Alumni and Teacher Triathletes
Elementary teacher, Liza Marie de los Santos, and Athenaeum alumni, Marlene Díaz, inspire others to "run for their lives"!
See the complete article in The Monitor.Easter Giving Project for Driscoll Children’s Hospital
In the spirit and the joy of Easter, primary students played games, snacked on Easter treats, and drew Easter symbols. In particular, the class of J. Garza and N. Alvarado organized an Easter giving project for Driscoll Children’s Hospital of McAllen. Ms. Aida Escobar, the local volunteer and auxiliary Chair of the McAllen Specialty Center was very grateful for the “wonderful donation of coloring and activity books, crayons and colored pencils”.
In a letter dated March 18th, 2008 Ms. A. Escobar stated:
“These (gifts) as you know are so essential for our kids’ learning development and also for good entertainment. We love to see the happy expressions on their faces when they receive these gifts.”
See all photos.
Texas Catholic Education Conference Accreditation Team
Left to Right: Accreditation Team Members: Ruth Barton, Rosanne Galia, Ross E. Waggoner, Diana Kubenka, Georgina Stockton, G. Yvonne Pérez, Chairperson
Accreditation Team members hard at work reviewing documentation and records.
During the week of February 11-14, 2008, Mrs. G. Yvonne Pérez, Pharr Oratory of St. Philip Neri School System President, served as Accreditation Team Chairperson for the Texas Catholic Education Conference. She and team members selected through the Diocese of Victoria, Texas, reviewed and evaluated the self-study presented to the state office for renewal of Catholic School Accreditation status for St. Ludmilla Catholic School, PK3-8, and St. Paul's High School.
See all photos.Academy Shares the Spirit of Christmas
Driscoll Children's Specialty Center in McAllen serves over one thousand children with extraordinary health needs every month. As Driscoll Volunteers, we strive to bring joy and comfort to our valient young patients and their families. ( There were 1,508 appointments for the month of December. We started handing out toys December 3-31).
In the spirit of Christmas, the volunteers asked for donations from business leaders, community members, RV Parks and schools. The response was great with 25 area schools and organizations conducting toy drives for these children.
Pictured left to right: Driscoll Hospital's Christmas Community Project Coordinator, Ms. Aida Escobar from Pharr, Martha Villalba, student, Ellen Allen Elementary Coordinator, and Julian and Sarai Mancías, students.
In the Spirit of Christmas
In the spirit of family and in keeping with the Christian mission of Catholic education, primary students and staff from the Pharr Oratory of St. Philip Neri School System, under the direction of Fr. Mario Aviles, C.O., donated toys and stuffed animals to McAllen’s Driscoll Children's Hospital. The Oratory is very grateful to Driscoll’s Christmas Community Project Coordinator, Ms. Aida Escobar from Pharr, for the opportunity extended to the Pharr Oratory Schools to minister to the needs of children less fortunate. By giving, our students are living their values grounded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These community projects are vital for our student body, PK- 12th, to express their beliefs through service to others. The Oratory Schools are very appreciative to the communities of Pharr and McAllen for reaching out to our pupils and allowing them to express their beliefs through service to others in our surrounding cities.
See all photos.
Helping the people of Tabasco, Mexico
In an effort to help our neighbor south of the Rio Grande river, students at the Oratory Schools collected much needed items for the victims of the most recent devastating floods in Tabasco, Mexico. The families and students responded very generously to helping aleive the suffering of others.
"La Placita"
Oratory President G. Yvonne Perez (member of the Pharr Historical Commission) and Senator Eddie Lucio Jr., pose for a picture with students and members of the Development Office. They are present to celebrate the grand opening of “La Placita” on Cage Street in downtown Pharr. Mrs. Pérez can be seen pinning a corsage on the event’s guest speaker, Ms. Blanca Villalpando, Senator Lucio’s District Administrative Assistant.
Pharr Historians in the Making
Pharr, Texas -- On Wednesday, August 29, 2007, members of the Pharr Main Street Board and Pharr Historical Commission, and F. E. Angell, CDM, Downtown Manager in Pharr attended a Texas Historical Commission Workshop in Mission. The workshop presenters included Gerron Hite, Cemetery Preservation Coordinator, and Dan Utley, historical marker coordinator. They shared information on how a site can receive a historic designation and the process involved. For example, a historic property can apply for a designation as either an archeological /architectural landmark, or as a subject landmark. These markers, in turn, help to preserve local and state history as well as preserve Texas' architectural, archeological and cultural landmarks. In addition, these markers commemorate diverse topics in history and events that changed the course of local and state history. It can also recognize individuals, organizations, businesses, etc. that made a lasting contribution to Texas. As each city participates in the historical marker process, it becomes part of the ever growing experience of heritage tourism, the exploration of our state's thousands of natural, cultural and historical treasures. Across the states, heritage tourism draws $250 billion each year, creating half a million jobs. Pharr is a stop along the prestigious Los Caminos Del Rio heritage corridor, the second oldest of its kind in the nation G. Yvonne Pérez, President of Pharr Oratory Schools (pictured below front and right), is a member Pharr Historical Commission appointed by city officials. She represents the Oratory and its school system in preserving local history.
