October 2021 FALL SEMESTER
C H R I ST IA N B R O T H E R S H IG H S C HO O L
E N T E R T O L E A R N , L E AV E T O SE RV E
FALCON FAMILY NEWS A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS & COMMUNICATIONS DEAR FAMILIES: Each year on September 21, the world celebrates Earth, Wind, & Fire Day, an unofficial holiday for fans of the infamous R&B band. The date, which coincides with the opening line of the group’s hit song “September,” resulted in 2.5 million streams worldwide, according to Billboard. I personally can account for a few of those streams as I listened on my way to work, played it for my colleagues in the Admissions office, and again blasted it in my car on the way to pick up lunch. It was then, as I was sitting at the stoplight waiting to cross Freeport Boulevard, that their song, “Devotion,” came up in the queue. In that moment, I was awestruck by the opening lyric: “Through devotion, blessed are the children. Praise the teacher, that brings true love to many. Your devotion, opens all life’s treasures…” The words resonated deeply for me as I reflected on the incredible work that our teachers have done throughout this pandemic. Their creativity, love, and determination ensured that our students continued to learn and feel loved, even in the most challenging of circumstances. I reflected on my own sons who had graduated in 2009 and 2016 and continue to benefit from the academic, personal, and spiritual growth they experienced while at Christian Brothers. I thought of the Brothers and teachers who have worked so hard to live our Lasallian charism these past 145 years in Sacramento. Through their devotion, blessed are the children! As the light changed to green, my mind quickly shifted to Open House and the many tasks on my to-do list in advance of the event. However, as I sit down to write this letter, I’m back at Freeport and 12th Avenue and feeling so grateful. Today, CB is the largest Catholic high school in the region with students joining us from 75 zip codes. While many schools boast exclusivity, Christian Brothers High School boasts inclusivity. According to “Niche Rankings,” which identifies the Most Diverse Private High Schools in America, CB ranks number one locally, number 30 of more than 600 schools in California, and in the top 1 percent in the nation based on ethnic, economic and cultural diversity statistics and opinions from both students and parents. “Niche” describes a high ranking as an indication “that the school is extremely diverse and fosters a community that
accepts and promotes a diversity of viewpoints, backgrounds, religious beliefs, etc.” Last year’s graduates are off to colleges and universities in 27 states, the District of Columbia, and Switzerland. I pray that all of life’s treasures open to them as they embark on this next phase of their journey. Over the past four weeks, the Admissions team visited more than 30 parochial and private schools. On these visits, we have been joined by our phenomenal Lasallian Student Ambassadors. Each day, I marvel at their intelligence, dedication and enthusiasm as they share their love of CB, gratitude and affection for their teachers, while encouraging prospective students to attend Open House and schedule shadow visits. Each day, they affirm for me that there is no better place for young people to prepare for life in college and beyond. As we prepare for Open House on Sunday, October 3, and our upcoming Shadow Days, you as CB parents and families are vital partners in telling our story. Prospective students and parents tell us that the positive stories shared with them by dedicated and enthusiastic CB parents, students and alumni have inspired them to consider CB as they evaluate their high school options. Thank you to all the teachers, staff, students, parents and families who help us to ensure that in its 146th year in Sacramento, Christian Brothers High School is still the place to be. Sincerely,
Kristen McCarthy Director of Admissions and Communications
INSIDE THIS ISSUE • Counseling • Lasallian Student Life Office • Athletics
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS HIGH SCHOOL MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | WWW.CBHS-SACRAMENTO.ORG
• Challenge Success Update • Media, Visual and Performing Arts
1
COUNSELING Testing Day Wednesday, October 13 is a very important day for students at Christian Brothers. Testing Day is a late start/minimum day that involves the freshmen, sophomores and juniors in preliminary college entrance testing. The exams will begin at 9:00 a.m., and students will be dismissed earlier than usual at approximately 12:30 p.m. after all grade levels have completed their tests. Coordinated by the counselors, teachers will administer the following assessments to students: • Juniors will take the PSAT/NMSQT Exam (preliminary SAT ). This test is great practice for the SAT and also allows high achieving students to qualify for participation in the National Merit Scholarship Program, National Hispanic Scholars Program, and the National Achievement Scholarship Program for Black and Native American high school students. • Sophomores will take the new Pre-ACT. This test will be excellent and low-risk practice for the ACT exam, which has gained popularity both locally and nationwide. • Freshmen will take the PSAT 8/9, which will give the Counseling Department a reliable baseline score early on in high school and allow us to keep statistical comparisons when the students take the PSAT/NMSQT and the SAT at a later time. • Seniors will have the day off. However, this day is a great opportunity for visiting local colleges. Seniors may be ready to begin applying to colleges this month. If they have not visited local or regional colleges yet, this mid-week day is a perfect time to schedule a tour and find out more about a college while it is in full-swing. Here are some tips to help students do their best on the exams: • Remind your child to get plenty of rest the night before the test. • Students should eat a nutritious breakfast the morning of the test. Food and drinks (including water) are prohibited during the test, except during breaks. The cafeteria will not be open that day, so students who will be staying on campus for co-curricular activities, sports practices, etc. may want to bring a snack or bagged lunch. • Juniors have already received information and materials about the PSAT from their counselor in September, which included a PSAT Official Student Guide with a practice exam. Please encourage your son/daughter to prepare for the test by taking the practice exam at home before Testing Day. • Freshmen, sophomores and juniors need to bring two sharpened #2 pencils and his/her calculator to Testing Day.
