Eleven of the 23 kindergarten-eighth grade schools in the Diocese participated in the Decathlon. St. Hyacinth Academy, San Jacinto, the three time defending champion, placed second while Resurrection Academy, Fontana took third place.
It was the third time in the 18-year history of the San Bernardino Decathlon that Sacred Heart Academy has won it.
“I am especially proud of the teamwork our students displayed and their support of each other,” said Principal Angela Williams. “This is a life skill that will help them be successful in future endeavors.”
In addition to lauding the 10 members of the Sacred Heart team, Williams praised the school’s Decathlon Coordinator and eighth grade teacher Vanessa Damian, Logic Coach and Sixth Grade Teacher Camile Lockhart and the four sixth grade “study buddies” who helped prepare the team. “This united effort within our school community makes this very special to us,” she added.
Sacred Heart Academy also fared well in the individual student competitions. Daniel Martinez (Current Events), Arielle Cunanan (Social Studies), Cassidy Chiong (English) and Victoria Fletcher (Essay Writing) all brought home first place finishes.
The other individual competition winners were Bailey Marcelino of St. Hyacinth Academy (Religion), Nathan Mermilliod of St. Catherine of Alexandria (Science), Paul Savarino of Sacred Heart School, Palm Desert (Math), Zachary Martin of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Riverside (Literature) and Francesca Crevoisrat of Sacred Heart, Palm Desert (Fine Arts).
Sacred Heart Academy will advance to the State Academic Decathlon, to be held at St. Edward the Confessor Parish in Dana Point on April 9.
Eighth grader Noelle Chavez hopes Sacred Heart’s performance will put Inland Catholic schools on the map.
“As a San Bernardino Diocese we want to be looked up to as, ‘Wow, you’re from there,’ “ she told the Redlands Daily Facts.