2018-19: Our Students A LIGHT for OTHERS The following month-by-month highlights are just a glimpse of our year at Justin-Siena. Read more about these and other stories online at www.justin-siena.org.
AUGUST
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Welcome to the Class of 2022: 137 students join the Braves from 34 different schools, 15 different cities, and 3 local counties.
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Faculty/staff retreat and ropes course challenge sets a tone of collaboration and problem solving to start a new year.
SEPTEMBER •
From creative arts to accounting, from social work to public service, and from medicine to law, and more—our students heard from alumni working throughout many industries at Vocation Day.
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“Road Trip” themed Homecoming brought out school spirit and Braves pride; Sumaia Khoury ’19 and Feras Halabi ’19 were voted the 2018 Homecoming Queen & King.
• Braves Robotics opens 4th year of competition by adding a 3rd team— making it their biggest year yet.
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Football home opener was a 61-0 win over Healdsburg, and a Kick- off Pasta Dinner for Braves fans set just the right tone. Join us on Aug. 23 to kick-off the 2019 season.
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The annual Club Fair encourages all students to get involved in the rich co-curricular life of the school, and there is literally something for everyone.
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Student leaders outline the All Heart theme for the year: We believe in the power of effort, standing together, something greater, and the Holy Presence of God.
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Julia Sangiacomo ’19 makes 1,000 career kill early in the volleyball season in the new Vine Valley Athletic league. She went on to commit to play for Santa Clara for this fall.
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The Admissions Office hosts the first of 14, well attended Brave for a Day shadow events for prospective families. Thank you to our student ambassadors for modeling service for these future Braves through their leadership and spirit.
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Two JS seniors are selected as the only two Napa-area National Merit Scholar semi-finalists (one advances to be a finalist), and another seven are commended.
OCTOBER
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Braves volunteers get a front row seat to some of golf’s greats like John Daly and Phil Mickelson while staffing a concession booth at the 18th hole of The Safeway Open. Funds raised go to Braves Alliance which supports Justin-Siena programs like athletics, arts, robotics, and mock trial!
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From Middle School Nights to “Pink- Outs” at Dodd Stadium, Friday nights bring out a great display of JS pride for current and future Braves.
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Justin-Siena Theatre kicks off its 50th Anniversary with the stage classic, Our Town. Students also had the opportunity to work with Tappan Wilder, nephew of Thornton Wilder and literary executor of the Wilder estate.
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The Students for Change Club get out the vote and host John Tuteur, the Napa County Registrar of Voters and County Clerk to discuss the importance of the voice of the youth in our communities and pre-register voters.
DECEMBER
NOVEMBER •
ACCESS 707 online wine auction features some of the most sought-after and hard-to-get wines from our Sonoma and Napa Valleys.
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Student leaders attend a luncheon with Bishop Vasa at the Diocesan Chancery in Santa Rosa. They joined student leaders from other area Catholic schools to engage in conversation about the practice of faith.
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Admissions efforts go global as Alicia Valdivia takes part in a panel discussion with Amerigo Education CEO, Mr. Craig Pines, as they intro- duced Amerigo Education and Justin-Siena to major media representatives in Beijing, China.
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Digital Leanring Days to advance student learning are debuted as an answer to days of poor air quality due to California wildfires.
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Braves fall sports highlights: girls volleyball, water polo, and tennis earned VVAL championships. VVAL and Co-Napa County Player of the Year, Julia Sangiacomo ‘19, led the volleyball team—advancing to the NCS semi-finals of NCS, while water polo was led by a group of up-and- coming players including Sarah Reynolds ’22, Meghan Hansen ’20, and Angelina Phinney ’21, among others. As captain, Jenna Curtola ‘19 led the tennis team along with Parvathi ‘20 and Priyanka Shanker ‘22, sisters faced each other for the VVAL Singles Championship. Football saw a thrilling home win over Napa and the 1st playoff win of Brandon LaRocco’s ’98 head coaching career, upsetting Piedmont in the 1st round of the NCS Playoffs followed by a road trip to Cresent City.
JANUARY
FEBRUARY •
MARCH
APRIL
34th Annual Crab Fest is a big success that to all who attended, served at, volunteered for, and made it possible. It was a wonderful evening celebrating the community, and we are grateful for the support. See you 02.01.20
MAY •
Advanced Choir records an album produced by Mr. Graham Terry ’03 featuring 12 of the students’ favorite songs performed this year along with never-before-heard, original acapella arrangements arranged by the students.
• 225 students took 499 AP exams in 17 subjects..
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The Lasallian Jubilee Year begins! The Holy See declared the jubilee year to recognize the 300th anniversary of De La Salle’s entry into eternal life.
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Season of Giving! Advisories adopt local families in need for Christmas and the Junior Lead- ership Class organizes a coat drive with the One Warm Coat organization. Students write thank you notes to all 900 veterans living in our neighboring Vets Home in Yountville in appreciation for their service to our country, and our Advanced Choral Class visits the Vets Home and to share their gift of song in a choral performance.
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“Three Yellow Balloons in a Row,” a photo by Sean Flaherty ‘21, is selected out of 200+ entries in the Bank of Marin calendar competition for the cover photo.
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• Inspired by the Tim Tebow Foundation’s Night To Shine event, JS students help host the Better Together Prom. • Wonderful evening of gratitude and appreciation was had at the President’s Circle Reception.
First semester finishes with concerts, a Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe followed by a tamale lunch for all, and a visit from St. Nick.
