Bishop Gorman High School, Sharing The Pride

Volume 22

Issue 3

December 2015 | January 2016

In Honor Of Our Veterans On November 11th, over 1,400 students, faculty and staff members of Bishop Gorman High School gathered in the House of Glory Gymnasium for a special Veterans’ Day assembly to remember and honor those who have served, continue to serve and protect our country.

Guest speaker, Lieutenant Colonel Christopher S. Kay was introduced by his son Camden Kay ‘18. Lieutenant Colonel Kay who is currently stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, spoke to the assembly about his experience in the Air Force, adding that he is proud to be serving his country not only for his family, but also for the families of those in his command, and for our rights as citizens.

Principal Kiefer, introduced the current faculty and staff members who are veterans: Sergeant Jay Bonar, US Marine Corps, 1982-1986 E3 Ernie Calderon, US Navy, 1964-1967 Sergeant Jhordan Canfield, US Air Force, 1968-1972 Lieutenant Colonel John Goertemiller, US Army, 1965-1990 Sergeant Barrett Henzel, US Army, 1998-2006 First Lieutenant John Kilduff, US Army, 1969-1971 Airman First Class Phil Martino, US Air Force, 1963-1967 Sergeant Larry McAllister, US Army, 1970-1972 Colonel Kelsey McCall, US Air Force, 1971-1996 Lance Corporal Angelo Vita, US Marine Corps, 2004-2008 First Lieutenant Stephen Zirpoli, US Army,1989-1997 The veterans, as guests of honor, received a standing ovation and were treated to an acapella rendition of Let Freedom Ring, by the Bishop Gorman KnightenGaels. Family members of service men and women were honored with a moment of silence followed by Amber Waves of Grain played by the Bishop Gorman Orchestra.

Bishop Gorman students participated in a food drive in November to benefit the Douglas J. Green Memorial Foundation. The foundation was created by guest speaker, Ms. Suni Chabrow, mother of fallen veteran SPC Douglas J. Green, US Army, who was killed in action in Afghanistan at the young age of 23. Remembering how much her son and his friends enjoyed receiving care packages while deployed, Ms. Chabrow said that she continues this practice in Doug’s memory so other service men and women can have a taste of home while serving our country. As a result of her commitment and the Douglas J. Green Memorial Foundation, over 3,000 care packages are mailed yearly to US troops stationed in distant and dangerous places around the world.

Concluding the Veterans’ Day assembly, the Bishop Gorman Choir sang A Tribute to the Armed Forces, honoring each branch of service: US Army, US Air Force, US Marines, US Navy, and the US Coast Guard.

Bishop Gorman Dean of Students, Colonel Kelsey McCall said “With this assembly, we try to help our students understand what veterans have sacrificed for us and why we are granted the freedoms we have today.”

Fall Signing Day

On November 11th Bishop Gorman held the NCAA Fall Signing Day, the first of three signing days of the year. This was a special day for senior student athletes who are receiving scholarships to attend college. Students who signed Letters of Intent were: BASEBALL Beau Capanna, University of New Mexico, NM Myles Denson, Arizona State University, AZ Zachary Grech, Stanford University, CA Jack Little, Stanford University, CA (W) BASKETBALL Megan Jacobs, The University of Utah, UT Raychel Stanley, Loyola Marymount University, CA Madison Washington, Oregon State, OR

(M) BASKETBALL Zachary Collins, Gonzaga University, WA FENCING Amanda Han, Standford University, CA (M) GOLF Christian James, The University of Utah, UT (W) SWIMMING Rachel Boodt, University of North Dakota, ND

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 Department News:

Dear Parents,

Finance Office Holiday Hours

The Finance Office will be available during the Christmas holiday December 21st through December 23rd from 8:00am to 2:00pm and re-open on January 4, 2016.

