Christian Brothers High School • Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL Dear Parents,
MAY 2015
SPRING SEMESTER Christian Brothers High School Monthly Newsletter
www.cbhs-sacramento.org
INSIDE
In the film Evening Star, Aurora, the character played by Shirley MacLaine, is lamenting over the choices and behavior of her grandchildren. Her friend and housekeeper commiserates, saying,“You can love ‘em, but you can’t live their lives.” MacLaine’s character answers, “Neither can they. Not properly.” Sometimes parenting can feel that way – an uphill battle, with frustration and vexation when our children appear to forget all the years of our training and all the wisdom we have imparted, and make mistakes that seemingly sabotage their success or their future. It is enough to turn our hair gray! But the good news is that none of the training or words of wisdom are really lost. Proverbs 22:6 says “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” You have spent many years instilling values and moral principles in your children, and we here at Christian Brothers are honored to see the fruit of that training on a daily basis. It is true, teenagers make mistakes and sometimes choose unwisely – but then don’t we all? The great thing about life is that failure is inevitable, but it is not the end of the story, as long as it is used to learn and grow. Part of the deal God makes with us as parents is not only to allow failure in our children (whether it is encouraging the toddler who falls and fails repeatedly while learning to walk, or the teen who brings home a failing grade on a test) but also to see both the failures of our children and our own failings as opportunities for growth. Along with that grace of allowing and forgiving failure, we have an opportunity to reframe failure in the light of growth vs. fixed mindset. What does that mean? Well, as Dr. Robert Brooks explains, “Mindsets are the assumptions and expectations we have for ourselves and others. These attitudes guide our behavior and influence our responses to daily events.” Stanford researcher Carol Dweck has done extensive research on this topic and in her words, “Success is not determined by innate talents and intellect. Rather, success depends upon mindset – the degree to which we believe we have the capacity to cultivate our intelligence and grow our abilities.” A fixed mindset is a rigid mindset that results in a false sense of superiority, undermined by a deep sense of self-doubt, a fear of failure, refusal to take risks, a feeling that failure permanently defines one as a loser, a need to prove oneself again and again,
the belief that only untalented, ungifted people have to work for success, a need for validation and reassurance in labels (“smart,” “jock”), and a desire to blame others or outside circumstances when things don’t go one’s way. Growthmindset thinking results in a love for learning and selfimprovement, a desire to be challenged, a willingness to work for positive results, a belief that one can control the outcomes in one’s life with effort and practice, the ability to learn from mistakes and failures, and emotional resilience. As we enter the final days of the 2014-15 academic year, I encourage you to cultivate growth-mindset thinking in your children. There are several ways to do this. Here are a few suggestions: Practice modeling growth-mindset thinking with your child; explain how you deal with challenges and how you continue to learn; emphasize the joy of learning for learning’s sake; set appropriately high expectations and provide support; praise effort, practice, and process – not outcome alone; ask:“What can you learn from this experience? What could you try differently the next time?”; provide honest, constructive criticism that emphasizes growth; make concrete plans for growth; point out the perseverance/effort of favorite athletes and stars; take reasonable risks, and encourage your children to do so. By emphasizing positive growth over a fixed approach, our children can end the school year strong, optimizing opportunities for progress and development. As our Founder, St. John Baptist de la Salle, reminds us, “Be satisfied with what you can do, since this satisfies God, but do not spare yourself in what you can do with the help of grace. Be convinced that, provided you are willing, you can do more with the help of God’s grace than you imagine.” In gratitude to each of you for your partnership with us – have a wonderful end to 2014-15! Live Jesus in our hearts,
Principal Domine Opus Tuum
Counseling and Guidance Lasallian Student Life - Campus Ministry - Christian Service - Student Activities
Athletics Media Visual and Performing Arts International Student Program Talon/International Student Program Falcon Family Faces
Counseling and Guidance COLLEGE NEWS
private colleges do require them. It is a good idea to take an SAT subject area test in a curriculum area you’ve just completed, for example, US History or Chemistry. • Take the ACT on June 13.
SUMMER IS STILL A TIME FOR ACTION: The counselors would like to remind students and parents that summertime is a good time to continue college planning and academic preparation. Parents: studies have continued to show that students who are involved in structured, productive activities in the summer are less likely to engage in at-risk behavior with drugs, alcohol, early sexual activity, and “partying” than those students who are “bored”. Busy, involved, goal-oriented students who are working on academic pursuits, athletics, a summer job, or enrichment activities are better prepared for the rest of high school and for college. In addition to the many outside summer program opportunities available as well as CB’s own Summer School Program (check out the link on CB’s homepage for our summer programs), there are several other things that students should be doing this summer:
Summer • Complete summer “homework” for college admission (distributed by Ms. McClellan and Mr. Diaz in your English classes and available on Family Connection in the “document library” – this is due the first day of school in August!). • Check commonapp.org and other college admissions websites for dates when colleges begin accepting applications (the Common App and UC App both open August 1). • Study for SAT/ACT. • Visit college campuses if possible. There are many “college tour” programs out there if you don’t want to plan it on your own (see our college counselor Ms. McClellan for more information). • Begin drafting your college essay (part of your summer “homework”). • Log on to Family Connection to research colleges and career opportunities. • Do something extraordinary! Try a summer program on a college campus (we have a list on Family Connection), work at a job, or travel.
