2024-2025 SY Family Newsletter- August Edition

August 2024 DMA Family Newsletter
August Edition, 2024-2025 School Year

 
"Greet them for me with all humility and respect" -- St. Louise de Marillac.

Dear De Marillac Academy Families, Students, and Friends,
 
Welcome new and returning families. I am excited to see students and families returning to campus. Congratulations to the new students and families! I am looking forward to getting to know you and your student. To the returning students and families, I can't wait for you to see the updates and upgrades all around the campus. Shout out to Ms. Leberman for the amazing work she has done throughout summer to get the school ready for the upcoming year.
 
Speaking of changes, there are other changes happening this upcoming school year. First, morning assembly will be in person, daily, starting at 8:00 am.  Following the example of St. John Baptist de la Salle, DMA aims to stress community building. Having in-person assemblies to start the day helps build that community. Next, PE is now on Wednesdays. Students will now wear their PE uniforms on Wednesdays.  I look forward to sharing more updates during Back to School. 

This year's theme is "We Walk Together." Together, we are stronger; together, we can go farther. Thank you, families and community partners, for walking with DMA in educating and preparing students for high school and beyond. We will also have monthly themes that focus on Lasallian/Vincentian core values. August's core value is the Vincentian core value of "Person Oriented." The Daughters of Charity understood the need for Vincentian educational institutions to be "one in which all community members -- most importantly students -- are respected and valued." One way to show respect and value is to greet one another and welcome everyone. 

Be sure to look at the items below as we prepare for the upcoming school year. They contain numerous helpful pieces of information, including homeroom teachers and faculty/staff changes. Live Jesus in our hearts forever!

Your Servant in Christ,

Jojo de Guzman

 

August Calendar: Important Dates

Please see important dates for the month of August listed below. Visit the Alma Calendar to view the school-year calendar. 
Thursday, 8/1 - Friday, 8/2
Uniform pick up days


Thursday, 8/8 
First day of school for all students (minimum day — 12:30 pm dismissal)


Friday, 8/9 - Tuesday, 8/13 
Minimum days — 12:30 pm dismissal


Monday, 8/12
St. Louise de Marillac Birthday


Tuesday, 8/13 
Cup of Jo with Melissa and Jojo


Wednesday, 8/14 
First full day (Wednesday schedule) and PE day — 3:00 pm dismissal
Thursday, 8/15
August Community Mass -2:00 pm at St. Boniface. First 4:00 pm dismissal of the school year

Thursday, 8/15 - Friday, 8/16
Beginning of the year STAR Testing


Monday, 8/19 
STAR Testing make up day


Wednesday, 8/28 
Minimum Day — 12:30 pm dismissal


Thursday, 8/29 
Back to School Night. — 4:30 pm

Updates & Reminders

Welcome New Hires
We are pleased to welcome our new hires. Families are invited to take a moment and read and get to know Ms. Skiles, our Assistant Principal as well those joining and returning to DMA

 
Melissa Skiles -- Assistant Principal
Melissa Skiles was raised in a St. Louis suburb and received a BA in Creative Writing at Missouri State University. After brief stints in advertising and non-profit work in Chicago, her passion for supporting under-resourced youth led her to earn a Master's in Education from DePaul University, a Catholic Vincentian institution. She worked as a Learning Behavior Specialist in inner-city Chicago, then spent nearly a decade in the Middle East as a leader in education. In 2022, Melissa relocated to San Francisco to continue her work in inclusive education. Throughout her career, she has founded and led five additional needs departments, served as an instructional and senior leader in K-12 schools, and presented at domestic and international conferences on inclusive education and leadership. Outside of work, she enjoys painting, music, traveling, and interacting with the city’s furry friends. Her experiences have fueled her commitment to inclusive education, and she looks forward to partnering with De Marillac Academy’s community.

Sofia Sanchez
 
5th grade Homeroom teacher and 4th/5th STEM teacher. DMA is excited for Ms. Sanchez to return to DMA after a couple of years away.

Tyler Knapp
Affectionately known as Mr. Lime to the students, Mr. Knapp - who has spent time volunteering at DMA last school year, is joining DMA’s Associate Teacher Team for the 2024-2025 school year.

Kiana Gellman
Having a background in special ed, trauma informed teaching, DEI work, and Spanish, Ms. Gellman brings her skills to the DMA community. Welcome Ms. Gellman to the Associate Teacher Team. 

Jessica Leon
You may have met Ms. Leon in June. Ms. Leon will start her full year as the transition advisor, working with incoming students  as well as graduates.

Vivi Hau ‘16
Ms. Hau, graduate of the class of 2016 joins the DMA team as the Student, Graduate, and Family Service Program Associate. 

Back To School Night
Back to School Night will take place on Thursday, August 29. The event will be held Afterschool from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm.  Back to School Night will start with a group presentation in the theatre, followed by teacher presentations in the classrooms.

 DMA 2024-2025 School Year Calendar


Cup of Jo with Melissa and Jojo
Families are invited for donuts and coffee with the admin team, taking place on Tuesday morning after the morning assembly in Boeddeker. Mr. de Guzman and Ms. Skiles will have a short presentation about the upcoming school year. The admin team looks forward to reconnecting with families. 

August Community Mass
Our first Mass of the school year will take place on Thursday, August 15 at 2:00 pm in St. Boniface Parish. Students are expected to wear Mass attire on that day. Please email communications sent regarding uniforms. Families and community members are welcome to join the school in attending Mass.

STAR Testing
The first STAR testing will take place on Thursday, August 15 and Friday, August 16. STAR tests is one piece in understanding student learning needs in the area of math and reading. DMA students take the STAR tests 4 times per year. 