Results of the exams will be returned to students by their grade-level counselor in January/February 2022. If you have any questions, please call the Counseling Department at 916-733-3680.
Upcoming Counseling Dates • Saturday, October 2 – SAT Exam (CB is a test center for this exam.) • Tuesday, October 5 – College Application Workshop for Seniors (before and after school in room 301) • Friday, October 8 – SAT regular registration deadline for the November 6 exam (Register at www.collegeboard.org.) • Wednesday, October 13 – Testing Day/Senior local college visits • Tuesday, October 19 – College Application Workshop for Seniors (before and after school in room 301) • Saturday, October 23 – ACT Exam (CB is a test center for this exam. Register at www.actstudent.org.)
WELCOME HOME! On Friday, October 8, the Office of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement invites you to join us for a celebration of the CB and Oak Park community. Come back to campus to reconnect with good friends and family, enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres from local eateries, and take in a farm-to-fork dining experience under the stars. As evidenced by our students, we are at our best when we come together. Alumni, parents, and friends are all welcome! We invite you home to CB to celebrate the people, passion, and history that makes this the place to be. General Admission and VIP tables are available for purchase for a limited time, so buy your tickets today! For more information or to inquire about volunteer opportunities, please contact Steve McLaughlin, Director of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement, at smclaughlin@ cbhs-sacramento.org or (916) 733-3643.
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS HIGH SCHOOL MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | WWW.CBHS-SACRAMENTO.ORG
2
LASALLIAN STUDENT LIFE OFFICE October is a fun and spirit-filled month in the Lasallian Student Life Office! We kick off the first week with two major events.
their relationships with God, their family, their friends, and themselves. We pray that they have a truly transformative experience.
October Falcon Family Drop-off Drive
Homecoming
The Social Action Leadership Team, also known as ‘S.A.L.T.,’ has organized our first Falcon Family Drop-off Drive of the year on Saturday, October 2. The recent fires have not only displaced many people, but their beloved pets as well. El Dorado County Services and its shelters, such as the West Slope Animal Shelter, need our support in caring for these furry companions. Please drop off pet food and supplies (see flyer below for specific needs) in front of the school between 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 2. Our community, El Dorado County families and their four-legged friends will be ‘furever’ grateful for your help!
In the same spirit of community, Homecoming Spirit Week will be celebrated Monday through Saturday, October 1823. This year’s theme is…drum roll please… “WE’VE GOT THE BEAT!” Dust off your parents’ bell bottoms, step into some western boots, and thrift those ‘80s tracksuits because iconic musical genres will be celebrated each day of the week with dress up days, music, and games at lunch. The LSLO encourages all students to participate and have fun together!
Falcon Family Drop-Off Drive!
West Slope Animal Shelter Due to fires, many animals have been hurt or displaced. The West Slope Animal Shelter needs YOUR help! SALT is hosting its first dropoff drive to help support the organization. What to bring: ‣ Large “Retriever Rolls” rawhides ‣ Mammoth Bones ‣ Knuckle Bones ‣ Cow Hooves for Dogs ‣ Small and Medium Cat Carriers ‣ Tarps ‣ Round Fleece Cat Beds ‣ Towels/Blankets ‣ Cat and Dog Toys ‣ Dog Collars (Any Sizes)
‣ Dog Leashes ‣ Cat and Dog Treats ‣ Dry Dog and Cat Food ‣ Halti Training Leaders ‣ Gentle Leaders for Dogs ‣ 5 Gallon Buckets ‣ Colorful Scrapbook Paper ‣ Gallon and Sandwich Ziploc Bags ‣ Clorox Wipes ‣ Kitten and Puppy Milk Replacement When: October 2nd Where: In front of CBHS Time:
9am - 12pm
Other: Email the Director of LSLO, Jerome Baybayan, at jbaybayan@cbhs-sacramento.org with any questions or concerns.
