Bishop Montgomery High School
Parent Newsletter November 2014 5430 Torrance Boulevard Torrance, California 90503 (310) 540 - 2021 www.bmhs-la.org
From the Principal: Ms. Rosemary Distaso-Libbon, Principal Dear Parents, I want to open this letter thanking your for your participation in our fall fundraiser. I also want to thank our students and teachers for their efforts, the parent volunteers who assisted with sorting tickets and counting money, and Mrs. Yvette Vigon-Morffi, our Vice-Principal, who managed this campaign. As I have mentioned many times before, the money raised from this one all-school fundraiser is applied to the school’s current operating budget since tuition is dedicated to teacher and staff benefits and salaries. Again, thank you parents. I am so grateful. I also want to thank Mrs. Milana McDermott and the ASB for and wonderful Homecoming Week. The Spirit Games and Challenges, the pre-game Food Truck event (thank you to Development), the Game and the Homecoming Dance were all special events. It was an amazing week of spirit celebrating our Black and Gold, celebrating this special community. Congratulations to all of our students who were invited to the Undergraduate Awards Ceremony to honor their academic accomplishments during the spring 2013-2014 semester. The featured speaker was Derik Bessler and the following students were honored as Students of the Semester: Class of 2017: Rebecca Altschuler and Angelo Pasco Class of 2016: Lourdes Lidzbarski and Thomas Rocca Class of 2015: Taylor Rudeen, Brianna Tucker, and Carter London I want to remind you that the report card you receive in November addresses your student’s progress to date this first semester. It is very important that you and your student discuss these grades as this is the last progress report you will receive before the final semester grade is issued. This grade will be recorded on the transcript, the permanent record. I believe the ultimate question in all discussions about grades is whether the student is doing the very best work that he/she can. Is the student working to ability? That is, after all, what we hope to see—that each student is doing his/her very best! Though this is the November newsletter, I do want to remind you that the Mothers’ Club Luncheon is scheduled for Saturday, December 6th. I hope you will attend this special event! Many thanks to Judy Tolin, Mothers’ Club President and all of the members for all of their work on this special event! There are a few dates on the November calendar to note: • Monday, November 3rd, 7:45 a.m. Faculty Meeting; 8:45 a.m. start • Monday, November 10th, School Holiday • Tuesday, November 11th, Veterans’ Day, School Holiday • Saturday, November 22nd, 8th Grade Open House • Tuesday, November 25th, Thanksgiving Mass • Wednesday, November 26th, 11:50 Dismissal for Thanksgiving break • Thursday, November 27th, Thanksgiving Day, School Holiday • Friday, November 28th and Monday, December 1st, School Holidays • Tuesday December 2nd, 8:00 a.m. start, 11:50 a.m. Dismissal, Faculty Meeting 11:50 a.m.
I want to close this letter with a lovely prayer of thanks. Thanksgiving is, indeed, a time of remembrance, a time to give thanks for all that material gifts that we enjoy, for the relationships that enrich our daily lives, for our communities that strengthen us and for a God who gives us hope. Thanksgiving is a time to renew our commitments to our faith, our families, our friends. For me, Thanksgiving is a quiet and loving space in the calendar year—a time to be with family, a time to spend some time alone, a time for celebration, and a time for silent prayer. WHERE GREAT THINGS HAPPEN
Prayer This is a time for giving thanks. This is a time for remembrance. v Let us remember all those who are united with us, and give thanks for that bond of union… v Let us remember our past and give thanks for what we have become… v Let us be present in the present and give thanks for the here-and-now… v Let us remember our future and give thanks for all that is to happen to us… v Let us give thanks for the whole universe, especially for our creation and the life that is in us… v Let us give thanks for that consummation of all things which is the Spirit working in us. Our Lady, Queen of Angels, pray for us. I pray for you every day but I will pray for you especially on Thanksgiving Day. I am grateful for you and so very grateful for your wonderful children. Happy Thanksgiving!
Rosemary Libbon Principal
From the Principal:
Ms. Rosemary Distaso-Libbon, Principal
Guidance & Curriculum: Ms. Yvette Vigón-Morffi - Vice Principal - ext. 231
Mrs. Casey Dunn - Guidance/Studies Coordinator - ext. 226
With the month of November quickly approaching, the college admissions cycle has begun in earnest for the class of 2015. The CSU filing period began on October 1 and the UC filing period will begin on November 1. Both state university systems require that applications be submitted by November 30. Please encourage your child to apply early to both systems. For the UC and private school applications, great care should be taken with the written response portions. Starting to work on the personal statement, essay questions, and/or short answer statements should begin well before the application due date. Once your child has a rough draft, please encourage him or her to have a teacher or their counselor proofread the work. These writing samples reveal pertinent information regarding an applicant’s academic intent, personal talents and strengths, and ability to succeed as a college freshman. A rushed writing sample, one that includes grammatical and usage errors, is a poor reflection on the applicant and indicative of not approaching the process with a mature, comprehensive attitude. For the universities who ask for letters of recommendation, students are to request both transcripts and letters by November 7. The University of California system and the California State University system do not require letters of recommendation as part of the application process. Be sure that your child knows the deadlines for each school that they will be applying to. We ask that if a student misses more than three consecutive days of school you should contact teachers electronically (email access is available through the BMHS website) to request home study assignments. Teachers do not have to respond to a request prior to the fourth day of an absence. I want to thank everyone who attended the College Information Night. I hope you found the evening presentations valuable and that you will contact us with any follow-up questions you may have.
