December 2025 Parent Newsletter
Message from the Principal
Dear Parents:
On this first Sunday of Advent, the Gospel of Matthew reminds us to, “stay awake!” This warning is a dual reference to the vigilance and anticipation that envelop the season of Advent and the need for Christians to prepare for Christ’s second coming. This reminder is also highly pertinent to the life of a high school student.
Our memories of the holidays are often associated with good food and family gatherings. We tend to forget the planning and work required to ensure a good experience for all. This is a perfect analogy for high school students as they finish their final assignments of the semester and begin to study for final exams. They will soon be tasked with completing these final assignments and preparing for exams so they can have a wonderful, stress-free Christmas vacation.
While students must prioritize their learning, I am mindful that we are called to slow down during this liturgical season. It’s essential for us to connect with our faith and embrace the coming joy of celebrating Jesus’ birth. There are many ways that Lancers can accomplish this goal: Students can participate in service projects to benefit the less fortunate, attend home games for our winter sports teams to cheer on their teammates, attend our concert series in the Carroll Center featuring our performing artists, and participate in our Christmas Spirit Week to add some holiday cheer to our daily routine.
Best wishes to our students as they conclude this first half of the year. I know that 2026 will feature some great moments. I can’t wait to experience them with all of you.
God bless you, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Gabriel Escovar
Principal
Final Exams
Final exams will occur on December 17, 18, and 19. Any student absent on the day of their scheduled exam will receive an Incomplete for that course. Students can schedule a makeup exam with their teacher upon returning to campus on January 5, 2026. Early exams are not permitted to be administered, with no exceptions.
First Semester Grades
Report cards will be available via the Student and Parent Portals and mailed home on Saturday, December 20. Students receiving an “F” on the semester report card must attend Summer School 2026 at Bishop Amat High School. Additionally, any student who earns a D in Spanish I must enroll in Summer School 2026 here at Amat. For questions about individual grades, please contact the teacher directly by faculty email.
Please be mindful that faculty will be on vacation during the Christmas Break and are, therefore, not required or expected to read or respond to emails during that time. Your patience and understanding are much appreciated!
Student & PArent Portals
Please be advised that the Student and Parent Portals will be closed from December 17 to December 20 to finalize semester grades.
Second Semester Schedules
Second-semester schedules will be distributed to students on Monday, December 8th. Students should review their schedules carefully and consult with their counselor before school, during breaks, at lunch, or after school to request corrections.
All schedule corrections should be addressed before we leave for Christmas break. Corrections will ONLY be made for the following reasons:
- a course has been incorrectly scheduled
- a graduation requirement has not been met
- a schedule conflict exists
- specific college entrance requirements must be met
- the student has failed one semester of a two-semester course due to lack of ability
- disciplinary or administrative reasons
Please note that changes will not be made for teacher preferences, loss of interest in a course, or dissatisfaction with the workload in challenging classes, including honors, AP, and IB courses.
Class of 2030 Apply by January 16!
Applications for the 2026-2027 School Year are now available. Application Fees increase after January 16, begin your application today!
ApplY Now!
December 2025 Calendar
December 1
- Eligibility Day: Athletics & Activities
December 2
- Giving Tuesday
- 12:45 pm Dismissal, Minimum Day
December 5
- Friday Adoration
December 6
- 2pm & 7pm Dance Christmas Concert (CC)
December 8
- Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception Mass (Mass Attire)
- 2nd Semester Schedule Distribution (Homeroom)
December 9 - 12
- Christmas Spirit Week
December 11
- 6 pm Music Department Christmas Concert Show #1 (CC)
- 6 pm Grand Raffle Drawing (CC- Music Concert)
December 12
- 12:45 pm Dismissal, Minimum Day
- 1 pm Office Closed
- CSF Tutoring Ends
- 6 pm Christmas Concert Show #2 (CC)
December 13
- 6 pm Dance Team Preview Show (SAC)
December 15 - 16
- Winter Formal Dance Presale Tickets Available
December 17
- Semester Exams 1,2,3, 12:45 Dismissal
- Winter Formal Dance Regular Tickets Available
December 18
- Semester Exam 4, Regular 2:45 Dismissal
December 19
- Semester Exams 5,6,7 12:45 Dismissal
Winter Break Schedule
December 22 - January 2
- No School
December 22
- School Office Open
- Semester Report Cards Mailed & Available Online
December 23
- School Office Open, 8 am - 1 pm
December 24 - January 2
- School Office Closed
January 5
- School Resumes
- 2nd Semester Begins
Student Activities
Music Department Christmas Concert
Join us for “Sounds of the Season,” a festive concert featuring the talented students from the Choral and Instrumental Music Programs. Experience the true spirit of Christmas through sacred and traditional favorites including Carol of the Bells, Sleigh Ride, and Silent Night. Together, we’ll rejoice in the message of hope, peace, and love that the season brings as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ.