Kairos 82 Also during the first week of October, 50 seniors and their devoted faculty leaders will attend Kairos 82 in Zephyr Cove, Lake Tahoe! One of the many reasons families are drawn to Christian Brothers High School is our comprehensive and meaningful retreat program. Kairos, meaning “God’s time,” is the culminating retreat of our Falcons’ high school experience. Our retreatants are overjoyed and eager to attend the first Kairos of the year where they will deeply reflect on
The tradition of Powder Puff Football is set for a strong comeback! Looking forward to playing in Bollinger Stadium, the freshmen girls will take on the sophomore girls while the juniors face off the seniors. The final games will be played on Activity Wednesday, October 20. All girls are welcome to join their class team. The Homecoming football game is on Friday night, October 22 at CB’s Bollinger Stadium vs. Vista del Lago High School. Varsity kick-off is at 7:00 p.m., and all are welcome. The week culminates with the Homecoming Dance outdoors on the Main Lawn from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 23. Tickets are $15 per person and will be available for purchase online after October 5. CB students may invite one guest who does not attend CB. If the guest attends St. Francis, Jesuit or Cristo Rey High Schools, a guest pass is not needed; however, those students must bring their school IDs. Guests from any other school must complete a Guest Pass Request Form and submit it no later than Friday, October 15. In accordance with Sacramento County Health Department guidelines for events of this magnitude, all students must present proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test results within 72 hours of the Homecoming Dance. Names on vaccination cards (or a copy of one’s vaccination card) need to match student IDs. In addition, all students must wear face masks that properly cover their nose, mouth, and chin throughout the entire event. We are taking the necessary precautions to keep our community and friends safe while having a blast! If you have any questions regarding Homecoming, please contact Cecilia Powers, Assistant Dean of Student Life, at cpowers@cbhs-sacramento.org.
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS HIGH SCHOOL MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | WWW.CBHS-SACRAMENTO.ORG
3
ATHLETICS
MEDIA, VISUAL, AND PERFORMING ARTS
Homecoming
Fall is here and the Arts are on full display at CB!
Our Homecoming games are on Friday, October 22 vs. Vista del Lago and will be played at Christian Brothers. Game times are 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Students, please be sure to wear your class spirit shirt to the game and represent that great CB pride!
Fall Senior Nights Come out and support our fall senior athletes at the following Senior Night games and matches: • Water Polo vs. Mira Loma – Thursday, October 14 at Sacramento City College, 4:45 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. • Women’s Golf vs. El Camino – Thursday, October 14 at Bing Maloney Golf Course, 3:00 p.m. • Football, Cheer, and Athletic Trainers vs. El Camino – Friday, October 15 at CB, 7:00 p.m. • Women’s Tennis vs. Rio Americano – Thursday, October 21 at Laguna Creek Racquet Club, 3:00 p.m. • Women’s Volleyball vs. Del Campo – Thursday, October 21 at CB, 6:15 p.m. • Cross Country will honor their seniors at the end-of-theseason banquet.
Open House
Winter Sports Update
It’s a day packed with fun and entertainment. Be sure to swing by and see our arts students in action!
Any student wishing to try out for a winter sport on Monday, November 1 must have an updated physical on FinalForms and all the FinalForms parent and student forms signed to participate. To add your student to a tryout group, use the sport button on your FinalForms account.
Challenge Success Update Christian Brothers High School is partnering with Challenge Success throughout the 2021-22 school year to take a comprehensive look at school-wide operations, with the goal of increasing student well-being and academic engagement. The group, born out of Stanford professors and educational researchers, partners with constituents of a school community – students, parents, faculty, staff, and administrators – to gather data which will be used to create tangible plans to improve the student experience at CB. They will be conducting surveys and focus groups in the coming months and will be asking for your participation. We are pleased to share that CB’s Challenge Success Team has been created. It includes representation of all stakeholders at our school and includes Nicole Brousseau, Danny Delgado ‘79, Armando Diaz ‘94, Julian Elorduy ‘03, Loretta Kenney, Emma Liu ‘22, Cecilia Powers, Alvion Robinson, Jr. ‘23, Larry Reel ‘91, and Mieke San Julian. These group members attended a virtual conference on September 24-25 and look forward to sharing what they learned with the CB community.
Our annual Open House is on Sunday, October 3, and the Arts take center stage on this exciting day as we welcome prospective students and families. • Choirs and Jazz Band will be performing on the Main Lawn throughout the day. • Visual Arts students will be painting on the Main Lawn and spinning pottery in Room 305. • KBFT will be showcasing live for guests upstairs in the 600s wing. • Parent volunteers from Friends of the Arts (FOTA) will be helping answer questions at our department table on the Main Lawn.
Open Mic Open Mic will be holding auditions Wednesday, October 6 and Thursday, October 7 after school in the choir room, room 802. All CB students, faculty, and staff are welcome to audition, so prepare an act and come on out. Open Mic Night will be Friday, October 15 at 7:00 p.m. in the George Cunningham ’40 Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $2 and will be sold at the door. All audience members must wear face masks while inside the Theatre. Don’t miss this opportunity to see the breadth of talent at CB!
Theatre Arts Theatre is in production for the fall musical, “Call Me Madam.” Students and parents are welcome to volunteer to help build and paint the set on Saturdays between 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Students can also earn service hours for helping. Interested parents and students should contact Ms. Christianson ’01 at hchristianson@cbhs-sacramento. org to obtain the necessary permission forms and for more information.
Friends of the Arts (FOTA) Friends of the Arts (FOTA) is a parent organization that provides volunteers and support to the arts at CB. Our next Zoom meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 12 at 6:30 p.m. Please email cbfota@gmail.com for the Zoom link.
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS HIGH SCHOOL MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | WWW.CBHS-SACRAMENTO.ORG
4