Sincerely, Casey Dunn Guidance/Studies Coordinator
Discipline: Ms. Betty Behen - Dean of Women - ext. 234
Mr. Lee Flores - Dean of Men - ext. 232
From the Discipline Office: Attendance: Be sure to call in absences or “late-to-schools” directly to the Attendance Office at (310) 540-2021, ext. 233, or (310) 540-3070 in the mornings. We have 24-hour voice mail for your convenience. Also, a phone call does not necessarily “excuse” an absence or tardy. It merely lets us know that the parent/guardian was aware of the absence or tardy. The nature of the absence or tardy (“excused” or “unexcused”) will be determined by the Deans and Attendance Office. Refer to your Parent-Student Handbook for what constitutes an “excused” absence or tardy. Phone calls must be made the morning of the absence or the absence will be noted as “unexcused”. Please Remember: Classes begin at 8AM every day. Please make sure to bring your student early. Oncoming traffic heading east on Torrance Blvd. will affect the traffic flow when you enter or leave the campus so please try to come early to avoid the traffic. Regardless of the time that you arrive on campus, in the interest of our students’ safety, your child will be expected to be dropped off at the drop-off zone only. Dropping off your child on campus in areas other than the designated drop-off zone located in the east parking lot adjacent to the school or any illegal/unsafe area offcampus will result in your child receiving a disciplinary violation. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Cooler Weather: As the temperatures begin to cool, please remember that the Bishop Montgomery and Senior sweatshirts are the ONLY sweatshirts that are acceptable. Also, uniform jackets & sweaters are the ONLY jackets & sweaters that are allowed (absolutely no hoods). All sweatshirts and jackets MUST be the appropriate size for your child. A uniform or senior shirt must STILL to be worn underneath. Trips: Bishop Montgomery does not sponsor, condone, nor accept responsibility for trips, cruises, or excursions not sanctioned by the school; There may be a current trip disguised as a BMHS “Senior Trip”. BMHS has nothing to do with organizing, sponsoring, or chaperoning any senior trip. Any student distributing fliers that advertise these trips will be reprimanded. Detentions: Detentions are to be served by the date indicated on the violation or referral slip. It is the responsibility of the student to make alternate arrangements for transportation if a detention is to be served. Disregard for assigned detentions may result in probation. Detentions take precedence over sports practices and school activities (ParentStudent Handbook, pg. 14). Messages: The Attendance Office and the Front Office staff do not deliver messages during the day. It is both time consuming and disruptive to classes. No Smoking Area: The football stadium has been designated as a “No Smoking” area by the Torrance Fire Department. This ban applies to all extra-curricular activities including football games and graduation exercises. Athletic Events & School Dances: Please be aware that students will not be allowed to congregate outside the gates during events nor in the parking lot areas. Remember that your student should be dressed modestly and appropriately when attending athletic games and school dances (Parent/Student Handbook pgs. 31-34). Gang-style attire, bare midriff, excessively tight, or excessive short clothing is not acceptable. Also, please pick-up students immediately following school events as the school is not responsible for students who do not have rides home. Students are not permitted to leave home football games before the end of the third quarter. Emergency Information: Does your Emergency Card need to be updated? Has there been an employment change? Address change? Telephone number change? Change in custody? Please notify the Attendance Office at (310) 540-3070.
Medical Information: Please be advised that any student with a pre-existing medical condition needs to inform the attendance office in writing of his or her condition. A note from the doctor is required. If your child requires medication or medical attention of any kind it is important for you to communicate with the Dean’s office to establish a medical protocol for your child. Your assistance is greatly appreciated. Dances: Students will NOT be admitted to ANY school dance without their current student ID (Parent-Student Handbook, pg. 10). Guest/date applications are available for various school dances and the deans must approve all guests prior to the dance. Guests must also present a current photo ID for admittance to a BMHS dance. Visitor Check-in: If you are planning on visiting the campus, be sure to obtain a name badge from the security guard when you arrive on campus during the school day. It is important for all parents and visitors to check in prior to visiting the campus. Off-Campus Parking: If your student parks on Henrietta, please remind him/her to be courteous and respectful to our neighbors. We request that your student not drive into the residential areas playing loud music or leave trash on the street. Our neighbors will welcome your student’s courtesy. Also, the City of Torrance has also asked that our students not park on the side streets near Henrietta. The residents are unable to park in front of their homes when our students park on the residential streets. Lastly, in the interest of our students’ safety, we also would like for you to remind your students to obey all traffic and pedestrian laws. Many students are crossing the street when the signal light is blinking red or are not using the appropriate crosswalks. We have received phone calls from parents, faculty, and residents concerned over our students’ safety. Picking-up and Dropping-off Off-Campus: All parents should pick-up and drop-off their students on-campus. To avoid the last minute rush, we encourage you to arrive before 7:30AM. The traffic flow on Torrance Blvd. is heavier after this time and may affect how quickly you are able to exit the campus. If you decide to pick-up or drop-off your students anywhere else, please refrain from picking up or dropping off your students at our neighboring businesses or residential driveways as this creates an inconvenience for our neighbors. Please respect the property of our neighbors by refraining from moving trashcans, taking property, littering, or parking or pulling into our neighbors’ driveways. Also, please make sure to drop-off your students in areas that are safe and legal. We have received many reports that there have been BMHS parents or carpools driving recklessly on Palos Verdes Boulevard and students are being dropped-off by their parents/carpool drivers illegally by the red curb zones, in front of fire hydrants or in the middle of the street. In the interest of the safety of all pedestrians and drivers and as a courtesy to our neighbors, students should be dropped-off on campus. Students whose parents fail to comply with the pick-up and drop-off procedures will be dealt with on campus. The Torrance Police Department has also been contacted and they have informed us that they will be citing drivers along Torrance Boulevard, Henrietta and Palos Verdes Boulevard. It is essential to give our neighbors the same respect and courtesy that we expect from each other on campus.