Featured Performances by:
- Junior Lancer Choir & Junior Lancer Band
- Lancer Choir
- Dynamics
- Chamber Singers
- Lancer Concert Band
Show Dates:
Thursday, December 11th at 6 pm
Friday, December 12th at 6 pm
Carroll Performing Arts Center (Theater)
Tickets will sell out so get yours while they last!
Christmas Dance Concert
The Bishop Amat Dance Department presents, “Wrapped in Love.” Join us as we celebrate the beauty of the Christmas season and the love that surrounds it. Through heartfelt performances, our dancers will unwrap the traditions, memories, and moments that make this time of year so special. You won’t want to miss this event featuring performances by our award-winning Dance Team and our Beginning Dance classes.
To make the evening even more festive, guests can enjoy sweet treats and warm cocoa as they experience a night filled with music, magic, and the love that truly makes the holidays memorable. Don’t miss this unforgettable celebration that’s sure to fill your heart with Christmas love!
There will be two performances on Saturday, December 6 at 2 pm and 7 pm in the Carroll Performing Arts Center.
Cost of Tickets
$20 - Adult (Orchestra) | $15 - Student (Orchestra)
$15 - Adult (Mezzanine) | $10 - Student (Mezzanine)
Dance Team Preview
Join your National Champion Bishop Amat Dance Team at their 2nd Annual Preview Show on Saturday, December 13th! Come support them as they showcase all of their competition routines for the new season for the first time!
Tickets are $10 at the door and the show begins at 6 pm in the SAC (gym).
Concessions, bakery items from La Poblana, and Amat Dance merchandise will be available for purchase. We will, also, have a very fun raffle with some amazing baskets and honor our three Dance Team Seniors.
Amat Pep Squad Competition Teams Dance & Cheer workshop
Students in grades K–8 are invited to join us for a fun and festive Christmas-themed halftime performance at the Varsity Basketball Game!
Clinic: 4:00 PM
Game Time: 7:00 PM
Cost: $50
(Includes instruction, dinner, and a game ticket)
Spread the holiday spirit and be part of an unforgettable night on the court!
✨ Winter Formal Returns in 2026 ✨
We are thrilled to announce the return of Winter Formal on Friday, January 31, 2026, at the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino!
We hope this event will mark an exciting new tradition for our school community. Students can look forward to an unforgettable evening of music, dancing, and celebration in this unique and historic venue. This dance is open ONLY to Amat sophomores, juniors and seniors. No current freshmen or guests will be allowed to attend.
Presale tickets will be available on Monday, December 15 and Tuesday, December 16. Regular price tickets will be on sale through Monday, January 12, 2026 or until we sell out, whichever comes first. Please note that ticket sales will be limited so be sure to purchase your ticket as soon as possible!
More details about ticket prices and dress code will be shared soon.
We can’t wait to celebrate this special night with our students!
Amat Athletics
Our boys and girls Cross Country continue to excel! The girls finished in first place in the competitive Del Rey League while the boys finished third. They currently are participating in the CIF Southern Section finals with hopes of advancing to State!