1) All underclassmen, remember to spend time this summer completing your summer reading assignments!!!
2) Sophomores: • Consider taking the SAT Subject Exam on June 6 in a subject area you just completed (for example, AP World History or Chemistry). • Update your resume and complete any other activities that are suggested on Family Connection (FC). • Utilize PrepMe on FC to start preparing for the PSAT. • See your counselor to check out College Summer Programs or check them out on FC.
4) Seniors: May • You must submit your acceptance (“Statement of Intent to Register”) to the college you have chosen to attend by MAY 1! • Congratulate yourself (but stay focused on finals)! • Go to Naviance Family Connection by May 2 and list the colleges where you were admitted and where you have decided to enroll. • Take your Advanced Placement Exams (for AP students). It is a MANDATORY school policy that all AP students take their exam(s). • Fill out college housing forms and pay careful attention to deadlines concerning housing deposits, etc. • Write “Thanks, but no thanks” letters to colleges you will not attend. E-mailing them is OK. • Take the Analytical Writing Requirement test for UC-bound students or the ELM & EPT for CSU-bound students if you are required to do so and are not exempt. Take the placement tests for the community college you will be attending and meet with a counselor to plan your courses. • Enjoy your graduation and begin your college journey! June • Make sure you have responded to all requests from your college of choice. • Have the CB Registrar (Mrs. Janet Warren) send your final transcript to your college of attendance no later than JUNE 15 (there is a form that you fill out and you must pay $2 for an official transcript)-- and don’t forget to thank your teachers, counselors, the registrar, etc. for all of their help over the past four years!
3) Juniors: May • Take SAT or SAT Subject Exams May 2 or June 6. • Register for the June 13 ACT Exam by May 8. Go to www. actstudent.org to register. • Register for the June 6 SAT by May 8 at www.sat.org. • If enrolled in AP classes, take Advanced Placement Exams. They are mandatory, per school policy. • Plan for a challenging senior year. If you want to make changes other than what you pre-registered for, see your counselor. • Update your resume on Family Connection and finish any other suggested activities. • Start checking out financial aid and scholarship resources. Try www.fastweb.com or www.finaid.com as well as the Scholarship Search on Family Connection. • Study hard for your finals. This semester’s grades are critical for college! • Think about going on the summer Kairos retreat (May 31June 3), especially if you have a lot of activities going on next year and don’t want to miss three days of school. June • Consider taking the SAT or SAT Subject Exams June 6 (remember that you may submit to the UC’s any Subject Exams of your choice. They are not required). Some select
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Continued to page 3
Counseling and Guidance
Counseling and Guidance Continued from page 2
IMPORTANT REMINDER FOR STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE “D” OR “F” SEMESTER GRADES: • All semester F’s must be remediated during the summer in our Christian Brothers’ Summer School. • Any semester F’s by seniors will cause you to not receive the CB diploma that you have worked for over four years. • Semester D’s could put a student in jeopardy of not being eligible for 4-year colleges and universities immediately after high school. We strongly suggest that D’s be remediated in the summer! (If you have any questions regarding the need for taking these courses or the consequences of not taking them, please see the “CB Course Catalog” on the school website and/or contact your child’s grade-level counselor).
CB’S SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM PROVIDES EXCELLENT OPTIONS FOR STUDENTS: Our summer school program at CB provides excellent opportunities to accelerate a student’s curriculum goals or to provide schedule relief next year and allow for a study hall one or both semesters. Please view the courses that will be offered this summer on the school website www.cbhs-sacramento.org or see your counselor to discuss your options.
UPCOMING COUNSELING & GUIDANCE DATES:
• May 3 (Sunday) – WACAC College Fair for students in grades 9-11 (and their parents). Over 100 colleges will be represented. Students are encouraged to register in advance at the CSUS website www.csus.edu/admissions/wacac_sacramento • May 8 – Regular registration deadline for both the June 6 SAT and the June 13 ACT.
FINALS ARE COMING!!!!!
