Bishop Gorman High School Monthly Parent Newsletter
SharingPride the
Volume 25 | Issue 1 | October 2018
National Merit Program In This Issue p. 2 6th Annual BGHS
College Fair
Arthur Acuna '19 Semifinalist
Abigail Hobson '19 Semifinalist
Alexis Kruljac '19 Semifinalist
Gary Nguyen '19 Semifinalist
Jason Song '19 Semifinalist
Antonio Sanchez '19 Commended
p. 4 1st Annual BGHS
Service Fair
p. 5 FORE!
33rd Annual Golf Classic
The National Merit® Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in their junior year of high school. Semifinalists are the highest scoring entrants in each state and are invited to apply for the National Merit® Scholarship.
Congratulations!
p. 6 FALL SALE at the
Hammes Campus Store
Internship Program The Bishop Gorman Internship Program was established in 2012 with seven participating businesses and has since come a long way. Thanks to the excellent job our students have done year after year and the support of our community, the program continues to grow and prosper. In the program’s seventh year, fifteen businesses provided internships to twenty-three juniors going into their senior year during the summer of 2018. Alumni, parents, and friends of Bishop Gorman make up the group of supporters of this program and provide our students with priceless opportunities throughout the Las Vegas Valley. We are proud to have ongoing partnerships with businesses and welcome new participants each year. Two students, Kyle Rainey '19 and Julia Sanman '19 (pictured at right), had the opportunity to intern at Alston Construction which provides our students with a very unique experience.
continued page 10
WWW.BISHOPGORMAN.ORG
Autumn Valentine '19 Commended
Welcome Back GAELS! By Dean Anderson,
Finance Dept. News Please check our website
Welcome to the Class of '22. I am very pleased to say that the Class of ’22 seems to be making a good transition into high school. School opened in August with two days of orientation for over 400 freshmen in conjunction with the LINK program. All freshmen have been assigned a LINK leader to assist them this year. They received their class shirt at orientation with their chosen theme of “Class of '22 True to the Orange and Blue”. Many freshmen have gotten involved by participating in sports and clubs. The school organized both a Club Fair and a Service Fair to give students a chance to explore many options. We will soon hold class elections and those students will get the freshmen involved in our upcoming Homecoming activities! The Freshman of the Week as part of Freshman PRIDE kicked off the first week of September. Almost twenty five students were nominated, several with multiple nominations. The two students who were selected as the first winners were Antonio Acosta and Kylie Yanagi. Congratulations! I am looking forward to a great year with this class.
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WWW.BISHOPGORMAN/TUITION.ORG for upcoming information regarding applying for Tuition Assistance for the 2019-2020 school year. Open enrollment will begin on NOVEMBER 1, 2018 Remember, in order to be considered for TUITION ASSISTANCE, you must re-apply every year. If you have any questions regarding your student’s tuition account, please contact Vanessa Orozco, 702-476-4023.
Gael News
6thAnnual Monday, October 22 6pm - Gym For Bishop Gorman students & parents.
Artistic Inspiration Last spring, Selin Aydin '19 won a Gold medal at the International Scholastic Art & Writing Competition and moved on to NATIONALS in New York City. Here is an update on her experience in her own words: "It sounds cliche to say but winning a Gold Medal in the 2018 Scholastic Art
and
Writing
Awards
has
Over 100 universities & colleges attending!
genuinely changed my life. Prior to it,
Admissions representatives will
when I grow up and have a real job.
be available to answer questions. All BGHS students & their parents are encouraged to attend! Go to bishopgorman.org/collegefairlist for
a
listing
of
attending
Universities & Colleges.
I considered art to be just a hobby something I would do on the weekends However, in the span of a short few months, I no longer feel the same. The Scholastic Awards showed me promise in pursuing art as a career by giving me the validation I needed. Now, I can’t even begin to imagine a life where I’m not working in the art industry. The trip to New York, NY for the Awards Ceremony at Carnegie Hall fueled the fire even more so. The people I had the privilege of meeting at the event were so inspiring and insanely talented, each in their own way - from poets to digital artists to sculptors. Needless to say, I came back to Las Vegas with a new purpose and passion in life and that is something I will forever be grateful."
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$
Campus Ministry
¢
Our 1st Bishop Gorman Service Fair! On wednesday, September 5th, nearly 40 agencies where Gorman Gaels may earn service hours, set up on the Quad to explain how they help the Las Vegas community and to offer opportunities for our students to serve. The Fair was one way to assist our students as they search out service that really matches their interests and desires. Represented at the Service Fair were agencies that serve the homeless, teens, disabled, veterans, animals, children, women, and more! There was a heavy emphasis on direct service so that students would learn how to help the marginalized in our community. It was an action-packed Gaels Period that day and many of our youth had their eyes opened to some of the service opportunities available to them.
