A Message from the Principal
Congratulations, Savio Class of 2020
Congratulations, Savio Class of 2020!
Eagles,
I hope you and your families are doing well on this Pentecost Sunday. May the Holy Spirit fill you with the fire of faith and hope as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and work to restore a sense of normalcy in our everyday lives.
Speaking of these Cardinal Virtues, the blessing of the opportunity to celebrate our Baccalaureate Mass at St. William Catholic Church on Friday and the amazing weather that allowed us to hold our Graduation on the Savio practice field certainly went a long way to toward giving us a sense of faith and hope. Thanks be to God for the beautiful ceremonies in which we celebrated Savio’s Class of 2020. In spite of all that has transpired as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Savio’s Seniors, their families, and our faculty and staff were able to gather as a community of faith and learning in thanksgiving to celebrate, congratulate, and bid farewell to the Class of 2020.
Congratulations, Savio Class of 2020!
Thank you, Savio Community!
In the spirit of thanksgiving, I want to thank the Savio faculty, staff, students, and parent volunteers who made our 2020 Baccalaureate Mass and Graduation Ceremony possible. The hard work and perseverance of these individuals coming together as a community to marshal the human and material resources necessary for these celebrations certainly paid off and exemplified the spirit of service that upon which Savio is built. My sincerest thanks go out to these individuals.
ADMINISTRATION & STAFF PLANNING TEAM
- Dr. Joan Wagner, President
- Dr. Enrique Garcia, Principal
- Patrick Goertz, Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction
- Stefanie Schiesser, Assistant Principal for Student Life
- Alpa Brannam, Director of Development
- Holly Bologna, Director of Admissions
- Chris Molinar, Director of Technology
- Chris Ochoa, Director of Faith and Minister
- Jonithan Pendergrass, Director of Facilities
- Lan Nguyen, Business Manager
- Marina Glava, College Advisor
- Barbi Guerra, Assistant to the President
- Carmen Garza, Assistant to the Principal
- Evie Cascarano, Office Administrator, Registrar
BACCALAUREATE MASS
CELEBRANT
- Fr. Dean Wilhelm, St. Williams Catholic Church
ALTAR SERVERS
- Noah Fox, Class of 2022
- Nathan Lewis, Class of 2021
- Gabe Phipps, Class of 2021
- Michael Snyder, Class of 2021
HOSPITALITY MINISTERS
- Evie Cascarano
- Dr. Enrique Garcia
- Ann Marie Girardot
- Alanna Heyl
- Chris Ochoa
- Jessica Ochoa
- Bea Pojman
- Stefanie Schiesser
- Dr. Joan Wagner
- Sylvia Wood
EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION
- Alanna Heyl
- Chris Ochoa
- Jessica Ochoa
- Stefanie Schiesser
- Dr. Joan Wagner
- Sylvia Wood
LECTOR
- Angela Herridge, Class of 2020
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
- Luke Wagner, Class of 2020
CANTOR
- Sabrina Mari Uriegas, Class of 2015
PIANIST
- Michelle Pish
BACCALAUREATE MASS PROGRAM
- Celeste Robbins
MASS SCRIPT
- Chris Ochoa
- Jessica Ochoa
GRADUATION CEREMONY
DIPLOMAS, SENIOR PACKETS, MEDALS, & AWARDS
- Carmen Garza
TRANSCRIPTS
- Patrick Goertz
- Marina Glava
- Evie Cascarano
- Louise Swain
- Joyce Mink
GRADUATION PROGRAM
- Celeste Robbins
SENIOR REFUNDS
- Evie Cascarano
- Lan Nguyen
AUDIO VISUAL
- Chris Molinar
- Jonithan Pendergrass
- Lane McCall, Beverly Boy Productions
- Javier Prado, Instant Decibels
GRADUATION SCRIPT
- Carmen Garza
- Celeste Robbins
- Marina Glava
- Stefanie Schiesser
- Dr. Enrique Garcia
STAGE & CHAIRS SETUP
- Jonithan Pendergrass
- Alpa Brannam
- Barbi Guerra
- Chris Tovar, Tovar Construction Company
- Carmen Garza
- Archie Gall
- Patrick Goertz
- Pedro Martinez
- Sebastian Martinez
- Stephen Owens
- Danellie Young
- Gabe Young
FIELD LINING
- Farris Stevens
BALLOON ARCH AND PILLARS
- Neil Family
- Stefanie Schiesser
- Avery Schiesser