In Memorium Shaun Diamond, a SWAT officer, was killed in the line of duty on Wednesday, October 29. Shaun was 45 years old. He is the brother to Melody Marrero and uncle to Jalen Marrero ‘18. Shaun Diamond was on the police force for 19 years and was on SWAT for 8 years. We ask that the Bishop Montgomery community please keep Shaun and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you.
WHERE GREAT THINGS HAPPEN
INFORMATION FROM THE TUITION OFFICE • YEARBOOKS $125: The yearbook pre-order fee has been added to the November tuition statement. This is an optional fee, if you do not want the yearbook you need to contact the tuition office and the charge will be removed. If you have not purchased the yearbook by the January 10th pre-purchase deadline, it will be automatically removed from your statement and may only be purchased , if available, after all the pre-paid yearbooks are dispersed . The cost at that time will be $130. • GRADUATION FEE $150: This fee is for all Seniors and covers the cap and gown, diploma cover, 10 Announcements, as well as other expenses for graduation. • FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE (2015-2016) Information regarding Tuition Assistance for the 2015-2016 school year will be made available on the BMHS website soon. Please pay close attention to the deadline dates as they will be strictly adhered to. NO EXCEPTIONS!!!!!
Carpools • After school carpool needed to Belmont Lane in Redondo Beach. Please contact Christine Homsi at 310-347-7303 • Need a carpool before and after school from 1620 w. 255th street Harbor City, 90710. Please contact Maria Borrego at 310-404-3115 • Need a carpool from the RPV area. Please contact Vanessa Long at 310-623-0810 • Need a carpool from San Pedro off of Western and 19th St. particularly for pick-up/drop-off in the afternoon. Please contact Ana R. Ortiz at arodds@yahoo.com, cell 310-490-1050 *If you would like to add or delete a carpool request, please email jhong@bmhs-la.org
Tips on Internet Safety Dear Parents, Please take the time to review the school’s internet policy in the Parent/Student Handbook (p. 34). As a school, we are concerned over your students’ welfare and safety while using the Internet. The concern stems primarily over the student’s use of social networking websites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Formspring, instagram, snapchat, and YouTube in the privacy of your home. Through the use of such apps and websites, students are able to create their own profiles, post pictures and communicate with anyone in the world who has access to the Internet. It is important to note that on these sites there are no filters, no protections, and no monitoring. Students can post anything on their site, whether it is appropriate or not. Oftentimes, students post messages that are inappropriate, offensive, or sexual in nature. More alarming is the fact that anyone can pose as a high school student and gain access to your student’s site; it is at this point when your son or daughter may be the most vulnerable. Sexual predators and pedophiles alike may have access to your children, especially if your child is unsupervised. Please be aware that it is not the school’s position to monitor these sites for their content. We encourage you, the parent, to be proactive in regards to your son’s or daughter’s internet use; however, if information is given to the school that your son or daughter is posting inappropriate or offensive messages, the school may take disciplinary action since your son or daughter is a representative of the Bishop Montgomery High School community. Again, we encourage you to monitor your son’s or daughter’s internet use. Here are a few tips you can use to keep your children safe: 1. Become educated on the matter. There are several sites available online that provide general information and guidance about children’s internet use such as: “Kidz Privacy” http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/cononline/edcams/kidprivacy/index.htm
“A Parent’s Guide to Internet Safety” http://www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguidee.htm
“Internet Safety Awareness” http://www.internet-safety.org/childrens_awareness.htm
2.
Get rid of email accounts for your elementary and middle school children. Limit personal email accounts to high school or later. Allow younger students to use your family email address only to talk with relatives and approved friends. Put passwords on all of your computers and change them frequently. Make sure you have firewalls and software loaded to restrict the sites your child can visit on the computer. Information about internet filtering and monitoring software is available at Software4parents.com Monitor the sites your child has visited. You can click on the “History” icon when you are online to monitor the sites that your child has visited. You can also check the sites that your child has been on by doing the following: · Click on “My Computer” · Click on “Local Disk (C:)” · Click on the “Documents and Settings” folder · Click on the folder for the user or the holder of the account, i.e. johnsmith · Click on the “Cookies” folder At this point you should be able to see all the sites that have been visited using the account. You can also check the emails that your child has sent or received by checking the Recycle Bin on your hard drive or checking the “Deleted Items” or “Sent Items” folders on your email program. Put the computer in a room where it is in plain sight of all adults. Do a Google search. Go to google.com, type in your child’s name and click on “Search.” If your child has a webpage or if your child’s name is on the internet you will find it. If you want to know if your child has a site on Facebook.com you can go to Facebook.com, and do a search by entering your child’s email address or by going to “groups” and conducting a search by name of the school or any other organization that your child may belong. Please refer to the attached letter if you find inappropriate or offensive material on your child’s MySpace or Xanga account. If you would like to cancel your son’s or daughter’s MySpace.com account, please follow the instructions listed on the enclosure.
3. 4. 5.
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Please take the time to read the enclosed materials. If you have any questions about the Bishop Montgomery HS policy on Internet use or about this letter, please feel free to call Mr. Flores at (310) 540-2021, X232 or Ms. Behen at (310) 540-2021, X234. You may also find additional resources on the Health and Safety section on the BMHS website.