$
Mite 2018-2019
Box
On Tuesdays, we have our Mite Box collection during first period in every classroom. This money is given to Las Vegans who are in a tough financial spot. It is used to pay rent, medical bills, groceries, car repairs, and a variety of other things so that individuals and families can continue on with their lives and try to get ahead. Thank you to Mite Box class winners so far: Mr. Lieb, Mr. Sayre, Mr. Neuman, Mr. Crisp, and Student Services.
RUNNING
T O t a l
$ 7,178.15
Looking forward to next year’s Service Fair already!
WHO CAN? YOU CAN! When it comes to service, the best advice is to jump in with both feet! That is exactly what Coach Jeff Kondra, father of Tyler Kondra '21, decided to do, taking a slew of young football players along with him. From the moment he began assisting the freshman football team, Mr. Kondra decided to help these young men even more by introducing them to service. As a group, they have served various times at Miracle League, Catholic Charities, Opportunity Village, the Rebuild Southern Nevada Vet home, and a food bank. Everywhere they go, they are noticed for many reasons: their kind and polite manner, their willingness to jump in, and the fun they have doing it. It seemed that if they weren’t at football practice, they were anxious to see what Coach Kondra had in mind for them to do, and they did it gladly! Miracle League is an excellent example of a place where they have made a difference. Parents of handicap ballplayers have written beautiful letters of thanks for the effect Mr. Kondra and these young men had on their children. The enthusiasm shown by the group was absolutely infectious and our boys loved the experience more each time they participated.
continued, page 10
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Academic Advisors Upcoming PSAT All freshmen, sophomores and juniors, please be sure to mark your calendars for Wednesday, Oct. 10 as we will be administering the PSAT. The test will begin promptly at 8:00am. Here are some reminders for the PSAT: 1. Uniforms must be worn. 2. Bring two #2 pencils and a good eraser. 3. Bring a calculator. 4. Get a good night’s sleep and eat a good breakfast. 5. Report to your homeroom to take the test. Lists with room divisions will be posted around school. 6. Go to: www.collegeboard.org for study tips. 7. You WILL NOT be penalized for guessing. 8. Dismissal will be at 11:30am The CollegeBoard teamed up with Khan Academy last year to help provide free online practice and study tips so be sure to check them out.
Counselor's Corner It is hard to believe we have been in school for more than a month already, but we are excited to be back! We are thrilled to have added a new academic counselor, Ms. Courtney Napoli ’09; and Mr. Ryan Pietranton ’92 has replaced Mr. Larry McAllister as our College Counselor. We wish both of them luck during their first year in their new positions. As a reminder, the counselors are assigned to students based on their last names. Ms. Courtney Napoli ext. 4046 A-D Mrs. Alice Braun ext. 4048 E-K Mr. Rick Spiritosanto ext. 4051 L-Q Mrs. Jeanette Dixon ext. 4050 R-Z Mr. Ryan Pietranton ext. 4052 College Counselor Mrs. Pam Cross ext. 4042 Wellness Counselor As a department, we are dedicated to delivering the best possible services and support to our students and parents. Counselors are available throughout the school year to meet with students and parents regarding academic progress, goal setting, and preparing for college. SENIORS: Have you logged into Naviance lately? With the start of the college application season, Naviance is a big part of the process. Naviance is used to track applications, request letters of recommendation from teachers, request transcripts, and sending materials to your schools. If you have any questions about Naviance or how to send requests, please be sure to see your counselor soon. continued, page 11
College Application Camp 2018 Last May, the College Counseling Department invited the rising senior class of 2019 to a College Application Camp scheduled during the week of August 7 - 10, 2018. The camp was organized by alphabet; however, students were allowed to choose a day to fit their schedule. The intent of the camp was to help seniors: • • •
Organize their college list Set-up a Common Application account Participate in an essay workshop
continued, page 11
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Athletic News
The fall sports teams have finished up their pre-season tournaments and are currently competing in the Desert Region Southwest League. The men’s and women’s soccer teams took their annual trip to Northern Nevada for a pre-season tournament in Lake Tahoe. Both teams went undefeated, bringing back the trophy to Las Vegas. They are both strong contenders for the State Championship this year. The women’s volleyball team took a trip to Reno earlier in the season for the High Sierra Tournament, hosted by Bishop Manogue. This elite tournament featured 32 of the best teams from Northern California and Nevada.