GRADUATE & FAMILY SEATING
- Holly Bologna
- Steve Farris
DIPLOMA DISTRIBUTION
- Dr. Joan Wagner
- Marina Glava
GRADUATE AND FAMILY CHECK-IN
- Evie Cascarano
- Sister Katharine Rose
- Lan Nguyen
USHERS
- Ann Marie Girardot
- Alanna Heyl
- Sister Katharine Rose
- Louise Swain
- Ben Willey
- Paul Winkeler
- Alanna Heyl
- Louise Swain
- Sister Victoria Marie
- Ben Willey
- Ann Marie Girardot
PHOTOGRAPHY
- Michael Gonzalez
SECURITY
- David Rodriguez, TX2 Security
Links for Baccalaureate Mass and Graduation
A special “Thank You” goes out to Mrs. Schiesser, Mr. Goertz, Mr. Molinar, Mr. Pendergrass, Mr. Ochoa, Mrs. Garza, Mrs. Cascarano, Mrs. Nguyen, and Mrs. Ochoa who served as the virtual and face-to-face hub of Baccalaureate Mass and Graduation planning. May God repay your generosity tenfold.
Thank you as well to Misty Poe, Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Austin, for attending the Graduation Ceremony, and joining us on stage to congratulate our Graduates.
Lastly, my apologies to anyone I missed in thanking. This has been such an incredible journey, and we couldn't have completed it successful with so many people helping and praying for us.
God bless, protect, and guide Savio's Class of 2020 as they go forth from Savio to pursue their future endeavors. Remember, graduates, no matter where or how far you go, Savio will always be your home, and you are always welcome. Go forth and continue your journey as servant leaders in the image of Christ, and thank you for making every day a great day to be an Eagle!
Blessings,
Dr. Garcia
Congratulations, Matt and Megan DiTeresa
Congratulations Matt and Megan DiTeresa!
Eagles,
In 2011, the Savio Parent Association (SPA) began the annual presentation of the St. John Bosco Award to a friend of St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School. John Bosco, mentor to Dominic Savio, was a man of vision and action who endeavored throughout his life to ensure that young people like Dominic Savio had the opportunity to grow in faith, knowledge and virtue.
The St. John Bosco Award is given by the Savio Parent Association to any parent, staff or teacher that exemplifies the self-sacrifice and selfless effort exerted in order to help make St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School a place of academic excellence, strong Catholic moral character and excellent servant leadership.
Previous winners of the John Bosco Award include:
- 2010-2011 — Kevin and Beth Calkins
- 2011-2012 — Craig and Jo Shempert
- 2012-2013 — Jose and Carmen Garza
- 2013-2014 — Mike and Annemarie Weis
- 2014-2015 — Michael and Connie Butler
- 2015-2016 — Jonithan Pendergrass
- 2016-2017 — Tom and Marguerite Hudson
- 2017-2018 — Terri and Pete Allman
- 2017-2018 — Principal Morgan Daniels
- 2018-2019 — Marina Glava
This year, SPA is pleased to honor Matt and Megan DiTeresa as the 2019-2020 recipients of the St. John Bosco Award. Matt served as both Co-Chair and Treasurer of the Savio Advisory Board, as well the Chair of the Business and Finance Committee and the Advancement Committee. He is also one of the best hamburger flippers around for whatever occasion requires it, including this year’s Savio 10 Year Anniversary Celebration. Matt and Megan served as the Build the Nest Chairs for the last two years, and Megan was the Volunteer Committee Chair in her first year on the SPA Board. She also served as the SPA Chair for the last three years. Matt and Megan are the proud parents of soon-to-be-alumnus Matthew Joseph. Both Matt and Megan dearly love the Savio Community and are dedicated to its mission and advancement!
Congratulations Matt and Megan DiTeresa on receiving this year’s St. John Bosco Award. We thank you for your continued service, love, and commitment to St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School.
Blessings,
Dr. Garcia
Thank you, Savio Teachers!
Thank you, Savio Teachers!