Final exams are coming up soon! Final Exam/Review week is May 11 - 21. The following practices are in effect for review days: 1. No new major topics or units will be introduced and no assessments of any kind will be given. 2. Review days are scheduled to assist students with organizing and synthesizing the course material. 3. All classes will meet on review days. 4. The final examination will be comprehensive in nature for the semester. Concerning the administration of final examinations: 1. Students may not schedule their own examinations to meet personal needs. They must take the final during their class period (i.e. a student in ‘G’ set cannot take the final during ‘C’ set because they are free during that period). 2. The Handbook on pg. 9 states the following: ‘All students are required to take final exams during the final examination period. Students who are unable to take a final exam will receive an “Incomplete” for their final grade and will need to make up their final exam at the beginning of summer vacation. Upon correction of the final exam, the final grade will be entered into the student’s transcript.’ 3. Students who are absent for one final during finals week may make up that exam after G set on Thursday, May 21.
SPRING SEMESTER EXAMINATION/REVIEW SCHEDULE TIME 9:00 10:30 am 10:30 10:55 am 10:55 12:25 pm
MON MAY 11
TUES MAY 12
WED MAY 13
THURS MAY 14
FRIDAY MAY 15
B SET Review
B SET FINAL
E SET Review
E SET Final
BREAK
BREAK
BREAK
BREAK
Founders Day 9:00 am
C SET Review
C SET FINAL
F SET Review
F Set Final
TIME 9:00 10:30 am 10:30 10:55 am
Dismissal at 11:30 am
10:55 12:25 pm
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MON MAY 18
TUES MAY 19
WED MAY 20
THURS MAY 21
A SET Review
A SET FINAL
G SET Review
G SET FINAL
BREAK
BREAK
Prayer Service 10:30 - 11:30 am
BREAK
D Set Review
D SET FINAL
Leave to Serve Day Dismissal at noon
Make-up Exam Final
Lasallian Student Life
Campus Ministry News…
Reflections for May… As we enter the month of May we have the opportunity to celebrate Mothers. We also celebrate those women who have chosen life for their babies and who have shared this gift of life with families who cannot have children of their own. As an adoptee, I am so grateful for my birth mother’s choice to give me life and allow me to be placed in the arms and heart of another woman who could not have a child of her own. I pray often in thanksgiving for this woman whom I have never met and know little of and that God would allow our paths to cross so that I might thank her one day in person. As we celebrate our mothers in a couple of weeks, let us take a moment to cherish and be grateful for the moments we have had with these special women in our lives. This prayer may be one that touches your heart as you remember your own mother in prayer. I wish you continued blessings throughout this season of springtime. Jen Yearwood, Director of Campus Ministry
Most Gracious Heavenly Father,
We thank You for our mothers to whom You have entrusted the care of every precious human life from its very beginning in the womb. You have given to woman the capacity of participating with You in the creation of new life. Grant that every woman may come to understand the full meaning of that blessing, which gives her an unlimited capacity for selfless love for every child she may be privileged to bear, and for all Your children. Watch over every mother who is with child, strengthen her faith in Your fatherly care and love for her and for her unborn baby. Give her courage in times of fear or pain, understanding in times of uncertainty and doubt, and hope in times of trouble. Grant her joy in the birth of her child. To mothers You have given the great privilege and responsibility of being a child’s first teacher and spiritual guide. Grant that all mothers may worthily foster the faith of their children, following the example of Mary, Elizabeth, and other holy women who follow Christ. Help mothers to grow daily in knowledge and understanding of Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and grant them the wisdom to impart this knowledge faithfully to their children, and to all who depend upon them. Assist all “spiritual mothers”, those who, though they may have no children of their own, nevertheless selflessly care for the children of others -- of every age and state in life. Grant that they may know the joy of fulfilling this motherly calling of women, whether in teaching, nursing, religious life, or in other work which recognizes and fosters the true dignity of every human being created in Your image and likeness. We beseech You to send Your Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to all mothers who sorrow for children that have died, are ill or estranged from their families, or who are in trouble or danger of any kind. Help grieving mothers to rely on Your tender mercy and love for all your children. We remember all women who have struggled with infertility or who have lost children to miscarriage. We give thanks for our mothers who, while no longer with us, remain constantly in our hearts. We ask your blessing on all those to whom You have entrusted motherhood. May Your Holy Spirit constantly inspire and strengthen them. May they ever follow the example of Mary, mother of Our Lord, and imitate her fidelity, her humility, and her self-giving love. May all mothers receive Your Grace abundantly in this earthly life, and may they look forward to eternal joy in Your presence in the life to come. We ask this through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. AMEN.
Prayer & Worship •
“A Whole New World….End of School Year Prayer Service”….All members of the CB community are invited to join us for this special Disney-themed prayer service planned by the Prayer & Faith Class. We will celebrate the culmination of a wonderful school year on Wednesday, May 20 at 10:30 a.m.!
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Baccalaureate Liturgy….This special mass for our Seniors and their families will be held at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament on Friday, May 22 at 9:00 a.m. Because of limited space this liturgy is NOT OPEN to the general public and a special ticket is required for entrance. Please pray for the graduates of the Class of 2015 as they look forward to new horizons!