The spring musical production of Encore! is met with rave reviews as it honors the JS Theatre 50 year history with hit songs and stunning choreography from past, present, and future! Many alums were also part of the production and Mr. Tom Durante ’93 was a special Anniver- sary Honoree at the Gala Dinner on opening weekend.
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Braves Mock Trial earns county champ status for 6th straight year, and artist Lauren Yung ’19 wins state award for courtroom artist.
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Brand new softball field is blessed and ready for action. Thanks to Deacon Bruce Mirolglio ‘75 for offering a blessing.
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During Easter break, 11 Justin-Siena students travel to France to meet up with the students they had hosted back in February to complete the circle of year-two of our Lasallian exchange program, LasalleGo. Their visit included Paris and an auspicious photo in front of Notre Dame Cathedral just hours before the devasting fire.
• It is “Mayhem on Maher Street” at the 8th season opening of ComedySportz.
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Napa’s first ever Science Bowl teams took 3rd and 4th in the Department of Energy National Science Bowl regional competition hosted by Sandia National Laboratory.
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Inspired by the Tim Tebow Foundation’s Night To Shine event, JS students help host the Better Together Prom with the full red carpet treatment and dancing to Wonderbread 5.
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Justin-Siena Golf hosted its inaugural High School Classic sponsored by the Johnny Miller CHAMP Foundation. Andy Miller ‘96 (Johnny Miller’s son) golfed for the Braves and was on hand to greet the young golfers.
Mary Cate Hyde ‘19 and Satya Green-Cardona ‘19 earn 5th straight county win for the Braves in national Poetry Out Loud competition after taking 1st and 2nd at home.
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Feeling the love! “Love and Tacos” on Valentine’s Day for the fresh- men thanks to the high bidder at Crab Fest. Students enjoyed tasty treats from the taco truck and the sweets table.
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One of three VENAVER service immersion trips this year, El Paso, Texas provides the perfect back drop to explore border issues and serve the community and a visit to Sierra de Cristo Rey.
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Thanks to the success of the 2019 Fund A Need, much needed AC is installed in the 400 Wing, just in time for the end of the year warm up!
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Braves winter sports highlights: wrestling earned an NCS Academic Championship. VVAL First Team All-League player Ashlee Whittemore ’19 led girls basketball to the VVAL tournament and NCS Playoff berth. Boys and girls soccer both made great strides forward in the new league and are primed for success next season, as is the boys basketball team, which finished strong with a win to keep rival Vintage out of the playoffs.
JUNE •
Students and staff select the following as being recipients of these annual distinguished awards—Br. Lawrence Award: Megan Alexander-Short ’07, LSL, Admissions; Holy Spirit Award: Marissa Bartalotti, Director of Guidance; Lasallian Educator of the Year Award: Emily Ciabatarri, Instructor in English.
More on our Grads . . . We wish we had the space to talk about every one of them, but these snapshots should serve to illustrate their breadth of talent, passion, and heart. • One student earned just one of only 50 full scholarships to BYU, where he will enroll after completing his 2-year mission to the Philippines. • After Justin-Siena, 10 students will be continuing their Lasallian journeys in colleges operated by the Brothers. • One student is following the call to serve as an EMT and will spend his time training in Utah. • 11 graduates will continue their success as NCAA student-athletes in football, volleyball, soccer, tennis, and track & field.
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Alumni parents of graduating seniors join us for a special Legacy Reception in advance of the Senior Awards Ceremony.
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Senior Advisories cover Life Skills including self defense, healthy cooking on a budget with Mr. Bob Bailey, personal finance with Econ instructor Mr. Brandon LaRocco ’98, basic car care, safety, and maintenance led by Mr. Jake Spears.
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Founders Day festivities from the talent show and the faculty vs. student basketball game to the tail-gating and games on the North Lawn is a favorite tradition for students and faculty alike—the ultimate celebration of community.
• Additionally, 7 graduates will go on to play baseball, softball, and football at California Community Colleges. • Yet another student will be playing baseball in a post-graduate year at Deerfield Academy, a premier prep school in New England. • 6 grads will pursue higher ed all over the world: France, Mexico, New Zealand, Switzerland, and Thailand.
• Braves spring sports highlights: boys lacrosse finished 2nd overall in the VVAL earning 2 NCS playoff wins to make the NCS semifinals. VVAL Player of the Year Allison Clark ’19 led girls lacrosse to finish 2nd in the VVAL and make the NCS playoffs. Qualifying for the State Meet, Gianna Troppy ’19 headlined a strong Track and Field team, while many runners set school and personal records. Softball played into the postseason with a strong Division 4 record. Baseball finished with a win over rival Sonoma, keeping the Dragons from an outright league championship. Boys tennis finished 3rd with a NCS playoff berth. Doubles team, Jose Antonio Chopitea ’19 and Jakob Schultz ’19, were VVAL Champions.
• 9 students are following their passions in the performing arts to Berklee College of Music, CSU Chico, Chapman University, Loyola University New Orleans, Napa Valley College, Northwestern University, and UC Santa Barbara • 2 young men will be serving our nation in the armed services. • True to the heritage of our wine country locale, several graduates will be studying every element of the wine industry at Cal Poly, Davis, and Cornell. • While 14 graduates will pursue degrees in engineering, nearly 30 students are headed off to college undecided but eager to explore their options. Please pray for the Class of 2019 as they begin the next chapter in their lives. If you run into them, please congratulate them and continue to encourage them. As you are out and about in Napa, Solano, and Sonoma— or in places far away—please take time to brag about them. And if you live in one of their new communities, please contact us so that we can connect you—it would mean the world to have family close-by if they are far from home.