June 11, 2006 For Some, Online Persona Undermines a Résumé By ALAN FINDER When a small consulting company in Chicago was looking to hire a summer intern this month, the company’s president went online to check on a promising candidate who had just graduated from the University of Illinois. At Facebook, a popular social networking site, the executive found the candidate’s Web page with this description of his interests: “smokin’ blunts” (cigars hollowed out and stuffed with marijuana), shooting people and obsessive sex, all described in vivid slang. It did not matter that the student was clearly posturing. He was done. “A lot of it makes me think, what kind of judgment does this person have?” said the company’s president, Brad Karsh. “Why are you allowing this to be viewed publicly, effectively, or semipublicly?” Many companies that recruit on college campuses have been using search engines like Google and Yahoo to conduct background checks on seniors looking for their first job. But now, college career counselors and other experts say, some recruiters are looking up applicants on social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, Xanga and Friendster, where college students often post risqué or teasing photographs and provocative comments about drinking, recreational drug use and sexual exploits in what some mistakenly believe is relative privacy. When viewed by corporate recruiters or admissions officials at graduate and professional schools, such pages can make students look immature and unprofessional, at best. “It’s a growing phenomenon,” said Michael Sciola, director of the career resource center at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn. “There are lots of employers that Google. Now they’ve taken the next step.” At New York University, recruiters from about 30 companies told career counselors that they were looking at the sites, said Trudy G. Steinfeld, executive director of the center for career development. “The term they’ve used over and over is red flags,” Ms. Steinfeld said. “Is there something about their lifestyle that we might find questionable or that we might find goes against the core values of our corporation?” Facebook and MySpace are only two years old but have attracted millions of avid young participants, who mingle online by sharing biographical and other information, often intended to show how funny, cool or outrageous they are. On MySpace and similar sites, personal pages are generally available to anyone who registers, with few restrictions on who can register. Facebook, though, has separate requirements for different categories of users; college students must have a college e-mail address to register. Personal pages on Facebook are restricted to friends and others on the user’s campus, leading many students to assume that they are relatively private.
But companies can gain access to the information in several ways. Employees who are recent graduates often retain their college e-mail addresses, which enables them to see pages. Sometimes, too, companies ask college students working as interns to perform online background checks, said Patricia Rose, the director of career services at the University of Pennsylvania. Concerns have already been raised about these and other Internet sites, including their potential misuse by stalkers and students exposing their own misbehavior, for example by posting photographs of hazing by college sports teams. Add to the list of unintended consequences the new hurdles for the job search. Ana Homayoun runs Green Ivy Educational Consulting, a small firm that tutors and teaches organizational skills to high school students in the San Francisco area. Ms. Homayoun visited Duke University this spring for an alumni weekend and while there planned to interview a promising job applicant. Curious about the candidate, Ms. Homayoun went to her page on Facebook. She found explicit photographs and commentary about the student’s sexual escapades, drinking and pot smoking, including testimonials from friends. Among the pictures were shots of the young woman passed out after drinking. “I was just shocked by the amount of stuff that she was willing to publicly display,” Ms. Homayoun said. “When I saw that, I thought, ‘O.K., so much for that.’ “ Ms. Rose said a recruiter had told her he rejected an applicant after searching the name of the student, a chemical engineering major, on Google. Among the things the recruiter found, she said, was this remark: “I like to blow things up.” Occasionally students find evidence online that may explain why a job search is foundering. Tien Nguyen, a senior at the University of California, Los Angeles, signed up for interviews on campus with corporate recruiters, beginning last fall, but he was seldom invited. A friend suggested in February that Mr. Nguyen research himself on Google. He found a link to a satirical essay, titled “Lying Your Way to the Top,” that he had published last summer on a Web site for college students. He asked that the essay be removed. Soon, he began to be invited to job interviews, and he has now received several offers. “I never really considered that employers would do something like that,” he said. “I thought they would just look at your résumé and grades.” Jennifer Floren is chief executive of Experience Inc., which provides online information about jobs and employers to students at 3,800 universities. “This is really the first time that we’ve seen that stage of life captured in a kind of time capsule and in a public way,” Ms. Floren said. “It has its place, but it’s moving from a fraternity or sorority living room. It’s now in a public arena.” Some companies, including Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Ernst & Young and Osram Sylvania, said they did not use the Internet to check on college job applicants. “I’d rather not see that part of them,” said Maureen Crawford Hentz, manager of talent acquisition at Osram
Sylvania. “I don’t think it’s related to their bona fide occupational qualifications.” More than a half-dozen major corporations, including Morgan Stanley, Dell, Pfizer, L’Oréal and Goldman Sachs, turned down or did not respond to requests for interviews. But other companies, particularly those involved in the digital world like Microsoft and Métier, a small software company in Washington, D.C., said researching students through social networking sites was now fairly typical. “It’s becoming very much a common tool,” said Warren Ashton, group marketing manager at Microsoft. “For the first time ever, you suddenly have very public information about almost any candidate.” At Microsoft, Mr. Ashton said, recruiters are given broad latitude over how to work, and there is no formal policy about using the Internet to research applicants. “There are certain recruiters and certain companies that are probably more in tune with the new technologies than others are,” he said. Microsoft and Osram Sylvania have also begun to use networking sites in a different way, participating openly in online communities to get out their company’s messages and to identify talented job candidates. Students may not know when they have been passed up for an interview or a job offer because of something a recruiter saw on the Internet. But more than a dozen college career counselors said recruiters had been telling them since last fall about incidents in which students’ online writing or photographs had raised serious questions about their judgment, eliminating them as job candidates. Some college career executives are skeptical that many employers routinely check applicants online. “My observation is that it’s more fiction than fact,” said Tom Devlin, director of the career center at the University of California, Berkeley. At a conference in late May, Mr. Devlin said, he asked 40 employers if they researched students online and every one said no. Many career counselors have been urging students to review their pages on Facebook and other sites with fresh eyes, removing photographs or text that may be inappropriate to show to their grandmother or potential employers. Counselors are also encouraging students to apply settings on Facebook that can significantly limit access to their pages. “I think students have the view that Facebook is their space and that the adult world doesn’t know about it,” said Mark W. Smith, assistant vice chancellor and director of the career center at Washington University in St. Louis. “But the adult world is starting to come in.”