RETREATS The Summer Kairos (K56) available to current Juniors is now full. We will begin accepting registrations for the other 2015-2016 Kairos retreats at the end of this month. All registrations will be handled online. Dates for next year’s Kairos retreats are: October 13-16, November 1013, January 19-22, and March 7-10. Cost is $160 (includes transportation, food, lodging, and retreat materials). Please contact Ms. Yearwood if you have additional questions.
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Lasallian Student Life All Students encouraged to apply NOW for the newly forming Student Campus Ministry Team for the 2015-2016 school year! Members of this team will assist with the spiritual life of our school community and will work with the planning of school prayer over the PA, school-wide prayer services, and the liturgies. We are looking for faith-filled students of all grade levels who are on fire in their faith and want to be involved! We know there are many of our students who are already very active in the church communities in which they worship so we are looking forward to them sharing their gifts in this way here at CB! We need students who are not only faith-filled but who are willing to share their gifts in the areas of music, art, technology, drama, writing, public speaking and more! Information about the Campus Ministry Team was shared with students through visits in the English department. All interested students need to complete the online application NO LATER than MAY 5 - here is the link for the application: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WR9HLZ6 If you are interested in more information, please contact Ms. Yearwood!
Special Thanks to this year’s SRLT (Senior Retreat Leadership Team) for their work and ministry throughout this year! You are all amazing! 2014-2015 team members were: Adriana Inclan, Alejandra Chacon, Alex Glaude, Andrea Gil, Anna Dahl, AnnaMarie Carmazzi, Anthony Macy, Brodrick Price, Carly Mayer, Chris Pfeifer, Claire Jones-Ruman, Daniel Walton, David Manzo, Elizabeth Dewey, Emery Cline, Emma O’Malley, Erin Donovan, Ethan Enos, Gaby Osborn, Hanna Green, Hannah Schanberger, Izzy Lambert, Jack Fondale, Joe Delgadillo, Julia Ruiz, Justin Baker, Kendall Johnson, Kristen Geibel, Kristen Richardson, Lindsey Doll, Lizzy Havey, Madison Winn, Marissa Lopez-Alvarez, Matthew Pale, Matthew Spain, Matthew Willis, Miranda Mulligan, Natalie Wiseman, Raquel Andrade, Rosey Kenshol, Sarah Posluszny, Vicki Moore, Vince Villegas, Yesenia Lopez.
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Lasallian Student Life
Christian Service
Voices in Service:
Enter to Learn Leave to Serve
Isabella Granucci’15
Ven-a-Ver: Interviews for Ven-a-Ver will take place the
“My sophomore year I was on the tennis team. One of my tennis partners told me about her experiences doing service in Central America. I was interested and so I went to an off campus meeting to hear more about it. I really wanted to do more with service so I went to the meeting and decided I wanted to do it. I wanted to immerse myself into a different culture and do work to assist those in need. A year before I left I attended weekend meetings and once a month retreats. I learned about where I was going and what the needs in the community of Perez Zeledon, Costa Rica were. I was 16. When I arrived in this little community I thought, “What am I doing here?” I was in culture shock and full body shock. I have been very fortunate in my life and so spending the next eight weeks in a completely different environment made me more aware of my good fortune and things that I had normally taken for granted.
second week of May after school. Students who turned in all paperwork will be messaged via Schoology for interview times.
Otro lado (January 31-February 5, 2016): Tucson, AZ and Nogales, Mexico. Immigration service immersion. Adults: Ms. Anna Fernandez and Mr. Dave Anderson
Memphis, Tennessee (March 6-12, 2016): Civil Rights service immersion. Adults: Mr. Thomas Guro and Ms. Jennifer Lystrup
Yakima, Washington (April 17-23, 2016): Environment immersion. Adults: Mr. Danny Delgado and Ms. Jennifer Lystrup
The family I lived with did not have much. Each morning everyone, including the children, got up very early in the morning. I found out the young boy in the family went to work instead of school. He had to help out. Many boys didn’t go to high school, they had to work in the fields and help support their families. This struck me- how much we take education for granted in the United States. While in Perez Zeledon, myself and other volunteers asked the community what they needed. The village had their community meetings in a place that had a dirt floor. They needed a cement floor. So the other volunteers and I helped put a cement floor down. It took three weeks.
Enter to Learn Leave to Serve Day: On May 20 after the G set review, CB students will clean out their lockers as we end the school year. Recycling bins and trash bins will be set up in key locations on the campus. If students have any textbooks they wish to donate back to the school please make sure they are put in the proper bin. All lockers must be checked off by designated teachers before students can leave campus. See Mr. Riley-Portal for any questions.
Summer Volunteer Opportunities:
When I returned to the U.S. it was difficult. It was hard to connect because I experienced issues and conditions that many don’t think about here. Like people had to travel three hours just to get to the grocery store. In the United States we have so many opportunities. When I came home I worked harder in school, I took it much more seriously. I don’t take opportunity for granted. Poverty is such a huge issue and it is so important to do service.