Tuition Assistance

Enrollment for tuition assistance for the 2016-2017 school year has begun. Please visit our website: www.bishopgorman.org. Under the Admissions tab, continue to Financial Information to find the link to connect to SMARTAID where you can submit your application and pay the required fee. Please be aware that you must be VERIFIED by SMARTAID for your application to be reviewed by the Tuition Assistance Committee. Incoming freshmen that have been verified and reviewed by February 19, 2016, will receive notification of award mid-March. All returning students that have been verified and reviewed will receive notification of award mid-April.

Remember You Must Re-Apply Every Year To Be Considered For Tuition Assistance.

Placement Exam Information Current 8 grade students interested in applying to Bishop Gorman High School for the 2016 – 2017 school year are invited to take our placement exam on: th

Saturday, December 5th at 8:00am or Saturday, January 9th at 8:00am Prospective students that take the placement exam in December or January are included in our first pool of applicants considered for admission. The test given is the High School Placement Test (HSPT) by Scholastic Testing Services. The exam will cover Verbal and Quantitative skills, Reading, Math and Language. There will also be a writing portion.

Prospective students are encouraged to pre-register for either exam by following the link on the homepage of our website, WWW.BISHOPGORMAN.ORG or register on-site the day of the exam. The $50 application fee covers the cost of the exam.

If you have further questions, please submit inquiries to

ADMISSIONS@BISHOPGORMAN.ORG

On March 13, 2015, Pope Francis announced a Jubilee Year with these words: “I have decided to announce an Extraordinary Jubilee which has at its center the mercy of God. It will be a Holy Year of Mercy. We want to live in the light of the word of the Lord: “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful: (cf. Luke 6:36) . . . This Holy Year will commence on the next Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (December 8, 2015) and will conclude on Sunday, November 20, 2016, the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe and living face of the Father’s mercy. . . I am confident that the whole church, which is in need of mercy for we are sinners, will be able to find in this Jubilee the joy of rediscovering and rendering fruitful God’s mercy, with which we are called to give comfort to every man and every woman of our time. Do not forget that God forgives all and God forgives always.

The official logo for the Year of Mercy “presents . . . an image quite important to the early Church: that of the Son having taken upon his shoulders the lost soul. . . One particular feature worthy of note is that while the Good Shepherd, in his great mercy, takes humanity upon himself, his eyes are merged with those of man . . . The scene is captured within the so called mandorla (the shape of an almond), a figure quite important in early and medieval iconography, for it calls to mind the two natures of Christ, divine and human.

The three concentric ovals, with colors progressively lighter as we move outward, suggest the movement of Christ who carries humanity out of the night of sin and death. Conversely, the depth of the darker color suggests the impenetrability of the love of the Father who forgives all.”

One very practical guideline are the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy: Corporal Works of Mercy 1. feed the hungry 2. give drink to the thirsty 3. clothe the naked 4. shelter the homeless 5. visit the sick 6. visit the imprisoned 7. bury the dead

Spiritual Works of Mercy 1. counsel the doubtful 2. instruct the ignorant 3. admonish sinners 4. comfort the afflicted 5. forgive offenses 6. bear wrongs patiently 7. pray for the living and the dead

The Year of Mercy will open at Bishop Gorman High School with the all student body Mass on Tuesday, December 8 – the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

A banner depicting the logo above will be processed in at that Mass and displayed for the entire Year of Mercy at all liturgies and in the Tiberti Commons.

Furthermore, the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy will be the theme throughout the year for the students’ required service hours.

Let us all look forward to and share in this extraordinary time: The Year of Mercy!

Father Bill Kenny

Bishop Gorman HS Chaplain

Costa Rica Student Trip! July 2 - July 9, 2016 Earn: .5 Credits in Science & PE, plus 8 Service Hours!

Deposit Deadline: December 16, 2015 Contact: Mrs. Rice in Room 322 For information visit: WWW.BISHOPGORMAN.ORG 2

Gael Pride

MATH APP-SMASHING

Promotes Real-World Learning!