WHERE GREAT THINGS HAPPEN
Activities: Mrs. Milana McDermott - Dean of Student Life - ext. 273 Freshman Officers Elected: Our new class officers were elected just in time to plan Homecoming Week with the rest of the ASB and class officers. Congratulations go to Freshman Co-Presidents: Kevin O’Donnell and Carolyn Vaimoso, and to our Freshman Senators: Frankie Gregoris, Brennan Kall, and Allison Vicelja. They will proudly promote their new class color…RED! Homecoming: Special thanks to all of the students and faculty who have put so much time and energy into making Homecoming a great success. So many of our students, faculty, and staff are involved with this week full of fun, enthusiasm, and energy. Thanks for showing your Knight Spirit! Congratulations to the 2014 Homecoming Court who will do a fantastic job representing their classmates and their school. 2014 HOMECOMING COURT Austin Garbe & Christina Beacham James Han & Vanessa Cicchini Zach Hayes & Kelly Hugo Spencer Higgins & Jenna Hou Carter London & Danielle Ireland Justin Matthews & Kira Iwai Blake Miles & Chelsea Lidy Shane O’Donnell & Cassandra McGill Alex Rodriguez & Alyssah Rivera Stephen Thompson & Kimberly Serrano
Class Spirit Representatives: We are happy to introduce a new opportunity for student involvement. Class Spirit Representatives are encouraging, enthusiastic, energetic, hard working, responsible, fun, and spirited. Their purpose is to facilitate spirit amongst the classes throughout the school year, and particularly during spirit weeks. Spirit Representatives: • Take pride in Bishop Montgomery and is a model student • Pump up his/her class during spirit weeks while being encouraging and respectful to other classes • Spread school spirit and expresses enthusiasm for school events • Help make posters, cheers, chants, and any other spirit items for spirit weeks • Help at school functions like dances and athletic games
Congratulations to the following students who have been selected as class spirit representatives for 2014-2015: Freshmen – Nikala Cunningham, Sophia Caroll, Cian Ward, and David Singleton Sophomores – Emilie Bero, Caroline Cusolito, Ray Hadnett, and Alyssa Heisen Juniors – Ron Hermoso, Kimberly Peete, James Serrano, and Brenae Wilkes Seniors – Juli Papilla, Daniel Sepulveda, Lauren Tolin, and Vallonise Turner
Activities:
Mrs. Milana McDermott Dean of Student Life - ext. 273
Spirit Squad and Band See’s Candy Sales: Our Spirit Squad and Band members will be selling See’s Candy just in time for the holidays! This fundraiser helps off-set some of their expenses for the year and is a wonderful opportunity to start your Christmas shopping. Sales are from October 28th to November 14th. Your support is much appreciated. Senior Panoramic Photo: All members of the senior class need to be in the gym no later than 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 13th. This is the class photo that will appear in the yearbook, so don’t miss out! Seniors should wear their senior t-shirts and will have an opportunity to purchase a keepsake copy. Talent Show: Sign-ups for the November 13th Talent Show will be on Thursday, October 30th in TMH. Encourage your student to start practicing their act now, so they can share their talent at BMHS! National Honor Society: Bishop Montgomery proudly announced its first chapter of the National Honor Society two years ago. Students are encouraged to apply for membership of this prestigious organization. Applications will be due in January. “The National Honor Society (NHS) is the nation’s premier organization established to recognize outstanding high school students. More than just an honor roll, NHS serves to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character.” Information about Bishop’s Chapter - organization, qualifications, and requirements - can be found on the school website. Thanks to all for your continued support of student life at BMHS. Your involvement is much appreciated.