Please see Ms. Lystrup in the LSLO for further information.
The Sacramento Children’s Home needs 15-20 student volunteers to help with their annual Some Like It Haute fundraiser.
The American River Parkway needs volunteers for May 2 to help in the Parkway Half Marathon at William Pond Park in Carmichael.
I volunteer at the Sacramento Food Bank. It’s really easy to get involved. Service is giving back to those who are less fortunate or who are not presented with the same opportunity – it’s assisting those in need. We have the ability to help out and get involved in our community. It’s awesome and easy.”
The Mustard Seed School at Loaves and Fishes needs summer volunteers to help with the preschool program for homeless children. They also need help with the K-8 program.
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Lasallian Student Life
Student Activities
We also want to congratulate the following new members of the 2015-2016 Student Council:
Just a few short weeks and our Student Council seniors will walk across the stage and flip their graduation tassel to the other side of their caps. While in the midst of essays, presentations, testing, Student Council meetings, planning for events, etc. at Christian Brothers High School, the seniors may have thought it would never end. But now the conclusion to their high school career has finally arrived. It is time to leave and pass the responsibilities of Student Council to the younger students. Seniors, we hope you cherished your memories and carry with them the lessons learned here at CB. It’s okay to feel sentimental. We who remain at CB, will miss this you, Senior Council and ASB. We enjoyed our time with you and hope you explore the world with enthusiasm and hope, and glean as much as possible from your teachers in the future.
However; before we say goodbye, we still have upcoming events for which we need to prepare: •
The GQ Fashion Show will be held May 7 at 7:00 p.m. in the theatre. Come out and see our CB students “stylin’” on the runway.
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Senior Open Mic Night will be held on the lawn May 8. Our Seniors have amazing talent!
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And the Grand Finale for the year is Founders Day. This extraordinarily exciting and fantastically fun day occurs on May 15 and it will be held all over the campus. Activities include: • Students receiving their year books. Don’t forget to bring lots of pens. • For the athletes – we are planning an obstacle course, jousting, sumo wrestling, dodgeball, and basketball. • We have our own talented and amazing Beau Paulsen who will DJ the event. • If there are any students out there – any at all who would just love to dunk a teacher – YEP we will be sure to have a dunk tank through which you may address your grievances. • And when you get hungry and thirsty, slushies and picnic foods are on the menu.
Senior Class Council
Junior Class Council
Victoria Burbridge Mary Hallsten Brittany Leek Aidan Smith Efrain Vallejo Nicolette Washburn
Pat Barnes Makenna Chapman Justin Dacanay Sophie Emerson Tudhvir Sekhon Ayana Watkins
Sophomore Class Council
J.R. Aguirre Julianne Downing Navneet Khaira Sofia Linares Anna Clare Nelson Camilla Patterson Nick Smith
And finally, Student Council would like to wish you and your family a delightful and blessed summer.
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Athletics Congratulations to freshman Patrick Wiseman who ran in the Halden Invitational at Davis High School. He ran the 800 meters in 1:58.96, which is the fastest time run by a freshman in the state of California this year! Congratulations to Joseph Delgadillo who has been selected as one of the recipients for the Dale Lackey Scholarship. He was selected for his accomplishments in the athletic arena, scholastic achievements, and community service involvement. Congratulations to Kira McKechnie ‘15 who received two honors this week!! The first is The Bee Prep Show from Mike Finnerty for “School’s Credit Union Game-On Athlete of the Week”. As well, well Kira was selected by Character Combine as its “Female Athlete of the Year”. The Character Combine awards athletes who display unique leadership with perspective beyond the scoreboard. Finn Whetstone ‘15 played for the South All Star Team at Center High School and was named the MVP for the South Team. The South won 140-129 and the team was coached by Ken Manfredi. Finn had 15 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block, and had a few highlight dunks throughout the game.
