January 2026 Parent Newsletter
Message from the Principal
Dear Parents:
Happy New Year! I’m so excited to roll up my sleeves and get to work making the next five months full of learning, relationship building, and spiritual growth. After a much needed two week vacation, I’m hoping that the students are also ready to resume their studies and activities as well.
A new beginning, like a new year, allows us the opportunity to reflect on our values and how they are being implemented in our daily lives. I’m sure most of us can identify with the concept of travelers needing a map, or a detailed plan, to ensure that their destination is as intended. Without a north star, without a set of guiding principals, we can sometimes lose our way. As many of you know, one of Bishop Amat’s philosophy statements is our motto: Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge.
As a faculty and staff, we have been trying to be more intentional about making students aware of this guiding philosophy. The third pillar of the motto, Knowledge, is perhaps the easiest to attain given that Bishop Amat is a successful school with motivated, talented students. Amat’s faculty knows how to prepare students for the rigors they will face in college and it helps that students are mostly positioned to share this goal.
Goodness and Discipline, though, are more difficult to achieve. This is not surprising given the challenges that our young folks experience both in the real world and online. They are constantly faced with content that contradicts our Catholic-Christian worldview. They are tempted to reenact the cruelty they see on their devices upon their peers. Our students are good, children of God. We as educators, and parents, are tasked with ensuring that they can move through these developmental challenges and emerge on the other side as responsible, kind, adults who are concerned with the well-being of others.
Please know that we are committed to teaching more than your child’s brain. Many of you sent them to Bishop Amat because of the character and integrity that many of our graduates display. We will continue to honor that desire as we teach the whole child. I’m always moved by the last line in Lancer Life (pg. 6) that addresses the idea of Discipline as it pertains to our motto: The aim of Discipline is not conformity but authentic freedom to be all that God has created us to be.
Thank you for consistently partnering us in your role as primary educators. God bless you and yours in 2026.
Sincerely,
Gabriel Escovar
Principal
Registration for 2026-2027 School Year
On Thursday, January 8, we will begin registering students for their classes for the 2026-2027 school year. Counselors will provide students with the information and forms needed for registration during homeroom periods. Forms are due as listed:
| Homeroom | Forms Due | |
|---|---|---|
| Class of 2028 | January 8 | January 30 |
| Class of 2027 | February 12 | March 6 |
| Class of 2029 | March 4 | Marc 26 |
Additionally, counselors will meet with students individually to discuss which classes they might want to take and to ensure they meet the prerequisites for those classes. However, it is up to the student and parents to choose classes and alternate courses that will be needed to resolve conflicts when schedules are finalized. Both parents and students must sign the registration form before submitting it to the student’s counselor.
Counselors & Coffee: Registration Process
Our next Counselors and Coffee will take place in the library on Wednesday, January 14 at 8:30 am. The registration process will be covered and counselors will attend to answer any questions. Parents of students in the 2027, 2028, and 2029 classes are encouraged to attend. Please be sure to sign in at the Front Office before heading to the library at 8:30 am.
Star testing
Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will take their second round of STAR exams in their Math and English classes between January 5 and February 10. Their teachers will share their dates with their classes. The second window will allow students to demonstrate their progress thus far. Please emphasize the importance of these exams to your students.
Mt. Sac Connect 4
On Wednesday, January 21 at 3:00 pm, a representative from Mt. SAC will host an informational meeting in room 602. This meeting will focus on introducing all students interested in attending a community college to the opportunities these institutions offer and on providing a brief overview of the registration process. Students who feel they will attend a four-year college are also encouraged to attend. In addition, students who take advantage of this four-part series will receive priority registration for Mt. SAC. Please contact Mrs. Natalie Paredes if you have any questions.
Following this visit, on Wednesday, January 28 at 3:00 pm in room 602, our Mt. SAC representative will host an Application Workshop for all students interested in attending Mt. SAC in the fall of 2026.