Athletics: Mr. Eric Wood - Athletic Director - ext. 269
Mr. Ed Hodgkiss - Assistant Athletic Director - ext. 260 Mr. Arnold Ale - Assistant Athletic Director - ext. 262
Hard to believe it is already November‌. With all Fall sports aiming for the playoffs we have several teams going to continue their season with competition at CIF. Watch the website for updates about playoffs. Winter sports have done their try outs and are now getting ready for competition with lots of practices. November is a busy month with teams winding down and starting up so check your calendar and come out and support our student athletes!!!! Keep up to date with Bishop Montgomery athletics by checking this link: http://www.bmhs-la.org/apps/pages/index. jsp?uREC_ID=98134&type=d&pREC_ID=438152 Click under teams page to find sport you are interested in. You will find schedules, coaches info and much more. Check back often. Bishop Montgomery has a $100 athletic participation fee for all athletes. This is a one- time, play as many sports, as you can fee. Any athlete listed on a roster must pay this fee. This fee helps to defray some of the costs to run the athletic program. Fall sport athletes should have received a letter from the Athletic department. See you on the Sidelines!!! Go Knights! Eric Wood- x-269 email-ewood@bmhs-la.org 2014/15 BMHS Athletic Department Athletic Director Eric Wood ewood@bmhs-la.org Football/Assistant AD Ed Hodgekiss ehodgekiss@bmhs-la.org Assistant AD Arnold Ale aale@bmhs-la.org Athletic Trainer Jaime Kamiya jkamiya@bmhs-la.org Assistant Trainer Alvin Dunn adunn@bmhs-la.org Strength and Conditioning Carrie Rey crey@bmhs-la.org Baseball Eric Fuller efuller@bmhs-la.org Mens Basketball Doug Mitchell dmitchell@bmhs-la.org Girls Basketball Bridgette Reyes breyes2425@bmhs-la.org Boys/Girls Cross Country Brian Haynes bhaynes@bmhs-la.org Boys Golf Martin Von Kanel mvonkanel@bmhs-la.org Girls Golf Brian Adams badams@bmhs-la.org Boys Soccer Clive Hulbert chulbert@bmhs-la.org Girls Soccer Martin Haynes mhaynes@bmhs-la.org Swimming Amy Traxler atraxler@bmhs-la.org Boys/Girls Tennis Dan Wooten dwooten@bmhs-la.org Track and Field Brian Haynes bhaynes@bmhs-la.org Boys Volleyball Kevin Norman knorman@bmhs-la.org Girls Volleyball Keegan Featherstone kfeatherston@bmhs-la.org Softball Rodney Nichols rnichols@bmhs-la.org
WHERE GREAT THINGS HAPPEN
Leoncio Shoots Low Round of the Day BMHS junior Anna Leoncio ‘16, the 2-time defending Del Rey League Champion, shot the low round of the day in the girls’ golf team’s season-opening match against St. Joseph’s. Leoncio shot a 1-over par 37 at Skylinks Golf Course in Long Beach to claim medalist honors. Volleyball Girls Volleyball defeated LaSalle HS 3-2 to put the Knights in the driver seat for another League Title. Knights Continue Streak Against Mary Star The last time Mary Star beat Bishop Montgomery in football was 1981. The Knights made sure that streak stayed alive with a 35-13 win over the Stars in Week 4. BMHS followed that win with another. The Knights beat Bosco Tech 49-0 and look forward to beginning play in the new South Catholic League. Your support is always appreciated by our student athletes. Please find time to make it out to a game. All athletic schedules can be found in the back of the newsletter. GO KNIGHTS!!
WHERE GREAT THINGS HAPPEN
Development: Mr. Andy Marafino - Director of Development and Alumni - ext. 246
Mrs. Amy Traxler - Assistant to the Director of Development and Public Relations - ext. 249
QUEEN OF ANGELS FUND During the month of November, each of you will receive Ms. Libbon’s annual Queen of Angels Fund Appeal Letter. This fund, established in February 2012, has helped BMHS provide tuition assistance to many students here at school. Please take a moment to read Ms. Libbon’s letter and consider making a gift to this important fund. All gifts to Bishop Montgomery are tax-deductible. SHOP AT TARGET Are you a Target shopper? Do you have their REDcard? Support BMHS by simply shopping at Target or Target.com and use your REDcard. Visit https://www-secure.target.com/redcard/tcoe/view-or-change and register your card and support BMHS. The Bishop Montgomery High School code is 2783. Through their Take Charge of Education program, Target will donate 1% of every purchase back to the school! OFFICIAL BISHOP MONTGOMERY APPAREL Are you looking for some cool Bishop Montgomery fall weather gear for you or your kids? The official Bishop Montgomery online store has many great items and styles available for adults and kids. Just go to www.bmhs-la. org and click on the link in the bottom right-hand corner of any page to purchase t-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, shorts, sweatpants and more. 20% of every purchase comes back to BMHS.
WHERE GREAT THINGS HAPPEN
Performing Arts: Mr. Eric Hankey - Instrumental and Vocal Music Director The Knight Music Department is going to London! Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Royal Albert Hall, the West End, Piccadilly Circus, and more … On April 7th, 2015, many of our Music Department students will be flying to London for an exciting 6-day tour of London and the surrounding area, including Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick Castle! While in London, in addition to sightseeing, the group will be performing at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music during the 2015 London Music Festival, along with student groups from around the country and the world. It’s all very exciting, and we’re really looking forward to it! There is still room on the tour at this point – if your student would like to join, please email me at ehankey@bmhsla.org and I’ll get you the information. Spring Ensembles 2015 In addition to the London tour, our students are preparing for all sorts of exciting performances and experiences this Spring Semester: - - - - -
Winterguard – a.k.a. Winter Colorguard Indoor Drumline – yes, like the movie Jazz Band – from Basie to Buble to Quincy Jones Wind Ensemble – our largest spring group, like orchestra (without as many strings!) Small ensembles – Brass Choir, Woodwind Choir, and Percussion Ensemble
And, in addition to performing at 2-4 competitions each, we’re challenging each group to do as many community performances as possible – we want to be seen and known! If you’re interested in having a performance of any kind at an event, please email me at ehankey@bmhs-la.org. If you know someone who’s interested in any of these, please have them come talk to us any time in room 318 – we’re always interested in growing! Upcoming Events Tuesday 10/28 - See’s Candy Sale begins! Friday 10/31 – Band & Guard Performance at St. John Fisher Jog-A-Thon Friday 11/7 - Last home football game of the season, and Middle School Band Night Sunday 11/30 – Band & Guard perform with Los Angeles Catholic Schools Band in Hollywood Christmas Parade Friday 12/5 - Friends and Family Night - come enjoy performances by our Band, Colorguard, and Jazz Band Sunday 12/7 - San Pedro Christmas Parade Friday 12/26 – Band & Guard perform with Los Angeles Catholic Schools Band in San Diego’s Holiday Bowl Big Balloon Parade
Video Production Class Update – Call for Symposium Speakers
Performing Arts: Mr. Eric Hankey Music Director
Thanks to everyone who has helped get our new Video Production Class up and running this fall – Mrs. Libbon, Mr. Echevarria, Mr. Adams, Mr. Hong, Mr. Haynes, Mr. Masters, Mr. Miller, and Mrs. Dunn here at school, and Mr. Martin and the BMHS Music Boosters for all of their hard work! We now have a portable lab of 24 Nexus 7 tablets, a new Canon XA20 “run&gun” camera, and Adobe Premiere CC installed on Mr. Hong’s 16 Imacs, as well as a studio-lit green screen and various other awesome video production gadgets. We are interested in bringing aspiring, working, or retired industry professionals in to speak to the students about their experiences in any of the motion picture and mediarelated fields. If you or someone you know would be interested in sharing their story for 30-45 minutes during a school day, please have them contact me at ehankey@bmhsla.org. If they’re interested, but not able to appear in person, we’d be able to set up a Skype or other video chat with them, too – we’re very flexible! “Knight Music” Booster Club The “Knight Music” Booster Club represents the Band, Jazz Band, Drumline, Music Production, Video Production, and Music Ministry. Their meetings are usually on the same Monday nights as Athletic Booster Club and Mother’s Club, at 6:00 pm in room 318 – additional meetings are scheduled as needed. Please join them to help keep the many projects they organize rolling. We’re always practicing, planning, and organizing, including school concerts, local performances, competitions, parades, tours, and lots of other important things – come on up any day before or after school, 6:30-6:45am or 2:15-3:00pm (although we’re often there earlier and later.) To get in touch with Mr. Hankey, please call the school, or email at ehankey@bmhs-la.org.