Students in Mrs. Delgado’s and Mr. Crisp’s Algebra 2 and Trigonometry classes make realworld connections. Applying the mathematical concept of parabolas, students used iPads to document instances of arches found in every-day life. Students had to recreate and film a scenario that could have occurred in their lives wherein a distance needed to be predicted. Many of Gorman’s athletes engage daily in this complex process: basketball players hoping to sink a shot, kickers hoping to score a goal, and golfers hoping to reach the green; students were given the opportunity to break down the process to better understand the mathematics behind achieving these goals. Students employed the techniques of real moviemakers, creating a storyboard of thumbnails outlining their projects. They used the EasyMeasure iPad application to determine the dimensions of fixed points within a photo.

Additionally, they used the Explain Everything iPad app, which was purchased for all students this school year, allowing them to show their work like never before. The app records the students’ presentations including their stylus strokes and voices. Finally, they compiled all of the individual components of the project together in an iMovie.

In the world of app-smashing, this project soared to new heights and pushed the students to think about ways that their classwork is relevant in their daily lives. Visit the Gorman Technology blog: gormantechnology.wordpress.com to see examples of student work!

Spain Student Trip!

July 2 - July 15, 2016 Visit: Madrid, Cadiz & Seville Earn: .5 Credits Spanish Culture & PE Deposit Deadline: December 16, 2015 Contact: Email Ms. Jackson at:

kjackson@bishopgorman.org For more information visit:

www.bishopgorman.org

Congratulations!

Sharif Afifi ’16 received a perfect score on the written portion of the ACT Test this past September. His essay was evaluated based on his ability to: 1. Analyze and evaluate multiple perspectives on a complex issue. 2. State and develop his own perspective on the issue. 3. Explain and support his ideas with logical reasoning and detailed examples. 4.

Clearly and logically organize ideas in an essay.

5.

Effectively communicate ideas in standard w r i t t e n English.

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Dear Parents, Hello, this is Kelsey McCall, the dean for the junior class. As you may know, starting this year, a dean has been assigned to each class, seeing them through graduation. This gives deans the continuity with each student over their four years at Gorman so that we can interface seamlessly with their teachers, counselor, coaches, etc. We believe this will be a beneficial change and are interested in receiving parents’ comments if you notice any positive or negative trends.

It has been a real pleasure getting to know each of your students as I see them around the campus.

People often ask me, “How is it working with teenagers”? I tell them “It is like flying fighters… you never know what is going to happen next” and it keeps me young.

If they haven’t already, it is time for your junior to get serious regarding their college application process.

With that in mind, Mrs. Rebecca Sabky, Director of Admissions at Dartmouth University spoke to our students regarding this process in September. Mrs. Sabky has been an application reader for Dartmouth for the last seventeen years and has provided numerous tips/recommendations for our students to enhance their opportunity for selection into the college of their choice. Our college counselor, Mr. Larry McAllister, will begin focusing on the juniors after the Christmas break. Please encourage your child to take advantage of the services he provides.

As you know, BGHS has a requirement of 25 service hours for each year a student attends Bishop Gorman.

My experience is that most students enjoy fulfilling the hours because they see that giving of their time is very satisfying. The issue is finding the time. A good time to accomplish some service hours is over the upcoming holidays. Your student can contact Campus Ministry to find out what is available. If they choose their own service project, make sure they check with Campus Ministry for approval. You may check their service hour completion by visiting the x2vol.com website. As a father of three, which are out of college and have their own families, I understand students need some help organizing their time and getting things done. I wish you luck!

If you have any questions or ideas, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Thank you for supporting your child and BGHS.

Kelsey McCall kmccall@bishopgorman.org

Campus Ministry

Food Drive

Helping Our Community

Munchies for the Military Gets a Boost from Bishop Gorman!

Our annual food drive this year was dedicated to the Douglas J. Green Foundation. Large donation cans were located in each English classroom and students were asked to bring three items to make this Drive a huge success! Throughout the event those donation bins were literally overflowing.