Our Varsity Football Team returned to the playoffs! They finished their season in the CIF Division 3 Quarterfinal where they lost to a weather tested Pacifica (Oxnard) team in the rain. Overall, the Lancers were 7-5-3 and finished 3rd in the Mission League
Congratulations to our Girls Flag Football All League selections! First team: Lyla Terry, Vivian Yamzon, Riley Koelle and Farrah Carrillo. The Second team included Mya Partida and Alexandria Garcia. Lyla Terry was named League MVP!
The Winter sports season has begun! Our winter sports include Boys and Girls Basketball, Boys and Girls Soccer and Boys and Girls Wrestling.
Our Boys Basketball team is ranked #8 in the San Gabriel Valley preseason polls and look to have a strong season.
The Pep Squad has begun its competition season. The team’s recent performance has garnered them a bid to compete in Florida in February. They also are competing this month to qualify for the US National in Anaheim. We wish them all the best!
Come out and support our Lancers. You can find the schedules by going to the Athletic Calendar on our website.
Remember, in order to participate in any athletic activities at Bishop Amat, all students must have athletic clearance.
Note: If you have been cleared to participate in a Fall sport you are cleared for the entire school year. Any questions should be directed to the Athletic Department.
Campus Ministry
Our Campus Ministry and 40 seniors just completed this year’s first Kairos retreat. During Kairos, our seniors spent a few days up in the San Bernardino Mountains unplugged from the noise of the world. There they learned how to deepen their relationship with God and allow for moments of peaceful reflection on what their relationship with God and others looks like. Our seniors also had a better understanding of what it means to be a child of God and live a Christian life.
If your student was unable to attend the first semester retreats, they will have another opportunity to attend the retreats during the 2nd semester.
2nd Semester Retreat Dates:
Kairos (Seniors) - February 3 - 5, 2026
Parent Meeting - January 13, 2026 at 6:30 pm in the Library
Emmaus (Juniors) - March 10 - 12, 2026
For questions about any of the upcoming retreats, please email Mr. Reynaga at mreynaga@bishopamat.org.
Family Ministry
Family Virtue Discussions
Virtue Spotlight: Forgiveness
Definition: The strength to release anger or resentment against those who have wronged you, seeking peace and healing rather than revenge or holding grudges.
Suggested Reflection-Discussion Questions:
- How does holding onto resentment affect your relationships with friends, family, and others in your life?
- Can you think of a time when forgiving someone brought peace to your heart? How did it feel to release your anger?
- What can you do to prevent resentment from taking root in your heart, especially when someone hurts you?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help our family to practice the virtue of forgiveness by learning to forgive others as you forgive us. Amen.
Tuition and Semester Exams
It is school policy that a student’s tuition account be current in order for the student to sit for semester exams. All students, regardless of the financial status of his/her FACTS account, will take Part A semester exams. If the FACTS tuition account is delinquent, your student will not be allowed to take Part B semester exams and will receive an Incomplete (I) grade in each class in which a final exam is missed. Please note that Incomplete grades affect a student’s grade point average. In order to participate in extracurricular activities/athletics, a student must earn at least a 2.0 g.p.a. Please make sure your account is current so there are no issues with exams.
Any family that has a delinquent account on December 1 (after the November 20th payment) will be required to make payment in the front office. Payments must be made in cash, cashier’s check, money order, or credit card only. No personal checks will be accepted as a means of payment on a delinquent account.
Questions regarding FACTS accounts should be directed to Mrs. Letycia Gomez at 626-962-2495, Ext. 7414 or by email at lgomez@bishopamat.org.
Share the Spirit of Giving Week: December 1–5
As we enter a season centered on gratitude and generosity, we invite all Bishop Amat families to help us spread the word about Giving Week, December 1–5. This special week celebrates the strength of our Amat Family and the legacy that generations of Lancers continue to build together.