The team went undefeated and beat host Bishop
Manogue in the Championship match. Look for Coach Nunley and his team to compete for another State Championship in November. The cross country team is running all over the city as well as Portland and California. With over 50 members on the team, the group is growing and getting better each week. Check back next issue for individual and team meet results. The men’s and women’s tennis teams and the women’s golf teams are currently competing in league matches. All three teams have a good chance to win their league and advance in the playoffs. Check back next month for league results and playoff match ups. The varsity football team started off their season with four high level games against national competition. The annual ESPN game took place on Friday, August 24, at Fertitta Field as the Gaels took on Mater Dei, the #1 team in the country and defending National Champions. Although we came up short on the scoreboard, we had an amazing sold out crowd and atmosphere for the big game at Fertitta Field. The other non-league games saw the Gaels lose two heartbreakers on the road at Centennial, AZ, and on ESPN again at De La Salle, CA. The team has improved each week and is ready to try and win their 10th straight State Championship.
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Get Involved! Our Club Fair was a great success! Thank you to everyone who came out. You can still get involved in one of our 40 clubs and organizations, visit our website for more details: BISHOPGORMAN.ORG/CLUBS
Activities HOMECOMING Friday October 5, 2018 Schedule
All Are Welcome! 9:30 am - Alumni Memorial Mass Our Lady Of Lourdes Chapel 10:30 am - Coffee & Campus Tours Tiberti Student Commons 11:30 am - Homecoming Assembly 1:30 pm - Theare Performance Jim3 House of Performing Arts
Hey Google! On September 16 and 17 our Student
One of the biggest takeaways from this
Activities Director, Mr. Jimmy Gleich,
year’s event was the idea of creating
and
hashtags that promote positivity and
Bishop
Sammy
Gorman
Sadovia
'19
students, and
Chris
Goode '19, attended the Digital4Good Conference CA.
in
San
Francisco,
The conference focuses on
digital citizenship in schools and how social media is utilized on our campuses. This yearly event hosted by Google brings together industry professionals, educators and students from across the globe to discuss social
encouraging your school to try to
5:00 pm - Tailgate Upper Fields 7:00 pm - Kickoff vs. Desert Oasis Fertitta Field After Game Social Ryan Hall, 2nd Floor of ATC
get their hashtag trending. Another takeaway was using more studentmade and student-centered videos to celebrate our communities, not just our teams and clubs. BGHS students have already been brainstorming how to incorporate what they learned and we are looking forward to trying
media issues and look at ways that
some new things to promote happy
schools can encourage positive social
and healthy digital citizenship here at
media use.
Bishop Gorman.
BGHS Summer
Trip SPAIN! June 16-29 2019
Experience Spain from north to south as you visit: Bilbao, San Sebastian, Madrid, Cadiz, and Seville. Use the code TWCJB in your student’s Showbie account for more information. 07
Tiberti Commons
Let’s Celebrate Food! Oct 1 World Vegetarian Day: Go meatless - Try our Special Salad Bar! Oct 4 National Taco Day: Don't miss out on the Street Tacos at the Grill! Oct 11 National Sausage Pizza Day: Grab a slice & celebrate this favorite pizza topping! Oct 18 National Cupcake Day: Cannot go wrong with $1 Cupcakes! Oct 31 Halloween: Check out some grossly delicious treats to add to your combo.
Get Through The Line Faster! Add money to your student's
GAEL CARD You can add money online:
A Guiding BITE Tiberti Commons is excited to share with you a way to know what’s on the menu every day and find nutritional information – download their free app – Bite – available on the App Store and Google Play. Search “Bite by Sodexo”.
bishopgorman.org/gaelcard
For every $100 deposited get $5.00 FREE!
A GUIDING
BITE.
Nutritional information for every item.
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Advancement TITLE SPONSOR:
Spanish Trail Golf and Country Club Thursday, November 8, 2018 9:00 A.M. CHECK-IN 10:00 A.M. SHOTGUN START
Register your foursome at: BISHOPGORMAN.ORG/GOLFCLASSIC
rd Annual Bishop Gorma n 3 3 Golf Classic
$400 per GOLFER or $1,600 per FOURSOME
(Includes golf cart, tee prizes, continental breakfast, lunch, drinks on the course, and post-tournament awards reception.)
Attention Parents!
