Attention all classes 1940-1950's !!
There's a huge reunion being planned
and you're invited!

SAVE-THIS-DATE: June 1, 2013

Sal Castro - on the stairway to Heaven

 October 25, 1933 - April 15,2013

Educator, coach, activist and believer in educational reform: Bearer, torch carrier, and light of that torch...his bravery and convictions never faltered.  Sal's lifelong commitment to encourage the lives he touched to continue through higher education will always be commendable and his legacy will continue.

 

Sal's mantra..."No sean mensos, go to college and GRADUATE! Translation...Don't be dumb, go to college and GRADUATE! 

Our St. Thomas community joined the multitude of family, friends, and admirers in celebrating his life on Thursday, April 25th at Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral in Los Angeles. He will always be one of our Amazing Alums! 

Sal Castro, has passed away today. He leaves a tremendous legacy behind. May he rest in peace. Please pray for his family.

The following is being reprinted...all credits are given.

Sal Castro, Former Teacher,
Chicano Activist Dies

By City News Service
Former LAUSD teacher Sal Castro, who joined his students in East Los Angeles school walkouts in 1968 to protest inequities in educational opportunities for Latinos and whose efforts were documented in the 2006 HBO film “Walkout,” has died at age 79, according to his family.
The educator and activist died peacefully of natural causes, according to the family. Funeral services were pending.

Sal Castro in 2010 at the renaming of Belmont High School in his honor. The school is now Castro Middle School. Photo by LAUSD. 

Former state legislator and now Los Angeles City Council candidate Gil Cedillo said via Twitter, “Today we lost a giant in the Chicano movement.”Castro worked at various inner-city schools before landing a teaching job at Belmont High School, where he taught social studies. But his activism with Spanish-speaking students led to him being transferred to Lincoln High School in East Los Angeles.

He was part of a committee that made recommendations to the county about ways of improving education for Latino students, and began working with students whose meetings became the Chicano Youth Leadership Conferences, which trained Latino student activists and leaders.

Castro became increasingly active in his criticism of inequalities between East Los Angeles schools and other campuses. Unrest among activists and students led to walkouts – which were later dubbed “Blowouts” – that began in March 1968 with one school, then grew to include five campuses, including Lincoln, and Latino college students. The demonstrations eventually led to clashes between students and police.
Castro was arrested and charged with disrupting schools, although the charges were later dropped.
A middle school on the campus of Belmont High School was named Sal Castro Middle School in his honor in 2009.

Castro’s work on behalf of inner-city schools and participation in the student marches was documented in the HBO film “Walkout,” directed by Edward James Olmos.
City Councilman Jose Huizar wrote on Twitter that Castro “was an education warrior who fought for equal access & (opportunity) 4 Latino students – an honor 2 know him.”

Sal Castro, Class of 1948, our featured Amazing Alum has been ill and to show appreciation for his life...a group of friends from ELA gathered to pay tribute...We ask all the STS Community for prayers.

St. Thomas student body will pray for Sal at Holy Mass
on Wednesday, March 20th, 2013

Sharing this beautiful display of empathy and appreciation for Sal Castro, who dedicated his life to equal educational rights for all youth. Sal Castro is a graduate of  our elementary school, St. Thomas the Apostle.
 
Sal has lived a fulfilling life and is seriously ill. Please pray for him.

"Walkout" - name of documentary which is all
about Sal and his work

Sal Castro

Articles on Sal

Labor of Love by his friends in front of Lincoln High School

I am St. Thomas Award Dinner

The 2nd annual "I am St. Thomas" Award Dinner was held on March 2, 2013 and I have to tell you that this event was simply OVER THE TOP! Thanks to the many that came out to celebrate out honorees, our former teachers...the Immaculate Heart of Mary community,who taught at St. Thomas for many, many years, Joe Neeb, former teacher and Development Director and Dan Horn, former STS Principal who helped STS achieve National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence award status thus turning the school around, and Mary Ann Gould Class of 1955 who continually gives back to help St. Thomas. Congratulations to all honorees!!

Many alums attended, making this event not only special due to our honorees, but due to their spirit, kindness, and appreciation, and overall great morale!! The jubilation at this event was contagious, to say the least. Special props to all those from my Class of 1967!!

I can't wait until we all attend the award dinner in 2014!!

A huge shout-out goes to all of our honorees, but especially to former Sr. Lucia, Sr. Margaret Louise and Sr. Jacinta! It was truly an honor to be with you again!

Kudos to Ray Saborio, Alumni Director and the rest of the St. Thomas staff who worked very hard to make this event spectacular!

STS Art Gallery Exhibition & Silent Auction

On Jan. 26th our school's gym was magically transformed into an amazing display of talent by STS students and alums! The afternoon was a huge community success where art on display was available for sale and baskets of goodies from trips to celebrity memorabilia, and a basket of books and various other neat items. Children and their parents had fun working on hands-on projects, while visiting students and guests got to place their signed art on the canvas that spread over a couple of tables. Guests were able to purchase a delicious meal and interact with students, teachers, parents, and community neighbors.

These are a few pictures of the great art that were created by each class. I thought a special treat were crosses painted by the current teachers of St. Thomas School.

 

There are many, many more pictures that I took and I'd be happy to share with you. Send an email to alumni4STS@yahoo.com and I'll send you a link to view them all. This is an annual event, please make sure you attend next year and see what St. Thomas is doing!

In Memory of Msgr. James Joseph Pierse

 April 3, 1918 - February 22, 2011

Obituary

Monsignor James Pierce passed away this past Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011, at 3:30 p.m. surrounded
by members of his family. He died in the room which he has occupied for the past 33 and a half years. Over
half his priesthood was spent here at Holy Family Church.

He came to the parish in 1977 and for the next 10 years served as pastor. Many ministries were initiated
during his tenure. He started a Parish Council, and introduced Holy Communion for the homebound, also
he formed the Christian Service Program.

He retired in 1987 but still helped out with weekend masses until 2 years ago and thereafter
co celebrated the noon mass. He celebrated a private mass until a few days before his death.
We had a wonderful celebration for his 90th birthday and many of his good friends from
throughout the southland joined with the members of the parish in a Mass of Thanksgiving.
Msgr. Pierce was an avid sportsman. While still a seminarian, he won an All-Ireland medal
as a football player for his native county Kerry. Here in the southland, he excelled as a golfer
winning numerous trophies. When the famous Scottish professional golfer, Willie Hunter retired
from the Riviera Country Club, Msgr. Pierce gave the invocation. It is entitled a "Golfer's Prayer".
I will end with the last verse of that prayer.

"When my last stroke is recorded on the final green of life
May I be judged worthy to receive the reward Promised to
all true sports who compete according to the rules
Your perpetual Trophy - a niche in the
Heavenly Hall of Fame". Amen.
May he rest in peace. 

Although we did not have a blog at the time of his death, many of us were at STS during his time.