January 2026 Calendar
January 1
- New Years Day
- School & Office Closed
January 2
- School & Office Closed
January 5
- Second Semester Begins, Classes Resume
January 8
- Sophomore, Class of 2028 - Registration Begins for 2026-2027
- 6:30 pm Open House (CC & Library)
January 9
- 12:45 pm Dismissal; Minimum Day
January 10
- 9 am HSPT Prep Course for Class of 2030
January 12
- Last Day to Purchase Winter Formal Tickets
January 13
- 12:45 pm Dismissal, Minimum Day
- 5 pm Virtus Training (Rm 108)
- 6:30 pm Kairos 88 Parent Meeting (Lib)
January 14
- 8:30 am Counselors & Coffee (Lib)
January 16
- Class of 2030 Priority Applications are Due
January 17
- 8 am Class of 2030 High School Placement Test #1
January 19
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No School
- Office Closed
January 20
- Amat's Got Talent Auditions (PAC)
January 22
-
CSF Applications Due
January 23
- 7 pm Basketball Youth Spirit Night (SAC)
January 27
- 12:45 pm Dismissal, Minimum Day
January 28
- 11:30 am School-wide Mass (SAC), formal Mass attire required
January 30
- Class of 2028 Registration Forms are Due
January 31
- 8 am Class or 2030 High School Placement Test #2
- 7 pm Winter Formal Dance (Planes of Fame - Chino)
Citrus Registration at Amat
A representative from Citrus College will be on campus during period 6 on Monday, January 26 to assist students with the application registration process. Students interested in attending should see Mr. Scott in the College Center for more information and to receive a hall pass.
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!
Student Activities
Winter Formal 2025
We are thrilled to share that this year’s Winter Formal, themed A Night in the Clouds, will take place on Satuday, January 31 at the beautiful Planes of Fame Museum in Chino. This special evening is open to all Bishop Amat sophomore, junior, and senior students only, and we can’t wait to help them create lasting memories with their friends.
Ticket Sales:
Regular tickets are $65 per person and will be sold online through FACTS December 17th–January 12, or until sold out.
With limited space at the venue, we recommend securing tickets as soon as possible. We’re looking forward to a wonderful evening celebrating our students and giving them a magical experience “above the clouds.”
Amat Athletics
Winter Sports have begun and we have several teams that are ranked in the San Gabriel Valley!
Boys Soccer began the season ranked #1 in the San Gabriel Valley! The team currently boasts a winning record as they played in several tournaments last month.
Girls Soccer is ranked #2 in the San Gabriel Valley. The girls had a great December season.
Boys Basketball currently owns an outstanding record and powered their way through the tournament season with league starting in January. The team has won games by an average of 20 points per game.
Girls Basketball has started the league with a 1-1 record. They have played a tough preseason schedule and have been successful in holiday tournaments.
Girls Wrestling has started the season off with bang. The girls play in the Almont League and defeated the league champion Schurr High School last month.
Boys Wrestling began its league with a match against Bishop Alemany. They competed in several tournaments over the holiday break including hosting the Bishop Amat Classic where over 30 schools participated.
Come out and support our Lancers. You can find the schedules on our website under Athletic Calendar.
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
Student Retreats
With a new semester, we have two new opportunities for retreats. Our Campus Ministry team will be hosting our seniors for Kairos February 3-5, and our juniors for Emmaus March 10-12. Both retreats focus on deepening our students’ relationship with God and allow for moments of peaceful reflection on what their relationship with God looks like. If your student was/is unable to attend the first semester retreats, we encourage them to attend the retreats during the 2nd semester.
2nd Semester Retreat Dates:
- Kairos (Seniors) - February 3-5, 2026
- Parent ONLY Meeting on Tuesday, January 13th at 6:30 pm in the Library
- Sign Up For KAIROS Here
- 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: Sincerity
Definition: Sincerity is the strength to be truthful in thoughts, words, and actions. Sincerity is being open, honest, and authentic in everything we do, without pretending to be someone or something we are not. It involves showing integrity in all relationships, being genuine in our feelings, and living in accordance with our values.
