Sharing The Pride October 2012

Volume 19

Issue 1

October 2012

Dear Parents:

Recently, I received an official communication from the National Merit Program that four of our seniors had achieved the status of “semifinalist” based upon their junior year PSAT scores. On behalf of the whole Bishop Gorman community, I would like to offer congratulations to Julie Borzage ’13, Laura Brodkin ’13, Andrew Crenwelge ’13, and Justin Wofford ’13, whose selection index on the PSAT placed them in the top 1% of all juniors in the country who took the test in October 2010. Their accomplishment is one of what I hope will be many in the future of Bishop Gorman High School.

Annually, I am asked by parents and students what is the significance of the PSAT. From the College Board website: “The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a program co-sponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT.” Bishop Gorman currently administers the PSAT to all sophomores and juniors.

It is extremely important that our students have multiple opportunities to prepare for standardized tests that are a component of admissions to colleges and universities. While there are programs and services that can help students raise their scores, the best preparation for these tests still is to take the most challenging courses possible and to excel in those courses.

For juniors, the PSAT is their chance to participate in the National Merit Scholarship program. Significant financial aid is often awarded by many colleges and universities for students who are semifinalists and finalists in the program.

In addition, the junior year PSAT score is used to determine participants in the National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP) and the National Achievement Scholarship Program for African American students. Bishop Gorman students who are recipients of recognition from either of these programs will be recognized in a future edition of Sharing the Pride.

All sophomores and juniors will be taking the PSAT this year on Wednesday, October 17. We will begin the school day at the regular time. Parents: you can help your students to achieve his or her personal best performance by ensuring that he or she gets adequate sleep the night before, eats breakfast on the morning of the test and is prepared for the test with pencils, erasers and a calculator. Please note that this is a regular uniform day.

Freshmen and seniors will not be in school on this day. We strongly encourage members of both classes to spend the day in service to the community to help with your Christian service hours. Alternatively, seniors may want to spend the day working on college applications or consider making a college visit to schools within a close distance.

Good luck to all of our students who will be taking the PSAT!

Homecoming Theme: James Bond, Casino Royale Homecoming Week Activities: Sunday, Oct. 7th- Powderpuff Games 9am -1pm

Friday, Oct. 12th- 11:30am Homecoming Assembly, Homecoming Queen Crowned at Halftime of the Game & Student Social Saturday, Oct. 13th- 7:30pm-10:30pm Homecoming Dance (lock in from 8:00-10:00pm) King Crowned at Dance *For theme dress days, please see the Gorman Daily News or Check Edline for updates!

Homecoming Tickets: When to buy: At all lunches and after school until 2:15pm through October 11th and at the door.

Ticket prices: $75/couple and $45 single (purchased between Sept. 17th-Oct. 5th) $85/couple and $55/single (purchased between Oct. 8th-11th or at the door) No tickets on sale October 12th.

Wanted

In order to communicate most effectively with you, please include an email address on your Edline account. All school bulletins will be sent via the email address provided on Edline.

Lost Your Activation Code?

Can't Remember Your Password?

Email: ithelp@bishopgorman.org

In Christ,

Kevin Kiefer Principal

for account information

Administration

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Campus Ministry

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Athletics | Activities

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Gael Pride

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Academics

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Advancement

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Bishop Gorman High School

Diocese of Las Vegas

Administration

Finance

Welcome New Faculty and Staff!

Maureen Adras English

Patrick Craig Theology

Michael Brown Theology

Lauren Blaney Advancement

Suzy Bemis Mathematics

Doug Csaszar Mathematics

» You are now able to add money to your student’s ID/ Lunch Card online! Money added before 7:00 a.m. will be applied to your student’s card that day. To use this convenient method to load the ID/Lunch Card, log on to www.bishopgorman.org, click the link on the left titled Student ID Card, and supply the required information. It is that simple! » Financial Aid Information for applying for financial aid for the 2013-2014 school year will be coming out next month.

Please check the website for details.

Jodie Gallagher Social Studies

Student Services Reminders: Barrett Henzel Mathematics

Kevin Nixon Social Studies

Ellie Lea Science

Jake Smeraglio World Languages

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If your student is absent, please notify Student Services for each day of absence via fax (732-2856), email (kivie@ bishopgorman.org) or phone call (476-4049).

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If your student needs to leave early for an appointment, please send in a note with your student on the day of the appointment. Your student should bring the note to Student Services before school to obtain a permit to leave campus.