Eagles,
The week of May 4-8 is National Teacher Appreciation Week, and I can't think of a more deserving and amazing group of teachers to appreciate than our very own Savio teachers! The Spring semester has been especially challenging but Savio teachers rose to the occasion to ensure that Savio students received the best instruction possible. They reached out to students and parents to make sure they felt connected with Savio despite the distance of the COVID-19 quarantine. In this time of crisis, Savio teachers you are amazing, so take a bow!
Almighty God, we come to you today as a community of faith and learning and give thanks for our teachers at Savio. Thank You for the way in which they give of themselves each day in the classroom, helping to form servant leaders in the image of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. We thank you for them all now. Father, please fill their hearts with courage now by your mighty Spirit. Fill them with your strength, so they may rise to every challenge and not grow weary. Fill them with your wisdom, so that they may be able to make good judgement when guiding and helping others. Fill them with your peace, so that when stress and anxiety comes it would not overwhelm them. Fill them with your joy, so that the passion they have for their subject may become an infectious passion that spreads. We ask all this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
Thank you, Savio Teachers for your tireless work, dedication, and commitment to academic excellence at Savio and for your servant leadership on behalf of our students. You are a blessing to our community of faith and learning.
Please join me in a prayer for our Savio Teachers:
Almighty God, we come to you today as a community of faith and learning and give thanks for our teachers at Savio. Thank You for the way in which they give of themselves each day in the classroom, helping to form servant leaders in the image of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. We thank you for them all now. Father, please fill their hearts with courage now by your mighty Spirit. Fill them with your strength, so they may rise to every challenge and not grow weary. Fill them with your wisdom, so that they may be able to make good judgement when guiding and helping others. Fill them with your peace, so that when stress and anxiety comes it would not overwhelm them. Fill them with your joy, so that the passion they have for their subject may become an infectious passion that spreads. We ask all this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
May God continue to bless, protect, and guide Savio's teachers in their ministry in and out of the classroom. I encourage you to reach out to our Savio teachers and thank them for their service and to keep them in your prayers.
Stay strong, stay safe, and stay healthy, Savio!
Blessings,
Dr. Garcia
A Prayer for Savio's Class of 2020
Savio Seniors and Senior Parents,
We hope you and your families are doing well and staying safe and healthy this weekend. Earlier this week, Mr. Ochoa shared a prayer for Savio’s Class of 2020 during our Morning Huddle. It is a great prayer, and we want to share it with you.
Good and gracious God,
We give you thanks, and we praise you, even during these days of uncertainty and challenge. We have heard you say to the disciples time and again, “Do not be afraid.” Let us hear You speak these words to us.
We entrust the graduating class of 2020 to your care and mercy. As they complete their studies this semester, give them patience, diligence, and zeal to grow in their knowledge of themselves, this world, and You.
Father, we entrust the graduating class of 2020 to your care and mercy. As they complete their studies this semester, give them patience, diligence, and zeal to grow in their knowledge of themselves, this world, and You.
As they spend these weeks apart from one another, help them to use the gifts of technology with prudence and creativity. Help them to journey together, to share with one another, and to support one another even across the distance.
Help them to order their days, to balance work with leisure, and to know how to rest without becoming slothful.
As these young men and women transition out of our community and into a world with so many unknowns, may You be a rock of certainty for them. Give them hope and faith now and tomorrow. Help them to be visionary leaders who will imagine and work towards a bright future for the Church and the world in the years to come.
As these young men and women transition out of our community and into a world with so many unknowns, may You be a rock of certainty for them. Give them hope and faith now and tomorrow. Help them to be visionary leaders who will imagine and work towards a bright future for the Church and the world in the years to come.
Remind them of Your love, of all they are, and of their great dignity.
Remind us of our pride in them and help us all to be grateful and joyful as we bear the crosses given us, confident that You are working all things for good as You have before and will again.
May they know your protection and peace. Bless them and their families, and bless all the students, families, teachers, staff, and administrators in the St. Dominic Savio family.
St. Dominic Savio, pray for us! Amen.
Seniors, know that you and your families are in our thoughts and prayers, especially now that you face the challenge and disappointment of finishing your Senior year from home. May God keep you and your families healthy, safe, and strong, Class of 2020!
Blessings.
Savio Faculty and Staff