WHERE GREAT THINGS HAPPEN
Technology: John Hong - Technology Committee Chair - ext. 276
Brian Adams - Technology Curriculum Integration Specialist - ext. 272
· A collaborative project has been arranged using the technical expertise of Mr. Hanky’s video production students and the religious course content from Mr. Angel’s religion students. Students will be working together to plan, storyboard, film, edit, and present; students will create a three to six minute short film to show the celebrations, effects, implications, rights, requirements, services, symbols, themes and graces of their group’s assigned sacrament. · The math department is working with Mr. Adams to develop supplemental programming projects to develop digital literacies, and increase the understanding, engagement, and retention of course content. Currently a project is planned to create a small program utilizing the Law of Cosines that will visually represent a dynamic triangle. Students will be able to manipulate their created triangle, and the programmed math will display all represented angles and side lengths. Students will also be encouraged to incorporate a formula to find a triangle’s centroid (center point). · More and more teachers are adopting Google classroom into their courses, or utilizing Google Drive to distribute or collect class documentation. · Faculty and staff will be participating in a professional development at the end of the month focusing on further development and refinement of technology skills. · Faculty, staff, and students are going to attempt to participate in a charity video creation competition that raises awareness for cancer research. Winning submissions get to direct a substantial donation to a cancer related charity of their choice. ·
The campus is continually making progress in attempts to upgrade network and technology infrastructure.
YEARBOOK PRE-ORDERS: Pre-order your yearbook on your upcoming tuition payment. You can pre-order your yearbook until your January tuition payment for $125. After January, the price increases to $150 and you aren’t guaranteed a yearbook. Last year, we sold out of books. Don’t get left out on all of this year’s memories!
SENIOR ADS:
Yearbook:
John Hong - Yearbook Advisor - ext. 276
The yearbook staff is now offering the opportunity to “personalize” the yearbook in a very special way with a “Senior Ad”. Space is available to congratulate a graduate. We will be sending out a Senior ad packet to all the graduating seniors in the following weeks. Please follow the directions in the packet. *ALL SENIOR PORTRAITS NEED TO BE TAKEN BEFORE OCTOBER 31st TO BE INCLUDED IN THE YEARBOOK.* If you have any questions or concerns please email the Yearbook Advisor, Mr. Hong, at jhong@bmhs-la.org.
PRICES/SIZES: BLACK & WHITE Black and white ads are available in the following sizes for the prices shown: EARLY PRICING REGULAR PRICING LATE PRICING Due: FRI, OCT 31 Due: FRI, NOV 7 Due: FRI, NOV 21 ¼ page: $100 ¼ page: $150 ¼ page: $250 ½ page: $150 ½ page: $200 ½ page: $300 full page: $250 full page: $300 full page: $400
PRICES/SIZES: COLOR ADS Color ads are available in the following sizes for the prices shown: EARLY PRICING REGULAR PRICING LATE PRICING Due: FRI, OCT 31 Due: FRI, NOV 7 Due: FRI, NOV 21 ¼ page: $150 ¼ page: $200 ¼ page: $300 ½ page: $250 ½ page: $300 ½ page: $400 full page: $350 full page: $400 full page: $500
The Brain and Your Teen Janet Dion, MFT Head, Choices Counseling Did you look forward to the teen years with your child? Are these years meeting your expectations? In the Choices counseling office on campus, I have the honor of meeting and working with many of your teens. They are passionate, intelligent, willing, engaging and receptive. Sometimes parents wonder if I am meeting with the same student that they live with at home. The challenge of the teen years is, according to Dr. Dan Siegel, author of Brainstorm, to direct the course of the waterfall rather than try to stop it. That sounds easy, and then a parent puts this principle into practice. Notice that I used the word practice. Sometimes it’s difficult, challenging and exhausting. Sometimes it’s easy. Some of the gifts of the practice reveal themselves in the development of both the adolescent and the parental brain. Focusing the mind can change the structure of the brain at any age. Siegel defines this idea, neuroplasticity, as “the way the brain changes its connections in response to experience.” This news is good news for all of us. We each decide what we will choose. Relationship interactions affect brain development. The primary relationship is within ourselves. The parent child relationship is important in brain development. In the book Brainstorm, the essence of the brain changes in adolescence is:
Emotional Spark Social Engagement Novelty Seeking Creative Explorations
It is helpful for parents to notice the moments of reaction inside themselves. As these essential changes are happening in the teen brain, a parent might notice one or more of them missing in his or her life experience. This moment of awareness is an invitation for the parent to expand his or her own life. It is also an invitation to have an open conversation with the teen. This conversation is usually facilitated by open questions along with a willingness to listen and share parental wisdom and experiences. It can be a tricky balance to know when to speak and when to listen and the appropriate time to say yes and the time to say no. Don’t isolate yourself during this journey of parenting. You have a community. Join together with other parents; attend school events to meet other parents. Come to the Choices office to discuss concerns or obtain referrals. We are you to support you. Call us any school day, 310-5402021x 263. The Brain and Your Teen Janet Dion, MFT Head, Choices Counseling
2014-2015
Paris Tour 2015
The French classes are taking a trip to Paris, France April 6th - 13th 2015. They will spend 8 days soaking up the food, language, culture and history. Some of the notable sites that they will see are: • The Eiffel Tower • Arc de Triomphe • The Louvre • Musée d'Orsay • Les Invalides • Versailles • Chartres Cathedral • Loire Valley châteaux
Please help us defer the cost of this unforgettable trip by sponsoring a portion of a student's trip (contact ktutko@bmhs-la.org for details) or by donating to the trip by clicking on the GIVE NOW button at bmhs-la.org. Contributions are tax deductible and any amount would be appreciated.
