Family
South Bay Jewelry
St. Edward Catholic Church
St. Edward Parish School
Stein Family
Stone Bench Roasters
Stone Brewing
Stone Family
Tait & Associates, Inc.
Teigen Family
The Unicorn Group
Uniforms 4 U
Van Tassel Family
Vans
Vaquero Resort | Nisenson & Tinnelly Families
Varela Family
Vibe Kitchen
Westwind Sailing
Winters Family
The Brooks Family
Ms. Cindy Celotto
The Chambers Family
The Keith Flores Family
Mr. George Derby
The Gahagan Family
The Gardea Family
The Gerryts Family
The Gray Family
The Shawn Hansen Family
The Hennessey Family
The Holbrook Family
The Horos Family
The Houston Family
The Houston Family
The Imler Family
The Isaacs Family
Ms. Jean Latu
The Lebsack Family
The LeMond Family
The LeVeque Family
The Montello Family
The Morse Family
The Pagano Family
The Patten Family
Ms. Jean Paulson
The Perrine Family
The Pokrywa Family
The Rodriguez Family
The Rosen Family
The Rottach Family
The Schramm Family
The Schwab-Matchett Family
The Scott Family
The Tetzloff Family
The Townsend Family
The Turley Family
The Vachon Family
The Warner Family
Mr. Tom Waszak
Mrs. Angie Willburn
The Willburn Family
The Zand Family
Stools
The Bench Family
The Brooks Family
The Buist-Grosso Family
The Gardea Family
The Giraldin Family
The Guerrero Family
The Nick Hansen Family
The Shawn Hansen Family
The Leger Family
The Lozano Family
The Maish Family
The Shaffer Family
The Stucke Family
Storage Cabinets
The Abongwa-Strem Family
The Babbington Family
The Bader Family
The Bemis Family
The Bertola Family
The Bordages Family
The Brooks Family
The Caulfield Family
The Church Family
The Conte Family
The Delk Family
The Driscoll Family
The Finn Family
The Fippinger Family
The Fraley Family
The Giraldin Family
The Glover Family
The Gonzalez Family
The Himmelright Family
The Hodgson Family
The Holbrook Family
The Horos Family
The Houston Family
The Isaacs Family
The Koontz Family
The Kuttler Family
The MacLeod Family
The McCusker Family
The Musetich Family
The Neppl Family
The Quinones Family
Ms. Jean Paulson
The Readler Family
The Rickert Family
The Rohe Family
The Rosalino Family
The Schramm Family
The Tait Family
The Vachon Family
The Warner Family
The Williams Family
The Kevin Winters Family
The Todd Winters Family
The Zanetti Family
Wave Tiles
The Berry Family
The Bonfiglio Family
The Brooks Family
The Church Family
The Ciraulo Family
The Garko Family
The Hernandez Family
The Holbrook Family
The Horos Family
The Jonsson Family
The Koontz Family
The Lebsack Family
The Miller Family
The Miller-Jones Family
The Mulhern Family
The O’Neill Family
The Ora Family
The Powers Family
The Schreiber Family
The Williams Family
Pendant Lighting
The Basanese Family
The Brooks Family
The Church Family
The Flores Family
The Gonzalez Family
The Gonzalez Family
The Greene Family
The Jonsson Family
Ms. Teresa Lamboni
The McConnell Family
The Micco Family
The Nebot Family
The Pearson Family
The Pearson Family
The Pentz Family
The Sanchez Family
The Scott Family
Ms. Maureen Starace
SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 2025
St. Edward the Confessor Pastoral Center
For more information on sponsorship opportunities or to learn more, please visit:
Completed in Summer 2024, St. Edward the Confessor School’s Makerspace renovation was made possible by the generous $120,000 raised during the Monarch Main Event fundraising gala. This innovative space was completely redesigned from the ground up, including updated flooring, lighting, furniture, and art room renovations. Students now enjoy new features like an ideation wall, garden beds, outdoor seating with shade, and ample storage. This updated space fosters creativity, collaboration, and hands-on learning, providing students of all grade levels with an inspiring environment to explore and create.