Lane Closure
A reminder that there is no parking in front of DMA. The southern lanes may only be used for loading and unloading.
  

Health & Community Resources 

St. Anthony's Medical Clinic: Your Neighbor in Health

Across The Street , At Your Service

St. Anthony’s Medical Clinic is a beacon of health and wellness for the Tenderloin community, located
conveniently across the street from the De Marillac Academy. Annually, we open our doors to nearly
2,500 individuals and families, offering over 9,000 visits for essential primary care to specialized services.

Our Mission: Care Without Boundaries
Patient-Centered Care: Focused on accessibility and dignity, we offer comprehensive primary and
specialty medical services tailored to meet your needs.

Language Inclusive: Our bilingual doctors ensure no language barrier stands between you and your
health. All our communications are available in multiple languages.

For Everyone: Whether you're uninsured, underinsured, or an undocumented family member, we’re
here for you. With the recent Medi-Cal expansion for adults ages 26 through 49, more community
members than ever can access full-scope Medi-Cal benefits. For more information, contact our Eligibility
& Enrollment Specialist at (415) 241-8320.


Exemplary Medical Services For All Ages
Pediatrics, Women’s Health, Podiatry, Ophthalmology, Nutrition: Specialized care that addresses your
unique health needs.

Comprehensive Support: From asthma and diabetes education to hypertension management and
psychiatric services, our team is equipped to offer personalized care.

Vaccinations & Testing: Stay protected with our immunization programs and accessible COVID-19 testing
and support services.


Why Choose Us?
Premier Staff: Our team comprises highly qualified professionals dedicated to treating each patient with
the utmost respect and dignity.

Convenient Location: Just a short walk from DeMarillac Academy, making it easier for you and your
family to access quality healthcare.


Stay Informed 
Keep an eye on the De Marillac Academy monthly newsletters and Thursday Folders for updates and
more information about our services.


Get In Touch
Phone: Main - (415) 241-8320 | Nurse Line - (415) 535-2043
Visit Us: 150 Golden Gate Avenue, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94102
For more details or to schedule a tour, please call us. We’re here to help!


 
 
Admissions
Class of 2030
  • Admission inquiries for the 2025-26 school year are now open!
  • If your or any family or friends are interested in admissions for the 2025-26 School year, please fill out the admissions inquiry form.
 

Graduate Support Program

Graduate Support Updates

Graduate Support welcomes all families of the Class of 2025 and 2026 to the beginning of 7th and 8th Grade!
We enjoyed getting to know and working with the students through our Graduate Support Class over the summer. We are excited to continue working with students and families over the coming school year. We will focus on developing personal skills, study skills, and academic goals so all students and families feel prepared during 7th grade and our 8th graders to thrive in high school. We hope everyone had a restful summer and is looking forward to a great year at DMA!


High School Transition Reminders

The Graduate Support Team will start working closely with all 8th-grade families. We welcome our new Transition Advisor, Jessica Leon, who will support the High School transition process. Please check your email for a 1:1 Family meeting sign-up form with Graduate Support, which will be sent to all 8th-grade families in August. This meeting will be helpful for you to learn useful information about the high school placement process, for us to get to know you, and to learn more about the Graduate Support Program.

In addition to working with students in the classroom, Graduate Support will also host after-school office hours throughout the school year and workshops related to the transition to high school over the next few months for all 8th grade students and families. More information will be sent to you soon. Topics include the following:
  • General Overview of 8th Grade and the Transition to Becoming a DMA Graduate
  • High School Placement and Admissions Applications
  • Financial Aid Applications & TADS
  • High School Selection, Registration, and Transition
During the month of August, students and families should spend time talking together about individual goals, priorities, and resources that will allow each student to thrive in their future school, and explore school options online. GSP will continue to update the Graduate Support Google Classroom with resources and information. 
 
Stay In Touch with Graduate Support
For questions or feedback on high school placement, please contact the Graduate Support Team using the gsp@demarillac.org


Ms. Jessica Leon, Transition Advisor         
jessica_leon@demarillac.org 
628.333.0193 (work cell)    

Ms. Laura Ramirez, Family Partnership Coordinator
laura_ramirez@demarillac.org
628.220.5559 (work cell)

Mr. Alberto Martinez, Director of Student, Graduate, and Family Services 
alberto_martinez@demarillac.org
415.652.7773 (work cell)


 

Student Life

Fall Sports
We are looking for CYO Girls Volleyball coaches. If interested, contact the school:

Email: receptionist@demarillac.org
Phone: (415) 552-5220 ext. 102

Student and Family Services

Uniforms

You may pick up your students uniform order Thursday August 1st & Friday August 2nd from 9:00am - 4:00pm. 

  • If your student is a new student to DMA and are unable to pick up uniforms on either dates please contact Ms. Ramirez immediately. 
  • If you have a returning student and are unable to pick up your student uniforms on the given dates you may pick up on the first day of school. 
  • All purchases are final, you will not be able to return any items. 
  • Please make sure to write your students name on the tags of their sweaters and jackets. 
We will have donated polos available for you to take with you if you would like to have extras. 

Please make sure you have purchased the following items for your students.

Boys:
White button down dress shirt (for mass)
Solid white or black sneakers
Solid white or black dress shoes (for mass)
Black belt (when using grey pants)

Girls: 
Knee high white or black socks 
Solid white or black sneakers
Solid white or black dress shoes (for mass)
Black belt (when using grey pants) 

Click here for our DMA dress code form. 


If you have any questions regarding uniforms please contact Ms. Ramirez 
Email: laura_ramirez@demarillac.org
Text: 628.220.5559 

 
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Copyright © 2024 De Marillac Academy, All rights reserved.
This is the DMA Family Newsletter.  

De Marillac Academy, 175 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102

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