As always, our students and parents rallied for the cause and filled box after box after box with munchies, movies, and many other goodies. Thank you to all for supporting our Munchies for the Military!

TEENS HELPING TEENS Gorman students make a difference in the lives of homeless teens. In September, BGHS students volunteered their time to help the organization Teens Helping Teens with their Street Outreach event.

This non-profit organization was started by sisters Savanah and Siena Prenger ’18 to help youth in shelter, foster care, living on the streets, etc. On November 17th, Siena was honored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals as the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy of the year.

Congratulations!

For more information on how you can help this worthwhile organization, visit their website: www.teens-helping-teens.com

Freshmen Day of Reflection

On Friday, November 6th, the class of 2019 had their first Annual Class Day of Reflection. Each year the theme of the day is based on one of the letters of our GAEL acronym. For freshmen, they focus on the “G” in Gael, or “God.” This is one of the first opportunities they have to experience what it means to be part of Bishop Gorman as a faith community. Therefore, they focus the day on what it really means to be a part of a Christian community (a community of faith) with God as our very center and the reason for our existence as an institution. As a part of that day, the students created a Class of 2019 banner with each of their handprints and signatures. This banner will hang in the Tiberti Student Commons and can be used at future gatherings from graduation activities to class reunions.

THREE SQUARE

Baby Bottle Drive On Friday, November 13th, the Women’s Resource Center visited with all Theology classes to educate our students about the Center and how it empowers women. Clare Finely, an alumna of Bishop Gorman High School, spoke to the students about what it means to be Pro-life and how it is a holistic approach to the human person.

For 30 years the Women’s Resource Center has provided women with counseling, free ultra-sounds, baby clothes, maternity clothes, formula, and resources for continued support after they deliver their children. Hagan Crear ’17, said she was deeply impacted by her newfound awareness “that there is a positive outlet in Las Vegas, that I can use for friends and family.” Students were encouraged to obtain service hours volunteering at the Women’s Resource Center and are raising money for the Center through a Baby Bottle Drive. In just the first two days of the Drive, students raised more than $300, with the winning class receiving a pizza party!

Mr. Goertemiller and his ever faithful volunteers spend another Tuesday evening at Three Square earning service hours!

MITE BOX

Mr. Lieb and his Econ Honors class celebrate their first MITE BOX victory of the year! Great job!

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Academics

PSAT

Results will be distributed in January to the juniors, sophomores and freshmen through their English classes. The counselors will explain to the students how to interpret their results at that time. Students receive their original test booklets with their scores. Parents and students should use it as a valuable learning tool and take the time to go over the problems and the answers. We encourage juniors to take the SAT and the ACT in the spring.

TUTORING After school every Tuesday and Thursday, National Honor Society members – juniors and

Final Exams Are Right Around The Corner (December 16, 17, 18) Here are some helpful hints to keep in mind: 1. Is my Study Place available to me whenever I need it?

Your Study Place does little good if you cannot use it when you need it. If you are using a Study Place that you must share with others for any reason, work out a schedule so that you know when you can use it.

seniors with a 3.50 grade point average and above – are available to tutor students in need of a little extra help. Most subject areas are covered. There is no charge for this service. Students may acquire the assistance of an NHS tutor by going to Mr. Goertemiller’s room 309 on those days.

SENIORS College Deadlines: season of College Applications is in full swing. Your letters of recommendation should have already been requested. Some schools have December or January 1st deadlines.

December is a short month! We leave on semester break December 18th and return on January 4th.

Our offices will be closed, which means

WE are all

out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate.

The world is all gates, all opportunities.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

no letters will be sent.

4. Does my Study Place contain all the study materials I need?

Be sure your Study Place includes reference sources and supplies such as pens and pencils, paper, ruler, calculator, and whatever else you might need.

5. Does my Study Space contain a large enough desk or table?

While working on an assignment or studying for a test, use a desk or table that is large enough to hold everything you need. Allow enough room for writing and avoid clutter.

