September 2026 Parent Newsletter

Message from the Principal

Dear Parents: 

One of the hallmarks of a successful Catholic school is the participation of parents in their child’s education. We count on you, as primary educators, to check grades on the parent portal, ask your student pointed questions, and review the week and month ahead using our various forms of communication. Additionally, a thriving Catholic school features parent buy-in when it comes to serving as volunteers and attending events that build the school’s culture and financial stability. By these measures, we’ve had an outstanding start to the school year, buoyed by our first Family Ministry (Evening of Reflection) event of the year, in which well over a hundred freshmen and their parents participated. These opportunities strengthen the school’s Mission and help you to build strong relationships with your student during a time in their lives when they are naturally seeking more independence. 

We are very pleased to announce that Bishop Amat’s annual fundraiser, the Extravaganza, will return to an in-person event this year in the Student Activity Center. Please save the date for the evening of Saturday, November 21. This fundraiser contributes to our ability to provide financial assistance to students and also helps to fund our next big capital campaign, which is on the horizon. I’m excited to participate and join in fellowship with all of you as we enjoy a night of conversation, exciting live auctions, and dancing. If you would like to contribute by being on the planning committee or donating items for the silent or live auction, feel free to reach out to Lucy Rios in the Development Office. 

Thank you for all you do as parents to make Bishop Amat a special place, not only for our students, but for the entire community that makes up the Amat Family. 

Sincerely,
Gabriel Escovar

Schedules

Student schedules were finalized on August 24, and no further changes can be made.

Counselors & Coffee

Our first Counselors and Coffee session is scheduled for Wednesday, September 2. The topic is High School Success. Parents of all grade levels are invited. We will meet in the library at 8:30 am.  Please check in at the front office before heading to the library. You will need an ID to check in. Meetings typically last between 60 and 80 minutes. School counselors will also be present to answer individual questions that parents may have.

Back-to-School night

Join us for Back-to-School Night on Wednesday, September 9, starting at 6 pm, following the Family Ministry Prayer Service in the library which begins at 5:30 pm.  Parents and guardians should bring their student’s schedule or access it through the Parent Portal. The evening will begin with 1st period, allowing you to follow your student’s schedule, meet their teachers, and learn about classroom expectations. 

YEARBOOK PICTURES

Yearbook pictures are scheduled for Thursday, September 17 and Friday, September 18 for all 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students.  Students will be sitting for pictures during the school day in their school uniform. Please be sure your student meets the grooming guidelines and expectations in our student handbook or he/she may not be allowed to sit for pictures.  

Information on ordering pictures will be shared with our families directly from our school photographer, Bronson Photography.  

Students who are absent or who are not permitted to take their picture due to a dress code issue should expect to have their picture taken on Yearbook Picture Make Up Day scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, provided the issue has been corrected.

SENIOR PARENT INFO NIGHT

Senior Parent Info Night will be held on Thursday, September 24, at 6:30 pm in the Carroll Center (theater).  Senior parents are strongly encouraged to attend this event to receive important information concerning expectations for seniors specific to graduation and meeting the school's graduation requirements. 

Prior to this session, Family Ministry will be hosting a Senior Parent Evening of Reflection in the library at 6 pm.  This event will end in time for parents to get to the theater by 6:30 pm.  More information about this event as well as the RSVP link will be available on our website soon. 

Lastly, Jostens will be set up in the lobby of the theater starting at 5 pm to provide information and answer questions on senior grad announcements and memorabilia.  Orders can also be placed at this time. 

Summer 2027 Trip to Europe

Mrs. George, a member of the Social Studies Department, will lead an educational adventure to Barcelona, France & Italy in June 2027. Students will have an opportunity to visit sites they have studied in their World History classes and experience the various cultures of southern Europe. The trip will last 14 days and leave on June 5, 2027. Prices will go up on September 24, 2026. If you are interested in this student trip, please visit explorica.com. Click the STUDENT tab, and then click “Sign Up Now.” Use trip code George-3710. If you have any other questions, please contact Mrs. George at tgeorge@bishopamat.org.

Peer Tutoring

The mission of the California Scholarship Federation (CSF) is to recognize and encourage academic achievement and community service among high school students in California. CSF empowers students to tutor other students in all academic areas, especially those who may need additional academic support.  

CSF tutoring is offered before and after school in the library starting September 14. Tutoring hours are as follows: 

• Monday - Friday 7:20 am to 8 am
• Monday - Thursday 2:50 pm to 3:30 pm (except minimum days)

Students needing academic support are strongly encouraged to attend these tutoring sessions.

College Applications and Representatives

Counselors will visit senior homerooms on Wednesday, September 9, to share information regarding college applications. Counselors will also begin meeting with seniors individually to offer assistance with the college application process.

College representatives will begin visiting Bishop Amat to talk with students about their campuses. Students should listen to announcements and check the posted information about these visits. Students interested in meeting with admissions evaluators must make an appointment in advance with Mr. Scott, the College Counselor. He is available during break and after school in the College Center located in the 400 wing.

College Night

We are excited to continue our college events with College Night in the Student Activity Center on Monday, October 19, starting at 6 pm.  All Bishop Amat students and families are welcome to attend this event which offers valuable information about college planning. Attendees can speak with representatives from private colleges, public colleges, and universities. 

Christian Service Hours

As we kick off the new school year, we would like to encourage all students, but especially seniors, to get a jump start on their service hours.  We have a couple of opportunities coming up this month:

Theology Department School Supply Drive - To support the Archdiocese of Los Angeles' Together in Mission Program in helping struggling kids in Catholics schools, our Theology Department is sponsoring a School Supplies Drive during the whole month of September. Students can earn Christian Service hours by supporting this charitable cause and dropping off their donations to their Theology teacher.

Beach Clean Up - Everyone is invited to participate in the annual statewide Beach Clean Up on Saturday, September 19, sponsored by the California Coastal Commission. There are multiple venues across the state. Cleanup materials will be provided on site. It's a family friendly and free event. Please click here for more information.