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Students must bring all medication (over-the-counter and prescription) to the nurse and the following conditions must be met:

Larry McAllister College Counseling

Sandy Young Nurse

Calendar Reminders October 1 - No School October 2 & 3 - Block Days - 8AM Start October 2 & 3 - Theology Class Mass Days October 8-13 - Homecoming Week 2

» Parent has read the Diocesan Liability Waiver regarding the administering of medication and has signed student’s health card indicating permission to take the medication at school. » All medication must be kept in its original labeled container.

Gael Pride

Diversity & Unity Through Literacy & Education

Classroom Notes

City National’s senior leadership group painting it. The mural took approximately 10 hours to complete. “This was one of the most fun and rewarding community City National Bank’s senior projects I have ever done,” said leadership group worked with Laurie Burk, senior vice president Jydstrup Principal David Frydman and Nevada Regional Operations and Zach Telles '14 to paint a Manager for City National. “It was large mural in the front entrance of not just about painting a mural; it was about helping a school in its Jydstrup Elementary School. healing process, while recognizing Zach, an art student who was a child’s life that was cut short looking for a summer project, and making a difference in our sketched out the mural prior to community.”

Officials from a local bank branch joined Jydstrup Elementary school and Zach Telles '14 to honor a former student, Kameron Asgari.

Congratulations!

Top 1%

Julie Borzage ’13, Laura Brodkin ’13, Justin Wofford ’13 and Andrew Crenwelge ’13 (not pictured).

For placing in the top 1% of all juniors in the country who took the PSAT in October 2010.

Miss Nevada High School America Victoria Hudman '13 was crowned Miss Nevada High

Congratulations!

School

America

2013 this past August. She will now prepare for the

In July 2012, Megan Gray '14, member of the Bishop Gorman Varsity Band, participated in the summer Student Leadership Camp.

Over 40 participants from the camp took the Advanced Leadership Challenge. This challenge is a series of four examinations in which Megan was one of two students to pass all four exams. Megan joins a select group of members in earning her ALC certification. Congratulations to her for her success.

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national Miss High School America pageant, which will be held next July in Orlando, Florida where she and 49 others will compete for a $10,000 college scholarship.

Congratulations!

Campus Ministry

GOURMET GAELS TAKES OFF

MITE BOX IS COMING!!

What does it take to start a service group that draws the attention of over 100 students?? Ask Brianna Ruvo ’14 ! She is the force behind our GOURMET GAELS who cook for those in need. Brianna loves baking and cooking and wanted to share that with others, thus the “Gourmet Gaels” service group was born. It was clear that many of our students liked the idea; so many students came to the first meeting that we decided to break into smaller groups and refer to a list of organizations who would gladly accept cookies, cupcakes and any other treats the students wanted to provide. It didn’t take long for students to jump into action!

One of the most important projects we have at Bishop Gorman is our Mite Box collection. On Tuesdays, students are encouraged to “Bring a Buck” for the 1st period Mite Box donation. Every bit of this fund is used to help Las Vegans with emergency financial need. Our Matthew 25 Board is comprised of students who review applications submitted by social service agencies all over town and determine who to award with Mite Box funds.

Some examples of individuals and families who have received assistance from us in the past are: a woman who was raising her four grandchildren and could not afford to pay for her own medication; the rent for a family whose father was undergoing cancer treatments; an electric bill for a young man who had taken on the responsibility of his two siblings after losing their parents; and many other heart-wrenching situations. Last year our students and staff donated over $47,000.00 !

Zack Boudreaux ’13, Karina Aguirre ’13, and Gabbie Zheleznyak ’13, made cookies, muffins and sandwiches that they delivered to Angela, the homeless liaison for Rancho High School. Angela expressed tremendous gratitude on behalf of her homeless students, and now all of the Gourmet Gaels are ready to provide for different groups all over the city.

Great job, Gaels!

So many people can benefit from this program, and students who want to serve on the Matthew 25 Board find it to be tremendously fulfilling and important.

If you are aware of a worthy organization that would enjoy some homemade goodies, please e-mail Campus Ministry at

Thanks to all who support Mite Box.

DO WHAT’S RIGHT… GIVE TO THE MITE!

sportz@ bishopgorman.org

Spread The Cheer / Got Game Members of the cheer and football Teams shared their talents with the kids of Trendz Youth Center at a charity Cheer and Football Camp on August 11, 2012. Trendz Center was founded by BGHS alum, Michael Flores. Spread The Cheer & Got Game were founded by Juliana and Lindsey Remark, '13, Varsity Cheer Captains. This is the third camp held by Spread The Cheer. The event was coordinated by seniors Juliana Remark, Lindsey Remark & Kline Fielden. Cheerleaders participating: Juliana Remark '13, Lindsey Remark '13, Janey Fielden '15, Lauren Berger '13, Shayna Berger '15, Eirianne Kennelley '13, Nicole Czyz '14, Jordyn Czyz, '15 and Maggie Di Federico '15. Football players: Seniors Kline Fielden, Jarret Solomon, Robert Stanley, Jamir Tillman, Dalton Baker, Graham Bowers and Dylan Weldon '14.