Merci!
Come and learn about PSI Opportunities for November and December at our next meeting NOV 17th @ 7 PM Please be prompt as we have a full agenda The sophomore moms will provide delicious refreshments
Mothers Club is the place to be to learn about PSI hours! It’s also a great way to fellowship with other parents, learn more about the Bishop community, and get involved in your child’s education!
Christmas Luncheon “Joy To The World” Saturday, December 6th
This is a great opportunity for you to fulfill all your PSI hours. We’ll need lots of help, and will
be recruiting volunteers at this meeting! Table hostess forms, Vendor forms, and other luncheon related information is available now. Copies can be found in the monthly Parent Newsletter on the school website, www.bmhs-la.org
CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON DEADLINES TABLE HOSTESSES TABLE OF 10 $250/$25 PER PERSON Oct 13, 2014 first day to turn in reservation and check Nov 1, 2014 last day to turn in reservation and check Note: tables maybe be sold out sooner than 11/1, first paid, first served
VENDOR BOOTHS 1 TABLE $75, PLUS $25 VALUE RAFFLE ITEM first day to turn in reservation and check Oct 13, 2014 last day to turn in reservation and check Nov 1, 2014 Note: booths may be sold out sooner than 11/1, first paid, first served
********************************************************************************************** SENIORS: Maryann Leslie mommiehoney@msn.com Mary Frances Bertucci mfbertucci@earthlink.net JUNIORS: Tangela Brown tangelabrown@sbcglobal.net Glenda Calderon cienic@sbcglobal.net SOPHOMORES: Cindy Quinones a.quinones@sbcglobal.net FRESHMEN: Ingrid Sharpe Ingridsharpe1@verizon.net Sophia Kall Sophia.d.kall@kp.org Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments: JUDY TOLIN bmhsmothersclub@bmhs-la.org
#2 4 p. 3
Tue
Thu
Fri
6 p. 1
7 Knight of Honor p. 6
5 p. 2
Sat
1 Tuition Due All Saints Day UC App submission opens #4 8 SAT
International Student lunch & 1:45-3:45pm Stud. vs. Teacher Improv Match (TMH) presentation
Grading period ends 7pm Home football game
#4 15
Deadline for letters of rec/ transcript req. for apps due Jan. 1
7:00am gym closed #5 Rept. Cards mailed/CIF eligibility SCRAM Latin Convention 8:00am Dept. Mtg. Spirit Squad candy sales end 8—3:30pm 8:00am Sr. Panoramic Pict (gym) 6:00pm Talent Show (TMH)
#5 13 Newsletter Due p. 2,3,4 14 p. 4 8:00am Curr. Comm. Mtg. Improv @ lunch 2:25pm Talent Show rehearsal
Lab Days 8:45am—2:20pm
28 School Holiday
21 p. 5 3:30 SAC closed
20 p. 6
Drama Production Sr. Retreat Kairos
#3 27 Thanksgiving Day School Holiday
29
JSA Conv. 8—3pm LAX
#4 22 9:00am—12:00pm 8th Grade Open House
19 p. 1 Final Exams due to copy center
12 p. 5,6,1
Final Exams due to Dept. Chair
Denim Day
Wed
November 2014 Academic Mon
3 p. 4
Sun
2 Religions of the World field trip
11 Tuition Late Fee Veterans’ Day School Holiday
7:45am Fac. Mtg. 8:45am Start
10 11:59pm Grades Due School Holiday
18 p. 2
6:00pm Band Bst. Mtg.—Ret. Ctr. 6:30pm Ath. Bst. Mtg.—Lib. 7:00pm Mothers’ Club Mt.g.-Fac. Ctr.
24 p. 4 Jostens Sr. Grad order info(Rel)
25 p. 3 #9 26 p. 2 8:00am Thanksgiving Denim Day 11:50 Dismissal Mass
17 p. 3
Daylight Savings Time Ends All Souls Day
9
16
23
30 UC/CSU app deadline Hollywood Christmas Parade (LACSB)