A big thank you to the following companies and supporters who generously provided donated goods, service and funds to help turn this transformation dream into a reality:
Artisan Coatings (Painting)
Bogart Construction (Construction)
Cal West Fire (Fire Sprinklers)
Hedges Family (Mural Work)
Marisa Marken (Professional Organization)
Matuz Family-Tarkett (Flooring)
Meteor Education (Furniture)
Murray Woodcraft (Built-In Storage)
Noble Design Source (Design)
Parent MME Donations
Plant Depot (Soil)
RBC Holt Inc. (Dumpster & Hauling)
Schwab/Matchett Family (Umbrellas)
Taylor Guerrero Interiors (Design)
Statement of Financial Position
June 30, 2024 Assets Operating reserve $2,199,418 Future capital expenditure reserve 1,745,465
assets 203, 095
and equipment (net) 2,053,723 Total Assets $6,201,701
and Fund Balance
For the Year Ended June 30, 2023
For the Year Ended June 30, 2024 Budget is for the upcoming fiscal year June 30, 2025
Budgeted Cash Outflows
Lauren Kirby - a St. Edward alumna whose mother
Mrs. Kirby is a long-time teacher - was awarded Santa Margarita Catholic High School’s (SMCHS) highest honor at the Class of 2024 Baccalaureate Mass in May. This award is given to a senior student who exemplifies the school’s charism of compassion, humility, justice, and goodness. It was founded more than 25 years ago by former SMCHS physics teacher Ed Cunningham who believed “it isn’t about what you do, but who you are.”
Lauren demonstrated leadership during her four years as an Eagle. She participated on ASB for three years, and was elected as the Commissioner of Activities junior year, and senior year, Executive Vice President. She also was a dedicated peer minister with Campus Ministry, serving as a retreat leader and a eucharistic minister at the all-school Masses. An athlete on the school’s nationally ranked cheerleading team, Lauren was appointed team captain for the JV squad. Beyond the SMCHS campus, she was dedicated to her faith. She was the founder of Holy Trinity Catholic Church’s Girls Group, a high school youth group for young female teenagers, and was a Vacation Bible School head leader and Youth Ministry Coordinator.
“Lauren has been a joy and blessing in my life, filling my heart with hope and love daily since her freshman year. Her devotion to her faith has been contagious. She truly lives out her discipleship, loving and following Jesus,” said SMCHS teacher Mrs. Sara Brakke.
Lauren exemplified her love of Christ through using her God-given talents to serve others in the community. She was a camp counselor at the Rise Above Disabilities Camp where she worked one-on-one with a disabled child during the week-long overnight camp. In addition to Holy Trinity, she also volunteered for the Shea Center for
Therapeutic Riding. She dedicated more than 400 hours of direct service during her four years at SMCHS, earning her the SMCHS Sacred Heart Service Award.
As a Caritas Christi Award recipient, she was granted $3,000 to use towards her college tuition and $2,000 to the charity of her choice. She split the charitable donation equally between the Life Center of Santa Ana and the Sacred Heart Sisters Convent.
Lauren is currently attending Texas Christian University majoring in entrepreneurship and innovation.
Additionally, St. Edward alumni Audrey Crafts ’20 was also recognized during the SMCHS Baccalaureate Mass as one of five Caritas Christi nominees.
Congratulations Lauren and Audrey - you are true examples of what it means to be a Monarch!
“Well done, good and faithful servant!” Matthew 25:21
What year did you graduate from St. Edward Parish School?
2001
Where did you go to high school and college after St. Edward?
I attended Santa Margarita Catholic High School, Saint Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana for undergraduate, and the University of Colorado, Denver for my Master’s and Doctorate.
