What a year it has been for our St. Paul school and church community. From faith milestones to campus improvements, from student entrepreneurs to national recognition, this academic year reminded us again and again why St. Paul is more than a school — it’s a family.
Faith at the Center
Perhaps nothing captures this year’s spirit better than Phoebe Bernacchi-Turner and Raegynne Souza joining our St. Paul Lutheran Church family alongside their mothers, Leigh Bernacchi and Elizabeth Brittain. For the Bernacchi family, the journey began right here in our school chapel. “Phoebe is thriving with the care and education at St. Paul,” Leigh shared. “I was so moved by my daughter’s faith that we started coming on Sundays.” What a beautiful picture of the school-to-church bridge in action.
That bridge grew even stronger in December when Pastor Matt Duerr joined us as Senior Pastor — Vacancy. Pastor Matt brings decades of experience in both classroom and congregation, and his arrival has deepened the partnership between St. Paul’s school and church communities. He led student chapel services, launched a Sunday morning Bible study on Romans, and brought back rich theological education to our school. His vision — teaching students not just what to believe but why — has set a powerful tone for the year ahead.
Reinforcing that vision, Mrs. Bethany Bogle secured a $5,000 LWML mission grant for religious curriculum materials. Her proposal, ranked in the Top 10 among all CNH District applications, funded Enduring Faith workbooks and Bibles for every student. Lutheran Women’s Ministry League CNH District President Roxan Schwab delivered the grant in person during chapel — and kindergartners and third-graders walked away with brand-new Bibles.
And for parents who wanted to support the school through prayer, Parents in Prayer launched in September under the leadership of librarian Laura Livesay. The group gathers the first Wednesday of each month during the school year to pray specifically over the needs of our school and church community. It has been a quiet but meaningful addition to campus life.
Honoring Excellence
This year, one of our own earned recognition far beyond our campus. Mrs. Bogle was named the 2025 CNH District Educator of the Year — selected from among educators across 54 Lutheran schools throughout California, Nevada, and Hawaii. The honor was presented at the Lutheran Educators Conference Banquet in Arizona and followed her earlier selection as St. Paul’s inaugural Teacher of the Year in May 2025
Community Built Together
This year gave our families more ways than ever to show up for each other.
The year kicked off with the Back-to-School Bash, which brought families, neighbors, and prospective students together for an evening of food trucks, music by DJ Dave Luna from K97.5 KABX, car club displays, games, and genuine community.
Trunk-or-Treat brought the whole community together for a safe, festive Halloween celebration on campus, and the Jog-a-thon gave students a chance to get moving while raising funds for the school.
Our sixth-graders made memories at Hume Lake, one of the most anticipated trips on the elementary school calendar.
Small Business Day gave students the chance to open their own booths — selling everything from art and slime to flower arrangements. It’s one of the most joyful mornings of the school year.
The Fine Arts Showcase put student creativity on full display and reminded our community that academic excellence and artistic expression belong together.
And the Spring Auction at Vista Ranch took us to the bright lights of New York City. Heartfelt thanks go to Jen Lancaster and the entire Parent Club auction committee, as well as every vendor, volunteer, sponsor, and family who attended, donated, and showed up. As 1 Peter 4:10 reminds us: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others.” That was on full display that night.
Growing Together
The Lion Care Program received a full redesign this year, moving well beyond supervision into genuine enrichment. Students explored Hispanic heritage through folklórico dance and cooking. They also became scientists through hands-on experiments with fossils, lava lamps, and anatomy models, and traveled back to 1700s life as “Time Travelers.” The program runs from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and gives working families the coverage they need without compromising on quality.
The School Advisory Team was also restored this year, giving our school community a meaningful voice in shaping St. Paul’s direction.
As we look back on everything this community accomplished, we are grateful. What sets St. Paul apart is how our community keeps showing up. For each other, for students and for something bigger than any of us.
Here’s to another year of doing it together!
St. Paul School and Preschool has been serving Merced County families since 1991. The school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA), and affiliated with the Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod.