Women’s JV Soccer: JV soccer is 5 – 5 – 5 overall and 4– 3 – 2 in league. They lost to Rio Americano and tied El Camino this week. Women’s Varsity Soccer: Varsity soccer is 9 – 8 – 3 overall and 3 – 5 – 1 in league. They lost to Casa Roble and Rio Americano, and finally tied El Camino this week. JV Softball: JV softball is 8 – 8 overall and 2 – 3 in league. They defeated Rio Americano, and fell to Casa Roble this week. Varsity Softball: Varsity softball is 12 – 9 overall and 3 – 3 in league action. They beat Rio Americano and Kennedy and lost to Casa Roble this week. Swimming: Congratulations to both the Men’s and Women’s teams as they both were shorthanded and victorious over Casa Roble High School!! The Men won 134-21. They also swept all three relays!! The Men finished 4-1 in CAL League dual meets with victories over Vista Del Lago, Rio Americano, El Camino and Casa Roble. The Men’s lone loss came against Mira Loma by a 3 point margin!! The Women won 132-26. The Women also swept all three relays. They finished 3-2 in CAL dual meets with victories over Vista Del Lago, Mira Loma, and Casa Roble. Their two losses were losses by very small margins!! Men’s Tennis: Our Christian Brothers tennis has made it to team sectionals. The team ended up with 11 wins and 3 losses and tied for second with Mira Loma. Rio Americano went undefeated to win the CAL league. Come support our boys as we head into team sections on Monday, May 5. Men’s JV Volleyball: The JV team is powering through their league matches. Currently 11-2 overall, the JV team has proven a powerhouse on the court. With victories over Rio Americano, Vista Del Lago, and El Camino, the team is on track to complete their season undefeated in league. Men’s Varsity Volleyball: Men’s Varsity Volleyball is currently 7-7 overall and has battled some tough competition in league. Dominating El Camino in both league matches, and taking Vista Del Lago to a point-for-point five set match have been highlights of the season so far. The team is gearing up for an exciting and competitive finale to the season, battling Vista Del Lago for a playoff bid. Come check out Men’s Volleyball in action at Senior Night, Monday May 4 at 5:30 p.m.
Highlights to Date:
Frosh Baseball: The freshmen baseball team is having a great season so far, and as of April 22 had won 11 consecutive games. Overall the Falcons are 16-2 and in Capital Athletic League play the team is 7-0. The team batting average is .305. The Falcons are averaging 6.8 runs per game while giving up only 2 runs per game. JV Baseball: The JV team is 14 – 4 overall and 3 – 2 in league play. They defeated Del Campo and Rio Americano twice this week. Varsity Baseball: The baseball season finds all 3 teams in first place with 6 league games remaining. Varsity is 6-3 in league. Senior Joe McNamara is leading the way with a .531 batting average. Key contributors are seniors Colton Wackman, Anthony Calderon and Jim Mc Cauley. Diving: The divers are gearing up to head to League Championships. This is the first time since 1988 that the men’s team will have a shot at the league title. Both Owen Hunt and Jack McHale have been working hard to learn 11 dives so that they will be able to place in the top 3 at the league championship to help the swimmers have the best shot possible at a banner. On the women’s side, Junior Kourtney Clark has placed either 1 or 2 at every dual meet this season. She is very prepared and looking to take her skills to the Section Finals. Men’s JV Golf: The JV golfers remains 3 – 4 – 1. The Golf Team lowered their best score of the season by 14 strokes in their final match against Rio Americano. At Bing Maloney, the team beat Rio Americano in an exciting match 222 to 229. Both Freshman Matthew Miles (40) and Sophomore Lucas Lopez (42) shot their best rounds of the season. The team is peaking at the right time going into their season ending tournament at Alister Mackenzie Golf Course. Men’s Varsity Golf: The varsity is 4 – 6 in league matches. They defeated Casa Roble but fell to Rio Americano. JV Lacrosse: The JV players are 1 – 8 – 1. Women’s Varsity Lacrosse: The varsity lacrosse team has played numerous close games this season and the coaches are so proud of the team’s progress and effort. Their record is currently 7-6. The season is wrapping up with 3 more home games. They are anticipating hosting our Lasallian sister school in a close game with Justin Siena on May 1, and saying farewell to our beloved seniors on May 6 at CB.