Join Us for After Game Socials at Ryan Hall 2nd Floor of ATC
- Homecoming, Friday October 5 - Friday, October 12
Prospective Student
Open House 2018 Sunday, October 21 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Playoffs - Friday, November 9 (TBD) - Friday, November 16 (TBD)
Open to interested students and their families. Now accepting applications at
www.bishopgorman.org/apply
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You Can!, cont. Internship, cont. Not only do the students get experience with their company, Alston makes arrangements with partner contractors so that the students can see everything that goes into the construction management process. The Internship Program offers Bishop Gorman students an experience not many high school students receive, contributing to the college-preparatory curriculum. “Interning at the Cleveland Clinic was very enlightening.” Gary Nguyen '19 said. “It really helped me realize why I wanted to be a physician.” Through direct observation, reflection and evaluation, students gain an understanding of the internship site’s work, how these potentially relate to their academic study, as well as a clearer perspective on and better understanding of their career goals and objectives. Emily Burton '19 who interned at Pyatt Silvestri Law said “I learned real skills that people in real professions have to know and use every day.” We are always looking for new opportunities for our students. If you are interested in hosting a Bishop Gorman student as an intern for the summer of 2019, please contact Internship Program Coordinator, Mrs. Lauren Blasek '04, for more information.
We talk about many kinds of service. There
Thank you to this year’s participants: 8 News Now, Alston Construction,
is organizational support: assisting with school, church, and sports events. This falls within our comfort zone and is still very helpful. There’s also indirect service: perhaps bagging food at Three Square or participating in a run that uses our entry fee to help with research.
Bank of Nevada – Vince Telles '82,
Finally, we have direct service: face to face
Centennial Hills Hospital Medical
is often out of our comfort zone and perhaps
Center, Cleveland Clinic, Craig P. Kenny Law, Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers,
work with the marginalized of society. This may make us feel awkward, but can be the most rewarding of all types of service. We just have to allow ourselves to step out of our comfort zone and jump in with both feet!
Haven Animal Hospital,
That is exactly what Mr. Kondra has done,
JBA Consulting Engineers,
respond well to his guidance. Many of these
working with a group of young men who
Kaempfer Crowell, MGM Resorts
outstanding students have nearly 100 hours
International, Pyatt Silvestri
As a group, this crew completed 1,709 hours of
Law–Jim Silvestri '78, Spring Valley Hospital Medical Center, Summerlin Hospital Medical
of DIRECT SERVICE already as sophomores! service during last school year, 1,500 of which were direct service!
Bishop Gorman High
School is incredibly proud of these boys. We are here to challenge more parents to
Center, Vegas Golden Knights,
consider stepping up with your child and a
and WestPac Wealth Partners.
get out there and serve! Modeling these acts
group of their friends, or a team, or a club to of kindness shows our children that we value what they are asked to do. Directly serving those in need gives meaning to the phrase “It’s better to give than receive.” Don’t know where to start? That’s easy! Contact Mrs. Susie Portz, sportz@bishopgorman.org, or Brother Rob Robertson, rrobertson@bishopgorman.org and we can help you take a leading role. It’s not hard! All it requires is a desire to guide our students. Who can? YOU CAN!
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Fall into the Hammes Campus Store for your fall/winter gear!
Gael Gear
COME SEE WHAT’S NEW & WHAT’S ON SALE!
S A L E SELECTED ITEMS OCTOBER 15 -19
stop in we look forward to seeing you!
STORE HOURS: Monday – Friday 7:00am - 2:30pm 702.476.4022
Counselor's Corner, cont.
Application Camp, cont. This workshop was geared toward giving tips on what schools are looking for in the essay, how to brainstorm ideas for their essays, writing a rough draft, and finishing the essay. All of the counselors participated in making this camp a success. More than 170 seniors took advantage of the camp; most have completed their Common Application and have matched their application with Naviance which is very important as we use Naviance as the electronic tool to send all of their transcripts and letters of recommendation. This senior class is a very strong academic class and we in the Counseling Department are looking forward to their college application journey.
COLLEGE ATHLETICS: The Counseling Department and the Athletic Department are presenting Next Step for Student Athletes – College Admissions & Athletics on Oct. 16th . This night is intended for parents and student-athletes (sophomores, juniors and seniors) that are interested in playing sports in college. COLLEGE VISITS: College visits have already begun! On Naviance, under the “Colleges” tab, please select “View All Upcoming College Visits” for a complete list of schools that will be on campus. Please remember that you will need to register at least one day in advance and to print your confirmation as it will serve as your pass to attend the presentation. If you have any questions, please see Mr. Pietranton.
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Sign up only $50!
General Seating: $5.00
Reserved Seating: $10.00
Tickets available at:
bishopgorman.org/arts
Group rates or questions, contact Gaels Theatre Guild Box Office 702-476-4175
Explore Munich on a bike tour, visit the Salt Mines in Salzburg, Enjoy Neuschwanstein Castle, shop in Vienna and much more!
MAY 31–JUNE 10, 2019
For more information contact:
Mr. Lieb at klieb@bishopgorman.org
For more information visit: www.bishopgorman.org.
Bishop Gorman High School 5959 S. Hualapai Way Las Vegas, NV 89148
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