Why did you choose St. Edward Parish School for your family?
I chose St Edward for my family because while being a large, academically driven school, it has the feel of a small community. St. Edward has a balance of recognizable faces and traditions, while also staying up-to-date on best practices for education and STEM based learning.
What is your favorite memory from being a student at St. Edward? So far as a parent?
My favorite memory as a student at St. Edward was the Fiesta! I remember counting down the weeks until the rides arrived, and I loved running around with friends, and taking my chances on the cake walk. My favorite memory as a parent was our first preschool Christmas pageant. I loved seeing the little ones as “big kids” for the first time and the pride they took in their big accomplishment.
What impact did St. Edward Parish School have on you as a child and now as an adult?
St. Edward provided me with a feeling of safety and consistency throughout the challenges of growing up. It was such a gift to attend school with the same friends and teachers from kindergarten through eighth grade. This allowed me to focus on school rather than a changing environment. It also created an environment of strong relationships and high parental engagement.
What is your favorite part of being a parent at St. Edward?
My favorite part of being a parent at St. Edward is the collaborative relationship we have experienced with the teachers and staff. We feel such a sense of security knowing our kids are in the hands of people who want the best for our kids.
What has been your family’s favorite school event?
Though Brian and I look forward to Monarch Main Event, as a family, we love the movie nights on the field. The kids love running around with friends and wrapping up in blankets once the sun goes down.
What is most meaningful to you at St. Edward?
Community is the most meaningful part of St. Edward. There are families that I met 30 years ago that are still so involved in my family’s life today. I love seeing my kids establish great friendships, not only with the kids in their classes, but with their families as well.
5 YEARS OF SERVICE
Ashley McCormick
Sherri Miller
Austin Pedue
Karran Toffelmier
5
10 YEARS OF SERVICE
Sandra Bertola
Jennifer Miller-Jones
Peggy Pettis
Shelly Rollins
Catherine Wadman
Rocky Kehoe Jones made his debut Friday, February 23 at 9:31am. 8lbs 8oz 20 inches in length
15 YEARS OF SERVICE
Michelle Brummer
Paula Ciraulo
Debra Scotto
Crosby James Pedue born December 2023
Mia Lynn Steiss made her debut Tuesday, April 9 at 4:11am. 7lb 15 oz, 20.5 inches in length
We wo uld like to thank all the teachers, administrators and staff for all their love, support and guidance. Their sacrifice, commitment and dedication to Catholic education will have a lifelong impact and we are eternally grateful.
How many years total was your family at St. Edward?
14 years (preschool – 8th grade)
Kate – Class of 2021; Alex – Class of 2024
Why did you choose Catholic education for your family?
We wanted a nurturing, caring place for our children to grow in their knowledge and faith on a daily basis.
Why did you choose St. Edward Parish School?
Being members of the church community, we liked the opportunities the school offered (religion, art, music, library, athletics, etc.). We felt blessed to be able to be an active part of our children’s education.
What activities were your kids/and your family involved in at St. Edward?
Altar serving, Academic Decathlon, athletics (I think they tried almost every sport!), Vacation Bible School.
What was the most memorable school moment(s) for your family?
Preschool pumpkin patch, Kindergarten graduation, First Communion with classmates, water balloon fights with staff / kids, fourth grade overnighter on the Pilgrim,
Each year we recognize the families who end their journey at St. Edward Parish School with their youngest child graduating from the school. We said farewell to 33 families from the Class of 2024. Many of these families spent more than 12 years together spanning multiple children at St. Edward.
The Sunset Parents were invited to a breakfast in May to celebrate the completion of their journey as Monarch parents. It was a beautiful morning full of stories from their time at the school.
eighth grade Stations of the Cross and the Washington DC trip, and Academic Decathlon potlucks and competitions.
What was your family’s favorite school event?
Fiesta
What was your family’s favorite school tradition?