SENIOR ATHLETE COLLEGE SIGNINGS On Thursday, April 30 we held our third and final College Signing Day for our senior athletes. Congratulations to all of our outstanding senior CB athletes as they move on to compete in collegiate athletics! 2014-2015 Senior CB Athletes who signed a collegiate letter of intent:
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Leonicia Lopez- Soccer-University of Hawaii Kristian Heptner- Soccer- UC Davis Katherine Hallsten-Fencing-UC San Diego Louis Heinzer- Soccer - Cal Poly Anissa Maldonado-Softball-Cal Sate East Bay Andrea Martinez- Soccer-CSU Stanislaus Kira McKechnie-Softball-Fresno State AnnaMarie Carmazzi- Lacrosse-St Mary’s Alexia De La Paz- Soccer - William Jessup University Nastassja Bowman- Volleyball - Southern Methodist University Alexandria Glaude’- Wrestling - McKendree University McKinley Grieve-Soccer-Elmhurst College James McCauley-Baseball-Azusa Pacific University Danielle Jackson-Track-Sacramento State University Spencer Mestas-Soccer-Cal State Monterey Bay
Media, Visual and Performing Arts “Creativity is an area in which young people have a tremendous advantage, since they have an endearing habit of always questioning past wisdom and authority” -Bill Hewlett It is always a tricky balance when teaching young people the arts. They come to the table with all the enthusiasm of youth, confident that they have the vision to take their art to the next level, but teachers, on the other hand, have to explain the rules, and yes there are rules in art. Not only are there classroom rules, deadlines, and standards to be met, but rules on how to make their work better and stronger. We could spend our class time working on fundamentals and they would no doubt profit from the rigor of practice. However, for most of our students, the art classes they take will be the only opportunity they will ever have to express themselves. Their high school art experience is their art career. Should they know techniques about foreshortening, hitting a high C note on the trumpet, or writing in a journal on their characters back story? Yes they should. And they also need the freedom to find their way to get their art out there. Those who are serious about art will eventually discover that the artists who came before them knew what they were talking about; they don’t have to reinvent the wheel. For the rest, which is the majority of art students, the paintings they create will find a home on the walls of their parents’ home, a reminder of their time in high school. It is unlikely that they will pull out old English papers to reread or look over math problems from Algebra in sophomore year. Mostly the art they make in high school will be the source of memories, a time when family and friends told them how talented they are or how they nailed that performance in the theater. Hopefully they will fondly remember their art careers however short, and maybe, just maybe, they will look at some art and say to their kids, “I had this art teacher in high school who once said......” The school year may be winding down, but we have some great art experiences coming up in May. Before we get to that I want to acknowledge the cast and crew of the spring musical “How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying”. What an amazing job they did. The actors were perfectly cast, the set was something you might see on Broadway, and the costumes riveled “Mad Men”. One of the very best productions in my time at Christian Brothers! I would like to encourage parents to join FOTA. Not only is it an opportunity to be involved in the arts, but you will meet other parents who also have students involved in the arts. But the best reason to become involved in FOTA is it is another way to stay involved with your child and make memories that you will share for years to come. You will be glad you did.
Upcoming Highlights… On Monday, May 4 at 6:00 p.m. there will be a reception at the B Street Theater for our painting classes. They were invited to pay tribute to Sacramento artist Greg Kondos. All the artwork is for sale for $75. $25 dollars goes to the B Street Children’s Theater program and $50 goes back to the student artist. Greg Kondos is an internationally known artist who often painted California landscapes and in particular the Sacramento delta. There will be an award presentation at 6:30 pm. Two days later on Wednesday, May 6, in the Cunningham Theatre, the reception will be held for the 23rd annual La Salle Art Show from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. The award presentation will begin at 7:30. Our MC for the event will be senior student Dante Mazza who is as charming and funny as he is smart. Come out and enjoy our students’ beautiful artwork. The last Open Mic Night is Friday, May 8 at 7:00 pm in the Cunningham Theater. The evening will feature senior talent. If you have come to previous Open Mic Nights you know that it is impossible to not be entertained. Double your money back guarantee! Bring the whole family for this fun and moving event. Finally, on Saturday, May 16 at 7:00 pm is our annual Hollywood Bowl. Sit out on the lawn, enjoy a bowl of ice cream, and be serenaded under the stars. This popular event never disappoints. For many of our seniors this will be their final performance. You may sign up for summer arts programs at CB anytime. There is a wide range of art experiences available in the visual and performing arts. There are classes for younger students who may want to see if art is something they would like to pursue in high school.
Have a safe and blessed summer. We look forward to serving your families in the fall. Findlay McIntosh, Director of the Media Visual and Performing Arts
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Talon Corner The Infamous Spirit Shirt The Spirit Shirts are either something we don’t mind wearing or absolutely dread. But how are Skittles involved in choosing these outrageous colors? By Hannah Schanberger – Talon Staff Writer On Spirit Days when we are forced to dig through our closets to find the caution tape yellow, the Fanta orange, the pretty purple, and the average teal shirts, many of us are curious as to why these specific colors were chosen. One day in class I was waiting for the bell to ring, and overheard a discussion regarding the spirit shirts. I heard someone say that Skittles, the popular fruity candy, played a role in the creation of these shirts. My first reaction was to find out the real story and let all of you know why these “interesting colors” were chosen. I went to the Student Activities Director, Mrs. RoseAnn Holmes, to see what she had to say about the origin of CB spirit shirts. “Back when we had portables, I remember we were having our first student council meeting in the spring,” she recalls. “The council members at the time were extremely enthusiastic and suggested getting class spirit shirts and all I remember is that Skittles played a role.” At the time this happened, Mr. Rolf Schumann was actually the Student Activities Director and recalls the moment the shirts were created like it was yesterday. “It was about ‘99 or something like that, and the ASB president and vice president wanted to do something a little different and they mentioned spirit shirts,” Schumann shares. “So, we came up with the design of the front that says spirit and with the class years on the back.” Schumann then suggested an idea that was met with rejection and displeasure from the student council. “We were in room 702 and discussing the colors of the spirit shirts and I was kind of thinking basic colors, like blue and red, white and grey, and the kids hated that,” Schumann exclaims. I know what you are thinking -- the colors Mr. Schumann suggested really don’t scream SPIRIT. Schumann went on to mention how our outrageous colors were chosen, that more or less actually do pop out and yell SPIRIT. “There was a kid in the room with a bag of Skittles,” Schumann mentions. “All the sudden, the Skittles spill. Immediately it clicked and everyone decided the shirts should be Skittles colors.” At first, Schumann was hesitant against the idea, but he realized all the council was on board with it, so he just went with it. When he was sharing this story, I thought red is a major color in the Skittles rainbow, so why wasn’t that chosen? But Ms. Holmes and Mr. Schumann reassured me that they didn’t want to use any CB colors for the spirit shirts. Who would’ve thought that the delicious fruity candy of Skittles was the deciding factor on what our Spirit shirts colors should be? “Ever since then, the colors and shirts just stuck with us and never have changed,” Holmes declares. Even if we wanted to change the colors, it’s just too late to do so.” The mystery is solved -- now we all know exactly why these bright crazy colors were chosen to represent our classes, whether we love them or hate them. Although these infamous spirit shirts may not be our favorite, they have become a huge part of Christian Brothers and the spirit the community shares.
