When school opened for the 2012-13 year at St. Bede the Venerable Roman Catholic School, parents and students met and welcomed local LCF resident Patrice Fontes, the school’s new kindergarten teacher.

Many recognized Fontes from when she taught at the local St. George preschool and La Cañada Flintridge Community Center preschool. She and her family have been members of St. Bede the Venerable parish for the past six years. She has a senior daughter at LCHS and two daughters attending St. Bede School.

“I used to teach a first grade class at another Catholic school, so I feel like I am home,” Fontes said.

Before the first day of school, Fontes invited her 24 students and their parents into class to meet each other and see their new classroom. Parents had an orientation the day before school started to learn about the curriculum and activities for the year.

Fontes left a package of microwave popcorn inside each child’s cubby. On a label it read, “Thanks for ‘popping’ into kindergarten today.”