Student Mass on Friday mornings – watching all the students participate in the Mass through serving, reading and singing always warms the heart. Being able to attend with the kids is one of our favorite things about the school and has brought us so many memories. There truly is nothing like hearing 800+ children singing “Lord, I Need You”.
What is most meaningful to you at St. Edward?
The community environment – the families and staff we have met over the years have become family to us. Our children are still best friends with kids they met in kindergarten despite attending different high schools. And when our oldest needed to interview a couple for a high school religion project, she asked a St. Edward’s teacher and her husband who happily obliged. It truly is a special place to raise your kids!
Alvarez Family
Arrey Family
Bakman Family
Bastianelli Family
Behnke Family
Button Family
Clements Family
Cowley Family
Delk Family
Dowd Family
Fernandez Family
Ferraro Family
Garrigan Family
Gryziewicz Family
Hannegan Family
Kitcher Family
Kostich Family
Lebsack Family
Moreno Family
O’Connell Family
O’Donnell Family
Ober Family
Pokrywa Family
Redfern Family
Ricks Family
Rongaus Family
Rottach Family
Sadayasu Family
Sanchez Family
Sanchez Family
Silva Family
Tankersley Family
Tonsich Family
Gianna Carlson Valedictorian
Recognizes the graduating student who demonstrates excellence in the most challenging academic courses offered by St. Edward the Confessor Parish School and is graduating with the highest scholastic GPA.
OUR GRADUATES ARE HEADED NEXT
We are incredibly proud of our 76 outstanding graduates from the Class of 2024! Among them, we would like to give special recognition to three graduates who have demonstrated exceptional academic excellence and personal achievements.
Laurel Hedges Salutatorian
Recognizes the graduating student with the second highest Cumulative Academic GPA. This is calculated on the nine trimesters in Upper School attended at St. Edward the Confessor Parish School.
Saint Edward the Confessor Award
This recipient is selected by his or her peers through a vote as the eighth grade student who lives their faith and is actively involved in all aspects of our St. Edward Community. He or she is the personification of the good qualities that we believe a St. Edward student should possess.
31 SMCHS 31 JSerra 1 Mater Dei 1 Rosary 10 Public 2 Togethership WHERE
On Friday, May 17, St. Edward’s eighth grade class was given a memorable send-off after the final all-school Mass of the year. Just before the students departed for their trip to Washington, D.C. the school community came together for a special “Clap-Out” event, a heartfelt gesture of appreciation for many of these students who attended the school since they were three years old.
The idea for the Clap-Out was pitched to the administration by the eighth grade graduation
committee and room parents.
Following last year’s absence of a traditional farewell graduation dance, the committee sought a new way to celebrate and honor the students’ contributions to the school. The Clap-Out was quickly embraced by the administration, who saw it as a fitting way to recognize the class’ achievements.
After Mass, students, teachers, and staff gathered in the school’s parking lot, forming a cheering corridor as the eighth graders ran through, basking in the applause. In addition to the
Clap-Out, the school displayed a banner featuring the names of all students in the Class of 2024 on the gate, where for the past eight years or more, students were picked up by their parents.
Following the emotional sendoff, the school hosted a Sunset Breakfast for those long-time St. Edward families who were graduating out, many of whom had been at the school for more than a decade. This new Clap-Out tradition marked a truly special moment in the lives of the Class of 2024
families and provided a joyous moment for the entire community to come together before the students moved on to high school.