Suggested Reflection-Discussion Questions:
- How can being sincere help you build stronger relationships with others?
- Have you ever had to be truthful even when it was difficult? What happened as a result?
- How can sincerity help you grow spiritually in your relationship with God?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help our family to practice the virtue of sincerity by growing in our relationship with You who are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Amen.
Thank You for Celebrating Giving Week with Us!
 Thank you for joining us during Amat Giving Week! Your generosity helps strengthen the programs, opportunities, and experiences that make Bishop Amat such a special place.
While Giving Week may be ending today, the impact of your support continues. Every gift—big or small—helps shape the future of our students and our school.
There’s still time to make a difference. Donate today and be part of the ongoing legacy of Bishop Amat.
Grand & Hawaii Raffle Winners
We’re thrilled to share that 7 of our 10 raffle winners were Amat parents! Congratulations to all who won—thank you for your continued support!
Grand Raffle
- $10,000 - 18416
- $ 5,000 - 85858
- $ 5,000 - 18109
- $ 2,000 - 45557
- $ 1,000 - 25027
- $ 1,000 - 93109
- $ 1,000 - 11245
- $ 1,000 - 55347
- $ 1,000 - 58294
Hawaii Raffle: 04775
Reminder from Finance Department
CEF Tuition Awards
Applications for CEF Tuition Awards must be turned in no later than Tuesday, January 6, 2026 to be considered for the 2026-2027 school year. As a reminder, if a family meets the CEF Income Guidelines (Mission 1, 2, or 3), a CEF application must be submitted in order to be eligible to apply for Bishop Amat financial aid. Applications for both Bishop Amat Financial Aid (due February 3, 2026) and CEF applications (due January 6, 2026) can be found on the Bishop Amat website.
Contact Letycia Gomez at lgomez@bishopamat.org for more information.
Important Reminders
Attendance Office Reminder
If your student was absent in the days leading up to Christmas Break, and you have not already done so, please be sure to provide a signed parent note to clear the absence(s) as verified. You can email the note to attendance@bishopamat.org or send it with your student when he/she returns to school in January.
Virtus Training
We will be holding a Virtus training on Tuesday, January 13 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm in Room 108. Any parent who volunteers to help with an activity on campus that involves working with our students is required to be Virtus trained. Signing up ahead of time is not necessary.
Uniform Reminders
Parents are kindly asked to ensure that their student comes to school wearing the appropriate and approved uniform items daily. Specifically, uniform shirts are required to be worn and tucked in at all times, skirts and shorts lengths should be no shorter than 3” above the knee and boys must be clean shaven.
Regarding footwear, most students will opt to wear tennis shoes or dress shoes. Please note that Crocs, Uggs and soft sole shoes or shoes that look like slippers or moccasins are not permitted.
Regarding 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.
Failure to comply with our dress code will result in the student being sent home to change or to make necessary adjustments prior to being allowed back to class.
For a more detailed uniform overview, please refer to our school handbook, the Lancer Life.
Technology Reminder
Bishop Amat does not currently allow (smart) Meta glasses to be worn on campus at any time during the school day. If students own these glasses, they should not be brought to school or they will be confiscated.
Pick Up and Drop Off Reminders
We continue to see parents driving into the faculty/theater and student parking lots in the morning during drop off. For the safety of our faculty and students, as well as to avoid traffic issues, we again ask all parents to drop off their student(s) at the curb on Orange or Fairgrove instead of driving into parking lots. As always, please be mindful of blocking driveways and crosswalks. We appreciate your cooperation!
Lastly, please remember that, for the safety of our students, we do not allow students to wait for their rides in front of the school, by the theater or on Orange unattended. If you arrive after 3:10 pm to pick up your student, please have him/her wait for you in the covered lunch area. The safety of our students is of the utmost importance so we appreciate you talking to your student about this.