2. Is my Study Place free from interruptions?

It is important to have uninterrupted study time. You may have to hang a DO NOT DISTURB sign on the door or turn off the phone.

A chair that is not comfortable can cause discomfort or pain that will interfere with your studying. A chair that is too comfortable might make you sleepy. Select a chair in which you can sit for long periods while maintaining your attention.

Research shows that most students study best in a quiet environment. If you find that playing a stereo or TV improves your mood, keep the volume low.

“

Counselor’s Quote of the Month INVENTORS, each sailing

The very busy

6. Does my Study Place have a comfortable chair?

3. Is my Study Place free from distractions?

If you are using the Common Application, you should now have it completed and you should be matched to Naviance! Any one having trouble with the Application should make an appointment to see Mr. McAllister or stop by his office before school. DO NOT WAIT ON THIS!

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Counselor’s Corner

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7. Does my Study Place have enough light?

The amount of light you need depends on what you are doing. The important thing is that you can clearly see what you need to see without any strain or discomfort.

8. Does my Study Place have a comfortable temperature?

If your Study Place is too warm, you might become sleepy. If it is too cold, your thinking may slow down and become unclear. Select a temperature at which your mind and body function best.

Having a good Study Place is important for effective studying.

Information provided by: how-to-study.com/preparing-to-study.htm

Athletics | Activities

ACTIVITIES

ATHLETICS

MAYORS PRAYER BREAKFAST

The 2015-2016 Fall Season is finished at Bishop Gorman for most sports. We had several athletes who had a great deal of success individually. Several teams advanced to the playoffs and the State Tournament, including a thrilling victory in the State Championship match by one of our teams.

Each year Bishop Gorman is invited to attend the Mayors Prayer Breakfast. This event was created by Mayor Oran Gragson after attending a similar event hosted by President Eisenhower in Washington, DC. This event is intended to provide unification among people from different types of business and to celebrate the different faiths of our nation.

Eight Bishop Gorman students attended this year’s event on November 19th: Karli Berry ‘16, Kasey Bilodeau ‘16, Carolina Castro ‘16, Zach Grech ‘16, Elizabeth Harty ‘16, Douglas McArthur ‘16, Tatum Rodrigues ‘16, and Thomas Rodrigues ‘16.

The men’s and women’s cross-country team had a record number of participants this year and placed in several in-state and out-of-state meets. Robert Daseler ’16 was the biggest award winner for the team, finishing 4th in the Sunset Regional meet and qualifying for the State Tournament in Reno.

In the State Championship race, Robert ran well and finished 13th overall in the state.

Our women’s golf team continued their winning tradition under Head Coach Jim Stanfill and Assistant Chris Samson. They went undefeated in the Sunset Southwest League, won the Sunset Regional Tournament, and finished 2nd in the two-day State Tournament which was held at Primm Valley Golf Club. Hunter Pate ’18 shot even-par on the second day and finished as the State Runner-Up. Danielle Oberlander ’17 shot a final-round 72 to finish 8th overall, and Rose Baral ’19 shot a final round 79 to finish 10th in the State.

ASG STUDENTS SUPPORT Our Associated Student Government (ASG) spent their Nevada Day helping to throw a Halloween party for the Street Teens organization. Street Teens is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting homeless, abandoned, and at risk youth, ages 12-21, in the Las Vegas Valley. For this event, ASG students made goody bags filled with toiletries and gift cards, provided treats and decorated for the event.

Both our men’s and women’s soccer teams had good years. They finished in 1st and 2nd place in the Howell Memorial Tournament in Reno, NV. Both teams challenged for the league title, advanced to the playoffs, and won their first round match. However, they both lost heart breakers in the Sunset Regional Semi-finals. Check back in February as several of our men’s and women’s soccer players will sign their National Letters of Intent to play in college.

Mr. Petersen Day!

