Parents meet new St. Joachim principal

Parents of St. Joachim School students seized a chance to meet the next academic year’s principal at a social organized by the Parents Club.

Principal Tom Spencer will finish his final year leading the private Catholic school on June 30. Teacher Sister Ana Rosa Gordo, RCM, of Spain, will also not return to the school this autumn, as she will be going back to Europe.

“I’m really excited about how involved the community is in the school, and I’m looking forward to being part of all of that, nurturing that,” said future school head Darlene “Ms. D” Lopez, who begins her tenure Aug. 1.

She applied to St. Joachim School to be closer to her family in Merced, where she was born. “It’s practically like coming home, because I know the valley from growing up in Merced … It’s very nice,” said Lopez during her visit a week ago. “The community is very warm.” ...