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International Student Program Twenty students and two teacher chaperones have been here in Sacramento for two weeks on a linguistic and cultural exchange from a Lasallian school in Avignon, France. These students arrived late on Friday, April 17 and will return home on May 1. Though the majority of activities during their stay were off campus, the students also attended CB classes with their exchange hosts during their stay. We enjoyed seeing them on campus and getting to know them for several days. The French chaperones accompanied them at all times, ready to attend to the needs of their students. They were attentive in the classroom, and happy to be participating in the classes as they tried to improve their English skills, learn more about our American educational system, and learn more about the American Lasallian world. They had the opportunity to visit some iconic local sites and events including: the State Capitol, San Francisco, Old Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, and a Sacramento River Cats ballgame. The following CB (host) students participated fully with our French visitors for these two weeks and then will leave to attend school and live with host families in Avignon, France for two weeks in June: Lance Asbill Marci Bandala (not hosting) Madeline Barros Ally Boulas Jillian Byers (not hosting) Max Cartegena (not hosting) Selena Connell Harrison Daly (not hosting) Chase Davis Tori Davis Sophie Emerson Brenna Gallagher Laura Gorry
Kristen Gruber Molly Hallsten MaryClaire Hancock (substitute hosting) James Casey (not hosting) Claire Jones-Ruman Remi Kirrene Will Legrand Annie Loc (not hosting) Lorenzo Martinez Daniel McCarthy Bonnie Robbins-Jonas Alma Rodirguez (not hosting) Efrain Vallejo Nicole Wong
Thanks, as always, to our CB faculty for opening up their classrooms, minds and hearts to the students from afar who are interested in our daily life here at CB. The message of our good teaching and care for the whole student continues to travel around the world.
Merci Beaucoup,
Patti Gallagher, International Student Program Director and Stefanie Howorun, French Instructor
Vocations Stefanie Howorun – French Instructor and Wrestling Coach “To me vocation is doing what you were meant to do- what God intended you to do. Every day when I stand in front of my students I have this overwhelming feeling that I am home. I can’t picture myself doing anything else. This is the meaning of vocation. When I blew out my shoulder in December 2007 (three weeks before the Olympic wrestling trials) I knew God was challenging me, but for what reason I did not know. On a whim I decided to move to Paris while recuperating from my shoulder surgery. When I was in Paris I fell in love with anything and everything French. I had my “Ah ha” moment in July 2008, I needed to share this love with others. I returned home to Canada September 2008 and immediately enrolled in teacher’s college to become a French teacher. I have been teaching French since September 2009. It is not uncommon to hear me say that blowing out my shoulder was the best thing that happened to me- it led me to become a teacher, and to my true vocation. I have been very blessed to have an incredibly supportive family, however, when that life changing moment presented itself, my boyfriend at the time (who later became my husband) was instrumental. As I faced the reality that I would no longer be able to wrestle because of my shoulder he simply asked, “What have you always wanted to do but, because of wrestling, never had the opportunity?” When I told him I wanted to move to Paris he said that’s what I was meant to do- everything happens for a reason. I found a family through an online agency and became an au pair (nanny), moved to Paris to live with them, and the rest is history. I believe that hard work and applying yourself have everything to do with vocation. It’s only when we fully apply ourselves that we are led to our true vocation. Had I not applied myself in high school I would not have had the grades to get into the teacher’s college that specialized in French, and was a perfect fit for me. My greatest recommendation for young people who are trying to figure out their vocation in life is to do what you love, and dedicate yourself to being your best. Sometimes in life we are tested. Look at these times as opportunities. Finally, be patient and let yourself mature- you don’t have to have all the answers right now. With continued hard work, and the courage to follow your passion, your vocation will come to you.
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Falcon Family Faces