The Bishop Gorman women’s volleyball team had quite a season under long time coach Ed Van Meetren. After playing one of the most challenging schedules in the country, the team was ready for the playoffs. They beat Foothill High School to advance to the State Tournament at Coronado High School. The Lady Gaels gave it their all, but lost a close game to eventual State Champion, Coronado High School. Look for the team to make a big impact next year as several players return from this year’s team. Congratulations to Vashti Cunningham ’16 and Alysia Nielson ’17 and Paige Poggione ’17 for being named 1st Team All-Sunset Region.

Nik Collins ’17 came up with the idea and designed a Mr. Petersen t-shirt to honor him as the Ultimate Protector.

Although it was a challenge to keep it a secret from him, Mr. Petersen, Director of Campus Security, was “flattered beyond words” as several students were wearing their new official spirit shirt on November 13th.

Thank you Mr. Petersen for keeping us safe!

Athletics, continued on page 7

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Advancement

The 30th Annual Bishop Gorman Golf Classic was held on Thursday, November 12th. The tournament, which was held at Spanish Trail Country Club, SOLD OUT weeks in advance, making it one of our most successful tournaments so far! Money raised from the Golf Classic supports our students and school by providing unrestricted funds that can be used for immediate needs during the year.

Many thanks to all of our parents, alumni and friends who were a part of this event and helped to make it a success!

A special thanks our Title Sponsor: Golden Entertainment and other Major Sponsors: Lynne Ruffin-Smith Charitable Foundation, Par 3 Landscaping, Terrible Herbst, Tori Contracting, Harley Davidson Las Vegas, Chapman Auto Group, CC Construction, G&G Systems, Helix Electric, High Desert Petroleum, XL Concrete Masonry, OMEX, Rafael Framers Construction, ROBCO Electric, Vergith Contracting, Wirtz Beverage of Nevada, and YESCO. Between the beautiful weather and all of the great people at the tournament, it was a fun day for all! The day was especially exciting for our tournament winners! Congratulations to our low gross winners- Ernie Gonzalez, Brian Anderson, Michael Turner, and Jason Viechnicki and our low net winners- Josh Aicklan, David Avakian, Dennis Darrell, and Jon Girard.

We’re looking forward to the 31st Annual Golf Classic in Fall 2016 and hope to see you all there!

Athletics, from page 6

breaker set at Darling Tennis Center. The team was behind early in the match, but finished strong and forced a tie behind wins by Sam Sholeff ’16 in singles and the team of Lucas Hammond ’19 and Cole Davidson ’18, and Jack Silvestri ’17 and Michael Connors ’18 in doubles. The Gaels finished off Palo Verde with a singles win in the tie-breaker

by Aaron Bailey ’18. It was a complete group effort for the Gaels as Skylar Davidson ’16, Daniel Kinas ’17, and Grant Rogers ’18 also contributed wins for the team. In the Individual Tennis State Championships, Sam Sholeff ’16 and Skylar Davidson ’16 finished in 2nd Place. In the Singles, Aaron Bailey ’18 won the State Runner-up trophy.

One of our most consistent and successful sports over the years at Bishop Gorman has been the women’s tennis program, coached by Gordon Hammond. Under Coach Hammond, the Gaels have won numerous State Championships and are always one of the top teams in the state. This year was no different. The team won the Sunset Regional Championship and advanced to the State Tournament. Eventually, the team lost a close match and ended up as State Runners-Up. The team has a bright future and will be hard to beat in years to come. In the State Individual tournament, the Gaels had the top two finishers. Angelique Friedrich ’19 won the Singles State Championship, and teammate Amber Del Rosario ’19 finished 2nd.

Our #1 ranked football team is still undefeated and in the thick of the playoffs. Check back for Regional and State results next month as the Gaels continue towards their seventh straight Nevada State Championship and possible Back to Back National Championships.

Our men’s tennis team made headlines this year. For the first time since 1990, the team won the Nevada State Championship. Led by Coach Craig Witcher and Assistant Coach (and Bishop Gorman Spanish teacher) Jackie White, the Gaels defeated rival Palo Verde 10-9 in an extra tie-

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Go Gaels!