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Academics

Counselor’s Corner

upcoming college events Mark your calendar for the “Selective Admissions Workshop”. This year the event will be held at Palo Verde High School on Monday, October 15th, 6:00pm to 8:00pm. We have 11 colleges and universities who are going to participate. Part of the workshop will be a mini college fair featuring the visiting schools.

Welcome Back! The counseling department is thrilled to be back in full swing for the 2012-2013 school year. Just a reminder to our new parents, the counseling staff is divided by last name: Mrs. Pattie Johnson Mr. Eli Maslekoff

Mr. Rick Spiritosanto Mrs. Natalie Witucki Mr. Larry McAllister

ext. 4046 ext. 4048 ext. 4051 ext. 4050 ext. 4052

A-D E-K L-Q (Dept. chair) R-Z College Counselor

October College Visits All students who want to attend a college visit must log on to Naviance Family Connection (under visit schedule) and print out a pass. This must be completed at least the day before the visit. If you have any questions, please see Mr. McAllister or Mrs. Witucki.

All sophomore and juniors will take the PSAT on October 17th.

Please be at school by 7:30 AM and be well rested! Practice books are available in the College Resource Room.

Reminders for the PSAT 1.

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Uniform, no free dress 2 pencils Calculator Good night sleep and good breakfast Homeroom schedules will be posted www.collegeboard.org has some study tips Educated guessing only How test is organized: 20-80 Critical Reading, 20-80 Math, 20-80 Writing

On August 16th the Bishop Gorman community welcomed 370 freshmen on campus.

This Class of 2016 is the largest class to enter Bishop Gorman.

The changing of classes within the five minutes allotted, as well as finding a group to share lunch with in the commons, have been the major challenges so far for these freshmen! But, time moves quickly and progress reports are available on Edline.

JUNIORS: Keep in mind—National Merit Scholarship are awarded for very high scores.

NAVIANCE FAMILY CONNECTION NEWS: Here is a reminder by class of some things your child should be working on at home. If your child is still not logged on, please have them stop by their counselor’s office for their registration code.

This brings up two points. First, please be sure to have both Edline accounts activated. Sometimes I send a message just to the parents of the Class of 2016, and there are over a hundred parents who do not get the message. If you have any questions about Edline, please email IThelp@bishopgorman.org. Secondly, if the grades are not what you had hoped for from your child, please talk to them, their teacher, their counselor, even their dean if necessary! Oftentimes I hear students say that they have no homework when what they mean is they have no written homework.

Those students who are successful review, read and organize themselves daily.

Freshman year is very important.

Students begin to write their own transcript, and when those transcripts are mailed out in three years with their college applications, there are only three years of grades on it! So I really want all of us to stay on top of any situation that needs attention.

• SENIORS: By this time ALL students should be logged in to Naviance. As they get started on the application process, it is imperative that they get logged on and start tracking their applications, request transcripts and letters of recommendations.

All of our documents will now be going electronically. Please check the DIRECTIONS for the process!

Also, colleges visits will be going on all month, so please check the “Visit Schedule” if you are interested. Remember that you need to sign up at least one day in advance and print out your confirmation as your pass. If you have questions, please contact Mr. McAllister or Mrs. Witucki.

The Freshman of the Week program has begun. Please be sure to look on the Class of 2016 page on Edline for the weekly list of all who were nominated and who was named Freshman of the Week. Next month I will begin to announce the winners in Sharing The Pride as well as going over the requirements for nomination.

• JUNIORS: Start searching colleges and adding them to “Colleges I am interested in,” exploring careers and majors, working on the resume and looking at the “College Visit” schedule.

Lastly, I urge you to be very aware of your child’s plans for Homecoming. It will be so exciting for them; this is their first big high school dance. It is our hope that their activities are age appropriate. If this is your first big dance too, or if you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to call me as this is not my first Homecoming!

• SOPHOMORES: They should have completed the “Do what you

are” and start exploring the “Career” portion of the program and working on the resume.

OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS: CCSD College Fair – Cashman Center Tuesday, October 16th and Wednesday, October 17th at 5:30-8PM

Irene Anderson, Dean Freshman PRIDE Program

Counselor’s Quote of the Month: “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” ---Anonymous

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Athletics | Activities

Fall Sports The fall sports season is in full swing. women’s golf, women’s volleyball, tennis, cross country, soccer and football are in the middle of their seasons. Our teams

The women’s soccer team won the Howell Invitational Memorial Tournament in Reno, the cross country team has competed in Meets in Arizona and California, and the women’s golf team competed in a tournament in California.