For nearly seventy years, Bishop Amat has prepared young men and women to lead with character, compassion, and faith. Keeping this experience accessible for all families remains at the heart of our mission. While tuition provides the foundation for our programs, it does not cover the full cost of the exceptional Catholic education we offer. Today’s learning environment demands significant investment in technology, digital academic tools, and the network infrastructure that supports our students every day.
Your generosity bridges this gap.
Gifts to the Annual Fund directly support classroom instruction, strengthen scholarship and financial aid opportunities, and ensure every Lancer benefits from the full measure of a Bishop Amat education.
During Giving Week, we will be sharing stories and messages that highlight the impact of donations on our students and programs. We encourage you to help amplify this effort by sharing our posts, forwarding messages to friends and family, and inviting others to join you in supporting Bishop Amat.
Thank you for your continued support and for helping us build a strong future for our students.
Your Gift. Their Future. Our Legacy.
Hawaii Raffle: Kohala Coast Getaway
Win a 5-day/4-night stay at the Fairmont Resort Hotel on Hawaii’s stunning Kohala Coast!
Includes roundtrip coach-class airfare for two from any major metropolitan airport.
Please turn in all raffle tickets to the Development Casita by December 2.
The drawing will take place during the Music Department's Christmas Concert at 6:00 PM. The winner does not need to be present to win.
For more information, contact Lucy Rios at lrios@bishopamat.org or 626.498.0398.
Grand Raffle Drawing – Ticket Reminder
Please turn in your pink Grand Raffle Drawing tickets to the Front Office as soon as possible. These tickets were distributed at registration before the school year began.
Raffle Prizes:
-
1st Prize: $10,000
-
2nd & 3rd Prizes: $5,000 each
-
4th Prize: $2,000
-
5th–9th Prizes: $1,000 each
The raffle drawing will take place on Thursday, December 11, 2025. All tickets must be submitted to the Front Office before the drawing date.
Winners do not need to be present to claim the main prizes.
Important Reminders
Holiday School Office Hours
The front office will be open on Monday, December 22 with regular operating hours. On Tuesday, December 23, the office will again be open, but will close at 1 pm and remain closed through Friday, January 2. The office will re-open with regular operating hours on Monday, January 5, when school resumes for all students.
Reminders from the Discipline Department
As the cooler days are upon us, we would like to remind parents and students about acceptable outerwear for the school day. In addition to the Paradise uniform sweaters and vests, students may also wear the following over their uniform:
- ONLY Bishop Amat sweatshirts and jackets purchased through the Student Store. All Amat sweatshirts and jackets must be worn with a uniform shirt underneath.
- ONLY official (approved) Bishop Amat team/group or Letterman Jackets/Sweaters purchased through their Amat team/group.
When weather conditions call for additional outerwear, students may wear non-Amat coats/jackets over their Amat apparel provided selections meet the following criteria:
- Coats/jackets must be a SOLID color with no writing, emblems or patches. Acceptable colors are black, gray, navy and royal blue.
- Coats/jackets may not be denim or Pendleton (plaid/flannel) style.
- Jackets worn cannot exceed the length of the uniform skirt, skort or shorts.
Please note that non-Amat sweatshirts are NOT permitted. This includes university/college sweatshirts, CIF sweatshirts purchased or provided at any competition in which the student participated. Additionally, blankets are never permitted on campus.
Early Dismissal Requests
When a student is expected to leave school early for any reason, the parent must provide a signed note via email (attendance@bishopamat.org) or send a signed note with their student to drop off at the Attendance Office in the morning. If possible, parents are strongly encouraged to make such requests as early in the day as possible so that the student is ready to leave upon the parent’s arrival to campus.
Requests made directly by parents later in the day will be processed, however, please note the following:
- Students cannot be pulled from school during scheduled breaks, lunch or an activity so please check the school calendar ahead of time
- While parents have authorized family members or friends to pick up their student in case of an emergency, we MUST have parent authorization (i.e. a signed note) in order to release the student
Lastly, parents are advised that students are never allowed to leave campus during school hours without specific permission obtained, in advance, through the Attendance Office. Failure to check out with the office is considered truancy.