2023 – 2024 PGO VOLUNTEER BOARD
Laura Donovan PGO - Board Co-Presidents
Bridget Zand PGO - Board Co-Presidents
Christy Garko PGO - Board Co-Vice Presidents
Amy Miller PGO - Board Co-Vice Presidents
Kathryn Kim PGO - Board Secretary & Communications
Allison Musetich PGO - Board Treasurer
Karen Finnigan Monarch Main Event Co-Chairs
Whitney Tioleco Monarch Main Event Co-Chairs/PGOBoard Volunteer Coordinator
Brooke Huey PGO - Box Tops for Education/Fundraiser Chairperson
Rebecca Shore PGO - Box Tops for Education/Fundraiser Chairperson
Caroline Gavin PGO - Community and Teacher Relations Co-Coordinators (PGO PERKS)
Heather Ybarra PGO - Community and Teacher Relations Co-Coordinators (PGO PERKS)
Allison Cabral PGO Event Closet Coordinators
Regina Gancar PGO Event Closet Coordinators
Danielle Pagano PGO Grade Level Parent Co-Coordinators
Allison Smith PGO Hospitality Co-Coordinators
Gina Winters PGO Hospitality Co-Coordinators
2023 – 2024 ROOM PARENTS
Caroline Arrighi
Janel Bennett
Silvia Berlin
Brittany Brickweg
Lauren Brooks
Dorothea Church
Meghan Clem
Steph Conte
Aurora Cote
Annette DeCicco
Tiffany Del Canto
Nicole Delehanty
Andrea Demma
Denise Espineira
Michelle Everett
Jenna Farr
Mychela Fippinger
Jami Gallinger
Shana Gerryts
Chelsea Guerrero
Melissa Haldorsen
Meredith Hansen
Lauren Hoffman
Crystal Holbrook
Alex Horos
Karen Howell
Cassie Isaacs
Cristina Jaworski
Kristi Jensen
Kimberley Kenney
Nicole Lanfranco
Taylor Le Bon
Jennifer Lenzen
Porsche Lev
Kelly LeVeque
Tish Manganello
Janaee Maun
Lisa McKenzie
Annie Micco
Heather Mitchell
Julie Moran
Megan Morrow
Belle Murphy
Heidi Nicoll
Jaclyn Nisenson
Kelly Pearson
Dicey Perrine
Annie Phan-Luong
Brittany Pratt
Claire Riley
Carolyn Ruiz
Karna Sadayasu
Allison Stark
Sara Tinnelly
Whitney Tioleco
Bailey Van Tassel
Gina Wendt
Nikki Wheeler
Kaila Williams
Fallon Winslow
Simone Winters
Gina Winters
Jessica York
Bridget Zand
Liz Briseno PGO Lost and Found Co-Coordinators
Cristen Lebsack PGO Lost and Found Co-Coordinators
Sheilah Martin PGO Lost and Found Co-Coordinators
Jamie Rezk PGO Lost and Found Co-Coordinators
Kristen Bemis PGO Monarch Ambassador Program Co-Coordinators
Colby Gray PGO Monarch Ambassador Program Co-Coordinators
Jessica Avery PGO Movie Night Assistants
Silvia Fukunaga PGO Movie Night Assistants
Wendy Pierce PGO Movie Night Assistants
Megan Stone PGO Movie Night Assistants
Heidi Buffington PGO Movie Night Co-Coordinators
Ali Oliveria PGO Movie Night Co-Coordinators
Rosalee Hormuth PGO Parent/Child Events Co-Coordinators
Kate Kelso PGO Parent/Child Events Co-Coordinators
Lynsey McCarthy PGO Spirit Wear Coordinator
Angela Bench PGO Welcome Back Coffee/1st Day of School
Amy Gonzalez PGO Welcome Back Coffee/1st Day of School
Danielle Babbington PGO Welcome Day Co-Coordinators
Megan Flores PGO Welcome Day Co-Coordinators
2023 – 2024 CONSULTATIVE SCHOOL BOARD
Jane Crayton
Andrew Gray
Jennifer Kearney
Chris McCormick
Lisa Mercurio
Annie Micco
Julie Mildrew
Whitney Pratt
Chris Rottach
Miranda Taft
Laura Donovan (PGO Co-President)
Bridget Zand (PGO Co-President)
Tom Waszak (Principal, Ex-Officio)