Labor Day weekend was a big weekend for the Bishop Gorman Football Team and Cheerleaders. The teams had the experience of a lifetime as they traveled to Honolulu, Hawaii to play against St. Louis Catholic High School in Aloha Stadium. The trip was highlighted by a private tour of Pearl Harbor given by World War II Veterans as well as a big victory by the team which was televised on Fox Sports' affiliate, Prime Ticket.

have done well so far and have experienced playing against Nevada teams as well as traveling to some out of town tournaments, meets, games and matches.

Good luck to all our fall teams as they finish out their regular season schedules and gear up for the playoffs.

Get Community Service Hours UNDERWATER

2013 Spain Tour

The Nevada SCUBA Retailers Association will have ecology diving: —October 13 at Cottonwood Cove —October 27 at Kingman Wash where we will be doing underwater pumpkin carving —November 10 at the New Scuba Park

Attention all Spanish students! Have you ever wanted to travel to Spain and earn ½ of a credit for Spanish while doing so?! Well now you can! The World Language Department is sponsoring a trip to Madrid, Barcelona and Mallorca in June 2013!

Through both local interaction and classroom instruction, you will have an amazing opportunity to practice and develop your Spanish language skills! You will be immersed in local culture and history in Madrid and Barcelona as we visit sites such as The Royal Palace of Madrid, Parque Guell and the Picasso Museum!

If you would like more

See MR. Canfield for more information

Cheer

Not only were the BGHS Cheerleaders lucky enough to cheer on the BGHS Football Team to a victory at Aloha Stadium in Hawaii but they also got to practice with the Hawaii Pacific University Cheerleaders at their gym. Hawaii Pacific's large co-ed team has won 10 National championships and their small co-ed has won seven. Head Coach, Savanna Sibley, was a BGHS cheerleader and alumni.

information about the trip, stop by and talk to either Mrs. Stephenson in room 105 or Mrs. Dixon in room 109!

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Gorman Golf Classic

Bishop

Advancement

Friday, October 19 11:30 registration 12:30 shotgun start Foursomes $1,500 IndIVIDUALS $375 sign up at www.bishopgorman.org!

ALUMNI AND FAMILY FALL SERVICE DAY Parents and students gathered at Three Square Food bank on Saturday, September 8th to join in on Alumni and Family Service Day. The over 100 volunteers helped organize food into large banana boxes that would later be sent to one of the many other non-profits in the Las Vegas valley that Three Square caters to. The helpers also received a tour of the food bank’s massive facility and a little background on exactly what it means to help feed the hungry in Nevada. Together as a community, it was a day well spent! Giving back always feels good and doing it as a Gael is even better!

Look for more opportunities to serve the community with Bishop Gorman in the near future! Gear up to do some good with your family and other Gaels at Alumni and Family Service Day!

“Being the recipient of tuition assistance was tremendous for my family. It allowed me to receive a great education that was not offered at any other school. My family and I are so very grateful for your help.”

Meghan Hernandez ‘07 California Lutheran University Graduate 2011 English Teacher in Spain & Au Pair

GIVE TODAY GIVE GORMAN www.bishopgorman.org

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Go Gaels!

H s

Bishop Gorman High School

Gaels Theatre Guild presents a

F

all Arts Festival

C o

a m m e s

t

a m p u s

r

e

Discover Your Fall Look

Shop our selection of Fall and Winter Gear!

A Farce

THE MATCHMAKER

by Thornton Wilder

Saturday, Sept 29 at 7pm Friday, October 5 at 7pm Sunday, October 7 at 2pm

Stay on trend and in style

with the latest spirit wear!

A One-Act Play AND An Original Actor’s Ballet

CHECK PLEASE

New sport tees, and great gear for the entire family!

by Jonathan Rand

R

NEW YORK STORIES: a day in the city expressed through dance Sunday, September 30 at 2pm Saturday, October 6 at 7pm

Visit the Campus Store During October 15th - 31st and enjoy 20% OFF All Sweatshirts, Sweaters, Pullovers and Jackets!

Tickets available at www.bishopgorman.org For box office information, contact 702 476 4175 or performingarts@bishopgorman.org

Visit www.bishopgorman.org and click on Campus Store to purchase online!

Elena Ferrante-Martin Managing Producer & Artistic Director of Gaels Theatre Guild

For more information visit: www.bishopgorman.org.

Bishop Gorman High School 5959 S. Hualapai Way Las Vegas, NV 89148

change service requested 8

PRESORT STANDARD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 37 Las Vegas, NV